Hyundai Motor Company has announced a major milestone for its hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, with its XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty truck fleet surpassing 20 million kilometers of cumulative driving across Europe as of January 2026. The achievement underscores the growing role of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in decarbonizing commercial transportation.
The milestone was reached over five years with 165 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks operating across Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Austria. Hyundai said the trucks have demonstrated strong real-world performance in logistics, distribution, and urban operations, reinforcing the viability of hydrogen mobility as an alternative to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks.
Expanding Hydrogen Logistics Across Europe
Since its initial launch in Switzerland in October 2020, the XCIENT Fuel Cell fleet has expanded into multiple European markets and applications. The trucks are currently used in food and beverage logistics, supermarket distribution, textile transport, construction materials delivery, and refuse and crane operations, highlighting their versatility in commercial use cases.
Hyundai noted that compared to conventional diesel trucks, the XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks significantly reduce tailpipe carbon emissions, contributing to cleaner freight and logistics operations.
Technology Advancements and Next-Generation Models
Hyundai introduced an upgraded version of the XCIENT Fuel Cell truck in 2025, featuring an enhanced hydrogen fuel cell system. The vehicle has undergone extensive testing across diverse climates and operational environments since 2021 to ensure reliability in port transportation and medium-distance logistics applications.
Growing Footprint in North America
Beyond Europe, Hyundai is also expanding its hydrogen truck operations in North America. A total of 63 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks are currently operating in the United States and Canada, collectively surpassing 1.6 million kilometers since their introduction in 2023. Key deployments include the NorCAL ZERO project in California, HTWO Logistics operations in Georgia, and the BC Hydrogen Ports Project in Canada.
Industry Leadership in Hydrogen Mobility
Chul Youn Park, Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Light Commercial Vehicle Business Division at Hyundai Motor Company, said the company is collaborating with global partners to deploy hydrogen trucks across multiple sectors, helping build the hydrogen ecosystem and accelerate the transition toward zero-emission commercial mobility.
The milestone highlights Hyundai’s leadership in hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles and its broader strategy to support sustainable transportation through fuel cell technology.
