Hyundai Motor Company has 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.

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.

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.

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," said 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,” said 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,” said Chul Youn Park, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Light Commercial Vehicle Business Division at Hyundai Motor Company.