Latest news with #Symbio
Economic Key
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Economic Key
Stellantis Halts Development of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Program
Stellantis today announced its decision to discontinue its hydrogen fuel cell technology development program. Due to limited availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, high capital requirements, and the need for stronger consumer purchasing incentives, the Company does not anticipate the adoption of hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles before the end of the decade. As a result, Stellantis will no longer launch its new range of hydrogen-powered Pro One vehicles this year. Serial production was scheduled to start this summer in Hordain, France (medium-sized vans) and Gliwice, Poland (large vans). 'In a context where the Company is mobilizing to respond to demanding CO2 regulations in Europe, Stellantis has decided to discontinue its hydrogen fuel cell technology development program,' explains Jean-Philippe Imparato, Chief Operating Officer for Enlarged Europe. 'The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability. We must make clear and responsible choices to ensure our competitiveness and meet the expectations of our customers with our electric and hybrid passenger and light commercial vehicles offensive.' This decision will not impact staffing at Stellantis' production sites. R&D activities related to hydrogen technology will be redirected to other projects. The current state of the hydrogen segment also presents financial challenges for various stakeholders. In this context, Stellantis has initiated discussions with the shareholders of Symbio to evaluate the current market consequences and to preserve the best interests of Symbio, in line with their respective obligations. تم نسخ الرابط
LeMonde
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- LeMonde
Stellantis withdrawal puts the French hydrogen industry at risk
In a major setback for the hydrogen sector and a new example of Stellantis' harsh methods, the automaker announced on Wednesday, July 16, its decision to "discontinue its hydrogen fuel cell technology development program." Furthermore, it will not launch mass production of the Pro One hydrogen utility vehicles, which were previously scheduled to begin this summer at its factories in Hordain, France and in Gliwice, Poland. The main casualty of this decision is the start-up Symbio, in which Stellantis holds a 33% stake alongside Michelin and the auto parts supplier Forvia, which also manufactures hydrogen tanks. According to our information, Stellantis informed Symbio of this strategic reversal as early as May. Losing its main customer – the one for whom it had sized its hydrogen fuel cell "gigafactory" in Saint-Fons within the greater Lyon area, and one of its key stakeholders – the company had no choice but to initiate a conciliation procedure under the supervision of the commercial court to find a way out. Inaugurated in December 2023, the gigafactory produces hydrogen fuel cells for vans and hopes to supply those for heavy-duty trucks starting in 2027.
Japan Today
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Japan Today
Stellantis pulls plug on hydrogen fuel cell vans
Stellantis showed off its hydrogen fuel cell commercial vans at the Paris Motor Show last year Jeep-maker Stellantis said Wednesday it was pulling the plug on plans to build light vans using hydrogen fuel cells, saying it saw no prospects for it to be commercially viable. The company, whose stable of brands also includes Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, had planned to begin serial production of commercial vans equipped with hydrogen fuel cells this summer at sites in northern France and southern Poland. "The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability," said Jean-Philippe Imparato, Stellantis's chief operating officer for the European region. The company cited limited availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, high capital requirements, and the need for stronger consumer purchasing incentives. "We must make clear and responsible choices to ensure our competitiveness and meet the expectations of our customers with our electric and hybrid passenger and light commercial vehicles offensive," Imparato added. Hydrogen fuel cell technology was seen as a possible rival to battery electric vehicles to reach zero emissions. When hydrogen and air are fed into a cell it creates electricity and water. The technology could offer faster refill times than recharging electric batteries, but also involves creating expensive new infrastructure and most hydrogen is currently produced from natural gas without capturing the greenhouse gas emissions. Only Toyota, Hyundai and BMW are still developing fuel cell vehicles and few models are on the roads. France's Renault shut its hydrogen fuel cell factory at the start of the year. Stellantis said staff at the factories would be reassigned to other tasks, but acknowledged the move would create "financial challenges" for fuel cell supplier Symbio. Stellantis took a stake in Symbio in 2023 alongside tyre manufacturer Michelin and auto parts supplier Forvia. Symbio opened a fuel cell factory near the French city of Lyon in 2023. Stellantis said it had launched discussions with the other shareholders in Symbio, but Michelin called the announcement "unexpected, brutal and uncoordinated". Forvia noted that Stellantis accounts for nearly 80 percent of Symbio's activity. "Stellantis's announcement will have serious and immediate operational and financial repercussions for the future of Symbio," it said. © 2025 AFP
