Which Chinese automotive companies are working on Hydrogen fuel cell
Discover how major Chinese automakers are developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Learn about China’s hydrogen strategy, and the future of zero-emission mobility.
Aqib
November 04, 2025
A hydrogen fuel cell is a device that converts hydrogen gas (H₂) directly into electricity, heat, and water. It uses the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxidizing agent like oxygen for producing the electricity with zero emission of carbon. This production of electricity is continues which can be use for vehicles. In hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) Hydrogen is stored in high pressure tanks and then fuel cell use to converts that in to electricity which powers an electric motor.
In today’s race towards clean energy, hydrogen fuel has comes as an alternative to traditional fossils fuels. China is a rising powerhouse in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) development. China is investing in this evolution.
Below are the Chinese companies who are working on Hydrogen fuel cell
On September 13, 2020 an article is published on their website in which they tells us about their plans related to hydrogen fuel cells. They said in the article that at Hydrogen Strategy Conference held in Shangai on 13 Septemeber, SAIC Motor cames up with their strategy plan according to that they have planning to claiming more than ten percent market share by turning out ten fuel cell vehicles by 2025.
They are hoping for becoming leading company in this field by exceeding thirty thousands SAIC Motor’s fuel cell systems by 2025
In October 2021, SAIC Motor launches self-developed fuel cell system: SAIC Motor, through its subsidiary SHPT (Shanghai Hydrogen Propulsion Technology Co., Ltd.), unveiled the M4 fuel cell stack platform and related systems (PROME M4H, P4L, and P4H) in Shanghai. These innovations make a major evolution by Chinese companies in the time of new energy fuel. They also shares the plan for achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
This unveiled PROME M4H fuel cell stack is designed by SHPT independently and its 44 primary components are domestically made. The PROME P4H fuel cell system boasting high power density of
1020 W/L, mass density of 722 W/kg and have performance with protection rating of IP67
In June 2019 One of the world’s largest hydrogen refuelling stations was launched by SAIC in Shanghai which was capable of supplying two tons of hydrogen per day.
SAIC Motor Corporation Limited published Annual Report 2023. In this report SAIC claims that they launched fuel cell stacks for commercial vehicles with high power (over 250 kW), for long life (over 20 thousands hours) and high efficiency
BAIC is the one of the leading automation manufactures, driving innovation in electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell technology of China. In 2006 BAIC Foton started working on hydrogen fuel cell buses. Making it to first domestic companies to strated R&D and industrialization of fuel cell vehicles.
In 2019 they won a top award in China automative industry for their work on hydrogen fuel cell buses. By 2021 they sold 683 fuel cell buses, and 13 million km have been travelled by them. In 2022 the transportation services during Beijing Winter Olympics is provided by 212 Foton hydrogen buses.
In Wuhan province Dongfeng delivered two hundred hydrogen powered vehicles from which 100 are standard temprature box trucks and 100 are refrigerated box trucks. They marking large scale application by using fuel cell system with ~400 km range.
In January 2025 Dongfeng Motors achieves new milestone in hydrogen technology by unvieiling 400kW Hydrogen Fuel Cell Stack. They say that this is designed for 49 ton heavy duty trucks. This stack have ability to deliver high power density, efficiency and duarability and can maintain adaptability to exteme environemnt (even at -40.degree Celcius). It have lifespan of up to 1.8 million KM, and reduce 24.5% in consumption of hydrogen per 100km. The company has already develpod 70 kW, 150 kW, and 350 kW fuel cell platforms and completed over 500,000 km of demonstration run across multiple vehicle types and now they signed strategic cooperation agreements with its subsidiaries and logistics partners for hydrogen powered trucks and building an ecosystem of hydrogen vehicles.
FAW is one of six companies that co-founded United Fuel Cell System R&D (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (FCRD) in June 2020, together with Toyota Motor Corporation, Beijing SinoHytec Co., Ltd., Dongfeng Motor Corporation, Beijing Automotive Group and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd.. They aims for Commercial Vehicle Fuel Cell Systems for the Creation of a Hydrogen-based Society in China.
In December 2024 FAW Jiefang Releases China's First In-Cylinder Direct Injection Hydrogen Engine for Heavy-Duty Commercial Vehicles. It is the most powerful hydrogen engine in China. It is zero carbon emissions engine and boasts the highes thermal efficiency.
In June 2025 FAW Hongqi reports breakthrough in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle development. The fuel cell system achieved a 15% reduction in hydrogen consumption. This breakthrough achievement fully demonstrates the two core advantages of Hongqi's R&D system: First: By building agile development system they achieve effiecient technology transformation capabilities which improve the industrialization speed of technological achievements. Second: There is 100% independently in fuel cell hybrid power energy management strategy, that provide technical assurance for mass production of HFCVS.
In April 2025 Hongqi brand launched its hydrogen powered model H5 fuel cell into mass production.
In September 2024, FAW Jiefang partnered with Toyota SinoHytec Fuel Cell Co., Ltd. and a logistics group to develop hydrogen-powered car transport vehicles (43-tonne class) for logistics in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
