BMW will launch a new X5 model offering five different drivetrain technologies, making it the first vehicle to combine battery electric, plug-in hybrid, petrol, diesel, and hydrogen fuel cell options in a single model range. The hydrogen fuel cell variant, branded the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, will enter production in 2028 as the company’s first series-produced hydrogen vehicle.
“By launching the new BMW X5 with a choice of five drive system variants, we are once again demonstrating our leading position as a technology pioneer,” said Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, at a BMW event in New York. “Hydrogen has an essential part to play in global decarbonisation, which is why we are committed to driving the technology forward.”
The iX5 Hydrogen will use a third-generation fuel cell system developed in collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation. BMW states this system features a more compact design with improved power and efficiency compared to previous generations, resulting in increased range and output while reducing energy consumption. Prototypes are currently being built at BMW’s competence centres in Munich and at the BMW Group Plant Steyr, with additional drive system components sourcing from the company’s Landshut facility.
The multi-drivetrain approach reflects BMW’s technology-open strategy for meeting varying customer demands globally. From 2028, the BMW lineup will include both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as fully electric options. The company’s manufacturing structures are designed to accommodate this range of technologies efficiently across development, purchasing and production processes.
BMW positions hydrogen as a complementary technology to battery electric systems, particularly for applications where batteries may not provide optimal solutions. The company views hydrogen as an energy storage medium for renewable sources that can help balance supply and demand in the electrical grid.
Beyond vehicle development, BMW is participating in the HyMoS (Hydrogen Mobility at Scale) initiative to expand hydrogen refueling infrastructure. This program aims to support hydrogen ecosystems in metropolitan areas by pooling demand across different vehicle types including trucks, buses and passenger cars to improve economic viability of hydrogen stations.
The initiative operates through partnerships with industry and institutional participants, focusing initially on existing ecosystems in Germany and France during a pilot phase. The program shares experiences across projects and provides industry partner support to maximize the potential of hydrogen infrastructure investments.
“The new BMW iX5 Hydrogen will be a true BMW – pioneering in its class and delivering the BMW typical driving pleasure,” said Michael Rath, Vice President Hydrogen Vehicles BMW Group. The vehicle follows successful global testing of BMW’s pilot hydrogen fleet, marking the transition from experimental technology to commercial production for the German automaker.
