Welcome to Autoweek on the Fuel Cell Insider! All this week, we’ll be bringing you quotes from the auto folks in support of our industry. Questions? Want to know more? Let us know what else we can track down for you.

Today, we’ll start things off with a few visions.  Every automaker has at some point released a statement or quote with their idea of when their vehicles will be commercialized.  Whether they see that date as nearer or farther than their counterparts, almost all have expressed that, fuel cell vehicles are the ultimate goal.

For example, in September, eight different automakers joined together to sign a Letter of Understanding, stating their vision of increased numbers of fuel cell vehicles around 2015.  Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation/Opel, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Renault SA/Nissan Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation all signed.

• The signing manufacturers strongly anticipate that a significant number of fuel cell vehicles will be commercialized from 2015 onwards. This number is aimed at a few hundred thousand units over life cycle on a worldwide basis. As every vehicle manufacturer will implement its own specific production and commercial strategies as well as timelines, commercialization of electric vehicles with fuel cells may occur earlier than in the above-mentioned expected year.
• The signing manufacturers strongly support the idea of building-up a hydrogen infrastructure in Europe, with Germany as regional starting point and at the same time developing similar concepts for the market penetration of hydrogen infrastructure in other regions of the world, including the USA, Japan and Korea as further starting points.

In essence, the automakers have confirmed that fuel cell vehicles are the ultimate goal.  Come back tomorrow when we’ll talk about those “bridge technologies” and how the automakers feel about them in more detail.

But until then, how do you feel about the dates and projections that get tossed around? Does this help or hurt the industry?