HORSE, a leader in innovative and low emissions powertrain systems, has started production of its eMotor at its Aveiro facility in Portugal. The new radial flux eMotor uses the latest technology and materials to deliver exceptional performance and efficiency for next-generation plug-in and hybrid vehicles.

The eMotor is initially designed for use in hybrid powertrain architectures using HORSE’s HR12, HR16 and HR18 internal combustion engines. Capable of being used in both full hybrid and plug-in hybrid applications, the eMotor delivers maximum power of 49kW and 212Nm of torque.

Patrice Haettel, Chief Executive Officer at HORSE, said: “The start of eMotor production at Aveiro reinforces HORSE’s commitment to delivering efficient powertrains using the latest technology. With its compact design, and the ability to work in 100% electric mode, this powerful and efficient motor is perfect for many types of hybrid vehicle. Once again, HORSE has demonstrated its credentials as the ideal partner for our customers on their ongoing electrification journeys.’

Featuring a compact design, the eMotor is mounted between the internal combustion engine and the transmission, delivering two driving modes: 100% electric and hybrid.

In electric mode, the eMotor drives the wheels directly at speeds of up to 130km/h. In hybrid mode, the eMotor assists the internal combustion engine to deliver enhanced acceleration and improved fuel efficiency. When the vehicle is decelerating, the eMotor acts as a generator, recovering kinetic energy that is stored in the vehicle’s battery.

To enable this production, HORSE’s Aveiro plant has invested in four new lines that allow the facility to manufacture up to 160,000 units a year. Each line has a dedicated function for various stages of production: including machining of the motor housing, rotor shaft, and magnet, along with final assembly. Among these state-of-the-art lines is a three-head precision winding machine, allowing faster and more accurate construction of the eMotor’s core.

The new executives will report directly to CEO Matias Giannini, joining current EMT members CFO Lee Ma, CHRO Juan Ferrera, and Divisional CEOs Ruiping Wang and Patrice Haettel.

The appointments are:

• Clemence Auroy-Vernin, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer.
• Helene Carlson, Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer.
• Ingo Scholten, Chief Technology Officer.
• Arnaud Fages, Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer.
• Luca Stoppelli, Chief Purchasing Officer.
• Michael Fleiss, Chief Sales Officer.

Clemence, Helene, Ingo, and Michael will also maintain their current responsibilities within their respective divisions at Horse Powertrain

“I am delighted to welcome these six leaders to Horse Powertrain’s leadership team. Their diverse perspectives and experience will play a vital role as we accelerate our transformation toward becoming one unified global company. Together, we will drive innovation and operational excellence, ensuring we deliver value and reliability to our customers and stakeholders as we help push the industry’s transition to net zero.” said Matias Giannini, CEO of Horse Powertrain.

HORSE, a division of Horse Powertrain and a leader in innovative and low-emission powertrain systems, has achieved Great Place to Work certification, one of the world’s well-recognised awards for high-quality workplaces. This follows a global survey of HORSE’s workforce by the independent Great Place to Work organisation.

This recognition comes only one year after HORSE began operations and reflects its strong commitment to creating a positive and inclusive work environment. Overall, positive survey responses reached the requirements for Great Place to Work certification.

The survey was conducted in September 2024 and spanned seven countries, encompassing the organisation’s eight factories, three R&D centres, and global headquarters. HORSE achieved the highest ratings in three key areas:

• Pride: “I’m proud to tell others I work here”
• Justice: “The company promotes inclusive behaviour, avoids discrimination, and is committed to fair appeals.”
• Community: “I consider myself a member of a close-knit team.”

These results highlight the commitment of global teams to HORSE’s mission of providing next-generation mobility solutions for a more responsible, sustainable, and inclusive future. They also signal HORSE’s success in building a strong organizational culture in its first year of operations.

Patrice Haettel, Chief Executive Officer of HORSE, said: “Since embarking on this journey a year ago, there’s never been a shred of doubt about the quality of our people and operations. I’ve had the opportunity to visit our factories and workplaces and see first-hand the unique spirit of our teams, along with their enthusiasm and commitment. This spirit has only consolidated over the past year, and it’s our collective responsibility to continue to strengthen it. The true success of HORSE lies in the people who make up this great family, and I am deeply proud of what we are building together.”

Juan Ferrera, Chief People & Organisation Officer, said: “This result reflects that HORSE’s efforts to promote an inclusive and equitable culture are paying off. Our people are the key to HORSE’s success, which is why we are committed to continually strengthening our work environment – our hope is to make this company a truly great place to work for everyone.”

