DEVENS, Mass. — South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group has become an investor in Commonwealth Fusion Systems, the Massachusetts-based nuclear fusion company backed by Bill Gates, marking the automaker's first move into the fusion energy sector as it looks to help build the company's planned commercial power plants.

Commonwealth Fusion Systems, known as CFS, announced the investment on September 10, saying Hyundai joined as part of the company's recently completed $1 billion capital raise. The size of Hyundai's contribution was not disclosed, but the company said the investment marks the first step in a partnership between the two firms as they explore engineering and industrial collaboration on future commercial fusion plants known as ARC.

"Fusion energy has the potential to play an important role in addressing growing global energy demand while supporting a more sustainable future," said Hokeun Chung, executive vice president of Hyundai Motor Group. Chung added that Hyundai intends to contribute more than just capital to the relationship. "CFS has demonstrated strong technical progress toward commercial fusion energy, and we look forward to exploring opportunities to contribute our industrial, engineering and infrastructure expertise as the industry advances," he said.

Bob Mumgaard, chief executive and co-founder of CFS, framed the partnership as part of a broader strategy to line up industrial partners ahead of the company's planned entry into commercial power generation. "As we prepare to put fusion energy on the grid in the early 2030s, we........

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