Two weeks after Stellantis’ “abrupt and unilateral” withdrawal from hydrogen mobility, fuel cell manufacturer Symbio has announced its determination to fight back. Despite extensive efforts to meet strategic programme goals, the company refuses to let “everything be reduced to nothing.”
Symbio is facing what it calls “a major blow.” In a press release, the company revealed that Stellantis had approved its latest 40 kW fuel cell on 30 April—a key milestone that represented a significant share of the 2025 order book. This green light for final technical and industrial validation had logically triggered a ramp-up in production at the SymphonHy* gigafactory in Saint-Fons, near Lyon. Now, that momentum has come to a halt.
“Stellantis’ radical decision entails the immediate and permanent suspension of hydrogen programmes for light commercial vehicles, with potentially serious consequences for employment,” Symbio warned.
Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations
Discussions with Stellantis are ongoing. Symbio says it is engaged in “active talks” with the automaker, calling on it to “honour its commitments, meet its contractual obligations, and contribute to securing the company’s future—including through financial compensation.”
“Everyone must be fully committed to doing their part, respecting their commitments, and taking responsibility,” said CEO Jean-Baptiste Lucas.
A Strategic Shift in Production
To counter the crisis, Symbio will accelerate production of its 75 kW fuel cells, which can be adapted for a range of applications, including buses, coaches, and stationary systems for energy-intensive industries like data centres. The company also aims to industrialise new 150 kW and 300 kW fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles by 2028.
Far from giving up, Symbio says it will continue to innovate and diversify, with its ambition unchanged: to help build a sovereign hydrogen industry for France and Europe.
“Now is the time to set a long-term course and reclaim our leadership,” Jean-Baptiste Lucas stressed.
But the pressing question remains: with what resources?
*SymphonHy: The largest integrated hydrogen fuel cell production facility in Europe and the only one to date certified to IATF 16949—the most rigorous quality standard in the automotive sector.
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