EV breakdowns from empty batteries dropping sharply, UK figures show

                LONDON: In a sign that the greatest fear about electric mobility may no longer be founded, new figures from the UK show that the proportion of electric vehicle breakdowns caused by running out of charge has fallen by nearly three-quarters since 2019.

Just 2.1% of callouts received by the AA motor club from stranded electric vehicle drivers in the UK during the first five months of this year were for depleted batteries. That is down from 8.0% across the whole of 2019.

The AA partly attributed this to a spike in the number of public charging devices, with Zapmap figures showing the total has soared from 24,909 at the end of April 2022 to 42,566 a year later.

AA president Edmund King believes an increase in the number of domestic and workplace chargers is another reason for the drop in incidents of EVs running out of electricity.

The fear of running out of charge – often referred to as range anxiety or charging anxiety – has been cited as a key barrier to people switching to electric motoring.

“Our data on out of charge EVs clearly shows charging anxiety does not match the reality," King said.

“The drop in out of charge breakdowns is a clear sign that range, infrastructure and education are improving. Of course, we need a concerted effort to continue the rollout of reliable and accessible charging to fill in the gaps and to address the problem for those that don’t have off-street parking to charge.”

He added: “There has never been a better time to buy a used EV as many prices have dropped dramatically in the last six months. Once the car has been purchased, the running and servicing costs tend to be much lower.”

This decline of empty battery trouble of course applies to the UK only, where charging infrastructure is being boosted ahead of a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.

However, experts believe a mixture of stronger batteries, more efficient power usage and improved charging networks have the potential to reduce the risk of running out of battery for most drivers.

A 2021 global survey found that 88% of electric car drivers said they would buy one again, despite the potential for range issues, with many noting that it's become easier to charge up home or at work. —
PA Media


Shell stations' promotions: June 1 to 4

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia's new #AkuRindu campaign provides customers with extra rewards to help them on their journey.

The campaign will take place at all of its stations nationwide over four consecutive days from June 1 to 4.

On June 1, customers will enjoy five times BonusLink Points when they swipe their BonusLink Card and five BonusLink Points for every litre of fuel purchased.

June 2 will see customers enjoying a 50% discount on any Shell Advance AX7 Motorcycle Oil (1L) that retails for RM33 to RM34.90 per litre, depending on variant and is limited to the first ten customers per Shell station.

From June 3 to 4 - for two consecutive days, customers can purchase either a Cornetto Ice Cream (Vanilla or Chocolate) or Goodday Milk (Full Cream or Chocolate, 250mL) for only RM1.00 each at Shell Select stores nationwide, while stocks last. The retail price of the items are RM2.00 each.

Additionally, customers will also enjoy a Buy-1-Get-One-Free offer at all Deli2go outlets, for the Hexagon Doughnut Deli2Go pastry that retails for RM2.90 each in the Peninsular and the Sardine Puff Deli2Go pastry at RM4.00 each in Sabah and Sarawak, while stocks last.

"As the nation inches closer towards recovery, we see signs of Malaysia coming back to its feet as people become acclimatised to the new normal. At Shell, we would like to say, ‘Welcome Back!’ to all Malaysians, and we are offering a few special rewards at all Shell Stations nationwide to thank customers for their support," said Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd managing director Shairan Huzani Husain

For more information log on to www.shell.com.my/AkuRindu


Mercedes-AMG aims to prevent Project One profiteering

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-AMG is taking the unusual step of inserting a clause into the purchase contract for its upcoming Project One, to prevent buyers selling the car on for a quick profit when deliveries start early next year.

When a big concert tour is announced and sells out in minutes, those "sold out" tickets appear online almost immediately after, for sale at inflated prices. Similarly, with new, highly-sought-after cars, some buyers put down deposits to get on the waiting list with the express intention of selling the car on as soon as possible, for above retail price to someone with money to spare who missed out and is desperate to get their hands on one.

For a number of supercars such as the McLaren Senna and the Ford GT, buyers have had to apply to be considered for ownership, and the models are selling out before they even go into production. Despite their huge price tickets, these cars are "must-have" items for discerning collectors with the money to pay for them. The temptation for speculators to get in on the act and make a quick buck is huge.

For its GT supercar, Ford added a contractual restriction that prevented customers from selling on their car for at least 24 months. Now Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that Mercedes-AMG is doing something similar, with a contract clause to stop new owners from flipping the car for a quick profit. Porsche is also following suit with its 911 GT3 Touring, after some customers were found to be profiteering with the 911 R.

Despite manufacturers' best efforts, some still slip through the net. Last year, an American celebrity was sued by Ford for violating the terms of his Ford GT purchase contract, which included an extensive application process. That case was settled out of court, but another 2017 GT is being put up for auction at Mecum's Monterey sale later this month.

Someone has already tried to sell a Project One build slot last November, when the US$2.6 million (RM10.6mil) car was offered for the equivalent of US$5.2 million (RM21.2mil), and another one with a mid-2019 delivery date is still listed.

The exclusive upcoming Formula One-sourced Project One is a 1,000hp hybrid capable of going from 0 to 200kph in just six seconds, it has a top speed of more than 350kph, and it can operate on electric-only emitting zero emissions for up to 25km.

The German magazine says all 275 units of the Mercedes-AMG Project One are sold, and that the manufacturer has begun first test drives of camouflaged prototypes on race tracks in England and Spain closed to the press and public.


New plant to double capacity as Toyota gears up to introduce 4 facelifted models

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Holdings Bhd will double the company’s manufacturing capacity for Toyota cars following the completion of the new Bukit Raja factory in 2019.

The new plant will start off with a production capacity of 50,000 cars per year, and will churn up to 100,000 cars at maximum capacity.

This will be on top of the company’s existing 49-year-old plant, which has a capacity of 75,000 cars a year.

Speaking after UMW’s AGM on Thursday, president and group chief executive officer Badrul Feisal Abdul Rahim said the new plant would enable the company to make more varieties of passenger cars.

“There will be four Toyota facelift models coming up in the second half of the year,” he said.

The company has a sales target of 70,000 units of Toyota cars and 202,000 units of Perodua cars this year. UMW expects the automotive industry to recover this year, although it will continue to be a challenging one.

Meanwhile, UMW will see the production of its first fan case for Rolls-Royce aircraft engines by the end of the year.

The company has a 30-year contract to produce fan casing for Rolls-Royce engines, namely for the Trent 1000 engine in B-787 Dreamliner passenger aircraft as well as the Trent 7000 engine for the Airbus A30 Neo.


Get the light right: Taking the best photos of your motorcycle

                COLOGNE: You might want to show it off or you might want to sell it — either way amateur photographers equipped with little more than a smartphone can take great motorbike pictures. Here are some tips from two experts.

Rossen Gargolov, a professional photographer in Germany, has been taking pictures for motorcycle magazines for 20 years. Before you take any photos he advises that you find the right place and a good position for the machine.

A place with a neutral background is ideal. Then you should take a few seconds to take a close look at your bike. Each motorcycle looks different: some machines look good from the front, some from the side, others from the back.

The light is also important. The best time to take a photo is either in the morning or the evening. "The earlier in the morning and the later in the evening, the more beautiful the photos will be," Gargolov says.

Morning light seems a bit whiter and cooler, evening light more yellow and warmer. "I would avoid harsh, midday light," the photographer says.

You don't need professional photo equipment either: "Modern smartphones now offer good photo quality."

Taking the photo in portrait mode is a good idea because the bike will be in focus while the background will be blurred. "That makes the motorcycle stand out," Gargolov says.

He advises against shots with a wide-angle lens, if your phone has one, because these will visually warp components of the machine. It's also better to do without a flash.

Daniel Wollstein, motorcyclist, photographer, and managing director of a photo agency in Germany, has been photographing motorcycles professionally for twelve years.

As a perspective, he recommends a three-quarter view from the front so that as much of the machine as possible can be photographed.

"It looks nice when the whole bike can be seen from the front wheel to the rear light and the light from the rear sweeps over the side of the machine," Wollstein says.

"The streaks of light mould all three-dimensional aspects of the motorcycle, making it looks closer and more alive."

For photos of cruising bikes he uses focal lengths as long as possible (between 80mm and 100mm) so as not to distort the proportions of individual components.

Sports and racing bikes he photographs with small focal lengths of between 35mm and 50mm in order to show small components such as headlights and handlebars to their best effect.

When photographing enduro bikes he takes them from the side using an 80mm lens so as to capture the large fuel tank and high seating position.


Find your pre-owned Volvo through online car locator

                KUALA LUMPUR:  Volvo Car Malaysia has introduced the Volvo Used Car Locator to elevate customers’ experience in acquiring and owning a Volvo car all from the convenience of their smartphones or laptops.

Once the used car is made available on the Volvo Used Car Locator, prospective buyers can visit the website to browse through the available models on a consolidated list for cars – either Volvo Selekt or Volvo quality used cars – that are available at all Volvo dealerships across Malaysia.

The website also provides full details of the cars so that customers can identify the Volvo that best fit their lifestyles and its closest location.

Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Nalin Jain said the positive response from Volvo Selekt,launched in October last year, had motivated the company to provide more choices to customers how to purchase a used Volvo car in line with the move to be technologically savvy.

"This initiative comes at an apt time as we continue to be mindful of our safety and health, and practise physical distancing wherever possible,” Nalin said.

The Volvo Used Car Locator holds an inventory of both Volvo Selekt cars and other Volvo quality used cars.

Volvo Selekt models can be found only at Sisma Auto in Glenmarie, Selangor and iRoll Auto in Juru, Penang, whereas all Volvo quality used cars are made available at other dealerships – 12 in total – across the nation.

Volvo Selekt cars are guaranteed to be under five years old with less than 100,000km in mileage, and have received a 125-point inspection, software upgrade and genuine part replacements to ensure that they are road-ready and can deliver optimal performance.

To give new Volvo Selekt car owners a head-start, each car comes with a minimum of 12 months warranty, a complimentary 1-year maintenance service package (VSA 1) and 12 months of Roadside Assistance.

