Toyota has declared, on numerous occasions, that it will launch a sedan-type fuel cell vehicle in 2015 at or under a price of $50,000. Hitting that price point may prove difficult, but even Daimler feels that its doable. Herbert Kohler, head of e-drive and future mobility at Daimler, recently told Automotive News Europe that the cost of fuel cell vehicles will decline at a rapid rate in the coming years. Kohler stated:
By 2015, we think a fuel cell car will not cost more than a four-cylinder diesel hybrid that meets the Euro 6 emissions standard. By 2013-2014, we want to bring a four-digit-number of fuel cell vehicles to market.
Kohler added that he expects fuel cell vehicles to be less expensive than a comparable battery-powered car within the next five years.