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 platforms, 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 vehicles.

Headquartered in Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Daimler Truck has extensive experience in the development of combustion engines and has been exploring hydrogen combustion technology 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 systems.

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)