Kia’s long-standing and valued partnership with the Australian Open was on show at the new 5,000 seat Kia Arena at Melbourne Park today for the official handover of the AO 2022 Kia fleet.
Kia ambassador and 20-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and Grand Slam champion and Paralympic gold medallist Dylan Alcott were on hand to accept the keys to the 130 cars that will keep players, officials and VIPs moving around Melbourne over the coming weeks.
The fleet of 130 vehicles will include the debut of the all-electric Kia EV6, the all-new Sportage SUV and Carnival people mover in celebration of 21 years as Major Partner of the Australian Open. Prioritising sustainability, Kia will look to grow the supply of electric vehicles for the event as part of a commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley praised the two-decade long partnership between Kia and the AO.
“The partnership between Kia and the Australian Open is one of the longest in Australian sport and we value and respect this unique relationship that has helped us grow the AO into the premium global sports and entertainment event that it is today,” Tiley said.
“The Kia fleet, which includes the new all-electric cars for 2022, has become an iconic symbol of the AO, with the smartly branded AO Kia cars zipping around the city and keeping the AO on the move.
“It’s also a testament to our strong relationship that we are standing here on Kia Arena, a year-round symbol of the friendship between Kia and the AO at Melbourne Park.”
Kia’s Chief Operating Officer Damien Meredith joined Tiley on Kia Arena to hand over the fleet and paid tribute to the partnership.
“21 years of partnership with one of the largest sporting events in the world is a milestone of great significance. The Kia brand has become synonymous with the AO and we are proud to be part of it,” Meredith said.
Australian Open 2022 marks an exciting new era for Kia with the launch of our first fully-electric vehicle, the Kia EV6, the unveiling of Kia Arena and our journey towards a sustainable future.”
Kia will also be presenting the Kia Halo activation on Grand Slam Oval at this year’s Australian Open. An immersive representation of the new Kia brand ethos, Movement that Inspires, the curvaceous, 360-degree, bespoke structure, sitting at 17m wide and 8m in height, features multiple global and Australian first experiential innovations.
The jewel in the crown, Kia’s all-new and all electric vehicle, the Kia EV6 takes centre stage. Elevated on a bed of 250 aluminium rods choreographed to dance in a wave-like motion, the audacious display not seen before in Australia is a visual interpretation of Kia’s brand evolution and its commitment to technology, innovation, and mobility.