Rafael Nadal, 22-time Grand Slam winner and tennis legend, took delivery of his Kia EV9 at during #TheIcon event at IFEMA, Madrid, Spain. Nadal has been Kia’s brand ambassador and looks to be a part of the green, clean EV movement with the Ocean Blue Matte Kia EV9 GT-Line joining the EV6 in his garage.
#TheIcon court has digitally reimagined the 148-year-old court. In a number of "game modes," Nadal displayed his tennis prowess while competing against his primary coach, Carlos Moya, on a variety of unconventionally shaped courts.
Guests took part in an extraordinary, larger-than-life 3D projection mapping voyage of the EV9 at the #TheIcon event. They entered the simulated all-electric SUV, which had 360-degree screens showing detailed images of the EV9's technologically cutting-edge, inside design.
“To achieve all these milestones in my career to date, I’ve had to constantly evolve. It is the
only way to progress,” said Nadal. “I am fortunate to have Kia as a partner who shares this
mindset, and the EV9 is the latest step in the brand’s evolution toward becoming a global
leading EV provider. I can’t wait to embark on my next journey of electrification with this
stunningly-designed, high-tech SUV.”
Charles Ryu, Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Brand & CX Division at Kia,
commented, “Our partnership with Nadal began in 2004, and we are pleased to have been
part of his successful journey for the past 19 years. The EV9, presented to our longstanding
global ambassador today, represents the essence of Kia’s movement toward innovation and
sustainability. I am confident the EV9 will prove to be powerful inspiration for Nadal’s next
groundbreaking movements.”
