Hyundai Motor Company and Plus unveiled a shared vision at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2025 in Anaheim, California, outlining how their collaboration on autonomous hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks aims to accelerate the development of a hydrogen-powered freight network in the United States.

The collaboration pairs Hyundai Motor’s hydrogen-powered XCIENT Fuel Cell truck with Plus’ AI-based autonomous driving software, SuperDrive, proposing a scalable and cost-effective solution to long-haul freight that aims to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial transportation.

In the concept video, Hyundai Motor and Plus outline a practical framework for deploying autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks along high-utilization hub-to-hub routes. The approach focuses on:

• Initial deployment across major freight corridors to build early momentum

• Stimulating demand for strategically placed hydrogen refueling stations

• Expanding infrastructure to support a growing fleet and wider hydrogen use

• Reinforcing scalability, as new routes drive further infrastructure investment and adoption

Autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks offer zero-tailpipe emissions, fast refueling, long driving range, quieter operation, and reduced maintenance. These features position Hyundai Motor’s XCIENT Fuel Cell truck as a candidate for continuous long-haul transport, particularly as the hydrogen ecosystem matures.

The video illustrates how this infrastructure can be built out incrementally, with each added delivery route increasing network efficiency and economic viability—benefiting not only autonomous trucks, but also other hydrogen-powered vehicles. Over time, this blueprint envisions a self-reinforcing cycle of vehicle adoption, infrastructure development, and lower operational costs per unit.

Hyundai Motor is operating 30 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks at the Ports of Oakland and Richmond through the NorCAL ZERO Project—the largest hydrogen truck deployment in North America. Since September 2023, these trucks have logged nearly 450,000 miles in zero-tailpipe emission freight transport, including container hauling.

In Georgia, 21 XCIENT trucks support logistics at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America under the HTWO Logistics initiative with GLOVIS America. Powered by on-site hydrogen production and refueling, the fleet handles nearly half of the plant’s logistics. Hyundai Motor plans to scale this ecosystem globally and expand its HTWO hydrogen brand into an open collaboration platform.