"Hydrogen Vehicles with Easier Supply Chain Management Are Essential for Electrification... Electric Vehicles Alone Are Not Enough"

Michael Latt, BMW Executive Vice President, Interview with Korean Reporters
"Technology is mature, charging stations needed... Launch set for 2028"

Michael Latt, Executive Vice President of the Hydrogen Vehicle Division at BMW Group, stated, "It is difficult to manufacture battery electric vehicles when rare materials are unavailable," adding, "Hydrogen electric vehicles, which do not rely on rare metals, can ensure resilience."

On the 29th, during a pre-opening event for the Japan Mobility Show 2025, Latt met with Korean reporters and emphasized, "Decarbonization in the transportation sector cannot be achieved 100% with electric vehicles alone." BMW is one of the few automakers, alongside Hyundai Motor Company of Korea and Toyota and Honda of Japan, that is researching and developing hydrogen-based propulsion technology. Fuel cells generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, which powers the motor and supplies energy to the vehicle.

On the 29th, Michael Latt, Executive Vice President of the Hydrogen Division at BMW Group, met with Korean reporters at the BMW exhibition hall at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. Provided by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association

For automakers, supply chain management is crucial enough to determine a company's competitiveness. They must handle numerous variables, including managing partners, temporary shutdowns caused by COVID-19, and frequent export controls arising from ongoing US-China trade disputes. Latt explained, "Battery electric vehicles use metals that are only found in certain regions, which makes their value chain completely different from that of hydrogen vehicles." He believes that a complementary approach during the electrification process is appropriate.

BMW is developing the third-generation iX5 Hydrogen with the goal of launching it in 2028. This vehicle is based on the midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV) X5 and is equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system. Currently, the second-generation model is being operated on a pilot basis. While the second-generation model only sourced fuel cells from Toyota, the third generation under development is being co-developed with Toyota, significantly expanding the scope of collaboration.

On the 29th, the iX5 Hydrogen exhibited at the BMW pavilion at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. Provided by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association

The new third-generation fuel cell technology has reduced its volume by about 25% compared to previous versions. This was made possible by increasing power density, allowing for a more compact design. The company expects improvements in both driving range and output per charge. Latt stated, "The second-generation system technology is already mature enough for commercial release, but due to insufficient charging infrastructure, we have set the launch date for 2028." He added, "Collaborating with Toyota is also advantageous in terms of economies of scale, such as joint sourcing of parts."

Expanding infrastructure is not easy in the short term due to significant costs, as well as regulatory and technical challenges that need to be addressed. In Europe, subsidies are provided for vehicles and fuel, and there are policies requiring charging stations every 200 kilometers, but related regulations and standards remain stringent. BMW has also joined hands with Hyundai Motor Company to form the Hydrogen Mobility at Scale (HyMoS) consortium, aiming to expand charging stations in Germany and other parts of Europe. Latt expressed his gratitude for Korea's efforts to increase hydrogen charging infrastructure.

If BMW soon develops a new powertrain and applies it to new vehicles, it will have a fifth powertrain product lineup, following internal combustion engines (gasoline and diesel), electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrids. The company had previously considered a method of directly injecting hydrogen to power engines, but did not develop it into a mass-production product due to low efficiency.

Michael Latt, Executive Vice President of the Hydrogen Division at BMW Group, is explaining the hydrogen fuel cell system. Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association