Abstract: A rotor-wheeled motor assembly includes a wheel that includes a rim coaxial with an axis of rotation of the wheel and circumscribing an interior region of the wheel. The rim has a tire mounting surface and an interior radial surface on an opposite side than the tire mounting surface and opposing the interior region. The tire mounting surface is configured to mount the wheel to a vehicle hub assembly. An electric motor is disposed within the interior region and includes a rotor disposed on or embedded into the tire mounting surface. The rotor is configured to rotate in unison with the tire mounting surface about the axis of rotation along a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A stator assembly includes a stator core and stator windings. The stator windings axially oppose the rotor to define an axial flux air gap separating the rotor and the stator windings.