Toyota Motor Corporation aims to join Daimler Truck and Volvo Group as equal shareholder in the fuel cell joint venture cellcentric

Toyota plans to join cellcentric with Daimler Truck and Volvo to advance fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and accelerate zero-emission transport.

Toyota joins cellcentric: Fuel cell truck alliance

Leinfelden-Echterdingen and Kirchheim u. Teck, Germany / Gothenburg, Sweden / Tokyo, Japan - Daimler Truck AG (Daimler Truck), the Volvo Group (Volvo), cellcentric and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) have signed a non-binding agreement to cooperate in the fuel cell system joint venture cellcentric. The three companies intend to collaborate based on an equal shareholding with Toyota as the third joint venture partner to cellcentric. The combination of the parties’ complementary experience and know-how will support and advance their joint objective to develop, produce and commercialise fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and other heavy-duty applications with comparable requirements. Additionally, Toyota and cellcentric intend to jointly manage the development and production of fuel cell unit cells – the core component of fuel cell systems – and directly linked architecture and control elements with the aim of creating competitive products based on the technologies of both companies. 

By combining Daimler Truck and Volvo’s extensive commercial vehicle expertise with Toyota’s fuel cell development, production technology, and manufacturing experience the aim is to further strengthen cellcentric’s technological advantage and market competitiveness. It is intended that cellcentric will be the joint centre of competence that develops, produces and commercialises fuel cell systems for heavy-duty on- and off-road transport and other heavy-duty applications with comparable requirements. Furthermore, through collaboration with industry associations and partners across the entire hydrogen value chain, the partners aim to actively support the development of hydrogen supply and infrastructure in the early stages.

Daimler Truck, Volvo and Toyota have positioned hydrogen as one of the key energy sources to decarbonise transport and will advance technological innovation in fuel cell systems through cellcentric thereby contributing to the realisation of a hydrogen society. 

Karin Rådström, President & CEO, Daimler Truck: “We are proud that Toyota plans to join cellcentric as a shareholder. This will enable us to strengthen development and further scale hydrogen technology, which we believe complements battery-electric drives in decarbonising transport”. 

Andreas Gorbach, Daimler Truck Board Member responsible for Truck Technology and former cellcentric CEO: “Joining forces with the world’s largest automotive manufacturer and fuel cell pioneer is a privilege for us – and a game changer in making hydrogen in transportation a reality and cellcentric the go to place for fuel cell technology in commercial vehicles worldwide.” Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO, Volvo Group: “We are thrilled to explore this collaboration with Toyota, so that we through cellcentric can accelerate and create critical mass for hydrogen applications. This is an important signal to customers, suppliers, and others in the ecosystem. Given the importance of accelerating the transformation into net-zero transportation, the need of great companies coming together and collaborating is more important than ever. Welcoming Toyota onboard will be a big leap towards realising decarbonisation of our industries.”

Koji, Sato, President and CEO, Toyota: “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to soon be joining Daimler Truck and Volvo Group as partners in building a hydrogen society. cellcentric which possess deep expertise in commercial fields together with Toyota‘s over 30 years of fuel-cell development in the passenger car sector, can combine their strengths to deliver one of the world-leading fuel cell systems for heavy commercial vehicles. Toyota will continue to contribute to realising a hydrogen society alongside like-minded partners.” 

“We are extremely proud that Toyota intends to join as a shareholder of cellcentric - a great sign of trust in our company from one of the world‘s leading automotive companies. Together, in this new set-up, we look forward to seizing the opportunity to significantly improve our company across the entire value chain.” – Nicholas Loughlan, Managing Director and CTO, cellcentric

Daimler Truck, Volvo and Toyota aim for an equal shareholding in cellcentric, which will continue to operate as an independent and autonomous entity, serving a wide range of customers across heavy-duty on- and off- road transport as well as heavy-duty stationary applications. To achieve this equal shareholder structure, Toyota plans to participate in a capital increase in cellcentric by investing in the company. Daimler Truck, Volvo and Toyota will continue to compete independently in all other areas of their respective businesses. The collaboration brings together complementary capacities to achieve the scale and investment efficiency necessary to commercialise competitive fuel cell systems.  

In order to secure hydrogen fuel cells as one of the key technologies to support the decarbonisation of transport worldwide, cooperation has become increasingly necessary. Moreover, this step aims at contributing to the long-term vision of the European Green Deal objectives and the hydrogen society act in Japan. Since its early days, hydrogen has been advanced through collaboration among many stakeholders, and cooperation is the foundation for its growth. Together with like-minded partners, the parties intend to share technological developments and address common challenges, with the aim of achieving sustainable and effective implementation of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty applications.

The signed agreement is non-binding. The parties will continue discussions and aim to reach a legally binding agreement, which will be subject to approval by all relevant parties and by the respective boards and regulatory authorities.

Independent entity with equal partners

cellcentric develops, produces, and commercialises fuel cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles and other applications with comparable requirements. cellcentric is a joint venture of Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group founded in 2021. The company leverages the know-how and extensive experience gained from decades of developing fuel cell systems by its predecessor companies. cellcentric’s goal is to become a global manufacturer and tier 1 supplier of fuel cell systems and thus make a contribution to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation. More than 560 highly qualified employees are continuously advancing cellcentric’s state-of-the-art fuel cell technology. They work in interdisciplinary teams at sites in Kirchheim/Teck, Esslingen, Stuttgart (Germany) and Burnaby (Canada). Roughly 700 individual patents underline cellcentric’s leading role in fuel cell technology development.

