Hyundai Motor Group Wins Record 224 Hydrogen Bus Order in China

Hyundai Motor Group (005380.KS) announced Thursday that an 8.5-meter hydrogen electric bus jointly developed by its Chinese hydrogen fuel cell system subsidiary HTWO Guangzhou and Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer Kaiyou Group won first place in comprehensive evaluation for the Guangzhou State-owned Bus Group's hydrogen fuel cell city bus procurement project on January 9.

Guangzhou State-owned Bus Group plans to introduce a total of 450 hydrogen buses through this project, with HTWO Guangzhou and Kaiyou Group securing an order for 224 units, approximately half of the total. This represents the largest hydrogen bus procurement order in China to date.

In November, HTWO Guangzhou and Kaiyou Group also ranked first in comprehensive evaluation in a separate tender conducted by Guangzhou State-owned Bus Group, winning an order for 25 of 50 hydrogen buses. The two companies plan to supply a total of 249 hydrogen buses to Guangzhou State-owned Bus Group within the year.

The 8.5-meter hydrogen bus developed by HTWO Guangzhou and Kaiyou Group is equipped with HTWO Guangzhou's 90kW hydrogen fuel cell system. The system achieves 64% power generation efficiency, surpassing conventional internal combustion engines, and offers a maximum combined driving range of 576 kilometers, the highest among local standards. The bus also features industry-first designs including a streamlined front door and a rear overhang of less than 1.1 meters to improve driving performance, while securing a 6.1-meter flat floor area inside to enhance passenger convenience.

Hyundai Motor Group has developed world-class hydrogen fuel cell system research and production capabilities based on 28 years of hydrogen technology expertise. HTWO Guangzhou is responsible for fuel cell system production and technology localization in China for Hyundai Motor Group, and including this hydrogen bus order, will have supplied more than 1,000 cumulative vehicles equipped with hydrogen fuel cell systems by year-end.

"This order is the largest hydrogen bus procurement project in China and clearly demonstrates HTWO Guangzhou's technological capabilities and Hyundai Motor Group's localization strategy and execution," an HTWO Guangzhou official said. "We will work with local partners to make hydrogen a major choice for clean transportation in Guangzhou through hydrogen fuel cell technology demonstration and ecosystem development."

HTWO is Hyundai Motor Group's hydrogen brand and business platform, expanding global operations across the entire hydrogen value chain from production to transportation, storage and utilization. HTWO Guangzhou is the first overseas hydrogen fuel cell system plant built by Hyundai Motor Group and serves as the core hub for the group's hydrogen business in China. Since its completion in 2023, it has been strengthening cooperation with local companies to promote the establishment and expansion of hydrogen technology in China.