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Damien Meredith

KIA Motors Australia (KMAu), who believes that that EVs are “the way to the future” and is planning to bypass hybrids altogether, is against calling on the government to provide subsidies because subsidies are “not the right thing to do to the community”.

KMAu chief operating officer Damien Meredith, in an exclusive interview with GoAutoNews Premium, said: “Long term, they (EVs) are the way ahead.

“I don’t think that subsidies – from the government or from the public purse – are necessary.

“This (introducing EVs) is an entrepreneurial move that ultimately is better for the planet, and better for us as Australians. Why is there a need to monetise this?”

Mr Meredith was discussing plans to be the first global car-maker to showcase its entire electric vehicle range at a sporting event, saying that two of its yet-to-be released battery cars would be used as the transport vehicles at the Australian Open tennis event in 2020.

It will be the first time EVs have been singularly used to transport guests and VIPs at the event and follows Kia Australia’s recent 19-year milestone sponsorship of the century-old tennis match.

Mr Meredith said the e-Niro SUV – to be launched in Australia as a production car later this year – will be joined by an EV version of the next-generation Soul in time to support Kia’s sponsorship transport obligations with the Australian Open tennis event.

Kia e-Niro

“We’re planning for a 100 per cent EV support vehicle transport network in 2020,” Mr Meredith said.

“We will have the Niro-e available for the 2020 event that we now hope will be joined by the electric version of the Soul.

“There is some work to do on the logistics of the event, particularly ensuring cars are fully charged between their duties of transporting players, VIPs and guests.

“But it is certainly our aim to have an EV fleet for the next tennis event. It will be a global first for the sponsorship.”

Kia is on record as showing preference for EVs and has effectively bypassed hybrid vehicles as its future goal and Mr Meredith confirmed that Kia “will take the pure EV strategy”.

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KMAu has already started work with its 135 national dealers to begin organising training, sales and service staff in the upcoming Niro-e vehicle.

Mr Meredith confirmed that most – but not all – will become authorised as sales agents for the new EV, but all franchisees will be trained to ensure factory-standard servicing and spare parts provision.

“EV charge points are now being organised to be established in all Kia dealerships and service centres,” Mr Meredith said.

“Training starts within three months. It will ensure we have all our technicians and our national workshop facilities up to the highest level in terms of expertise and equipment.

“With that, we will also have the best trained sales and support staff to cater for the sale of EVs and more importantly, in looking after customers who are interested in buying an EV.”

Mr Meredith said that by 2022, Kia will have “four to five” EVs available for sale in Australia.

Mr Meredith said that he sees Niro-e’s sales when it hits the Australian market as being mainly for fleets and government departments, with only a small percentage being private buyers.

“We already have interest from private and government fleets,” he said.

By Neil Dowling

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