All HORSE workplaces worldwide, located in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Romania, and Turkey, achieved the local Great Place to Work certification, except Aveiro plant in Portugal, which is close to the minimum requirements.

To build on these impressive results, HORSE is designing a global action plan to drive further improvement in employee satisfaction, working closely with local and global HR teams to to further develop team engagement and wellbeing across all its sites.

HORSE, a division of Horse Powertrain and a leader in innovative and low emissions powertrain systems, has had its ambitious emissions target – to be net-zero emissions across the entire value chain by 2050 – approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

As part of its near-term objectives, HORSE has committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 42% by 2030.

In addressing Scope 3 emissions, HORSE has pledged to reduce GHG emissions from the use of its sold products by 25% by 2030.

These reductions will be achieved through various initiatives, including increasing low-carbon engine sales to 60% of total sales, purchasing 100% renewable electricity, using biomethane in production plants, and implementing energy efficiency measures, among other strategies.

These targets are aligned with HORSE’s broader sustainability strategy (ESG Plan 2030) of not only providing innovative solutions for markets transitioning towards more sustainable futures, but also being a transformation agent within the automotive industry towards decarbonisation.

Patrice Haettel, CEO of HORSE, said: “Achieving this approval from Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) demonstrates just how seriously we are taking the sustainability of our business and our planet. We are committed to giving more back than we take and it’s why we will continue with our mission to develop and deliver innovative power solutions that support a decarbonised future. These targets are clear demonstration of our drive to create meaningful change within the automotive industry.”

Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global organisation developing standards and tools to create science-based targets to help companies identify and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and future-proof business growth.

Targets are considered ‘science-based’ if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

HORSE, a division of Horse Powertrain and a leader in innovative and low emissions powertrain systems, has begun the planned installation of two new arrays of solar panels that will supply renewable electricity to its plant in Aveiro, Portugal. Once complete, solar energy will meet up to 30% of the factory’s annual electricity needs and reduce its annual CO₂ emissions by 3,167 tonnes.

Installed as part of HORSE’s decarbonisation strategy, the new photovoltaic arrays have been funded with the support of a grant from the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan. In total, the new photovoltaic arrays represent an investment of €3.5 million.

Raynald Joly, General Manager at HORSE Aveiro, says: “This new photovoltaic park will enable HORSE Aveiro to meet up to 30% of its energy needs with green electricity. This is all part of HORSE’s broader commitment to decarbonising mobility, delivering a more sustainable future, and powering tomorrow.”

Part of the solar installation will be mounted on the roof of the facility and will consist of 2,800 solar panels that will generate 1.6MWp. The other part of the array will be ground-based and consist of 8,900 panels calculated to generate 5.0MWp. Annually, HORSE Aveiro expects both produce 16GWh of clean and sustainable electricity a year.

Construction and installation will last fourteen months and will be undertaken by ENGIE Hemera, one of Portugal’s leading solar engineering specialists.

Powering a world-leading automotive plant

HORSE Aveiro already boasts one of the largest private fields of photovoltaic panels in Portugal, with this new project further expanding its lead.

The plant has over forty years of operational excellence in manufacturing gearboxes and engines, and has recently ventured into manufacturing critical electronics components for hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Employing 1,300 workers, HORSE Aveiro boasts state-of-the-art Industry 4.0 technologies, including production lines that make use of robotic mobile workstations in place of traditional conveyer belts.

HORSE, a division of Horse Powertrain and a leader in innovative and low emissions powertrain systems, today announces that its engine will be powering the All-New Bigster HYBRID 155 – the flagship model of Dacia’s newly-revealed SUV range.

The Dacia model will be the first vehicle to use the HYBRID 155 powertrain. At the heart of the All-New Bigster HYBRID 155 will sit one of HORSE’s internal combustion engines, produced at its plant in Valladolid, Spain. The 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder model will provide up to 107bhp of power, and is the first engine to be designed and produced entirely in-house by HORSE since its creation in July 2023.

Matias Giannini, Chief Executive Officer of Horse Powertrain, said: “The flagship All-New Bigster will be a perfect showcase of Horse Powertrain’s hybrid powertrain leadership and expertise. As the first engine produced entirely within our HORSE division, this moment is extremely significant for the automotive industry: Horse Powertrain has now proved that it can handle the full life cycle of engine development and production. With our consoliated powertrain expertise, we are helping brands and OEMs to innovate and bring new offerings to market at an unparalleled pace.”

