BMW’s Longest-Running SUV Could Soon Get an Upgrade Like Never Before

The German automaker has unveiled an all-new hydrogen fuel cell prototype with plans for launch as soon as 2028.

Close-up of the front grille of a white BMW car featuring the iconic kidney grille design with a blue gradient trim and a geometric pattern on the hood. The right grille has a small "i" badge, indicating it is a BMW i model. The right headlight is partially visible with a modern, angular design.

Published September 2, 2025

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Updated September 2, 2025

BMW first dipped its toes into the SUV segment with the launch of the E53-generation X5 back in 1999.

At the time, the brand broke new ground with the model, as it classified the X5 as a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) rather than a rugged off-roader or something overly bent on utility.

White BMW SUV with blue geometric patterns on the hood and sides, labeled "BMW i Hydrogen Fuel Cell," driving on a road with blurred background and partly cloudy sky. — The BMW iX5 hydrogen pilot fleet has served as a rolling testbed for the German automaker’s fuel cell initiatives.

More than 25 years later, BMW is about to change the game again.

Following the rollout of its hydrogen pilot fleet in 2022, the German automaker has announced that its production vehicles are to begin offering fuel cell drivetrain options as early as 2028. Given the success of the iX5, it’ll likely be some sort of X5-based SUV.

Bringing hydrogen in-house

The news comes alongside the unveiling of the brand’s latest and greatest fuel cell system prototype (pictured below).

Electric vehicle motor with bright orange high-voltage cables attached, mounted on a stand against a plain industrial background. The motor features metallic and black components with a compact, intricate design. — BMW’s third-generation hydrogen fuel cell system represents the sum of its collaborative experience with Toyota.

Having first tapped Toyota for a hydrogen fuel cell system back in 2014, BMW has continued to work closely with the Japanese automaker on the development of its second-generation iX5 Hydrogen pilot test fleet.

BMW has clearly learned from its collaboration. Although the third-generation hydrogen drivetrain will continue to incorporate Toyota fuel cells, this time, BMW has designed the rest of the system completely in-house.

A man wearing a blue short-sleeve shirt and a navy vest is working on a complex machine with numerous orange, black, and white cables and metal components. He is adjusting a control panel or device attached to the machine, which appears to be in a technical or industrial setting with various wires hanging above. — Although BMW looked to Toyota for the fuel cells in its drivetrain, it has designed the rest of the system in-house.

Improvements all around

It’s a change that has yielded some impactful differences compared to past prototypes.

For instance, BMW says that its third-generation fuel cell technology is not only more compact and more powerful, but also more efficient.

With 401 horsepower and 300-plus miles of range, the iX5 Hydrogen made for a solid second effort.

BMW

In the case of the iX5 Hydrogen pilot vehicle, the brand rated output at 401 horsepower and range in excess of 300 miles. Still, by increasing the system’s energy density, BMW was supposedly able to improve on these metrics while reducing the physical footprint by 25 percent.

That’s not all; as a result of its collaborative efforts with Toyota, BMW claims that the system is highly modular and can be applied to a variety of commercial and passenger vehicles.

Electric vehicle powertrain module with visible orange high-voltage cables, metallic casing, and black plastic components, displayed against a dark background. — Despite being 25% smaller, the new system promises to improve on the iX5 Hydrogen in both power and range.

More to come

As previously mentioned, though BMW hasn’t expressly stated which model will be the first to hit the market with a hydrogen drivetrain, the development of the iX5 test fleet makes it highly likely that it will be an X5-based SUV.

In anticipation of the 2028 launch, BMW has stated that its Landshut plant will be responsible for the hydrogen-specific BMW Energy Master control unit starting in May 2026. Moreover, production of the first prototypes featuring the hydrogen-specific Energy Master is expected to begin next year at the Dingolfing plant.

White BMW iX5 Hydrogen fuel cell SUV driving on a road near the ocean, viewed from the rear right side, with blue accents on the rear bumper and "BMW i Hydrogen Fuel Cell" branding on the side and back. — Few automakers are showing an interest in fuel cell technology, but Toyota and BMW are proving hydrogen’s potential.

At this stage, the hydrogen segment is laden with potential, but few players have demonstrated active interest in the technology. Between Toyota and BMW, however, its promise is growing. If you’d like to learn more about the iX5 and BMW’s various other hydrogen initiatives, you can head to the brand’s website in the meantime.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.