Renault and Geely have formed a joint venture called Horse Powertrain Limited in 2024 to develop alternative powertrain technologies amid a slowdown in battery-electric vehicle adoption. At the IAA 2025, Horse Powertrain showcased several innovations including the compact C15 range-extender engine—a versatile 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder producing up to 161 hp with turbocharging, designed to fit in small vehicles or EV frunks. This engine meets stringent emissions standards and supports multiple fuel types such as gasoline, ethanol, methanol, and synthetic fuels. Additionally, they introduced a future hybrid system that integrates an engine, transmission, motor, and power electronics to convert existing vehicles into hybrids, with outputs up to 349 hp.

Horse Powertrain also revealed advancements in electric motor and generator technology, including an amorphous iron stator made from ultra-thin metallic glass plates that reduce iron losses by over 50%, achieving a motor efficiency of 98.2%. Their GaN (gallium-nitride) high-efficiency generator offers 67 hp at 95% efficiency with excellent thermal performance, enabling a smaller, more robust design. These innovations promise improved efficiency and compactness, potentially debuting in Geely-owned brands like Volvo or Polestar, signaling a strong push toward hybrid and range-extender solutions as alternatives to pure BEVs.