Toyota will pivot to boost sales of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Europe and China as it looks to sell 200,000 of these vehicles by 2030, Reuters third report.
According to Reuters, this is a strategic shift for Toyota, which has previously made North America the epicenter of fuel cell vehicles. But that approach doesn’t work. Toyota will sell just over 3,900 fuel cell vehicles in 2022, less than half of 1% of its global sales of about 9.5 million vehicles, Reuters noted.
However, Toyota CTO Hiroki Nakajima told Reuters that the 200,000-unit target is easily achievable, in part due to a greater focus on Europe and China. Hydrogen production and demand are higher in those markets, Nakajima said, adding that Toyota also aims to reduce costs and rely on partnerships with other companies.
Toyota fuel cells for heavy trucks
Last month, Toyota announced the creation of a Hydrogen Plant business for fuel cells and hydrogen, along with a goal of putting fuel cell systems in 100,000 vehicles annually by 2030.
However, Toyota still has fuel cell plans for the US. It’s on the right track to begin with hydrogen fuel cell module production in Kentucky starting this December. And the automaker has plans for a next-generation fuel cell system, due out in 2026, that will lower costs while improving range and durability. auto news report.
Toyota previously said it could achieve a 37% cost reduction “through technological advancement, volume efficiency and localization” and reduce costs by up to 50% pending further cooperation with the companies. and secure an order of 200,000 vehicles by 2030.
Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks with Toyota hydrogen fuel cell modules
Earlier this year Toyota also expanded Expanded sale of fuel cell plans for the United States, announces a commercialized fuel cell truck that combines a fuel cell battery pack with a Peterbilt and Kenworth chassis. This follows testing of a Toyota-supplied Kenworth truck prototype in California. It is also working with the US Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on using fuel cell technology to help smooth the mesh.
And outside MiraiToyota’s only fuel cell passenger car currently on sale, the automaker also announced a fuel cell version of the Crown on the way—though not necessarily to the United States
