Bloggers, vloggers and tweeters added to insurance occupations list in Britain

                LONDON: Britain's car insurers are getting in tune with the times by including occupations created by the digital age.

While ancient, outdated or incredibly niche occupations including agisters, almoners and ostlers are catered for by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), modern careers in digital media do not appear on the lists used by insurers to rate car insurance premiums.

The ABI lists more than 2,100 occupations, and premiums are partially rated according to years of data collected about the claims rates of motorists in each job.

But with newer career paths opening up in the past 20 years thanks to the advent of the internet and social media, tens of thousands of motorists could be paying inaccurate premiums as insurers are unable to rate them according to their exact profession.

Now specialist broker Adrian Flux, which has a number of high-profile YouTubers on its books, has brought the rating rule-books up to date by adding a number of overlooked occupations to its official list.

“When was the last time you bumped into an agister or an ostler?” said general manager Gerry Bucke.

“Cardinal is also on the list, which is great for the one cardinal in the UK, but the rapid recent growth of careers in digital media has clearly caught the ABI out and the list is very much in need of an update.”

“Until we start building up data about these new jobs, we won’t know exactly how to rate them,” added Bucke, who is keen to build up a profile of the risks involved in insuring a YouTuber compared to, say, a traditional actor or film-maker.

“At the moment we have to guess a little, and rate them according to the closest occupation we can find, but once we have them registered correctly we will be able to build a more accurate picture,” he added.

Other occupations added to Flux’s lists include email marketer, professional gamer, drone operator and app developer.

Social media manager Damien Cross, who used to work in the insurance industry, said he had to use the general marketing description when filling in online quote forms.

“But would a bank clerk be happy to describe him or herself as a shop assistant? It does seem strange that occupations that have all-but died out are on the list, while vast numbers of the population are not categorised accurately,” he added.

Jobs listed by the ABI include:

Almoner: People who were in charge of an almshouse, which were established from the 10th century to provide a place of residence for poor, old and distressed people. Can also refer to the giver of charity to the poor or hospital workers who help patients with personal matters.

Cardinal: There is one Cardinal in the UK, His Eminence Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster.

Carphone fitter: Cutting edge, in the late 80s and early 90s.

Caulker: Filled up cracks in ships, casks, windows or seams to make them watertight by using tar or oakum hemp fibre produced by taking old ropes apart.

Compositor: Also called typesetters, long since replaced in most circumstances by digital printing.

Lengthsman: A person who took pride in keeping his district neat and tidy in rural areas, or who carried out routine maintenance on canals, patrolling its length.

Ostler: A man employed to look after the horses of people staying at an inn.

Water diviner: Also known as a dowser, still exist in fairly small numbers, helping organisations find underground water (and minerals, ley lines, or indeed anything invisible).


With bikes, transit, Uber unveils urban transport vision

                WASHINGTON, D.C.: Uber said Wednesday it plans to add mass transit, bike-sharing and other options to its mobile app, as it unveiled a vision for urban transport that goes well beyond its core ridesharing offer.

Chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi presented the plans during a visit to Washington, where he said the ride-hailing pioneer would seek a more diversified model offering various transport options, including car rentals on a partner peer-to-peer service.

"More and more, Uber is not just going to be just about taking a car, but is about moving from point A to point B in the best way," Khosrowshahi told an event in the newly launched Uber driver centre in the US capital.

Khosrowshahi said the Uber app would start including locations for electric bikes from its newly acquired bike-sharing group Jump, which currently operates in Washington and San Francisco.

Uber also announced a partnership with the peer-to-peer car-sharing service Getaround to allow users to rent vehicles from individual owners, with a launch planned later this month in San Francisco.

The service will be labelled Uber Rent. "You can use your Uber app if you need a car and you want to drive yourself, if you need a car for an hour, a day," the Uber chief said.

For mass transit, the San Francisco startup said it would allow app users to see various options and would launch a partnership with e-ticketing service Masabi that would eventually allow the Uber app to be used instead of tickets or passes.

Masabi has partnerships with transit systems in Boston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, as well as train and transit operators in Europe.

Khosrowshahi said the new plans would help Uber offer solutions for an increasingly urban world population and reduce the need for car ownership.

"Having a greater variety of transportation modes at your fingertips helps make it increasingly easy to live without a car," he said.

"That's why we want to provide alternatives to personal car ownership by bringing together multiple modes of transportation right in our app."

Khosrowshahi said the new strategy does not move Uber away from a future that includes autonomous vehicles, despite a fatal accident involving one of its cars last month in Arizona.

"Autonomy is part of the solution and long term it will be an important part of getting rid of car ownership," he said.

The CEO said Uber was awaiting the results on an investigation into the March 18 accident that killed a pedestrian, but maintained that "autonomous (driving) will be safer long term."

At the event, the company announced it would make aggregated traffic data to help planners in 12 new cities worldwide under its Uber Movement plan, to bring the total to 21.

The new cites are Amsterdam, Bangalore, Brisbane, Cairo, Hyderabad, Melbourne, Mumbai, Nairobi, New Delhi, Perth, Pittsburgh and Toronto.

Khosrowshahi took the helm at Uber in August after co-founder Travis Kalanick was forced out over a series of scandals and missteps, as well as allegations of unethical competition and a toxic work environment.

Uber is the world's most valuable venture-backed startup, with a valuation of some $70 billion, with Khosrowshahi planning a public share offering in 2019.

