The latest launches follow the model’s initial European entry in UK, Germany, Denmark last year and its current entry into Belgium, with the Netherlands to follow later in 2016.

In Norway the launch comes at a time when on top of the 5 existing hydrogen stations in the east of the country, two local hydrogen providers (HyOP and Uno-x) have committed to add more than 20 hydrogen stations across the country by 2020. The hydrogen stations are also expected to be a priority in the 2018-2029 National Transport Plan that comes with additional funding. Toyota customers can enjoy the same benefits of electric vehicles, i.e. VAT and tax exemptions on purchase, access to bus lanes and free toll.

Toyota Norway PR manager Espen Olsen said: “This is an important milestone for Toyota Norway. We believe this is the start of something big, and we believe that this technology will play a key role in cutting emissions from Norwegian road transport, thus helping the country to achieve its climate targets.”

As with Norway, Sweden already has a number of hydrogen stations in cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, with more in the pipeline to open later this year. In Sweden hydrogen can easily be sourced as it is locally produced 100% based on renewable energy, just like in Denmark.

Toyota Sweden PR manager Bengt Dalström commented: “We see the introduction of the Toyota Mirai as a way to accelerate the development of hydrogen infrastructure in Sweden.”

Toyota added that the number of Mirai cars units in both countries will initially be relatively small, rising significantly up to 2020. Globally, it predicts that 3,000 units will sell by 2017 rising to 30,000 a year globally in 2020.