Hyundai To Enter CV Business, If Country Focuses On Fuel-Cell Tech
Published On Aug 26, 2019
Esteemed car manufacturer, Hyundai, is willing to enter the commercial vehicles brand if India chooses to focus on hydrogen-powered CVs. Talking to the media, the President, CEO and Managing Director of Hyundai Motor India, SS Kim remarked that the focus on diesel does not make the CV segment much lucrative in terms of business. He also said, "Even though Hyundai has a CV division, I do not think we can be a part of the Indian CV market in the current market conditions. But if there are some disruptions in powertrain, a changeover like electrification or fuel cell technology, then Hyundai can be a part of it. Many European countries are thinking about fuel cell solution for the large CV segment."
The company is rivalled by Maruti Suzuki in the department of a commercial vehicle. Maruti has already launched its first commercial vehicle, Super Carry in 2016, a minitruck with the payload capacity of 740 kgs. The other front runners of the section are well-reputed companies such as Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Mahindra & Mahindra and Piaggio.
Hyundai has already launched the first fuel-cell-powered car, the Hyundai Nexo. During the Kona electric SUV launch, Kim said that they will be launching the vehicle in India by 2021 and will be building the required infrastructure around Delhi NCR area. The five-door, five-seater SUV comes with a 120 kW motor (163 ps power) with 163 litres hydrogen fuel tank. This car has a driving range of 800 km, which could rise to 1000 km, according to the company, compared to petrol-powered cars, whose range are somewhere around 500-600 km.
The fuel-cell technology has been hailed throughout the world because of the extended driving range it offers. The government has already shown interest in promoting the technology by cutting down the GST rate to 12% from 28%, though no other company has shown interest towards the technology, whether it be cars or be CVs. Japanese car manufacturers Toyota, though showing interest on the fuel-cell technology, has been focusing mainly on affordable hybrid and electric technologies, whereas Tata Motors has showcased fuel-cell-powered buses.