Establishment of a joint venture company for developing fuel cell systems, involving Toyota and five Chinese entities.
In a significant move towards the popularization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in China, a new company named United Fuel Cell System Research and Development (Beijing) Co. has been established. The joint venture is a collaboration between Toyota and five Chinese companies: China FAW, Dongfeng Motor Group, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd., Beijing Automotive Group Co. Ltd., and Beijing Sino Hytec.
The company, located in Beijing, China, is expected to be formally established by the end of 2020. Toyota contributes a substantial 65% of the capital, with EWTC contributing 15%, and each of the Chinese partners contributing 5% - FAW, Dongfeng, GAC, and BAIC.
The primary focus of the new company is the development of a commercial vehicle fuel cell system. The initial workforce consists of about 50 employees, with plans to gradually increase this number to approximately 100 by 2023.
Toyota's involvement in hydrogen fuel cell technology is not new. The company has been actively collaborating with other major automotive companies, such as BMW, on fuel cell technologies. For instance, Toyota and BMW are currently working together on a third-generation fuel cell system, and BMW plans to produce its first mass-produced fuel cell vehicle.
China, too, has been making strides in hydrogen fuel cell technology. There have been developments such as the use of fuel cell systems in demonstration vehicles across various fleets. The partnership between Toyota and the Chinese companies is part of these broader industry trends focusing on hydrogen fuel cell technology and its integration into future vehicle systems.
As for the latest developments and progress of the United Fuel Cell System Research and Development (Beijing) Co., specific updates are yet to be released. However, with the growing interest and investment in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, it is anticipated that the company's work will contribute significantly to the popularization of FCEVs in China.
The United Fuel Cell System Research and Development (Beijing) Co., a collaboration between Toyota and Chinese automotive companies, is set to focus on the development of a commercial vehicle fuel cell system, aiming to popularize fuel cell electric vehicles (EV) in China. The company, based in Beijing, China, plans to grow its workforce from 50 to approximately 100 employees by 2023. In the realm of science, and more specifically environmental-science, China, like other nations, has been making strides in hydrogen fuel cell technology, a field where Toyota has also made significant contributions, including collaborations with BMW on third-generation fuel cell technologies.
