An electric motor includes a stator assembly and a rotor configured to rotate within the stator assembly about an axis. The stator assembly includes a stator case having a channel and a laminate steel core having a retention feature aligned with the channel of the stator case. The stator case is fixed to the laminate steel core via displacement of material of the stator case at the channel toward the laminate steel core to capture the retention feature. An electro-mechanical drive-unit employing the above-described electric motor and a method of generating a stator assembly for such an electric motor are also contemplated.