Hyundai Motor recently signed an important agreement with Ulsan and Guangzhou to foster a hydrogen ecosystem.
This agreement, called the Hyundai Motor-Ulsan City-Guangzhou City Hydrogen Ecosystem Joint Cooperation Promotion Agreement, was made official on November 25 at the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou, China. The initiative aims to create a collaborative environment to boost the hydrogen industry on a global scale.
Hyundai, Ulsan, and Guangzhou will establish a hydrogen industry council, meeting quarterly to pursue joint projects. Efforts include organizing a hydrogen forum, finding demonstration projects, and fostering industry-education-research collaboration to advance hydrogen technology.
Hyundai CEO Jang emphasized the company’s pivotal role, recalling that the first hydrogen electric vehicle was mass-produced at Hyundai’s Ulsan plant. Ulsan City has been a forerunner in setting up hydrogen infrastructure. China’s Guangzhou is crucial, hosting Hyundai’s only overseas hydrogen fuel cell system production base, which is positioned to support market growth.
Ulsan was named the first hydrogen pilot city by South Korea in 2019. The city has made strides in hydrogen vehicle distribution and charging infrastructure. In September, Ulsan strengthened its role through a national competition, reinforcing its leadership in hydrogen development.
Guangzhou, in Guangdong Province, was named one of China’s hydrogen pilot regions in 2021 and aims to be a top hub by 2025. Hyundai operates HTWO Guangzhou, its first foreign hydrogen fuel cell production site, supplying fuel systems for logistics and cleaning vehicles.
Through this collaboration, Hyundai will back projects by Ulsan and Guangzhou, helping them excel as frontrunners in hydrogen technology. The aim is to promote Ulsan’s hydrogen mobility initiatives in Guangzhou and deliver over 1,000 systems by 2025.
