Powertrains systems maker Horse - a Renault Geely JV - has started the manufacturing and assembly of its 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder gasoline engine (HR12) at its plant in Mioveni, Romania.

The firm says it is the most efficient engine among its Horse product portfolio, and the most powerful produced at Horse Romania, with the HR12 used in several vehicles including hybrids.

The beginning of production in Mioveni supplements Horse’s global capacity for the HR12 engine, with engines produced in Romania to be installed in new Dacia Duster models.

The Horse Valladolid factory in Spain will continue to produce the engine for the Renault Austral and Espace models.

Patrice Haettel, Chief Executive Officer of Horse, said: “We have started the production of the HR12 engine at our factory in Romania, building upon our ongoing assembly of the engine in Valladolid, Spain.”

Horse Romania will assemble the HR12 engine on-site, in addition to the casting for the cylinder blocks in its aluminium foundry.