Electric car joy: Why Kia is so pumped over the 2022 Australian federal election result and why the upshot should be instantly cut wait times for EVs

Kia has revealed that the new Australian federal election is great news for fans of electric vehicles in this country.

With the Australian Labor Party in a majority government, as well as Greens and various independents gaining seats, the floodgates can now open for a higher number of Kia models in anticipation of greater policy and infrastructural support for EVs in this country.   

According to Kia Motors Australia chief operating officer, Damien Meredith, the brand has already shifted up gears and is ready to reap the benefits by offering consumers the types of vehicles they’ve been crying out for.

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“We’ve got a national strategy going on now,” he revealed.

“I applaud that. I think it will be far easier for companies and industries like ours to report back to their head offices and say ‘hey, Australia’s got a national strategy now and a government that’s interested in electric vehicles and the infrastructure of EVs: let’s start getting more models and more volume into Australia’.  

“That’s what we’re going to be talking about now. I think that having a framework and national strategy is a great idea.”

The change of Australian government last month is widely acknowledged to have partly been because of the desire for greater action on climate change at a national level; this is in stark contrast to the 2019 federal election where Scott Morrison’s LNP government accused Labor of wanting to “end the weekend” with its goal of having 50 per cent of all new-vehicle sales being EVs by 2030.

Mr Meredith believes that government leadership that supports EVs will in time benefit consumers in ways that may not be immediately obvious, such as cutting delivery wait times, since carmakers will likely start to prioritise Australian orders rather than leave it languishing behind other markets with more progressive EV policies.

He also supports the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ recommendations of the industry moving towards its 2030 target of under 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre for passenger cars and light SUVs, and under 145g CO2/km for heavy SUVs and light commercial vehicles.

“While it may not help with EV6 this year, it may help with meeting high demand next year and beyond,” Mr Meredith said. “If the federal government takes FCAI’s recommendations on CO2 targets, that will that affect Kia’s model mix.

“My personal viewpoint is that I’d like that to become part of the government’s strategy in regards to their future plans on EVs.

“Not so much this time around but last time around, I think their expectation was 50 per cent of non-internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in market by 2030; it was pretty ambitious, but if that helps, and I think it would, let’s make it part of policy.”

Asked what makes him most excited about the coming year, Mr Meredith said it was the EV’s rise to prominence.

“We’re certainly excited about what’s occurring in the transition from ICE to EV,” he said.

“It’s an amazing time for all of us to be involved in the industry. It’s been pretty static in my first 40 years, but boy it’s unbelievably dynamic now. I’m looking forward to the next couple of years.”