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Germany and Japan test hydrogen future with BMW, Toyota cars

Deutsche Welle · 🇩🇪 public Germany · · 762 words · By Martin Fritz
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What to know about Germany and Japan test hydrogen future with BMW, Toyota cars

Germany and Japan test hydrogen future with BMW, Toyota cars May 17, 2026On Wednesday, German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder arrived at Toyota's fuel cell factory in a German BMW iX5 Hydrogen, only to later depart in a Japanese Toyota Crown FCEV.

Claims checked 23
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center80%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Germany and Japan test hydrogen future with BMW, Toyota cars May 17, 2026On Wednesday, German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder arrived at Toyota's fuel cell factory in a German BMW iX5 Hydrogen, only to later depart in a Japanese Toyota Crown FCEV.

Why it matters

The choice of cars was, of course, no coincidence, with both vehicles generating electricity from hydrogen in a fuel cell.

Common ground

Car makers BMW and Toyota are currently jointly developing the third generation of this drive technology.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/german-transport-minister-promotes-green-hydrogen-in-japan…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 23 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 13
info Single Source 5
check_circle Corroborated 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
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Claim 1: “The truck is, however, refueled with compressed hydrogen.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 2: “Japan, too, plans to expand its hydrogen capacity to twelve million tons of per year by 2040.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources mention the target of 12 million tons of hydrogen capacity per year by 2040 for Japan.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Japan's existing goal is to increase annual hydrogen supply to about 3 million tonnes in 2030 from 2 million tonnes now, which is mainly used by oil refiners, and to expand the figure to 20 million to…
https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/oil-and-gas…
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web search NEUTRAL — Japan, too, plans to expand its hydrogen capacity to twelve million tons of per year by 2040. It is also, however, promoting the production of ammonia as a carrier for hydrogen. There are plans to add…
https://www.dw.com/en/german-transport-minister-promotes-gre…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Hydrogen production could increase to 240 Mt per year by 2040, the capacity of hydrogen electrolyzers required for this would be 1 TW. In the 2030s, the expansion would therefore have to be as high ea…
https://www.mynewsdesk.com/rolandberger/pressreleases/roland…
info
Claim 3: “BMW will manufacture this drive technology in an Austrian factory and Toyota will do the same at a Japanese production site.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific production locations (Austrian factory for BMW and Japanese site for Toyota) are only mentioned in one source. Other sources mention the collaboration generally.
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web search NEUTRAL — The Toyota GR Supra is a sports car manufactured by Magna Steyr for Toyota since 2019. The fifth-generation Supra, the GR Supra was sold under and developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing brand in collaborati…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_GR_Supra
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web search NEUTRAL — Both companies are contributing components to help develop a more compact and efficient fuel cell. Once this stage is complete, BMW will manufacture this drive technology in an Austrian factory and To…
https://www.dw.com/en/german-transport-minister-promotes-gre…
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web search NEUTRAL — BMW and Toyota jointly developing next generation of fuel cell technology .BMW to launch first-ever series production fuel cell vehicle in 2028.Both companies are promoting hydrogen infrastructure dev…
https://pantimearabia.com/hydrogen-pioneers-bmw-group-and-to…
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Claim 4: “In Germany, the plan is to have three quarters of newly registered heavy commercial vehicles running on emission-free fuel by 2030.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 5: “Last September, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Toyota, Japanese electricity supplier Kepco, Daimler Truck, Hamburg-based fuel supplier MB Energy and the Port of Hamburg agreed to establish a commercial hydrogen supply chain.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 6: “Daimler wants to establish its liquid hydrogen refueling system, co-developed with Linde, in Japan”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 7: “Japan, meanwhile, has not set any comparable targets.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 8: “Daimler Truck has begun operating Germany's first liquid hydrogen refueling station for trucks.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 9: “Minister Schnieder made a total of 220 million euros available to build up to 40 hydrogen filling stations throughout the country and put up to 400 hydrogen-powered trucks on the road.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 10: “Siemens Energy and Toray want to improve electrolysis technology for green hydrogen, while Thyssenkrupp Nucera is eager to tap into the Japanese electrolysis market.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 11: “BMW plans to launch its first hydrogen series model in 2028.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources confirm BMW's plan to launch a series production hydrogen model in 2028.
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web search NEUTRAL — “The series production models will be integrated into BMW’s existing portfolio, ie BMW will offer an existing model in an additional hydrogen fuel cell drive system variant,” the company said in a pre…
https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/bmw-to-launch-seri…
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web search NEUTRAL — BMW is bringing hydrogen mobility ambitions to series production.Starting production for the 2028 model year, the new BMW iX5 Hydrogen features a third-generation fuel cell system developed in a colla…
https://news.dupontregistry.com/bmw/bmw-ix5-hydrogen-series-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The models developed by BMW and Toyota using the technology will retain "their distinct brand identities", the statement said. Toyota launched the Mirai, the world's first mass-market hydrogen fuel ce…
https://en.aletihad.ae/news/business/4512946/bmw-eyes-hydrog…
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Claim 12: “Car makers BMW and Toyota are currently jointly developing the third generation of this drive technology.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources confirm that BMW and Toyota are jointly developing a third-generation fuel cell system.
