Hyundai Motor and PlusAI’s Autonomous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck Named One of TIME’s ‘Best Inventions of 2025’
Hyundai Motor Company and PlusAI are proud to announce that their autonomous XCIENT Fuel Cell Class 8 heavy-duty truck has been recognized in TIME magazine’s prestigious “Best Inventions of 2025” list. TIME’s annual selection highlights breakthrough innovations that transform industries, economies, and the way we live, work, and move.
The award-winning XCIENT Fuel Cell truck integrates Hyundai Motor’s pioneering hydrogen-powered Class 8 platform—the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty truck—with PlusAI’s SuperDrive™ Level 4 autonomous driving system. This combination delivers a sustainable, zero-tailpipe-emission solution for long-haul freight, improving logistics efficiency while supporting the global transition to clean transportation.
“This recognition by TIME underscores the power of innovation and collaboration,” said Chul Youn Park, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Vehicle and Light Commercial Vehicle Business Division at Hyundai Motor Company. “At Hyundai, we are committed to building a safe and sustainable freight ecosystem through hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles. Our partnership with PlusAI has been instrumental in turning this vision into reality.”
David Liu, CEO and Co-founder of PlusAI, added: “TIME’s recognition validates our mission to revolutionize long-haul logistics with AI-native autonomous systems. By integrating Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel cell technology with our Level 4 autonomous driving software, we are creating safer, more efficient, and environmentally responsible freight operations at scale.”
Driving Sustainable Innovation in Freight
Heavy-duty trucking accounts for a disproportionately high share of transportation emissions while representing a small fraction of vehicles on the road. Combined hydrogen fuel cell propulsion and autonomous technology offer transformative benefits for the industry, including:
- Supporting early hydrogen corridor development:Predictable hub-to-hub freight routes enable robust hydrogen infrastructure for other vehicles.
- Enhancing operational efficiency:Autonomous fuel cell trucks improve uptime, reduce road accidents, and lower operating costs.
- Scaling zero-tailpipe-emission freight:Hydrogen and AI integration accelerates the transition to sustainable logistics networks.
Global Deployment Demonstrates Commercial Viability
Since its global launch in 2020, Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell has been deployed across ten countries, including Korea, the U.S., Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, and Israel, accumulating nearly 10 million miles of real-world operation.
In the United States, key deployments include:
- NorCAL ZERO Project:30 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks operating at the Ports of Oakland and Richmond, providing zero-emission freight across the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Valley.
- HTWO Logistics Initiative:21 trucks supporting logistics at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia, leveraging on-site hydrogen production and refueling.
These initiatives validate both the commercial and environmental impact of hydrogen-powered autonomous freight solutions while advancing the development of hydrogen corridors across North America and beyond.