The deal to acquire Jump Bikes, a bike-sharing startup offering dockless electric bicycles, was announced Monday.

Jump and Uber were previously partners and 250 red bikes -- which could be picked up or dropped off anywhere using built-in GPS -- have been available through the Uber app in San Francisco since the start of the year.

Uber plans to add more of the bikes soon in the Washington area, for a total of around 400.


Hyundai's Blue Link streamlined and integrated with Google Assistant

                PETALING JAYA: Hyundai is making it easier to control its cars remotely through Google Assistant and is previewing its enhanced remote vehicle controls with the South Korean carmaker's Blue Link interface at Google I/O from May 7 to 9.

Using an Assistant-enabled smart speaker, Smart Display or Android or iOS smart device, Hyundai owners soon can do things like start their car from the kitchen, set their car’s temperature from the comfort of their couch, or make sure their car doors are locked while in the grocery store more efficiently.

Previously, executing one of these actions required multiple steps, prompting a dialogue between the owner and their Assistant.

Available in the coming months, this new integration will allow vehicle owners to control and get the status of their vehicle with just one or two voice commands.

After linking their vehicle with Google Assistant, the owner only needs to say:
“Hey Google, start my car”“Hey Google, how much gas (petrol) does my car have?” or“Hey Google, are my car doors locked?”
Instead of:
“Hey Google, tell Blue Link to start my Santa Fe”“Hey Google, ask Blue Link how much gas I have in my tank”“Hey Google, ask Blue Link to lock my car”
With this new streamlined experience, the “Ask Blue Link” portion of the voice commands have been removed.

Hyundai owners can now incorporate these Blue Link remote commands into a Google Assistant morning routine to get a head start on their commute.

For example, an owner can easily add vehicle actions to a ready-made “Good morning” routine to trigger their Assistant to brief them on the weather, share a traffic update, and tell them how much charge their Kona Electric has, just by saying “Hey Google, good morning.”

Or they can set up a custom routine for the command “Hey Google, bedtime”, to have their Assistant check to see if their garage door is closed, lock their front door and car, and turn off lights in their home.

“Anytime we can make features better and easier to use for our customers we are going to do it,” said Hyundai Motor America director of digital business planning and connected operations Manish Mehrotra.

“From being able to double check that their car doors are locked as they walk into a movie theatre, or remote start their Sonata on a cold winter day using their Google Assistant device, we’re excited to bring even more helpfulness to our customers”, she added.

Blue Link brings seamless connectivity directly into Hyundai cars with technologies including Remote Start with Climate Control, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Car Finder, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, and Stolen Vehicle Recovery.

Blue Link services can be accessed from the buttons on the rearview mirror and centre console, the web or via the Blue Link owners’ smartphone app.


California approves vehicle pollution rules in rebuke to Trump

                SACRAMENTO: California is challenging the Trump administration's approach to car pollution, approving standards that the White House said still need review and setting up a potential face-off between federal and state regulators.

California governor Jerry Brown and other state officials have vowed to lead the defence of environmental and other traditionally liberal causes against President Donald Trump.

About a dozen states follow California's car regulations in full or part, and the potential face-off between federal and state regulators could be expensive for automakers and a headache for consumers.

On Friday, the California Air Resources Board in a unanimous vote finalized 2022-2025 vehicle pollution rules for the state, set a mandate for zero-emission sales over the same time period, and ordered its staff to start work on targets for after 2025.

Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it would reconsider the 2022-2025 tailpipe emissions targets after auto makers requested the review.

The Obama administration rushed to finalize the federal standards after Trump's election and car manufacturers said there was not enough time for consideration.

California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols chided automakers for requesting federal intervention and questioned whether they wanted to undermine California's authority.

"What were you thinking when you threw yourself on the mercy of the Trump administration to try to solve your problems?" she said. She invited the auto industry to suggest implementation changes that would not undermine the program's goals.

John Bozzella, president and chief executive of the Global Automakers industry alliance, focused on the potential for cooperation, rather than the board's criticism.

"I think we are where we want to be, which is working together," he said. "We're committed to a national program."

A White House official, anticipating the California vote, told Reuters the Trump administration was committed to protecting jobs and providing consumers with affordable cars.

“We are disappointed that California has chosen to refuse our good-faith offer to work together with all relevant stakeholders on this important matter,” the person said.

A two-track regulatory system would leave consumers with potentially higher prices and could complicate their ability to move cars between states.

The California vote came on the heels of Congressional Republicans pulling consideration of a healthcare system overhaul, a defeat for Trump that appeared to energize the California board.

"If anything, these standards should be more aggressive," board member Daniel Sperling said. The board would need federal approval for a post-2025 plans, but those rules may not be ready for review before the next presidential election.

Federal regulators could try to challenge California's ability to make rules about greenhouse gases. Board member Hector De La Torre compared that to a divorce between federal and state regulators.

"If a divorce is going to happen at some point, we are going to litigate that divorce strongly," he said.

US and California regulators last year projected that stricter pollution controls will add about US$1,000 to the cost of each car sold in 2025, with mileage rising from 38.3 miles per gallon in model year 2021 to 46.3 in 2025. Automakers say they did not get enough time to review the study.


McLaren debuts 765LT Spider — its most powerful-ever convertible supercar

                LONDON: McLaren Automotive today revealed the 765LT Spider.