Volvo Selekt cars also contributed 15% to the total Volvo used car sales in 2020 for the Malaysian market.

For details, visit Volvo Car Malaysia’s Used Car Locator at https://Selekt.volvocars.com.my/enmy/home.


Russia turns to Japan for used car imports as domestic production slumps

                MOSCOW: With Russia's domestic car industry smarting from the impact of Western sanctions, sales of used cars are leading a relative resurgence, with Japan accounting for more than three quarters of those imported, according to data shared with Reuters.

Sales of new cars produced in Russia have slumped since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in late February, with sanctions limiting access to parts and several foreign producers suspending operations in the country.

Their withdrawal, along with the stronger rouble has pushed up demand for used cars from Asia, with logistical challenges partially to blame for prices being about 10% higher in September than the start of the year, the central bank said late last month.

Imports, which used to account for around a fifth of the market by volume and half by revenue, have not yet fully recovered.

New car imports were well below February levels in August, data from Russian analytical agency Autostat showed, but those of used cars more than doubled to 23,117 from 11,055.

The vast majority, 76%, of used cars were imported from Japan, with Belarus distant second with a 5.3% share, the data showed.

Japanese automaker Nissan last month took a US$687 million loss in handing over its business in Russia to a state-owned entity for one euro, while rival Toyota has ended vehicle production in Russia.

The West has sanctioned the export to Russia of some materials used in car manufacturing, while production halts have further hobbled the sector. Japan has sanctioned the export of high-value cars to Russia, but used cars imported by individuals fall outside the sanctions remit.

Moscow is also promoting a grey imports scheme to allow supplies of goods to continue.

Almost 70% of the 10,257 new cars imported in August came from China, the data showed. Bilateral trade between Russia and China has surged this year.

Customs officials in Russia's Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok said individual buyers imported more than 100,000 cars via the city from January to August, an increase of almost 50%.

Meanwhile, the makeup of buyers is changing. Individuals increased their share in new car imports to 23% August from 2% in February, Autostat said.

"One dealership, due to a lack of deliveries of new cars, has pivoted to selling and leasing used cars," the central bank said.

After the Ukraine conflict began, the Association of European Businesses (AEB), which represents companies present in Russia, revised its 2022 new car sales forecast to a drop of around 50% from expected 3.3% growth. In January-September, new car sales were down almost 60% to 506,661 units.


SOCAR and Tenaga Nasional team up in push to install more public chargers

                KUALA LUMPUR: SOCAR Mobility Malaysia and Tenaga Nasional Bhd will work together to identify the best locations to install public chargers by exploiting demand data on electric vehicle (EV) usage in Malaysia.

In announcing a Memorandunm of Understanding today, SOCAR said the demand data to be passed to Tenaga Nasional would determine the location, number and type of chargers for installation, including direct current fast chargers.

SOCAR said it would expand its fleet by up to hundreds of EVs within three years. This includes rolling out up to 50 EV charging zones by the end of 2022.

By offering EVs on its car sharing platform, SOCAR aims to introduce the EV lifestyle to the public by making EVs more accessible.

SOCAR and Tenaga Nasional began a limited partnership in December 2019 when the utility company put up the first two EV zones in Cyberjaya at the same time SOCAR began adding EVs to its fleet.


Enough road tax disks nationwide, says JPJ

                PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has assured the public of sufficient supply of Motor Vehicle Licence disks to cater for customer transactions nationwide.

In a statement issued today, the department said the supply is adequate to meet customers’ request at its branch offices, Pos Malaysia counters, MyEG and through the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom).

"JPJ, with the cooperation of the LKM disk supplier has sent a supply of 1,145,000 pieces of the LKM disks to the JPJ branches, Pos Malaysia, MyEG and Puspakom in January 2021 and an additional 420,000 pieces recently to avoid any shortage,” it said.

This followed an online Chineses news report on Feb 1 that claimed there was a shortage of vehicle road tax disks and that it had resulted in car dealers losing business during the Chinese New Year sales period.

On a related matter, JPJ is advising customers to carry out online transactions, instead of going to the counters to avoid crowding amid a pandemic.


Fisker to start production of luxury electric SUV in 2021

                LOS ANGELES: Electric vehicle maker Fisker Inc said on Thursday it would begin production of its new luxury sports utility vehicle at the end of 2021.

High-volume deliveries of the electric SUV, Fisker Ocean, are expected to start in 2022, the company said.

The Ocean is touted as having a 483km range with a price tag of US$40,000 (RM167,000).

Fisker will offer the SUV via an app-based flex-leasing program. Reservations open this month.

Chief executive officer Henrik Fisker, whose previous automotive venture collapsed in 2013 owing US taxpayers US$139 million (RM579mil), launched Fisker Inc in 2016 to compete with Tesla Inc.


PLUS working with govt on scope, toll reduction mechanism

                PETALING JAYA: PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) is working with the government to "confirm the scope and mechanics of the toll reduction".

In a statement today, PLUS noted the government's decision to retain the company under its present stakeholders, Khazanah Nasional Berhad/UEM Group Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

“Given the intended implementation date of Feb 1, 2020, we are presently engaging the government to confirm the scope and mechanics of the toll reduction,” said PLUS chairman Datuk Mohamad Nasir.

“This is because of the need to ascertain the current concession agreement status as well as address any concerns that our sukuk holders may have," he said.

He added that PLUS remains committed to delivering safe and comfortable highway travel by leveraging on innovation for the rakyat.

Last week, the government announced the decision to reduce toll rates on highways operated by PLUS by 18%, and for Khazanah and EPF to remain as shareholders of the concessionaire.

The reduced toll rates will remain fixed throughout the concession period of the highways, which will be extended by 20 years from 2038 to 2058.

In addition, all outstanding and future toll compensation will be waived, providing an estimated savings of RM42bil for the government.

The decision came after the government had received several unsolicited bids from various parties to take over PLUS.

The Prime Minister's Office said that six highways will start lowering their tolls as early as Feb 1 and there will be no more toll hikes for the next 38 years.


Mercedes-Benz gets electrified about the future

                STUTTGART: Daimler AG member of the board and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars development Thomas Weber talks about the future and promises full-electrification of all their model range.

Weber, in charge of group research at Daimler AG and the development of Mercedes-Benz Cars for more than 12 years, has been spending a lot of the German carmaker's money on alternative drive systems and looks to spend even more over the next few years.

How much money? Around 25.3 billion euros will be spent over the next two years, which will be pumped into "green" technologies as well as research and development for alternative drive systems.

Of course, public uptake of such new products depends largely on infrastructure to help woo more people with the brand's environmentally friendly forms of mobility - which is why the industry is bearing 50% of such expenses, according to Weber.

He also added that over the next few months, the company will be "fitting" a few new products and features into their model range, which should be in reference to the fourth-generation two and four-seater smart vehicles that will come with an electric drive system.

For next year, the company will not only unveil its next-generation line-up of petrol engines that will feature a 48-volt on-board electrical system, but also the world's first series-production fuel-cell car (based on the GLC) that features a new fuel-cell technology that uses 90%-less platinum to raise its affordability.

Also, for next year, the S-Class hybrid's electric range will be extended from 30 to 50km as part of its facelift programme.

Although Weber assured that there will be improvements to the lithium-ion battery till 2020, by 2025 the company will be utilising a new battery that's already in development to considerable increase range-performance of up to 500km.

And to show off that point, the company will showcase a large electric vehicle that will make an appearance at the upcoming Paris Motor Show in October.


Porsche 911 GT3 R ready for customers

                COLOGNE: Making its world debut is the single-seat Porsche 911 GT3 R (Type 991) that’s based on the new 911 GT3 RS production sports car.

Designed as a customer sport race car for international GT3 category racing, the GT3 R is now lighter, has better aerodynamic efficiency, uses less fuel, gets improved handling, further optimised safety as less costly for service and spare parts.

The race car has a wheelbase of 2,463mm (83mm-more) and comes in measuring 4,604mm-long, 1,975mm-wide on the front axle and 2,002mm-wide at the rear axle

Porsche Motorsport engineers gave the GT3 R a double-bubble roof, a lower centre of gravity – thanks to its centrally mounted radiator as in the 911 RSR, and a longer wheelbase over the previous model for better weight distribution.

The chassis uses a combination of aluminium and steel in addition to the polycarbonate windows (including windscreen) and CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic) parts such as the roof, front cover and fairing, wheel arched, doors, side and tail sections and rear wing - measuring 2,000mm-wide and 400mm-deep.

At the rear lies a largely identical naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six engine to the road-legal GT3 RS that produces over 500bhp and comes with direct injection and variable valve timing technology while mated to a six-speed Porsche sequential constant-mesh gearbox with paddle-shifters.

The brakes for the 1,220 kg race car have been beefed-up with a pair of six-piston aluminium monobloc racing callipers for the 380mm ventilated and grooved steel discs at the front and four-piston callipers with 372mm discs for the rear.

All that gets partially hidden by a set of 18-inch one-piece BBS alloy wheels with racing slick tyres of 300/650 (equivalent to 315/30) for the front and 310/710 (equivalent to 345/35) for the rear.

Safety has also been improved with a further reinforced FT3 safety fuel cell that can hold 120 litres (12 litres more) and also gets a fuel cut-off safety valve in addition to the removable doors and side windows and a larger escape hatch in the roof.

In addition, anti-lock braking system and traction control has been added to enhance safety levels.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 R can be ordered immediately for 429,000 Euro (RM1.8 mil) plus country-specific VAT and will be delivered from December 2015 onwards.


Booking open for Toyota Vios Sports Edition

                SHAH ALAM: With the popular Honda City cutting into its sales, UMW Toyota Motor is striking back with a Toyota Vios Sports Edition. Bookings are now accepted at all Toyota showrooms nationwide.

Inspired by the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Challenge race car, the appearance of the Vios Sports Edition is almost similar but can be registered for road use. It comes with a sports aerokit with a trunk spoiler and black-painted alloy wheels. Stripes around the bodywork are similar to race car.

