What companies make hydrogen cars?

[BethanyLee]

The primary companies manufacturing hydrogen fuel cell cars (FCEVs) for the consumer market are Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda, with BMW actively developing prototypes for future production. Other significant participants include Stellantis for commercial vehicles and a Japanese consortium exploring hydrogen combustion engines. The market remains niche, constrained by limited hydrogen refueling infrastructure primarily concentrated in regions like California, Japan, Germany, and South Korea.

Toyota is a leader in fuel cell technology. Its Mirai sedan, now in its second generation, is the most widely recognized hydrogen car, with over 22,000 units sold globally as of late 2024. The company also offers a Toyota Crown model with a fuel cell option in Japan. Toyota’s strategy involves both passenger vehicles and applying the technology to buses and trucks.

Hyundai has made significant strides with its Nexo SUV, a popular model praised for its longer driving range. The Nexo has accumulated substantial sales, particularly in South Korea and Europe. Hyundai’s HTWO brand encompasses its fuel cell system, which it is scaling for use in various mobility sectors, including commercial vehicles and trains.

Honda recently introduced the CR-V e:FCEV for the 2025 model year. This model is notable as a plug-in hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, combining a fuel cell with a battery that can be charged externally. It represents a next-step approach, offering flexibility for short electric-only trips and long-distance hydrogen travel.

BMW has not yet launched a production hydrogen car but is a key developer. Its iX5 Hydrogen is a pilot fleet vehicle undergoing real-world testing. The company has a collaboration with Toyota, and industry reports, including statements from BMW executives, indicate a targeted launch of a new fuel cell vehicle co-developed with Toyota around 2028.

Beyond these, Stellantis (parent company of brands like Citroën, Opel, and Peugeot) produces hydrogen fuel cell versions of its medium-sized vans, such as the Citroën ë-Jumpy and Peugeot e-Expert. For smaller vehicles, a Japanese consortium including Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Honda is researching hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines, though this is distinct from fuel cell technology.

The current landscape shows hydrogen cars excel in refueling speed (3-5 minutes) and range (300-400 miles for the Mirai and Nexo), but face critical challenges. The global network of public hydrogen stations was just over 1,000 as of 2024, with a heavy concentration in specific areas. Vehicle costs remain high, though often subsidized through leases. Market data from firms like S&P Global Mobility indicates FCEVs hold a fraction of a percent of the global zero-emission vehicle market, dominated by battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Manufacturer	Current Primary Model(s)	Vehicle Type	Key Market Availability
Toyota	Mirai, Crown FCEV (Japan)	Sedan	USA (CA), Japan, Europe
Hyundai	Nexo	SUV/Crossover	USA (CA), South Korea, Europe, Australia
Honda	CR-V e:FCEV (2025)	SUV	USA (CA), Japan
BMW	iX5 Hydrogen (Pilot Fleet)	SAV/SUV	Testing in select regions, not commercially sold
Stellantis	e-Jumpy / e-Expert Hydrogen	Medium Van	Europe, UK

[WalkerFitz]

As a Mirai driver in Los Angeles for two years, my experience is a mix of great and grating. The car itself is fantastic—smooth, quiet, and I can fill up in five minutes at the station near my office. That’s the catch: “near my office.” I plan my life around that one station’s operational hours. When it’s down for maintenance, I’m stuck. The lease deal was incredible with the fuel card included, making it cheaper than my old gas car. But I’d never buy one outright until I see more stations being built. It’s a perfect commuter car if you live and work in the right bubble.

[StJayden]

Let’s cut through the hype. Who actually makes hydrogen cars you can drive off a lot today? In the U.S., your options are essentially three: the Toyota Mirai sedan, the Hyundai Nexo SUV, and the new Honda CR-V hybrid fuel cell model. All are only sold or leased in California because that’s the only state with a somewhat usable network of fueling stations.

Major European brands like BMW are still years away from a production model, despite having impressive test vehicles on the road. The real volume in hydrogen right now isn’t in passenger cars—it’s in commercial vehicles. Companies like Stellantis are putting fuel cells into delivery vans in Europe, which makes more sense for fleets that can use a central depot for refueling. For the average driver, the hydrogen car market is a tiny, geographically locked experiment.

[TaliaLynn]

I’m fascinated by the technology under the hood. A hydrogen fuel cell car is essentially an electric vehicle, but instead of a massive battery, it has a stack that generates electricity by combining hydrogen from the tank with oxygen from the air. The only tailpipe emission is water vapor.

The engineering challenge is immense. You need ultra-strong, lightweight tanks to store hydrogen gas at high pressure. The fuel cell stack uses precious metals like platinum as a catalyst. This makes the system expensive. That’s why companies like Toyota and Hyundai are so focused; they’re betting on scaling up production to bring costs down, similar to how battery costs have fallen. The new Honda CR-V FCEV is interesting because it marries a fuel cell with a plug-in battery, creating a hybrid system for better efficiency.

[WalterMarie]

If you’re considering a hydrogen car, your decision is 90% about location and 10% about the vehicle. First, confirm you live within practical range of multiple, reliable hydrogen stations. Relying on a single station is a major risk. Second, look at lease offers. Manufacturers and governments often provide substantial incentives, including significant fuel credits that cover years of driving, which makes the total cost competitive.

Understand that resale value is a current uncertainty due to the nascent market. Talk to other owners in your area about their real-world station reliability. The cars themselves are highly refined and solve the range-and-refueling anxiety that some have with battery-electrics. But you’re signing up for being an early adopter. Your experience will be directly tied to the pace of infrastructure growth in your specific region over the next few years. It’s a commitment to a specific type of zero-emission future.