Kia Australia is touting the advantages of sourcing its new EV5 crossover from China, emphasizing strong research and development (R&D) support from the Chinese team and robust supply capabilities.
Graeme Gambold, Kia Australia’s ride and handling engineer, highlighted the benefits of collaboration with the Chinese R&D center, citing their expertise and focused attention on the EV5 project. He emphasized that the Australian market received special attention, leading to a thorough R&D program tailored to local conditions.
Engineers in Australia have been fine-tuning the EV5’s suspension and calibrating its active safety and driver assist systems to suit Australian road conditions. Mr. Gambold noted the extensive involvement of Kia’s teams in areas such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), charging infrastructure, and connectivity, ensuring that the vehicle is finely tuned for Australian customers.
Addressing concerns about consumer perception of a Chinese-built model, Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith emphasized that the EV5 is a Kia-built vehicle, downplaying the significance of its country of origin in today’s market.
The decision to source the EV5 from China means that Australian customers will receive the vehicle ahead of other markets like Europe and the UK. Kia aims to import up to 850 EV5s monthly, potentially reaching annual sales of 10,200 units, challenging competitors like the BYD Atto 3.
Unlike the EV6 and EV9, which are based on the E-GMP platform, the EV5 utilizes the N3 eK platform, offering both standard and long-range battery options, as well as single-motor front-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive configurations.
While pricing and final specifications for the EV5 in Australia have yet to be announced, Kia indicates that it will be competitively priced with the smaller Niro EV, which starts at $66,590 before on-road costs.