BMW confirms hydrogen fuel-cell X5 production for 2028 debut
BMW's hydrogen X5 is coming in 2028 with a gen-3 fuel cell and a bold new interior
BMW confirms hydrogen fuel-cell X5 production for 2028 debut
BMW will launch a hydrogen fuel-cell X5 in 2028, using a third-gen stack co-developed with Toyota: longer range, 3-4 minute refueling, and a redesigned cabin.
2025-09-08T12:48:07+03:00
2025-09-08T12:48:07+03:00
2025-09-08T12:48:07+03:00
BMW has officially confirmed it will bring a hydrogen-powered X5 to market in 2028, turning the experimental iX5 Hydrogen project, tested since 2023, into a production model.At the IAA 2025 show in Munich, brand representatives told SPEEDME.RU the newcomer will use BMW and Toyota’s third-generation fuel-cell hardware. The stack is 25% more compact and more efficient, with greater output and cleaner integration into the CLAR platform. The iX5 Hydrogen prototype delivered 401 hp and roughly 500 km of WLTP range, and the production X5 is expected to surpass those figures. The timeline suggests BMW is moving only when the tech can deliver tangible gains on the road.Refueling will take just three to four minutes, and tank capacity is designed to rival diesel X5s on long journeys. BMW will manufacture fuel cells in Steyr, Austria, with electronic components produced in Landshut; the first prototypes will be assembled in Dingolfing. That industrial footprint hints at a serious intent rather than a small-batch experiment.Beyond the drivetrain, the new X5 will debut a radically reworked cabin. A panoramic head-up display replaces the traditional instrument cluster, while a 17.9-inch central screen takes center stage. The familiar iDrive controller bows out, with voice assistants and touch surfaces taking over. It’s a bold shift that should declutter the interior, though traditionalists may miss the tactile dial.BMW positions hydrogen as a complement to its gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and battery-electric lineups, offering another route to locally emission-free driving. Sales of the hydrogen X5 will begin in markets with a developed refueling network. If infrastructure keeps pace, this setup could appeal to high-mileage drivers who value quick stops and long-haul capability.
BMW hydrogen X5, fuel-cell SUV, 2028 launch, iX5 Hydrogen, Toyota partnership, gen-3 fuel cell, 3-4 minute refueling, longer range, CLAR platform, new interior, head-up display, 17.9-inch screen
2025
Michael Powers
news
BMW's hydrogen X5 is coming in 2028 with a gen-3 fuel cell and a bold new interior
BMW will launch a hydrogen fuel-cell X5 in 2028, using a third-gen stack co-developed with Toyota: longer range, 3-4 minute refueling, and a redesigned cabin.
Michael Powers, Editor
BMW has officially confirmed it will bring a hydrogen-powered X5 to market in 2028, turning the experimental iX5 Hydrogen project, tested since 2023, into a production model.
At the IAA 2025 show in Munich, brand representatives told SPEEDME.RU the newcomer will use BMW and Toyota’s third-generation fuel-cell hardware. The stack is 25% more compact and more efficient, with greater output and cleaner integration into the CLAR platform. The iX5 Hydrogen prototype delivered 401 hp and roughly 500 km of WLTP range, and the production X5 is expected to surpass those figures. The timeline suggests BMW is moving only when the tech can deliver tangible gains on the road.
Refueling will take just three to four minutes, and tank capacity is designed to rival diesel X5s on long journeys. BMW will manufacture fuel cells in Steyr, Austria, with electronic components produced in Landshut; the first prototypes will be assembled in Dingolfing. That industrial footprint hints at a serious intent rather than a small-batch experiment.
Beyond the drivetrain, the new X5 will debut a radically reworked cabin. A panoramic head-up display replaces the traditional instrument cluster, while a 17.9-inch central screen takes center stage. The familiar iDrive controller bows out, with voice assistants and touch surfaces taking over. It’s a bold shift that should declutter the interior, though traditionalists may miss the tactile dial.
BMW positions hydrogen as a complement to its gasoline, diesel, hybrid, and battery-electric lineups, offering another route to locally emission-free driving. Sales of the hydrogen X5 will begin in markets with a developed refueling network. If infrastructure keeps pace, this setup could appeal to high-mileage drivers who value quick stops and long-haul capability.
