Isuzu Motors Limited and Toyota Motor Corporation have announced plans to jointly develop a next-generation hydrogen fuel cell bus. Production is expected to begin in fiscal year 2026 at J-Bus Ltd.’s Utsunomiya Plant in Tochigi Prefecture.
The new model will build on Isuzu’s flat-floor battery electric bus platform, which was launched in fiscal year 2024 in collaboration with Hino and is currently produced by J-Bus. The platform will be integrated with a Toyota-developed fuel cell system.
The project aims to broaden the availability of zero-emission buses, with a focus on reducing costs through the standardisation of components used in both battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles.
Isuzu is positioning the next-generation fuel cell bus as part of its strategy to commercialise a wider range of carbon-neutral technologies, while Toyota continues to promote hydrogen as a key energy source in its decarbonisation initiatives.
The two manufacturers will also work with local governments and businesses in regions designated by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as priority areas for fuel cell vehicle deployment. By doing so, they intend to support wider adoption of hydrogen-powered buses and contribute to reducing emissions from public transport.
