In the financial report, Stellantis justifies the exit by stating that it does not expect hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles to gain traction by the end of the decade. This is due to poor refueling infrastructure, high capital requirements, and the lack of purchase incentives. The automaker Stellantis, headquartered in the Netherlands, produces brands including Peugeot, Fiat, Opel, and Jeep, among others. Together with Michelin and Forvia, it maintained the joint venture Symbio for the development and production of fuel cell powertrains.
Write-downs and write-offs account for the largest share of the expense
According to the report, this decision results in a total expense of 1.1 billion euros. However, this is not a one-time payment but rather a sum of write-downs, write-offs, and impairments on assets.
· The largest portion, at 0.5 billion euros, falls under equity-method investment results and relates to the full write-off of the stake in the hydrogen joint venture Symbio as well as impairments on loans granted to the company.
· A further 0.3 billion euros was recorded in cost of revenues, primarily through depreciation of fuel-cell-related assets, inventory write-downs, and other associated costs.
· Another 0.3 billion euros is reflected in research and development costs, resulting predominantly from the write-off of capitalized development expenditures in the fuel cell area.
Various media reported several months ago that the withdrawal from Symbio would cost Stellantis around 235 million euros. This figure was reported by the French business newspaper Les Echos, among others, and picked up by further media outlets. Now the expense appears to be even higher.
New strategy for Symbio still unclearc
With Stellantis, Symbio is losing not only a shareholder but also its most important customer. According to co-owner Forvia, Stellantis accounted for approximately 80 percent of Symbio's activities.
In December 2025, various media reported that Symbio was cutting 350 of its 530 positions. An official new strategy from the company has not yet been announced. Symbio's current product as of 2025 was a fuel cell unit with an output of 40 kW, with a 75 kW unit to follow "in the medium term." For 2028, Symbio had announced new units rated at 150 and 300 kW, respectively, for heavy-duty transport.
