The future of India’s automotive industry is being shaped by a strong shift toward green fuels and sustainable mobility, according to Hyundai Motor India Managing Director Unsoo Kim. Speaking at the 65th SIAM Annual Convention on Thursday, Kim underscored Hyundai’s commitment to innovation across diverse propulsion technologies.
“We continue to lead innovation across all propulsion platforms—internal combustion engines, electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel-cell technology, and flex-fuel solutions—catering to both mass-market consumers and logistics needs,” Kim said.
He highlighted global examples of how Hyundai is already integrating advanced technologies in logistics and public transport. In North America, Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks, operating under the HTWO Logistics initiative, now manage nearly 50% of logistics at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. These vehicles are powered by on-site hydrogen production and refueling systems, showcasing the potential of hydrogen in commercial transportation.
Outlining Hyundai’s roadmap for India, Kim identified five strategic focus areas: sustainable technology, a holistic electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, alignment with policy frameworks, robust public-private partnerships, and an overarching commitment to sustainability. He noted that Hyundai’s Chennai plant is on track to meet the RE100 renewable energy target by the end of this year.
Kim also emphasized the company’s work beyond traditional transport modes, including developments in urban air mobility and micro-mobility solutions to improve last-mile connectivity.
India, he said, possesses the scale and talent required to co-develop next-generation mobility solutions. He praised government initiatives like FAME, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, and PM Gati Shakti, calling them essential enablers of the country’s sustainable mobility ambitions.
“Bharat occupies a unique and strategic position in this global transformation,” Kim remarked, adding that the automotive sector is becoming a key pillar of self-reliance through the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
He also lauded the recent reforms in Goods and Services Tax (GST), describing them as a “landmark initiative” that would stimulate both urban and rural demand in the auto sector.
Calling for deeper cooperation between domestic and global players, Kim urged the industry to embrace both collaboration and innovation. “The road ahead may be complex, but it is rich with promise. This is the moment for global collaboration and local innovation,” he said.
Concluding his address, Kim reaffirmed Hyundai Motor India’s long-term commitment to India’s mobility transition, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision: “India’s time is now. We have the opportunity to lead the world in a way that is sustainable, inclusive, and transformative.”
