Donut Lab, a Finnish electric mobility startup, has raised €25 million in new funding, signed over ten commercial contracts with global vehicle manufacturers, and expanded its research and development footprint with a new facility in the United Kingdom, the company said on Monday.
The Helsinki-based firm, which develops modular electric motor and powertrain technologies for use across land, sea, and air, will also return to CES in January 2026 with an expanded showcase of its electric mobility applications. The company said demand for its platform has surged following its previous appearance at CES, with “thirty-fold” growth in commercial interest leading to contracts with OEMs across multiple transport sectors.
“The continued growth in demand, international expansion and interest in our business demonstrates what we founders have always believed – that our tech solution is truly groundbreaking,” said CEO Marko Lehtimaki in a statement. “The performance, robustness, versatility and relatively low cost of entry of our products really is a winning formula.”
Donut Lab’s flagship Donut Platform integrates wheel hub motors, battery systems, computing units and control software into a modular architecture. The company claims its electric drive systems are among the lightest and most efficient in the world, with its most powerful configuration for cars delivering up to 630 kW. The technology is targeted at a broad range of applications, from electric scooters and drones to trucks, boats and aircraft.
To support ongoing development, Donut Lab has opened a new R&D facility in Chippenham, Kent, complementing its operations in Helsinki and Tallinn. The company also announced additions to its senior leadership team, including former McLaren and Lotus executive Neil Patterson as Vice President of Engineering Programmes, and ex-BMW and Rivian executive Craig Williams as Vice President of Business Development.
Notably, Donut Lab has appointed former Nokia chairman and cybersecurity entrepreneur Risto Siilasmaa to its Board of Directors. Siilasmaa, who founded WithSecure and F-Secure, brings experience in scaling global technology businesses and is expected to help steer Donut Lab’s international expansion.
Volume manufacturing of Donut Lab’s electric motor systems is already underway, with the company citing applications in automotive, marine, aerospace, robotics, and defense.
