Deutz, headquartered in Cologne, Germany, has agreed a strategic cooperation with Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL), an Indian industrial company specialising in diesel and gas engines for the off-highway sector, expanding its engine portfolio to include a 1.6-litre variant.
Deutz’s engine portfolio for highly regulated applications currently covers drives from 2.2 litres upward. Through the cooperation, the company adds a new entry-level class beneath that range.
A compact addition to the range
“With the 1.6-litre engine, we are specifically adding a compact and high-performance solution to our portfolio in the lower power segment,” says Markus Villinger, chief executive of the Deutz business unit Engines. “Together with Kirloskar Oil Engines, we are responding to market trends such as downsizing and growing customer demand for reliable Deutz solutions in the power range below 2 litres. Combined with our global service offering, customers will also benefit from reliable spare-parts supply, technical support, and lifecycle services.”
The new drive will be offered as the naturally aspirated D1.6 and the turbocharged TCD1.6. The water-cooled three-cylinder series, with electronic direct injection and a high-pressure common-rail system, covers a power range from 18 to 41.2kW. Deutz says efficient combustion, compact dimensions and flexible integration will enable use in a variety of machine concepts, including construction, materials handling and industrial applications. The engine platform meets the emissions requirements of EPA and CARB Tier 4 as well as EU Stage V. The first variant is expected to be available from the first quarter of 2027.
“Deutz and Kirloskar Oil Engines have a long-standing history of industrial collaboration in the field of engine and drive solutions for the Indian market,” says Anmol Batra, president of global industrial business at Kirloskar Oil Engines. “We are pleased to build on this established partnership with the agreement we have now signed and to expand our collaboration on compact drive solutions beyond the region.”
Kirloskar Oil Engines has more than 100 years of experience manufacturing diesel engines, generator sets and pumps, and operates in the agriculture, infrastructure and industrial sectors.
An evolving engine portfolio
Deutz describes itself as having evolved from a manufacturer of conventional engines into a system provider for mobility and energy solutions. Founded in 1864 in Cologne, where it remains based, the company says it is the world’s oldest engine manufacturer. Its high-performance drive systems for off-highway applications remain at the heart of its operations, alongside alternative drive solutions and decentralised energy and power generation systems.
Deutz solutions are used in construction equipment, agricultural machinery, materials handling equipment such as forklift trucks and lifting platforms, stationary equipment such as generator sets, and commercial and rail vehicles. With around 1,250 sales and service locations in nearly 180 countries, the company employs around 6,000 people worldwide and generated revenue of just over €2.0 billion in 2025. More information is available at www.deutz.com.