About cellcentric

Daimler Truck

Volvo Group

Toyota Motor Corporation

cellcentric

Media Contacts:

Daimler Truck, the Volvo Group, cellcentric and Toyota Motor Corporation have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on fuel cell technology

Toyota intends to join Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group as an equal shareholder in cellcentric 

Upon closing, Toyota will bring its complementary know-how and expertise to the joint venture

All three shareholders intend to further strengthen cellcentric as a leading manufacturer of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty commercial applications

BRUSA HyPower AG is developing a fuel cell interface for fuel cell applications on behalf of cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG

BRUSA HyPower provides a key DC/DC converter for cellcentric’s NextGen fuel cell system – enabling sustainable and climate-neutral transportation.

BRUSA develops Fuel Cell Interface for cellcentric

Kirchheim/Teck - BRUSA HyPower AG, part of the BRUSA Group (alongside BRUSA Elektronik AG and BRUSA Technology AG), is one of the leading manufacturers of power electronics systems for electric and hydrogen mobility solutions. These include DC/DC converters for use in fuel cell systems. With its many years of expertise and innovative strength, BRUSA HyPower AG is now taking on the development of a fuel cell interface (FCI) for cellcentric.

The Fuel Cell Interface (FCI) is a central component of the NextGen fuel cell system, which is scheduled to go into series production in various applications by the turn of the decade onwards. It converts the fuel cell voltage to the high-voltage grid, monitors the fuel cell, safely disconnects from the high-voltage grid if necessary, and supplies high-voltage components within the fuel cell system with electrical energy.

"With our new generation of high-performance DC/DC converters, we are contributing our many years of expertise in power electronics to significantly advance the further development of cellcentric's fuel cell technology. Together, we are shaping the future of climate-neutral mobility," says Dr. Holger Fink, CEO of BRUSA HyPower AG.

cellcentric's goal is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cell systems and thus make a significant contribution to sustainable and climate-neutral transportation. As a 50:50 joint venture between Daimler Truck and the Volvo Group, cellcentric is responsible for all activities along the entire fuel cell value chain for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles and other applications.

By working with BRUSA HyPower, cellcentric is strengthening its global supply chain, including the Asian market, which is considered a driver of growth and innovation. BRUSA HyPower is a leading international manufacturer with locations in Europe, the USA, and Asia, making it an ideal strategic partner.

Markus Siegel, Global Head of Procurement and Aftersales at cellcentric, says: "We are delighted to have gained a partner with an international presence, decades of expertise, and a high level of innovation for this project."

cellcentric develops, produces, and markets fuel cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as the focus as well as offroad applications. cellcentric is a joint venture founded in 2021 between Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group. The company utilizes the know-how and extensive experience gained from decades of developing fuel cell systems by its predecessor companies. cellcentric’s goal is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells and thus making a contribution to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050. More than 560 highly qualified employees are driving our state-of-the-art fuel cell technology forward. They work in interdisciplinary teams at our sites in Kirchheim/Teck, Stuttgart, Esslingen (Germany) and Burnaby (Canada). Roughly 700 individual intellectual property rights were filed, underline the company’s leading role in technological development.

Christian Kleinert

Contact cellcentric

The fuel cell interface (FCI) is the DC/DC converter for the new cellcentric NextGen fuel cell system, which is set to go into series production by the turn of the decade for use in various heavy-duty applications in freight and passenger transport as well as stationary energy generation.

cellcentric's goal is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cell systems and thus contribute to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation.

Kai Woerner appointed cellcentric Managing Director (COO)

As of January 2026, Kai Woerner becomes COO of cellcentric, bringing leadership experience from Bosch, AESC, PowerCo and a strong production background.

Kai Woerner appointed COO of cellcentric

Kirchheim/Teck – cellcentric, the 50:50 fuel cell joint venture of Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group, announces a change in its management board. Since January 2026, Kai Wörner has entered the position as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Managing Director

Kai Wörner brings, among other things, many years of operational experience from various international management positions at Bosch. There he was in charge of process and machine development for injection systems at the German Bamberg site, later led the company’s Charleston, South Carolina, US site and last supervised the German Hildesheim site. Most recently, he served as COO EU/US at AESC, a globally leading supplier of high-performance batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

“I am delighted to be able to contribute my experience and ideas to cellcentric as Chief Operating Officer. cellcentric has a compelling structure for the successful industrialization and market leadership of fuel cells for heavy-duty applications,” says Kai Wörner. “Both globally active partners of the joint venture - Daimler Truck and Volvo Group - are known for their focus on strong innovations and long-term visions for sustainable transport, underpinned by exceptional financial strength and their depth in R&D and process development.” This makes the corporate environment at cellcentric very promising for the successful industrialization of advanced heavy-duty fuel cell systems.

“Furthermore, cellcentric’s product and philosophy are an excellent fit for the Stuttgart region with its high-quality university environment, renowned suppliers, and vast expertise in mechanical and automotive engineering,” summarizes Kai Wörner. “cellcentric is actively contributing to the decarbonization and sustainability of heavy-duty long-haul freight and other heavy-duty applications. More than 560 employees are playing a key role in shaping the future of fuel cell-electric powertrains – with cellcentric, the European transport industry has the opportunity to set standards in this field. I’m very happy to be part of this team now!”