The Vios Sports Edition also promises sharper handling with a sports suspension fitted. With this, the car’s centre of gravity is lowered by up to 27mm so it sits lower on the road. This reduces body roll during cornering, enhancing stability.

The sporty image is also reflected in the cabin with a special design on the sports fabric seats. The design with the Sports edition emblem is used for the exclusive carpet mats. The gear knob is also a sporty type while on the door sills, illuminated scuff plates with amber illumination provide protection to the bodywork while complementing the sporty image. Amber illumination is also provided in the front footwells to enhance the sporty feeling while also offering better visibility of the area.

Priced at RM85,300 (without insurance), the Vios Sports Edition comes with a 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage,subject to terms and conditions. Customer who buy the car will receive a complimentary Sports Edition merchandise which consists of TGR polo shirt than can be customised with their name, cap and tumbler.

UMW Toyota Motor is timing the new variant rollout with the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Challenge, which takes place next month.


Volvo XC90 B5 mild hybrid unveiled from RM386,800

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Car Malaysia has introduced the new Volvo XC90 B5 Inscription Plus, a mild hybrid under the B badge line.

This new variant, priced from RM386,842, joins the XC90 Recharge T8 Inscription Plus flagship in the large SUV offering.

The XC90 B5 Inscription Plus's integrated electrified powertrain combines an advanced kinetic energy recovery braking system with an internal combustion engine to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Its 4-cylinder turbocharged engine delivers 249hp and 350Nm of torque, is coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission with Geartronic.

Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Charles Frump said new mild hybrid variant allows its customers the flexibility to choose the powertrain that best suits their motoring needs.

The XC90 B5 Inscription Plus retains Volvo’s signature features of a 360° surround view camera, 20-inch wheels and a Bowers & Wilkins Premium Sound Audio System.

Safety features such as Lane Keeping Aid, Cross Traffic Alert and City Safety with Autobrake in the XC90 B5 Inscription Plus underlines Volvo Car Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to developing the safest cars possible.

The XC90 B5 Inscription Plus comes in four different colours and are now available at all authorised Volvo dealers in Peninsular Malaysia.

For East Malaysia, the XC90 B5 will be available at showrooms from March 5 onwards.

Interested buyers can book a test drive through www.volvocars.com/my.

For more information, visitwww.volvocars.com/my or follow Volvo Car Malaysia on Facebook http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-FB and Instagram http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-IG


MazdaSports Academy “Advance Driving” for CX-5 owners

                KUALA LUMPUR: Following the success of MazdaSports Academy’s “Advance Driving” programme in June, Mazda car distributor Bermaz Motor is organising an “Advance Driving” programme for Mazda CX-5 owners.

The event will take place on October 13 and 14 (8am till 4pm; Saturday and Sunday) at MAEPS (Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang).

The programme is limited to 30 Mazda owners per day and participants need to use their own Mazda car.

Participation fee is RM80 (goodie bag will be given).

Each entry is limited to one pax per car, and limited to one day.

This will be the second “Advance Driving” ownership experience programme by Bermaz Motor’s MazdaSports Academy.

With the “Advance Driving” programme, participants will learn about the correct driving position and enhance their driving ability through a dynamic driving practical course.

Mazda CX-5 owners who are interested can register via Mazda Malaysia’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mazdamy/)


Daimler seeks majority control of its main China joint venture

                HONG KONG/FRANKFURT/BEIJING: Daimler is seeking to buy a majority stake in its Chinese operations, three people familiar with the matter said, after initial efforts to raise its stake failed and as Chinese investors tighten their grip on the German carmaker.

Daimler’s moves come at a time of heightened tension between Berlin and Beijing as German lawmakers debate whether to bar China’s Huawei from local 5G networks and as German companies look to ease Chinese ownership restrictions.

Daimler has been exploring several options to strengthen its control of Beijing Benz Automotive Co, its Chinese joint venture with BAIC Group, including a plan to raise its stake to 75% from the current 49%, two of the people familiar with the matter said.

Daimler faces some opposition within BAIC as the Chinese partner wants to maintain control of the highly profitable business that has benefited from strong sales of Mercedes-Benz cars and helped it fund expansion into other activities, sources, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters.

Daimler, which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand, declined to comment on its China expansion plans. BAIC did not respond to requests for comment.

Cash cow

Daimler’s cash cow joint venture with BAIC is the main profit contributor of BAIC Group’s Hong Kong listed company BAIC Motor Corp Ltd, which also has assets of BAIC’s own brand cars and its joint venture with South Korea’s carmaker Hyundai Motor.

In 2018, BAIC Motor reported 37.01 billion yuan (RM21.9bil) gross profit while that of Beijing Benz Automotive contributed 40.52 billion yuan (RM24bil), excluding the profit from the China JV, BAIC Motor was loss-making last year.

Beijing Benz Automotive, which started building and selling locally made vehicles in 2006, sold around 485,000 units last year, accounting for more than 70% of Mercedes-Benz’s China sales.

In China, the world’s biggest auto market, 525,890 Mercedes-Benz cars were sold in the first nine months this year, up 5% from a year earlier even as the total market keeps declining. Its German rival Audi sold 491,040 units and Munich-based BMW sold 526,017 BMW and MINI-branded cars over the same period in China.

Daimler’s stake purchase ambitions come as BAIC is pursuing a separate deal to buy a 10% stake in the German carmaker, sources said, to upstage Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which owns a 9.69% Daimler stake.

If BAIC clinches a 10% shareholding, Chinese companies will control just under 20% of the luxury carmaker, enough to block significant decisions at Daimler’s shareholder meeting, such as nominating directors or approving major investments.

These key decisions need at least 75% of votes cast at an annual general meeting, giving any shareholder with a 20% stake a blocking minority. At Daimler’s 2019 annual general meeting, only 52.91% of the company’s share capital was represented.

Daimler held talks with BAIC in 2018 about increasing its ownership of the China joint venture, but the talks petered out, prompting Daimler’s management to ask Goldman Sachs to explore ways to increase its 9.55% stake in BAIC Motor.

In 2018 Beijing started easing foreign ownership rules, allowing German carmaker BMW to buy a 75% stake in its joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd by 2022, when foreign firms will be permitted to control a non-electric passenger car company in China, prompting Daimler to pursue similar ambitions.

 The Beijing Benz Automotive plant in Beijing.Chinese influence

Daimler has urged the German government to press Beijing to ease ownership restrictions to ensure a “level playing field,” just as China’s ambassador to Germany warned Berlin not to block China’s Huawei from supplying German telecoms equipment.

The United States, which is embroiled in a global trade dispute with China, has urged German chancellor Angela Merkel to exclude Huawei from mobile equipment auctions on security grounds.

Huawei says it is an independent company and dismisses such concerns as baseless attempts by the United States to damage its business and reputation.

Last week, China’s ambassador to Germany, Ken Wu said Beijing could retaliate if Huawei was excluded from Germany’s 5G rollout.

“If Germany were to take a decision in the end that would exclude Huawei from the German market, then it should expect consequences,” the Chinese ambassador said at an event hosted by German business daily Handelsblatt.

“The Chinese government will not just stand by and watch. Look, 28 million cars were sold on the Chinese market last year, including seven million German cars. Could we say too one day that German cars are not safe – because we are capable of producing our own cars? No, this is pure protectionism.”
 The China-only A-Class L Sedan.


BMW K 1600 GT arrives: RM159,900

                CYBERJAYA: BMW Motorrad Malaysia has introduced the new BMW K 1600 GT ultimate tourer priced at RM159,900 (without on-the-road expenses and inclusive of GST).

Apart from the new upgrades for improved touring capabilities, the new BMW K 1600 GT also features more optimised ergonomics for the footrests, seating areas, and handlebar positions.

Han Sang Yun, managing director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “Six-cylinder in-line engines have been an integral part of the history and brand identity of the BMW brand for over 100 years since the invention of the BMW IIIa airplane engine. BMW Motorrad have succeeded in skilfully transferring this tradition to the premium motorcycle industry with the BMW K 1600 GT having the lightest and most compact six-cylinder in-line engine for motorcycles with a capacity of over 1,000cc.”

Armed with the most compact six-cylinder in-line engine in motorcycle series production to date, the new BMW K 1600 GT outputs 160hp at 7,750rpm and a maximum torque of 175Nm at 5,250 rpm, the highest in its class.

At 102.6kg, the six-cylinder engine of the premium motorcycle also retains its position as the lightest series-production six-cylinder engine for motorcycles over 1,000cc.

Additionally, its extremely narrow cylinder spacings makes it significantly slimmer than all other serial production six-cylinder in-line engines.

Designed to meet the requirements of the EU4 pollutant class, the new BMW K 1600 GT features a new engine mapping, a fuel system with carbon canister for fuel tank ventilation and an exhaust system with altered catalytic converters.

The new BMW K 1600 GT is equipped with the new Reverse Assist function which provides enhanced manoeuvring moving backwards.

As a standard, the new BMW K 1600 GT offers three riding modes – “Rain”, “Road”, and “Dynamic” – which can be directly activated at the press of a button strategically located on the right-hand side of the handlebars.

To maximize safety, each mode is individually coupled with the Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), allowing for increased precision in traction control.

Now fitted with the Shift Assistant Pro, the new BMW K 1600 GT enables the rider to shift up and down without engaging the clutch or throttle valve in the relevant load and engine speed ranges.

Meanwhile, engine speed is automatically adapted through double-declutching when decelerating and shifting down (throttle valve closed).

While the Shift Assistant Pro can support the rider on virtually all shifts, there is no shift support when the clutch is activated, when shifting up with the throttle grip closed or when decelerating.

Equipped with Dynamic Electronic Suspension Adaptation (ESA) with adjustment settings of “Road” and “Dynamic”, the new motorcycle promises a more comfortable and improved riding as compared to the predecessor model.

In the default “Road” mode, damping adaptation is fully automated across the entire range for maximum comfort as well traction over essentially all surfaces.

Meanwhile, the “Dynamic” setting activates a tighter damping set-up.

Riders can now start the new BMW K 1600 GT with an igniton button or via a transponder as backup.

