HispanicBusiness

Hyundai wants to be the first automaker to offer consumers a vehicle propelled by a fuel cell, CEO John Krafcik said at the Los Angeles auto show.

"We plan to productionize a fuel cell and we want to be the first," he told reporters.

The automaker is working towards a 2015 timeframe.

"We're not giving up on hybrids," Krafcik said. "But we're going full steam ahead on fuel cells."

He sees application for larger vehicles and doesn't see as many long-term cost restraints on the technology once the initial costs come down.

Toyota also has said it plans to sell a fuel cell sedan in 2015, initially in California.

Automakers have talked about fuel cells for at least a decade and many still see it as many years away.