Daimler AG and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. have signed a unique three-way agreement for the joint development of common fuel cell system to speed up availability of zero-emission technology and significantly reduce investment costs. Collaboration expected to lead to launch of world's first affordable, mass-market fuel cell electric vehicles as early as 2017.

Unique collaboration across three continents and three companies will help define global specifications and component standards. Sends clear signal to suppliers, policymakers and the industry to encourage the further development of hydrogen infrastructure worldwide. The goal of the collaboration is to jointly develop a common fuel cell electric vehicle system while reducing investment costs associated with the engineering of the technology.

Each company will invest equally towards the project. The strategy to maximize design commonality, leverage volume and derive efficiencies through economies of scale will help to launch the world's first affordable, mass-market FCEVs as early as 2017.