Complementing the 765LT ‘Longtail’ coupe unveiled last year – all of which are sold – the new Spider is McLaren’s most powerful-ever convertible supercar.

Engineered in addition with the other core attributes intrinsic to any McLaren Longtail – minimised weight, track-focused dynamics and optimised aerodynamics – the 765LT Spider has all of the class-leading abilities of the coupe and also meets the LT demand for exclusivity: just 765 cars will be available globally for customer order.

Carrying over the coupe’s dynamic and aerodynamic DNA with no structural compromise and only a minimal 49kg weight increase – primarily from the retractable hard top and accompanying operating mechanism – the 765LT Spider weighs in at just 1,388kg (DIN weight), which is 80kg lighter than a 720S Spider and circa 100kg lighter than its closest comparable competitor.

The electrically operated, one-piece carbon fibre Retractable Hard Top (RHT) enables open-top motoring in just 11 seconds and operates at speeds of up to 50kph, bringing the dramatic soundtrack of the quad-exit titanium exhaust system into the cabin to take driver engagement to a new level.

“As we continue to build the LT sub-brand with the introduction of the new 765LT Spider, it’s clear that our customers are increasingly attracted to the Longtail supercar proposition of exhilarating, extreme performance and limited availability. With all 765 examples of the 765LT coupe sold, it’s no surprise that as we publicly announce our new LT Spider, production capacity for 2021 is already filled.” said McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt.

The immense performance and dynamic prowess of the new Spider – already proven in the 765LT coupe – are enhanced by three compelling factors: the stability of its MonoCage II-S structure, the design of its one-piece Retractable Hard Top roof, and the ongoing effort to build a lightened car.

The Spider version of the carbon fibre MonoCage II – designated MonoCage II-S – was developed alongside the coupe monocoque and shares most of its structural elements, including the windscreen surround.

McLaren claimed the structure was stiff and strong enough that no additional bracing was required over the coupe. At the rear of the car, carbon fibre structural supports are fully bonded into the chassis to provide rollover protection.

Like every LT, the new Spider is designed to excel on track. With the same aerodynamic package as the coupe – although with active rear wing calibration revised to reflect whether the roof is up or down and a recalibration of the dampers to account for the minor increase in weight – the Spider matches the coupe’s aero performance, with class-leading downforce 25% greater than that of a 720S Spider.

The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine produces 765PS – giving the 765LT Spider a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 598PS-per-tonne at lightest dry weight – and 800Nm of torque. Transmission gear ratios have been revised for even greater engagement and performance; in-gear acceleration is 15% quicker than a 720S Spider, helping the new Longtail to achieve the fastest lap times ever posted by a convertible LT model.

The 0-100kph time often seen as a benchmark figure is 2.8 seconds, with 0-200kph taking 7.2 seconds. The new LT Spider takes 10.0 seconds to cover 400m from standstill and the car’s maximum speed is 330kph.

The most powerful McLaren convertible ever and the latest and most engaging addition to the brand’s Longtail lineage can be ordered now from McLaren retailers.

There are two MSO Defined packs available for the 765LT Spider – the Clubsport Pack and the LT Black Pack. The MSO Clubsport pack both reduces overall weight and increases circuit performance with a portfolio of lightweight options and performance upgrades. These include McLaren Track Telemetry with three cameras, Super-Lightweight Carbon Fibre Racing Seats and a track brake upgrade featuring carbon ceramic brake discs and bespoke brake pads from the McLaren Senna.

The MSO LT Black Pack gives the 765LT Spider even more of a "stealth" look, with external technical components – tonneau, front splitter, rear bumper and diffuser, air intakes and door mirror casings – all finished in Gloss Black.

Customers can also direct MSO to replace the aluminium hood with a carbon fibre hood – finished in either body colour or Gloss Finish Visual Carbon Fibre – or choose from an extensive menu of individual upgrades ranging from a Gloss Finish Visual Carbon Fibre tonneau cover to a Satin Finish carbon fibre steering wheel, a lightweight front badge, or a Gloss Finish carbon fibre ignition key.

UK pricing is from £310,500 (RM1.8mil) and availability is limited to just 765 cars for customer order worldwide, with 2021 production already all sold.


18 people die on Malaysian roads every day, says JPJ

                JOHOR BARU: An average of 18 people die every day in road accidents nationwide according to 2014 statistics, said the Road Transport Department (JPJ).

Director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad said that during the same period, an average of 1,330 accidents were recorded daily.

"JPJ is facing is a huge challenge to reduce these figures, especially with almost 1.5 million new cars being registered annually," he said, adding that there were 600,000 new drivers registered in 2014.

He stressed that in the England, a country with a population of 60 million people, only 800 people were killed in road accidents annually.

"The task of reducing road accidents should be a concerted one and not just involve JPJ and the police," he said during the national-level JPJ Day celebrations here.

Ismail stressed that among the JPJ's initiatives to help reduce road accidents included having early education targeting primary and secondary schools, revamping the syllabus for new drivers and having young JPJ squad members nationwide.


Prizes worth RM900,000 in FUSO Canter 60th anniversary contest

                PUCHONG: Hap Seng Trucks Distribution (HSTD) has presented a Mercedes-Benz C-Class C200 to the first draw grand prize winner of its FUSO Canter 60th anniversary contest 2023.

