Launched in 2015, the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai is finding it increasingly difficult to win over the market. Its sales are collapsing.
While gasoline and diesel cars remain the most numerous on the roads today, there are also many alternatives. We obviously think of electric cars, as well as hybrid cars, but not only that. Indeed, there is also another relatively little-known engine. These are hydrogen cars. Currently, only Toyota and Hyundai offer this technology to the general public, with the Mirai sedan and the Nexo SUV. But unfortunately, this solution is having difficulty finding a place on the market and attracting motorists.
The Toyota Mirai no longer appeals
And for good reason, according to the latest published data, Toyota only sold 1,702 cars to fuel cell between January and November 2024. This figure marks a drastic drop of 54% compared to the same period in 2023. In November, sales were particularly disappointing with only 134 units sold, a decrease of 8% compared to November 2023. Japan, although an essential market for the Japanese manufacturer, is not immune to this global trend. Sales there have in fact fallen to 661 units this year, compared to 1,525 over the same period last year, a drop of almost 57%.
The export situation is just as worrying: only 1,041 cars registered outside the country of the rising sun, which represents a dizzying drop of 69% in one year. But what explains this disenchantment with hydrogen, and in particular with the Toyota Mirai? In fact, there are several factors to take into account. First, the price of this fuel has increased significantly, making its use much less competitive compared to other mobility solutions. Furthermore, many refueling stations have closed their doors, further limiting the attractiveness of these vehicles.
An uncertain future
At the same time, competition from electric cars intensifies. With constantly improving performance, both in terms of autonomy and charging speed, electric vehicles are attracting more and more consumers. Their range is expanding, and their financial accessibility is increasing, thanks to a range of more varied models and state incentive policies. Despite this difficult context, Toyota has not yet said its last word. The Japanese manufacturer continues to invest in this technology and is preparing a new generation of its fuel cell.
At the same time, the company is developing piston thermal engines capable of running on dihydrogen to replace fossil fuels. But the brand is not alone in this quest. Hyundai, another major player in the sector, plans to replace its Nexo model with a new vehicle called Initium. However, these projects raise questions about their economic viability. The design and production costs of hydrogen vehicles remain high, resulting in prohibitive prices for consumers.
The Toyota Mirai, for example, costs 73,000 euros in base price, an amount well above the average for the automobile market.
Source: www.autoplus.fr
