Hyundai Motor has entered a partnership with local transportation operators and infrastructure stakeholders in the Seoul metropolitan area to support the deployment of hydrogen-powered city buses and related refuelling infrastructure.
The agreement involves public transport operators Dowon Transportation and Samhwan Transportation, as well as infrastructure firm Sewoon Industry. The initiative aims to establish conditions for wider adoption of hydrogen fuel cell buses in urban transit systems.
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Under the plan, Hyundai Motor will supply hydrogen fuel cell electric buses based on its Hyundai Elec City model and provide maintenance training to support fleet operations. Dowon and Samhwan are expected to introduce up to 400 hydrogen buses over the next five years, replacing older compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles on routes across the greater Seoul area.
Sewoon Industry will support infrastructure development by converting existing CNG refuelling stations into hydrogen refuelling facilities and constructing 10 new hydrogen stations in Seoul and nearby Incheon by 2029.
Hyundai’s financial subsidiary, Hyundai Motor Securities, will provide advisory and investment support for the project.
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The Elec City bus is equipped with a 180 kW hydrogen fuel cell system and an electric drivetrain of similar output, supported by a 78 kWh lithium-ion battery. Hyundai said the bus can travel up to 750 kilometers on a full tank, making it suitable for high-demand urban routes.
Hyundai said the initiative is aligned with South Korea’s emissions reduction goals. In a statement, the company said the agreement “will not only expand hydrogen mobility and infrastructure, but also contribute to achieving the ‘2030 National Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target (NDC)’,” which aims to cut transport-sector emissions by up to 37.8% by 2030 compared with 2018 levels.
A Hyundai Motor spokesperson said: “This agreement, which brings together transport operators, charging business operators, and financial institutions, is meaningful as it provides a practical solution for accelerating the supply of hydrogen electric buses. We will continue to make efforts to strengthen the hydrogen ecosystem going forward.”
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Separately, Hyundai Motor Group has been expanding its hydrogen strategy. In March 2025, the company established a dedicated Energy Hydrogen Business Division to advance its hydrogen initiatives and support development of a broader global hydrogen ecosystem.
In December 2025, Hyundai Motor Group said it secured an order for 224 hydrogen fuel-cell buses from Guangzhou Public Transport Group, describing it as the largest single order for hydrogen buses in China to date.
