- BMW and Toyota jointly developing next generation of fuel cell technology
- BMW to launch first-ever series production fuel cell vehicle in 2028
- Both companies are promoting hydrogen infrastructure development
Lisa Aigner
BMW Group
Munich. BMW plans to launch its first-ever series production fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in...
- BMW and Toyota jointly developing next generation of fuel cell technology
- BMW to launch first-ever series production fuel cell vehicle in 2028
- Both companies are promoting hydrogen infrastructure development
Lisa Aigner
BMW Group
Munich. BMW plans to launch its first-ever series production fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in 2028, thereby offering customers an additional all-electric powertrain option with zero local emissions in a BMW. The BMW Group and the Toyota Motor Corporation are pooling their innovative strength and their technological capabilities to bring a new generation of fuel cell powertrain technology to the roads. Both companies share the aspiration of advancing the hydrogen economy and have extended their collaboration to push this locally zero-emission technology to the next level.
The BMW Group’s leading development expertise in electric drive technologies is once again demonstrated by its relentless efforts to advance hydrogen fuel cell technology and its embracing of a 'technology-openness' approach in order to provide customers with a range of mobility solutions for the future.
“This is a milestone in automotive history: the first-ever series production fuel cell vehicle to be offered by a global premium manufacturer. Powered by hydrogen and driven by the spirit of our cooperation, it will underscore how technological progress is shaping future mobility,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “And it will herald an era of significant demand for fuel cell electric vehicles.”
Koji Sato, President and Member of the Board of Management (Representative Director) Toyota Motor Corporation, said, “We are pleased that the collaboration between BMW and Toyota has entered a new stage. In our long history of partnership, we have confirmed that BMW and Toyota share the same passion for cars and belief in ‘technology openness’ and a ‘multi-pathway’ approach to carbon neutrality. Based on these shared values, we will deepen our collaboration in efforts such as the joint development of next-generation fuel cell systems and the expansion of infrastructure, aiming for the realization of a hydrogen society. We will accelerate our efforts together with BMW and partners across various industries to realize a future where hydrogen energy supports society."
BMW M Team WRT showed strong pace with both BMW M Hybrid V8s at the third-to-last race of the season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), battling for a podium position over long stretches. The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 fell back to 14th place late in the race due to two penalties. The sister car, number 15, achieved its best result of...
BMW M Team WRT showed strong pace with both BMW M Hybrid V8s at the third-to-last race of the season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), battling for a podium position over long stretches. The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 fell back to 14th place late in the race due to two penalties. The sister car, number 15, achieved its best result of the season so far, finishing in eighth place.
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Austin. BMW M Team WRT showed strong pace with both BMW M Hybrid V8s at the third-to-last race of the season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), battling for a podium position over long stretches. The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 fell back to 14th place late in the race due to two penalties. The sister car, number 15, achieved its best result of the season so far, finishing in eighth place. In the LMGT3 class, the #31 BMW M4 GT3 crossed the finish line in fifth place. The number 46 car, after a strong performance, retired shortly before the end with a technical failure.
Texas, Austin, COTA: A spectacular racetrack will host the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) this coming weekend (30th August to 1st September). The 6-hour Lone Star Le Mans race at Circuit of The Americas in Austin (USA) marks the sixth round of the 2024 FIA WEC season for BMW M Motorsport and BMW M Team WRT.
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Texas, Austin, COTA: A spectacular racetrack will host the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) this coming weekend (30th August to 1st September). The 6-hour Lone Star Le Mans race at Circuit of The Americas in Austin (USA) marks the sixth round of the 2024 FIA WEC season for BMW M Motorsport and BMW M Team WRT.
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Austin. Texas, Austin, COTA: A spectacular racetrack will host the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) this coming weekend (30th August to 1st September). The 6-hour Lone Star Le Mans race at Circuit of The Americas in Austin (USA) marks the sixth round of the 2024 FIA WEC season for BMW M Motorsport and BMW M Team WRT.
One challenge for all teams will be the high temperatures in Austin, which can reach nearly 40 degrees Celsius during the race weekend. In the Hypercar class, the goal is to demonstrate the potential of the BMW M Hybrid V8 with strong results. Behind the wheel of the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) will take turns. In the #20 car, Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) will compete.
In the race for the World Championship title in the LMGT3 class, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) are in a promising position. With three events remaining, the trio, driving the #31 BMW M4 GT3, holds third place in the driver standings. Valentino Rossi (ITA) brings a wealth of two-wheel-experience at COTA from his time as a MotoGP rider. Together with Maxime Martin (BEL) and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) in the #46 BMW M4 GT3 he will now race on four wheels in Austin.
The Lone Star Le Mans in Austin kicks off on Sunday, 1st September, at 20:00 CEST (13:00 local time).
In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Laura Claesgens
BMW Group
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"What an incredible two...
