Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun Discusses Innovative Mobility with U.S. Governors

[Asia Economy Reporter Su-yeon Woo] Chung Eui-sun, Executive Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, attended the official reception of the National Governors Association Winter Summit held on the 8th (local time) at the Korean Ambassador’s Residence in Washington D.C., USA, where he exchanged views with U.S. governors on the future hydrogen society and mobility innovation.

The National Governors Association meeting is a gathering held twice a year (winter and summer) where governors from all 50 U.S. states and 5 territories meet to discuss intergovernmental cooperation and policy issues, and to network with key figures from around the world.

The official reception, held as part of the National Governors Association Winter Summit from the 7th to the 9th of this month in Washington D.C., was hosted for the first time at the Korean Ambassador’s Residence. About 140 people attended, including Lee Soo-hyuk, Korean Ambassador to the U.S. and host of the event, Larry Hogan, Governor of Maryland and Chair of the National Governors Association, governors from over 30 states, state government officials, and invited key figures from the Korean business community.

In a toast representing Korean businesspeople, Executive Vice Chairman Chung said, “I thank the governors who are making efforts for economic exchange and cooperation with Korea and countries around the world. The friendship and trust derived from the values we share are of utmost importance. I wish for the prosperity of both countries.”

In the natural atmosphere of the reception, Executive Vice Chairman Chung met with several governors and engaged in in-depth conversations on topics such as the vision for a future hydrogen society, mobility innovation, and smart cities.

Last month at CES 2020 held in Las Vegas, USA, Chung Eui-sun, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group (left), is explaining the vision of the Personal Air Vehicle (PAV). Photo by Hyundai Motor Group

In particular, Hyundai Motor Group introduced the eco-friendliness of hydrogen electric vehicles with a demonstration of the air purification function of the Nexo at the entrance of the Korean Ambassador’s Residence, emphasizing to the U.S. governors the world-class technology equipped in the Nexo and the vision for a future hydrogen society based on hydrogen energy.

The air purification demonstration showed the process where polluted air inside a transparent vinyl balloon connected to the Nexo’s air intake passes through the vehicle’s three-stage air purification system and is transformed into clean air, which then flows into another transparent vinyl balloon connected to the exhaust pipe.

The governors showed great interest, asking questions about the principles and effects of the Nexo’s air purification. Executive Vice Chairman Chung explained the direction of the future hydrogen society and Hyundai Motor Group’s hydrogen fuel cell system technology, and reportedly also mentioned efforts to expand the supply of hydrogen fuel cell systems in the U.S.

Last year, Hyundai Motor signed a supply agreement for hydrogen fuel cell systems in the North American commercial vehicle market with Cummins, one of the world’s leading companies in engines and generators. A Hyundai Motor Group official said, “It was a meaningful occasion where governors and state government officials could see firsthand the eco-friendliness of hydrogen electric vehicles,” adding, “We hope the expansion of hydrogen electric vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure in the U.S. will accelerate.”

Hyundai Motor Company's hydrogen electric vehicle Nexo

Executive Vice Chairman Chung also exchanged opinions with the governors on autonomous driving, mobility services, and urban air mobility (UAM).

Last year, Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, and Hyundai Mobis agreed to establish a $4 billion autonomous driving joint venture in the U.S. with Aptiv, a company possessing world-class autonomous driving software technology, and plan to develop Level 4-5 fully autonomous driving software applicable worldwide.

Additionally, Hyundai Motor Group recently established Motion Lab in the U.S. and is expanding its local mobility business. Motion Lab collaborates with the City of Los Angeles to provide car-sharing services based on the Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid at four major stations including Union Station.

At CES 2020 held in January this year, Hyundai also signed a strategic partnership with Uber in the UAM sector based on personal aerial vehicles (PAV). Hyundai is the first global automaker to form a strategic partnership with Uber in the UAM field.

Meanwhile, Executive Vice Chairman Chung attended the Hydrogen Council CEO Summit held in Paris, France on the 20th of last month as a co-chair, where he presented three key directions for realizing a hydrogen society: cost reduction through technological innovation, expanding public acceptance, and establishing a safety management system across the entire value chain.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.