As the world’s best tennis players serve, volley and smash their way towards the opening Grand Slam title of 2019, a fleet of award-winning Kia vehicles will ensure players, officials and guests are where they need to be when they need to be there.
The specially liveried 120-strong Kia courtesy fleet will be run by a team of 350 dedicated drivers negotiating more than 21,000 trips and almost 450,000kms over the AO event.
In joining Kia global ambassador Rafael Nadal _ a 17-time Grand Slam champion _ in handing over the Kia Courtesy Fleet to Australian Open Tournament Director, Craig Tiley, KMAu Chief Executive Officer and President, James Cho, said Kia’s 18-year association with the Australian Open and tennis in Australia was a source of great pride to the company.
“It has been Kia’s honour for almost two decades to be a proud sponsor of one of the world’s greatest sporting events, and that commitment has not wavered,” Mr Cho said. “We now look forward with anticipation to the next two weeks of competition and believe that this year will be the best event ever.”
Mr Tiley described Kia as “much more than just a sponsor of the Australian Open, they are a highly valued member of our tennis family and have helped us build the extraordinary growth of the tournament during this time.
“The Kia fleet ferrying the players around Melbourne during January, and the tremendous activations for fans onsite at Melbourne Park, have become synonymous with the tournament and an important part of the AO experience for our players.
“I’m delighted to again accept the keys to the Kia fleet for 2019 and look forward to a fantastic Australian Open 2019.”
The majority of the 120-strong fleet _ 70 vehicles _ are the award-winning Sorento large SUV while the remaining 50 vehicles are Australia’s favourite people-mover, the multi-award winning Kia Carnival which can move up to eight people in comfort and safety.