Through the transponder, the motorcycle can be started or unlocked without the need of placing a key in the ignition for comfort access.

Additionally, the Hill Start Control enables easy ascension onto upward slopes.

The new feature helps maintain the forward thrust needed to climb upwards even if the rider releases the brake levers.

New colour schemes are the Black Storm Metallic and Mars Red Metallic.

Meanwhile, the Lupine Blue Metallic finish conveys the dynamic capabilities of the new BMW K 1600 GT with a drivetrain finished in black.

The image of a dynamic touring bike is made complete with golden brake calipers and a smaller “Sport” windshield.


EV startup Canoo plans to roll out American-built, pod-like electric pickup in 2023

                DETROIT: Electric vehicle startup Canoo Inc on Wednesday said it will introduce an American-built pod-like electric pickup truck in 2023, following in the footsteps of several rivals also entering the most popular segment of the US automotive market.

Canoo executive chairman Tony Aquila revealed the timing for the truck ahead of an Automobility LA event today. He said the Los Angeles-based company would begin taking pre-orders in the second quarter of 2021.

Aquila said he was aiming to launch the rounded, snub-nosed truck in the first quarter of 2023, and Canoo will build the vehicle in a US microfactory it intends to open.

“This is like no truck you’ve ever seen,” he said in an interview. “It’s the size of a Ford Ranger, can take the payload of a full-sized pickup and (has) the turning radius of a Prius.”

Aquila said in December that Canoo, which subsequently went public through a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company, intended to introduce a pickup.

Pickups are the top-selling vehicles in the US new-vehicle market, with Ford Motor Co, General Motors Co and Stellantis NV’s Ram brand dominating the gasoline-powered segment and generating large portions of those companies’ profits.

While GM and Ford plan to introduce electric pickups with the intention of continuing their dominance, Canoo, Tesla with its Cybertruck, and others believe they can carve out a piece of the market as EV sales increase.

GM, Tesla, and startups Rivian and Lordstown Motors Corp all plan to introduce electric pickups later this year, with Ford following in mid-2022.

Forecasting firm AutoForecast Solutions estimates electric pickups will make up just over 1% of North American pickup production in 2022, rising to 5.7% in 2028.

Canoo’s pickup will join a lineup that includes the pod-like, seven-seat canoo coming in the second quarter of 2022, a delivery vehicle later that year and a sport sedan in 2025.

The pickup will be aimed at both consumer and commercial customers and has the potential to be a high-volume vehicle, creating the need for a small-scale, highly automated microfactory, Aquila said.

Canoo is negotiating with states about a potential site and the company will still use a contract manufacturer to build its lower-volume vehicles, he said.

Canoo has developed a “skateboard” - a low-rise platform that bundles batteries and electric motors with such chassis components as steering, brakes and wheels - on which a variety of vehicle body types can be built.

Canoo said its pickup will have up to 600hp and an electric driving range of more than 320km. Aquila expects the driving range to be 480km or higher by the time the truck actually launches.

The pickup includes a six-foot truck bed that can extend to a fully enclosed eight feet. It also features front cargo storage area and a fold-down worktable with electrical outlets, flip-down side tables and a hidden step offering storage and access to the truck bed.


Oct 27-Nov 2: Fuel prices unchanged

                PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices will remain unchanged from Oct 27-Nov 2.

According to a Finance Ministry statement today, RON97 petrol will be retailed at RM3.95 per litre, RON95 remains at RM2.05 per litre and diesel price stays at RM2.15 per litre.

The prices are set through the Automated Pricing Mechanism.


Toyota unveils bZ4X EV, joins Volkswagen’s bet on electric future

                SHANGHAI: Toyota is accelerating up its push into electric vehicles with the release of its first SUV built on a new EV platform, joining Volkswagen AG’s splashy bet on the future of electric cars.

The world’s largest carmaker previewed its "bZ4X,” an electric SUV sitting on its new "e-TNGA” platform at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show today.

The vehicle is a compact SUV that resembles Toyota’s popular RAV-4, but is built on a entirely new platform and features a distinctive yoke instead of a traditional steering wheel, as well as a system that can recharge the car’s battery using solar power.

By 2025, Toyota plans to introduce 15 EVs, including seven "bZ” series models globally, said Toyota chief technology officer Masahiko Maeda, speaking at a briefing today.

The bZ4X is the first of the "bZ” series, which stands for "beyond zero,” or cars that exceed being "just zero-emission,” according to Toyota.

Toyota plans to produce the bZ4X in Japan and China and sell it worldwide by mid-2022.

The move from Toyota comes as major automakers pivot toward electrification, with countries from Japan to the UK pledging to phase out gasoline-only vehicles over the coming decades.

Until now, hybrid heavyweight Toyota had taken a more cautious approach to EVs, but that’s starting to change with the latest debut. By comparison, Volkswagen, Toyota’s main global rival, announced last month a US$29 billion bet on new battery technology to accelerate its shift to EVs.

"Toyota isn’t behind Volkswagen and others when it comes to EV development, it just hasn’t been as vocal as others,” said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Tatsuo Yoshida.

"The ambitious announcement for new models was a surprise, but it was just Toyota finally revealing what it’s been working on for some time.”

The Japanese automaker says the e-TNGA platform will speed up deployment of new EVs, reducing development time and allowing different models to be designed in parallel.

The platform can be fitted to a broad range of vehicle sizes, and while certain key elements remain fixed, the battery and electric motor - the most expensive parts of an EV - can be adjusted based on the model.

The ability to produce cars of different prices and sizes based on its modular platform will give Toyota the ability to reach a wider swathe of consumers - younger consumers in China demanding smaller and cheaper models such as the US$4,230 SAIC Motor Corp.-General Motors Hongguang Mini EV.

The e-TNGA platform is a similar approach to that Volkswagen is taking with the MEB car platform, used by the German automaker and its subsidiaries for electric car development.

"In the years since we first introduced the Prius, we’ve not pushed forward with any single technology, instead preparing numerous options including fuel cell, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles,” Toyota’s Maeda said.

The company will expand its number of electrified models, which includes hybrids, to around 70 by 2025.


AAA survey reveals Americans still scared of driverless vehicles

                ORLANDO: The global motor industry may be gung-ho at the moment to bring truly driverless cars to our roads and showrooms, but it appears the public's appetite for them might not be as vociferous as those developing them might like to believe.

That's because a new survey from the American Automobile Association (AAA) released this week has revealed that Americans are still frightened at the prospect of riding inside an autonomous car. But the data from the latest survey also shows more people now say they would trust a driverless car than was the case last year.

The AAA's latest survey shows 20 million more American drivers would trust an autonomous vehicle than the 2017 survey revealed. But in what is the third of these annual surveys by the AAA, 63 percent of drivers in the United States admitted they would be afraid to be a passenger in a vehicle that drove itself.

The new figures will at least offer some comfort to those companies spending billions of dollars developing driverless cars because last year, the percentage who said driverless cars scared of them was as high as 78 percent.

Another interesting statistic from the survey shows that there's quite a lot of love out there for semi-autonomous technology, rather than full autonomy. Some 51 percent of respondents said they want autonomous features in their vehicles, such as braking and steering. There is a caveat to that too though, and that's because last year that figure was higher at 59 percent.

Also, 73 percent of women questioned said they were afraid of the idea of riding in a driverless vehicle, compared to just 52 percent of men. And one of the more predictable aspects of the survey was that Millennials were the most trusting age group when it comes to the technology.

Only 49 percent of Millennials were still afraid, which is way down from last year's 73 percent. When it comes to Baby Boomers, 68 percent now fear vehicle autonomy, but even that is down from a pretty decisive 85 percent in the 2017 survey.

The AAA's automotive engineering and industry relations director, Greg Bannon, said in a press release, "AAA found that American drivers are very confident in their driving abilities, which may explain some hesitation to give up full control to a self-driving vehicle. Education, exposure and experience will likely help ease consumer fears as we steer toward a more automated future.


More orange boxes to be drawn to enhance safety on Penang Island

                GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will increase the number of orange boxes drawn at traffic light junctions to ensure the safety of motorcyclists and cyclists.

MBPP infrastructure and traffic committee alternate chairman Tan Seng Keat said there were 19 such grids marked with motorcycle and bicycle symbols on the island, with most of them in George Town.

“The orange boxes are designed solely for those using motorbikes and bicycles.

“They can stop within the boxes while waiting for the lights to change to green.

“Meanwhile, car and lorry drivers are advised to give way and stop behind the riders at the junctions,” he said when contacted by StarMetro.

Introduced in 2020, the initiative was aimed at instilling awareness among motorcyclists to stop within the box and not encroach on pedestrian crossings.

Asked if it was an offence if motorcyclists or cyclists do not stop within the box at traffic light junctions, Tan said no.

“There is no by-law on this matter and we don’t intend to enact any,” he said.


Koenigsegg teases new hypercar for 2022

                ÄNGELHOLM (Sweden): Koenigsegg has kicked off the New Year with a teaser of a new hypercar, slated for reveal later this year.

Koenigsegg posted on its Instgram page the following: "Dear 2022, here's our New Year's resolution - More ultimate performance through clever engineering and optimal design. Here we go!"

The car in profile is cast in shadow, showing it to have a teardrop glasshouse and angled taillights that reminds one of those in the 2006 CCX's, the first Koenigsegg to have used an in-house developed engine.

The front splitter looks similar to the one in the 2004 CCR, while the rear diffuser harks back to the Agera.

It could be that the new hypercar is a homage to the 646hp CC8S, the brand's first production car built in 2002 and 2003. This year would be the 20th anniversary of the CC8S.

The new hypercar is likely to use a variant of the V8 mill found in the Jesko hypercar and Regera grand tourer.


Businessman's 'toy car' Jaguar draws the stares

                KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman has stuck more than 4,600 toy cars onto his luxury car, which draws the stares of onlookers wherever and whenever he drives it.

Datuk Seri Mahadi Badrul Zaman (pic), 34, said that he had been collecting toy cars since he was a child, and decided to use them to decorate the Jaguar, instead of leaving them scattered all over his house.