Patrice Haettel, Chief Executive Office of HORSE, said: “Our latest high-efficiency, market-leading engine will ensure that the All-New Bigster offers incredible performance and efficiency in all conditions and driving modes, providing a convenient and low-emission vehicle that raises the bar for the SUV class. This is an incredible moment for our engineers and Valladolid team members, who have made company history by bringing to market the very first engine developed and produced entirely by HORSE.”

Next-generation electrified powertrain

Alongside HORSE’s engine, the HYBRID 155 powertrain in Dacia’s All-New Bigster features a 50bhp electric motor, a high-voltage starter/generator electric motor, and a 1.4kWh 230V battery. The HYBRID 155’s clutchless gearbox has four gears for the HORSE combustion engine, and two for the electric motors.

The All-New Bigster HYBRID 155’s powertrain will have market-leading performance and power, including a full tonne of towing capacity. In terms of efficiency the model significantly improves on the existing HYBRID 140 powertrain, offering a 6% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. Its regenerative braking, high battery energy recovery capacity, and efficient gearbox means that the HYBRID 155 can remain in all-electric mode up to 80% of the time in the city – and can always start in all-electric mode.

HORSE, a division of Horse Powertrain and a leader in innovative and low emissions powertrain systems, today celebrates a major milestone of 7.5 million engines produced at the OYAK HORSE plant in Bursa, Türkiye.

Coinciding with this milestone, OYAK HORSE has created approximately 100 new jobs, growing its workforce by 10%. These new jobs will support the creation of a third daily shift at the plant. This new shift will enable the plant to further scale production from the over 1,500 engine units produced daily, following a 38% rise in output between 2023 and 2024 in the face of continued growth in hybrid engine demand.

Gökhan Deniz, GM at OYAK HORSE Türkiye, said: “This achievement is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of our team over the past 54 years. I would like to thank all our colleagues, stakeholders and suppliers who have contributed to our progress since the beginning. In Türkiye, the HORSE team is committed and ready to play a key role in providing mobility solutions that support decarbonisation and facilitate the global energy transition.”

Hybrid engine production at OYAK HORSE

The landmark 7.5 millionth engine produced at OYAK HORSE will be a HR16 Gen3 hybrid engine, a 4-cylinder, 1.6-liter gasoline engine engineered for optimal efficiency and performance in hybrid vehicles.

The engine boasts a maximum power output of 69kW at 5,600rpm, and is designed to meet the demands of both EU and global markets. The engine fully complies with EURO 6D FULL emissions standards, emphasising its commitment to lower emissions.

Driving Solutions for Global Automotive Challenges

OYAK HORSE specialises in developing low-emission internal combustion and hybrid engines and features a high-pressure aluminium injection facility, dedicated engine and gearbox departments, and an R&D center.

Spanning 81,000m², the plant operates three shifts with a workforce of approximately 1,000 employees and exports about 75% of its production abroad. In addition to manufacturing, OYAK HORSE enhances its contribution to the automotive industry through various services, including prototyping, machining, metrology, emissions testing, and training programs.

HORSE: a leader in Innovative Power Solutions

HORSE was created to provide highly efficient, low-emission engines, transmissions and technologies to meet the varying power generation needs around the world. HORSE is a truly global company, with eight production plants across seven countries, three R&D centres and a head office based in Madrid, Spain. The company produces 3.2 million units per year for its customers around the world.

HORSE Powertrain Solutions, a division of HORSE Powertrain Limited and a leader in innovative and low emissions powertrain systems, has started a production run of 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines for use in plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs).

The proven HORSE ‘HR12’ engine can deliver peak power of 110kW (152PS) and maximum torque of 230Nm. The new PHEV-optimised HR12 units will be produced at HORSE’s plant at Valladolid. There, HORSE is initially targeting production of 1,200 units per month, with a maximum possible production capacity of 6,875 engines per month. The HR12 PHEV variant will be first used in the upcoming Renault Rafale E-Tech 4×4 Hybrid.

Development of the HR12’s PHEV variant began in July 2021, with HORSE having invested €4 million in its Valladolid plant to modify and scale its assembly line. This has included a €260,000 investment in people and staff, creating 345 jobs.