The contest, which is organized to mark 60 years of the light-duty Canter truck, will run until December 2023 and is open to anyone who buys and registers a FUSO truck between January to December 2023.

This month’s draw is the first of a series of three lucky draws that will be held until January 2024, with the total value of prizes to be won amounting to RM900,000.

The first draw was for trucks purchased and registered with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) between 1 January to 30 April 2023, while the second draw which will be held in September 2023, is for trucks registered between 1 January to 31 August 2023.

The third and final draw will be held in January 2024, for trucks registered between 1 January to 31 December 2023.

HSTD chief executive Derrick Sim said, "Congratulations to FP Foods Sdn Bhd for winning the grand prize of a Mercedes-Benz C-Class C200 car, and to the 10 other winners who won FUSO parts vouchers worth RM1,000 each in the first draw. The overwhelming response for this contest also demonstrates the market’s trust in FUSO trucks”.

The light-duty truck is suitable for logistic companies specialising in last mile deliveries, cold chain, and courier services.

Over the years, the Canter has led the light-duty truck segment in the global market.

Combining knock-down production locations and export markets, FUSO Canter trucks are now sold in over 70 countries.

In Malaysia, FUSO trucks are distributed exclusively under HSTD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd.

Sim added, "Our extensive portfolio of FUSO vehicles makes us well-equipped to meet the haulage and logistic demands of Malaysian businesses. Moreover, we have close to 40 authorized FUSO dealers spread throughout the nation. Our aim is to establish a new standard for reliability in trucks and service quality, all while addressing our customers' specific needs."


This is the all-new Mazda CX-5!

                HIROSHIMA: Mazda today unveiled the all-new CX-5 crossover. The fully redesigned model, which refines every element of Mazda's design and technology to offer new dimensions of driving pleasure, will be launched in Japan in February before being rolled out to global markets.

The idea behind the re-development of the CX-5 was "an SUV all customers will enjoy," and Mazda aimed to add a new dimension by offering driving pleasure that everyone on board can enjoy—not just the driver.

The model is engineered to deliver responsive performance. It also prioritises passenger comfort, with a quiet cabin and pleasant ride feel, and adopts G-Vectoring Control, the first of the SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS vehicle motion control technologies.

Designed under the KODO-Soul of Motion design theme, the exterior is both bold and sensual, and the interior has been crafted to give occupants a pleasant feeling. The body colour lineup includes the newly developed Soul Red Crystal, which highlights the beauty and quality of Mazda's KODO designs.

 Composition of Mazda's Soul Red Crystal paintwork.

Like other Mazda premium colours, Soul Red Crystal uses Mazda’s Takuminuri painting technology, which gives mass-production vehicles the quality and precision of a hand-painted finish, in a unique three-coat structure. Thanks to a specially developed pigment and different flakes that reflect and absorb light, Mazda achieved a deep and vivid finish.

The powertrain lineup comprises the SKYACTIV-G 2.0 and 2.5 gasoline, and SKYACTIV-D 2.2 diesel engines. All three options promise powerful, linear driving performance and outstanding environmental performance.

Mazda said the diesel engine in the CX-5 would roll out for North America from the second half of 2017. It will be Mazda’s first diesel engine model in the North American market.

Mazda said the SKYACTIV-D 2.2 would meet the region’s strict emission standards and make the CX-5 one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in its class. The engine also adopts Natural Sound Smoother and Natural Sound Frequency Control, proprietary technologies that reduce diesel knock for a quieter and more pleasing sound.

Launched in 2012, the CX-5 was the first new-generation model featuring SKYACTIV technology and KODO design. It has since grown into a core model that is sold in over 120 countries and accounts for one quarter of Mazda's global sales volume. It has won around 90 awards worldwide, including 2012-2013 Japan Car of the Year.

The all-new CX-5 will be on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.


Proton sees 2020 turnaround; competitor Honda, not Perodua

                KLANG: Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (Proton) is aiming for a turnaround in its operations by the year 2020. It doesn’t see Perodua as a competitor moving forward, but Honda

“I think for me, I will be able to do it in three years. But if it is in two years, it will be very good. It will be by 2020. I don’t think the directors can wait if it is in 2021,” chief executive officer Li Chunrong said.

Li said that among the main tasks for the company was to improve Proton’s brand image among Malaysians.

“What is branding? It is an image, and how do we improve our image? I think there are two ways: first, product and secondly, service. If you have a good product and good service, then your brand will be well. For an improved brand name, it is not only through talk but by doing it right,” he said.

“After-sales service is important and the people, they reflect our corporate culture. The right products and secondly right service that give customer satisfaction,” Li added.

He believes the future products that will be launched by Proton will be good and the better service from the new service outlets will help to turn things around.

Speaking to reporters after the launch of the first bumiputra 3S outlet by Pantai Bharu Corp Sdn Bhd, Li cited Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s comments that the soon-to-be launched sport-utility vehicle (SUV) is of a very high quality.

Mahathir was a vocal opponent of Proton selling a 49.9% stake in the company to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd in May last year.

He was the mastermind behind the setting up of Proton in 1983 during his first stint as prime minister.

Proton was then a joint venture between the government and Mitsubishi.

Proton’s evolution over the years has meant that it, with the help of Geely, is trying to move its product up a notch from where it used to compete in.

Li said that in the near future, Proton would likely compete with the likes of Honda and Toyota instead and not see Perodua as its direct competitor anymore.

