Hyundai Motor and PlusAI Recognized in TIME's 'Best Inventions 2025' for Autonomous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck
Hyundai Motor (CCIX) and PlusAI's autonomous XCIENT Fuel Cell Class 8 truck was named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2025 on Oct. 9, 2025.
The vehicle pairs Hyundai's mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty truck platform with PlusAI's Level 4 SuperDrive virtual driver to enable zero-tailpipe-emission, long-range freight with fast refueling and continuous hub-to-hub operations. The XCIENT Fuel Cell has been deployed since 2020 in 10 countries and logged nearly 10 million miles globally. U.S. initiatives include 30 trucks operating under the NorCAL ZERO Project and 21 trucks supporting logistics at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HTWO Initiative).
Hyundai Motor (CCIX) e l'autonomo XCIENT Fuel Cell Classe 8 camion di PlusAI sono stati nominati una delle Best Inventions of 2025 di TIME il 9 ottobre 2025.
Il veicolo abbina la piattaforma di camion pesanti a celle a combustibile a idrogeno prodotta in serie di Hyundai con lo SuperDrive a livello 4 di PlusAI per abilitare un trasporto merci a zero emissioni di coda, a lungo raggio, con rifornimento rapido e operazioni hub-to-hub continue. L'XCIENT Fuel Cell è stato impiegato dal 2020 in 10 paesi e ha registrato quasi 10 milioni di miglia in tutto il mondo. Le iniziative negli Stati Uniti includono 30 camion, operanti sotto il NorCAL ZERO Project e 21 camion che supportano la logistica presso Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HTWO Initiative).
Hyundai Motor (CCIX) y el camión autónomo XCIENT Fuel Cell Clase 8 de PlusAI fueron nombrados una de las Best Inventions of 2025 de TIME el 9 de octubre de 2025.
El vehículo combina la plataforma de camión pesado de celda de combustible de hidrógeno de producción masiva de Hyundai con el SuperDrive de nivel 4 de PlusAI para habilitar un transporte de larga distancia con cero emisiones de escape, con repostaje rápido y operaciones continuas de hub a hub. El XCIENT Fuel Cell se ha desplegado desde 2020 en 10 países y ha registrado casi 10 millones de millas a nivel mundial. Las iniciativas en EE. UU. incluyen 30 camiones operando bajo el NorCAL ZERO Project y 21 camiones apoyando la logística en Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HTWO Initiative).
현대자동차(CCIX)와 플러스에아이의 자율주행 XCIENT Fuel Cell Class 8 트럭이 2025년 10월 9일 타임지의 2025년 최고 발명품 중 하나로 선정되었습니다.
이 차량은 현대의 대량 생산 수소 연료전지 중장비 트럭 플랫폼과 PlusAI의 Level 4 SuperDrive 가상 운전자를 결합하여 제로 배출, 장거리 화물 운송과 빠른 재급속, 허브 간 지속 운행을 가능하게 합니다. XCIENT Fuel Cell은 2020년부터 10개국에서 배치되었고 전 세계적으로 거의 1000만 마일을 기록했습니다. 미국의 이니셔티브로는 NorCAL ZERO Project에서 30대 트럭이 운용되고 있으며 21대 트럭이 Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HTWO Initiative)에서 물류를 지원합니다.
Hyundai Motor (CCIX) et le camion autonome XCIENT Fuel Cell Class 8 de PlusAI ont été nommés l'une des Best Inventions of 2025 de TIME le 9 octobre 2025.
Le véhicule associe la plate-forme de camion lourd à pile à combustible à hydrogène produite en série de Hyundai avec le système SuperDrive Level 4 virtuel de PlusAI pour permettre un transport de fret à zéro émission, longue portée, avec ravitaillement rapide et opérations hub-to-hub continues. Le XCIENT Fuel Cell est déployé depuis 2020 dans 10 pays et a franchi près de 10 millions de miles dans le monde. Les initiatives américaines incluent 30 camions opérant dans le cadre du NorCAL ZERO Project et 21 camions soutenant la logistique chez Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HTWO Initiative).
