Isuzu Motors and Toyota Motor will jointly develop next-generation fuel cell buses, with production set to begin in Japan in the 2026 financial year at the Utsunomiya plant operated by J-Bus, a 50:50 joint venture between Isuzu and Hino.
The new model will be built on the flat-floor battery electric bus (BEV) platform introduced by Isuzu and Hino in 2024 and will be equipped with Toyota’s fuel cell system. By integrating parts shared between BEV and fuel cell buses, the companies aim to reduce costs and scale up the rollout of zero-emission buses.
Details of the production run have not been disclosed. Toyota’s third-generation fuel cell system, due in 2026, could be installed in the new bus, though this has not been confirmed. The current second-generation unit delivers up to 80 kilowatts and supports voltages between 400 and 750 volts.
The initiative is part of a wider roadmap announced in 2021 by Japanese manufacturers to advance zero-emission buses, starting with a battery-electric model in 2024 followed by a fuel cell version. Toyota already has experience in the sector, having launched its Sora fuel cell bus in 2018, while its technology is also being used by European and Turkish bus makers.
