Symbio restructures after Stellantis exit, pivoting to heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cells

Symbio, the joint venture owned by Michelin, Forvia and Stellantis, announced a major restructuring after Stellantis fully exited its hydrogen program this summer. With the automaker accounting for up to 80% of Symbio’s business, the company found itself in a critical position.

Chief executive Jean-Baptiste Lucas said continuing operations would require a deep transformation. The plan is to reduce headcount to 175 employees and shift the strategy toward industrial and heavy-transport segments. A 75 kW fuel-cell system remains at the core of development for buses and other specialized equipment. The course correction reads as pragmatic—narrow the scope, safeguard resources, and concentrate on use cases where the technology can earn its keep day in, day out.

The SymphonHy production site will be retained, though the ramp-up will be slower. The goal is to reach output of up to 10,000 systems between 2028 and 2030. Development is also underway on a 150 kW unit for heavy-duty machines, potentially available by 2030. As the industry reshapes itself, these choices could influence which vehicles ultimately adopt hydrogen technology.