Toyota and Saudi distributor Abdul Latif Jameel Motors have completed a public hydrogen fuel cell bus trial in Yanbu, as the companies seek to promote hydrogen-powered public transport in Saudi Arabia.
The trial took place during the final days of the Yanbu Flower Festival between April 19 and April 23. The hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) bus operated on a public route of approximately 7 to 10 kilometres between the Corp Hotel on the Yanbu Waterfront and the festival site at Events Garden, including a stop at Dana Mall.
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The companies used the CaetanoBus H2.City Gold low-floor hydrogen bus manufactured by Portuguese company CaetanoBus.
The H2.City Gold uses a 60-kilowatt version of Toyota’s second-generation hydrogen fuel cell stack. The bus is offered in both a 10.7-metre right-hand-drive configuration and a 12-metre left-hand-drive version.
According to CaetanoBus, the smaller version can accommodate up to 64 passengers, while the larger model can carry as many as 95 passengers.
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The hydrogen fuel cell stack and five hydrogen storage tanks with a combined capacity of 37.5 kilograms are mounted on the roof of the vehicle. The tanks can be refuelled in approximately nine minutes using a 350-bar hydrogen refuelling station.
Electricity generated by the fuel cell system is stored in a 44 kilowatt-hour lithium-titanium-oxide battery pack, which powers a 180-kilowatt permanent magnet synchronous motor supplied by Siemens.
The bus is designed to achieve a driving range of up to 400 kilometres.
Toyota and ALJ Motors have been testing the H2.City Gold in Saudi Arabia since 2025. The first phase of the programme, focused on feasibility and initial testing, concluded in September 2025. A second phase launched in January 2026 expanded the project toward broader operational testing and scaling.
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Nobuyuki Takemura, chief representative of Toyota’s Middle East regional office, said the latest public trial was intended to demonstrate the practical potential of hydrogen technology in local transportation.
“This trial marks an important step for Toyota in demonstrating the potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology for public transportation in Saudi Arabia,” Takemura said.
“By introducing hydrogen buses in a live public setting, we aim to build awareness, gain real-world operational insights, and contribute to the ongoing discussion on zero-emission mobility solutions suited to local needs,” he added.
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The initiative comes as Saudi Arabia continues to explore hydrogen technologies as part of broader efforts to diversify energy sources and reduce transport-related emissions.