Through a collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation, BMW plans to see the launch of their first series production fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in 2028.

It has been agreed that the two automotive giants will work together in order to develop this innovative powertrain system for passenger vehicles. Furthermore, it has been stated that the customers can expect the FCEV models to maintain their distinct brand identities.

Currently, the two companies are working to advocate the creation of a conductive framework by governments and investors. The purpose behind doing this, is to facilitate the adoption of hydrogen mobility, whilst also ensuring its economic viability.

So far, the project has made great progress, as last month, Toyota and SinoHytec officially opened their hydrogen fuel cell R&D and production plant, which is located in Beijing, China. This is a huge achievement, as it has been predicted that this plant will be able to produce an estimated 10,000 fuel cell systems annually.

The 2028 series production models will be integrated into BMW’s existing portfolio and this work clearly follows on from BMW’s iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet that was officially launched in 2023 and which was powered by 125kW Toyota fuel cells.

Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW, Oliver Zipse, commented, “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 and it will herald an era of significant demand for fuel cell electric vehicles.”

President and Member of the Board of Management at Toyota, Kaji Sato, stated that with BMW, Toyota “will deepen [its] 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.”