Hyundai Motor Company plans to build a hydrogen fuel cell plant at its Ulsan facility in South Korea this year, with mass production set for 2028.
The initiative is part of the automaker’s ongoing efforts to promote hydrogen as a viable automotive fuel. The new facility will be Hyundai’s second global fuel cell manufacturing plant, complementing its existing plant in Guangzhou, China, which has an annual production capacity of 6,500 fuel cell systems.
Hyundai’s decision to construct a new fuel cell plant follows its acquisition of the hydrogen fuel cell business from Hyundai Mobis, which is Hyundai Motor Group’s car parts manufacturing division, a year ago. The acquisition included a facility with an annual production capacity of around 23,000 units. The initiative aims to consolidate Hyundai Motor Group’s hydrogen operations under one entity.
The hydrogen fuel cells manufactured in the facility will be used to power Hyundai Motor’s flagship Nexo SUV, Ele City buses, and trucks. Currently, the company obtains its fuel cell systems from Unitus, a subsidiary of Hyundai Mobis.
The Ulsan fuel cell plant is part of the company’s plan to boost hydrogen consumption to three million tonnes annually by 2035, supporting global decarbonization efforts.
In October, Hyundai introduced a new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept, with production expected to start this year. The hydrogen-powered SUV, INITUM, will feature aerodynamic wheels with low rolling resistance tires and aims for a range of 650 km per hydrogen tank.
The Ulsan complex of Hyundai has an overall annual production capacity of 1.4 million vehicles distributed across five plants. These plants manufacture 17 different models, including electric vehicles like the Kona EV and Ioniq 5, the hydrogen-powered Nexo, and various passenger vehicle models under the Hyundai and Genesis brands.
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