Hyundai Motor constructs hydrogen fuel cell plant in Ulsan

Hyundai Motor Company has commenced construction of a KRW 930 billion (€558 million) hydrogen fuel cell production facility in Ulsan, South Korea. The new plant, located on a former internal combustion transmission site, will produce 30,000 fuel cell units annually and manufacture polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers when operational in 2027.

The facility supports Hyundai’s HTWO hydrogen brand and will serve multiple sectors, including passenger vehicles, buses, trucks, marine vessels, and industrial equipment. Its PEM electrolyzers, the first mass-produced in Korea, will enable zero-carbon hydrogen generation and achieve approximately 90% domestic component localisation, reinforcing supply chain independence.

Construction incorporates robotics and advanced monitoring systems to optimise efficiency and maintain worker safety, reflecting next-generation industrial automation standards. The project aligns with Hyundai’s broader strategy to develop a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem, spanning production, storage, transport, and application across mobility and industry.

The groundbreaking brought together company executives, government officials, and international stakeholders, highlighting the facility’s strategic importance for both Korea’s economy and its leadership in the global hydrogen sector. Hyundai also signed an MoU with KGM Commercial to supply fuel cells for domestic commercial vehicles, linking construction directly to hydrogen mobility deployment.

The plant marks a pivotal shift from conventional engines to clean energy systems, with construction playing a central role in supporting Korea’s hydrogen infrastructure expansion. Once complete, it is expected to strengthen Korea’s manufacturing competitiveness, accelerate the transition to carbon-neutral transportation, and expand the scalability of hydrogen technologies globally.

Construction is scheduled for completion in 2027, positioning Ulsan as a hub for advanced hydrogen production and industrial innovation.

Discover more details on Hyundai’s Ulsan hydrogen facility and its construction impact in the full story.