The 2022 Kia EV6 electric car has sold out for two years before the first one has even arrived in showrooms – and before the price has been announced.
Kia Australia says its dealers have received 1200 orders from more than 25,000 “expressions of interest” – but only 500 examples of the 2022 KIa EV6 are due this year.
At this rate, it will take more than two years to meet demand for the Kia EV6 in Australia – unless the company can source more stock.
“We are working overtime with the factory to try to increase our allocation so we can reduce waiting times and help as many customers as possible,” Kia Australia boss Damien Meredith told Drive.
Prices are due to be announced this Friday but the Kia EV6 is estimated to cost in excess of $70,000 – making it dearer than the cheapest Tesla sold in Australia.
Of the 500 examples of the 2022 Kia EV6 due in Australia this calendar year, the company told Drive approximately 40 per cent will be of the GT-Line all-wheel-drive, 40 per cent will be the GT-Line rear-wheel-drive, and the remaining 20 per cent will be the base model Air.
Kia Australia says customer enquiries on the Kia EV6 are more than triple what the company initially received for the Kia Stinger twin turbo V6 sports sedan.
The company says half the customers are new to the brand while the other half are current or previous Kia owners.
Kia now has the challenge of allocating stock but says it will distribute cars to dealers as fairly as possible.
However, Kia Australia executives pleaded with customers to be patient and thanked them for their interest in the car, Kia’s second fully electric vehicle to go on sale locally.
Meantime, Kia Australia boss Damien Meredith repeated his earlier calls for governments to support the roll-out of electric cars with more charging infrastructure – rather than tax incentives or stamp-duty discounts.
“I strongly believe that taxpayers footing the bill to reduce government taxes or fees on electric cars is the wrong strategy, and not fair on the people who can’t afford an electric car,” said Mr Meredith.
“If there’s a bucket of (government) funds available, that should go into infrastructure and not into individual support for electric vehicles. The success of electric cars should be based on natural market forces.”
Wile Kia Australia’s stance is honourable – and fairer on taxpayers who can’t afford an electric car (the cheapest EV starts from $45,000, compared to $30,000 for the average price paid for new cars) – it is at odds with the electric-vehicle lobby, who wants taxpayers to foot the bill no matter what.
As one industry insider observed: “Why should a taxpayer in a low-income area be helping provide a discount to wealthy people who want to buy a $100,000 electric car? It doesn’t make sense.”
Keyword: Kia EV6 electric car sold out in Australia for two years