Kia is getting ready to reveal a full range of electric cars based on its new e-GMP platform, and the Australian product team wants to see them all in local showrooms.
The brand is expected to follow the EV6 with a production version of the Concept EV9 family SUV, as part of a broader electric push that will see it launch seven e-GMP-based vehicles by 2027.
“There is a plan for at least seven [e-GMP cars] in total in the Kia brand,” said Kia Australia product boss, Roland Rivero.
“We are negotiating strongly to bring as many of them to our shores as quickly as possible. If we’re lucky enough, there could be another couple next year.”
As it stands, the EV6 and Niro – the latter of which arrives Down Under in the middle of 2022 – will lead the electric charge for Kia in Australia.
A production version of the Concept EV9 could follow in 2023. Measuring up at 2055mm wide and 4930mm long with a 3100mm wheelbase, the family-hauling crossover concept is 80mm wider than a Hyundai Palisade, and rides on a wheelbase that’s 200mm longer.
Claimed range is 483km, and the e-GMP platform supports 350kW ultra-rapid charging hooked up to a public DC fast charger. Beyond the EV9, it’s not clear which of the models Kia teased in 2020 is next in line.
Although it’s putting its hand up for a full range, there’s no guarantee Kia will be able to lock the latest electric cars in for our market given tight global supply.
Supply of the EV6 is capped at just 500 cars for 2022 , despite more than 1500 confirmed orders and record levels of pre-launch interest, and Kia has no guarantee the situation will improve over the coming years.
“We’re trying to get more on a daily basis,” said Kia Australia chief operating officer, Damien Meredith.
Supply of the latest electric cars is tight for Australia. Tesla is quoting wait times of up to seven months for the Model 3 sedan, Hyundai sold its first Ioniq 5 batch in minutes, and the Volvo XC40 Recharge is sold out for the next 12 months.
Polestar promises it has supply of the Polestar 2 sedan, however, and less sophisticated internal-combustion-based electric cars such as the Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro are more readily available.
