Kia Australia’s CEO has explained why the brand’s EV5 electric SUV was delayed at the last minute – and is only now arriving, four months behind schedule.
The boss of Kia Australia has revealed the reason for the delayed arrival of the 2025 Kia EV5 – the brand’s hotly-anticipated Tesla Model Y competitor – into local dealerships.
Originally slated for a June 2024 launch, Kia Australia pushed the EV5 electric SUV’s launch just days out citing “unexpected wheel and software updates”.
With the vehicle now reaching local showrooms in Air and Earth trims, Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith has explained the late arrival.
“Yeah, well, the delay was because the car wasn’t right in regard to ride and handling. We had to get that fixed – and we fixed it,” Meredith told Drive. “That was basically it.”
MORE: 2024 Kia EV5 electric SUV hit by last-minute delay in Australia
Kia is known for local suspension tuning in Australia, employing a team of chassis engineers that have calibrated the ride and handling characteristics of all but three Kia models over the past 15 years to better suit our road conditions.
Australian roads are generally in a poorer state of repair than other developed markets around the world, meaning what works on South Korea’s generally smooth road surfaces in terms of ride comfort, doesn’t necessarily translate to Australia.
But Kia’s local investment has become a hallmark for the brand in Australia, and Meredith said the brand is unwilling to jeopardise its reputation.
“It’s been part of our DNA in regard to how we’ve been accepted in the market,” he told Drive. “So it’s very important. We’ve spent too much time, money, [and] effort to get the brand to where it is.
MORE: The secrets behind Kia’s local suspension tune, by the engineer responsible | Interview
“I’ve experienced a lot of overseas, ‘out of country of origin’ factories, and you know, you’ve got to get it right first time.
“Because if you don’t get it right first time, for the whole product life cycle, it won’t be right. So that’s what we did.”
The Kia EV5 is the first Chinese-made model from the South Korean brand to be sold in Australia. After a four-month delay, first deliveries of the entry-level Air and mid-spec Earth variants have commenced.
Pricing starts at $56,770 drive-away nationwide for the EV5 Air Standard Range, undercutting a similarly-specified Tesla Model Y RWD by around $4000 ($60,868 drive-away in NSW, according to Tesla’s online configurator).
MORE: 2025 Kia EV5 price and specs: Cheaper than a Tesla Model Y electric SUV
The Air is available with a long-range battery, improving claimed driving range from the 400km of the Air Standard Range to 555km. It’s priced at $63,990 drive-away nationwide.
The mid-spec Kia EV5 Earth is priced at $64,770 plus on-road costs, translating to $68,990 drive-away in every state and territory except Western Australia, where it lists for $69,990 drive-away.
A range-topping GT-Line variant is due on sale by the end of the year, priced from $71,770 plus on-road costs.
Nationwide drive-away pricing runs to $75,990 in all states and territories bar WA where the GT-Line will cost $77,990 drive-away.
The post Revealed: Why the Kia EV5 was delayed appeared first on Drive.
