Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun is arriving at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 15th, driving the hydrogen electric vehicle 'Nexo' to attend the '2nd Hydrogen Economy Committee' meeting held at the office. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
2 Years and 7 Months After Launch in 2018,
Accelerating to 80,000 Hydrogen Vehicles by 2030
[Asia Economy Reporter Sung Kiho] Hyundai Motor Group, entering the 'Chung Eui-sun Era,' is achieving remarkable results in future vehicle sectors such as hydrogen vehicles, electric vehicles, and autonomous vehicles. Hyundai's hydrogen electric vehicle NEXO has become the world's first single model to reach cumulative sales of 10,000 units in one country. As competition intensifies among countries to dominate the future vehicle market, Chairman Chung's strategy to simultaneously target hydrogen and electric vehicles is gaining even more momentum.
On the 30th, Hyundai Motor held a delivery ceremony for the 10,000th NEXO and the 10,000th small electric truck at the Ulsan plant, attended by Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Cho Myung-rae, Minister of Environment; and Hyundai Motor presidents Lee Won-hee and Gong Young-woon, among other officials.
Since its first launch in the domestic market in March 2018, NEXO recorded cumulative sales of 10,000 units in 2 years and 7 months, with 727 units sold in 2018, 4,194 units in 2019, and 5,079 units as of the end of October 2020. Additionally, Hyundai's Porter II Electric and Kia's Bongo III EV have also surpassed 10,000 cumulative sales domestically from December last year to October this year.
The owner of the 10,000th NEXO, Mr. Lim Hyun-seok, stated, "As a father raising three children, I chose NEXO to pass on a clean environment to my children."
Chairman Chung has placed special emphasis on future vehicle strategies, making his first official move after taking office to attend the Hydrogen Economy Committee. In July, at the 'Korean New Deal National Report Conference' held at the Blue House, Chairman Chung presented a blueprint for the hydrogen and electrification era. At that time, he said, "Fuel cell systems can be utilized in all areas of daily life such as ships, trains, urban aircraft, buildings, power plants, and even for military use," adding, "Within the next 3 to 4 years, we will develop next-generation systems that double lifespan and reduce costs to less than half, leading the market."
Hyundai is also accelerating its global hydrogen vehicle market strategy. The goal is to sell more than 80,000 hydrogen commercial vehicles cumulatively by 2030, with 22,000 units in the domestic market, 12,000 units in North America, 27,000 units in China, and approximately 25,000 units in Europe.
A Hyundai Motor official stated, "NEXO surpassing 10,000 units in a short period is due not only to its excellent product quality but also to the government's policy to expand eco-friendly vehicle distribution and customers' environmental awareness," adding, "We will continue to provide top-tier technology models and services so that more customers can experience hydrogen electric vehicles."
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