GM: "Australia not ready" for electric cars

General Motors and its Australia subsidiary have spoken: electric cars won’t be gaining traction in Australia anytime soon.

With a meagre 282 sales nationally in total last year — a massive fall on 2015 — electric vehicles haven’t proven the hit many thought they would so far Down Under.

That reason, paired with minimal government incentives, has turned off global manufacturers from considering markets including Australia in their broader EV plans.

General Motors North American boss Alan Batey joined that list overnight, confirming there would be no right-hand drive version of the new electric Bolt hatchback for Australia.

“There’s nothing to announce at this point in time,” he said.

“We’re in business to make money and we need to put vehicles into markets where we believe there’s a commercial opportunity.

"Planting a flag just so that you can stand at a show and say ‘look, we’re global, we sell it anywhere’, that’s not something that really excites me.”

Holden managing director Mark Bernhard echoed Batey’s sentiments, saying the Australian market isn’t ready for full electric vehicles – and it won’t be until the government supports their integration.

“The market is not ready. There’s no incentives and electric vehicles need the support of government,” he said.

“The electric market in Australia is less than one per cent. When the market is ready, we’ll ask for vehicles such as the Bolt.”