Hyundai's new Nexo takes about 11% of Japan's hydrogen passenger car market
In short
Hyundai Motor's all-new Nexo hydrogen fuel-cell car took a cumulative share of about 11% of Japan's passenger hydrogen car market from April to August, according to Japan Automobile Dealers Association figures cited by Korean outlets on October 8. Twenty cars were registered in the period, rising to 35 including vehicles awaiting delivery, Hyundai said, and 22 of them have gone or will go to taxi operators in Tokyo and Aichi.
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Hyundai Motor's all-new Nexo hydrogen fuel-cell car reached a cumulative share of about 11% of Japan's passenger hydrogen car market between April and August, according to Japan Automobile Dealers Association figures reported by Korean outlets on October 8. Twenty cars were registered in the period, and the total rises to 35 when vehicles awaiting delivery are included, Hyundai said. Of these, 22 have been or will be supplied to taxi operators in Tokyo and Aichi. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
The outlets describe Japan's taxi market as long led by domestic carmakers and difficult for imported brands to enter, with strict standards for reliability, durability, cabin and luggage space, quietness and running costs. Chosun Ilbo said sales of 20 cars are still small but that the speed of winning taxi customers was seen as encouraging. Kyunghyang Shinmun calculated that 20 cars at 11% implies a total market of about 180 cars in the period, meaning Japan's hydrogen car market is still at an early stage. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
Hyundai said it improved the car using experience built up since it began fuel-cell development in 1998. The fuel-cell system is rated at 94 kW, 11% more than the previous model, and the high-voltage battery's output was doubled from 40 kW to 80 kW without increasing its volume. The car can travel up to 720 km per refuelling, or 1,014 km under Japan's WLTC certification; the outlets note that Japanese taxis run about 50,000 to 100,000 km a year. It has 510 litres of luggage space, and Japanese models come with a V2H function that can supply power to homes during outages as standard. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Government support also helped, the outlets said. Japan's government has designated taxis, buses and trucks as priority vehicle types for hydrogen mobility and subsidises hydrogen taxi purchases. Tokyo aims to deploy 600 hydrogen taxis by 2030 under its TOKYO H2 project and covers the fuel cost gap between hydrogen and LPG up to 1.3 million yen a year. Aichi Prefecture aims for 250 hydrogen taxis by 2030 and pays 3.5 million yen per vehicle plus 576 yen per kg of hydrogen. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Hyundai lent seven Nexo taxis, operated with a local taxi company, as official vehicles for the Korean archery team during the Asian Games, and has put the car on the dedicated hydrogen taxi stand at Nagoya Station. "Japan's taxi industry, which is sensitive to durability and convenience, is showing interest in the all-new Nexo," a Hyundai official said, adding that the taxis would improve access to imported passenger and hydrogen cars, according to Yonhap. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Why it matters
Korean outlets describe Japan's taxi market as long dominated by domestic carmakers and hard for imported brands to enter, so taxi orders are presented as a foothold for Hyundai. Kyunghyang Shinmun notes that the volumes are small and that the share implies a total market of only about 180 cars, showing that Japan's hydrogen car market is still at an early stage.
Key facts
- Hyundai's cumulative share of Japan's passenger hydrogen car market from April to August was about 11%, according to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Twenty all-new Nexo cars were registered in Japan in the period; including vehicles awaiting delivery the total is 35. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Of these, 22 have been or will be supplied to taxi operators in Tokyo and Aichi. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The all-new Nexo went on sale in Japan in April. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The car's fuel-cell system is rated at 94 kW, 11% more than the previous model, and battery output was doubled from 40 kW to 80 kW. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- Range is up to 720 km per refuelling, or 1,014 km under Japan's WLTC certification. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- Aichi Prefecture pays a purchase subsidy of 3.5 million yen per hydrogen taxi and a fuel subsidy of 576 yen per kg of hydrogen, aiming for 250 hydrogen taxis by 2030. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- Tokyo aims to deploy 600 hydrogen taxis by 2030 under its TOKYO H2 project. [ 2 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hyundai's April-August cumulative share of Japan's passenger hydrogen car market was about 11%. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- 20 cars were registered in the period, 35 including those awaiting delivery. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- 22 cars have been or will be supplied to taxi operators in Tokyo and Aichi. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The model was launched in Japan in April. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Japan's taxi market has long been led by domestic carmakers and is hard for imported brands to enter. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- Hyundai lent Nexo taxis as official vehicles for the Korean archery team during the Asian Games. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Hyundai has also put the Nexo on the dedicated hydrogen taxi stand at Nagoya Station. [ 4 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the 11% figure is a share of Japan's taxi market or of its passenger hydrogen car market. Asia Economy's opening line says the Nexo passed 10% of Japan's taxi market, but the figure it and the other outlets cite is a share of the passenger hydrogen car market.
- Whether this is the first time Hyundai has reached a double-digit share of Japan's hydrogen car market. Only Chosun Ilbo describes the share as a first.
- The size of Japan's passenger hydrogen car market in the period. Kyunghyang Shinmun estimates about 180 cars by working back from 20 cars at 11%; no outlet gives an official total.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Asia Economy reports the Nexo's 11% share of Japan's hydrogen passenger car market. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports the 11% cumulative share five months after the Japanese launch. [ 3 ]
- Electronic Times reports the double-digit share and taxi supply. [ 4 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports the share as the first double-digit figure in Japan's hydrogen car market. [ 5 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the share and notes the small overall market size. [ 6 ]