Horse Powertrain, a worldwide provider of powertrain programs, unveiled its newest hybrid and combustion improvements on the IAA Mobility Present in Munich this yr. The corporate provides elements for main automotive producers like Renault, Geely, Volvo, Proton, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.
Headquartered in London, Horse Powertrain operates 17 manufacturing vegetation and 5 improvement facilities worldwide, using roughly 19,000 individuals. Possession of the corporate is break up between Renault Group and Geely, every holding a forty five p.c stake, whereas Aramco holds the remaining 10 p.c.
The spotlight of the presentation was the debut of the Horse C15, a brand new household of compact vary extender programs. The motor, generator, and cooling system are built-in right into a suitcase-shaped housing that measures simply 18.9 x 19.3 x 9.8 inches. The unit is designed for versatile set up, both horizontally or vertically.
The system relies on a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A naturally aspirated model producing round 94 horsepower is designed for smaller autos, whereas turbocharged variants can ship as much as 161 horsepower. The C15 is suitable with a variety of fuels, together with gasoline, ethanol, methanol, and artificial fuels.
Horse Powertrain C15 1.5-Liter Engine
Picture by: Horse Powertrain
One other key innovation offered by Horse is the Future Hybrid System, first unveiled at Auto Shanghai. This all-in-one resolution integrates the engine, transmission, electrical motor, and energy electronics right into a single unit. It allows battery-electric autos to be transformed into hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or range-extended fashions with minimal structural modifications.
Horse launched two variants of the system:
- A 29-inch-wide efficiency model that includes two electrical motors
- A 26-inch-wide ultra-compact model with a single motor
Each configurations use a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a devoted hybrid transmission.
The corporate additionally debuted its Horse 4DHT120, a compact “5-in-1” energy unit that mixes an electrical motor with a hybrid starter-generator, energy electronics module, and a transmission. Delivering 107 hp of steady energy, 188 hp of peak energy, and 221 pound-feet of torque, the 4DHT120 provides a space-efficient, high-performance hybrid resolution.
Horse Powertrain Hybrid Motor Idea
Picture by: Horse Powertrain
Horse Powertrain additionally unveiled the M20 Hydrogen, a brand new hydrogen combustion engine primarily based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel platform. It delivers as much as 121 hp of energy and 221 lb-ft of torque, whereas assembly Euro 7 emissions requirements. CO2 emissions are under one gram per kilometer, due to a newly developed direct injection and ignition system, together with an optimized combustion chamber. With a compression ratio of 10:1, the engine achieves a hydrogen utilization fee of 94.3 p.c—on par with gas cell programs, however with out counting on uncommon uncooked supplies.
The corporate additionally launched the B15 engine, which was developed particularly for hybrid functions. This 1.5-liter gasoline engine reaches a thermal effectivity of 41.7 p.c, delivering as much as 161 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a hybrid transmission, enabling fast response occasions and excessive operational effectivity. Regardless of its efficiency, the transmission stays gentle at simply 670 kilos.
Horse Powertrain additionally showcased a number of cutting-edge elements designed to reinforce effectivity and efficiency throughout its powertrain portfolio.
Picture by: Horse Powertrain
Picture by: Horse Powertrain
One spotlight was Turbulent Jet Ignition (TJI), developed in partnership with Aramco. This know-how replaces the normal spark plug with a pre-chamber ignition system, considerably bettering combustion effectivity. Testing on a 1.8-liter engine demonstrated a 5 p.c discount in WLTP emissions. Collection manufacturing is scheduled for 2029.
One other innovation is a brand new high-performance GaN generator, which leverages gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor know-how. The unit is 20 p.c extra compact than typical programs, achieves 95 p.c effectivity, and delivers 67 hp at 4,500 rpm.
Lastly, Horse unveiled an amorphous electrical motor that makes use of ultra-thin metal to dramatically scale back core (iron) losses. The motor units a brand new benchmark with 98.2 p.c effectivity, 188 hp of peak energy, and 266 lb-ft of torque.
Interview with Horse Powertrain CEO Matias Giannini: A Pragmatic Method to Mobility
Horse Powertrain CEO Matias Giannini
Picture by: Horse Powertrain
By way of its newest improvements, Horse Powertrain is reaffirming its position as a complete system provider, providing a broad portfolio of options for hybrid and combustion engines. The corporate goals to play a key position within the world transition towards lower-emission powertrains.