“Seriously, Perodua’s product range is entry level. Three months later (when the SUV is launched), our product would be a higher-end product. For now, Perodua is our competitor but in three months, it won’t be anymore because our products would be different,” he said.

“In the future, we will bring in products that are updated, new and equipped with the latest technologies. Not old products but new products that are available elsewhere will come here. We will launch (in Malaysia) at the same time as we launch them around the world,” he added.

He said Proton would launch its new SUV in October and that the carmaker is expecting the product to eventually claim the top spot in the Malaysian SUV market.

“For this new product, the direct competitor is the CR-V. In China, the Boyue consistently outsells the other Japanese marques,” he said.

Moving forward, Proton expects to launch even more products and Li has hinted that the company will make other Geely products available in Malaysia.

“We can guarantee we will launch one product every year. For new products, they will be launched at the same time that they are launched in the global markets,” he said.

“In the future, the new products can share the same platform and then they will be tailored to each country’s customer needs and demands to develop the necessary solutions,” he added.

He said the upcoming Proton SUV, which is based on the Geely Boyue SUV, would be tailored completely to suit Malaysia, noting that Proton has changed more than 20 components.

“We are also doing many tests on the SUV before it is launched and that is why we are late. We are now doing test drives on the Malaysian roads which are not complete yet. These are to test for local customer needs,” Li said.

Li, who was tight-lipped when asked about the pricing details of the new Proton SUV, said the price would be made known a day before the launch.

In its statement yesterday, Proton said it had recorded sales of more than 50% in June 2018 compared to the previous month with a market share of about 10%.

Sales of vehicles have been driven up mainly because of the goods and services tax which has been zerorised. The company said the Saga and Persona models led sales volume with an increase of 70% and 56%, respectively, from the previous month.

Meanwhile, Proton Edar Sdn Bhd CEO Abdul Rashid Musa said the upgrading of Proton service centres to 4S and 3S nationwide would enable the company to give better after-sales service to its customers.

“Cars are now more complicated with more features and computers fitted in. More so, we are now benchmarking our cars against the new standards from Geely that are derived from Volvo.

“So, it is not just Proton but we are now in a bigger family of Geely that also owns other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) like Volvo and London Taxi,” Rashid said.

“This way, Proton can raise its bar quicker and faster. So, it is a big jump for Proton in many ways,” he added.


Tesla hikes price of Model X, Model S variants by US$5,000

The Model X. — Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc has increased the price of its Model X Long Range and Model S Long Range variants by US$5,000 (around RM21,000), the electric-car maker's website showed on Saturday.

The Model X Long Range and Model S Long Range now sell for US$104,990 and US$94,990 respectively.

Prices for the Model Y Long Range and Model 3 Standard Range Plus rose by US$2,000, to US$56,990 and US$43,990 respectively, according to the website.


Beijing Auto Show (2016): Volkswagen T-Prime Concept GTE

                BEIJING: Volkswagen had a world premiere of the T-Prime Concept GTE at the Beijing Auto show 2016.

The concept car shows a new Volkswagen approach to the premium SUV segment.

The T-Prime Concept GTE moves full-size SUV design to a new sporty and elegant level.

It has a plug-in hybrid drive with up to 280kW of system power and 700Nm of system torque.

Electric driving range is 50km, and fuel consumption is ess than 2.7 litres per 100km.

The T-Prime ConceptGTE accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and has a top speed of up to 224 km/h

It has an Active Info Display and infotainment system that merge under a sheet of transparent glass to become a Curved Interaction Area.

It is designed with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, and all-wheel drive.

The ethos of the T-Prime Concept GTE is that of an ideal and versatile alternative to classic vehicle concepts.

This SUV show car combines the best of many automotive worlds: comfortable like a saloon; spacious like an estate; offering traction that is superior to all other types of automobile; based on state-of-the-art chassis technology; agile like a sport saloon and – thanks to innovative drive technologies – efficient like a compact car.


Tembo to sell EV conversion kits for used Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux

                LONDON: VivoPower International PLC and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tembo e-LV B.V, have entered into a deal with Energy Trading Company (ETC) Mauritius to sell, distribute and market Tembo electrification conversion kits for Toyota 4x4 second-hand vehicles in Kenya.

Under the agreement, ETC Mauritius would sell a minimum of 4,000 Tembo e-LV conversion kits from the day of the agreement until DEc 2027.

ETC Mauritius will be responsible for acquiring Toyota second-hand vehicles, converting the vehicles to ruggedised e-LVs using Tembo solutions, selling the units to end-customers and providing after-sale servicing and maintenance with support from Tembo.

This agreement marks VivoPower’s largest distribution deal to date for Tembo e-LV conversion kits. Sectors where the Tembo e-LVs will be used are wide-ranging, including government services, agriculture, tourism and mining.

VivoPower is also entering the second-hand vehicle market, which represents a considerably larger addressable market than that for conversion of new vehicles and allows for on-road applications of its e-LV kit.

Tembo’s conversion kits transform diesel-powered Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux vehicles into ruggedised electric light vehicles for use in mining and other hard-to-decarbonise sectors.

Tembo e-LV products are a key component of VivoPower’s turnkey net-zero solutions to help both government and companies accelerate towards their decarbonisation goals.

