Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

The arrangement that was entered into in regard to Better Place was actually a consortium of companies. It was not just Better Place. The consortium comprised automotive component suppliers Air Inter­national, Bosch, Continental and Futuris, and, in fact, electric vehicle infrastructure and services provider Better Place. It was a proof-of-concept project which will demon­strate the technical viability and market appeal of a large, rear-wheel-drive electric vehicle based on Holden's Commodore. Again, the relationship is strictly a commer­cial relationship between the consortium and General Motors. Of course, it is not the only arrangement we have entered into in support of electric vehicles. We have also provided support to a range of vehicle projects inclu­ding the Nissan Leaf and battery technolo­gies through the Nexteer, which is a project which involves some 250 new jobs being created. (Time expired)