BMW Group Plant Steyr is gearing up for the series production of fuel cell systems, with the third generation of the BMW Group’s hydrogen drive system set to be manufactured in Steyr from 2028. The company’s competence centres in Munich and Steyr are already working on building the first prototypes, with additional drive system components coming from the technology hub in Landshut.
“The launch of the first-ever fuel cell production model from BMW in 2028 will add another exceptionally efficient high-performance drive system with zero emissions to our technology-open product portfolio,” says Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. The choice of Steyr as the production location underscores the company’s commitment to a European innovation footprint.
The first generation of the fuel cell drive system was supplied entirely by Toyota and was fitted in the BMW 535iA back in 2014. The second generation made its debut in the current BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot fleet, with BMW developing the overall fuel cell system itself this time.
For the new generation, BMW and Toyota are jointly developing the powertrain system for passenger vehicles, creating synergies for both commercial and passenger vehicle applications. This collaboration allows for the leveraging of synergies in development and procurement while also enabling the creation of brand-specific models.
The third generation of fuel cell technology brings significant improvements, including a more compact design, high degree of integration into future vehicle architectures, optimized components for increased efficiency, and improved operating strategies for enhanced range and output with lower energy consumption.
The BMW Group is making prototypes of the fuel cell systems at the company’s competence centre for hydrogen in Munich. The fuel cell system includes components such as fuel cells, cooling systems, and hydrogen- and air subsystems, all designed to ensure high performance and safety.
Series production of the fuel cell systems will begin in 2028 at BMW Group Plant Steyr, which boasts decades of development and production expertise across all drive system types. BMW Group Plant Landshut will manufacture key components for the fuel cell vehicles, with new hardware and equipment for series production of the hydrogen-specific BMW Energy Master set to start construction in late May 2026.
Overall, BMW’s commitment to fuel cell technology showcases its dedication to innovation and sustainability in the automotive industry. The seamless integration of fuel cell systems into future vehicle architectures demonstrates the company’s forward-thinking approach to drive system development.
