The move makes the X5 the first BMW to carry such a broad range of drivetrains in a single model line. It also signals that the automaker is unwilling to commit solely to battery-electric vehicles at a time when both regulatory mandates and consumer demand for EVs remain uneven across global markets.
“By launching the new BMW X5 with a choice of five drivetrain variants, we are once again demonstrating our leading position as a technology pioneer,” Joachim Post, a member of BMW’s management board, said. “Hydrogen has an essential part to play in global decarbonization, which is why we are committed to driving the technology forward.”
A Flexible Future
For BMW, the logic is straightforward: consumers in Shanghai, Stuttgart and South Carolina are not all ready—or able—to buy the same kind of car. Flexible manufacturing, company executives argue, allows the brand to adjust production according to local demand while still taking advantage of economies of scale.
That approach stands in contrast to rivals such as Volvo and General Motors, which have pledged to go all-electric in the coming decade. By keeping its portfolio open, BMW insists it can both meet the needs of customers today and prepare for an uncertain future.
Starting in 2028, the X5 will be available with two kinds of electric propulsion: traditional battery-electric systems and a hydrogen fuel cell option, which BMW says will provide longer range and faster refueling in markets where charging infrastructure remains patchy.
The iX5 Hydrogen
The company’s hydrogen ambitions will begin with the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, a production version of prototypes that have been tested globally in recent years. Developed in collaboration with Toyota, the iX5 Hydrogen uses a third-generation fuel cell stack that BMW says is smaller, more powerful and more efficient than earlier designs.
Michael Rath, BMW’s vice president for hydrogen vehicles, described the model as “a true BMW—pioneering in its class and delivering the BMW-typical driving pleasure.”
Hydrogen, while still expensive and dependent on limited refueling infrastructure, offers several technical advantages. It can act as a storage medium for renewable energy, help stabilize power grids and provide quick refueling for vehicles that need long range. Advocates see it as a complement to battery-electric technology, particularly for larger vehicles or long-distance travel.
Building an Ecosystem
To support that vision, BMW is helping to spearhead the HyMoS (Hydrogen Mobility at Scale) initiative, a public-private partnership aimed at expanding hydrogen ecosystems and refueling networks. The effort seeks to pool demand across trucks, buses and passenger vehicles, making hydrogen stations more economically viable.
Pilot projects are already underway in Germany and France, with plans to extend the initiative to other metropolitan areas in the coming years. “Hydrogen is the missing piece for completing the electric mobility puzzle where battery-electric vehicles are not the optimal solution,” Mr. Post said.
A Global Balancing Act
The announcement underscores the balancing act facing automakers as they navigate regional regulations, consumer preferences and technological bets. In Europe, where emissions rules are tightening, EV adoption is accelerating. In the United States, EV sales are growing but face infrastructure and affordability hurdles. In Asia, demand varies widely between countries.
By threading the needle with a diverse portfolio, BMW is wagering that flexibility, rather than a single path, will prove the surer road to long-term success.
The strategy is not without risk. Hydrogen vehicles remain niche, and the infrastructure to support them is in its infancy. And while BMW’s openness to multiple drivetrains may shield it from regional volatility, it could also dilute investment in battery-electric technology just as rivals press ahead with fully electric lineups.