DONGFENG Debuts at IAA Transportation, Unveiling Hydrogen solutions

Hannover, Germany, September 14, 2026 – The spotlight of the global commercial vehicle industry turns to Hannover as the 72nd IAA Transportation 2026 kicks off. At this show, DONGFENG Motor Group, themed “With DONGFENG, Drive HYDROGEN”, showcases three hydrogen-powered vehicles, alongside the world premiere of its 400-kW fuel cell system and a suite of key technologies. As a Global Zero-Carbon Value Partner, DONGFENG presents to the world its nearly 30 years of profound expertise and commercial solutions in hydrogen energy.

Wind from the East, Powering the Future with Hydrogen: DONGFENG unveils Zero-Carbon Solutions to Global Industry

In 2026, the global commercial-vehicle industry is accelerating its zero‑carbon transition. As a significant solution for zero-emission logistics, scalable and commercially viable hydrogen vehicles have become a strategic priority for commercial-vehicle OEMs worldwide. Ahead of market trends, DONGFENG Motor Group has pursued forward-looking initiatives in R&D, application of hydrogen fuel cells and complete-vehicle manufacturing, with nearly 30 years of in-depth development. To date, it has built a full-range fuel-cell stack portfolio spanning 20 kW to 400 kW, supporting passenger vehicles, light and heavy trucks and special-purpose vehicles. It has carried out commercial‑scale validation in over 40 cities across China, more than 10,000 vehicles in service. Bringing its large‑scale operational experience from Chinese-market deployments to Hannover, DONGFENG looks forward to cooperating with global partners, sharing market‑proven practical expertise with them and jointly shaping a new net‑zero future.

Tang Jing, Deputy General Manager of DONGFENG Commercial Vehicle Business Division, stated in his address:“Hydrogen represents one of the key pathways for commercial vehicles to achieve zero‑carbon emissions across all-scenario applications and the full life cycle. It is also a promising energy carrier for future clean mobility. For global carbon neutrality, DONGFENG pursues technology innovation, production deployment and advances the green transition of mobility industries. Built upon 400 kW auto fuel-cell core technologies deployed across the globe, DONGFENG officially launches customized hydrogen-energy and hydrogen-electric integrated solutions, precisely tailored for freight scenarios in diverse markets. With an open mindset and a cooperative spirit, DONGFENG is ready to join hands with industrial-chain partners, well-known research institutions and other industry peers worldwide. We aim to jointly develop core technologies, establish industry standards, share access to industrial-scale production capacity and expand global markets, so as to foster a more open, collaborative and prosperous global hydrogen-fuel commercial-vehicle ecosystem.”

T1 New-Energy Commercial-Vehicle Platform: DONGFENG's self-developed Hydrogen-Electric Integrated Smart Platform

The focus of the event is the T1 new-energy commercial-vehicle platform, the industry's first hydrogen-electric integrated smart platform built on full-scenario and hardware-software integration.

According to Zhao Feng, T1-H PM at DONGFENG Commercial Vehicle Business Division, the T1 platform has six core modules: fuel-cell module, hydrogen storage module, power-battery module, electric-drive system module, central domain controller and integrated thermal-management system. The 400 kW hydrogen fuel‑cell stack achieves over 58-percent efficiency under typical operating conditions thanks to catalyst innovation and membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) optimization; Hydrogen storage module delivers a single-refueling range of 1,700 km; The integrated thermal-management module delivers precise temperature control and notable energy‑saving performance via over 30 intelligent operating modes. These six modules work together to deliver four core user values: low hydrogen consumption, light weight, long service life, and high-level safety. Built on high-power fuel cell full-condition intelligent coordinated control technology with Predictive Cruise Control (PCC) and V2X perception fusion, the powertrain achieves a generational shift from passive response to active prediction, cutting equivalent hydrogen consumption and improving fuel cell durability for long-haul heavy trucks. It delivers a hydrogen consumption as low as 7 kg per 100 km, a curb weight as low as 8.8 tons, and an equivalent durability of 33,000 operating hours, fully satisfying commercial‑operation requirements.

