Large-scale industrialization
With the opening of our first Gigafactory in 2023, one of Europe's biggest production sites for fuel cell (FC) stacks and systems, we are confirming our change of scale, with a production capacity of 16,000 systems by 2024, rising to 50,000 systems per year by 2026. This 4.0 site, equipped with state-of-the-art production processes meeting the highest automotive standards, is a major milestone as we roll out our industrial roadmap in Europe and the USA. Our ambition is to produce 200,000 systems per year worldwide by 2030, in order to support a rapid time-to-market for our customers, and meet the growth forecasts of the zero-emission hydrogen mobility market.
An ambitious roadmap to meet the growing needs of the hydrogen mobility market
- 2021/ 2023: Pilot plant – 1,000 to 2,500 fuel cell systems/year
Our first production site, a laboratory for the development of our industrial scale-up processes. - 2024/ 2026: Ramp-up to large-scale production – from 16,000 to 50,000 systems/year
Launch of SymphonHy, one of Europe's biggest production sites for fuel cell stacks and systems, in Saint-Fons, France, at the end of 2023.
1st expansion of our industrial footprint in the USA with the opening of our production site in Temecula, California, for the assembly of fuel cell-equipped heavy-duty vehicles (ultimately 250 per year) and for the production of fuel cell systems (ultimately 2,000 per year). - 2028: Production capacity doubled – 100,000 systems/year
Construction of a new Gigafactory in France, as part of the HyMotive project to invest €1 billion in France between now and 2028, supported by the European Commission and the French government. - 2030 ambition: 200,000 systems/year worldwide.
Mass production: one of Europe's biggest production sites for fuel cell stacks and systems already operational
Our SymphonHy Gigafactory is one of Europe's biggest production sites for fuel cell stacks and systems. Operational from September 2023, SymphonHy will enable mass production of our fuel cell systems and allow us to support our customers in the roll-out of hydrogen-powered vehicles, in particular Stellantis in its pioneering ambition to produce up to 10,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2024, in line with its Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.
SymphonHy brings together under the same roof our production capacities and our Research & Innovation center, a benchmark worldwide. Our industrial ramp-up is therefore supported by both our ability to produce innovative solutions by developing a new generation of StackPacks and our industrial facilities. In the emerging hydrogen market, where fuel cell production standards do not yet exist, our Gigafactory will help define these standards.
We have unprecedented measurement and analysis resources, with over 100 test benches. Almost half of these are used during production and dedicated to activating our systems, and the other half are used to support development, with very high-precision durability and performance tests. This latest-generation equipment was developed and installed with our partners, who are leaders in the construction of test, assembly and control systems for fuel cells, batteries and electrolyzers.
In line with our roadmap, this Gigafactory will be followed by a second, scheduled to be operational in 2028.
HyMotive: a transformational project that accelerates Symbio's roadmap to become a world-class fuel cell player
SymphonHy is part of our seven-year, €1 billion investment plan through our HyMotive project, supported by the European Commission as part of the Hy2Tech wave of the IPCEI (important projects of common European interest) hydrogen program, and by the French Government (France 2030, France Relance). It aims to accelerate Symbio's industrialization and disruptive innovation, and will lead to the creation of 1,000 jobs. It will contribute to the construction of a solid hydrogen ecosystem in Europe, a key lever for achieving Europe's net-zero target.
In its second phase, HyMotive will develop and industrialize a new generation of innovative fuel cell systems, based on disruptive technology. This will boost the performance of Symbio's StackPack, while drastically reducing unit costs.
Expanding our industrial footprint in the USA: a Californian site operational in 2024, a new Gigafactory being explored
With the support of the California Energy Commission (CEC), Symbio is finalizing the construction of an industrial site in Temecula. Operational from 2024, the plant will assemble fuel cell-equipped heavy-duty vehicles (including trucks and commercial vehicles), as well as producing complete fuel cell systems. It will ultimately have a combined maximum production capacity of 250 trucks and 2,000 systems per year.
The plant is a sign of CEC's renewed confidence, following its support for the “Symbio H2 Central Valley Express” project, which aims to demonstrate the advantages and reliability of hydrogen mobility for heavy-duty transport. Both projects aim to support California's goal of achieving carbon neutrality for its entire economy by 2045.
In line with our roadmap, we are also exploring opportunities to open a second Gigafactory in the USA, thereby consolidating our industrial presence worldwide.
Innoplate, a joint venture between Symbio and Schaeffler, aims to produce 50 million bipolar plates by 2030.
Symbio and the Schaeffler Group have set up the Innoplate joint venture to produce bipolar plates, a strategic component of fuel cells, from the start of 2024. The production unit will be located in Haguenau and will have an initial capacity of 4 million bipolar plates per year, rising to 50 million worldwide by 2030.