"I like creative ideas, and this Jaguar is my first car and has sentimental value to me, so I decided to execute the idea on it," he told Bernama on Thursday.

His creatively-decorated car is an attention grabber, with many taking photos of and with it wherever he parks the vehicle.

 Close-up of the toy cars-on-car. - Bernama

"So far, not many of the cars (stuck on the Jaguar) have gone missing. I will have to park at a safer spot when I drive this car," the businessman said.

He said the task of decorating the car using a special type of glue took about three weeks, which cost him about RM20,000.

Mahadi said that since he started driving the car in January, he has received offers to buy the one-of-a-kind car.

"I will never sell this car because this has been my dream car since I was young," he said.

Asked if he would use the idea on his other cars, Mahadi said he had no plans of doing so at the moment but he did think employing it on his blazers or suits.

"The idea may sound crazy but when we are creative, we will be more positive," he said.


March fuel prices up 25 sen

                PETALING JAYA: Petrol and diesel prices will go up by 25 sen per litre from March 1, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry announced in a statement today.

RON95 petrol will be priced RM1.95 (up from RM1.70), RON97 petrol at RM2.25 (up from RM2) and diesel at RM1.95 (up from RM1.70).

This follows the ministry's decision to set the market prices of RON95 petrol and diesel on a managed float, starting from Dec 1 last year.

In the statement, Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said prices were determined based on the average cost price of the product during February 2015 and currency exchange rates.

"The Government will monitor the development of the market price of the products' costs and currency exchange rates every time to set the retail price of petrol and diesel for the following months," said Hasan.

The minister reminded all oil companies and petrol station operators to comply with the new pricing.

"Stern action will be taken against those who violate the rules relating to the new prices set by the Government," he added.


Luxury hypercars we're waiting for in 2019

                LONDON: The Aston Martin Valkyrie and McLaren Speedtail top the list of luxury hypercars that we're excited to - hopefully - see in 2019.

Aston Martin Valkyrie

News of the Aston Martin Valkyrie has been trickling in since 2017. Most recently, the company revealed the specs of its powerful engine, which is capable of 11,000 RPM and a top speed around 250 mph, thanks to the naturally-aspirated 6.5-litre 65° V12. Reports claim that the US$3.2 million hypercar will finally make its debut sometime in 2019, though all 25 production models are already sold out.

McLaren Speedtail

Setting owners back at a whopping US$2.4 million, the Speedtail was designed to replace the now-discontinued McLaren P1, increasing the horsepower to 1,035hp from 903hp. This hypercar can go from 0 to 300kph in just under 13 seconds, and to its top speed in 402kph. Though the car, whose 106 expected models have already been sold out, is scheduled to be delivered in 2020, we can expect to see a show appearance this year.

Mercedes-AMG Project One

While the Mercedes-AMG Project One was first unveiled last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, the 275 model units - each priced at US$2.72 million - have yet to make it out to their owners.

The exact horsepower that the modified 1.6-litre turbocharged 90-degree V6 engine can produce has not been confirmed, but it's said to be substantially over 1,000hp. The car can potentially reach 200kph from 0 in less than six seconds, and the top speed is allegedly more than 350kph - for a hybrid hypercar, those numbers aren't too shabby.

Lamborghini LB48H

Lamborghini has been fairly evasive about the upcoming LB48H hypercar, which several reports claim will "glow in the dark." The model is expected to be powered by a hybrid V12, but that's as much as we know for now. The company stated that it showed the US$2.5 million hybrid hypercar to prospective buyers back in June, though it doesn't appear to have been made available for purchase yet.

Sources indicate the LB48H would be named Unico. It could borrow some styling cues from the Terzo Millennio concept electric car.

With the LB48H allegedly having gone into production at the end of last year, it's likely we'll be seeing it on the streets in 2019. When it does go on sale, like all the others on this list, it'll probably sell out pretty quickly - better have your eyes peeled and your hefty wallet ready.

READ MORE: 15 new cars Malaysians will see in 2019


Volvo Cars laying off several hundred workers, says Swedish radio

                STOCKHOLM: Swedish carmaker Volvo, which is owned by China’s Geely, is cutting several hundred jobs, Swedish radio reported last Friday citing sources.

The carmaker, whose number of employees has more than doubled over the past decade to about 43,000, confirmed it was reviewing staff and other costs to ensure its business had the “right skills”.

“As a growing company Volvo Cars is constantly reviewing its cost base. This becomes even more important in light of the headwinds the industry is facing and Volvo Cars is now increasing its focus on costs related to staffing and bought services,” the company said in an emailed statement.

The jobs primarily affected were those of consultants and staff involved in factory production will not be affected, a Volvo spokesman said.

He declined to specify the number of job cuts and savings expected from the layoffs.

Volvo’s fortunes have come under renewed threat with the car sector facing one of its most challenging periods due to trade conflicts, hefty bills to develop electric and driverless cars, and an overall downturn in the industry.

The company, which has put its listing plans on ice due to the tariff wars and auto stock downturn, has reported lower first-quarter profit and warned that margins will remain under pressure this year.


Thoroughbreds lose out to Ferrari in 'Ben Hur' duel

Barone and his Ferrari 458 Italia competing against a Roman chariot drawn by two horses.— AFP
ROME: Two thoroughbreds pulling a Roman style chariot just lost out to a top racing driver in an unusual duel Thursday on the same piste used for the chariot race in the "Ben Hur" remake.

Fabio Barone finally drove his Ferrari 458 Italia to victory by a handful of seconds to see off the thoroughbreds at the course just south of Rome.

The venue was the setting for much of last year's remake of the original 1959 Ben Hur epic — which won 11 Academy Awards. The original's chariot race remains one of the iconic sequences in cinematic history.

 Barone and the 458 Italia. - AFP

Organisers of Thursday's race provided a few handicaps for Barone, including having to take a longer outside 'lane' trajectory while enduring a liberal application of extra sand on the course.

Barone also had to put in an extra half lap and forego electronically assisted steering technology.

"A Ferrari launched in a straight line on sand is a bit like launching a car on a greasy piste," said Barone, 44.

"When you get to the bend it's very difficult to turn.

"The main problem was keeping my car straight. From the first lap I no longer had any brakes," he added as the sand clogged up the brakes' circuit.

The chariot racer dressed in the costume of a Roman also found the bends tough going from the outset.

"When the horses saw it they thought they were going to be able to head off home and didn't want to make turns any more," he said.

For Barone, the unusual challenge added to his high-powered CV including two speed stunts which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records for negotiating dangerous mountain passes in China's Hunan province and the Carpathian mountains in Romania.

"Racing against those two horses was truly moving," he said, lauding the "really exceptional animals."


Geely to acquire Proton, claim sources

                PARIS/BEIJING: Geely has agreed to buy struggling Proton from DRB-Hicom, sources said on Tuesday, beating out rival bidder PSA Group.

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which controls Hong Kong-based Geely Automobile and Sweden's Volvo Car Group, will acquire 49 percent of Proton, the sources said. Proton also controls British sports car maker Lotus.

Spokesmen for DRB-Hicom could not immediately be reached for comment after office hours in Kuala Lumpur. The group earlier asked for trading in its shares to be suspended pending an announcement.

Proton, founded in 1983 by former Malaysian premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, received 1.5 billion ringgit ($338.2 million) in government aid last year on condition that it pursue a turnaround plan and seek a foreign partner.

Other potential bidders have included PSA, the Paris-based maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars, its domestic rival Renault and Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp.

 A Geely investment would help Proton grow its sales overseas and recover some of the global presence. - Reuters

PSA, whose chief executive Carlos Tavares had said Proton would be a good fit, did not immediately return calls and messages seeking comment.

Proton re-badges cars from foreign manufacturers to sell in the local market, but its quality has declined in recent years. The company has two Malaysian plants with an annual capacity of 400,000 cars, currently running far below maximum output.

An earlier attempt in 2007 to woo new partners for Proton foundered on the Malaysian government's refusal to allow foreign bidders to acquire control.

Geely's investment would help Proton grow its sales overseas and recover some of the global presence it has lost in recent years, people familiar with the bidding process told Reuters in February.

By offering some of its own technology, Geely hopes to lift Proton's sales in right hand-drive markets including Malaysia, Britain, India and Australia, they said.

The success of midsize Geely models such as the GC9 sedan and Boyue SUV helped to grow the brand's China sales by 50 percent last year to 765,851 vehicles.


Workshop offers free breakdown services to Covid-19 fighters in Klang Valley

                KUALA LUMPUR: Prestige CarCare is offering complimentary emergency services to all Covid-19 frontliners.

These include doctors, health workers, policemen and Rela volunteers whose cars have broken down within the Klang Valley during the March 18-April 14 movement control order (MCO).

Jump-starting batteries and changing tyres are among the free services provided. Although Prestige CarCare focuses on continental cars, its special offer is open to Asian makes and other non-continental marques as well.

The company said its mechanics would be on standby 24/7 to cater to requests. It assured that its team would practise proper hygiene when attending to those in need.

To get the free service, the frontline workers should follow the steps below:

> Call the Prestige CarCare Helpline at 010-276 1163 in case of a breakdown within the Klang Valley

> State the issue faced and the car’s condition

> Provide any form of identification via a picture sent to Whatsapp to verify that you are a front-liner

> Upon verification, a mechanic will be on his way to assess the situation and provide emergency aid.

Kuala Lumpur-based Prestige CarCare was set up in 2010 to handle the service and maintenance of continental cars. The cars it has worked on include luxury brands such as those from Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover and Porsche.

Apart from the main workshop in Jalan Chan Sow Lin, Kuala Lumpur, Prestige CarCare also has a second workshop in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.


Three-day discount period for selected traffic summonses from Jan 10

                KUALA LUMPUR: The police are offering a three-day discount period for selected traffic summonses starting Jan 10.

The announcement made on the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department Facebook page recently said that the offer will last until Jan 12 and added that it is valid for in-person payments at the Jalan Tun H.S. Lee Traffic police station.

