The manufacturer has an ongoing co-operation with the company, which lasts until 2019, and says the patents will underpin developments in hydrogen fuel cell systems for the Volkswagen and Audi brands.

Concept versions of the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A7 Sportback were shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, said to be near production-ready once the fuelling infrastructure is available.

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG and responsible for development departments across the group, said: “Audi is acquiring these strategically important patents for the entire group and will make them available to all the brands. In this way, we are securing crucial expertise that will provide new impetus for the further development of this technology.”