Why Owners of The Mirai Are Suing Toyota

A group of American Toyota Mirai owners has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, citing the virtually nonexistent hydrogen refuelling network in the US, which severely limits the Mirai’s usability and renders long-distance travel impossible. That’s why it’s almost impossible to sell a hydrogen sedan on the used vehicle market, because nobody wants one.

Toyota had some hopes for success, but hydrogen’s potential in the automotive industry was and remains volatile: short bursts of customer interest are followed by long periods of decline. The current trend is negative; interest is declining so much that some hydrogen stations are closing due to unprofitability. There are currently about 90 hydrogen stations operating in the US, of which only two-thirds are public.

That means hydrogen car owners effectively have access to about 60 stations, with the majority located in California. This means that driving the Mirai to other US states requires a towing service. It has reached the point where owners are afraid to drive the Mirai long distances because they don’t want to get stuck on the road.

However, the Mirai needs to be driven once a week, or the backup battery will die. After a negative experience with the Mirai, many owners are trying to get rid of conventional hydrogen-powered sedans, but to no avail—the used car market is resolutely rejecting the Mirai. In the first three quarters of this year, Toyota sold just 157 Mirai sedans in the US, down 54.6% from the January-September 2024 period.

Two years ago, Toyota admitted that the Mirai project was a failure, but it does not want to end it. Currently, the Mirai is only available in the US in California, with a starting price of $52,990. However, as reported by the media, last year, Toyota sold the Mirai for only $15,000, completely devaluing the model on the used vehicle market. Those who bought the limousine on credit paid the biggest sum.

So a US Marine stationed in California bought a 2023 Mirai for $42,359, with the seller promising to buy the car back if he was transferred to another state. The dealer kept his promise, but… When the Marine was transferred to Virginia some time later, the dealer offered him only $11,000 for the car, based on its current market value.

That meant the owner was left with $24,000 in debt, so he, along with dozens of other unfortunate Mirai owners, hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit against Toyota. The main point of the lawsuit is a significant loss of market value. Toyota issued a brief press release in mid-December announcing its plans to develop a hydrogen charging network in the US.

The Japanese manufacturer intends to invest in FirstElement Fuel, a company that owns 38 hydrogen filling stations in the US. However, the press release did not provide any concrete numbers or timeframes, meaning it is unclear when and what hydrogen car owners can expect in terms of infrastructure development.

• Also See: Toyota To Start Exporting American Models To Japan