GM chief impressed by EV interest

General Motors announced last year plans to bring 20 electric cars to market by 2023, though it is yet unclear which ones will make it to New Zealand.

President of General Motors – international, Barry Engle, is in the country to meet with dealers and promote the new Holden Commodore, but while launching the vehicle, he noted electric propulsion and self-driving technology is a big part of the companies future.

He noted the Bolt EV recently went on sale in South Korea and the initial 5000 vehicle allocation on offer sold out in just a few hours. Unfortunately, the Bolt is only left-hand drive.

Holden New Zealand managing director Kristian Aquilina called late last year for the government to consider allowing left hand drive electric vehicles on the road, and has landed a Bolt in the country for testing.

Engle says he can see the enthusiasm for EVs in New Zealand.

“During my visit, I was able to see the interest in electric vehicles,” he notes. “And clean energy is readily available here.”

For now, though, he can’t be specific on indicating which vehicles might be the first to make it down under.

“It is a case of working out what is right for New Zealand,” he says.

Government incentives do, and would, help.

“What we have seen is the markets that have had the greatest uptake are those that have incentives,” he notes.

Holden was an early adopter of electric vehicle technology, briefly retailing the Volt plug-in hybrid to customers.