Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) is pleased to announce its electric mobility spokesperson and Group EV project lead, Kurt McGuiness, has been appointed to the position of deputy chair of the Electric Vehicle Council – giving Volkswagen Group Australia the opportunity to help lead the industry in its evolution towards zero emissions mobility.
Sydney, Australia: Even before its first all-electric vehicle lands in Australia, Volkswagen Group Australia is taking its responsibility to drive the future of sustainable mobility very seriously. Already represented at board level on both the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) peak bodies, VGA's industry representation has again expanded with the appointment of sitting board member and VGA EV spokesperson, Kurt McGuiness, to the position of deputy chair of the Electric Vehicle Council.
In this new position, Mr. McGuiness represents all Volkswagen Group brands and will continue to work with the Council and its members to push the Australian auto industry towards zero emissions mobility.
VGA managing director, Michael Bartsch, was delighted to see Mr. McGuiness take on the position, having already served a previous term on the EV Council board, and as a member of the FCAI's emerging technologies committee.
"The Electric Vehicle Council is dedicated to raising awareness of the impending influx of EVs, seeking to educate legislators and the public alike. As Volkswagen brands will come to be the foremost importers of EVs, Volkswagen Group Australia willingly takes this senior role in the Council," Mr Bartsch said.
"As our brands' EV spokesman and company environmental officer, Kurt is a passionate advocate of zero emissions mobility, and has already done much to promote this cause," he continued.
Electric Vehicle Council CEO, Behyad Jafari, also welcomed Mr. McGuiness to the position of deputy chair, and was looking forward to continuing to work with Volkswagen Group Brands to drive the electrification of Australia's fleet.
"Volkswagen is a global leader in the push to electrification and Kurt's role on the EVC Board is instrumental as a representative of the automotive industry. As Australia's electric vehicle industry continues to grow and shine, capable leaders like Kurt play an important role in ensuring the EVC is there to lead and support the sector," Mr. Jafari said.
Volkswagen Group Australia, which includes both Volkswagen Passenger and Commercial Vehicles brands and ŠKODA, plans to introduce a suite of electric vehicles from its new MEB platform in Australia in the coming years, while sister companies Audi and Porsche will both introduce all-electric models in the near future.
Bio – Kurt McGuiness
Former journalist and communications executive, Kurt McGuiness, has spent the majority of his career working in the Australian automotive industry – most recently at Volkswagen Group Australia where he has been for the past eight years. As an industry spokesperson and commentator, McGuiness regularly appears as the host of Volkswagen's public-facing content series, as well as on television and industry events as a car industry expert and keynote speaker. In his role as board member and deputy chair for the Electric Vehicle Council and member for the FCAI's Emerging Technologies Committee, McGuiness advocates for zero emissions motoring and the wider benefits to the industry and community. Mr. McGuiness also serves in the newly created function as Volkswagen Group Australia's environmental officer, ensuring that the company's staff, suppliers and facilities contribute to the Volkswagen Group's global emissions and sustainability targets.