BMW, Hyundai, and Toyota have joined forces to establish the Hydrogen Transport Forum, a new industry coalition dedicated to accelerating the deployment of hydrogen mobility solutions in Australia
Three of the world’s leading automotive brands – BMW, Hyundai, and Toyota – have joined forces to
establish the Hydrogen Transport Forum (HTF), a new industry coalition dedicated to accelerating the
deployment of hydrogen mobility solutions in Australia.
The HTF will provide a collaborative platform for industry to identify strategic opportunities, align fleet
and infrastructure deployment, and advocate for supportive government policies.
Designed to complement existing industry bodies, the Forum addresses a critical gap in Australia’s hydrogen
ecosystem by focusing specifically on hydrogen mobility and the infrastructure required to support it.
Other members from the hydrogen passenger car, truck, and bus sectors are expected to join as the
Forum grows, further strengthening its industry-wide focus.
The founding participants share a commitment to advancing the development of a hydrogen mobility
sector in Australia.
They recognise the critical role hydrogen can play in decarbonising transport, offering a scalable and flexible solution to support Australia’s shift to a low-emissions future.
A joint spokesperson for the founding participants said:
The HTF represents a proactive step toward industry-wide coordination and a genuine commitment to building the hydrogen refuelling and vehicle ecosystem needed to support Australia’s transport transition,
The Forum will actively engage with government, infrastructure providers, hydrogen suppliers, and
other organisations involved in the hydrogen transport space.
Specifically, the HTF will focus on:
• Accelerating infrastructure rollout by identifying clusters of fleet demand
• Consolidating industry momentum through shared data and project visibility
• Advocating for targeted funding and policy settings that reflect the scale and timing of real-
world deployment
• Educating stakeholders about the role hydrogen transport can play in a low-emissions future
The HTF has been designed to grow over time, with initial participation focused on automotive
manufacturers. As the Forum matures, it is expected to expand to include additional participants from
across the transport, infrastructure, and energy sectors to support the broader hydrogen mobility
ecosystem.
The group draws inspiration from international collaborations such as H2Accelerate in Europe, which
has successfully aligned manufacturers and energy providers to scale up hydrogen trucking through
coordinated advocacy, project development, and infrastructure planning.
Scott Narger, Senior Manager of Future Mobility and Government Relations, Hyundai Motor Company Australia, said HFT would support attracting as much fuel cell hydrogen product in the country as it could.
He told Prime Mover,
What we specifically needed was another industry forum focused 100 per cent on hydrogen transport,
“We want to see as much competition in the market as possible. That’s why Hyundai started the original Australian Hydrogen Council and now this Transport Forum. We want to encourage more truck brands to come here to Australia.”
The HTF, according to Narger, was also about shoring up confidence in the market. Vital to that concern will be the ability to ensure when taxpayer money is invested it is invested in the right way.
Narger, said:
So that there is not a one-off taker but multiple takers from multiple segments who are attracting their own customers that have been aligned to their brand for five, ten, 20 or more years,
“We want to make sure there’s an effective deployment of infrastructure with as many brands running off those stations as possible because that justifies further investment.”
Automotive manufacturers, such as BMW, Hyundai and Toyota, are pursuing hydrogen technology as
part of a multi-pronged approach to reduce transport emissions.
While battery electric vehicles play a critical role in decarbonising the sector, hydrogen offers a complementary solution — particularly for applications requiring rapid refuelling, longer range, and heavier payloads.
This includes not only trucks and buses, but also light vehicle fleets where operational efficiency is key.
More broadly, hydrogen supports fuel diversity, energy security, and the transition to a low-emissions
transport future.
The Forum’s soft launch will take place at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, with further activities and
announcements to follow shortly thereafter.
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BMW, Hyundai, and Toyota have joined forces to establish the Hydrogen Transport Forum, a new industry coalition dedicated to accelerating the deployment of hydrogen mobility solutions in Australia, source
