BMW readies the iX5 60H xDrive, its first production hydrogen SUV

BMW is preparing a new chapter in its story: the launch of a production hydrogen vehicle. The first fuel-cell model will be the BMW iX5 60H xDrive, slated to premiere in 2028.

The new fifth-generation X5 (G65) will debut in 2026 with gasoline, diesel, and hybrid versions, with fully electric and hydrogen variants to follow. A prototype called the iX5 Hydrogen has already completed testing in Europe, and the model now has an official name that confirms standard all-wheel drive. The timing feels deliberate: core combustion options first, then the electric and fuel-cell flavors—an approach that should make the shift smoother for long-time X5 owners.

Development is underway in partnership with Toyota, and the crossover will use a third-generation fuel cell. In place of a heavy battery, two carbon-fiber tanks will hold about 6 kg of hydrogen, enough for up to 500 km under the WLTP cycle. The production iX5 60H is expected to go even farther. On paper, the setup hints at calm, unhurried confidence rather than headline-chasing spectacle.

BMW engineers note that the hydrogen system will be paired with sixth-generation electric motors already presented on the iX3. The company may also add a gasoline range-extender generator in the future, though those plans have not been confirmed. That optionality suggests a measured, modular strategy without locking the brand into a single path too early.

The arrival of the iX5 60H xDrive will mark the start of BMW’s hydrogen era, signaling a shift from traditional combustion toward cleaner, next-level technology—a careful step, but a meaningful one.