Hyundai’s new hydrogen-powered car slated for ‘early 2026’ launch in Europe

The model will cost more than the Toyota Mirai, but sold well in South Korea following its launch there last summer

Hyundai will begin selling the second generation of its hydrogen-powered Nexo car in Europe in “early 2026”, according to Hyundai Netherlands.

The Korean automaker did not specify which countries the car will be available in, nor the exact date of its European launch, but the Dutch-language announcement suggests that it will soon be available in the Netherlands, at the very least, with a starting price of €72,495 ($85,000).

The Netherlands has the third-most hydrogen refuelling stations in Europe, with 20, behind Germany (49) and France (24), and a little ahead of Switzerland (17).

Hyundai vice-president Jeong Yoo-seok told Japanese media in October that the company would soon begin mass production of the new Nexo in Europe, with an aim to sell 11,000 units of the model worldwide in 2026.

This figure is perhaps ambitious given only 12,866 fuel-cell electric vehicles were sold globally in 2024, though Hyundai did sell more than 3,000 units of the new Nexo in South Korea in its first three months of sales.

The second-generation Nexo was launched first to the South Korean market in June last year, although the first-generation of the hydrogen-only model had been available since 2018.

The Nexo will be available in Europe starting from €72,495, or €949 per month on a five-year lease, according to Hyundai Netherlands — a slight mark-up on its main competitor in Europe, the Toyota Mirai, which is available from €68,490.

The new Nexo also costs a good deal more than Hyundai’s similar-sized non-hydrogen models. Hyundai’s electric-powered Ioniq 5, for example, starts at €44,900.

Plans to begin selling the Nexo in Europe follow an announcement in December last year confirming the vehicle had achieved the top five-star safety rating in the European New Car Assessment Programme.

Cover photo:  The new Hyundai Nexo.