an armature for use in an electric traction motor comprises a rotor having a central portion and a peripheral portion with the peripheral portion having a plurality of cavities . permanent magnets solidified from liquid magnetic material are disposed in the cavities to form poles of the rotor with at least a portion of the cavities having directly abutting permanent magnets comprised of at least first and second magnetic materials of different properties injected in liquid or mobile form into single cavities . in interface regions between the at least first and second magnetic materials the first and second magnetic materials are intermingled to form a transition zone . a method of making the armature includes injecting the magnetic materials simultaneously as well as injecting a subsequent magnetic material when the initial magnetic material is still fluidly mobile .