A PROMINENT Queensland automotive manufacturer believes that the Queensland government is ignoring Australian manufacturers by choosing imported vehicles over those made, or engineered, in Australia – even those in its home state.

In an interview on national radio, Bosscap Group CEO Edward Kocwa said he was frustrated by the Queensland government for “ignoring” home-grown products that employ Queenslanders, including his own business that remanufactures Ford F-150 EV utes to meet Australian specifications, including right-hand drive.

Speaking to GoAutoNews Premium after the radio program, Mr Kocwa said: “The Queensland government has a mandate by 2026 to have all EVs in its passenger fleet.”He said that if you look at what Bosscap offers “we’re a business in Queensland (tick); we have clean, green vehicles (tick); we are manufacturing in Australia (tick); we are improving the trade surplus with the US (tick); we are SOCI (Security of Critical Infrastructure) compliant (tick) – but they won’t buy a vehicle.”

The Australian government this month has redefined the definition of an Australian business for use in procurement, including that it should have 50 per cent or more Australian ownership.

The refined definition also said a business can call itself Australian if it is principally traded on an Australian equities market and is an Australian resident for tax purposes.

It will also include those with a principal place of business in Australia.

To keep manufacturing in Australia, Mr Kocwa’s business was one that has lobbied to update the definition of an ‘Australian business’. 

“This has now become reality,” he said.

Bosscap Group CEO Edward Kocwa

“So now, instead of just having an ABN – which any international company can get – you now have to prove that you’re at least 50 per cent owned by Australians.

“That’s a huge change that will filter through to Australian procurement. 

“I’d like to see that passed down to the states. Right now, there are loopholes – such as the ‘buy Queensland’ promotion that merely means it can be bought from an agent who happens to be in Queensland – that means consumers don’t know the legitimate source of the products they buy.”

The new federal policy, he said, should help Australian businesses. But he still has issues with attitudes in state governments, particularly in Queensland.“The (Queensland) state government has a mandate to go EV and they’re backing away from even coming and seeing our vehicles. It’s frustrating,” he said. 

“Half of the revenue of our business stays in Australia. You can’t say that about any of our competitors. 

“So the circle or net benefits to Queensland are massive. 

“What else do we have to do? Do we just sit back and just import vehicles for the rest of our lives?”

Mr Kocwa added that the Queensland government also didn’t consider Bosscap’s EVs for support during the recent storms and floods, even though he said the vehicles could supply power for houses to assist stranded residents without power.Key to gaining access to state government departments procuring vehicles is to be listed on the supply panel.

Mr Kocwa said despite taking a vehicle to a state government event, and providing details of the Queensland-based business and the products it manufactures, it has not been added to this supply panel.

“Our main issue is that QFleet isn’t interested in trialling our vehicles. There’s no drive for them to get our vehicles into the Queensland fleet and we’re being pushed back. 

“We’ve never had one of our vehicles taken by a government department for a trial,” he said.“Because we’re not on the panel and our vehicles haven’t been trialled by government departments we are not included in QFleet’s communications that go to government departments.

“We just aren’t being seen as a supplier, even though we make vehicles in Queensland.

“This is despite the fact that Chinese manufacturer BYD is on the Queensland government’s supply panel.

“That’s disappointing. The state government says it wants local but prefers to buy locally through a dealer rather than through us. 

“The majority of that money goes overseas, not to Queensland.”

Bosscap does, however, have interest shown by organisations and agencies outside the Queensland government.

It has supplied Ford F150 Lightning EVs to NSW energy companies including Endeavour Energy, Brisbane Airport and has purchase orders from RACQ.

Vehicles have also been sold to the United Nations with its utes being used in Samoa.

“It’s easier to do business overseas than it is here,” he said.

“And it’s not just this company … it’s a common complaint with local manufacturers.”