Honda Motor Co. Ltd. will team up with Isuzu Motors Ltd. to develop hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks.

Isuzu, which makes commercial vehicles and pickup trucks, signed an agreement with Honda's research and development unit to undertake joint research on using fuel-cell powertrains in trucks.

The companies said industrywide initiatives are needed to address cost and infrastructure challenges faced by the fuel-cell technology. The partnership provides Isuzu a next-generation powertrain for its trucks and gives Honda opportunity to expand the application of its fuel-cell tech beyond passenger vehicles.

Honda launched its first hydrogen-powered passenger car, Clarity, in 2016.