It is a withdrawal for the hydrogen sector. Stellantis announced on Wednesday that he finished his hydrogen development program and his pioneering supply of utility vehicles equipped with fuel cells.
The production of the series of a new range of hydrogen utilities, which would begin this summer in Hordain (France) and Gliwice (Poland) this summer, has been canceled.
The group, administered since the end of June by the Italian Antonio Filosa since the end of June, had sold only 300 units in its previous series. The hundred employees who worked on the project will be “redirecting other projects,” Stellantis said.
It is a new fatal signal for hydrogen in transport, while part of the automotive industry, and European states such as France, have been trying to make it an alternative to the large batteries of electric vehicles.
Compared to electrical services, which are beginning to multiply in cities, hydrogen vehicles have a short recharge duration and long autonomy, near the diesel, advantages sought by logistics companies such as local communities. They also need smaller batteries and, therefore, less raw materials.
But hydrogen models are still very expensive to buy, around one hundred thousand euros per unit, and load stations, expensive to install, are rare.
A French factory in danger
This decision raises the question of the future of Symbio, the joint company was launched with large fanfare in 2023 by Stellantis with Michelin and the Forvia equipment provider. Stellantis said that “discussions began” with its partners, even if Symbio has other clients.
This trial especially questions Symbio’s future, Stellantis’s joint company with Michelin and the Forvia equipment provider, while a fuel cell factory opened with a large fanfare near Lyon at the end of 2023.
“Stellantis represents almost 80% of Symbio’s volume,” said Forvia. “In fact, the intention expressed by Stellantis leads to operational and financial repercussions, serious and immediate for the future of Symbio.”
Renault also set liquidation at the beginning of 2025 its oil hydrogen utilities factory (Yvelines). Among car manufacturers, Solo Toyota, Hyundai and BMW continue to believe with small development programs and a handful of vehicles in the streets.
Source: BFM TV
