President Moon Jae-in, who is on a state visit to France, test-drove Hyundai Motor's NEXO hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle(FCEV) in downtown Paris on Sunday.

Moon and First Lady Kim Jung-sook traveled less than one kilometer from their hotel near the Champs-Elysees to Alma Square in Hyundai's first NEXO hydrogen-powered FCEV exported to France.

President Moon also watched a local taxi driver recharge his Hyundai Tucson FCEV at Paris' first-ever charging station built by French industrial gas company Air Liquide. There are currently some 60 Tucson FCEV taxis operating in the French capital.

President Moon, who had test-ridden a NEXO FCEV on a South Korean expressway earlier this year, considers the eco-friendly FCEV industry as one of leading industries in the government-led innovative growth.

Hyundai Motor, meanwhile, plans to sign initial agreements with local companies Air Liquide and Engie on Tuesday to promote hydrogen-powered FCEVs and charging stations in France.