Solution for CV electrification – Symbio inaugurates fuel cell gigafactory

Symbio, Michelin’s equally owned joint venture with automotive supplier Forvia and vehicle manufacturer Stellantis, has inaugurated its SymphonHy facility today. Located in Saint-Fons, within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, the site houses Symbio’s headquarters, a production plant, an innovation hub and the Symbio Hydrogen Academy.

Announcing the gigafactory’s official opening, Michelin and its partners describe SymphonHy as a “centre of technological and industrial excellence.” They share that the facility is the “largest integrated fuel cell production site in Europe” – a superlative that confirms “Symbio’s role as a technological and industrial leader.” As for the innovation hub, Michelin and Co consider this to be “of unparalleled dimension.”

Symbio reports that the state-of-the-art SymphonHy 4.0 plant possesses a high level of automation and robotics, and this will support large-scale industrial production at a more competitive cost. “These developments are key to accelerate the roll-out of competitive, high-performance hydrogen-powered transport, and contribute to the energy transition and the ambitions of Europe to move towards net zero,” states the joint venture company.

Current annual production capacity at SymphonHy is for 16,000 fuel cell systems, and this will increase to 50,000 by 2026. Production takes place within a 26,000 square metre facility that includes 7,000 square metres of space dedicated to innovation and 8,000 square metres of ISO 8-certified cleanrooms. Symbio will extend the facility to 40,000 square metres by 2026.

The joint venture company employs more than 450 engineers at the SymphonHy site, including 100 dedicated to innovation and around 20 PhDs covering a wide range of disciplines, such as electrochemical engineering, chemistry, and materials science, etc.). Finally, the site is energy self-sufficient and certified ‘Very Good’ by BREEAM.

An early believer

“Michelin was a very early believer in hydrogen and in Symbio, which we acquired before turning it into a joint venture with Forvia in 2019,” shares Florent Menegaux, chief executive officer of Michelin. “The entry of Stellantis into the capital this year confirms that hydrogen meets a constant concern to support the future of mobility.

“This technology is now proving to be an essential addition to satisfy the need for longer range, particularly for commercial vehicles, which are starting to be fitted out,” Menegaux continues. “It’s no coincidence that the Group recently announced a range of hydrogen-powered vehicles through its subsidiary Watèa by Michelin, a mobility operator specialising in the energy transition of business fleets, with an offer of hydrogen vehicles.”

European industrial & technological leadership

Symbio established SymphonHy as part of the 2022-announced HyMotive project, under which it aims for an annual capacity of 100,000 fuel cell systems by 2028 and 200,000 systems worldwide by 2030. Support for Symbio’s seven-year, €1 billion HyMotive investment plan comes from the European Commission as part of the Hy2Tech wave of the IPCEI (important projects of common European interest) hydrogen programme, as well as the French Government. From a workforce of 50 in 2019, Symbio now employs over 750 people and expects to create 1,000 jobs thanks to the HyMotive project.

“SymphonHy is proof of Europe’s industrial and technological leadership. Together with the entire ecosystem and our private and public partners, we are ready to scale up and make hydrogen electric mobility, a sustainable, high-performance, and affordable reality,” says Philippe Rosier, chief executive officer of Symbio. “Delivered in less than two years, SymphonHy is testimonial of Symbio’s ability to meet its industrial commitments, underpinning the acceleration of zero-emission hydrogen mobility deployment. The first 100 per cent fuel cell system assembled at SymphonHy was produced in October 2023, just one month after the gigafactory became operational.”

Stellantis expands fuel cell vehicle rollout

With its Peugeot e-Expert, Citroën e-Jumpy and Opel Vivaro-e models, Symbio co-shareholder Stellantis was the first company to market a zero-emission hydrogen solution for light commercial vehicles. The vehicle manufacturer is expanding its range to include large vans with a mid-power architecture, a range of up to around 300 miles and a recharge time of less than ten minutes. Stellantis also confirmed today its plan to develop a hydrogen technology for its Ram brand pick-ups. Stellantis will equip all these vehicles with Symbio-produced fuel cells.

“Today’s inauguration marks an important step as hydrogen is part of the mix of technologies, we are bringing forward for commercial vehicle customers,” states Carlos Tavares, chief executive officer of Stellantis. “This technology is a building block of the powerful electrification ecosystem we are developing to support our bold goal to reach, by 2030, 100 per cent electric sales in Europe and 50 per cent in the US. As Stellantis purpose is to ‘lead the way the world moves’, hydrogen will contribute to reach our ambitious carbon net zero by 2038 target, ahead of the competition in our fight against climate change.”