Toyota Motor Corp. and Hino Motors Ltd. said Monday they have agreed to jointly develop fuel-cell electric trucks for the North American market.

Combining Toyota's fuel-cell technology with a vehicle body from Hino, the two Japanese companies plan to roll out a demonstration truck in the first half of 2021, their joint statement said.

Toyota and Hino, a Toyota subsidiary that manufactures trucks and buses, unveiled in March their plan to develop 25-ton fuel-cell trucks for the Japanese market.

The latest announcement will expand their collaboration at a time when automakers around the world are striving to develop electric and other environmentally friendly vehicles amid growing concerns about climate change.

==Kyodo

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