Nicholas Loughlan, Managing Director (CTO) and Spokesperson of the cellcentric Management Board, says: “We are delighted that Kai joins us at cellcentric! His huge and also broad experience in the field of production and production technology will be a fantastic asset for cellcentric. We are happy to have him with cellcentric and in the management board of our company, joining Niklas Ekstroem as our CFO, and myself.”

Kai Wörner appointed as new Chief Operating Officer at cellcentric since January 2026.

Extensive operational experience from various management positions at Bosch, PowerCo and AESC as a significant asset.

Season’s greetings & outlook 2026

In 2026, cellcentric launches its NextGen fuel cell system for heavy-duty trucks—global expo tour & strong push for hydrogen infrastructure in Europe & US.

cellcentric unveils NextGen fuel cell in 2026

Accompanying development, production, and marketing of our fuel cell systems, we have been working since summer 2025 with more than 30 leading global companies in the vehicle and accessories industry and the hydrogen supply chain in the Global Hydrogen Mobility Alliance (GHMA) for the long-overdue, rapid establishment and expansion of the H2 ecosystem and infrastructure in Germany and Europe.

Apart from all challenging development and preparatory work - what were the highlights of the past year? Definitely cellcentric's participation in trade fairs and conferences on three continents - Europe, America, and Asia. We familiarized visitors with the groundbreaking parameters of our new generation of fuel cells for long-distance heavy-duty freight and passenger transport.

We are looking forward to an eventful year with a large number of events around the globe we already would like to invite you to in order to continue our dialogue and provide you with a deep-dive on our progress - further advancing our technology and our efforts with many other associations and companies to establish strong and resilient hydrogen ecosystem:

H2 & FC Expo (March 17-19, Tokyo) – As a must-attend business platform in Asia the event gathers technologies for production, transportation, storage, and use of hydrogen. We’ll share news and insights about cellcentric and our advanced fuel cell systems with manufacturers of heavy-duty vehicles and other industries from Asia.

Hannover Messe (April 20 to 24, Hannover) – World's leading trade fair for industry brings together companies from mechanical engineering, electrical, and the energy sector. It presents solutions for high-performance, sustainable industry. It’s the perfect place for the global launch of our groundbreaking new NextGen fuel cell system for heavy-duty applications with numerous media and visitor activities.

The cellcentric team invites you to join us for the 

in the afternoon of April 20 - the 1st day of Hannover Messe. 
Do let us know if you plan to attend and we’ll be happy to provide you with further details soon!

ACT Expo (May 4 to 7, Las Vegas) – Advanced Clean Transportation Expo is the largest North American conference and trade show in the commercial vehicle industry, focusing on vehicle technologies and fuels promote economic and environmental sustainability of fleets. NextGen will make its first physical appearance in US there.

IAA Transportation (September 15 to 20, Hannover) – The automotive commercial vehicle world meets at the global leading trade fair for mobility, transport, and logistics. NextGen will be again on stage in the “living room” of manufacturers and operators of heavy-duty long-haul applications with a range of media and visitor activities.

Hydrogen Technology Expo (October 20 to 22, Hamburg) – The leading European event for hydrogen, fuel cell technology and the H2 ecosystem is a must attend event! For cellcentric and our game changing NextGen fuel cell system too!

We look forward to a trusting collaboration and fruitful communication. I am happy to remain available as your contact at cellcentric to supply all required information around our technology, industrialization activities as well as the overall hydrogen ecosystem. For any questions around these topics, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

With kind regards & best wishes for 2026
Christian Kleinert
Lead Marketing & Communication and Spokesperson

2026 - the next exciting steps

cellcentric develops, produces, and markets fuel cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as the focus as well as offroad applications. cellcentric is a joint venture founded in 2021 between Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group. The company utilizes the know-how and extensive experience gained from decades of developing fuel cell systems by its predecessor companies. cellcentric’s goal is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells and thus making a contribution to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050. More than 560 highly qualified employees are driving our state-of-the-art fuel cell technology forward. They work in interdisciplinary teams at our sites in Nabern, Stuttgart-Untertuerkheim, Esslingen (Germany) and Burnaby (Canada). Roughly 700 individual intellectual property rights were filed, underline the company’s leading role in technological development.

Press contact

An eventful 2025 was just another significant step for cellcentric on the way to its declared goal of industrializing and scaling fuel cell production to automotive standards towards the turn of the decade. cellcentric has made great progress in developing its new product - the NextGen fuel cell system - which will be a game changer for long-haul heavy-duty vehicles and other heavy-duty applications. The first units have been built up and are undergoing rigorous testing activities. At the same time, we are converting our entire production facility to our new fuel cell system.

Latest facts and figures about cellcentric and NextGen 
fuel cell system for sustainable, economic heavy-duty transport

Discover how cellcentric's NextGen fuel cell system revolutionizes heavy-duty transport with CO2-neutral, cost-effective solutions for long-haul fleets.

cellcentric NextGen Fuel Cells: Sustainable Trucking

CO2-neutral fuel cell systems can make a significant contribution to decarbonizing heavy-duty long-distance transport and thus effectively protect the environment. For long-haul heavy-duty fleet operators - who literally keep global infrastructures running - TCO (total cost of ownership) is the decisive criterion. Powered by the latest cellcentric NextGen fuel cell system, Class 8 trucks can become an indispensable option for both - environmentally- and cost-conscious operators - thanks to their expected TCO benchmark performance.