Hyundai Motor (CCIX) und PlusAIs autonomer XCIENT Fuel Cell Class-8-Lkw wurden am 9. Okt. 2025 zu einer der TIME Best Inventions of 2025 ernennen.
Das Fahrzeug verbindet Hyundais großserienprodukte Wasserstoff-Brennstoffzellen-Heavy-Duty-Truck-Plattform mit PlusAIs Level-4-SuperDrive-Virtualfahrer, um Null-Abgas-Emissionen, Langstreckenfracht mit schnellem Tanken und kontinuierliche Hub-zu-Hub-Betriebe zu ermöglichen. Der XCIENT Fuel Cell wird seit 2020 in 10 Ländern eingesetzt und weltweit fast 10 Millionen Meilen zurückgelegt. US-Initiativen umfassen 30 Trucks, die unter dem NorCAL ZERO Project betrieben werden, und 21 Trucks, die die Logistik bei Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HTWO Initiative) unterstützen.
هيونداي موتور (CCIX) وشاحنة XCIENT Fuel Cell من PlusAI المستقلة من النوع Class 8 تم اختيارها كواحدة من أفضل الاختراعات في TIME لعام 2025 في 9 أكتوبر 2025.
يقترن المركبة بمنصة شاحنات ثقيلة تعمل بخلايا وقود الهيدروجين المولّدة على نطاق واسع من هيونداي مع سائق افتراضي SuperDrive من المستوى 4 من PlusAI لتمكين نقل البضائع بعيد المدى بدون انبعاثات من العادم، مع إعادة تعبئة سريعة وعمليات مستمرة من محور إلى محور. تم نشر XCIENT Fuel Cell منذ 2020 في 10 دول وسجلت محلياً وعالمياً ما يقرب من 10 ملايين ميل. تشمل المبادرات الأميركية 30 شاحنة في مشروع NorCAL ZERO و21 شاحنة تدعم اللوجستيات في Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HTWO Initiative).
现代汽车（CCIX） 与 PlusAI 的自主 XCIENT Fuel Cell 8 类卡车于 2025 年 10 月 9 日被评为 TIME 的 Best Inventions of 2025之一。
该车辆将现代量产的氢燃料电池重型卡车平台与 PlusAI 的 Level 4 SuperDrive 虚拟驾驶员相结合，实现零尾气排放、长途货运、快速加注和持续的 hub-to-hub 运营。XCIENT Fuel Cell 自 2020 年起在 10 个国家部署，全球累计行驶 近 1000 万英里。美国相关举措包括 30 辆卡车在 NorCAL ZERO 项目下运行，以及 21 辆卡车 支持 Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America（HTWO Initiative）的物流。
- Named to TIME's Best Inventions of 2025
- Integrates Level 4 autonomous SuperDrive virtual driver
- World's first mass-produced hydrogen heavy-duty truck platform
- Deployed in 10 countries since 2020
- Cumulative mileage of nearly 10 million miles
- 30 trucks in NorCAL ZERO and 21 trucks in HTWO logistics initiatives
- None.
Insights
TIME recognition and real-world deployments materially validate Hyundai–PlusAI's autonomous hydrogen truck as a commercial innovation.
Hyundai's XCIENT Fuel Cell paired with PlusAI's Level 4 SuperDrive combines a mass-produced hydrogen Class 8 platform with autonomous stack capabilities to address long-haul uptime and emissions simultaneously. The announcement cites concrete commercial deployment metrics — global launch in
Key dependencies and risks remain practical and visible: adoption hinges on hydrogen corridor availability, on-site refueling capacity, and safe, regulatory-compliant rollout of Level 4 operations. While the TIME award signals reputational and market recognition, operational scale-up will depend on infrastructure growth and continued validation of autonomous performance under varied conditions.
Watch for measurable expansion of fleets and hydrogen refueling points over the next 12–36 months, further mileage or uptime statistics, and regulatory approvals or commercial contracts tied to corridor buildouts; milestones in that window will materially affect commercial traction and ecosystem economics.
