While New Zealand’s electric vehicle (EV) market is slowing down due to policy changes, Australia’s EV sector is accelerating with several Kiwi tech companies jumping on the opportunity.
A growing number of Kiwi companies have capitalised on Australia’s government incentives and increased demand for sustainable transport solutions.
From Tauranga-based electric motorbike manufacturer UBCO to Christchurch’s EV charging company Evnex, Kiwi ingenuity is once again proving to be a major player across the Tasman.
UBCO powers up Australia Post
Last week, UBCO announced it had secured a landmark deal with one of Australia’s biggest companies — Australia Post.
Renowned for rugged electric utility bikes, UBCO would provide a new fleet of electric motorbikes for postal delivery services.
It followed an 18-month trial across multiple states, positioning the company at the forefront of Australia’s electric vehicle movement.
“This has been something we’ve been going after for a little over 18 months,” said UBCO chief executive Oliver Hutaff.
He said his company “bet a large portion” of its future to be successful in fleets and the deal with Australia Post was an example of that.
“We knew we had the right design and engineering teams in New Zealand to be able to execute this.”
With 175 bikes set to be deployed initially, there was potential for a much larger rollout — possibly reaching 10,000 electric bikes across the country.
Evnex’s expansion across the ditch
New Zealand EV charging company Evnex has also tapped into Australia’s growing EV market.
Founder Ed Harvey said while the Kiwi market has struggled due to the scrapping of government subsidies — namely the clean car discount — Australia’s EV sector is still experiencing rapid growth.
“Australian revenue will probably overtake New Zealand revenue in the next two to three months,” Harvey said.
He said that growth was due to strong federal and state incentives, which were propelling the adoption of electric vehicles, and securing investment in Australia was also easier.
“There’s a lot more activity here, and it’s been a really positive move for us,” Harvey added.
“In New Zealand, a lot of money is being put back into the housing market, which is, unfortunately, not the most productive asset. We’d love to see policy changes that encourage New Zealanders to put more money into business.”
With declining EV sales in New Zealand, Evnex was looking to across the Tasman to sustain its operations, and the move has so fair appeared to be paying off.
List of Kiwi innovators grows
UBCO and Evnex weren’t the only New Zealand companies making waves in Australia.
Earlier this year, Kiwi-owned AI company Arcanum opened its first Australian office too, adding to a broader trend of New Zealand businesses seeking growth opportunities across the ditch.
“If you can differentiate and have a really clear focus on what your business will specialise in, you can succeed,” said Harvey.
He said Kiwi tech firms were not only surviving, but thriving abroad and showcased the innovative spirit that had long been synonymous with New Zealand entrepreneurship.