NextGen fuel cell system - detailed deep dive at ACT Expo

High power, low weight, long range, high flexibility, zero emissions - cellcentric will be presenting further details of its advanced NextGen fuel cell system for global heavy-duty road transport in North America at the ACT Expo 2025 in Anaheim (CA) from April 28 to 30 (booth 4937). A virtual model provides a preview of the dimensions and design of the game-changing new generation of heavy-duty fuel cell systems. With a total weight of approx. 400 kg, this new system is designed for conventional 13-liter diesel engine compartments and therefore easy to integrate into existing vehicle platforms. The new single-packaging fuel cell system will combine high efficiency and performance with market leading TCO. In addition, the system is characterized by higher operating temperatures and lower cooling requirements*.

Target performance figures (*vs. benchmark cellcentric fuel cell system BZA150)

Up to 375 kW (more than 500 horsepower) continuous net power

40% reduction of waste heat at 300 kW net power*

The bottom line is - with NextGen a fully loaded 40 ton heavy-duty truck is expected to need approx. 9.7 kg of hydrogen to travel 100 miles (= 10.2 miles per kg H2).

The improvements with NextGen are expected to lead to competitive driving characteristics for customers, especially on demanding routes in North America and Europe, e.g. on long inclines, at altitude and/or high ambient temperatures.

The fuel cell stack is main driver for increased system efficiency. Hence, the cellcentric NextGen uses 3 major levers to significantly improve fuel consumption on stack level:

the increase of the active area of the stack,

improved MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) efficiency by implementing new catalyst formulations,

improved operating conditions and system design to fully use the benefit of cell technology (e.g. cathode pressure).

Need 300+ miles of range autonomy? Fuel cell electric trucks are the solution.

Heavy duty fuel cell systems enable highly efficient operation of heavy-duty trucks with ranges of more than 650 miles. Compared to other drive systems, fuel cell systems are lighter, allow a high payload, enable a longer range as well as rapid refilling, offer best possible flexibility comparable to diesel engines, and … are emission-free!

The weight of the complete fuel cell system with its hydrogen tank and its smaller battery is rather light, allowing a high payload. This is a major factor for customers.

The range of heavy-duty fuel cell hydrogen trucks is comparable to diesel trucks - depending on the capacity of the hydrogen tanks, the hydrogen used (>700 bar or liquid hydrogen (LH2)) and the efficiency of the fuel cell system. A clear advantage in flexibility.

Refilling at hydrogen refueling stations takes a comparable amount of time as refilling conventional trucks with diesel.

No emission - only emitting water vapor. When hydrogen is used to power a fuel cell, the only by products are water vapor and heat - no pollutants or greenhouse gases.

In addition, fuel cell systems are also suitable for comparable long-haul and heavy-duty applications such as coaches, mining vehicles, rail, and stationary power generation.


cellcentric’s fuel cell technology has matured over 30 years, giving the company extensive practical experience in the automotive sector. 

Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group - 50:50 shareholders in cellcentric - successfully integrate cellcentric’s current BZA150 generation of fuel cell system into their prototype trucks. As a result, on-road testing provides valuable insights into performance and further development. With both shareholders cellcentric has impressively demonstrated that its fuel cell systems work reliable and efficient even under the toughest conditions - with high-altitude testing at Brenner Pass between Austria and Italy, and intensive winter testing at the Simplon Pass in Switzerland as well as at the arctic circle in Scandinavia.

Moreover, the #HydrogenRecordRun is an impressive example for fuel efficiency and range of a fully loaded 40 ton truck: In 2023 a Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck powered by two BZA150 fuel cells achieved a range of 1,047 kilometers on public roads with one filling of 80 kg of liquid H2.


Ramping up towards highly efficient large-scale production

Current production of BZA150 fuel cell systems in cellcentric's first “All under one roof” factory near Stuttgart, Germany, is a milestone towards reaching CO2-neutral and economic mobility in heavy-duty transport of tomorrow, utilizing highly efficient industrial-grade production processes. Same time, advanced engineering activities at cellcentric provide the basis for game changing further product improvements in future projects.

Furthermore, the industrialized pilot production marks another step towards the build-up of Europe's largest fuel cell production facility and further home of our advanced NextGen fuel cell system - the KLIMA|WERK factory in Weilheim, Southern Germany - which is planned by the end of the decade.

This is being done in order to scale the cellcentric production and to market the high-performance fuel cell systems worldwide to a wide range of manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks as well as of various other long-haul and heavy-duty applications.

cellcentric and its shareholders fully committed to advanced fuel cell technology

cellcentric and its shareholders, Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, are convinced that hydrogen and fuel cells are the solution for decarbonizing long-haul heavy-duty transport with Class 8 trucks and various other applications. As a Daimler Truck and Volvo Group subsidiary, cellcentric is robustly positioned to withstand market fluctuations. That’s why cellcentric is forging ahead with technological development. The practical experience with vehicle fleets from Daimler Truck and Volvo Group underlines cellcentric’s credibility.

cellcentric’s belief in advanced fuel cell technology remains. cellcentric continues to work with full effort on the decarbonization and the economic efficiency of long-haul heavy-duty transport.

Pioneer in Europe for development and manufacture of high-performance 
fuel cell systems for heavy-duty applications with the aim of industrial-scale production with a high degree of vertical integration.

