Hyundai has delivered the first of its assembly line-produced ix35 fuel cell vehicles to the city of Copenhagen in Denmark.

They were handed over by Hyundai Motor Europe's president, Mr Byung Kwon Rhim, during the opening ceremony of Denmark's first hydrogen refuelling station.

The 15 ix35 fuel cell units are the first hydrogen-powered vehicles manufactured on a production line to be introduced in Europe.

Rhim said: "Hyundai Motor is committed to hydrogen as the fuel of the future for Europe. Delivering assembly-line produced ix35 fuel cell is evidence that we have a realistic solution to the region's sustainable mobility needs."

The ix35 fuel cell produces no harmful tailpipe emissions - only water vapour - and so its use will help the city of Copenhagen achieve its aim of becoming carbon-neutral by 2025.

Since 2011, Hyundai Motor has deployed prototypes of its third-generation ix35 fuel cell in a wide range of initiatives to raise awareness of hydrogen's benefits as an automotive fuel; to support the drive for establishing a pan-European refuelling infrastructure; and to demonstrate the cars' real-world practicality to public and private organisations.

For example, EU policy-makers have access to ix35 fuel cell vehicles - via the EU fuel cells and hydrogen joint undertaking (FCH JU) in Brussels - showing the market-readiness of Hyundai's technology. And, earlier this year, senior representatives from 100 European businesses learned about and tested the ix35 fuel cell at a Hyundai event in Berlin.

Hyundai intends to build 1,000 ix35 fuel cell cars by 2015 at its Ulsan factory in Korea.