"This partnership is a landmark milestone for Tembo e-LV on two fronts: it represents our single largest commitment of future orders for Tembo e-LV conversion kits at all levels within a single country and importantly it heralds our entry into the second-hand vehicle repowering market, which effectively multiplies our total addressable market," said VivoPower executive chairman and CEO Kevin Chin.

Total addressable market for second -hand vehicle repowering estimated to be worth US$110 billion (RM519bil).


Mercedes-Benz showcases Concept A Sedan

                SHANGHAI: With the Concept A Sedan at Auto Shanghai, Mercedes-Benz is providing an outlook of the next generation of compact vehicles and a potential, new body type.

The Concept A Sedan show car specifies the evolved Mercedes-Benz design language that focuses on reduced lines and flat surfaces.

The Concept A Sedan (length/width/height: 4570/1870/1462 mm) has been designed with the proportions of a dynamic, coupé-like and simultaneously compact, premium sedan. This aim is emphasised by the traditional three-box design featuring short overhangs, especially at the rear, as well as the slim greenhouse that has been offset towards the rear. Additional sedan characteristics are the relatively vertical C-pillar, larger side windows and the higher beltline.

The wheel arch design featuring a reduced arch dimension emphasises the exclusive 20-inch wheels. The light alloy wheels radiate technical precision with their sporty aerowheel look featuring a structured surface between the spokes. The door handles of the show car are flush with the body, while the outside mirrors, in a contemporary reinterpretation, stand proud of the beltlines.

The striking front expresses self-confidence: this is highlighted by the deep Panamericana grille tilted towards the front, featuring vertical chrome inserts and a star in the centre, as well as the stretched bonnet with power domes. The large, lower air inlet featuring a diamond grid structure and a striking trim strip in dark chrome is also amongst the most eye-catching features.

The headlamps with their eyebrows as a typical feature of the brand as well as the striking grid structure on the inside guarantee a confident look – and a simultaneously high recognition value. The structural sculpture that has been broken down in detail represents a technically based counterpole to the sensual exterior – "stimulating contrast" is one of the six guiding principles of Mercedes-Benz design.

The grid structure in the lamps has been coated with a UV paint and it is exposed to ultraviolet light. As a result, the headlamps "glow" in different colours, depending on the light medium – the daytime running lamps, for instance, are white.

This unusual lighting technology is also used at the rear: The striking tail light image has also been designed as a structural sculpture. In line with the evolved design philosophy the lines and gaps at the rear have been reduced.

As a contrast to the paintwork the rear bumper features a diffuser-look lower part trimmed in black and a chrome trim strip that emphasises the width and underlines the car's appeal. The integrated exhaust deflectors are finished in dark chrome. Additional features of the show car are dark privacy windows all-round as well as a large, panoramic glass roof.


Genesis to go fully electric from 2025

                SEOUL: Genesis is going electric, declaring its intent with a live stream release of its vision statement film, “Futuring Genesis” on Thursday.

The brand’s new vehicles will all be purely electric starting from 2025.

It aims to build an EV lineup consisting of eight models by 2030 and expects global sales to reach 400,000 units per year.

To drive the shift to electrification, Genesis will focus on a dual electrification strategy involving fuel cell and battery EVs. Genesis will put an effort on developing pure electric technologies such as new fuel cell systems with higher power output, and electric systems that help improve efficiency.

In addition, Genesis will devote itself to building next-generation technology that draws better performance and efficiency from lithium-ion batteries.

Along with the dual electrification strategy, Genesis announced its goal to pursue a carbon neutral brand by 2035. This is first time for a member of the Hyundai Motor Group to announce the transition.

Genesis said it plans to innovate its entire value chain, beginning with raw materials, vehicles, and parts and extending to all work sites and production plants.

Genesis presented various concepts for the future vehicles within the video including Stage Doors, which open the front and rear doors in the opposite direction without a B-pillar. Rotating Swivel Seats and mood lighting create a sense of comfort surrounding the driver, while climate control is taken care of by the new heating system inspired by the Korean “Ondol” heating.

It also presented an improved high-fidelity sound system that makes drivers and passengers feel like they’re sitting on stage with the orchestra.

“Genesis has been on an intensive, bold and successful journey, successfully establishing itself as a truly global luxury brand,” said Hyundai Motor Group chairman Euisun Chung. “Genesis is once again at the starting point of another audacious journey - the journey towards a sustainable future.”

The film also showcased the GV60, the brand’s first electric vehicle based on E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform), the dedicated EV platform. Images of the GV60 were revealed in August and the vehicle is to be released in the second half of this year, leading the brand’s journey to electrification.

Genesis ended the livestream with footage teasing a future in air mobility.


Formula One releases record 22-race draft calendar

                SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium: Formula One will have a record 22 races next season, a draft of the 2020 calendar released by the sport's US-based commercial rights holders Liberty Media confirmed today.

The season will kick off with the traditional start-of-term Australian Grand Prix on March 15 and finish in Abu Dhabi on Nov 29.

"Since we became involved in this sport in 2017, we have talked about developing new destination cities to broaden the appeal of Formula One and at the same time, consolidating our presence in Europe, the traditional home of the sport," said Formula One chief executive Chase Carey.

"It is significant for our sport and confirms our long-term strategy."

An expansion of the calendar to 22 races had been widely expected with the futures of races in Spain, Mexico and Great Britain cleared up.

Formula One teams had already agreed to an expansion of the calendar to 22 races.

The season will feature seven back-to-backs, or races on consecutive weekends.

