In 2028, BMW will take the first step by introducing an FCEV car.
It’s fascinating to see vehicle manufacturers from different continents collaborating to produce eco-friendly cars as the automotive sector transitions towards a sustainable future. Notable partnerships include Ford and Volkswagen, General Motors and Honda, and Toyota and Subaru, among others.
Recently, Toyota and BMW have further strengthened their partnership in the hydrogen sector, building on their 2011 agreement to establish a mid-to-long-term cooperative relationship in environmental technology.
That said, the two giants will work together to develop the third generation of the fuel cell system that will be featured in both companies’ cars. According to the brands, this will offer customers a broad range of fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
Both companies will collaborate on development and procurement to create added value. They aim to reduce costs by combining powertrain units, which will help increase the demand for both commercial and passenger vehicles. By making FCEVs more affordable, the partnership will help build a hydrogen-based society.
BMW is set to kickstart this move with the planned introduction of an FCEV model in 2028. As for Toyota, the Japanese marque already has the Mirai for sale, and this further proves that the hydrogen fuel cell still has a future.
The two companies believe that partnering with others is crucial to creating a hydrogen-based society. They intend to collaborate with hydrogen producers, distribution networks, and refueling stations to ensure a consistent supply of hydrogen while also lowering costs.
Toyota and BMW have had strong partnerships in the past, such as the collaboration in 2012 to co-develop a sports car platform. This partnership aimed to leverage BMW’s expertise in performance engineering and Toyota’s strength in hybrid and fuel cell technologies, and the result was the Toyota Supra and the BMW Z4, which both share the same platform, engine, and chassis.