The payment period starts at 8.30am and ends at 4.30pm on all three days.

Those issued with the summonses who wish to pay via the MyBayar Saman application must also be present in person at the station to scan the discount barcode.

The police added in the post that discounts of up to 50% will be offered.

Traffic summonses by the police issued outside Kuala Lumpur will also be eligible for the discount.

Selected traffic offences will not be eligible, which include offences in the non-compoundable (NC) category, emergency lane offences, exhaust modifications, cases with trial status and offences related to heavy vehicles.


ZF Group sees more success and growth

                STUTTGART: Germany's ZF Group recorded a 9% sales growth and a more than one-third increase in earnings in 2014.

Last year, ZF also created almost 3,200 new jobs worldwide – an increase of 5% to 71,402 employees.

In 2014, the technology company generated sales of EUR 18.4 billion (RM74.2 billion), which once again is above the industry average.

It also improved profitability, with earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rising more than one-third to about EUR 1.1 billion (RM4.43 billion).

The main growth driver was business with automatic passenger car transmissions and axle systems.

“The 8-speed automatic transmission, whose second generation we launched last year, has been especially popular among customers,” said ZF's chief executive officer Dr Stefan Sommer.

 ZF's chief executive officer Dr Stefan Sommer.

As a result of the strong demand for ZF products, the company once again invested about EUR 1 billion (RM4.03 billion) in property, plant, and equipment last year; an amount that considerably exceeds depreciation.

The Engineering Center in Shanghai, for instance, is being expanded on a massive scale; a new test center for transmissions is being built in Friedrichshafen, the headquarters of corporate research and development at the ZF Group.

Last year, ZF spent EUR 891 million (RM3.59 billion) on research and development (R&D), which is 7% more compared to the previous year.

This means that ZF has once again reached the target figure of 5% of sales for R&D.

With more than 860 patent applications, the company was again ranked among the top 10 innovators in Germany.

 8-speed automatic transmission from ZF.

Meanwhile, the most milestone for ZF last year was the group's merger deal with Livonia, Michigan-headquartered TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.

In global terms, this merger which is due to be completed in the first half of 2015, will create a new giant in the automotive supplier industry.

The merged companies will have total annual sales of about EUR 30 billion (RM120.9 billion) and 138,000 employees.

With the merger, sales for the ZF Group will more than double in China and the United States, the two largest automotive markets in the world.

“As a result, customers of ZF and TRW will have access to a broad product portfolio from a single source that will offer future mobility solutions in both driveline and chassis technology as well as safety and assistance systems,” said Sommer.

“ZF set an important strategic course in 2014,” emphasised Sommer.

"Other important steps included the founding of two new joint ventures in China: one with automotive manufacturer BAIC in the passenger car chassis sector and the other one with tractor manufacturer YTO in the agricultural machinery sector," he added.


Find out how BMW car steering determines driving feel

                MUNICH: Car steering is what connects the driver with the road. But what is good steering? And how does it work?

The most basic parts of a car’s steering are the following: the tie rods, the steering gear, steering wheel and the steering column. There is also an optional feature called rear-wheel steering, which is available in certain models.

In order to achieve the steering feel typical of a BMW, it is important to work closely together with all the suppliers. They send the steering system components to BMW in modular form. BMW then does the fine tuning. The engineers and test drivers adapt the steering system parts to the chassis, absorption, springs and brakes.

Three pillars of steering experience

Assistance, absorption and returnability are the three pillars that define the steering experience.  These factors all depend on the vehicle’s speed, steering speed and the forces that are exerted on the rack in the steering gear.

All these parameters are adjusted for individual preferences in each variation of the BMW model programme. This means that even within a model family, the engine and body variation differ with regard to their steering tuning – which involves relevant expenses.

What makes steering perfect

Well-tuned steering makes a correction for the unevenness of the road and mistakes made by the driver without the driver even noticing. It simplifies car driving, makes it more relaxing and therefore safer.

This is according to BMW Steering System Development unit head Steffen Koch, who goes on to offer an example: “If you’re driving your car on a road that narrows down a great deal due to construction, you have to correct your direction often by turning the steering wheel. A car’s steering should be tuned in such a way that this correction is not necessary.”

At the same time the steering serves to convey the condition of the road to drivers, so that hitting the curves is just as enjoyable as “going to the supermarket,” says BMW Driving Dynamic Development engineer Christian Heiss.

Good steering must also cover the entire spectrum of driving situations. How a BMW handles must be predictable for every type of driver – regardless of whether a professional or a beginner is sitting behind the wheel. Or, as Koch puts it, “It must be predictable and linear. And the vehicle must do what the driver expects of it no matter the speed.”

Of course the steering power must be adjusted primarily for the type of vehicle and its weight with regard to direct deflection (the car reacts directly to steering commands, if it didn’t, it would be sluggish). If the steering is too loose, the driver overcompensates, i.e. the driver unintentionally uses too much force. In this case, the adjustment involves finely tuned components such as the steering gear, etc. – the better developed these are, the more options there are for fine tuning.

The trick is to adapt the wide range of tuning options available to the model in question. With a BMW Z4, for example, the focus is on providing both direct contact with the road and driving pleasure, while for a BMW 7 Series, comfort is more important. In this respect, each model has its own individual “feel”, explains Heiss, which determines the priorities when tuning the steering.

The engineer’s favourite tool: the 'Popometer'

“Popometer” is a fun word that Germans use to describe gauging the driving dynamics of a car by feeling rather than by calculating. In German, “Popo” is what little children call their buttocks. So you could call it a “buttometer.” All the computers in the world cannot replace the reactions and experience of a test driver. Or, as BMW expert Heiss puts it, “For us, the Popometer is the most important tuning instrument bar none.” At least in the final step of tuning the steering. Once the vehicle arrives at the applications department following steering development, it’s all about the feel of the car.

So, of course, measuring technology is used here. The first 30 percent of this process of developing components is done in advance with the help of computers, adds Koch. In the mid-term, up to 80 percent of development work is expected to be done on a computer. But the last 20 percent, the fine tuning, or as Koch calls it, “the ideal way to define the typical steering feel,” can only be achieved by humans. Heiss says that computers are used to examine the results and identify any unresolved issues.

But then it goes back to the experience of the development engineers in charge. For the time being, Koch does not see any changes forthcoming because computers are not yet able to take over these tasks from humans.

For us, the Popometer is the most important tuning instrument bar none, says Heiss.

Maximising comfort and safety: pull-drift compensation

BMW believes that a finely tuned steering system is also the safest. Compromises are never made in terms of safety, emphasise both Koch and Heiss. But ways to improve comfort are constantly being researched. This is how another of BMW’s steering features, pull-drift compensation, came to be.

So what is pull-drift compensation? Koch uses this example to explain: lanes are generally sloped to one side (to enable rainwater to drain off, etc.). When driving straight ahead, drivers have to constantly compensate for this slope so they don’t go off to the side. This creates long periods where it is necessary to maintain this force, which is tiring.

But the system recognises that the driver intends to keep driving straight ahead, so the steering assist provides greater force. Drivers still have to compensate, but not nearly as much, which reduces the force on their hands.

Impact of steering on autonomous driving

According to Koch, the features of a highly developed electric steering system are the key to all future developments – and especially autonomous driving. Electric steering will make it possible for engineers to allow computer systems to autonomously drive the car.

The system is already used today in parking assistance.

Drive-by-wire belongs to this same area. It’s an overarching term for systems in which there are no longer any mechanical or hydraulic connections between the devices the driver operates (steering wheel, brakes and gas pedal) and the systems that control the vehicle.

For the steering system, steer-by-wire means that the connection between the steering wheel and the front tyres is purely electronic. The electric steering gear no longer takes over just the power assistance, but also maneuvers the axles independently based on signals from the steering wheel.

The big advantage of steer-by-wire is that the wheels and steering wheel can turn independently of one another. This is also important for autonomous driving: the steering wheel no longer needs to rotate (as with parking assistance). Safety systems present a particular challenge because the driver must be able to control the vehicle if an error occurs even if there is no mechanical connection.

Letting a car drive straight on shouldn’t be a big problem. But in reality it is because there are a number of processes involved in this simple act.

“And this is very challenging for the computer,” notes Heiss. “A human will react intuitively by compensating in order to stay in the lane, such as if the lane slopes slightly to one side.”

But computers and intuition do not go together quite as well. In short, technicians have a lot of work ahead of them trying to train computers to achieve the amount of human intuition involved in driving.

Or in other words, the Popometer has set the bar very high.


Malaysian team take first ever win in World Endurance Championship race

The Malaysian team celebrating their win. - Twitter/Nabil Jeffri
PETALING JAYA: Jazeman Jaafar, Nabil Jeffri and Weiron Tan made history for Malaysian motorsports by chalking their first ever win at a World Endurance Championship (WEC) race.

The all-Malaysian line-up emerged as the winner of the LMP2 class in the 6 Hours of Fuji race at the Fuji Speedway in Japan today.

Jazeman took over from Nabil for the final stint and completed 217 laps to finish first in their class, and sixth overall for Team Jackie Chan DC Racing X Jota Sport team.

It was a one-two finish for the Jackie Chan-backed team with sister car Ho Pin-tung, Stephane Richelmi and Gabriel Aubry also crossing the finish line for second spot in the LMP2 class.

 Jazeman, flanked by Weiron (left) and Nabil. - Twitter/Nabil Jeffri

The Malaysian trio chalked their first podium in the WEC when they finished second in their class at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in United Kingdom in August.

Jazeman, Nabil and Weiron raised hopes of a solid outing after qualifying second for the 6 Hours of Fuji race on Saturday.

Toyota Gazoo Racing claimed a 1-2 finish in the LMP class with Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez leading home Alonso, Kazuki Nakajima and Sebastien Buemi.


Latest Volvo S60 launched in Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: The new Volvo S60, featuring a more purposeful and dynamic facade, has been launched in Malaysia.

The range-topping 2.0-litre S60 T5 is powered by a 240hp turbo petrol engine, and the entry-level 1.6-litre S60 T4 has a 180hp turbo petrol engine.