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web search NEUTRAL — Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology. Automated Driving. Artificial Intelligence.The hydrogen drive technology is based on the third-generation fuel-cell system currently being developed jointly by the BMW G…
https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/innovation/drive-technologies/hy…
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web search NEUTRAL — BMW and Toyota are jointly developing a third-generation fuel cell system, optimizing efficiency and durability for passenger vehicles. The collaboration will also focus on infrastructure development …
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bmw-toyota-drive-hydrogen-inn…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The choice of cars was, of course, no coincidence, with both vehicles generating electricity from hydrogen in a fuel cell. Car makers BMW and Toyota are currently jointly developing the third generati…
https://www.dw.com/en/german-transport-minister-promotes-gre…
schedule
Claim 13: “So far, Japan has only filling stations for compressed hydrogen.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 14: “He then visited Kansai Airport in Osaka, where buses and forklift trucks run on fuel cells, albeit as a pilot project only.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found in the search results for this claim.
info
Claim 15: “German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder arrived at Toyota's fuel cell factory in a German BMW iX5 Hydrogen, only to later depart in a Japanese Toyota Crown FCEV.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one specific web search result describes the event of Minister Patrick Schnieder arriving in a BMW iX5 Hydrogen and departing in a Toyota Crown FCEV. Other results discuss Toyota cars generally but do not corroborate this specific event.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — On Wednesday, German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder arrived at Toyota's fuel cell factory in a German BMW iX5 Hydrogen, only to later depart in a Japanese Toyota Crown FCEV. The choice of cars w…
https://www.dw.com/en/german-transport-minister-promotes-gre…
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web search NEUTRAL — Toyota Century fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) hydrogen SUV with Beyond Zero branding, front three-quarter view. Toyota brings hydrogen to the Hakone Ekiden with fuel cell versions of familiar model…
https://drivinghydrogen.com/2025/09/08/exclusive-toyota-crow…
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web search NEUTRAL — Thanks to its hybrid knowledge, Toyota created the first fuel cell production car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSxPkyZOU7E
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Claim 16: “Toyota will also equip its two existing hydrogen series models with the new system.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Toyota homepages and dealership sites; none of them mention equipping existing hydrogen models with the new third-generation system.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jan 6, 2023 · Explore the newest Toyota trucks, cars, SUVs, hybrids and minivans. See photos, compare models, get tips, calculate payments, and more.
https://www.toyota.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Experience exceptional selection and service at Peterson Toyota in Boise, ID. Browse our extensive lineup of new and pre-owned Toyota models. Visit us today!
https://www.petersontoyota.net/
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web search NEUTRAL — 3 days ago · Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website―company, ir, newsroom, mobility, sustainability.
https://global.toyota/en/
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Claim 17: “Three BMW employees have specifically moved to Japan to participate in the undertaking.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific detail about three BMW employees moving to Japan is only mentioned in one source. Other sources confirm the general collaboration but not the specific number of relocated employees.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Car makers BMW and Toyota are currently jointly developing the third generation of this drive technology. Three BMW employees have specifically moved to Japan to participate in the undertaking.
https://www.dw.com/en/german-transport-minister-promotes-gre…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The BMW Group and the Toyota Motor Corporation can look back on over a decade of trusting and successful collaboration. Building on this, the companies are now extending their cooperation to accelerat…
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T044479…
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web search NEUTRAL — Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and the BMW Group (BMW) signed an agreement to strengthen collaboration in the hydrogen sector, with a view to creating a hydrogen society and achieving overall carbo…
https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/41463649.html
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Claim 18: “Fuso's H2FC truck — the first in Japan to run on liquid hydrogen — will therefore remain a concept vehicle for the time being.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 19: “Fuso recently merged with the Toyota commercial vehicle subsidiary Hino. Now the new joint venture, known as Archion”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 20: “Germany and Japan... had been working together on this "extremely complex task" since launching their energy partnership in 2019.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim that Germany and Japan launched an energy partnership in 2019 is mentioned in one source. Other search results are irrelevant (pandemic exercises, etc.).
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Germany and Japan, Schnieder said, had been working together on this "extremely complex task" since launching their energy partnership in 2019.
https://www.dw.com/en/german-transport-minister-promotes-gre…
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web search NEUTRAL — 1080/1369118X.2019.1573914.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369118X.2019.1…
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web search NEUTRAL — Selected moments from the Event 201 pandemic tabletop exercise hosted by The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in partnership with the World Economic ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoLw-Q8X174
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Claim 21: “Schnieder visited the world's first terminal for liquid hydrogen in the port of Kobe”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided or found in the search results for this claim.
schedule
Claim 22: “Daimler's Japanese subsidiary Fuso has also brought liquid hydrogen truck propulsation to Japan.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 23: “Almost a year ago, Hino launched the Profia Z heavy-duty truck, which runs on a fuel cell from Toyota's Mirai hydrogen car.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.