Hyundai Motor Introduces XCIENT Fuel Cell Truck Fleet in South America to Drive Zero Tailpipe Emissions Logistics in Uruguay

March 25, 2026

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(Hyundai) • Hyundai Motor launches South America’s first XCIENT Fuel Cell Class-8 heavy-duty truck fleet to advance low-carbon freight solutions

The company joins the Kahirós Project to develop green hydrogen infrastructure and contribute to decarbonizing timber logistics in Uruguay
The project is backed by investment from Santander Group, with support from the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank and the United Nations’ Renewable Energy Innovation Fund
Building on proven operations in North America and Europe, Hyundai Motor expands its global hydrogen ecosystem by adding Uruguay to its growing footprint

Hyundai Motor Company today (March 19, 2026) announced the deployment of an eight XCIENT Fuel Cell Class-8 heavy-duty truck fleet in Uruguay, marking South America’s first-ever fleet operation of hydrogen fuel cell electric heavy-duty trucks and reinforcing the company’s leadership in zero tailpipe emissions vehicles.

Why Is Hyundai Motor Bringing Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks to South America?

Hyundai Motor’s deployment of the XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks supports the Kahirós Project, a local initiative to decarbonize timber logistics through the development and use of green hydrogen infrastructure.

Key milestones of the XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks’ deployment in Uruguay include:

First in South America – Marks the region’s first deployment of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks for actual operation, not demonstration
Accelerating zero tailpipe emissions logistics – Hyundai Motor’s participation in the Kahirós Project, together with Uruguayan partners of the consortium (Fidocar, Fraylog and Ventus) and investment by Santander Group, demonstrates a commitment to reducing carbon emissions in local freight transport

What Is the Kahirós Project and How Does It Support Green Logistics?

The Kahirós Project is designed to decarbonize timber logistics in Uruguay by using green hydrogen produced from renewable sources in hydrogen fuel cell trucks for transportation.

Uruguay has embraced renewable energy, resulting in the country generating 99 percent of its electricity from renewable sources in 2024, according to Uruguay’s Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining. Within this framework, the Kahirós Project aims to achieve decarbonization in local operations through actions including the deployment of the XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks over a 10-year period.

The initiative is led by Kahirós Associates, a joint venture consisting of Uruguayan companies Ventus (energy), Fraylog (logistics) and Fidocar (Hyundai Motor’s local distributor). It is backed by a $40 million investment from Santander Group, with support from the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank and the United Nations’ Renewable Energy Innovation Fund.

The project includes a 4.8 MW solar park and the construction of an electrolysis plant capable of generating 77 tons of green hydrogen annually. Operations are planned to begin in November 2026.

During regular operation, the main fleet of six trucks is expected to travel nearly one million kilometers per year. Hyundai Motor provides two additional tractor units as backups and for exploring further service expansion, taking the total fleet size to eight trucks.

How Are Hyundai Motor and the Kahirós Project Advancing Sustainable Mobility in South America?

Uruguay is the first country in South America to adopt hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks for regular operations, paving the way for local hydrogen production and refueling infrastructure. This milestone sets a new benchmark for sustainable logistics across Central and South America and demonstrates Hyundai Motor’s commitment to providing practical solutions for decarbonization.

To ensure seamless and reliable operations, a dedicated team of After Sales specialists from Hyundai Motor and Fidocar is delivering comprehensive training to Kahirós personnel, covering proper maintenance and operating procedures.

“From the Kahirós team, we value the opportunity to contribute to the decarbonization of freight transport in Uruguay, and we are committed to ensuring that this project becomes a pilot that sets the course for more actions at both the national and global levels, contributing to the efforts to position our country as a hub in this field" – Juan Andrés Chick, Kahirós Project Director

“At Hyundai, we are committed to creating sustainable transportation solutions. Our Hyundai XCIENT trucks with hydrogen fuel cells supporting the Kahirós Project produce no tailpipe emissions and offer a lower-carbon alternative to traditional freight logistics methods. We will help decarbonize a critical part of the paper production value chain and demonstrate to the world that we can take action for a better future starting now.” – Airton Cousseau, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Brazil and Hyundai Motor Central and South America Region

“It is meaningful that Hyundai expands its global leadership in clean mobility toward South America with its advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology in addition to its proven applications in North America and Europe. At Hyundai, we aim to contribute to building a sustainable and safe freight ecosystem through hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles. Our partnership with Kahirós Associates has strengthened our devotion to innovation and commitment to sustainability as we share a vision for the future.” – Chul Youn Park, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Light Commercial Vehicle Business Division at Hyundai Motor Company

What Are the XCIENT Fuel Cell Truck’s Key Features*?

Hydrogen Fuel Cell System – A 180 kW total output from two 90 kW fuel cell stacks
Dynamic Performance – A 350 kW (469 hp) electric motor with 2,237 Nm torque provides excellent freight and logistics capability
Energy Storage – A total hydrogen capacity of 68 kg across 10 tanks, supplemented by a 72kWh battery pack
Impressive Range – Versatile energy storage delivers up to 450 miles (approximately 720 kilometers) of range under optimal operating conditions
Heavy-duty Capability – A Class 8 tractor variant with gross combined weight (GCW) up to 82,000 lbs

Together, the XCIENT Fuel Cell truck’s strong attributes contribute to enabling long-haul operations with no tailpipe emissions.

How Does This Fit Into Hyundai Motor’s Overall Hydrogen Ecosystem?

Hyundai Motor is expanding a global hydrogen ecosystem through large-scale deployments across key markets, with Uruguay joining proven operations in North America and Europe.

Key highlights of the company's leadership in hydrogen mobility include:

Achieving 1.6-Million-Kilometer Milestone in North America – A total of 63 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks are in operation in North America, collectively surpassing approximately 1.6 million kilometers of accumulated driving since their regional debut in 2023
Achieving 20-Million-Kilometer Milestone in Europe – A total of 165 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks are in operation across Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Austria, collectively surpassing 20 million kilometers of accumulated driving since their regional debut in Switzerland in 2020

By proving their capability in various applications, these deployments showcase Hyundai Motor’s efforts to advance the hydrogen mobility ecosystem and shape a cleaner, more efficient freight future. Supporting this vision, Hyundai Motor Group’s hydrogen brand and business platform, HTWO, delivers end-to-end solutions across the entire hydrogen value chain, integrating the Group’s extensive capabilities as an open platform for collaboration, partnership and investment. READ MORE