BMW Group has confirmed production of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles for 2028 according to Forbes.com with prototypes already emerging from the company’s retooled Steyr production facility in Austria. This development signals a significant strategic pivot in the global automotive sector’s approach to energy diversification amid ongoing geopolitical tensions around critical battery materials and energy security.
Strategic Production Milestone
The German automaker’s Steyr plant has undergone extensive retooling over the past year to accommodate third-generation fuel cell systems—marking BMW’s first mainstream production deployment of hydrogen technology. These advanced systems demonstrate a 25% reduction in size compared to previous iterations while maintaining equivalent power output, representing a crucial leap in power density that could influence broader industry adoption patterns.
The timing of BMW’s hydrogen commitment comes as European automakers increasingly seek alternatives to lithium-ion battery supply chains dominated by Chinese manufacturers. BMW’s iX5 fuel cell pilot program, which served German fleet operators in 2023, provided critical operational data that informed this production decision.
