BMW is starting production of hydrogen powertrains at its Munich plant as part of an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) strategy which includes mass-production in future.

The premium German car maker has revealed that it is initially building a small fleet of iX5 Hydrogen SUVs to be used for global testing and demonstration purposes, following tests of the X5-based i Hydrogen Next prototype.

Oliver Zipse, chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said: “As a versatile energy source, hydrogen has a key role to play on the road to climate neutrality. And it will also gain substantially in importance as far as personal mobility is concerned.

“We think hydrogen-powered vehicles are ideally placed technologically to fit alongside battery-electric vehicles and complete the electric mobility picture.”

Zipse added: “By commencing small-scale production of fuel cells today, we are demonstrating the technical maturity of this type of drive system and underscoring its potential for the future.”