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Hyundai bets on hydrogen as energy security fears reshape global market
Hyundai Motor Group's booth at the World Hydrogen Summit 2026 in Rotterdam / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
By Lee Kyung-min
Hydrogen is no longer being pitched merely as a clean-energy alternative.
At one of the world’s largest hydrogen industry gatherings this week in the Netherlands, Hyundai Motor Group argued that the fuel is emerging as a strategic answer to growing instability in global energy supply chains.
The Korean automaker said Thursday it participated in the World Hydrogen Summit 2026, held from Monday to Thursday at the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre in Rotterdam, where government officials and business leaders gathered to discuss the future of the hydrogen economy.
Hyundai Motor Group hosted an exhibition booth centered on HTWO, the company’s hydrogen brand and business platform, displaying a mockup hydrogen fuel cell system and the all-new NEXO hydrogen-powered sport utility vehicle.
The company said the next-generation NEXO is equipped with a 150-kilowatt motor capable of accelerating from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 7.8 seconds.
The vehicle can travel up to 720 kilometers on a single charge under Korea’s certification standards and began sales in Europe this year, Hyundai said.
The summit, now in its seventh year, drew more than 10,000 participants, including officials from more than 100 countries and representatives from roughly 500 companies, according to Hyundai.
During conference sessions, Hyundai executives joined discussions with global partners on expanding a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem and accelerating investment and infrastructure development.
The company said hydrogen is increasingly being recognized not only as a decarbonization tool but also as a key energy source capable of reducing risks tied to global energy supply disruptions.
Hyundai also called for faster establishment of international standards and consistent government policies to help accelerate hydrogen adoption worldwide.
A Hyundai Motor Group official said the summit served as an important venue for discussing both the future direction of the hydrogen industry and practical investment opportunities.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.