Development and production of heavy-duty fuel cell systems for trucks and comparable applications

cellcentric GmbH & Co. KG

Kirchheim/Teck-Nabern · Esslingen am Neckar · Stuttgart-Untertürkheim · Burnaby, BC (Canada)New on Amplifa

2021Founded (50:50 JV Daimler Truck / Volvo Group)

560+Employees

4Sites in Germany and Canada

>850Individual property rights (patents, as of August 2026)

<500 kgSystem weight BZA375 (960 x 680 x 1,290 mm)

About cellcentric

cellcentric is a Tier-1 supplier of heavy-duty fuel cell systems for long-haul heavy trucks and applications with comparable requirements. The company was founded on 1 March 2021 as a 50:50 joint venture between Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group AB and builds on more than 30 years of fuel cell research by its parent companies. The fuel cell system BZA150 (up to 143 kW), in use in the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 and Volvo Fuel Cell Electric Truck, is manufactured, as well as the new BZA375 generation with up to 375 kW of continuous net output and under 500 kg system weight. Production in Esslingen covers the complete production chain under one roof – from CCM production (Catalyst Coated Membranes) through stack assembly to system integration – to automotive standards. More than 560 specialists work at four sites in Germany and Canada; over 850 individual property rights (as of August 2026) document the technological base. Large-scale production at the KLIMA|WERK Weilheim/Teck is planned for around 2030.

Site: Kirchheim/Teck-Nabern
Processes: CCM coating (Catalyst Coated Membranes), Fuel cell stack assembly, Fuel cell system assembly (BZA150, BZA375), Series production development and test strategy, Development, production and marketing of fuel cell systems, CCM production (Catalyst Coated Membranes), Stack assembly, System integration for OEMs
Materials: Hydrogen (H₂), PEM fuel cell (polymer electrolyte membrane), Catalyst Coated Membrane (CCM)
Certificates: ISO 9001, ISO 50001
Founded: 2021-03-01
Employees: 560+
Industries: Heavy-duty long-haul/trucks, Coaches, Stationary power generation, Rail transport, Mining, Stationary power generation (backup)

01
CCM production (Catalyst Coated Membranes)
02
Fuel cell component manufacturing
03
Stack assembly
04
System integration BZA150 / BZA375
05
Testing and validation to automotive standards

Materials & Processes

H₂

Hydrogen (H₂)

Energy carrier of the PEM fuel cell systems; consumption of under 6 kg H₂ per 100 km for the BZA375.

PEM

PEM fuel cell (polymer electrolyte membrane)

Electrochemical conversion of hydrogen and oxygen into electricity and heat with emission of water vapor.

CCM

Catalyst Coated Membrane (CCM)

Catalyst-coated membranes are produced in-house at the Esslingen site – core of the vertical integration.

Sites

Kirchheim/Teck-Nabern

Headquarters, fuel cell system/stack development, test facilities

Test facilities

Esslingen am Neckar

Production site: CCM production, stack assembly, system manufacturing BZA150/BZA375

Part weight / size: BZA375 <500 kg

CCM coating
Stack assembly
System assembly

Stuttgart-Untertürkheim

Development site: series production processes, CCM coating

Burnaby, BC

Technology site: stack development and production processes

Products & Components

**Fuel cell system BZA375**PEM fuel cell · Heavy-duty long-haul

**BZA375 system assembly (1,290 x 680 x 960 mm, <500 kg)**System assembly · Trucks

**Liquid hydrogen tank connection on heavy-duty trucks**Hydrogen technology · Commercial vehicles

Inside the production

Hydrogen fuel cell trucks of the shareholders Volvo and Mercedes-Benz

Industries

Heavy-duty long-haul/trucksCoachesStationary power generationRail transportMiningStationary power generation (backup)

Processes & technical limits

Processes	Tolerance	Max. part	Weight	Lot size	Materials
CCM coating (Catalyst Coated Membranes)Surface	–	–	–	–	–
Fuel cell stack assemblyAssembly	–	–	–	–	Hydrogen
Fuel cell system assembly (BZA150, BZA375)Assembly	–	1,290 mm × 680 mm × 960 mm	<500 kg	–	–
Series production development and test strategyEngineering	–	–	–	–	–

Additional services

Development, production and marketing of fuel cell systemsCCM production (Catalyst Coated Membranes)Stack assemblySystem integration for OEMsTier-1 supplier of heavy-duty fuel cell systems

Reference customers

Mercedes-Benz GenH2Mercedes-Benz NextGenH2Volvo Fuel Cell Electric Truck

Quality & Certification

The development and manufacturing of the BZA systems is subject to the quality standards of the automotive industry. Certifications according to ISO 9001 (among others Esslingen and Stuttgart) and ISO 50001 for energy management are documented.

Evidence	Esslingen	Stuttgart
ISO 9001
ISO 50001

History

1994
NECAR 1, the world's first road-approved, zero-emission vehicle with a PEM fuel cell (Daimler/predecessor organizations)
2021
Founding of cellcentric on 1 March 2021 as a 50:50 joint venture between Daimler Truck AG and Volvo Group AB
2024
BZA150 enters series development (up to 143 kW, 25,000 hours service life)
2026
Presentation of the BZA375 (up to 375 kW); binding agreement for Toyota's entry as an equal shareholder; Lars Ljungström appointed Managing Director/CFO; large-scale production at the KLIMA|WERK Weilheim/Teck planned for around 2030