Project in preliminary feasibility stage; Hyundai Rotem to handle vehicles, operations, systems and maintenance

44 tram sets under review for 28-km route

Egypt's Minister of Transport Kamel el-Wazir (left) and Hyundai Rotem President and CEO Lee Yong-bae sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for building a hydrogen electric tram system in Egypt's New Administrative Capital at the Korea-Egypt Business Roundtable held at The Grand Lotte Seoul on Wednesday. [Hyundai Rotem]
Egypt's Minister of Transport Kamel el-Wazir (left) and Hyundai Rotem President and CEO Lee Yong-bae sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for building a hydrogen electric tram system in Egypt's New Administrative Capital at the Korea-Egypt Business Roundtable held at The Grand Lotte Seoul on Wednesday. [Hyundai Rotem]

Hyundai Rotem has taken its first step toward supplying hydrogen electric trams to Egypt's New Administrative Capital. The company announced Thursday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Egypt's National Authority for Tunnels on Wednesday at the Korea-Egypt Business Roundtable held at The Grand Lotte Seoul, agreeing to cooperate on building a hydrogen electric tram system in the new capital.

The signing ceremony was attended by Egypt's Minister of Transport Kamel el-Wazir, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan, South Korea's Ambassador to Egypt Kim Wan-jung, and Hyundai Rotem President and CEO Lee Yong-bae.

Under the MOU, Hyundai Rotem will hold ongoing consultations with the National Authority for Tunnels on plans to supply hydrogen electric trams for service in Egypt's New Administrative Capital. The project is currently in the preliminary feasibility study stage. If it moves forward, Hyundai Rotem plans to provide a comprehensive solution covering vehicle supply, operations, systems and maintenance.

Egypt's New Administrative Capital is a large-scale smart city under construction about 35 kilometers east of Cairo, designed to accommodate more than 6 million residents upon completion. Hydrogen electric trams are expected to serve as a key public transit option, with plans under review to introduce 44 tram sets along a roughly 28-kilometer route.

Hyundai Rotem said the MOU lays the groundwork for its hydrogen electric tram's first overseas foray. If a supply deal is confirmed, the company intends to secure an early foothold in global demand for hydrogen rail and cement its leadership in the sector. The company also expects the project to create opportunities for partner firms involved in hydrogen production, charging infrastructure and vehicle manufacturing to expand abroad alongside it.

Hyundai Rotem plans to accelerate its push into global markets by combining its hydrogen electric tram capabilities with the integrated hydrogen value-chain solutions of HTWO, Hyundai Motor Group's hydrogen brand and business platform.

Hydrogen electric trams filter fine dust by drawing in ambient air during operation and emit only water, with no direct carbon emissions. Because they generate electricity onboard using hydrogen fuel cells, they require no overhead power lines, making them fully wire-free. This keeps the track environment clean and preserves the visual character of urban streetscapes.

"Egypt's New Administrative Capital is a prime example of a future city project where new rail mobility solutions like hydrogen electric trams can be introduced," a Hyundai Rotem official said. "We will build a hydrogen electric tram business model optimized for local operations and work closely with the National Authority for Tunnels until the project is confirmed."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Rotem showcased a diorama — a scale model — of a hydrogen electric tram integrated with autonomous driving technology at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin last month. The model demonstrates AI-driven scenarios spanning pre-departure inspections, autonomous operation and maintenance. This year, Hyundai Rotem applied its own in-house advanced driver assistance system for rail vehicles to a tram, and the company plans to pursue full commercial autonomous operation of hydrogen electric trams on that basis.


eyre@heraldcorp.com