Lead

German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder arrived at Toyota's fuel cell factory in Japan on Wednesday in a BMW iX5 Hydrogen, and left in a Toyota Crown FCEV — both vehicles that run on electricity generated from hydrogen in a fuel cell. The choice of cars was deliberate, underscoring the deepening cooperation between Germany and Japan on hydrogen drive technology.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from Deutsche Welle, which covered the visit in two articles, emphasized the collaboration between the two automotive giants and the broader energy partnership between Berlin and Tokyo. The reports noted that BMW and Toyota are jointly developing the third generation of fuel cell technology, with three BMW employees having moved to Japan to work on the project.

Key Claims

  • Minister's visit: Schnieder toured Toyota's fuel cell factory, arriving in a BMW hydrogen vehicle and departing in a Toyota fuel cell electric vehicle, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
  • Joint development: BMW and Toyota are jointly developing the third generation of fuel cell drive technology, with both companies contributing components to make the system more compact and efficient, according to the reports.
  • Production plans: After development, BMW will manufacture the fuel cell in Austria, while Toyota will produce it in Japan. BMW plans to launch its first hydrogen series model in 2028, and Toyota will equip its two existing hydrogen models with the new system, though exact details are not yet known.
  • German demand for green hydrogen: Germany expects a significant increase in demand for green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity by 2030 and will need to import large quantities to meet it, the reports state.
  • Japan's hydrogen targets: Japan plans to expand its hydrogen capacity to twelve million tons per year by 2040.
  • Commercial vehicle lead: Germany is ahead of Japan in making hydrogen available for commercial vehicles. Daimler Truck has begun operating Germany's first liquid hydrogen refueling station for trucks.
  • Energy partnership: Germany and Japan have been collaborating on hydrogen development since launching their energy partnership in 2019.
  • German heavy truck goals: Germany aims for three-quarters of newly registered heavy commercial vehicles to run on emission-free fuel by 2030, with a significant share using hydrogen.

Perspectives

German government view

Transport Minister Schnieder described the Toyota-BMW cooperation as "groundbreaking" for the further development of hydrogen drive technology. He stressed the need to prepare hydrogen for series production to reduce dependence on batteries and fossil fuels and build broader supply chains.

Industry outlook

Deutsche Welle's reporting indicates that both automakers see hydrogen as a complementary technology to battery-electric vehicles, particularly for heavier vehicles and longer ranges where batteries may be less practical.

Policy context

Germany's plans to have a quarter of new heavy trucks running on emission-free fuels by 2030 highlight a policy push to decarbonize transport. However, the country's expected shortfall in domestic green hydrogen production underscores the need for international cooperation and imports.

Analysis

While battery-electric vehicles dominate headlines, hydrogen fuel cells are gaining traction in specific segments, especially commercial vehicles and heavy transport. The partnership between BMW and Toyota is notable because it pools resources to advance fuel cell technology, potentially lowering costs and accelerating deployment.

Germany and Japan, both major industrial economies with ambitious climate targets, see hydrogen as key to decarbonizing sectors beyond passenger cars — including trucking, shipping, and industry. However, challenges remain: hydrogen production is energy-intensive, infrastructure is limited, and costs are still high.

The visit by Schnieder to Toyota's factory signals high-level political backing for this collaboration. The presence of German officials and automakers in Japan underscores the importance of international partnerships in advancing clean energy technologies.

As hydrogen infrastructure expands gradually — with Germany's first liquid hydrogen truck refueling station now operational — the race is on to make the technology commercially viable. Whether hydrogen will become a mainstream alternative to batteries remains to be seen, but the German-Japanese push suggests it will play a role in the future transport mix.