[Gyeongju APEC] Jaehoon Chang: "Hyundai Motor Group Leading Hydrogen Ecosystem Partnerships"

"Building a Hydrogen Ecosystem Requires Public-Private Cooperation"

Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, announced at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit that the company will take the lead in accelerating a hydrogen-based future society through collaboration with global partners.

Vice Chairman Chang introduced this vision during the session titled "Hydrogen, Beyond Mobility to the Next-Generation Energy for All" at the CEO Summit held at Gyeongju Arts Center on the 30th. In a discussion with Ivana Jemelkova, CEO of the Global Hydrogen Council, Chang emphasized the strategic importance of hydrogen in achieving carbon neutrality.

Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, is discussing with Ivana Zemelkova, CEO of the Global Hydrogen Council, on the topic "Hydrogen, Beyond Mobility to the Next-Generation Energy for All" at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit held at Gyeongju Arts Center on the 30th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

He stated, "As the global energy landscape is being restructured around sustainable energy sources, hydrogen is emerging as a key pillar of this transformation," adding, "Hydrogen accelerates the realization of carbon neutrality by addressing the intermittency of renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency."

He stressed the need for cooperation between the public and private sectors to accelerate the development of the hydrogen ecosystem. Vice Chairman Chang explained, "The hydrogen ecosystem can only be realized through partnerships between governments and companies in each country," and added, "The hydrogen industry requires both the creation of demand and the securing of supply."

Vice Chairman Chang also introduced Hyundai Motor Group's efforts to build a hydrogen ecosystem.

He said, "Hyundai Motor Group has made various efforts to create demand, which is the foundation for the sustainable growth of the hydrogen industry, and over the past 30 years, we have achieved numerous 'firsts' and 'bests' in the hydrogen sector," adding, "We are continuing to make large-scale investments in hydrogen production." Hyundai Motor Group established a dedicated hydrogen research and development organization in 1998, achieved the world's first mass production of large hydrogen-electric trucks, and recorded the highest global sales of dedicated hydrogen-electric vehicle models.

Recently, the company has been utilizing the Xcient hydrogen-electric truck for vehicle transport exports and is working with Incheon International Airport Corporation to promote the eco-friendly transition of commercial and special-purpose vehicles within the airport, as well as to expand hydrogen infrastructure. Looking ahead, Hyundai Motor Group plans to develop a 5MW-class polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis mass production technology for green hydrogen production by 2029, and to complete a new hydrogen fuel cell plant at the Ulsan factory with an annual production capacity of 30,000 units by 2027.

Hyundai Motor Group stated, "As a founding member and co-chair company of the Hydrogen Council, we are collaborating to expand the hydrogen ecosystem," and added, "We will leverage the group's value chain capabilities to build practical and competitive hydrogen solutions."