Fuel cell technology offers the best for two worlds - decarbonization of long-haul heavy-duty transport as well as expected TCO benchmark performance for fleet operators.

cellcentric Managing Director (CCO & COO) Lars Johansson moves to Shareholder Volvo Group

cellcentric announces organizational change as Managing Director Lars Johansson moves back to volvo group after 4 years with the fuel cell joint venture.

cellcentric CCO & COO Lars Johansson Returns to Volvo Group

Kirchheim/Teck - cellcentric, the 50:50 fuel cell joint venture of Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group, announces a change in organizational structure. After 4 years at cellcentric - and the last 12 years abroad - cellcentric Managing Director (CCO & COO) Lars Johansson will move back to Sweden.

At cellcentric, Lars Johansson as part of the management team and spokesperson of the board of directors has done a great job by ramping-up cellcentric in the areas of process development, industrialization and scale-up of production, as well as active marketing of cellcentric’s fuel cell technology in markets for heavy-duty transport applications. From May on he will be contributing his knowledge and commitment to the Volvo Group as Senior Vice President for Project and Product Strategy Office and continues to support the transformation to CO2-neutral transportation and success of new technologies such as fuel cells.

“It has been 4 fantastic years at cellcentric and it's with a lot of emotions I have decided to leave this fantastic team and move from Schwaben to Sweden”, Lars Johansson says. “What we have achieved together in recent years is truly groundbreaking. I am 100% sure we are on the right way to success.”

For the past four years, Lars Johansson has been firmly convinced day after day that the transformation to CO2-neutral transportation requires Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles. “And cellcentric have the best and most competitive Fuel Cell System tailor made for heavy-duty long-haul applications, a vertical integrated production for series industrialization and volume scaling, as well as the best, most competent and amazing team,” summarizes Lars Johansson.

Structural changes for consistent implementation

With the departure of Lars Johansson as cellcentric Managing Director (CCO & COO), the responsibility for External Affairs and Sales, Marketing and Communication will move to Nicholas Loughlan, Managing Director & Chief Technology Officer and thereby also taking over as the spokesperson for the cellcentric management board effective by May 1, 2025.

Nicholas Loughlan says: "We would like to thank Lars not only for his dedication to cellcentric's mission, but also for being a fantastic colleague. We wish him all the best in his new assignment at the Volvo Group."

The recruitment of the successor for Lars Johansson as Managing Director and COO at cellcentric is currently ongoing.

Lars Johansson, Managing Director (CCO & COO), will leave the company at his own request on April 30, 2025.

The Advisory Board and Management Board would like to thank Lars Johansson. His commitment and expertise had a decisive influence for the ramp up of cellcentric especially for the industrialization and scale-up of production.

cellcentric takes important steps in preparation for large scale production of fuel cells for trucks

cellcentric is building the KLIMA|WERK for fuel cell production in Weilheim/Teck - a step towards decarbonizing heavy goods transport by 2030.

cellcentric notarizes property for KLIMA|WERK - fuel cell production for CO2-neutral heavy goods transport

Kirchheim/Teck - After delays in recent years, cellcentric and the city of Weilheim/Teck notarized on December 20, 2024 the desired land acquisition agreement for the property on which the KLIMA|WERK is to be built. KLIMA|WERK will be cellcentrics future central site for large-scale production and commercialization of the innovative NextGen fuel cell system for trucks on the way to the decarbonization of long-haul and heavy-duty transport.

“cellcentric is preparing for the future scaling of fuel cell systems by already firmly reserving 16 ha of land in Weilheim. Our company is thus part of driving the transformation towards a sustainable transportation industry,” says Niklas Ekström, Chief Financial Officer at cellcentric.

The central component for the subsequent scaling is the construction of a suitably designed fuel cell production site - the KLIMA|WERK. The aim of cellcentric is to implement the start of operations for large-scale production at the Weilheim/Teck site in line with the introduction of EU CO2 legislation - according to current estimates, this will happen around 2030.

For cellcentric, maximum flexibility in terms of scope of work and start-up speed of the KLIMA|WERK is of crucial importance. This requirement was realized by the city of Weilheim with this option agreement. The required flexibility caused by the transformation in the automotive industry, the delayed development of the necessary hydrogen infrastructure, and the availability and pricing of green hydrogen means that also cellcentric can only act according to the volatile market environment at present. The company is thus flexibly positioning itself for different ramp-up scenarios for fuel cell trucks in order to be able to react optimally to future market conditions.

The company wants to be prepared in case a longer ramp-up phase is necessary. This can currently be observed in the market for electric vehicles. Ultimately, the right time of market growth must be planned for the investment in Weilheim.

Meanwhile, cellcentric is therefore continuing to drive forward the industrialization of the current fuel cell production utilizing highly efficient industrial-grade production processes at the existing, modern site in Esslingen. This is an important milestone on the road to large-scale production according to automotive standards, using efficient production processes, and at the same time to CO2-neutral mobility in tomorrow's heavy-duty transport.

The development of fuel cell trucks is also being driven forward on the shareholder side. The Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck is just as suitable for flexible and demanding long-haul road transportation as conventional diesel trucks. In September 2023, Daimler Truck successfully demonstrated this, when a public road approved prototype of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck completed the #HydrogenRecordRun, covering 1,047 km with one tank filling of liquid hydrogen on board. Already five customers are currently deploying these trucks in initial customer trials, gaining first experience with fuel cell vehicles. It is anticipated that another fleet of 100 next generation fuel cell trucks will be delivered from the end of 2026 onwards. All in preparation for a planned series production of fuel cell trucks towards the end of the decade.