As was expected, the German Grand Prix, part of this year's calendar of 21 races, will not be a part of next year's schedule.

Vietnam will host its first race through the streets of capital Hanoi on April 5, while the Dutch Grand Prix will make its Formula One return after 35 years with a race at Zandvoort on May 3.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, held at the end of April this year, will move to June 7 while the Spanish Grand Prix, whose presence on the calendar was confirmed on Tuesday, has been given a May 10 date.

A deal securing the future of the Italian Grand Prix, marked with an asterisk on the draft calendar, is currently being finalised, the statement said.

The race at Monza is home to the sport's most popular team Ferrari and local organisers and authorities have given next year's race the go ahead.

The draft of the calendar will now be submitted to the International Automobile Federation's (FIA) World Motor Sport Council on Oct. 4 where it will get final approval.


Car thieves now rent and run

                PETALING JAYA: Car thieves are doing it the easy way now – they pay a small fee to rent luxurious cars, disable the GPS in them and go off the radar.

Apart from the bare minimum effort, the syndicates are also enjoying their new modus operandi given the lack of legal action that allows them to escape punishment.

Many victims, most of them big companies and even app-based car rental providers, claim their cases were not even considered a crime.

Instead, they were told to initiate legal action against the “renters” for “breaching their contract”.

Meanwhile, the syndicates put up the vehicles – which are not blacklisted as “stolen” – for sale.

The Star’s months of investigation found that these vehicles are sold at very low prices of between RM3,000 and RM70,000, depending on the type and make.

Their favourites include Toyota Vellfire, Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Proton Wira and Perodua Myvi.

Some of these cars are sold locally, while others are driven into Thailand and sold as a unit or for spare parts.

Victims wishing to get back their vehicles would be asked to pay around RM5,000 to RM10,000, or they can bid their cars goodbye.

Selling these stolen vehicles locally is not a problem, especially with the anonymity offered by social media and other online selling platforms.

READ MORE:
Stuck with loan and fines – but no carLaws needed to regulate peer-to-peer rental business

Claiming they are selling vehicles with loan defaults, these syndicates are actively promoting their stolen “goods” in many groups, including online marketplaces.

Kereta JT or Jual Terus (direct sales), Kereta Piang, Piang Lari Bank and Kereta Murah – these are just some of the many identifications used by these syndicates to hide the vehicles’ actual status.

One of the victims The Star spoke to, Nasrul, 37, shared screencaps of his stolen Toyota Hiace being advertised on an online platform.

“A friend of mine tried to approach the seller but the man claimed the van had already been sold.

“They didn’t put the price but they stated the van’s years of release,” the victim said.

The man who hijacked his car was seen actively selling vehicles in groups on Facebook and even Telegram.

What’s more perplexing is that some of these syndicates were believed to be able to provide grants for the vehicles.

Some also provide fake grants, which can only be detected if authorities check and compare the chassis numbers on the document with those embedded in the car’s engine.

“Luxury cars have their chassis numbers far underneath their engine, so it is hard for the authorities to check during roadblocks, so these buyers have nothing to be afraid of. They can roam freely,” said another victim who requested anonymity.

The Star has reached out to the police who said they would respond soon. - ALIZA SHAH and IYLIA MARSYA ISKANDAR


Tesla changes S. Korea ads after antitrust probe faulted batteries

                SEOUL: Tesla Inc changed an advertisement about the driving range for its Model 3 in South Korea after an antitrust regulator found that the automaker exaggerated the specifications of its batteries.

The Model 3 sedan description on Tesla’s Korean-language web site was changed to say the vehicle is capable of travelling a "maximum" of 528km on a single charge, from "more than" 528km, screen shots captured by local media showed.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) this week said it had sent a report to the US electric vehicle (EV) maker stating that it had exaggerated the mileage of some of its models, including Model 3, in violation of the Act on Fair Labelling and Advertising.

Analysts said most electric vehicles could generally experience some loss of driving range in cold weather.

"The KFTC plans to give the automaker the opportunity to respond to our finding and then hold a general meeting to review and determine the extent to which the automaker has violated the law and decide the level of sanctions," said a commission official, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

On its US website, the Model 3 description said: "Go anywhere with "up to" 358 miles of estimated range on a single charge." That distance equates to about 576km.

The description for Hyundai Motor Co's Ioniq 5 midsize crossover also states its range as travelling a "maximum" 429km on a single charge.

Although analysts said driving range labelling should follow each country's specific guidelines, the KFTC's claims over Tesla's mileage advertisement would most likely not have a significant impact on the automaker's sales in the country, citing Tesla's dominant position and reputation in the EV market.


China extends tax cut for small-engine vehicles by a year

Beijing traffic contributing to smog on Sunday. - AFP
BEIJING: China extended a tax cut on small-engine vehicles by one year on Thursday, a move industry executives said would help keep demand for automobiles stable and prevent sharp short-term fluctuations in the world's biggest auto market.

China's Ministry of Finance said on its official website the tax rate on small-engine vehicles, currently at 5 percent, will rise, but only to 7.5 percent. That rate, taking effect on Jan 1, 2017, is still below its normal 10 percent.

The ministry said it plans to levy the normal 10 percent tax on small-engine cars starting on Jan 1, 2018.

"Any policy support is good for the industry under current circumstances," said the China head of a global premium brand, adding that a relatively weak market is being propped up by the tax cut as well as discounts and other purchase incentives by automakers.

