This new ultra-compact hub motor could change urban e-bikes forever

A new electric hub motor just dropped at Eurobike 2025, and it’s a big deal – mainly because it’s so small. Developed through a partnership between Moving Magnet Technologies (MMT), Swiss mechatronics firm Sonceboz, and French e-bike software company eBikeLabs, the new motor aims to set a new benchmark for premium urban e-bikes.

And based on the specs alone, it just might.

The motor delivers up to 70 Nm of torque, allows for regenerative braking, and has an impressive 22:1 gear ratio. It also includes a built-in torque sensor, allowing e-bikes employing the motor to take advantage of a more natural, responsive pedaling response.

Despite the high torque rating and built-in tech, the motor weighs under 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs), which is incredibly light for a high-torque hub motor, especially one designed for urban performance and connected tech features.

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Designed for single-speed e-bikes and fully integrated with eBikeLabs’ eBikeOS software platform, this is the kind of system that manufacturers building the next wave of sleek, minimalist city e-bikes are likey to seek. And with regenerative braking, anti-theft immobilization, and smart ride customization all built in, it’s a feature-rich package in a surprisingly compact form factor.

Sonceboz, known for zero-defect manufacturing in the automotive world, is leading the industrialization process at its automated Swiss production facilities. According to the team, the motor is currently in B-sample testing with a yet-unnamed premium urban bike brand, with commercial availability targeted for early 2027.

“With this hub motor, Sonceboz, MMT, and eBikeLabs aim to set a new benchmark for premium urban bikes,” said Damien Wittwer, Division Director at Sonceboz. “Our mechatronics expertise ensures high-quality, reliable production ready for the most demanding brands. We don’t just build motors—we empower you to stand out in a market that demands smarter, quieter, more integrated urban mobility.”

The collaboration makes sense. MMT brings the motor design and electromagnetic magic, Sonceboz brings the industrial firepower, and eBikeLabs provides the software layer, eBikeOS, which adds real-time diagnostics, theft alerts, ride tracking, and personalized performance tuning. The system also includes a modular SP Connect mount for phones, allowing full app integration during rides.

On a personal note, I previously tested eBikeOS from eBikeLabs on a sample bike at Micromobility Europe and came away quite impressed with the performance.

This isn’t the first time eBikeLabs has pushed into the high-end e-bike space. Their software already powers the Virvolt 2000 motor used by Shwette’s cargo e-bikes, and their partnership network includes brands like Cowboy and Vefaa. But the new motor signals a tighter integration of motor hardware and software, engineered together from day one, a rarity in the increasingly fragmented e-bike market.

If the specs hold up and the industrial ramp goes smoothly, this could be one of the most important new components in the premium city e-bike world over the next few years. With anti-theft tech baked in, seamless app integration, and impressive torque in a tiny package, it’s exactly the kind of invisible innovation that makes a good e-bike feel like magic.

And if you’re at Eurobike this week, it’s on display in two locations, both in Hall 8, Booth I21 (with Sonceboz) and Hall 12.1, Booth A21 (with eBikeLabs). Definitely worth a closer look.