Patrice Haettel, Chief Executive Officer at HORSE, said: “This HR12 is the first plug-in hybrid engine manufactured at our Valladolid facility and the second produced by HORSE globally. This is a major landmark for our team, and proof of how HORSE’s internal combustion engine expertise can facilitate market-leading, low-emission mobility solutions. With outstanding range and efficiency, this PHEV architecture showcase the direction of the automotive industry and the value of HORSE’s indispensable technology leadership to our partners.”

Leading PHEV powertrain

Alongside the HR12 internal combustion engine, the complete powertrain unit will also feature three electric motors – two main, and one secondary:

• the first main electric motor on the front axle, delivering 50kW of power and 205Nm of torque
• the second main electric motor on the rear axle, delivering 100kW and 195Nm
• a secondary HSG (High-voltage Starter Generator) electric motor producing 25kW and 50Nm

Altogether, this will mean the PHEV’s maximum power output will be over 220kW (300hp), driven by a specially adapted and clutchless multi-mode gearbox. The PHEV’s energy will be stored in a 400-volt lithium-ion battery, with a total capacity of 22kWh. Altogether, this means the powertrain will deliver a pure-electric range of over 100km for the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 Hybrid.

The PHEV’s superior efficiency will mean that the new Rafale 4×4 will achieve superior emissions performance. In electric mode, it will achieve an average fuel consumption of just 0.7 litres per 100km, with CO₂ emissions of only 15g/km.

HORSE: a leader in automotive innovation

HORSE was created to provide highly efficient, low-emission engines, transmissions, and technologies to meet the varying power generation needs around the world. HORSE operates eight production plants across seven countries, three R&D centres and a head office based in Madrid, Spain – the company produces 3.2 million units per year for its customers around the world.

HORSE, a leader in innovative and low emissions powertrain systems, has today signed its first agreement to produce Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) engines for a passenger vehicle: the Lecar 459 Hybrid.

Set to launch in 2026, the Lecar 459 Hybrid is the first vehicle from Lecar, Brazil’s newest home-grown electric vehicle (EV) automaker. Founded by Brazilian entrepreneur Flávio Figueiredo Assis, Lecar will introduce a new range of sophisticated and affordable EV models targeted at domestic audiences.

HORSE will initially supply Lecar with 12,000 units of its 1.0-litre 3-cylinder ‘HR10’ engines annually, with room to supply more as demand increases. The HR10 engines are tailored to run on low-emissions gasoline and ethanol flex fuels, which are a staple of the Brazilian market.

The HR10 units will serve as the combustion engine within the Lecar 459 Hybrid’s Range Extender powertrain. This leverages the HR10’s proven success within HORSE’s own Range Extender solution for light commercial vehicles.

Matias Giannini, Chief Executive Officer at HORSE Powertrain Limited, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for HORSE, Lecar, and Brazilian motorists. For Lecar this agreement allows them the opportunity to leverage HORSE’s proven HR10 engine for a passenger EREV, following the HR10’s successful deployment in Range Extender solutions for light commercial vehicles.

 “For HORSE, this is a monumental first step into providing combustion engines for passenger vehicle Range Extenders. This deal signals our commitment to Brazil, one of the world’s most exciting automotive markets. It also our signals our relentless commitment to innovation in EREVs, one of the fastest-growing vehicle categories globally – and our ability to support brands and OEMs developing both EVs and combustion engine vehicles.”

Best-of-both-world powertrain

In contrast to traditional PHEVs, the combustion engine of an EREV never directly drives the vehicle’s wheels – instead providing charge to the vehicle’s battery via an on-board electric generator.

This allows the combustion engine to run at its highest-efficiency state, minimising fuel consumption and emissions. When its battery is fully charged, the EREV’s engine will automatically be turned off.

The battery can also be charged in a similar manner to any other EV, using a public charger or domestic power supply. When used with low-carbon fuels, such as the flex fuels popular in the Brazilian market, this means that the cradle-to-grave footprint of the EREV is comparable to an equivalent long-range EV.

Patrice Haettel, Chief Executive Officer at HORSE, said: “HORSE was a natural partner for Lecar’s new hybrid passenger car. Our HR10 range extender engine is already at the heart of a light commercial vehicle, built in our rapidly growing operation in Curitiba, so it is proven technology in the market.

 “Our footprint made us the perfect supplier for Lecar’s vision to create a truly home-grown Brazilian EV. This is a significant milestone for HORSE as it continues to deliver on our strategy of developing tailor-made solutions for every market. We have once again demonstrated our technology and industry leadership, and I am extremely proud of the HORSE teams across the world that have contributed to this engineering and commercial success.”

