Hyundai Motor Group signs Oman green mobility partnership for hydrogen bus and fast charger
Hyundai Motor Group is teaming up with Oman on Vision 2040 green mobility, launching a hydrogen city bus in Muscat and an ultra-fast EV charger near the capital.
- 24
- 240kW
- 1 year
- Q3 – Q4 2026
What Happened
At the Gulf Green Mobility Forum, Hyundai Motor Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology to cooperate on smart city development and eco-friendly mobility. The agreement runs for an initial one-year term and is subject to automatic renewal. The same visit also produced separate agreements with Oman's public transport and energy sectors, including a pilot for Oman's first hydrogen city bus and deployment of an ultra-fast EV charger in Muscat.
“We are delighted to establish strategic partnerships with MTCIT today. HMG is committed to helping turn Oman's Vision 2040 ambitions into tangible outcomes through collaboration in smart cities and future mobility.”
The Omani government is advancing state-led smart city development under Vision 2040, with flagship projects including Sultan Haitham City. The MOU establishes a framework for cooperation spanning smart city development and eco-friendly mobility, including electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Through this partnership, Hyundai Motor Group positions itself as a partner in Oman's sustainable urban transition and carbon neutrality efforts.
- Vehicle: ELEC CITY Fuel Cell, a 24-seat hydrogen fuel cell city bus
- Operator: Mwasalat, Oman's national transport operator
- Service area: Public transit routes in Muscat
- Significance: Oman's first hydrogen city bus for public transportation
- Pilot period: Q3 2026 – Q3 2027
Rather than a short-term technology demonstration, the bus initiative is designed as an actual passenger transportation service. During the pilot, Mwasalat will evaluate the vehicle's reliability under real-world driving conditions, its operational efficiency across daily transit routes, and its environmental performance compared with conventional diesel buses. Based on results measured against pre-agreed KPIs, the organizations will explore expanding services and formalizing procurement across Oman.
OOMCO, the energy distribution subsidiary of Oman's national energy group OQ, and its EV charging brand EVO have each signed MOUs with Hyundai Motor Group and Hyundai Kefico, respectively, to build and operate a 240kW DC ultra-fast charger at an Oman Oil Service station in Halban, near Muscat. Testing is scheduled from Q3 to Q4 2026, including high-temperature summer testing. The partners will assess charging performance, user demand, and commercial feasibility to lay the groundwork for future expansion.
Hyundai Motor Group signs MOU with Oman's MTCIT at the Gulf Green Mobility Forum.
Hydrogen city bus pilot operates on public transit routes in Muscat.
Ultra-fast EV charger testing at Halban, including high-temperature summer testing.
Why this matters
This agreement makes Hyundai a direct partner in Oman’s national smart-city and carbon-neutrality efforts under Vision 2040. Its 24-seat hydrogen bus will carry passengers on Muscat transit routes, and a 240kW charger will be tested near the capital to see if fast EV charging can work commercially. If the pilots meet agreed KPIs, the partners plan to expand services and formalize procurement across Oman.
Terms in This Story
- MOU
- A Memorandum of Understanding: a formal agreement outlining the intentions and framework for cooperation between parties, typically less binding than a contract.
- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle
- A vehicle that uses hydrogen gas in a fuel cell to generate electricity, emitting only water vapor as exhaust.
- Ultra-fast EV charger
- A high-power charging unit, usually DC, capable of recharging an electric vehicle much faster than standard chargers.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.