Benny Oeyen, CEO for Europe and the Americas at the International Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association with more than 20 years of profound experience across automotive and energy sectors, has witnessed DONGFENG Hydrogen's R&D journey first-hand. He stated that this journey deeply aligns with our global drive toward a zero-carbon future. Through real-world project execution, DONGFENG has solved the hardest engineering hurdles—from long-life decay control for high-power stacks to optimizing vehicle-level energy consumption. By directly targeting these logistics pain points, the DONGFENG T1 platform delivers a real-world driving range of 1,700 kilometers. The in-house 400 kW hydrogen fuel cell stack passed the 10,000-hour durability test, standing out at the very top of its class globally. In the future, Benny looks forward to working closely with the DONGFENG team to accelerate the deployment and application of this mature hydrogen technology solution across diverse scenarios and regions worldwide, and drive the decarbonization of global transport forward.

Three Models Unveiled: An All-Scenario Hydrogen-Powered Commercial-Vehicle Portfolio

Three hydrogen-powered models built on DONGFENG's T1 New-Energy Commercial-Vehicle Platform make their simultaneous debut.

DONGFENG-1, A durable workhorse for long-haul trunk logistics. It delivers remarkable TCO advantages over conventional-energy vehicles. With large hydrogen storage and high-power systems, it is built for long-distance trunk-logistics. The vehicle is also equipped with DONGFENG's brand-new SUPER cabin, delivering greater space, enhanced comfort and cutting-edge technology.

DONGFENG-2, the dependable partner for resource transportation. Tailored to each route's refueling and charging, and optimized for peak-valley electricity pricing, it can run on hydrogen or electricity, maximizing operational value.

DONGFENG-3, the high-efficiency guardian for cold-chain delivery. From fresh produce to pharmaceutical cold chains, from city distribution to inter-city trunk lines, it delivers stable and long range, precise temperature control, and minimal cargo loss. Hydrogen power keeps every trip fresh and safe.

In addition, DONGFENG exhibited three hydrogen fuel cell systems equipped with 120kW, 150kW and 400kW hydrogen fuel cell stacks, alongside a hydrogen internal combustion engine hybrid system, fully demonstrating DONGFENG's full-stack technology portfolio in the hydrogen energy sector.

The system with the 400kW hydrogen fuel cell stack targets long-haul routes, heavy-duty transport, frigid and high-altitude scenarios. It achieves a peak efficiency of 65%, a gravimetric power density of 1350 W/kg, dynamic response of 60 kW/s and an equivalent lifetime of 33,000 hours. It supports cold start at -40°C, meeting the core demands of long-haul customers for reliability and durability.

The system with the 150kW hydrogen fuel cell stack is applicable to medium‑and‑large‑size buses, medium‑and‑heavy‑duty trucks, dump trucks and tractors. It balances acquisition cost and operational economy, delivering high integration, high reliability, long service life and strong environmental adaptability.

The system with the 120kW hydrogen fuel cell stack is applicable to light-duty buses, light commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles. Typical applications include 4.5‑ton refrigerated vans, 8-ton light trucks, covering intercity distribution requirements. It features high integration, high reliability, strong environmental adaptability and low noise.

The hydrogen internal combustion engine hybrid system is developed on DONGFENG’s unified multi-energy heavy-duty engine platform. With an engine displacement of 16.2 L, it delivers a peak power of 412 kW and a peak torque of 2500 N·m. According to operating conditions, the system supports 14 operating modes including pure electric, hybrid drive, range-extending, braking and charge retention, greatly boosting the overall efficiency of the hydrogen power system in real-world applications.

For the Globe, By the Globe: DONGFENG Calls on Global Partners to Build a Blue-Sky Future Together

The theme “With DONGFENG, Drive HYDROGEN” means that with hydrogen-powered technologies, DONGFENG is striving for a zero-carbon mobility for a shared sustainable future.”In Chinese traditional culture, “DONGFENG”, or the east wind, signals renewal, vitality and the promise of new beginnings.

Rooted in China and reaching out to the world, DONGFENG has built a robust, fully-integrated hydrogen energy industrial ecosystem spanning R&D breakthroughs, industrial-chain deployment, regional collaboration and standard‑setting. Beyond advanced technologies and products, DONGFENG brings market-proven, scalable commercial hydrogen solutions and operational standards. DONGFENG offers a practical and benchmark reference for global zero-carbon logistics.

Looking ahead, energy transition is an imperative undertaking, bringing unprecedented industrial opportunities and pathways for win-win cooperation. DONGFENG is ready to join hands with global partners to build greener industrial ecosystems and work toward a net-zero future.