Maribor, Slovenia: As dawn broke over Maribor, Slovenia’s second-largest city, TAM Europe marked a major milestone with the rollout of its latest hydrogen fuel cell buses, signaling a new chapter in the nation’s clean-energy transport journey, reports English.news.cn.
In late October, the company delivered dozens of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles to Seoul, South Korea, and Vienna, Austria—the first batch of such buses produced by the Slovenian manufacturer.
TAM Europe currently has the capacity to produce 500 electric commercial vehicles annually. Earlier this year, it supplied 24 electric buses to Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport during the Olympic Games. Over the next three years, the company plans to manufacture about 100 hydrogen-powered vehicles annually.
Founded in 1947, the Maribor Automobile Factory (TAM) was once known for its trucks, trailers, and military vehicles. However, economic challenges and market shifts led to its bankruptcy in 2011. A revival began in 2013, when Chinese investment and technology breathed new life into the company, allowing it to retain its iconic brand name and reinvent itself for the green era.
Today, TAM Europe has become a key player in Europe’s sustainable transport industry, focusing on electric and hydrogen-powered buses. Its latest innovation—the 70 MPa hydrogen fuel low-entry city bus—marks another step forward in the company’s clean-energy evolution. The model integrates Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel cell system, hydrogen storage tanks, and power control systems, emitting only water vapor during operation.
“Our breakthroughs in environmental protection and technology upgrades have been key to entering the high-end European market,” said Ma Fuxiong, CEO of TAM Europe. “This rollout showcases our advanced craftsmanship and lean management in complex new energy vehicle assembly.”
He added that the project exemplifies how Chinese investment and expertise are driving cross-border collaboration in global green technology and advanced manufacturing.
Li Minghai, Vice President for Technology and Manufacturing at TAM, emphasized how Chinese support had transformed the company. “Through strategic investment and resource integration, this project has gained strong momentum in the heart of Europe. It ensures efficiency from technology alignment to production implementation,” he said.
Industry platform FuelCellsWorks described TAM’s hydrogen rollout as a milestone with “dual significance” — reinforcing Slovenia’s role as a European hub for specialty vehicle and clean-energy manufacturing, while also highlighting the deep synergy between Chinese capital and European industry in advancing green technologies.
Some of TAM’s hydrogen buses have already entered service in Seoul and Vienna. According to Li, the company’s brand recognition is expanding steadily, with customers now spread across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
TAM Europe currently employs around 200 local workers, who regularly undergo technical training in China, while Chinese experts visit Slovenia for on-site collaboration.
“This is not just the success of one company,” Li said. “It reflects a true win-win partnership in global green development.”