Fuel cell electric vehicles are, in parallel with battery electric and combustion engines running on biofuels such as hydrogen, an integral part of the Volvo Group’s strategy to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. After showcasing its first fuel cell solutions in 2023, Volvo Group is continuing the testing of its fuel cell electric trucks on public roads – most notably in the extra-challenging cold climates of the Arctic Circle – and are preparing for customer trials.

cellcentric develops, produces, and markets fuel cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as the focus as well as offroad applications. cellcentric is a joint venture founded in 2021 between Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group. The company utilizes the know-how and extensive experience gained from decades of developing fuel cell systems by its predecessor companies. cellcentric’s goal is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells and thus making a contribution to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050. More than 560 highly qualified employees are driving our state-of-the-art fuel cell technology forward. They work in interdisciplinary teams at our sites in Kirchheim/Teck, Stuttgart, Esslingen (Germany) and Burnaby (Canada). Around 700 individual patents granted, underline the company’s leading role in technological development.

cellcentric - the fuel cell joint venture of Daimler Truck and Volvo Group - and the city of Weilheim conclude a land acquisition option contract for the future large scale Fuel Cell production.

Preparation for industrialization of fuel cell manufacturing is ongoing at the pilot factory in Esslingen.

European premiere at IAA Transportation: cellcentric gives exclusive insights into NextGen fuel cell system for sustainable heavy-duty transportation

At IAA Transportation 2024, cellcentric unveils its NextGen fuel cell system for long-haul trucks. 375 kW power, 20% less fuel consumption, and higher power density for CO2-neutral transport.

European Premiere - NextGen Fuel Cell System

Esslingen/Hannover (Germany) – As a sustainable solution for CO2-neutral mobility in global road transportation, cellcentric will be presenting a virtual model of its NextGen fuel-cell system for long-haul heavy-duty transport for the first time at the IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany from September 16 to 22 (Hall H24, booth C11). This virtual model provides a preview of the dimensions and design of the game changing new generation of fuel-cell systems. With a total weight of less than 400 kg, this new system is designed for conventional 13-liter diesel engine compartments. The new single-packaging fuel-cell system will combine high efficiency and performance with market leading TCO. In addition, the system is characterized by higher operating temperatures and lower cooling requirements*.

NextGen fuel cell system:
Target performance figures (*vs. benchmark fuel cell system BZA150)

Current BZA150 production of fuel cell systems in Esslingen (Germany) is a milestone towards reaching CO2-neutral mobility in the heavy-duty transport of tomorrow, utilizing highly efficient industrial-grade production processes. Furthermore, the industrialized pilot production in Esslingen marks another step towards the arrival of Europe's largest fuel cell production facility – the new KLIMA|WERK factory in Weilheim – which is planned to open towards the end of the decade.

Start of ramp-up to highly efficient large-scale production

cellcentric develops, produces, and markets fuel cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as the focus as well as offroad applications. cellcentric is a joint venture founded in 2021 between Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group. The company utilizes the know-how and extensive experience gained from decades of developing fuel cell systems by its predecessor companies. cellcentric’s goal is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells and thus making a contribution to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050. More than 560 highly qualified employees are driving our state-of-the-art fuel cell technology forward. They work in interdisciplinary teams at our sites in Nabern, Stuttgart-Untertuerkheim, Esslingen (Germany) and Burnaby (Canada). Around 700 individual patents granted, underline the company’s leading role in technological development.

cellcentric_NextGen_European premiere at IAA Transportation.pdf

Press release, *.pdf

Downloads

Virtual model shows the design of NextGen fuel cell system

Important step towards CO2-neutral mobility in global road transportation

Industrial-grade prototype production now in operation and preparation of large-scale series production of fuel cells towards the end of the decade is ongoing

Pioneer in Europe with the aim of producing fuel cell systems on an industrial scale with a high level of vertical integration

Exclusive insights at IAA Transportation 2024: European premiere of the cellcentric NextGen fuel cell system

At IAA Transportation 2024, cellcentric presents the European premiere of its NextGen fuel cell system for heavy-duty trucks. Explore the 3D model and learn about its performance.

Exclusive Insights at IAA Transportation 2024

Esslingen/Hannover (Germany) – European premiere at IAA Transportation: cellcentric presents a virtual 3D model of its future NextGen fuel cell system for heavy- duty transport for the first time at the leading international trade fair in Hanover (September 17 to 22/press day September 16, Hall 24, Booth No. C11). The study provides a preview of the dimensions and design of the game-changing new generation of fuel cell systems. At the same time, cellcentric announces performance data for the efficient single-packaging fuel cell system, which will offer market-leading TCO.

Highly efficient large-scale production about to start

The virtual 3D model signals the start of cellcentric’s NextGen, the highly efficient and competitive single-packaging fuel cell system designed for long-haul heavy-duty transportation, which will offer market-leading TCO. Following the development phase and prototype production of fuel cell systems, cellcentric is now initiating the preliminary stage of highly efficient industrial production by taking first steps and preparing for high-scale production in the recently inaugurated factory in Esslingen. Also, the pilot production at cellcentric’s Esslingen site marks the step towards preparing Europe’s largest fuel cell production in a new factory in Weilheim – the KLIMA|WERK – that is planned towards the end of the decade.

