Hyundai Motor unveils integrated hydrogen solutions, Hydrogen Council CEO calls Korea a pioneer

The Hyundai Motor Group unveiled an "Integrated Hydrogen Solution" encompassing hydrogen production infrastructure, mobility technology, and ecosystem-building capabilities. Despite the slow development of the hydrogen industry due to the immaturity of the domestic market and a lack of policy support, the group's strategy is to continue investing in order to secure future growth drivers.

On Wednesday, at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, where the "World Hydrogen Expo (WHE) 2026" opened for a three-day schedule, the Hyundai Motor Group set up an exhibition hall of 720 square meters and introduced its key technologies and business vision under the themes of △hydrogen production infrastructure, △passenger, commercial, and rail mobility, and △hydrogen ecosystem solutions.

The Hyundai Motor Group displayed a physical polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis stack. Water electrolysis is a technology that produces hydrogen by electrically decomposing water. At this event, the group debuted for the first time a method of integrating 12 stacks to configure one 5-megawatt-class electrolyzer stack module (ESM). One ESM can produce approximately 700 tons of hydrogen annually, and multiple modules can be arranged in parallel to expand into a hundreds-of-megawatts-class water electrolysis plant.

In the mobility sector, the group presented a wide range of solutions ranging from the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle "Nexo" to commercial vehicles and rail. First, in the commercial mobility division, it unveiled for the first time a fuel cell system with enhanced durability tailored for long-distance driving environments. In the rail division, it displayed a model hydrogen electric locomotive and flat-type fuel cell modules while exploring the potential for decarbonization in mass transportation.

The Hyundai Motor Group also operated programs allowing visitors to experience the driving performance of hydrogen commercial vehicles. It ran test drive programs for the improved model of the "Universe" hydrogen electric bus, used for high-speed buses and other applications, and the "The New XCIENT" hydrogen electric truck, highlighting quiet driving as a key strength. It also unveiled the e-City hydrogen electric low-floor metropolitan bus, which is under development to improve mobility convenience for people with disabilities, such as wheelchair users. Additionally, it displayed a hydrogen electric cleaning truck and demonstrated the charging process using an automatic charging robot (ACR-H).

The Hyundai Motor Group realized a model of a future industrial city reflecting the "Saemangeum AI Valley" project in a diorama. The Saemangeum AI Valley is a project to build AI data centers, a robotics manufacturing cluster, solar power generation, water electrolysis plants producing clean hydrogen, and an AI hydrogen city, with an investment of approximately 9 trillion won.

On the day, Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon of the Hyundai Motor Group visited the event site and toured the group's exhibition hall. He also inspected the exhibition booths of major participating companies to check on the status of hydrogen-related technologies and businesses.

Iva Jemelkova, CEO of the Hydrogen Council, who visited Korea to attend WHE 2026, met with reporters after visiting the Hyundai Motor Group booth on the day. She emphasized that Vice Chairman Jang serves as co-chair of the Hydrogen Council and stated, "(Hyundai Motor Group) has expanded the hydrogen industry very rapidly through mobility technology." She added, "We must move forward by leveraging what we have learned from internal combustion engine vehicles, which will create many jobs and (business) opportunities," noting, "I believe Hyundai Motor Group has provided such opportunities." The Hydrogen Council is a global CEO forum on hydrogen-related issues.

CEO Jemelkova evaluated Korea's hydrogen industry as "(a) 100% model for the global market" before stating, "Korea was definitely a pioneer in hydrogen mobility," and praising that it "has a very strong foundation." She further remarked, "Every time I come to Korea, I am amazed by the hydrogen supply chain," urging, "Because (Korea) has many unique advantages, we must continue to strengthen them."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor and Kia recorded their highest-ever sales performance for October last month in the United States, selling 160,803 vehicles, a 9.5% increase year-on-year. With significant increases in sales of the Ioniq series and electric vehicles, the share of eco-friendly vehicle sales also rose to an all-time high of 34%.