ARAMCO, GAUSSIN join forces in the H2 vehicle business
ARAMCO and GAUSSIN have announced that they have entered into a partnership for the hydrogen vehicles business.
The signing of this agreement took place in the presence of H.E. Khalid Al Falih, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Investment, and H.E. Franck Riester, France's Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, as well as Aramco's President and CEO, Amin H. Nasser.
The agreement between Aramco and Gaussin intends to establish a modern manufacturing facility for hydrogen-powered vehicles in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a first step, Gaussin and Aramco will study the feasibility of a manufacturing facility and a hydrogen distribution business to serve the Middle East region.
The two companies also agreed that Aramco's new Advanced Innovation Center (LAB7) will be closely involved in Gaussin's development of hydrogen-powered vehicles and the development of a remote-controlled/autonomous hydrogen racing truck. LAB7 aims to integrate Aramco's composite materials into Gaussin's existing range of products to reduce the weight, energy consumption, and cost of these vehicles.
Aramco will also be sponsoring the world's first hydrogen-fueled racing truck, which has been developed by Gaussin and which will compete in the January 2022 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia – the Gaussin H2 Racing Truck (see press release, November 9, 2021) which will run as an experimental new energy vehicle. Aramco's sponsorship of Gaussin's participation in the Dakar Rally continues to promote low-emission transportation technology developments.
Aramco SVP of Technical Services, Ahmad Al-Sa'adi, stated: "The agreement is the start of an exciting collaboration to advance and promote hydrogen as a low carbon transportation fuel. It also allows us to advance economic growth and sustainability in the Kingdom as part of the Namaat industrial investment program. Aramco is excited to be the exclusive sponsor of the Dakar Rally's first hydrogen-fueled truck, which is a milestone for motorsports and global transportation."
Gaussin CEO, Christophe Gaussin, said: "The Middle East is a key region for Gaussin and Saudi Arabia is crucial to transfer our technologies and know-how there. It will host the next edition of the Dakar Rally and the country shares with Gaussin an ambitious determination to decarbonize mobility and to address global warming. Therefore we are very proud to announce this collaboration with Aramco, one of the world's leading integrated energy and chemicals companies. This collaboration is going to help Gaussin compete in the Dakar Rally with the world's first hydrogen-powered race truck. It is a testimony to our shared commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions."
