Hyundai Motor Company has delivered its ELEC CITY TOWN electric buses to Tanegashima Yakushima Kotsu, a transportation and tourism operator under the Iwasaki Group in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The handover ceremony, held on Yakushima Island—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—marks a major step toward zero-emission public transport in the region.
The event was attended by Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group; Toshiyuki Shimegi, CEO of Hyundai Mobility Japan; Yoshitaro Iwasaki, CEO of Iwasaki Group; and Koji Araki, Mayor of Yakushima. This follows a July 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between Hyundai and the Iwasaki Group for the purchase of the buses. “I am delighted to see Hyundai’s ELEC City electric buses running here on Yakushima, contributing towards a cleaner island environment,” said Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Jaehoon Chang. “Being part of Yakushima’s zero-emission island initiative is a significant step towards achieving carbon neutrality on the island by 2050.”
On April 20, Hyundai also signed a partnership agreement to promote electric vehicle usage on Yakushima. The agreement includes leveraging the buses’ Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) function to provide emergency power to shelters and medical facilities during natural disasters.
Starting June 2025, five ELEC CITY TOWN buses will begin operating on the island. These medium-sized, low-floor electric buses are customized for local terrain and climate. They are powered by a 145 kWh battery and a high-efficiency motor delivering up to 160 kW (217 PS), and feature advanced battery management, cooling systems, and Vehicle Dynamics Control for navigating Yakushima’s steep, winding roads.
Yakushima, known as the “Alps of the Ocean” for its lush, mountainous landscape, is central to Kagoshima Prefecture’s carbon neutrality goals. The island is aiming to become a zero-emission zone, transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles as part of its environmental strategy.
Hyundai expects the ELEC CITY TOWN buses to support Yakushima’s sustainability goals while enhancing local mobility. The initiative aligns with Hyundai’s global vision of “Progress for Humanity” and its commitment to a greener future.
