20 JAN. 2025
Andalusian Industry Minister visits HORSE Seville plant
– Regional Minister for Industry, Energy and Mining for the Government of Andalusia, Jorge Paradela visits Seville plant to see the initial phase of DB49 production
– HORSE Seville delivers economic stability to the area, employing more than 1,000 technicians and engineers from the local region
– The DB49 transmission is a clutchless, 15-speed unit which is designed for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles
– HORSE is a division of Horse Powertrain, a global leader in hybrid and combustion powertrain solutions across 17 plants and 5 R&D centres
HORSE, a leader in innovative and low emissions powertrain systems, today welcomed Regional Minister for Industry, Energy and Mining for the Government of Andalusia, Jorge Paradela into its Seville plant to see first-hand production of its new DB49 transmission.
The HORSE Seville plant – which has been building transmissions for more than 60 years – delivers economic stability to the area, employing more than 1,000 technicians and engineers from the local region.
During his visit, Mr. Paradela walked along the production line of HORSE’s newest hybrid technology to see how it is built, as well as meeting several employees who are involved in in the manufacturing process.
The Minister also spent time with Javier Bernáldez, Plant Director to discuss the role hybrid vehicle technology will play in the region’s economy in the coming years. He also spoke with Rafael Vázquez, director of Industrial Excellence and Metaverse at HORSE, who highlighted the role of Seville in the company’s global strategy and the importance of technological neutrality in the search for sustainable mobility worldwide.
Jorge Paradela, Andalusian Minister for Industry, Energy and Mining, said: “HORSE is a clear example of a company committed to the energy transition, and stands out in its production of hybrid gearboxes such as the new DB49. The Andalusian government has supported this project with nearly €6 million via incentives from the regional government’s own funds to help make it a reality. This is alongside our other work with the automotive sector to tackle the challenge of delivering sustainable mobility solutions, including the €10 million invested in our CRECE stimulus plan.”
Javier Bernáldez, Plant Director at HORSE Seville, said: “The new DB49 transmission, built here in Seville, symbolises our commitment to the local [Andalusian] region and exporting around the world. We are honoured to host Mr. Paradela and showcase our world-class hybrid vehicle technology produced at the plant – including our all-new DB49 gearbox for HEV and PHEVs. HORSE believes that there’s no single path to sustainable mobility worldwide, and during his visit Mr. Paradela saw first-hand our commitment to versatile, technology neutral solutions that meet the needs of customers around the world.”
The new DB49 transmission produced at HORSE Seville is the first to be designed in-house by the company: a clutchless, 15-speed unit that produces a maximum torque of 470Nm and a peak output of 35kW. It features two electric motors for maximum versatility across a range of driving conditions and weighs just 99kg.
The plant, opened in 1966, has built more than 32 million units over its lifetime. In 2024, it produced 666,670 transmissions. More than 60% of the plant’s output is exported beyond Spain.