Toyota buys one-third of Cellcentric to push hydrogen trucks across Europe
What's the deal? Toyota Motor CorporationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has signed a binding agreement to become an equal one-third shareholder in Cellcentric, the hydrogen fuel-cell joint venture founded by Daimler TruckDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Volvo GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The deal value was not disclosed. Toyota will contribute financially and provide its fuel-cell technology to the venture.
What each side brings: Cellcentric, launched in 2021 as a 50:50 Volvo-Daimler venture, develops and builds fuel-cell systems as a Tier 1 supplier, including its current BZA150 and next-generation BZA375. Toyota adds more than 30 years of fuel-cell development from its passenger car business.
Why now? Cellcentric was built on the premise that battery-electric vehicles alone cannot decarbonise heavy long-haul transport. Its parent companies are moving toward commercial deployment: Daimler will put a pre-series fleet of 100 Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2 trucks into customer operations from the end of 2026, capable of more than 1,000km on a single fill of liquid hydrogen.
What's the endgame? The partners want to accelerate development, production, and commercialisation of heavy-duty hydrogen systems, while tackling energy production and refuelling. Cellcentric also plans to supply modular systems for coaches, marine vessels, stationary power, rail, and off-highway equipment.
"Cellcentric, which possesses deep expertise in commercial fields, together with Toyota's over 30 years of fuel-cell development in the passenger car sector, can combine their strengths to deliver one of the world-leading fuel cell systems for heavy commercial vehicles," said Toyota president and chief executive Koji Sato.
The wider push: At IAA Transportation this month, a consortium of Daimler, Volvo, Toyota, BoschDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Air LiquideDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, TotalEnergiesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, TEAL MobilityDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and MB Energy announced a plan to make hydrogen commercially viable for high-mileage operators by 2030. The group will use Germany as its proving ground, backed by toll exemptions and purchase subsidies, before expanding across Europe.
The signal: The deal turns a two-way venture into a three-way industry alliance, pooling Europe's largest truckmakers with Japan's leading fuel-cell developer. It signals that heavy-duty hydrogen is shifting from testing to a shared bet on commercial scale.
Read more: goauto.com.au
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