Fuel cell deep dives: From Tuesday, September 17, to Sunday, September 22, cellcentric offers an informative expert presentation at its booth at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Let us know if you’re interested. You can find further information and the opportunity to book an individual appointment with our experts by clicking here: cellcentric @ IAA Transportation 2024

Useful information

cellcentric_IAA Transportation_Exclusive insights in NextGen.pdf

Fuel cell system for heavy-duty transportation in a virtual 3D model for the first time

 European leading fuel cell manufacturer takes the first steps from prototype production to highly efficient large-scale production

Important step towards CO2-neutral mobility in global road transport

cellcentric starts pilot production of fuel cell systems

cellcentric inaugurates pilot production of fuel cell systems in Esslingen, a significant milestone for CO2-neutral mobility in heavy-duty transport.

Launching Pilot Production of Fuel Cell Systems for Long-Haul Trucks

Esslingen/Germany – A key milestone for the climate-neutral transport of tomorrow: cellcentric inaugurates pilot production for fuel cell systems at the Esslingen-Pliensauvorstadt site, taking another significant step towards large-scale production. cellcentric is working towards supplying fuel cells on a large scale by the end of the decade, when fuel cell powered long-haul heavy-duty trucks are predicted to become a key technology for sustainable transportation.

cellcentric’s goal is to develop, produce and distribute fuel cell systems on a large scale in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg that achieve the best possible total cost of ownership (TCO) in the highly competitive transportation industry. In addition, cellcentric intends to cover the entire fuell cell ecosystem – from the product itself to maintenance and recycling at the end of its life cycle.

“Fuel cell technology is a well-proven solution for CO2-neutral long-distance heavy-duty transportation. However, it has not yet been produced on an industrial scale, which is precisely the key to achieving economies of scale, optimizing the total cost of ownership (TCO) and putting cellcentric in a solid competitive position in the long term,” says Lars Johansson, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Organizational Officer of cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG. “The opening of our pilot production facility in Esslingen today is not the end point of large-scale production, but rather the blueprint for the next step. In the coming years, we will continue to consistently drive forward the industrialization and scaling of production of fuel cell systems at the Weilheim site,” explains Johansson.

On June 20th, Lars Johansson and the cellcentric management team welcomed numerous guests from politics, business, associations, science and research to the opening ceremony, including Baden-Wuerttemberg state ministers Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (Economics, Labor and Housing) and Thekla Walker (Environment, Climate and Energy) as well as Heinz Eininger, the district administrator of Esslingen, and the mayors of Esslingen, Matthias Klopfer, and Weilheim, Johannes Zuefle.

Fuel cell systems for sustainable heavy goods transport on the way to mass production

cellcentric’s modern production facility in Esslingen-Pliensauvorstadt is the ideal location to produce fuel cell systems. More than 100 employees have over 10,300 square meters of production, logistics and office/administration space at their disposal. The property in the immediate vicinity of the federal highway 10 is part of the Esslingen industrial park greenfield.

In a next step, cellcentric will establish the necessary production processes at the site to prepare for the start of a large-scale production of fuel cell systems with a high degree of vertical integration. With complete production at one location and a high level of automation, the company secures stable long-term economic development.

The complete process chain comprises the following production steps:

Ink Mixing & Coating – Precise mixing of the various raw materials to produce a dispersion for subsequent roll coating.

Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) – The roll-to-piece process assembles and puts together the components of the individual cell in a highly automated process in a cycle time suitable for large-scale production.

Sealing – Injection molding process applies seals in fully automated process.

Stacking – Automated stacking of the complete fuel cell stack.

Assembly – All modules of the fuel cell system are assembled according to automotive mass production standards.

Inline Quality Testing – Strict automated inspection and quality control protocol that accompanies all steps in the production process to identify and rectify faults quickly and reliably. It ensures continuous compliance with all quality requirements until the product is ready for delivery.

Fuel cell ecosystem beyond the product life cycle

In addition to the development and production of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty transportation, cellcentric will create a complete ecosystem around the highly complex assemblies. This will provide customers with products of unique quality while enabling seamless integration of the drive solutions into the vehicle management system. Moreover, a comprehensive service package including all maintenance and repair services will ensure that maintenance-related downtimes and unforeseen failures or breakdowns are reduced to a minimum for users – an important criterion in the transport industry for the best possible utilization of vehicle capacity.

Ultimately, cellcentric is planning an environmentally friendly return of the fuel cell systems at the end of their life cycle, in line with the company’s commitment to the highest possible level of sustainability in all corporate processes. Based on the concept of the circular economy, cellcentric’s cyclical approach aims to use resources, materials and products as considerately and sparingly as possible in four steps:

These include the Reuse of decommissioned fuel cell systems for other applications with a lower requirement profile, Refurbishment, a reconditioning and recycling of fuel cell systems for a longer useful service life, Remanufacturing – the total overhaul to refurbish and make the systems as good as new again -, and the recovery of raw materials and reuse in new fuel cell production through Recycling.

