FCEV maker aims for Australia/NZ distribution

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle manufacturer Grove Hydrogen Automotive has reached an agreement with ClickDrive Pty to develop the Australia and New Zealand markets for Grove hydrogen vehicles.

The companies will work together on market and product programmes towards importation of hydrogen vehicles to both countries by 2020 and focus on becoming a leading player in the new energy car market.

Grove and ClickDrive aim to develop a series of vehicles which support the infrastructure growth of hydrogen in each country and also provide vehicles which match the requirements of Australian and New Zealand consumers.

“With both Australia and New Zealand strongly moving toward the hydrogen economy we have a perfect target to establish a key development market for Grove,” Grove founder and chief executive officer professor Hao Yiguo says.

“Our cars are developed with a global vision, and having an experienced partner like ClickDrive working with us from the start in markets which offer the unique geographic and thermal conditions of Australia and New Zealand enhance this dramatically.”

Grove, globally launched at the April Auto Shanghai motor show, says its cars are developed to offer a long range, with the first Grove brand cars planned to deliver a 1000km plus range and able to be refuelled within minutes.

ClickDrive is focused on a next generation distribution concept by leveraging digital technologies to deliver cars to customers together with existing support networks .

“With Grove we have a partner with a unique futuristic proposition, which perfectly fits the ClickDrive strategy encompassing on-line distribution,” ClickDrive founder Jason Pecotic says.

The companies plan to work together on legal and environmental optimisation and to adapt the cars to customer demands.

“With the ClickDrive team we have a strong partner in Australia and New Zealand which understands its markets, but also the dynamics of both hydrogen and the development of new brands into the region,” Grove chief marketing and strategy officer Brendan Norman says.

“We see Jason Pecotic and the ClickDrive team as not only a distribution partner but also as a key part of our development and service process.”

Grove was founded by parent company IGE, a prominent hydrogen producer and distributor in China.