Official! Toyota And BMW Strengthen Partnership For Ecosystem Development Of Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Toyota Motor Corporation and BMW Group have entered into partnerships in the development of hydrogen vehicles and ecosystems. (Doc. Toyota Global)

JAKARTA - Two well-known automotive companies Toyota Motor Corporation and BMW Group officially signed an agreement to strengthen collaboration in the development of hydrogen vehicles.

The purpose of this partnership is to create a hydrogen ecosystem in order to achieve carbon neutrality as a whole. Both will work together in developing fuel cell systems and improving infrastructure.

Toyota Motor Corporation CEO Koji Sato said this collaboration is in line with the multi-path' approach set by the company and believes that BMW has a similar interest in presenting more environmentally friendly mobility.

"We will accelerate our efforts with BMW and partners in various industries to realize a future where hydrogen energy can support the ecosystem," Sato said on the company's official website, Friday, September 6.

Meanwhile, BMW AG Chairman Oliver Zipse said the partnership was a historic milestone in the auto industry as well as marking the beginning of an era of increasing demand for hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) vehicles.

"Effected by hydrogen and driven by the spirit of our cooperation, this will underscore how technological advances shape future mobility," Zipse said.

Toyota and BMW will jointly develop a third-generation FCEV system on this second brand model as well as offer customers a wide selection of environmentally friendly mobility.

Through this collaboration, it was confirmed that BMW plans to launch its first mass production FCEV model in 2028.

In addition to presenting future models, both of them are also trying to create synergies in developing and procuring costs by combining powertrain units to increase demand for commercial vehicles and passengers.

In addition, Toyota and BMW will drive a sustainable hydrogen supply by creating demand and working with a number of these energy-producing companies and improving hydrogen refueling facilities.

The two companies have been building partnerships since December 2011 in developing environmental technology, including alternative energy for hydrogen fuel cells.

The collaboration also resulted in the BMW iX5 Hydrogen model introduced in February last year. This car is based on the fourth generation X5 SUV launched in 2019.

One of BMW's goals is to introduce iX5 Hydrogen in various countries to support the development of 700-bar hydrogen-fueled infrastructure for all types of vehicles.