How Hyundai’s Xcient Hydrogen Trucks Are Pioneering Sustainable Transport in Latin America

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[Asia Times = Reporter Park Si-ha] Hyundai Motor’s XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks will be deployed in an eco-friendly logistics project in Uruguay. Kumho Tire has launched an event to mark the debut of its new Crugen GT Pro. Volkswagen Korea will host a children’s drawing contest centered on the Atlas.

Hyundai Motor’s XCIENT Fuel Cell truck will be deployed in an eco-friendly logistics project in Uruguay.

Hyundai said on March 20 that it delivered eight XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks to Uruguay for use in the \”Kahirós Project.\”

Set to ramp up in the second half of 2026, the private-sector Kahirós consortium aims to decarbonize Uruguay’s timber supply chain. The project introduces hydrogen fuel-cell trucks for transport and produces green hydrogen on-site using solar power to steadily reduce carbon emissions across timber logistics.

To support operations, the project has deployed the hydrogen trucks, completed a 4.8 MW solar power plant and is building an electrolyzer and hydrogen refueling station with an annual production capacity of about 77 metric tons of hydrogen (roughly 170,000 lb).

The roughly 60 billion KRW (approximately 40 million USD) project is being carried out by a consortium of three Uruguayan firms, with Spain’s Santander bank participating as a major investor backed by the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) and the U.N. Renewable Energy Innovation Fund.

Under the arrangement, eco-energy firm Ventus will handle hydrogen production and refueling-station operations; Fraylog, a leading timber logistics company, will manage logistics operations; and Fidocar, Hyundai’s local dealer in Uruguay, will take charge of truck imports, permitting and maintenance.

The XCIENT Fuel Cell is a tractor-rated vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of about 37.2 metric tons (≈41 short tons). It pairs a 180 kW fuel-cell system with a 350 kW drive motor. Ten hydrogen tanks store a total of 68 kg of hydrogen (about 150 lb), giving an estimated range of up to 720 km (about 448 miles) on a single fill—enabling efficient long-haul transport with zero tailpipe emissions.

Hyundai expects the XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks to play a central role in cutting emissions across the project’s logistics operations.

When commercial operations begin, six of the eight XCIENT trucks will initially handle timber transport, with combined annual mileage projected at about 1,000,000 km (roughly 621,000 miles). The remaining two units may be deployed later as the transport service expands.

The project also represents the first commercial deployment of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks in Latin America. Hyundai says the initiative will demonstrate its leadership in low-emission mobility and support its push into the region’s green commercial-vehicle market.

Kumho Tire kicked off an event on March 18 to celebrate the launch of its new Crugen (CRUGEN) GT Pro tire.

Customers who purchase four Crugen GT Pro tires can select one gift from options that include a Helinox duffel bag, a Fastcamp one-touch tent, a National Geographic backpack, a Pontiac travel suitcase, a Tefal electric grill, or a GS Caltex × E-Mart combined mobile gift certificate. The promotion runs through May 30.

Additionally, through June 30 Kumho will pick about 200 customers who post product reviews to receive prizes such as gold coins and coffee gift vouchers. Full event details are available on the TirePro website and app.

The Crugen GT Pro is positioned as a premium comfort SUV tire, tuned for a smoother ride and reduced cabin noise. It records a UTQG treadwear rating of 800 across all sizes and achieves an energy-efficiency grade of RR (rolling resistance) level 2 or higher, placing it among the top performers in its class.

The tire is offered in 53 sizes from 18 to 22 inches and incorporates EV-focused technologies to address key electric-vehicle priorities like noise and wear resistance, delivering an EV-compatible full-size lineup.

For March purchases only, Kumho operates the \”Kumho Satisfaction Guarantee\” for qualifying buyers. The program allows customers who buy four promotion tires at TirePro to exchange them for new products if they are dissatisfied with quality or performance (conditions apply: within two weeks of purchase and under 2,000 km driven).

Kumho is also running the \”TIREPRO TRUST+\” warranty program, which provides replacement tires for certain instances of customer-caused damage under specified conditions.

Volkswagen Korea is launching a children’s drawing contest to encourage kids’ imagination and creativity, centering entries on the Atlas SUV.

Under its \”Engineering for Everyone\” brand philosophy, Volkswagen seeks to make technology and cars a source of enjoyable everyday experiences. The contest invites children to express their ideas and stories about family life, travel and the future with the Atlas through original artwork.

The contest theme is \”Everyday Fun, Travel and Dreaming of the Future with the Volkswagen family large SUV Atlas.\” Organizers expect submissions that showcase children’s pure perspectives and imaginative takes on family life with the Atlas.

The competition is open to children under 13 years old residing in South Korea, including preschoolers and elementary students. Submissions run from April 20 through May 30, and winners will be notified individually on May 8. The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 23.

Entries must be original, hand-drawn works on standard Korean 8-cut drawing paper (8절). Children may use colored pencils, watercolors, crayons, markers, or similar traditional media; digital drawings and AI-generated images are not permitted. Entrants should upload image files of their artwork through the online submission page.

Judging criteria include relevance to the theme, creativity and imagination, expressive quality and completeness, and the child’s original idea and story. A total of 20 works will be selected as winners.

The grand prize winner (one child) will receive a European travel package for a family of four covering three countries. The top prize (one child) receives a domestic hotel stay for a family of four, and the excellence prize (one child) receives a domestic amusement-park annual pass for a family of four. Seventeen additional finalists will each receive a KRW 300,000 gift certificate (approximately USD 225).