AFFORDABLE EVs COMING

Kia will be selling competitively priced electric vehicles in Australia within three years, the company’s local chief operating officer Damien Meredith says.

Meredith said the company had decided against importing hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles as an interim measure — a strategy that directly contrasts with sister brand Hyundai.

Hyundai will bring in three versions of its Ioniq nameplate — a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric car — this year, while an electric version of the Kona SUV will follow early in 2019.

“There will be a fair bit of movement on that front in the next couple of years. We’ll move to a range of EVs rather than go through the steps of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and EV, we’ll move straight into EVs over the next couple of years,” he says.

That promise comes despite the lukewarm reception to electric vehicles in Australia.

“If you look at the market and what’s occurred, there hasn’t been great success there. I’m of the view that governments are going to have to make legislation to drive sales in these markets,” he says.

But while other brands are lobbying for subsidies to boost sales, Meredith says Kia won’t be putting its hand out.

“We think we might be able to ... go in with confidence with the product we’ve got based on market, not based on government legislation or government concessions,” he says.

Meanwhile, Kia has flagged a 10-year new car warranty could be on the cards.

Mr Meredith says the extended warranty is a key factor in the company’s strong growth in recent years and sporadic attempts to match it show rivals are worried. Sales were up almost 30 per cent last year.

He says he is surprised no-one has matched Kia’s offer and says it will look to react if another manufacturer matches its warranty offer long term.