BMW has confirmed that its Steyr plant in Austria will begin series production of hydrogen fuel cell systems in 2028, marking a major step in the company’s long-term strategy to keep multiple drivetrain options on the table.
The announcement underlines BMW’s belief that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will play a role alongside combustion engines and EVs in the decade ahead.
BMW says its third-generation fuel cell system is around 25% more compact than before, with higher power density and improved efficiency, offering greater range and lower energy consumption compared with the iX5 Hydrogen prototype fleet.
Crucially, the design is intended to integrate more easily into future vehicle platforms, paving the way for wider adoption across the BMW line-up.
Development work and prototypes are already being produced in Munich, with component production set to begin in Landshut from 2026 ahead of full production in Steyr two years later.
For independent garages, the move is significant. Although fuel cell vehicles are still rare on UK roads, BMW’s commitment to series production shows that the technology is edging closer to the mainstream. This will bring new challenges for workshops, including the need for specialist training to work safely on hydrogen and high-voltage systems, potential investment in new tooling, and the ability to support customers who may eventually adopt hydrogen-powered cars, especially in fleets and high-mileage applications.
The system is supported by a network of components that will be of particular interest to garages: cooling systems to maintain safe operating temperatures, hydrogen storage tanks operating under high pressure, air subsystems, and a new high-voltage control unit known as the Energy Master.
This unit manages the 400-800V power supply across the vehicle and serves as the link with the high-voltage battery, all of which adds new layers of complexity for future diagnostics and repair.
The company’s partnership with Toyota continues to play a central role, with both manufacturers developing core fuel cell technology that can be used across passenger and commercial vehicles.
For the aftermarket, this reinforces the need to prepare for a complex mix of drivetrains over the coming years, with petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric and now hydrogen all co-existing.
