Hyundai Motor Co (www.hyundai.com) and Cummins Inc have agreed to jointly develop and commercialise electric and fuel-cell powertrains by combining Hyundai’s fuel-cell systems with Cummins’ electric powertrain, battery and control technologies.

The initial development will be focused on the North American commercial-vehicle market, including working with North American OEMs on the integration of these systems into their vehicles.

The two companies will also explore ways they can work together to develop next-generation fuel cell systems, and they will each assign a team of individuals to investigate and pursue other areas of collaboration.

Thad Ewald, Cummins vice-president (corporate strategy) (www.cummins.com), said: “This partnership is a terrific opportunity for both companies to leverage our respective strengths and create new opportunities to grow and broaden the product portfolio that we bring to our customers.

"We have made significant investments over the past year to accelerate our fuel-cell capabilities — including our acquisition of Hydrogenics — and this partnership is another step forward.”

Saehoon Kim, Hyundai Motor Group vice-president, said: “With Hyundai’s global leadership in fuel-cell systems coupled with Cummins’ unparalleled electrified powertrain technologies, we expect this partnership to leave a mark in the commercial-vehicle market.

“Collaborations such as this will enable us to further diversify our business, as well as reinforce our global hydrogen leadership through sales of new and existing Hyundai fuel-cell systems.”