A rotor for an electrical machine, comprising: a rotor hub; and a plurality of permanent magnet segments affixed around a perimeter of the rotor hub, the plurality of permanent magnet segments comprising: a first plurality of the permanent magnet segments (204a-204g, 204j - 204s) having substantially uniform arcuate span, and multi-piece permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t), and wherein the multi-piece permanent magnet segment (204h, 204t) resides between two permanent magnet segments of the first plurality of permanent magnets (204a-204g, 204j-204s), characterized in that the multi-piece permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t) are split interpole permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t), each constructed of two separate magnet pieces (254h, 256h, 254t, 256t), bonded together to form a single magnet segment (204h, 204t), each having a smaller arcuate span than the first plurality of permanent magnet segments (204a-204g, 204j-204s), wherein a magnetization direction vector of one of the pieces is different than a magnetization direction vector of the one other piece in the multi- piece segment (204h, 204t) and the first plurality of permanent magnets (204a-204g, 204j-204s) are magnetized in radial direction and the multi-piece permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t) are magnetized in radial direction and in tangential direction. a rotor hub; and a plurality of permanent magnet segments affixed around a perimeter of the rotor hub, the plurality of permanent magnet segments comprising: a first plurality of the permanent magnet segments (204a-204g, 204j - 204s) having substantially uniform arcuate span, and multi-piece permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t), and wherein the multi-piece permanent magnet segment (204h, 204t) resides between two permanent magnet segments of the first plurality of permanent magnets (204a-204g, 204j-204s), characterized in that the multi-piece permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t) are split interpole permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t), each constructed of two separate magnet pieces (254h, 256h, 254t, 256t), bonded together to form a single magnet segment (204h, 204t), each having a smaller arcuate span than the first plurality of permanent magnet segments (204a-204g, 204j-204s), wherein a magnetization direction vector of one of the pieces is different than a magnetization direction vector of the one other piece in the multi- piece segment (204h, 204t) and the first plurality of permanent magnets (204a-204g, 204j-204s) are magnetized in radial direction and the multi-piece permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t) are magnetized in radial direction and in tangential direction. a first plurality of the permanent magnet segments (204a-204g, 204j - 204s) having substantially uniform arcuate span, and multi-piece permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t), and wherein the multi-piece permanent magnet segment (204h, 204t) resides between two permanent magnet segments of the first plurality of permanent magnets (204a-204g, 204j-204s), characterized in that the multi-piece permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t) are split interpole permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t), each constructed of two separate magnet pieces (254h, 256h, 254t, 256t), bonded together to form a single magnet segment (204h, 204t), each having a smaller arcuate span than the first plurality of permanent magnet segments (204a-204g, 204j-204s), wherein a magnetization direction vector of one of the pieces is different than a magnetization direction vector of the one other piece in the multi- piece segment (204h, 204t) and the first plurality of permanent magnets (204a-204g, 204j-204s) are magnetized in radial direction and the multi-piece permanent magnet segments (204h, 204t) are magnetized in radial direction and in tangential direction.