NamX (New Automotive and Mobility Exploration) is a Franco-Moroccan joint venture hydrogen car startup headquartered in Paris. NamX was founded in 2017 by Franco-Moroccan entrepreneur Faouzi Annajah and French designer Thomas de Lussac, dedicated to seeking a balance between infinite human mobility and environmental protection through green hydrogen energy.The brand centers on "CapXtores" removable hydrogen capsule technology, aiming to solve refueling problems for traditional hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, providing a zero-emission, quick-refueling, and fun-to-drive new sustainable mobility solution.
NamX's development path went through a process from concept inception to core technology establishment, followed by strategic adjustments, although its product launch journey was bumpy.
Early Stage and Concept Establishment (2017-2020). NamX was originally founded by Faouzi Annajah and Thomas de Lussac in Paris in 2017.After early preparation and preliminary development, NamX officially launched vehicle and hydrogen capsule system R&D work in 2021.
Public Debut and Technology Layout (2022-2023). In May 2022, NamX cooperated with the famous Italian design company Pininfarina to publicly debut its hydrogen-powered SUV concept car - NamX HUV. In October of the same year, the car was officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, and 1,000 Euros (approximately 6,955 RMB) booking was opened. During this period, NamX clarified its dual power version plan (RWD entry level and 4WD GTH high performance version), and displayed its core technology - removable hydrogen capsule. In 2023, NamX HUV also won the "Green Good Design" sustainable development award for its revolutionary hydrogen power design.In the second half of the same year, NamX made a major strategic adjustment, abandoning the original planned hydrogen fuel cell technology, and switching to hydrogen internal combustion engine technology.
Mass Production Landing and Commercialization Dilemma (2024-2026). Entering 2024, NamX first fully displayed its vehicle and hydrogen swap station (Cap Store) ecosystem at the VivaTech exhibition. However, its commercialization process was frequently frustrated, the original plan for 2025 year-end listing delivery was postponed to 2026. Despite delivery delays, NamX made progress in core technology breakthroughs. After four years of long development, the company officially obtained its European patent for hydrogen capsule technology in May 2026 (Patent No.: 4511247), marking that its core technology obtained legal protection in the European market.At the same time, the brand announced completion of US patent application, and expressed intention to establish a factory in Morocco.
NamX currently focuses mainly on the development and production of a single core vehicle series - NamX HUV.
NamX HUV is officially defined as "the first high-end hydrogen energy car".Its design was handled by Italian Pininfarina design company that has designed multiple models for Ferrari and Lamborghini, car body lines are full of muscular sense, fused with 50s and 60s sci-fi style and muscle car design elements, and integrated "X" design language in many places.The series is mainly divided into two versions:
Rear Wheel Drive Version (RWD): Entry level model, motor maximum power about 300 horsepower, 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 6.5 seconds, top speed is 200 km/h.
GTH All Wheel Drive Version: High performance version, maximum power up to 550 horsepower, 0-100 km/h acceleration only needs 4.5 seconds, top speed can reach 250 km/h.
NamX HUV's biggest highlight is its innovative "Dual Hydrogen Tank" System. It consists of a fixed main hydrogen tank and six removable auxiliary hydrogen capsules. These six capsules are located in the transparent storage compartment above the rear bumper, owners can easily take them out and replace them manually like replacing Gogoro batteries.The starting price range for the car in the European market is 60,000 to 95,000 Euros.
As of May 2026, NamX HUV has not achieved mass production and formal delivery, so there are no actual sales data. The company currently mainly relies on deposits from early open booking and external financing to maintain operations. Its commercialization process has been postponed multiple times, the model jumped from late 2025 to 2026.Despite booking opened at 2022 Paris Motor Show and other occasions,but the real market sales performance still waits to be tested after achieving mass production.
NamX's core technology is mainly built around its unique "CapXtores" Hydrogen Capsule System. This system aims to reshape the hydrogen supply mode..
Removable Hydrogen Capsule: This is NamX's most revolutionary design. A single capsule can provide about 45 to 50 kilometers of range.Plus main hydrogen tank, vehicle total range can reach 800 kilometers.Users can locate the nearest capsule swap station via the app developed by the brand, then replace it themselves.The core advantage of this technology lies in greatly reducing the construction cost and deployment cycle of refueling infrastructure.It is claimed that deploying a "Cap Store" (capsule swap station) only needs 2 hours, while the construction cycle of traditional hydrogen stations needs about one year. After 4 years of long application, NamX finally obtained the patent granted by the European Patent Office for this technology in May 2026 (Patent No.: 4511247).
Powertrain Route: NamX experienced a major transformation in technology. Initially, its first model HUV was released as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, relying on hydrogen and oxygen chemical reaction to generate electricity to drive the motor.But starting from end of 2023, NamX abandoned this route, and switched to adopting hydrogen internal combustion engine technology. This means its future vehicles will be powered by a modified 6.2-liter V8 engine that can directly burn hydrogen, aiming to retain traditional fuel car driving passion and exhaust sound.NamX founder attributed the reason for this choice to three points: not using rare earth mineral power batteries, continuing European internal combustion engine heritage, and retaining driving passion.
Quick Refueling and Supply Network: The six removable hydrogen capsules at the rear of the vehicle provide another more convenient refueling method, covering about 250 to 300 kilometers of range.At the same time, the vehicle also retains a standard hydrogen refueling port, retaining the possibility of supplementing main hydrogen tank energy at traditional hydrogen stations.
NamX established a global market vision from the beginning, its overseas layout mainly revolves around Europe, North America and Africa.
European Market: Europe is the headquarters location and its initially targeted core market for NamX. The company has obtained European patents for hydrogen capsule technology, covering all related European countries, paving the way for its commercialization in Europe.
North American Market: In November 2024, NamX founder announced officially expanding market to United States. In sync with patent layout, the company has also submitted US patent application for this core technology, preparing for entry into one of the largest global car markets.
African Market: As another major "home field" for the company, NamX is closely linked with Moroccan government. The company founder once showed its hydrogen energy prototype car to Moroccan King Mohammed VI in 2023, and received the Royal Medal. In addition, the company has announced plans to establish a factory for producing all-hydrogen cars in Morocco, and build it into an export hub facing European and American markets.
Chinese Market: Currently no public information shows NamX has official sales channels or production layout in mainland China. As a startup brand that has not yet mass produced, its current main energy still focuses on the development of European, North American and African markets.
NamX's future road is full of opportunities and challenges. Its most core goal is to achieve NamX HUV's mass production and commercial delivery, to fulfill its promises to consumers and investors.For this, the company plans to conduct a new round of capital raising, to raise large amount of funds needed to drive industrialized production.In terms of technology, besides accelerating industrial deployment of hydrogen capsule technology obtained European patent, the company also plans to expand its application scope, not limited to passenger cars, but expand to motorcycles, scooters, drones, construction and agricultural machinery and other fields.In capital and market confidence level, NamX needs to prove its unique business model and hydrogen capsule technology can run on a large scale and sustainably in the real world, thus surviving in the increasingly fierce hydrogen energy and electric vehicle market.
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