Kuwait Times
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Kuwait Times
Stellantis pulls plug on hydrogen fuel cell vans
PARIS: Jeep-maker Stellantis said Wednesday it was pulling the plug on plans to build light vans using hydrogen fuel cells, saying it saw no prospects for it to be commercially viable. The company, whose stable of brands also includes Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, had planned to begin serial production of commercial vans equipped with hydrogen fuel cells this summer at sites in northern France and southern Poland. 'The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability,' said Jean-Philippe Imparato, Stellantis's chief operating officer for the European region. The company cited limited availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, high capital requirements, and the need for stronger consumer purchasing incentives. 'We must make clear and responsible choices to ensure our competitiveness and meet the expectations of our customers with our electric and hybrid passenger and light commercial vehicles offensive,' Imparato added. Hydrogen fuel cell technology was seen as a possible rival to battery electric vehicles to reach zero emissions. When hydrogen and air are fed into a cell it creates electricity and water. The technology could offer faster refill times than recharging electric batteries, but also involves creating expensive new infrastructure and most hydrogen is currently produced from natural gas without capturing the greenhouse gas emissions. Only Toyota, Hyundai and BMW are still developing fuel cell vehicles and few models are on the roads. France's Renault shut its hydrogen fuel cell factory at the start of the year. Stellantis said staff at the factories would be reassigned to other tasks, but acknowledged the move would create 'financial challenges' for fuel cell supplier Symbio. Stellantis took a stake in Symbio in 2023 alongside tyre manufacturer Michelin and auto parts supplier Forvia. Symbio opened a fuel cell factory near the French city of Lyon in 2023. Stellantis said it had launched discussions with the other shareholders in Symbio, but Michelin called the announcement 'unexpected, brutal and uncoordinated'. Forvia noted that Stellantis accounts for nearly 80 percent of Symbio's activity. 'Stellantis's announcement will have serious and immediate operational and financial repercussions for the future of Symbio,' it said. – AFP
CTV News
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Stellantis discontinues hydrogen fuel cell program and van production
The Stellantis sign is seen outside the Chrysler Technology Center, Jan. 19, 2021, in Auburn Hills, Mich. Stellantis on April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File) Carmaker Stellantis said on Wednesday it would discontinue its hydrogen fuel cell technology program and no longer launch hydrogen-powered vehicles this year, raising questions about the future of hydrogen subsidiary Symbio. The group said the decision was due to the limited availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, high capital requirements and the need for stronger purchase incentives for customers. 'The hydrogen market remains a niche segment, with no prospects of mid-term economic sustainability,' Jean-Philippe Imparato, chief operating officer for enlarged Europe, said in a statement. Car parts suppliers Michelin and Forvia said Stellantis' decision came as a surprise and would have 'serious operational and financial consequences' for Symbio, a joint venture in which Stellantis acquired a stake in 2023. Stellantis is its main customer, accounting for nearly 80% of Symbio's business volume, said Forvia. 'Michelin's primary concern lies with the impact this will have on Symbio's employees, both in France and abroad,' the tyremaker said in a statement. Symbio employs more than 650 people, according to its website. It opened a gigafactory in eastern France in 2023 as well as a new site in California. Stellantis said it has initiated discussions with Symbio shareholders to evaluate the current market consequences and to preserve the best interests of the joint venture, in line with their respective obligations. Imparato said the automaker had to 'make clear and responsible choices to ensure our competitiveness and meet the expectations of our customers with our electric and hybrid passenger and light commercial vehicles offensive.' The group said it did not anticipate the adoption of hydrogen cell vans before the end of the decade. Serial production of Stellantis' new Pro One range was scheduled to start in the summer in Hordain, in France, and Gliwice, in Poland. The decision will not affect staffing at Stellantis production sites, the group said. It said all research and development activities focused on the hydrogen technology would be redirected to other projects. (Reporting by Giulia Segreti, additional reporting by by Mathias de Rozario in Gdansk and Dominique Patton in Paris; Editing by Cristina Carlevaro, Tomasz Janowski and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