Sustainable propulsion technology for global heavy-duty transportation

In May 2024, cellcentric presented its smaller, more powerful and efficient NextGen fuel cell system for sustainable hydrogen-powered long-haul trucks for the first time at the ACT Expo in Las Vegas, USA. In addition, with the BZA150 fuel cell generation, the company has a close to series production and already practical pilot product that has been successfully tested by the truck manufacturers Daimler Truck and Volvo Group in demanding field tests. Series production of the NextGen fuel cell system is scheduled to begin at the end of the decade.

Further pictures are available for download at:
https://cellcentric.net/en/media/

cellcentric develops, produces, and markets fuel cell systems for use in heavy-duty commercial vehicles as the focus as well as for other areas of application outside vehicles. cellcentric is a joint venture founded in 2021 between Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group. The company utilizes the know-how and extensive experience gained from decades of developing fuel cell systems by its predecessor companies. cellcentric’s goal is to become a leading global manufacturer of fuel cells and thus making a contribution to climate-neutral and sustainable transportation by 2050. More than 520 highly qualified employees are driving our state-of-the-art fuel cell technology forward. They work in interdisciplinary teams at our sites in Nabern, Stuttgart-Untertuerkheim, Esslingen (Germany) and Burnaby (Canada). Around 700 individual patents granted, underline the company’s leading role in technological development.

cellcentric announces its NextGen fuel cell system tailored for long-haul trucks in Europe as well as in North America

cellcentric unveils its NextGen fuel cell system for long-haul trucks, offering over 350 kW power, 20% fuel savings, and enhanced durability.

Announcement of NextGen Fuel Cell System for Long-Haul Trucks

Fuel cell system specialist cellcentric announces its innovative NextGen fuel cell system tailored for long-haul trucks also in North America. As a new player with many years of expertise, the company with European and Canadian roots will announce its NextGen fuel cell system tailor-made for sustainable hydrogen-powered long-haul trucks for the first time at the trade fair, alongside its BZA150 fuel cell generation, which has been successfully tested in demanding field tests by Truck OEMs, Daimler Truck and Volvo Group. As a key element of the sustainable mobility transition in heavy goods transport and haulage trucking, the pioneering system was also developed with a particular focus on transportation requirements in North America (USMCA). The target is to start Series production at the end of the decade.

With a compact design and a net output of more than 350 kW as well as a low weight thanks to the highly integrated single system package solution, the NextGen system achieves the performance characteristics of comparable long-haul conventional heavy-duty trucks while reducing fuel consumption by 20 percent compared to the current generation BZA150 fuel cell generation. This is also enabled by a power density increase of 30 percent compared to the current generation. Especially relevant for easy truck vehicle integration: the system design and performance enables a 40 percent reduction in waste heat at peak load, thus substantially lowering cooling requirements for the truck – a key strategic product fit improvement.

“Our NextGen fuel cell system takes heavy-duty zero-emission transportation capability to a new level,” Nicholas Loughlan, CTO of cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG, says at the ACT Expo. “The performance features are tailored to meet the high demands of heavy-duty long-haul truck transport, which is highly sensitive to Total Cost of Ownership, in all aspects – but above all in fuel efficiency – without compromising on range, durability, or reliability. During development, we also specifically considered North American transportation requirements, especially regarding the long-haul segment. With its TCO Benchmark Performance, cellcentric’s NextGen is a zero-emission heavy-duty long-haul game changer that will allow us to play a significant role in shaping the sustainable transportation transition, also in this important market,” says Loughlan.

Reliable, robust, and sustainable in the long term 

In addition, the cellcentric engineering teams have designed the NextGen fuel cell system to be as robust as is to be expected given the requirements of the challenging long-haul heavy-duty business: the system’s lifetime will deliver around 25,000 operating hours. The NextGen fuel cell system is also characterized by a high degree of sustainability beyond its useful life.

Fuel cell system also meets transportation requirements in the USMCA market

The strategic considerations taken in the product design specifically cater to the North American market: demand for hydrogen-based mobility solutions is growing in the USMCA market, triggered by the US subsidy measure in the form of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In addition, the EPA’s recent final rule: “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles - Phase 3” will also help pave the way for heavy-duty zero emission vehicles in the US.

With this market outlook, cellcentric is driving the development of the highly TCO-optimized NextGen fuel cell system, taking the requirements of long-haul heavy-duty transportation in North America into account starting in the initial design phase.

Highly integrated, compact and low-weight single system package solution

A peak power above 350 kW – ideal for transportation requirements in both the European and the North American market 

Highly efficient with expected fuel consumption savings of 20 percent compared to the BZA150 generation, enabling leading total cost of ownership

Reliable, robust, and sustainable beyond its life cycle

ACT Expo – cellcentric showcases fuel cell tailormade for long-haul trucks

At ACT Expo 2024, cellcentric unveils its NextGen fuel cell for long-haul trucks. High efficiency and quick refueling for heavy-duty transport.

Showcase of Custom Fuel Cell at ACT Expo 2024

Three decades of concentrated expertise in fuel cell development: cellcentric was established in March 2021 as a 50:50 joint venture between Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group. Both are leading companies in the commercial vehicle industry and not only bring their financial backing to this joint venture but, above all, also their expertise in the sustainable hydrogen-powered drivetrain of the future.

cellcentric is an independent company with more than 520 employees that engages in the development, production and marketing of fuel cell power units for the commercial vehicle industry. When integrating fuel cell systems into vehicles, cellcentric’s development teams work closely with the respective customers’ R&D teams to further optimize the fuel cell application to meet individual requirements.

Press releases