In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Laura Claesgens
BMW Group
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"What an incredible two race weekends for our BMW M Motorsport teams! BMW Italia Ceccato Racing is at the forefront of the title race after a fantastic performance at Mugello. Paul Miller Racing has finally celebrated its first GTD PRO victory in the IMSA series, and Turner Motorsport also shone in the USA. Add to that the successes for Team WRT and Century Motorsport in the GT World Challenge Europe and for Trevor Racing in the ESET Cup Series. The BMW M4 GT3 has truly impressed. But our teams with the BMW M4 GT4 were in no way inferior. They also achieved further successes in Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia. I am proud of such a strong customer sports programme and warmly congratulate all the winners!"
Italian GT Championship (24.-25.8.): Victories and podiums at Mugello.
Team BMW Italia Ceccato Racing dominated the penultimate sprint weekend of the Italian GT Championship at Mugello (ITA). With their two BMW M4 GT3s, the team led by Team Principal Roberto Ravaglia achieved two victories and two additional podium places, putting them in an excellent position in the title fight. BMW M works drivers Jens Klingmann and Max Hesse (both GER) drove the #7 BMW M4 GT3 to an overall victory in Saturday's race. On Sunday, the duo started from pole position but had to complete a 15-second longer pit stop as required by the regulations after their victory the day before. Nevertheless, final driver Klingmann fought for the lead until the last lap and crossed the finish line in second place. Klingmann has a very good chance of defending his title at the season finale in October at Monza (ITA). Before the evaluation of the drop scores, Klingmann is one point behind, but the drop scores work in his favour, putting him in the lead theoretically. Hesse had to sit out a weekend and therefore does not play a role in the fight for the top position in the overall standings.
His summary of the Mugello weekend was very positive: "It was a great weekend! We felt very comfortable from the first lap and coped very well with the extremely hot conditions. I believe we had an advantage in dealing with the Pirelli tyres thanks to our test the previous week. Working with the BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team is always incredibly fun. Thanks to our good results, Jens is now well in the race for the title before the last sprint weekend in Monza."
In the Pro-Am category, BMW Italia Ceccato Racing also has the best chances for the title. Pedro Ebrahim (BRA) and Federico Malvestiti (ITA) drove the #8 BMW M4 GT3 to a class victory in Sunday's race at Mugello and finished third on Saturday. They lead the Pro-Am drivers' standings, subject to the drop scores, with 98 points and a 27-point lead.
The battle for the title in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS intensified at the penultimate race weekend of the Sprint Cup at Magny-Cours (FRA). BMW M Team WRT drivers Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 secured a win and a second-place finish, thereby defending their narrow lead in the overall...
The battle for the title in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS intensified at the penultimate race weekend of the Sprint Cup at Magny-Cours (FRA). BMW M Team WRT drivers Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 secured a win and a second-place finish, thereby defending their narrow lead in the overall standings.
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Magny-Cours. The battle for the title in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS intensified at the penultimate race weekend of the Sprint Cup at Magny-Cours (FRA). BMW M Team WRT drivers Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 secured a win and a second-place finish, thereby defending their narrow lead in the overall standings. BMW M Motorsport teams also celebrated podium finishes in the Silver and Bronze classes. The Sprint Cup season finale will take place from 11th-13th October at Barcelona (ESP).
Vanthoor and Weerts demonstrated strong comebacks in both races. On Saturday, they moved up from sixth to second place, which became a win after a post-race time penalty was applied to the first-placed Porsche. On Sunday, they climbed from eighth to second place. In both instances, they had close battles with the #48 Mercedes driven by Lucas Auer (AUT) and Maro Engel (GER). In the end, both duos had a win and a second place to their names, meaning Vanthoor and Weerts could defend their two-point lead in the Sprint Cup driver standings. The same narrow margin separates the two crews in the overall standings combining the Sprint and Endurance Cups.
BMW M works driver Dan Harper (GBR), along with Darren Leung (GBR) in the #991 BMW M4 GT3 from Century Motorsport, finished third in the Bronze Cup in both races. Particularly on Saturday, Harper put on an impressive show, starting from second place and fighting for the lead for a long time during his stint. Ultimately, Leung crossed the finish line first in class, but as Harper had pushed an opponent into the gravel during a duel, the duo received a post-race 10-second penalty and were classified third. Harper and Leung lead the driver standings in the Bronze Cup, just as Calan Williams (AUS) and Sam de Haan (GBR) lead the Silver Cup. The Team WRT duo finished in fifth and third place in the Silver class at Magny-Cours with the #30 BMW M4 GT3.
Comments after the races:
secure network sites
the Deep House Podcast Archive
Corvette Brotherhood (Official)
Corvette Brotherhood (Page)
Corvette Brotherhood Social Club (Group)
-Special Thanks-
Special thanks to Identifont for assistance re-acquiring the font used in the logo, Venus Rising.
Copyright 2000-2025 Jeff Seabrook - www.bmwsport.net - site est: 12/31/2000 in Orlando, FL
BMWsport.net will be on it's 25th Anniversary come 12/31/2025
