Swiss H2 car market struggles amidst expanding refueling locations
Local importers have registered only 10 new hydrogen vehicles in 2024 in contrast to the 17 fully operational fueling facilities across the country.
Despite having 17 fully operational hydrogen refueling stations, Switzerland’s hydrogen car market remains underdeveloped, with only four new hydrogen vehicles registered in the first nine months of 2024.
According to the Swiss Association of Automobile Importers (Auto Schweiz), just 10 hydrogen vehicles were registered across the country during the same period. This stark contrast highlights a gap in the adoption of hydrogen-powered cars in the country, even though Switzerland ranks second in Europe for hydrogen refueling infrastructure, after Germany.
Toyota is currently the only manufacturer offering new hydrogen cars in Switzerland, but the country’s limited refueling infrastructure and growing preference for electric vehicles (EVs) pose significant barriers.
Currently, the country’s hydrogen refueling network of 17 stations is outnumbered by the over 14,000 public EV charging points, reflecting the preference for electric over hydrogen-powered cars.
In contrast, alternative drive vehicles, including hybrids and electric models, have captured a 60% market share, with petrol-electric hybrids and fully electric vehicles leading the way.
