Hyundai and Škoda jointly establishes a hydrogen mobility ecosystem

By Staff Report September 23, 2024 11:40 am IST

The agreement aims to accelerate hydrogen adoption, contribute to hydrogen technology advancement, and create synergies between Hyundai’s fuel cell technology and Škoda Group’s mobility products and projects.

Hyundai Motor Company and Škoda Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on establishing a hydrogen mobility ecosystem. The agreement was signed during the Korea-Czech Republic Business Summit in Prague by Ken Ken Ramírez and Petr Novotný.

Ken Ramírez, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Hydrogen Business at Hyundai Motor Company, said, “Our partnership with Škoda Group aims to accelerate hydrogen adoption, which would contribute to the advancement of hydrogen technology and carbon neutrality across global markets, including the Czech Republic. Together with Škoda Group, we strive to lead the rapidly growing hydrogen businesses by creating positive synergies between our fuel cell technology and Škoda Group’s mobility products and projects.”

The MOU covers studies on the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell systems and technologies, studies on the adoption of energy-efficient solutions for mobility projects and products, and exploring hydrogen ecosystem and value chain opportunities beyond mobility.

Both parties share the view that hydrogen will be a key pillar for a sustainable society, starting with mobility. As part of the MOU, the parties will explore the possibility that Hyundai would share its fuel cell system and technology, contributing to the acceleration of eco-friendly mobility across global markets where Škoda Group operates, including the Czech Republic.

Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group, said, “We believe that hydrogen, alongside energy-efficient solutions, will play an essential role in transforming mobility for a more sustainable future. Our collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company aims at enabling us to look beyond national borders and explore wider markets where these technologies can have a larger impact. By working together, we can bring innovative, eco-friendly solutions to the global mobility ecosystem, advancing cleaner energy in the areas where it’s needed most.”

Hyundai Motor Company and Škoda Group will also conduct feasibility studies for fuel cell system applications for diverse utilisation beyond mobility. Leveraging its global expertise and insights in operating various hydrogen applications in both mobility and energy sectors, Hyundai is poised to play a pivotal role in aiding the energy transition. Hyundai Motor Group is fostering a hydrogen society through its HTWO business brand, which encompasses all its businesses and affiliates, facilitating the entire hydrogen value chain.

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czechoslovakia (HMMC) in Nošovice, established in 2008, has an annual manufacturing capacity of 350,000 vehicles. Considered one of the most modern car manufacturers in Europe, the manufacturing plant was also the largest foreign investment in the Czech Republic.