Toyota joins cellcentric: three industry heavyweights unite behind hydrogen trucking

On 31 March 2026, Daimler Truck, Volvo Group and Toyota Motor Corporation signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate within cellcentric — the fuel cell joint venture for heavy-duty transport. The intention: Toyota joins as a third, equal shareholder alongside the two founding partners.

What is cellcentric?

Cellcentric was founded in 2021 by Daimler Truck and Volvo Group as an independent joint venture focused on the development, production and commercialisation of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles. The company draws on decades of fuel cell development experience accumulated by its parent companies.

What does Toyota bring?

Toyota is one of the world's foremost pioneers in fuel cell technology, with over 30 years of development experience in the passenger car sector. That expertise is a powerful complement to the commercial vehicle knowledge of Daimler Truck and Volvo. Together, the three companies aim to create one of the world's leading fuel cell systems for heavy-duty on- and off-road transport and comparable applications.

Toyota and cellcentric additionally intend to jointly manage the development and production of fuel cell unit cells — the core component of any fuel cell system — along with directly linked architecture and control elements.

Equal shares, independent operation

The three parties are aiming for an equal ownership structure, with Toyota joining through a capital increase. Cellcentric will continue to operate as an independent and autonomous entity, serving customers across the full spectrum of heavy-duty transport, from road haulage to stationary applications. In all other areas of their businesses, the three companies will continue to compete independently.

A strategic statement

Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck, described the partnership as a "game changer" for making hydrogen in transportation a reality, and a confirmation of cellcentric as the global reference point for fuel cell technology in commercial vehicles.

Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO of the Volvo Group, welcomed the deepened collaboration with Toyota — a company that has long taken hydrogen seriously.

The agreement is not yet binding — a final contract is still to follow. But the message is unmistakable: the three biggest names in heavy transport and fuel cell technology are throwing their collective weight behind hydrogen as a key technology for decarbonising transport.