Stellantis Ramps Up Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Production

A Stellantis joint venture to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen fuel-cell technology in the automotive industry opens in France.

Symbio, a JV created in partnership with tire giant Michelin and Tier 1 auto supplier Forvia, inaugurates its SymphonHy gigafactory today in Saint-Fons in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.. It claims the facility will become Europe’s largest integrated fuel-cell production site.

Stellantis also confirms today that it plans to develop hydrogen powertrain technology for its Ram brand pickups, in line with its aim of electrifying its portfolio of vehicles with a range of 320 miles (515 km) ALVW or 200 miles (322 km) GCWR and fast tank refilling, without compromising on payload capacity. These vehicles will be equipped with fuel cells produced by Symbio.

Symbio has high ambitions, claiming an initial annual fuel-cell output of 16,000 units while expecting to produce 50,000 a year by 2026. It also will burgeon in size from a present surface area of 85,302 sq.-ft. (7,925 sq.-m) to 131,234 sq.-ft. (12,190 sq.-m) by 2026 and employ more than 450 engineers, including 100 dedicated to innovation and around 20 doctorate professors with expertise covering electrochemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, etc.

Symbio currently claims a portfolio of zero-emission powertrain solutions for on-road light and midrange commercial vehicles, trucks, pickups, buses and coaches as well as industrial off-road lifting and mechanical handling equipment.

Stellantis currently deploys its powertrain technology in its light commercial vehicles including the Peugeot e-Expert, Citroën e-Jumpy and Opel Vivaro-e models. Its CEO, Carlos Tavares, says: “Symbio is the proof that three French-rooted and leading companies in their respective fields can join forces and expertise to be at the forefront. Today’s inauguration marks an important step as hydrogen is part of the mix of technologies we are bringing forward for commercial vehicle customers.

"This technology is a building block of the powerful electrification ecosystem we are developing to support our bold goal to reach, by 2030, 100% electric sales in Europe and 50% in the U.S....hydrogen will contribute to reaching our ambitious carbon net zero by 2038 target, ahead of the competition in our fight against climate change.”