Hyundai to Supply Fuel Cell Vehicles in France

Hyundai Motor Co. says it will supply 5,000 fuel cell-powered vehicles to fleets in France by 2025.

The carmaker didn’t identify the multiple businesses expected to participate. The program will include a mix of Hyundai’s all-new Nexo crossovers and fuel cell-powered commercial vehicles.

Hyundai plans to work with industrial gas specialist Air Liquide SA and French electric utility supplier ENGIE to establish a hydrogen refueling infrastructure in France for fuel cell vehicles. The partners intend to sign a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to support the program.

Air Liquide says there currently are about 300 fuel cell vehicles in operation in France, including 100 taxis—mostly Toyota Mirai sedans but also some Hyundai ix35/Tuscon crossovers—in Paris. The vehicles are supported by 20 hydrogen stations, about half of which were installed by Air Liquide.

Hyundai says it has shipped 100 Nexos to government organizations, startups and research groups in the U.S., Germany, Norway and the Netherlands since launching the vehicle this summer. During his trip to Europe this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in rode in a Nexo in Paris and visited a hydrogen station in Paris.

Hyundai also is developing fuel cell-powered trucks and buses. Last month, the company inked a deal to supply 1,000 of the trucks to Switzerland by 2023.