Kia delivers Fonterra’s 200th fleet EV

Kia has delivered an electric vehicle (EV) that marks Fonterra’s 200th electric vehicle milestone, with the handover taking place at a celebration event at Waikato Kia last month.

The milestone vehicle, an EV5 Earth AWD, was presented to Fonterra by Kia National Sales Manager Justin Benzie. While Fonterra’s 200-vehicle electric fleet comprises multiple brands, the 200th unit happened to be supplied by Kia.

“Kia is aligned with Fonterra, as we both have a focus on sustainability and a view to a lower-emissions future,” Benzie says.

“It’s a real privilege to be part of this significant milestone as Kia and our dealer network are continually striving to deliver products and aftersales service that embraces a sustainability philosophy.”

Benzie says the milestone demonstrates the commercial viability of electric vehicles for large-scale fleet operations.

“The fact this is Fonterra’s 200th electric vehicle demonstrates that EVs are a viable proposition for large-scale fleet requirements as there aren’t any compromises when it comes to performance, operational efficiency, reliability, safety or practicality,” he says.

PV5 electric van makes New Zealand debut

The Kia team travelled to the Waikato event in New Zealand’s first PV5 electric cargo van, a new model designed for business and practical everyday use.

The fully electric van features a flexible interior that can carry cargo or passengers, or be adapted for specialised applications. Kia says the PV5 offers a roomy interior with easy-to-use features.

The PV5 has won multiple international awards, including International Van of the Year, and is scheduled to go on sale locally in late Q2. The model represents the latest addition to Kia’s expanding EV portfolio aimed at commercial users.

The van’s New Zealand debut at the Fonterra event signals Kia’s focus on providing electric solutions across both passenger and commercial vehicle segments as corporate fleets continue to transition away from internal combustion engines.