Toyota Motor Corporation, Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group are planning to strengthen their collaboration on hydrogen fuel cell technology, with Toyota intending to join Daimler Truck and Volvo Group as an equal shareholder in their fuel cell joint venture, cellcentric.

The companies, together with cellcentric, have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding outlining plans for Toyota to become the third equal partner in the joint venture. The collaboration will combine Daimler Truck and Volvo Group’s commercial vehicle expertise with Toyota’s fuel cell development, production and manufacturing capabilities.

The partners intend for cellcentric to serve as a joint centre of competence for the development, production and commercialisation of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty on-road and off-road vehicles, as well as other applications with similar requirements. The technology is intended to support the decarbonisation of sectors where long operating ranges, high payloads and demanding duty cycles can make electrification more challenging.

Toyota and cellcentric also plan to jointly manage the development and production of fuel cell unit cells, which are a core component of fuel cell systems, along with related architecture and control elements. By combining technologies and expertise from both companies, the partners aim to develop competitive fuel cell products for heavy-duty applications.

The proposed partnership is intended to strengthen cellcentric’s technological capabilities and competitiveness while providing the scale and investment efficiency needed to accelerate commercialisation. The companies also plan to work with industry associations and partners across the hydrogen value chain to support the development of hydrogen supply and refuelling infrastructure.

Under the planned structure, Daimler Truck, Volvo Group and Toyota would hold equal shares in cellcentric. Toyota intends to achieve this through an investment in the company as part of a capital increase. cellcentric would remain an independent and autonomous entity serving customers across heavy-duty transport and stationary applications, while the three shareholders would continue to compete independently in their other business activities.

The companies view hydrogen as an important energy source for decarbonising transport and see fuel cell technology as complementary to battery-electric powertrains. Their expanded cooperation is aimed at accelerating innovation and helping establish hydrogen-powered heavy-duty transportation at scale.

Karin Rådström, President and CEO of Daimler Truck, said Toyota’s planned entry as a shareholder would strengthen development and help scale hydrogen technology, which the company sees as complementary to battery-electric drives in transport decarbonisation.

Volvo Group President and CEO Martin Lundstedt said the collaboration could help accelerate hydrogen applications and create greater scale for the technology, while Toyota President and CEO Koji Sato highlighted the combination of cellcentric’s commercial vehicle expertise with Toyota’s more than 30 years of fuel cell development experience.

The agreement remains non-binding, and the companies will continue negotiations with the aim of reaching a legally binding agreement. Completion will be subject to approval from the relevant parties, company boards and regulatory authorities.