Hyundai Motor Group is entering the eco-friendly mobility market in Oman, leveraging hydrogen fuel cell buses and ultra-fast EV charging infrastructure. The centerpiece is the introduction of Oman’s first hydrogen city buses.

Hyundai Motor Group announced on the 4th that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the 3rd (local time) at the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Complex in Salalah, Oman, with Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) and local energy distributor OOMCO for eco-friendly mobility cooperation. The partnership is designed to support the Omani government’s economic diversification plan “Vision 2040” and the country’s carbon neutrality transition.

The signing ceremony was attended by Khamis Al Shamakhi, MTCIT Undersecretary for Transport; Tariq Al Junaidi, CEO of OOMCO; and Chung Ho-keun, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group’s Future Strategy Division.

Hydrogen Buses Deployed on Muscat’s “Green Route”

The first pillar of this partnership is the introduction of Oman’s first hydrogen city buses. Mwasalat, Oman’s state-owned transport company, will designate one of the public transit routes in the capital Muscat as an eco-friendly vehicle-exclusive “Green Route” and deploy Hyundai’s Elec City Fuel Cell buses for a pilot passenger service.

Oman has no prior history of operating hydrogen buses in its public transit sector, making this pilot operation a potential turning point in the decarbonization of Omani public transportation. Hyundai Motor Group envisions expanding its eco-friendly mobility solutions from public transit and public services into the broader Omani mobility market.

Six-Month Pilot for Ultra-Fast Chargers

The second pillar is EV charging infrastructure development. OOMCO, the energy distribution arm of Oman’s state-owned energy group OQ, will install and operate Hyundai Kefico’s 240kW ultra-fast EV chargers at an OOMCO-operated gas station in the Halban area through its eco-friendly charging infrastructure subsidiary EVO.

The two sides plan to evaluate charging performance and usage demand over a six-month period before deciding on further infrastructure expansion. This strategy is seen as an effort to validate EV adoption rates and charging demand in Oman through real-world data.

Hyundai Motor Group intends to extend this partnership beyond public transit into the general commercial vehicle and passenger car markets.

Executive Vice President Chung Ho-keun said, “We are deeply honored to establish a strategic partnership with Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. Hyundai Motor Group will work alongside Oman to ensure its bold vision in smart cities and future mobility translates into tangible results.”

Accelerating Push into Middle East Eco-Friendly Mobility Market

This MOU is being interpreted as a signal that Hyundai Motor Group is seriously ramping up its eco-friendly mobility business in the Middle East. Through Vision 2040, Oman is moving away from an oil- and gas-centric economic structure toward industrial diversification and carbon neutrality. By supplying hydrogen buses and EV charging infrastructure simultaneously, aligned with the Omani government’s policy direction, Hyundai Motor Group has secured a foothold to enter the broader mobility ecosystem beyond vehicle sales.

Hydrogen fuel cell buses are considered particularly well-suited for demonstration projects in markets where the hydrogen ecosystem is still in its early stages, given that charging infrastructure is relatively easier to establish and public transit offers predictable operating patterns. Hyundai is expanding its presence in the hydrogen commercial vehicle sector, operating Elec City Fuel Cell buses not only in South Korea but also in select Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia.

The ultra-fast charger initiative exemplifies group-level synergy leveraging Hyundai Kefico’s component capabilities. Hyundai Kefico, an affiliate with expertise in electrification components and charging infrastructure technology, is expected to secure a bridgehead for entering overseas charging infrastructure markets through this Oman demonstration.

The Middle East region has recently seen expanding government-level investment in EV and hydrogen vehicle adoption. Saudi Arabia is making large-scale investments in EV manufacturing and charging infrastructure under Vision 2030, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has raised its EV adoption targets, accelerating the eco-friendly mobility transition across the region. With Oman also prioritizing sustainable transportation systems as a core pillar of Vision 2040, Hyundai Motor Group’s entry positions it to establish a strategic foothold for potential expansion across the Middle East.