The suggestion dealers are not promoting EV sales has “disappointed” the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA).
The response comes as the Senate Select Committee Inquiry into Electric Vehicles recommends the Australian government develop a national EV strategy increasing EV uptake.It cites the Tesla Owners Club suggesting dealers are “not providing prospective EV buyers with all of the facts” when it came to plugging in.
The Tesla Owners Club of Australia suggested to the committee “traditional car dealerships have generally not been good at promoting electric vehicles.”
“[This is] either due to lack of staff education or a conscious decision to not promote the new technology which needs less after sales service support [which drives their profitability],” TOCA says in their submission.
AADA chief executive David Blackhall says the idea of car dealers opting not to sell an EV is “completely false”.
“To resist selling EVs would reduce profits and put dealers in breach of their franchising agreements with vehicle manufacturers, potentially risking their businesses,” Blackhall says.
“It is very disappointing that this report has mentioned evidence claiming that car dealers are not interested in promoting and selling electric vehicles – it is completely false,” he states.
TOCA, which represents over 400 member-owners, says manufacturers and public mis-representation of electric vehicles are also hindering uptake.
“Much public resistance to electric vehicles relates to outdated concepts regarding the range, charging times and cost of electricity,” the club says.
“Car companies can address some of these through their advertising [if they are truly committed to electric vehicles]; there is a need for a wider education programme to address the historical views,” TOCA says.
TOCA, like the AADA, also supports the removal of Luxury Car Tax to make EV purchase less financially restrictive.
Blackhall says the franchised new car dealership network welcomes its role in putting EVs in Australian driveways.
“There are some important recommendations in this report and new car dealers are looking forward to playing our part in supplying EVs to the Australian market,” Blackhall says.
“We are supportive of a public education campaign and a co-ordinated approach to skills and training.We are also supportive of a CO2 standard, and Australia should work towards an achievable standard that does not punish local consumers and businesses,” he says.
“In our numerous representations to this committee, we consistently made the point that new car dealers are technology agnostic and will sell whatever vehicles our customers want,” he says.
“Unfortunately, the authors of this report have quoted the Tesla Owners Club and ignored the evidence of Australia’s 1500 franchised new car dealers and the 70,000 people they employ,” Blackhall says.
The AADA says the government should also abolish the passenger vehicle tariffs, which along with LCT, disproportionately hampers EV and other low emissions vehicle sales.
“Electric vehicles are part of the future and dealers are determined to be part of a thriving industry which supplies them to the market – the primary reason that they are not yet selling well is related to supply, cost and range.”
Blackhall says talking down the efforts of the tens of thousands of dealership employees across Australia will do nothing to accelerate EV uptake.
Both parties agree better education programmes around electric vehicles will benefit sales and consumer interest.
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