Daimler Truck receives funding to deploy 100 fuel cell trucks in Germany
Federal and state governments of the country will jointly support the company with a funding totaling € 226 million as part of the IPCEI Hydrogen program of the European Union.
Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate have approved funding of € 226 million to Daimler Truck to develop 100 fuel cell trucks.
The funding project, created within the framework of the European Union’s IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) Hydrogen program, covers both vehicle and production-related activities.
Final assembly of the next generation fuel cell trucks is set to take place at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth and the trucks are expected to go into operation at various customers from the end of 2026 onwards.
“The approval of funding for the development and small series production of 100 fuel cell trucks is an important boost for the use of hydrogen in road freight transportation. This funding is therefore a strong signal not only for Daimler Truck but for the entire commercial vehicle industry,” said Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck.
The company had filed an application for funding in 2021 for the development of fuel cell trucks and small series customer deployment in long-distance transportation. Now, it will receive around two thirds of the total eligible amount put forward in the IPCEI-funding application.
In addition to the development and build-up of the vehicles, the funding will also be used for feasibility studies with regard to the hydrogen value chain as well as investments in required production facilities and processes in preparation for planned series production.
