Toyota Motor Corp. plans to develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered big rig for the North American market with its subsidiary Hino Motors Ltd.
Toyota said Monday it will provide fuel cell technology and its truck unit will supply the chassis based on its new XL Series. The automaker did not provide a timeline for beginning sales of the Class 8 truck but said it would debut a prototype in the first half of 2021. This expands on a March agreement to develop a 25-ton fuel cell semi for the Japanese market.
"Toyota’s 20-plus years of fuel-cell technology combined with Hino’s heavy-duty truck experience will create an innovative and capable product,” Tak Yokoo, senior executive engineer at Toyota’s R&D unit, said in a statement.