MWM motorhorse revolutionizes transportation

With the development and sale of the MWM motorhorse, the MWM brand revolutionized transportation in Germany. From 1924 to 1931, the company produced and delivered a total of 558 units of the world’s first tractor with two-cylinder four-stroke prechamber diesel engine. In order not to violate the contractual rule of Benz & Cie. not to produce any vehicles with engines weighing less than 25 kg/hp, engineer Prosper L’Orange developed a transversely mounted diesel engine (RH18 Z). With its compressorless MWM diesel engine, the motorhorse had a power of 16 to 18 hp at 750 to 800 rpm.

In August 1924, five engine-powered MWM motorhorses passed through Mannheim without producing any smoke, providing a fine spectacle. One of the first tractors drove up to the Königsstuhl with a trailing load of 5 t. After the focus had been shifted to engine production and sales, the production of the MWM motorhorse was stopped. However, the invention had not only shown the inventive spirit and innovative drive of MWM, it had also demonstrated the performance and suitability of the diesel engine for everyday use. As a result, more and more companies started using MWM diesel engines.