Our colleagues at Motor1 Germany spoke on-site with Matias Giannini, CEO of Horse Powertrain, in regards to the firm’s imaginative and prescient and the broader path of the automotive business. Whereas he leads a agency specializing in combustion know-how, Giannini emphasised that he’s not against electrical autos—as an alternative, he advocates for a diversified and lifelike strategy to mobility.
“I used to be on the Paris Motor Present final yr and noticed a noticeable shift in mindset. The business—particularly in Europe—is beginning to understand that we have to take concrete motion to carry new applied sciences and actual merchandise to market. We’d like extra alternate options, however no single producer can do every part without delay. If everybody tries to cowl every part, nobody will make significant progress.”
“That is particularly clear in Germany: Volumes are declining, earnings are shrinking, vegetation are closing, and staff are being laid off. On the similar time, political help is missing, which makes funding choices much more tough.”
Horse Powertrain at IAA Mobility 2025
Picture by: Motor1.com Deutschland
Giannini’s feedback replicate a rising business sentiment: That innovation should be grounded in financial and industrial realities, and {that a} profitable transition to sustainable mobility requires a realistic, multi-pathway strategy.
“The aim is obvious: Web zero, decarbonization, and cooperation with governments. However the path to get there’s not uniform. There’s rising recognition {that a} vary of different applied sciences might be required. This raises an essential query for OEMs: With whom ought to they companion? Whereas they’ll obtain an important deal independently, partnerships are sometimes extra environment friendly. That is precisely the place our mission and imaginative and prescient are available—to rethink mobility for everybody.”
Giannini additionally shared his perspective on the way forward for electrical mobility and Horse Powertrain’s long-term manufacturing technique:
“I absolutely help the EV technique and explicitly endorse it. Nonetheless, even by 2040, greater than half of all new autos will nonetheless be outfitted with combustion engines. Our position is to scale back complexity for OEMs and permit them to concentrate on their core strengths. It’s not about changing their present experience, however about filling particular gaps—whether or not technological or geographical.”
‘The aim is obvious: Web zero, decarbonization, and cooperation with governments. However the path to get there’s not uniform.’
Giannini pointed to Spain as a key instance of the corporate’s continued industrial dedication:
“The vegetation in Valladolid, Seville, and different areas are crucial to us. We produce the 1.2-liter hybrid engine for the Renault Group there, with annual output exceeding a million items. We’re persevering with to put money into these websites, sustaining sturdy collaboration with the unions, and inserting excessive worth on the area. Spain will stay a significant a part of our future operations.”
Giannini emphasised the significance of regional flexibility and sensible platform planning:
“I consider in numerous options relying on the area. My imaginative and prescient is that OEMs ought to be capable to design future autos primarily as BEVs—with out having to decide on between a number of platforms. At this time, multi-energy platforms generate pointless price and complexity. Modular options, akin to BEVs with non-compulsory vary extenders or hybrids, protect flexibility with out creating parallel buildings. This helps scale back each funding stress and danger for OEMs.”
Horse Powertrain at IAA Mobility 2025
Picture by: Motor1.com Deutschland
Giannini additionally underlined Horse Powertrain’s place as a key enabler of scalable, real-world options:
“Our merchandise are usually not simply theoretical ideas. We produce over 8 million electrical motors yearly and are the third-largest powertrain producer on the planet. We already serve roughly 80 p.c of market necessities. Our future merchandise are developed with a modular, plug-and-play mindset to make sure straightforward integration—dramatically decreasing the workload for OEMs.”
Giannini additionally addressed diesel’s diminishing position:
“Diesel stays related in sure area of interest markets, however its long-term decline is inevitable. We proceed to help our prospects the place wanted, however we don’t see a sustainable future in diesel.”
Lastly, Giannini talked about EU laws going into 2035:
“I am unable to predict whether or not the plans might be modified. Nonetheless, I hope that politicians will develop into extra open to know-how. The mission—decarbonization—is undisputed. However the mistake was that politicians not solely set targets, but in addition specified sure applied sciences. It will make sense to set bold however lifelike targets and belief the business to develop options. Know-how is the important thing to reaching the targets.”