- XCIENT Fuel Cell, a Class 8 hydrogen-powered truck with a Level 4 autonomous driving system, recognized for revolutionizing long-haul freight
- TIME's recognition underscores Hyundai Motor-PlusAI collaboration driving sustainable and efficient commercial transport
- The world's first mass-produced hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck, Hyundai's XCIENT Fuel Cell, has been deployed globally and is shaping the future of freight
For over two decades, TIME has published its annual Best Inventions list, spotlighting innovations that transform how we live, work and move. This year's selection of 300 groundbreaking solutions highlights the industry-defining potential of Hyundai Motor and PlusAI's hydrogen-powered autonomous truck.
The award-winning truck integrates Hyundai Motor's proven XCIENT Fuel Cell Class 8 heavy-duty truck platform — the world's first mass-produced hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck — with PlusAI's Level 4 autonomous SuperDrive™ virtual driver. The combination delivers a cutting-edge solution for long-haul freight, enabling zero-tailpipe-emission operations and enhanced logistics efficiency.
"This recognition by TIME is a testament to 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. "It's a true honor to be recognized by TIME's Best Inventions, which celebrates innovations that shape a better future. At Hyundai, we aim to contribute to building a sustainable and safe freight ecosystem through hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles. We deeply value our partnership with PlusAI, which has been instrumental in realizing this shared vision."
David Liu, CEO and Co-founder at PlusAI, added, "It is an honor to have TIME recognize our collaboration with Hyundai Motor as one of the Best Inventions of 2025. This award underscores PlusAI's leadership as an AI-native technology company, where our autonomous driving system is designed from the ground up to deliver innovation with safety and scalability at its core. By combining Hyundai's hydrogen fuel cell platform with our cutting-edge autonomous driving software, we are setting a new benchmark for sustainable and transformative freight transportation."
Driving Innovation in Sustainable Freight
Heavy-duty trucking plays a vital role in the global economy, yet it accounts for a high share of transportation-related emissions despite representing a small fraction of vehicles on the road. The industry also faces related challenges such as driver shortages and rising operating costs.
By combining hydrogen fuel cell propulsion, which delivers long range and fast refueling, with autonomous driving technology that enables continuous hub-to-hub operations, the Hyundai Motor-PlusAI truck offers key benefits:
- Supports early hydrogen-corridor infrastructure: Creates predictable, high-utilization freight routes that also benefit other hydrogen-powered vehicles
- Enhances operational efficiency: By improving vehicle uptime and road safety, autonomous fuel cell electric trucks have the potential to lower per-unit operating costs for fleet operators
- Enables scalable zero-tailpipe-emission freight: Integrating autonomous fuel cell electric trucks into logistics operations supports the transition toward sustainable freight transportation
Real-World Deployment Builds Momentum for Hydrogen Corridors
Hyundai Motor's XCIENT Fuel Cell is the world's first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck. Since its global launch in 2020, it has been deployed in ten countries, including
In the
-
NorCAL ZERO Project: 30 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks operate at the Ports of
Oakland andRichmond under the NorCAL ZERO Project, bringing zero-tailpipe emission freight transportation to theSan Francisco Bay Area andCalifornia's Central Valley -
HTWO Logistics Initiative: 21 XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks support logistics at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in
Georgia , leveraging on-site hydrogen production and refueling to power key freight operations across the facility
These deployments validate the truck's commercial viability in demanding logistics environments and demonstrate Hyundai Motor's commitment to advancing the hydrogen-mobility ecosystem and paving the way for clean and efficient freight networks.
About the Autonomous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Truck
- Vehicle type: Class 8 heavy-duty truck powered by Hyundai Motor's XCIENT Fuel Cell electric powertrain
- Autonomy: Equipped with PlusAI's SuperDrive™ Level 4 autonomous driving system
- Use case: Hub-to-hub long-haul freight corridors, where high utilization supports early investment in hydrogen refueling infrastructure development
- Impact: Provides a scalable pathway to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, improve freight efficiency and strengthen energy-resilient supply chains while accelerating future hydrogen-corridor development
About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision 'Progress for Humanity,' Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero-emission vehicles with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.
More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at:
https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/ or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai
Follow our Hyundai Global Newsroom Instagram channel @hyundai_mediahub
About PlusAI
PlusAI is an artificial intelligence company pioneering AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous trucks. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with operations in
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SOURCE PlusAI, Inc
FAQ
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