POELLATH advises KEYOU GmbH on strategic partnership with Daimler Truck AG
KEYOU GmbH ("KEYOU") has entered into a strategic partnership with Daimler Truck AG ("Daimler Truck") to bring hydrogen-powered combustion engines to market as a complemen-tary drive solution for road freight transport. The partnership aims to develop a readily availa-ble and economically viable technology for the decarbonisation of heavy-duty transportation.
Under the cooperation agreement, Daimler Truck will provide existing vehicle and engine plat-forms, while KEYOU will be responsible for converting them to hydrogen technology. This clear division of responsibilities enables Daimler Truck to reduce development efforts while supporting a rapid implementation of the technology. The first vehicles are expected to be launched from 2027 onwards.
Based in Munich, KEYOU specialises in converting existing engine platforms to run on hy-drogen, focusing on a technology approach built around established series-production vehi-cles.
Headquartered in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Daimler Truck has extensive experience in the development of combustion engines and has been exploring hydrogen combustion technolo-gy as part of its advanced engineering activities for several years. For commercialisation, the company is pursuing a partnership-based cooperation model.
Through this collaboration, Daimler Truck and KEYOU are laying the foundation for a long-term industrial partnership in the field of hydrogen-based commercial vehicle propulsion sys-tems.
POELLATH provided legal advice to KEYOU in connection with the partnership with Daimler Truck with the following Munich-based team:
- Tobias Jäger (partner, M&A/private equity)
- Dr. Matthias Meier (counsel, M&A/private equity)
