Pic: Matias Giannini, CEO of Horse PowertrainHorse Powertrain, a specialist in innovative and low-emission powertrain systems, has been awarded the prestigious Sturmey Award at the 2026 Autocar awards.
First awarded in 2014, the Sturmey Award is one of Autocar’s biggest and most prestigious prizes, recognising outstanding people, companies, or technologies that represent the most significant innovations and achievement for the automotive industry.
Horse Powertrain was selected for the prize, with judges praising the impressive engineering and innovation behind the company and its products and services.
The company’s technical innovation includes its pioneering series of X-Range powertrains, which enable automakers to convert BEV-native platforms into HEVs, PHEVs, and REEVs. Furthermore, it was recognised for its breakthroughs in increasing powertrain thermal efficiency and reducing the carbon intensity of combustion and hybrid vehicles.
Matias Giannini, the CEO of Horse Powertrain, received the trophy from Autocar editor-at-large, Matt Prior, at the annual event taking place at Armoury House, London.
He said: “It is a great honour to receive this prestigious award from Autocar and a fantastic recognition of the talented global teams that make up Horse Powertrain. Together, they are delivering the innovations driving the industry towards net zero.
“As a powertrain solutions partner to numerous OEMs, we remain committed to a culture of innovation that, through our products and systems integration expertise, enables continuous reductions in mobility emissions - whether through electrification, alternative fuels or highly efficient hybrids.”
Mark Tisshaw, Autocar editor, commented: “Horse Powertrain’s rule-breaking approach is challenging almost every established way of thinking in the automotive game. This unique strategy that focuses on reimagining and advancing the combustion engine is as technically innovative as it is commercially disruptive. In winning this award, we are pleased to recognise the foresight and courage of a company that continues to push forward and champion the combustion engine, even in the face of the wider industry trend towards all-out electrification.”
Horse Powertrain is a global leader in innovative, low-emission hybrid and combustion powertrain solutions, supporting automotive OEMs with a range of systems including engines, transmissions, power electronics, range extenders, and integrated hybrid platforms. Its 25 customers include Renault, Geely Auto, Volvo, Proton, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.