Both powertrains are paired with a 6-speed Powershift transmission complete with Geartronic.

The S60 T4, is priced at RM221,888 while the S60 T5, is priced at RM268,888.

Prices are on-the-road without insurance.

Both variants will come with Volvo’s extended coverage plan which includes a 5-year warranty, 5 years of free service including parts per scheduled maintenance, and 5 years of free roadside assist (Volvo-on-Call).

Buyers can choose from five exterior colours – Flamenco Red, Ice White, Ember Black, Electric Silver, and Seashell.

An optional exterior styling kit, including the R-Design Styling Package allows customers the opportunity to further enhance the S60’s already nuanced appearance.

The New S60 has a new Digital Instrument Cluster with an 8-inch Adaptive Digital Display.

It also features Volvo Sensus, where all information is presented on a seven-inch colour screen in the upper part of the centre stack.

All the functions can be controlled via buttons built into the steering wheel or via touch buttons located just below the colour screen.

The Bluetooth connection has been upgraded to allow not only hands-free phone conversations but also music streaming from a preferred Bluetooth enabled portable music player.

Volvo is actually the only brand to offer Bluetooth music streaming throughout the entire vehicle range.

Safety features for the new S60 include Cornering Light for better visibility, Enhanced Blind Spot Information System, Cross Traffic Alert, City Safety - active up to 50km/h.

Features that are exclusive for the S60 T5 include Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection technology, new Active High Beam Control, Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake, Adaptive Cruise Control also in slow queues, Driver Alert Control, and Road Sign Information that supports the driver by displaying road signs in the instrument display.


Toyota aims to build record 9.2 million vehicles this year, says Nikkei

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp plans record high global production of 9.2 million vehicles this year, up about 2% from 2019’s pre-coronavirus output, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Friday.

The automaker has informed its main suppliers of the plan, which reflects sales momentum in China and demand recovery in North America and Japan, the Nikkei said, without citing sources.

Toyota is expecting solid sales around the globe this year thanks to the release of coronavirus vaccines, the newspaper added.

A spokesman for the company was not immediately available for comment.

Toyota overtook Volkswagen in vehicle sales last year, regaining pole position as the world’s top selling automaker for the first time in five years as the pandemic demand slump hit its German rival harder.

Toyota said today its group-wide global sales fell 11.3% to 9.528 million vehicles in 2020. That compared with a 15.2 percent drop at Volkswagen to 9.305 million vehicles.


Perodua gives RM2mil to the fight against Covid-19

                KUALA LUMPUR: Perodua has contributed RM2mil to the National Disaster Management Agency’s (Nadma) Covid-19 fund.

Perodua also donated 150 mattresses, 200 pillows, 105 boxes of mineral water, 15 industrial fans and 300 pairs of rubber boots to the Sungai Buloh Hospital to aid in the ongoing fight against the contagion.

“This war against Covid-19 is a shared responsibility. The funds and items contributed by Perodua are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure Malaysia will recover as fast as it can,” said Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

The contribution was presented by Zainal to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at his office earlier today.

The fund was launched by the Prime Minister on March 11 with the aim of aiding citizens who were most vulnerable to the impact of the March 18-April 14 movement control order (MCO).

The fund would help the unemployed and those who have been badly affected by the MCO.

The government also recently introduced the Prihatin Rakyat Stimulus Package to further help Malaysians affected by Covid-19.

“We are committed to the social distancing measures enforced by the authorities to ensure the spread of the virus is contained. To our customers in particular and all Malaysians in general, please stay indoors and stay healthy,” said Zainal.


Selangor may use drones to find potholes to patch

                KLANG: Selangor will study the use of drones and artificial intelligence (AI) to assess if there are trees, potholes or other infrastructure that need maintenance.

Selangor senior state executive councillor Datuk Teng Chang Khim said the drones would be useful for the 12 local authorities in the state to predict risks, particularly if a tree was at risk of collapsing during heavy thunderstorms.

"The data collected by drones on the trees and potholes will be analysed using artificial intelligence, which will make it easier for us to determine the condition of the trees and potholes.

"Through the information gathered, we will know how many trees that are older than 30 years and are growing too close to power lines and these trees will need pruning," he said after meeting the residents of Bandar Baharu Klang here today, who were affected by the recent storm which hit several parts of Klang on Oct 1.

Teng said the project to use drones to assess trees and potholes would be initiated by the Selangor Information Technology and E-Commerce Council, and a pilot project will be carried out at one of the local councils.

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Kia Grand Carnival:  A family-friendly expansion

                Previously offered only in an eight-seater configuration, the Kia Grand Carnival is now an 11-seater with some updates.

The sole variant has been priced down to RM179,888 from the previous flagship SX model which was tagged at RM184,888 in late 2018.

The Grand Carnival still hasn't transitioned fully to LEDs for the projector headlights and front fogs but at least the daytime runners and rear light clusters are.

This South Korean multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) plays its convenience game really well with powered sliding doors on both sides that can be actuated from within the cabin at the press of a button.

Comfort is really impressive with plenty of room and if owners are hauling the insane maximum of 10 passengers - space will be extremely minimal for those in the fourth row and there won't be any boot space left.

Hidden under the rear boot's floorboard is where the fourth bench resides and tugging on a tether firmly will have them easily deployed or quickly stowed away.

Having such an ability is, of course, mind-boggling which is why this MPV's wheelbase is long at 3,060mm compared to the Toyota Alphard (2,950mm) or Vellfire (3,000mm).

The cream and black combination of the interior projects some premium-feel while its soft touch-points in the high visibility areas do well to render that point.

Passengers will have plenty of headroom to contend with along with a plethora of cup holders for those long haul journeys as well as USB ports for peripherals and gadgets that are located in the rear including the luggage area.

Despite rolling on 18-inch wheels, noise, vibrations and harshness is well-taken care of thanks to 235/60 series tyres that really help to "smoothen" out any uneven road surfaces.

Due to the tyre specs, don't expect for a razor-like steering feel.

The front Macpherson and rear multilink suspension setup here will add to comfort levels.

The Grand Carnival's powertrain hasn't changed with its 2.2-litre turbo-diesel mill still producing 200PS and 441 Nm of torque while being mated to an eight-speed automatic for the front wheels.

Power delivery is decent with plenty of gusto if needed and the transmission operates smoothly in all instances but with a maximum of 11 humans onboard, let's just say it'll get the job done.

Although the engine is a "clacker" - as all turbo-diesel engines are, the interior remains quiet when puttering about in urban environments or simply cruising along on highways.

In both instances, it is nothing short of pleasurable.

Within tighter confines, the Grand Carnival's light steering feel aids manoeuvrability which helps to hide its size and weight as a people mover.

Having said that, drivers will still need to have more front axle lead when turning at full-lock to ensure the rear of this 5,115mm-long MPV clears any obstacles.

Entry into the cabin's rear seats can feel quite challenging for the elderly with the lack of an added step to counter the effects of the vehicle's tall ride-height.

From the driver's perspective, all-round visibility is excellent with large exterior mirrors, an electrochromic rearview mirror and a 7.0-inch touchscreen with reverse camera footage, voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Grand Carnival's driving experience is one that's always relaxing regardless of the distance to destination and with a total of six onboard, expect nothing short of an airy feel.

What we really liked the most was the inclusion of a centre pass-through section right up to the boot.

Here, passengers are able to clamber through to the rear by folding the centre section of the second and third-row seats.

Carrying a full load of passengers will quickly and greatly cramp the interior's confines and since humans come in all shapes and sizes, the second and third rows are able to slide forward or aft in order to help dial in some leg-room for all.

Other than that, there's very little to complain about the Carnival, save for some nit-picking.

Although Kia has provided a touchscreen infotainment unit, it just looks awkwardly small within the vastness of the dashboard.

There's also that out-of-fashion T-bone gear selector, no 360-degree camera system and no powered driver's seat at the least.

The powered tailgate, as well as the Blind-Spot Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning from the previous SX variant, was unfortunately done away with to make this MPV more attractive in terms of pricing.

Personally, having a 360-degree camera system, powered boot, powered driver's seat and paddle shifters will make it far more attractive.

These negatives are subjective and do not pose too much of a deal-breaker, but the truth of the matter is that the Grand Carnival is one that's going to shoulder transportation duties for family and friends.

To that effect, there's already plenty of goodies to help boost comfort and convenience which does help to make the Grand Carnival's lack of certain equipment easily forgivable.

Even way back in the cramped confines of the fourth row, there's air conditioning vents, USB ports and cup holders if needed while the second and third-row occupants get manual sunshades.

For what it's worth, the Grand Carnival would be an excellent addition for the family thanks to its sturdy build quality, excellent comfort levels, all-round visibility and the ultimate ability to bring the entire "village" on road trips.

SPECIFICATIONS Kia Grand Carnival 2.2 CRDi Engine: 2,199cc, turbodiesel
Maximum power: 200PS at 3,800rpm
Maximum torque: 440Nm from 1,750 to 2,750rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Features: Six airbags, electronic stability control, hill start assist, rearview camera, multi-function steering wheel, 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and USB ports, keyless entry with push-start button, tri-zone automatic climate controls, full auto-up and down power windows, dedicated power-slide door button, electrochromic rearview mirror, four USB charging ports, integrated roof rack, LED daytime running lights, rear LED light clusters, halogen fogs and projector headlights, 18-inch wheels with 235/60 series tyres.
Price: RM179,888 (on-the-road without insurance)


With remote control, companies blur lines over who owns devices

                DETROIT: When Samsung Electronics remotely disabled the last of its flawed Galaxy Note 7 smartphones last month, it further blurred the lines between who ultimately controls your phone, or computer, car or appliance: you, or the companies that make it work?

Industry executives and analysts say companies are exerting greater remote control over their devices - changing how and whether they work, removing or adding software and content, or collecting personal data from them - not always with permission or with the user's best interests at heart.

