Hyundai announces deadline for selling gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles

KUALA LUMPUR: The IAA Mobility 2021 is going on in its all glory in Munich with several automakers presenting their upcoming cars in concept forms and detailing their EV roadmaps. Hyundai is one of them who also announced its carbon-neutral commitment at the show. The South Korean marque will be becoming carbon neutral by 2045 and will stop selling internal combustion engine vehicles in Europe from 2035.

The company’s integrated strategy of achieving carbon neutrality is based on the three pillars viz. 

• Expanding clean mobility lineup
• Developing next-generation platforms
• Investing in green energy solutions and technologies

By the end of this decade, the automaker aims to achieve 30% of its global sales from zero-emission vehicles and by 2040, it targets 80% sales from battery electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles.

Hyundai has also introduced a dedicated brand for BEVs named IONIQ, last year and has also unveiled a dedicated EV platform that is called Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The first EV that underpins the new architecture is the IONIQ 5 revealed earlier this year, and the upcoming one is the IONIQ 6, inspired by the Hyundai Prophecy EV concept that is also on display at the show.

Speaking about the FCEVs, we know that the company has been investing in this technology for more than the last 20 years. Its first mass-produced FCEV “ix35” was launched in 2013, followed by the hydrogen-powered SUV “NEXO” in 2018 and mass-produced, fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck “XCIENT”. At the IAA Mobility 2021, Hyundai also presented the upcoming “Elec City Fuel Cell” bus, which is currently in a testing phase. A fuel-cell-powered large SUV is also on the cards.

We also received the first look of the Hyundai robotaxi model at the show, for which the marque has joined hands with Motional, a global leader in driverless technology.

For cleaner and greener energy solutions, the company is using renewable energy at its production facilities, and also doing long-term investments in future technologies like green hydrogen based on renewable energy, Vehicle-to-grid (V2G), and Second Life Battery Energy Storage System (SLBESS).

“Under our company’s vision, Progress for Humanity, Hyundai Motor is determined to do the right thing for the world,” said Jaehoon (Jay) Chang, President, and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. 

“Climate change is an undeniable challenge that needs everyone’s utmost and urgent attention. Hyundai Motor commits to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2045, and we will make investments in cleaner transportation and greener energy solutions to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all,” he added.

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