Hyundai Motor Company and Plus have paired Hyundai Motor’s hydrogen-powered Xcient fuel cell truck with Plus’s AI-based autonomous driving software, SuperDrive, in a concept that proposes a scalable and cost-effective solution to long-haul freight that will reduce the carbon footprint of commercial transportation.
The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of a hydrogen-powered freight network in the USA and was unveiled in a concept film at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2025 in Anaheim, California.
Autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks offer zero-tailpipe emissions, rapid refueling, long driving range, quieter operation and reduced maintenance.
“Hyundai Motor believes in a sustainable future powered by advanced fuel cell technologies,” said Jim Park, senior vice president of commercial vehicle and hydrogen business development at Hyundai Motor North America.
“We hope to continue our partnership with Plus to add autonomous driving capabilities to Xcient Fuel Cell trucks in the future and provide our fleet operator customers with additional solutions that improve road safety and freight efficiency. The concept shared today shows why we value this partnership and the vision for what autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks can deliver.”
Hyundai Motor and Plus outlined a practical framework for deploying autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks along high-use hub-to-hub routes. The approach focused on the initial deployment across major freight corridors to build early momentum, stimulating demand for strategically placed hydrogen refueling stations, expanding infrastructure and reinforcing scalability.
The video illustrated how infrastructure can be built out incrementally, with each added delivery route increasing network efficiency and economic viability, benefiting not only autonomous trucks but also other hydrogen-powered vehicles. The blueprint is said to envision a self-reinforcing cycle of vehicle adoption, infrastructure development and lower operational costs per unit.
David Liu, CEO and co-founder of Plus, added, “Autonomous hydrogen fuel cell trucks are a transformative step forward in sustainable freight. By combining self-driving and zero-tailpipe emission technologies, we are laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more efficient transportation system that meets the demands of today and the needs of tomorrow. We are excited to showcase a concept for the sustainable future we expect to create with innovation-driven partners like Hyundai Motor.”
In related news, Aurora Innovation Inc. recently launched its commercial self-driving trucking service in Texas. Click here to read the full story.