Horse Powertrain has opened its North American office in Michigan, creating 32 new roles across a range of business functions to serve US automakers. The Detroit-area office adds to the company’s regional facilities in Europe, China, and South America, according to Horse Powertrain, which describes the opening as the latest phase of its global growth plans. The London-headquartered supplier says the location will focus predominantly on US clients and will bring its hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and range-extended powertrain portfolio to the North American market.
Highlights
- 32 new roles across business functions at the new North American office
- Over 19,000 employees and operations in Europe, China, and South America
- More than 25 customers worldwide, with the new office intended to serve US automakers
- 125-plus years of heritage as an independent powertrain company
What Will the North America Office Do?
The company says the office is positioned in the heartland of the US automotive industry and will cater predominantly to US clients. Its stated role is to provide local support to American automakers as they deploy the company’s combustion and hybrid powertrains in their vehicles.
Horse Powertrain develops and produces powertrain-agnostic technology for automotive brands, covering combustion engines, hybrid systems, transmissions, power electronics, and electric motors. According to the company, its pre-integrated powertrain systems reduce the complexity and capital burden faced by automakers, allowing them to respond to shifting consumer demand while lowering capex and shortening vehicle production timelines.
The company says it brings hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and range-extended powertrain expertise to North America, drawing on a catalog of intellectual property and engineering heritage that delivers what it describes as globally proven hardware. The move follows a run of recent product activity, including the HORSE B20 waterproof hybrid engine revealed this week and the upgraded HORSE V20 plug-in and mild hybrid engine launched earlier this year.
Executive Commentary
Matias Giannini, Chief Executive Officer of Horse Powertrain, said: “The opening of our new North American office is an important moment for Horse Powertrain. North America is a key strategic market for our company, and one that will benefit greatly from our world-class portfolio of combustion and hybrid powertrains. In the years ahead, we aim to establish ourselves as a major partner for North American OEMs as they continue to offer a diverse range of vehicles to consumers.”
Thomas Lewis, President of Horse Powertrain USA, said: “Having been born, raised, and spent most of my career in Michigan, it’s a privilege to open Horse Powertrain’s North America office in Detroit. This move marks the next step of our journey, allowing us to directly support local automakers by collaborating with them in deploying our next-gen combustion and hybrid powertrains in their vehicles. In the long-term, our aim is to establish a wider set of business functions in the US and establish Horse Powertrain as a major player in the North American automotive ecosystem.”
Ribbon-Cutting With Michigan Officials
Horse Powertrain marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held alongside the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP), and Southfield City Council. Dignitaries in attendance included David Coulter, Oakland County Executive, and Ken Siver, Mayor of Southfield, along with local business leaders, according to the company’s announcement.
The company says it employs more than 19,000 people, serves more than 25 customers worldwide, and operates as an independent business with more than 125 years of heritage.
