Hyundai Motor to Establish ‘Hydrogen Energy Fund’ with Top Chinese R&D Institute BTIRDI

• Hyundai and BTIRDI sign MOU to establish Hydrogen Energy Fund
• Fund aims to foster growth of startups with innovative hydrogen technologies
• Fund aims to raise a total of USD 100 million
• Cooperation to lay strong foundation for Hyundai to start FCEV business in China

Hyundai Motor entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Beijing-Tsinghua Industrial R&D Institute (BTIRDI) to jointly establish a ‘Hydrogen Energy Fund’. Under this agreement, the South Korean automaker and its Chinese counterpart expect to strengthen their influence in the hydrogen ecosystem whilst accelerating the advent of a ‘Hydrogen Society’.

The Hydrogen Energy Fund will be jointly operated by Hyundai Motor and Yield Capital, BTIRDI’s investment firm, with a goal to raise a total of USD 100 million. The fund aims to attract investments from leading venture capital firms based in China, Europe, and the U.S.

The binational initiative’s primary objective is to spur investment in the hydrogen industry and value chain while also fostering growth of promising startups in China and Korea. More specifically, the fund will seek for innovative companies that possess various hydrogen-related infrastructures and leadership in core hydrogen technologies. The partnership will harness its collective expertise in hydrogen technologies to conduct detailed analyses on the investment candidates’ future growth potential, in order to make the best investment that would benefit the entire industry and ecosystem.

The Hydrogen Energy Industry Fund’s contributions will not be limited to mere equity investments, but will involve active and systematic support based on each member’s incubating programs and corporate venture capital (CVC) strategies.

We are thrilled to announce the establishment of the Hydrogen Energy Fund with =15.0pxBeijing-Tsinghua Industrial R&D Institute,” Hsiu Fu Wang, Executive Vice President at Hyundai Motor Group (China) Ltd. said. “The collaboration is an important first step in advancing the global hydrogen ecosystem and our strong foundation of trust will present many growth opportunities for the partnership.”

“Hyundai Motor possesses industry leading FCEV technologies which we will leverage in gaining foothold in China’s hydrogen ecosystem,” said Zongkai Shi, Deputy Director of School Council of Tsinghua University “Through the Hydrogen Energy Fund, we will develop a platform that significantly contributes to the creation of a Hydrogen Society.”

For Hyundai Motor, the establishment of the Hydrogen Energy Industry Fund is expected to pave the way for new hydrogen-related business opportunities in China. In particular, the Sino-Korean cooperation will lay a strong foundation for Hyundai Motor to make foray into the Chinese fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) market in the future.

Hydrogen is emerging as a key pillar for future growth in China. In February, the China National Alliance of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell (China Hydrogen Alliance) officially launched to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen in China and promote the construction of a hydrogen society in the country. The Chinese government is also targeting a large-scale deployment of one million FCEVs and one thousand refill stations by 2030.

BTIRDI is an industrial R&D institute established in 1998 by the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University. Focused on driving innovation and supporting the university in developing scientific and technological breakthroughs, the institute serves as a high-tech incubating center as well as a technology consultant for the government. 

Yield Capital, an investment firm founded in 2014 by BTIRDI, has made a number of investments in the hydrogen industry and value chain, including companies that produce and store hydrogen, as well as fuel cell stack and fuel cell system developers.

About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond with its range of world-class vehicles and mobility services offered available in more than 200 countries. Employing more than 110,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai sold more than 4.5 million vehicles globally. Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with vehicles that are helping to build solutions for a more sustainable future, such as NEXO – the world’s first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV.

More information about Hyundai Motor Company and its products can be found at: http://worldwide.hyundai.com or http://globalpr.hyundai.com

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