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BMW will begin mass-producing and marketing fuel cell vehicles co-developed with Toyota Motor as early as 2025, highlighting the German automaker’s drive towards greener vehicles in the face of increasingly stringent environmental rules in Europe.
In September 2021, BMW debuted the fuel cell iX5 Hydrogen concept vehicle at the International Motor Show in Germany. The business previously claimed that small-scale manufacture of the sport utility vehicle will commence before the end of 2022.
FCVs can be refueled in three to four minutes, which is considerably quicker than battery electric vehicles. BMW has not disclosed the iX5’s range, however the vehicle is fitted with two about 6-kilogram fuel tanks for long-distance driving.
The iX5 is derived on the BMW X5 SUV. BMW and Toyota have also produced sports vehicles collaboratively since their 2013 partnership, with the BMW Z4 and the Toyota Supra being unveiled in 2019.
BMW will also speed up the transition to electrified vehicles. It presently plans for 50% of groupwide new sales, including Mini and Rolls-Royce, to consist of electric vehicles by 2030.
In 2030, gasoline-powered cars, including hybrids, are estimated to account for around half of all sales.
A extended component scarcity poses a significant threat to BMW’s plan. EVs require more chips than internal combustion engine vehicles, and automakers are under pressure to obtain a sufficient supply.
BMW is reacting to the problem by establishing long-term contracts to provide its component suppliers with chips. Late in 2021, it inked a contract with Inova Semiconductors and GlobalFacilities for smart-LED chips.
The agreement is estimated to secure BMW millions of units annually. BMW intends to develop this strategy in terms of both overall volume and semiconductor diversity.
In Europe, large car suppliers such as Bosch and Continental have always maintained considerable purchasing power. Due to the global scarcity of semiconductors, however, automakers cannot obtain sufficient chips by depending entirely on these vendors, Nota explained, which is why BMW is expanding its own supply chains.
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