BMW iX5 Hydrogen Fleet Becomes Rolling Artwork At Basel Show

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen takes centre stage at Art Basel in Basel 2025, adorned with a striking new skin by artist Alvaro Barrington. Commissioned by curator Hans Ulrich Obrist as part of the marque’s 50-year celebration of BMW Art Cars, the zero-emission SUV now carries a vivid wrap titled “Simply, 2025”, turning the event’s VIP shuttle service into a mobile gallery and underscoring the firm’s commitment to inventive powertrains and cultural dialogue.

Barrington’s design layers bold colour blocks and textured graphics in a style rooted in his collage practice, nodding to artistic heroes such as David Hockney and Henri Matisse while echoing the clean-energy pulse beneath the bonnet. Conversations with BMW’s hydrogen engineers informed abstract motifs that hint at fuel-cell stacks, airflow and the molecular dance of hydrogen itself. The result is a rolling composition that pairs artistic freedom with the precision lines of Munich’s latest technology demonstrator.

The collaboration highlights how hydrogen propulsion is moving from prototype to production reality. Michael Rath, Head of Hydrogen Vehicles at BMW, notes that the company intends to introduce its first series-built fuel-cell model in 2028, positioning the system alongside battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and combustion options. By giving Barrington free rein to reinterpret the iX5 Hydrogen, BMW illustrates that sustainable drivetrains can carry a strong emotional charge as well as potent torque.

Art Basel visitors will spot the wrapped fleet gliding through Basel’s streets between 19 and 22 June, sharing duties with the fully electric BMW i7. The cars provide quiet, emissions-free transfers for artists, collectors and curators, reinforcing the idea that forward-thinking mobility can serve both practicality and creative expression.

This Basel showcase follows a series of rolling artworks deployed worldwide, including Gregor Hildebrandt’s canvassed BMW i5 and i7 at the Market Art Fair in Stockholm earlier this year. With further artist partnerships promised across the BMW Art Car World Tour, the iX5 Hydrogen fleet proves that the road can be both a test track and an ever-changing exhibition space.