Hopium, the French manufacturer of high-end hydrogen-powered vehicles founded by professional race care driver Olivier Bomard, has unveiled its industrial site near Vernon, in Normandy.
The choice is part of the company’s ambition to develop its hydrogen-powered sedan models in France. The 85-acre site, located in the area of Douains, will house the first production lines, which will have a capacity of 20,000 vehicles per year, as well as an R&D center.
The infrastructure will be commissioned at the end of 2024, with an inauguration scheduled for early 2025, according to a news release. The Vernon site will eventually employ more than 1,500 people in all its divisions, and thus intends to contribute to the economic dynamism of the region.
“This is a major project that will contribute to France’s industrial renewal. We chose Normandy, a region that we believe has all the assets needed to host the factory of the future, starting with its unique geographic location between Paris and the Channel, reinforced by the Seine Axis, its industrial basin and its rich innovation hub, in which we are now involved in. Hopium, by selecting this site for the location of its cutting-edge infrastructure, is completing another decisive step in its roadmap, which should lead to the launch of the first Hopium Māchina models on the market in late 2025. I would like to thank the local and regional stakeholders as well as all the Hopium teams, who are invested in the implementation of the project,” said Lombard, CEO of Hopium.
“This project is excellent news for Normandy and is further proof of the economic dynamism of our region. It will also contribute to the development of the hydrogen industry in Normandy. Normandy, a leading industrial region, is a pioneer in the development of this promising sector. In order to strengthen the place of hydrogen in the energy transition, Normandy was the first French region to adopt its Hydrogen Plan in 2018. Nearly one-third of the national consumption of hydrogen is in Normandy, particularly in the chemical and petrochemical sectors as well as in the aerospace sector with the presence of the Ariane Group test site. With a network of recharging stations and hydrogen vehicles established throughout the region and the world’s first hydrogen retrofitted coach being tested on an intercity line, the Region is already a leader in hydrogen mobility,” said Hervé Morin, president of the Normandy Region.
