Sales of the Hyundai Nexo fuel cell SUV this year reached 1,075 units on May 17, exceeding the 949 units sold for the whole of last year. This is the first time Hyundai has sold more than 1,000 hydrogen cars annually since 2013 when it completed its hydrogen car mass-production system.
According to the Business Korea, Hyundai sold 727 Nexo units is South Korea and 222 overseas. Including 17 units of the Tucson Fuel Cell (ix35 fuel cell), a discontinued first-generation hydrogen model, Hyundai Motor sold 966 hydrogen cars last year.
The Tucson Fuel Cell sold 916 units for the six years from 2013, the first year of its launch, to last year when its production was halted.
By contrast, Nexo sales are rising thanks to stronger product marketability and government support policies. The Nexo was awarded the highest rating in the Euro NCAP test, a European car safety assessment program, and the Nexo’s hydrogen fuel cell powertrain was included in the list of the 2019 Top 10 Engines by Ward’s Auto, a U.S. car media outlet. These accolades proved the Nexo’s safety and merchantability.
Of the 1,075 units sold this year, 767 were sold at home and 308 abroad. Domestic sales of the Nexo hit 363 units in April alone, a monthly sales record. The sales volume is expected to further rise thanks to the Korean government’s subsidiary program this year.
Hyundai Motor expects the government’s policy to expand green cars in Korea to boost Nexo sales to around 5,000 units this year.