Tried-and-tested technology

This agreement follows the first Lecar 459 Hybrid prototype in August, which saw the company purchase its very first HR10 unit for testing and configuration in the test vehicle.

HORSE’s HR10 engine produces up to 85kW of power and 200Nm of torque thanks to its direct fuel injection, double overhead camshafts, and turbocharger. Produced at HORSE’s plant in Curitiba, Brazil, the HR10 is currently used in HORSE’s own Range Extender solution for light commercial vehicles.

Alongside HORSE’s HR10 engine, the Lecar 459 Hybrid will utilise an electric generator from WEG – HORSE’s electric component partner for its fully-integrated light commercial vehicle Range Extender solution.

Flávio Figueiredo Assis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Lecar, said: “Our team has an incredibly ambitious plan to develop and deliver the Lecar 459 Hybrid, Brazil’s first home-grown EV. To achieve this, HORSE is the ideal partner for us – along with being a world-class supplier of industry-leading combustion engines, HORSE’s production footprint in Brazil is in perfect alignment with Lecar’s vision to revolutionise the Brazilian car market with domestically-produced solutions.”

HORSE: a leader in automotive innovation

HORSE was created to provide highly efficient, low-emission engines, transmissions, and technologies to meet the varying power generation needs around the world. HORSE operates eight production plants across seven countries, three R&D centres and a head office based in Madrid, Spain – the company produces 3.2 million units per year for its customers around the world.

HORSE, a leader in innovative and low emissions powertrain systems, will invest in a new state-of-the-art production line to cast aluminium engine cylinder heads at its Curitiba plant in Brazil.

This new facility will use a tilting gravity casting process to produce aluminium cylinder heads for the company’s 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre flex fuel engines.

Forecast to cast 210,000 cylinder heads annually, HORSE will invest €26.3 million in the new automated production line, creating 60 new permanent jobs by 2026. HORSE will also be investing another €6.5 million in the Curitiba plant’s testing and validation capabilities to correspond with the growth in production volume. The new line is planned to be fully operational by October 2026.

Antonio Vaz, Chief Process Engineering Officer at HORSE, said: “By investing over €30 million in cylinder head production at Curitiba, we’re further localising the supply chain for some of our most valuable engines for the South American market. This new line also pioneers some of the most energy-efficient casting methods in the industry, with zero waste to landfill. It signals our commitment to South America and to next-generation processes at scale.”

Pioneering new processes

Curitiba’s new line will be HORSE’s first worldwide to use gravity casting for cylinder production, a highly efficient process that delivers components with outstanding mechanical and material performance.

In combination with the use of sustainably sourced inorganic sand, the new line will produce zero waste for landfill – all production waste can be re-processed and recycled.

Powering next-generation engines

Curitiba’s new line will produce cylinder heads for HORSE’s HR10 and HR13 turbo petrol engines. Tailored to the unique needs of the South American market, both the 3-cylinder 1.0-litre ‘HR10’ and 4-cylinder 1.3-litre ‘HR13’ engines can be run on both gasoline and ethanol, supporting the widespread use of flex fuels in Latin America. HORSE plans to produce both engines domestically at its Curitiba plant by the end of 2024.

Both engines use a delta-shaped cylinder head to save mass and space, lower their centre of gravity, and improve thermal management of the engine. Exhaust manifolds are directly cast into the head for faster turbo response and exceptional low speed torque delivery.

This new investment will enable cylinder heads for both the HR10 and HR13 engines to be entirely domestically produced at the Curitiba plant, localising the supply chain for these engines. It follows a €16 million investment in November 2023 to produce the HR10 engine at Curitiba.

Wesley Palma, Operations Director at HORSE Curitiba, said: “This investment recognises Brazil’s ever-growing importance to HORSE and the global automotive industry. Building on our previous investments to produce the HR10 engine in Brazil, this new initiative will further localise production for both our HR10 and HR13 engines with domestically cast cylinder heads. This will help us streamline our supply chain and further reinforce Brazil’s role as a critical hub for automotive innovation.”

HORSE: a leader in automotive innovation

HORSE was created to provide highly efficient, low-emission engines, transmissions, and technologies to meet the varying power generation needs around the world. HORSE operates eight production plants across seven countries, three R&D centres and a head office based in Madrid, Spain – the company produces 3.2 million units per year for its customers around the world.