Toyota Motor and Isuzu Motors to jointly develop a fuel cell route bus

Toyota Motor Corp on Monday announced plans to develop a next-generation hydrogen fuel cell route bus in partnership with Isuzu Motors Ltd.

Toyota, an Aichi, Japan-based automotive manufacturer, and its Yokohama-based peer Isuzu, said the buses are being developed for commercialisation with production slated to begin in the financial year ending March 2027.

Production will be located at the J-Bus plant in Utsunomiya City, an equal joint venture between Isuzu and Hino Motors Ltd, a Tokyo-based heavy-duty trucks and bus manufacturer.

Toyota said: "The vehicle will be based on the flat-floor battery electric route bus platform planned, developed, and designed by Isuzu and manufactured by J-Bus. Isuzu and Hino―who have been collaborating in the bus segment since 2002―launched this platform in fiscal year 2024. It will be combined with an FC system developed by Toyota.

"Toyota positions hydrogen as an important energy source in the pursuit of carbon neutrality and is advancing various initiatives in producing, transporting, storing, and using hydrogen in collaboration with a wide range of partners across industries."