"(The Samsung case) is exactly an example of how devices ... are no longer objects we own, but rather services we've subscribed to and which can be revoked at a moment's notice," said Stefano Zanero, an Italian computer security expert.

 File pic of a customer using his Samsung Galaxy Note 7 as he waits for an exchange in Seoul last October. - Reuters

Mahbubul Alam, chief technology officer at Movimento, a car tech firm now owned by Delphi Automotive, says manufacturers have moved on from just selling a device and hoping there's no recall to a world where they are in touch with users through internet-connected devices that they can "change, modify, adjust" as they see fit.

"With power comes responsibility," he adds. "It's a new power that the device manufacturers and telcos have. How they exercise their responsibility is very important."

Samsung said it retrieved 96 percent of the more than three million Note 7s it had sold and activated. That left more than 120,000 unreturned phones that were put out of action by over-the-air software updates or by telecom operators barring them from their networks.

"We assume the majority of unreturned devices are not actually used," said a spokesperson for the South Korean firm.

In another example, HP Inc last year used a software update to prevent unauthorized cartridges being used with some of its printers. After some users complained, HP offered an optional update. HP did not respond to requests for comment.

In other cases, manufacturers use so-called firmware updates to stop people using their devices in ways they don't want.

Apple, for example, routinely upgrades the firmware on iPhones to outwit users' attempts to open up the software to unapproved apps and functions - dubbed jailbreaking - said Bunnie Huang, a hardware entrepreneur.

Bryan Hale of Resin.io, which distributes software updates to connected devices, says gadget makers increasingly realize that connected products are only as good as the software on them. That means they can't afford not to figure out how to update that software. Hacking attacks on appliances like CCTV and webcams highlight the pitfalls of not keeping devices updated.

At the other extreme, some companies see this channel to the device as a marketing opportunity, using over-the-air updates to collect user information and push services and apps on to their devices.

In the United States, Chinese firm Shanghai ADUPS Technology faces two class-action suits after a security company found it installed software on thousands of mobile devices that collected data without users' permission. One suit alleges the software "could also remotely reprogram the devices and install applications on consumers' phones without their knowledge or consent."

ADUPS Technology did not respond to requests for comment.

Whatever the motivation, companies see advantages in being able to retain some degree of remote control.

Not least, manufacturers can reduce the costs of service centres and staff, said Emma Wright, UK-based commercial technology partner at law firm Kemp Little. "This ... is an extremely useful way of providing updates on devices without users having to take it in to a store."

Samsung could have saved itself a lot of trouble, says Julie Purves, CEO of UK-based remote management software company B2M Solutions, if it had exerted even greater remote control. Smart batteries, she says, would have allowed her software to remotely detect and report on abnormal behaviour. Samsung's battery issue, she says, could have been "identified much sooner and potentially prevented altogether if spotted and addressed early enough."

This approach is also slowly transforming the automotive world, where nearly a third of users never respond to a product recall, says Alam at Movimento.

Consultant Michael Sena says the economics of the car industry are not unlike those of the mobile sector, and car companies are coming to terms with the changes wrought by Tesla, which pushes updates and features to its cars wirelessly, removing the need for dealers.

This, in turn, raises the issue of privacy.

European Union law, Sena says, will next year be more stringent on data protection, and will effectively mean "if I own a device, what happens with that device is up to me."

So far, he says, companies like Tesla in autos and consumer players have operated in a gray area that sometimes helps the consumer, and sometimes doesn't.

But there are signs that is changing.

The US Federal Trade Commission this week settled with Vizio, a US-based appliance maker being acquired by Chinese conglomerate LeEco, over software that automatically collected data on viewing habits from its smart TVs. As part of the settlement, Vizio agreed to ensure it makes clear to users what data it wants to collect, and seek their approval.

More regulation from government is likely.

"What's needed here is oversight," said Bryce Boland, Asia-Pacific chief technology officer at FireEye, an Internet security company.

"Some cases may be legitimate, such as devices that need to be modified to prevent forest fires or human deaths; others might be more difficult to assess."


Nissan stops taking orders of Sakura EV, X-Trail in Japan

                TOKYO: Nissan Motor Co has temporarily stopped taking new orders of its recently unveiled light electric vehicles (EVs) because of prolonged delivery periods of a year or more, a Nissan spokesperson said today.

The Japanese automaker stopped taking orders of the Sakura, fully electric micro "kei" cars, at the end of the month, the spokesperson said. The company announced the suspension on its website on Tuesday and it is unclear when it will resume taking orders.

Gasoline-electric hybrid models remain far more popular in Nissan's home market than EVs, but the automaker hopes to draw more Japanese drivers to battery-powered cars by offering low-priced micro models such as the Sakura.

Nissan also stopped taking new orders of the X-Trail crossover sports utility vehicle for the same reason.

The suspension is for the domestic market, the spokesperson said.

"We are unable to provide customers with a delivery date response," the spokesperson said.

Strong orders and the global semiconductor chip shortage, which had cast uncertainty over the production plan for the next fiscal year, have led to a prolonged delivery period of a year or more, the spokesperson added.

The Japanese automaker unveiled the Sakura, its first jointly developed light EV with alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp, in May and said in July it had attracted orders of 23,000 units, exceeding the total number of battery-driven EVs sold by all companies in Japan last year.

Nissan said in August it would stop taking new orders for the Leaf EV currently sold in the domestic market in late September.


Citroen DS3 Racing brings on the thrills

                This Citroen DS3 Racing is not for sale.

The limited edition model was on loan to carsifu for a few days, as part of a media programme to highlight the design and sports engineering capabilities of Citroen.

Naza Euro Motors, the official distributor for Citroen in Malaysia, told us they have no plans to sell the DS3 Racing here.

This three-door hot hatch is what the standard DS3 can be, thanks to the expertise of the engineers at the Citroen Racing team.

Citroen has claimed numerous victories in the Manufacturers’ category of the World Rally Championship, as well as in the Drivers/Co-drivers category with Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena.

There is a lot of sporty elements here; an air diffuser, an exhaust with a twin chrome tailpipe, and carbon trim on many body parts.

It does look fast when standing still, especially with its attention-getting colour scheme.

Its dark body is contrasted with a bright orange-coloured roof and side mirrors, while the alloy wheels and front grille surround are finished in orange chrome.

But the real highlight here is what lies under the hood.

The DS3 Racing’s tuned and turbocharged 1.6-litre THP (turbo high pressure) petrol engine develops 202bhp and 275Nm of torque, and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox - a combination that provides sizzling performance.

To give the DS3 Racing a higher level of road-hugging qualities, Citroen Racing engineers also fined-tuned the dampers, fitted stiffer suspension springs, widened the front and rear tracks by 30mm and lowered the car by 15mm.

Of course, this meant we had great fun with the handling quality of the car on twisty stretches.

The steering is sharp and precise, and provides good feedback.
At parking speed, we did not find the steering to be heavy.

The DS3 Racing is certainly a fast sprinter, and it can reach 100kph from a standstill in 6.5 seconds.

When driven hard and tackling road bends, we found abundant grip from the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A sized 215/40 R18 tyres.

Citroen also put its world-first “Reverse” technology in the large 18-inch wheels, where the well base is moved from the outside (conventional design) to the inside.

Citroen says that from a visual standpoint, this makes them the equivalent of 19-inch wheels, for increased inertia and lower weight.

Now, what surprised us what the decent level of ride comfort, considering that this is a sports-oriented car.

The suspension is very well sorted out, and it strikes a good balance between sportiness and comfort.

It is comfortable enough - we won’t have a problem using it as a daily drive or commute.

While some might prefer an automatic transmission, we enjoyed using the 6-speed manual stick shifter.

There are also nice creature comforts and conveniences, like the GPS Navigation and, automatic lights and windscreen wipers, and an eight-speaker audio system with subwoofer and USB connectivity.

The front sport seats fitted our 1.7-metre bodies snugly, and we like the mixed or combination fabric-leather seats.

However, in the rear, we found headroom to be a bit cramped for 1.7-metre adults.

Now, at 110kph and in sixth gear, we noted that the tachometer needle was hovering around 2,250rpm.

The DS3 Racing is fitted with high quality noise insulation materials, and we found wind, engine and road noise was quite muted even at high speeds.

Noise intrusion into the cabin is quite muffled at the red line, which is slightly above 6,000rpm.

If we had a trivial criticism, it would be the lack of spicy turbocharged engine roar, due to the well-insulated cabin.

In summary, we found this hot hatch to have plenty of punch when we stepped hard on the accelerator pedal for some spirited driving, and marvellous handling quality.

At the same time, it comes with a surprising level of ride comfort and refinement.


Look, up in the sky - it's a flying Cadillac! GM unveils futuristic vehicle

                DETROIT: General Motors Co on Tuesday presented a futuristic flying Cadillac - a self-driving vehicle which takes off and lands vertically and carries the passenger above the streets and through the air.

A senior GM executive described the concept as “reimagining the future of personal transportation”.

The single-passenger Cadillac - technically, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone - will be able to travel from urban rooftop to urban rooftop at speeds up to 88kph.

It is fully autonomous and all-electric, with a 90kW motor, a GM Ultium battery pack and an ultra-lightweight body with four pairs of rotors.

The flying Cadillac was presented in a video as part of a virtual keynote presentation by chief executive Mary Barra, along with a family-friendly Cadillac electric shuttle.

Barra last year revealed the automaker was exploring such alternative transportation modes as aerial taxis.

The concepts in the CES video were introduced by GM design chief Mike Simcoe, who described the VTOL as “the Cadillac of urban air mobility”.

“VTOL is key to GM’s vision for a multimodal future,” he said.

The autonomous Cadillac shuttle, described in the video as “arriving soon,” features a boxy silhouette that recalls the Cruise Origin, also designed by Simcoe’s team. It features fore and aft sliding doors and a panoramic glass roof.

The cabin has wraparound lounge-like seating, plus biometric sensors, voice control and hand gesture recognition.

GM declined to disclose further details.

Other automakers, including Toyota Motor, Hyundai Motor and Geely Automobile, have previously have shown concept aerial vehicles as part of their future planning.

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