Detroit Gets a New Hybrid Powertrain Supplier as EV Plans Shift

Global Powertrain Giant Establishes Michigan Hub to Court American OEMs

Horse Powertrain, the global joint venture established by Renault Group and Geely, has officially expanded into North America with a new office in Southfield, Michigan. The company specializes in low-emission internal combustion engines, hybrid powertrains, and alternative fuel systems. Its expansion into the Detroit metropolitan area establishes a strategic foothold to build direct engineering and commercial relationships with regional automakers.

Operating as a technical and commercial support hub rather than a manufacturing facility, the Southfield location positions the supplier near major domestic manufacturers. By establishing a physical presence in Michigan, the business aims to help North American brands navigate changing market conditions, volatile consumer demand for electrification, and evolving emissions regulations.

Executive Leadership Details Expansion Strategy and Advanced Hardware Portfolio

The new facility opens with an initial team of 32 professionals covering engineering, sales, and supply chain management. Thomas Lewis, President of Horse Powertrain USA, said opening the Detroit office lets the team collaborate directly with local automakers, with a long-term goal of becoming a core player in the North American automotive ecosystem.

CEO Matias Giannini added that North America is a critical strategic market that will benefit from the supplier’s propulsion portfolio as OEMs maintain diverse vehicle lineups. To support this strategy, the company is bringing specialized hardware stateside, including a 248-horsepower waterproof engine built to IPX8 submersion standards and a 536-horsepower hybrid V6 weighing just 353 pounds.

To further shorten development cycles for regional manufacturers, the company is offering its modular X-Range powertrain. This direct-drive system enables automakers to convert existing battery-electric vehicle architectures into range-extended hybrid models without the massive capital expenditure of a ground-up platform redesign.

Sluggish EV Adoption Makes Third-Party Engines an Essential Lifeline

Horse Powertrain’s entry into North America arrives at a pragmatic moment for Detroit. Major domestic automakers are recalibrating initial full-electric transition timelines in favor of plug-in hybrids and range-extended electric vehicles. However, engineering entire families of modern internal combustion engines or hybrid systems completely in-house requires billions in capital and years of lead time that manufacturers simply do not have.

By supplying pre-engineered, flexible propulsion technologies, the joint venture gives legacy automakers a cost-effective way to meet immediate consumer demand for hybrids. This expansion confirms that efficient combustion and flexible hybrid technologies will remain a central, profitable component of North American vehicle lineups for the foreseeable future.