Climate Policy Engagement Overview: Hyundai Motor Group has mixed to negative engagement on a number of climate policy issues in South Korea, the EU, Australia, and the US in 2021-23. Hyundai appears to acknowledge the necessity of GHG emissions reductions in its communications, but has negative engagement with numerous key regulations to reduce emissions in the road transport sector.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: According to its 2022 Sustainability Report, published in 2023, Hyundai Motor supports global GHG emissions reductions in line with a 1.5°C target, as well as Korea’s target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Hyundai also appears to support Australia's 2050 climate neutrality target, as indicated by an October 2022 consultation response, found via FOI request. The Chairman of Hyundai Motor, Chung Eui-sun has advocated for government regulation to respond to climate change, for example in a November 2022 press release. Hyundai has also expressed support for the goals of the Paris Agreement in the company’s 2022 Sustainability Report, published in 2023.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Hyundai Motor has mixed to negative positions on climate-related regulations across various regions. An April 2023 Barrons media report suggests that Hyundai does not support the EPA's newest proposal for vehicle GHG emission standards, arguing that they will be “challenging to meet” and emphasizing insufficient charging infrastructure. Earlier, in a September 2021 consultation response, Hyundai Motor appeared to support mid-range EPA proposed GHG standards for light duty vehicles in the US, as well as advocating for numerous flexibilities to weaken the policy’s stringency including EV multipliers and off-cycle credits. Additionally, in a September 2022 US consultation response, Hyundai seemed to advocate for increased flexibility in 2027-2030 vehicle Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which could weaken the regulation. In 2019, Hyundai Motor signed a joint letter from members of the automotive industry to US President Donald Trump, which advocated for weakened US CAFE standards and further weakening of the initiative through proposed flexibilities and regulatory adjustments. In 2019 Hyundai also joined a consortium of automakers taking legal action to prevent the US State of California from setting its own stricter CAFE and GHG standards and zero emissions vehicle mandates. However, in February 2021 it withdrew its support for the legal action.

In Australia, Hyundai Motor has mixed to negative positioning on fuel efficiency (CO2) emission standards. In an October 2022 consultation response, found via FOI request, Hyundai appeared to support the introduction of low stringency light-duty CO2 standards in Australia aligned with Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) voluntary standards. The company conditioned its support for CO2 standards on numerous factors, including the expansion of charging infrastructure and ZEV purchase incentives, as well as advocating for numerous flexibilities which may weaken the stringency of the standards. In the same consultation response, Hyundai appeared to oppose CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles in Australia.

Furthermore, in a November 2021 New Zealand consultation response, Hyundai Motor strongly opposed higher CO2 targets for light-duty vehicles included in New Zealand's Clean Car Bill, arguing that proposed targets are unachievable and emphasizing affordability and supply constraints faced by both consumers and manufacturers respectively.

In a February 2022 Twitter post, Hyundai Motor Europe advocated for policymakers to delay setting a zero-emissions EU 2035 CO2 reduction target for cars and vans until 2028, stating "it is simply too early today to fix a 100% CO2 reduction target at a time when there are still way too many open questions".

Positioning on Energy Transition: Hyundai Motor appears to take btoh negative and positive positions on the electrification of road transport, while continuing to promote a long-term role for ICE vehicles. According to an August 2022 Automotive News article, Hyundai did not support the EU's proposed 2035 ICE phase-out date for light-duty vehicles, emphasizing regional disparities across Europe. Hyundai also appeared to strongly oppose an EV mandate included in New Zealand's proposed Clean Car Bill in a November 2021 consultation response. Similarly, according to a May 2022 Meconomy news report, Hyundai advocated for the continuous use of high GHG emissions vehicles until 2040 in Korea.

On the other hand, in the US, in a May 2022 consultation response, Hyundai appeared to support California's proposed Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, which would require an increasing percentage of new light-duty EV sales each year until a 100% ZEV mandate in 2035, while advocating for minor flexibilities such as eliminating the pooling shortfall requirement. Hyundai has also expressed broad support for increased investment in the electrification of road transport, as indicated by an April 2023 Straight News media report. In its October 2022 submission to the Australian National Electric Vehicle Strategy consultation, found via FOI request, Hyundai appeared to generally support incentives to promote EVs in Australia, as well as calling for increased EV charging infrastructure. According to a June 2022 Which Car article, Kia (a Hyundai subsidiary) supports a 50% non-ICE vehicle 2030 target in Australia. In January 2023, the Korea Economic Daily noted that Hyundai’s CEO, Chang Jae-Hoon, appeared to support an expansion of electric vehicles in South East Asia. More positively, Automotive News, reported in September 2023 a statement from Kia stating it was "disappointed" that the UK government had delayed its initial ICE phase-out date from 2030 to 2035, noting the change contributes to "consumer and industry confusion".

Furthermore, Hyundai Motor appears to support an expanded role for green hydrogen, as indicated by its March 2022 Carbon Neutrality Whitepaper. It has also directly advocated for policy, infrastructure and investments that aid the development of green hydrogen, as stated in its 2022 Sustainability Report, published in 2023. In a February 2023 press release, Hyundai appeared to support incentive policies for clean energy, such as hydrogen, in the US bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, however in a May 2023 joint letter to policymakers, it advocated against the inclusion of any additionality criteria in the clean hydrogen production credits included in the Inflation Reduction Act. In the EU, in an April 2022 open letter, Hyundai advocated for higher ambition for hydrogen infrastructure in the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).

Industry Association Governance: Hyundai Motor disclosed membership of a limited number of trade associations through its 2021 Sustainability Report, but failed to list memberships of some key automotive trade associations, including the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), Business Europe, and US-based Alliance for Automotive Innovation, where CEO of Hyundai Motor North America is vice chair. Hyundai has also not disclosed its position on the board of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which has engaged negatively with Australian climate policy. The company has not published an audit of its industry association memberships and climate lobbying.