Toyota issues warning: China is accelerating to dominate the global hydrogen energy vehicle market!
May 4, 2025, Tokyo, Japan - Toyota Motor Corporation recently issued a重磅warning: if the international community does not increase investment in hydrogen energy technology, China may completely dominate the hydrogen energy vehicle field, controlling the global supply chain and export markets! This message comes from a depth report by the Financial Times, revealing the rapid development momentum of China's hydrogen energy vehicle market and Toyota's concerns about the future competitive landscape. In response to China's strong rise in this field, Toyota calls on countries around the world to join forces and increase investment in hydrogen energy technology, otherwise they may miss the important opportunity for energy transformation.
China's hydrogen energy vehicle market: Explosive growth
In recent years, China has shown an astonishing development speed in the hydrogen energy vehicle sector. According to data provided by the Financial Times, from 2022 to 2024, China remained the global leader in sales of hydrogen fuel cell trucks and buses. In 2022, China sold approximately 4,000 hydrogen fuel cell commercial vehicles, which soared to 6,000 units in 2023, and exceeded 7,000 units in 2024, far ahead of South Korea and the EU. By comparison, South Korea and the EU sold only over 1,000 units and less than 1,000 units respectively in 2024, making the gap clear.
The reason why China has risen sharply in the hydrogen energy vehicle field is inseparable from government support. In July 2024, China's National Development and Reform Commission announced funding of 300 billion RMB (approximately 41 billion USD) to subsidize the promotion of clean energy vehicles, including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This subsidy plan was financed through ultra-long-term special government bonds, covering multiple fields from passenger cars to commercial vehicles. For example, consumers who scrap old vehicles and purchase hydrogen fuel cell vehicles listed in the "New Energy Vehicle Tax Exemption Directory" can receive up to 20,000 RMB (approximately 2,750 USD) in subsidies. This bold policy stimulus has directly promoted the popularization of hydrogen energy vehicles, especially the sales of medium and small-sized buses, which increased by 180% in 2024 to reach 93,000 units, accounting for 67% of total hydrogen energy bus sales.
Toyota's anxiety: The struggle for supply chain control
As a pioneer in hydrogen energy technology, Toyota naturally feels uneasy about China's rise. Toyota launched the world's first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle "Mirai" in 2014 and has been committed to the research and promotion of hydrogen energy technology. In March 2025, Toyota showcased its hydrogen fuel cell truck project at the Port of Long Beach, with all 30 trucks using Toyota's hydrogen energy technology and fueled by the local Tri-gen hydrogen production station. Jay Sackett, chief engineer of Toyota, said at the 2025 Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Conference: "We are willing to cooperate with competitors to establish unified hydrogen energy standards because it benefits the overall industry development."
However, Toyota's efforts seem unable to stop China's expansion momentum in the hydrogen energy field. The Financial Times pointed out that China not only leads in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle sales but also dominates the entire supply chain. From hydrogen production, storage to fuel cell system manufacturing, Chinese enterprises have formed a complete industrial chain. In 2023, Chinese-made electrolyzers (key equipment for producing green hydrogen) accounted for more than 70% of the global market, with costs 30% lower than those in Europe and America. Moreover, China has made breakthroughs in hydrogen gas storage and transportation technology, such as high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage and liquid hydrogen storage technology, which have been widely applied in the commercial vehicle sector.
Toyota's senior management is deeply concerned. A senior Toyota executive who wished to remain anonymous said: "If we don't act now, China may control the entire hydrogen energy vehicle supply chain, leaving us without any chance to compete!" Toyota is worried that once China masters the core technologies of the supply chain, global market discourse power will tilt entirely towards China, leaving European and American automakers to become mere "followers".
Global competitive landscape: Challenges and opportunities coexist
Hydrogen energy, as an important direction of clean energy, has received high attention from countries around the world in recent years. According to a report by S&P Global in May 2024, the investment fever for hydrogen energy has swept across the globe, with both developed and developing countries actively laying out hydrogen energy supply chains. Hydrogen gas can be used not only for transportation but also serves high-carbon industries such as refining, chemicals, and steel, making it an important pathway to achieve carbon neutrality. However, S&P's report also points out that the hydrogen energy industry currently faces three major challenges: high costs, numerous bottlenecks, and the definition and classification of low-carbon hydrogen have yet to be unified.
Clearly, China has already taken the lead in this competition. In 2024, China's total new energy vehicle sales reached a record 238,000 units, with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles occupying an important share. By contrast, the sales growth of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Japan and South Korea has been slow, while progress in Europe has been hindered by insufficient infrastructure. Toyota revealed at the 2025 conference that they plan to expand the application of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in heavy-duty trucks and promote hydrogen energy infrastructure construction globally. However, Toyota also admits that relying solely on one company's efforts is far from enough, and only international cooperation can counter China's strong rise.
Future outlook: Can China's "hydrogen energy speed" continue?
For ordinary consumers, hydrogen energy vehicles may still be a novelty, but their potential cannot be underestimated. Imagine a future where buses and trucks no longer emit black smoke but are driven by clean hydrogen, both environmentally friendly and efficient. China is running fast on this track, but it also faces challenges. For instance, the production cost of hydrogen remains high, infrastructure construction requires huge investments, and safety issues related to hydrogen need further resolution.
Toyota's warning also reminds us: the competition in hydrogen energy vehicles is not only a technological contest but also a game of global energy transformation. With policy support and advantages in the industrial chain, China has already gained a favorable position in this game.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831228800398410/
Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author alone.