Horse Powertrain opens first US office in DetroitWards AutoPaul MylesFri, September 11, 2026 at 9:08 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleThe powertrain supplier expands operations into the U.S. as it focuses on growing its business.This story was originally published on WardsAuto. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily WardsAuto newsletter.Horse Powertrain has opened its first office in the U.S. in its drive to explore business growth in the North American market.The company, a joint venture established in May 2024 between Renault Group and Geely, has opened its office in Detroit, Michigan, aiming to cater to U.S. automaker clients, its Sept. 9 release states.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis office, to be led by Thomas Lewis, president of Horse Powertrain USA, will house 32 new roles across a range of business functions.Horse Powertrain says it specializes in the development and production of powertrain-agnostic technology for use by automotive brands, encompassing combustion engines, hybrid systems, transmissions, power electronics and electric motors.The integrated approach promises a vast reduction in complexity and capital burden to automakers, Horse Powertrain says — allowing automakers to quickly meet changing consumer demand.The company currently has operations in Europe, China and South America and employs more than 19,000 people.AdvertisementAdvertisement"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," said Horse Powertrain's CEO, Matias Giannini. "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," he added.Meanwhile, the company has unveiled its first fully waterproof engine, the Horse B20.The B20 is a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine designed for extreme off-road hybrid vehicles, such as SUVs and pickup trucks, needing deep-water wading capabilities, the company said in its Sept. 8 release.The B20 engine meets IPX8 waterproofing standards and can operate in depths of up to 3.6 feet while maintaining continuous and stable power under extreme off-road high-load conditions, including 100% grade climbing, per the company.AdvertisementAdvertisementTo achieve an IPX8 waterproof rating, the B20 uses a sealed waterproof structure equipped with torsional vibration dampers and dedicated engine-transmission sealing. When the engine is submerged in water, the control system makes automatic adjustments such as limiting power or adjusting the throttle response, based on feedback signals from its sensors.The B20 weighs just 286 pounds and is compatible for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle range extender applications. The engine features direct injection technology and offers power and torque ratings of 188 hp to 248 hp and 221 lb-ft to 280 lb-ft, respectively."This engine is another step forward in advancing modern powertrain technology and a further example of how Horse Powertrain is pushing our industry forward," said Horse Powertrain's deputy chief technology officer, Ingo Scholten.Recommended ReadingHorse Powertrain CEO: Automakers need plug-and-play powertrain solutions',