QLD firm ‘disappointed’ by QFleet snub

BOSSCAP Group CEO Edward Kocwa has expressed frustration that no representatives of Queensland state government vehicle fleet management division QFleet were present at the company’s recent unveiling and drive day of its mine-spec Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup, which Bosscap subsidiary AUSEV remanufactures to right-hand drive in Brisbane.

Speaking with GoAutoNews Premium at the event, Mr Kocwa said QFleet had not engaged with the company despite the state’s mandate to electrify its passenger vehicle fleet by 2026.

“QFleet weren’t here today – and they control a massive fleet, and they’ve got all the departments, and their answer is, ‘the departments aren’t interested’; the departments can’t be interested if they’re not on the supply panel and they don’t know about the product,” said Mr Kocwa.

“It’s just too hard for them – it’s just easier to follow the normal guidelines, and just buy BYD Sharks, which is what they’re doing.”

Mr Kocwa told GoAuto he was “disappointed” by QFleet’s no-show at the event, which was held within the Lakeside Park motorsports complex north of Brisbane that has served as a proving ground for AUSEV’s F-150 Lightning development program.

“I’ve reached out to them (QFleet) a number of times; personal messages, the professional channel, the lobbyist has been in touch, and they can’t come,” he said, adding that this meant QFleet was unable to “promote it to the departments’ fleet managers to be out here”.

“So now we’ve got the private sector out here, the mining sector out here, ministers (federal and state), but we cannot get QFleet. It’s just disappointing.”

In an earlier radio interview, Mr Kocwa expanded on his concerns, questioning why the Queensland government would not consider locally manufactured electric vehicles that provided employment and economic benefits to the state.

“The Queensland government has a mandate by 2026 to have all EVs in its passenger fleet,” he said.

“We’re a business in Queensland (tick); we have clean, green vehicles (tick); we are manufacturing in Australia (tick); we are improving the trade surplus with the US (tick); we are SOCI (Security of Critical Infrastructure) compliant (tick) – but they won’t buy a vehicle.”

Mr Kocwa also raised concerns about the national security implications of the government’s procurement choices, noting that Chinese-made electric vehicles were being selected over locally remanufactured alternatives that sourced components from allied nations.

“I don’t understand why the Queensland government is not taking a fair look at this, because at the end of the day, all the departments they administer are part of the Security Critical Infrastructure Act, which means – whether they like it or not – they’re going to be asked the question, ‘is their infrastructure secure?’,” he pointed out.

“And if China doesn’t even allow BYDs on their secure bases, why would our governments allow them on ours?”

With a Police-spec F-150 Lightning demonstrator on display by one of AUSEV’s upfit partners nearby, Mr Kocwa noted that the Australian Federal Police was unable to use Chinese-made vehicles due to security concerns, yet state government departments seemed unconcerned about similar considerations.

“They (the AFP) are not even able to take Teslas that are built in China,” he said.

In contrast to these procurement challenges with the Queensland government, Mr Kocwa said AUSEV had delivered approximately 220 vehicles to date, mostly to commercial and mining clients, plus an unexpected level of interest from the agricultural sector.

He told GoAuto that 1000 annual units to the mining sector was achievable, but that the market was “easily 3000”.

The company has also found success in export markets, supplying F-150 Lightnings to the United Nations for use in Samoa and exploring remanufacturing opportunities in Africa, as well as other right-hand drive markets such as Barbados, which Mr Kocwa said added to a growing list of “untapped right-hand drive markets” for the F-150 Lightning.

Mr Kocwa added that the company’s approach to importing and remanufacturing F-150 Lightnings in Brisbane provided supply chain resilience that was proven during COVID-19 disruptions.

“During COVID, when there was a shortage, you noticed that the Australian suppliers of other American products were not able to get supply, but we were because our supply chains are resilient,” he claimed.

“In times of emergency, the Americans will protect their market first, but our supply chain has been proven to be resilient. During COVID, we were the only ones getting vehicles in.”

Mr Kocwa also related that the F-150’s ubiquity in North America made parts supply and aftermarket support easier.

“For the F-150, you can buy parts in Walmart in America so that’s also important for the parts supply chain – doors, windows, mirrors – you’re not starting from scratch”.