According to Toyota’s head of hydrogen, China is dominating the entire hydrogen value chain and may replicate in hydrogen mobility what it has already achieved in battery technology.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mitsumasa Yamagata, President of Toyota’s hydrogen division, warned that China is pulling ahead in the race for heavy-duty hydrogen-powered transport. The country is producing hydrogen vehicles at scale, delivering cheaper hydrogen, and rapidly expanding its refuelling infrastructure. “China is the most advanced country in the world for hydrogen trucks,” he said. “What makes them so advanced is that the Chinese government has ordered the conversion of key logistics routes into hydrogen corridors.”
Last month, Chinese state media highlighted the launch of the country’s first interregional hydrogen truck corridor — a 1,150 km route between Chongqing and the southern port of Qinzhou.
Hydrogen at a Lower Cost
Battery-electric vehicles are undoubtedly gaining traction in China and elsewhere, but according to Yamagata, they are putting severe strain on power grids and are not ideal for transporting heavy goods over long distances. Hydrogen, on the other hand, offers a compelling alternative — particularly in China, where it is significantly cheaper. A kilogram of hydrogen there costs between 500 and 1,000 yen (roughly $3.50 to $7), compared to around 2,000 yen in Japan. This price advantage comes from large-scale hydrogen production, particularly for decarbonising the steel industry.
Toyota’s hydrogen chief believes there is still time for Japan and other countries to catch up — but swift action is essential. “We don’t have much time left. It’s important to move quickly,” Yamagata concluded.
In 2024, China sold more hydrogen fuel cell buses and trucks than the rest of the world combined, with 7,069 units, according to data from Interact Analysis.
Toyota warns that China’s dominance in hydrogen mobility is accelerating, with large-scale production, low costs, and growing infrastructure — and urges rapid action to close the gap.
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