---
title: "If It Works, Toyota’s Fuel Cell Semi-Truck Could Doom the Startups"
description: "We're looking at you on this one, Nikola."
date: "2020-10-06"
modified: "2020-10-07"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/36924/if-it-works-toyotas-fuel-cell-semi-truck-could-doom-the-startups"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Toyota News"
tags:
  - "Toyota"
---

# If It Works, Toyota’s Fuel Cell Semi-Truck Could Doom the Startups

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/10/20201006_01_01.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Ever since investment firm Hindenburg Research sank Nikola Corporation's battleship with [scathing accusations of fraud](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/36338/ev-truck-startup-nikola-accused-of-intricate-fraud-by-financial-research-firm>), the once-enshrined auto startup has been in a tailspin. Since the start of September, Nikola has lost its founder, yanked the Badger pickup truck from its business plan, and to manage the bad press stemming from these developments, [allegedly plied copyright fraud to silence critics](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/36875/well-this-has-certainly-been-a-bad-week-for-nikola>). Nikola's sole remaining hope is its long-awaited fuel-cell semi-truck, which has potentially been branded with a sell-by date by a coming competitor from Toyota.

In a release issued Tuesday morning, Toyota announced that it plans to develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Class 8 semi-truck, placing it in direct competition with Nikola. This truck will be based on the new XL Series chassis from Toyota Group subsidiary Hino, and powered by scaled-up FCEV technologies proven commercially viable by [the Toyota Mirai sedan](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30283/2021-toyota-mirai-ditches-ho-hum-looks-for-rear-wheel-drive-performance>). Toyota pledges to have a working prototype of this Americas-oriented semi ready within nine months, giving Nikola a deadline to prove that it can compete with the legacy automaker.

![message-editor%2F1602007855402-nikola\_tre5a.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1602007855402-nikola_tre5a.jpg>)
*Nikola Tre Concept, *Nikola**

But Nikola, which promised to have working One prototypes on the road by May 2018, no longer faces engineering and hype-building as its only challenges. This last month's developments have put Nikola on the back foot in its negotiations with General Motors, which wants a bigger stake in the startup as compensation for tumbling share values.

Even if Nikola attains a favorable outcome and can lean on GM's technological might to realize its many concept vehicles, it will still have a mountain to climb if it wants to ready a prototype FCEV semi before Toyota, and maintain its image as a leader of [the zero-emissions semi-truck industry](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/35305/freightliners-battery-powered-semi-trucks-have-logged-over-300000-miles-in-the-real-world>).

And that's assuming [this whole hydrogen deal actually works out](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/33408/why-we-still-cant-deliver-on-the-promise-of-hydrogen-cars>).

*Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com*

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)