BMW + Toyota to sell hydrogen cars from 2028

        BMW and Toyota to launch first mass-production hydrogen car by 2028

BMW plans to start selling hydrogen-powered vehicles in four years in a bid to establish the technology as an alternative to battery-electric cars. The two car makers have teamed up to work on a fuel-cell electric vehicle platform to try and expand the number of such cars available and bring the cost of the technology down. BMW will launch its first mass production hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle in 2028, after teaming up to work on the technology with Toyota. The two manufacturers announced they are partnering on the development of a third-generation fuel-cell system, which will be installed in both companies' models to provide more choice of fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) in the market. The first stage of the joint venture is for BMW to launch its first large scale production hydrogen car, though the auto maker has been testing the BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet worldwide with a range of 500km and an ability to refuel in three to four minutes.

The German luxury-car maker will develop a new generation of fuel-cell powertrains with partner Toyota Motor Corp., it said. Series production will start in 2028, with a hydrogen variant of an existing BMW model available that year. While BMW has for years pursued the technology, cars with a fuel cell are struggling to take off because of high costs and a lack of fuelling infrastructure. There’s also very little choice, with Toyota’s Mirai and Hyundai Motor Co.’s Nexo among the few models available. Global sales of hydrogen cars declined to just 9,000 units last year, according to reports available. Proponents of fuel cells point to long driving ranges and argue the technology can prove effective in regions where battery-charging infrastructure isn’t strong enough to support a transition to EVs. They burn hydrogen to produce electricity and emit only water.

Further details on the 2028 vehicle are set to be announced next month, though BMW has said it will be a variant of an existing model rather than something new altogether. “This is a milestone in automotive history: the first-ever series production fuel-cell vehicle to be offered by a global premium manufacturer. Powered by hydrogen and driven by the spirit of our cooperation, it will underscore how technological progress is shaping future mobility,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. BMW and Toyota plan to make hydrogen powertrains together for use in models from both carmakers. They expect that joint development and parts procurement will help drive down costs and make the technology more competitive. BMW declined to comment on prices for its future hydrogen cars.

BMW has operated a small test fleet of hydrogen-powered iX5 sport utility vehicles since 2023. Chief Executive Officer Oliver Zipse has previously said that hydrogen drives might be an option for BMW’s “Neue Klasse” line of EVs due to launch next year. “We are convinced that hydrogen will play a more important role in the future,” Michael Rath, who heads BMW’s hydrogen-vehicle program, told reporters. The powertrain system will be made by BMW and Toyota, who signed an agreement back in 2011 to develop environmental technologies together, for use in both passenger and commercial vehicles in an effort to expand the range of hydrogen options and drive down the cost of the technology.

“We are pleased that the collaboration between BMW and Toyota has entered a new stage. In our long history of partnership, we have confirmed that BMW and Toyota share the same passion for cars and belief in ‘technology openness’ and a ‘multi-pathway’ approach to carbon neutrality,” added Koji Sato, President and Member of the Board of Management at Toyota Motor Corporation. “Based on these shared values, we will deepen our collaboration in efforts such as the joint development of next-generation fuel-cell systems and the expansion of infrastructure, aiming for the realisation of a hydrogen society. We will accelerate our efforts together with BMW and partners across various industries to realise a future where hydrogen energy supports society.” A hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle uses an electric motor just like a battery-electric vehicle (EV), but instead of drawing its power from a battery it takes it from a fuel stack where the hydrogen is separated by a catalyst to produce electricity. They can be refuelled quickly and have a long driving range, but the cost of the technology is currently quite high and there are limited places to top up.

Toyota does already produce the hydrogen fuel-cell Mirai, which is available in Australia but was only imported in small numbers for lease by government fleets. Hyundai brought its Nexo FCEV to Australia under a similar arrangement, but neither company has introduced the vehicles to their line-up because there are not enough refuelling stations to support the technology yet. BMW insists fuel-cell vehicles are not designed to replace EVs, but to sit alongside them, with battery-powered cars better for smaller passenger vehicles while hydrogen better suits vans and trucks.