Hyundai Motor Group's HTWO Guangzhou signs hydrogen mobility MOU with Air Liquide China

HTWO Guangzhou, Hyundai Motor Group's first overseas hydrogen fuel cell system production base, is joining forces with Air Liquide China, the Chinese subsidiary of French industrial gas company Air Liquide, to advance hydrogen mobility in China.

HTWO Guangzhou announced Monday that it signed a memorandum of understanding on hydrogen mobility cooperation with Air Liquide China on Friday at the 9th China International Import Expo in Shanghai. The signing ceremony was attended by Choi Du-ha, Hyundai Motor's head of commercial hydrogen operations for the China region and general manager of HTWO Guangzhou; Louis Coelho, CEO of Air Liquide China; Clement Rix, deputy general manager of Air Liquide China; and Chen Xing, deputy general manager of Air Liquide China.

The two companies plan to collaborate across the hydrogen mobility value chain by combining HTWO Guangzhou's hydrogen fuel cell system technology with Air Liquide China's capabilities in hydrogen production, storage, transportation and infrastructure development.

HTWO Guangzhou handles the research, development, production and sales of hydrogen fuel cell systems, and has been expanding into hydrogen logistics and commercial vehicles by developing technologies and products tailored to China's hydrogen commercial vehicle market. This year, it was named the only foreign-invested enterprise among 96 leading companies in Guangzhou's hydrogen energy industrial chain.

Air Liquide is a France-based global industrial gas company that provides gas-related technologies, products and services for industrial and medical applications. Air Liquide China operates hydrogen production, storage and transportation businesses in China, along with hydrogen infrastructure projects including the construction, installation and operation of hydrogen refueling stations.

Building on this foundation, the two companies plan to work with various partners across the hydrogen industry ecosystem to jointly develop an integrated value chain demonstration model linking vehicle transport, charging infrastructure and hydrogen supply. They aim to verify an efficient operational model by connecting hydrogen supply with commercial vehicle operations in real logistics and long-haul transport environments, while improving economic viability through measures such as reducing total cost of ownership to create a commercially viable model suited to the Chinese market. Specific application scenarios and cooperation plans will continue to be discussed.

"HTWO Guangzhou has been continuously working to expand the application of hydrogen fuel cells in China's commercial vehicle market, leveraging our research, development and production capabilities," Choi said. "Through this partnership, we plan to explore a hydrogen value chain business model linking vehicle transport, charging infrastructure and hydrogen supply, and contribute to the development of China's hydrogen mobility industry."

"We look forward to combining each company's strengths to expand cooperation across areas such as hydrogen logistics and vehicle demonstration, and to exploring hydrogen mobility solutions with economic viability and sustainability, thereby contributing to the green transition of China's transportation sector," Chen said.

The two companies also aim to contribute to China's "dual carbon" goals — peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 — through the expansion of hydrogen commercial vehicles and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the logistics sector.

Hyundai Motor Group and Air Liquide have maintained strategic cooperation since 2018 across a range of areas, including promoting the hydrogen electric vehicle market, enhancing hydrogen utilization and developing hydrogen refueling station business models.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group held the World Hydrogen Expo 2026 at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, from Wednesday through Friday.

Now in its seventh edition, WHE 2026 is the largest hydrogen industry business event in the Asia-Pacific region, combining a hydrogen industry exhibition with an international conference.

Held under the slogan "Hydrogen Moves to Market: Making Bankable Projects Work," WHE 2026 drew participation from 197 companies and organizations across 12 countries. Over three days, about 18,600 visitors attended — including Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy Lee Ho-hyeon, National Assembly member Lee Jong-bae and National Assembly member Ahn Ho-young — to learn about the latest hydrogen technology trends and take part in various hands-on programs.