Normally, consumers would rush to make last-minute vehicle purchases if they sensed a tax rebate would expire, boosting sales significantly, only to result in an equally significant fall in demand once the benefit is eliminated.

"At least this time we will unlikely undergo that type of wild year-end ride in sales," the executive said. The executive declined to be named because he is not authorised to speak to reporters.

Yale Zhang, managing director of Shanghai-based consulting firm Automotive Foresight, said demand for passenger cars as a result of Thursday's announcement will likely be weaker but still manage to grow 3 percent to 5 percent next year, compared to the 16 percent growth he predicts for China's passenger car market for this year.

"This is good news to the market," Zhang said. "At least car demand will remain steady to relatively robust," he said, adding the market would have shown no growth next year if the tax cut on small-engine cars was discontinued.

China's auto market struggled with weak sales in 2015 amid an economic slowdown, but has rebounded strongly since the purchase tax rate for vehicles with 1.6-litre engines or below was halved to 5 percent in October 2015.

A particularly significant beneficiary of the rebound has been German Volkswagen whose product lineup is tilted heavily towards small sedans with engines smaller than 1.6 litre, Zhang said.

Experts and auto industry associations had predicted a steep drop in growth if the tax cut was allowed to expire as planned at the end of this year. Industry officials, though, had said China was considering extending the cut.

Earlier this week an official at the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers told reporters that China's overall automobile sales could increase 13 percent this year from 2015.


Petronas justifies Formula 1 spending

                PETALING JAYA: For the first time, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has come out with numbers to justify its involvement in the high-profile Formula One (F1) World Drivers’ Championship.

According to Petronas, the partnership with Mercedes-Benz earned it US$901.08mil (RM3.7bil) in global media exposure (GME) last year.

The GME is a measure of the value derived from the brand exposure arising from the live and repeated telecast of the various races in the highly competitive championship.

Petronas said the media impact for the company through its involvement in the F1 championship was almost four times higher compared to the average media impact enjoyed by oil and gas (O&G) companies that was estimated at US$200mil.

It said that between 2012 and last year, Petronas’ media exposure grew by 400%, making it the number one O&G brand in F1.

Petronas president and group chief executive Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said that its partnership with Mercedes-Benz and involvement in the F1 championship has given the brand extensive global awareness and visibility, and has accelerated the technology of Petronas in the areas of fuel and lubricants.

“The notion that we pay to put our sticker on the car is very wrong. The race is all about efficiency and Petronas is the technical partner that supplies the lubricants to the cars that have won races,” said Wan Zulkiflee to a select group of media recently.

He explained that beyond branding, Petronas’ involvement with Mercedes-Benz has accelerated the technological advances and capabilities in the research and development (R&D) of fuel and lubricants, leading to the production of quality end products.

“The race today is all about efficiency. It’s all about gaining traction to our technology. The quality of fuel and lubricants can make a difference to the performance of the cars.

“It’s not about two cars running around the track. It is an effort involving more than 1,500 people to produce two cars that are able to win the race by a mere few seconds,” he said.

Petronas has been involved with the F1 championship since the 1980s. Its technical partnership with Mercedes-Benz started in 2010. Before Mercedes-Benz, Petronas had tied up with Sauber.

However, of late, with the decline in oil prices, there are some quarters who have raised questions on whether Petronas should continue to be involved in the F1 championship, as the national oil company has embarked on a cost-cutting regime.

Wan Zulkiflee had in the past stated clearly that Petronas would continue to be involved with the F1 because it allowed for brand presence and enhanced the company’s technical know-how.

There are no official numbers on how much Petronas has paid to be a sponsor for the F1 racing team.

However, it was reported in 2009 that Petronas’ sponsorship of the Mercedes-Benz F1 championship team was £30mil per year and that the partnership was for the long term.

The partnership with Mercedes-Benz had propelled Petronas to the top in the F1 championship in 2014 and 2015.

The Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team has won the Constructors’ title as well as the Drivers’ Championship for two years running, and is on track to lift both titles this year as well.

Petronas executive vice-president and chief executive of the downstream business, Md Arif Mahmood, said that Petronas’ involvement in the F1 allowed its products to be subjected to the harshest of conditions in driving.

“The F1 is the pinnacle for the testing of any car. We subject our products to the harsh conditions subjected to the vehicles in F1. The technology is eventually used to develop lubricants for ordinary cars on the road,” he said.

The lubricants for the vehicles used by Mercedes AMG Petronas in the F1 championship are developed by a specialised R&D team under a wholly owned subsidiary, Petronas Lubricants International (PLI).

PLI is among the top-10 lubricant producers in the world and has a strong presence in Europe. It has 11 blending plants worldwide with a production capacity of 615,000 tonnes per year.

Thanks to its association with Mercedes-Benz and the F1, PLI has been growing market share. It was among the top-15 a few years ago, and going forward, the target is for PLI to triple its capacity and be among the top-five lubricant producers in the world.

Md Arif said it hoped to see a bigger market share for Petronas’ lubricants in the home market of Malaysia.

He said that although PLI contributes to about 10% of the total revenue in the downstream business currently, it has the biggest exposure in terms of brand awareness.


All-female W Series to race with F1 in the Americas in 2021

                LONDON: The all-female W Series will start its eight race 2021 season at France's Le Castellet circuit in June and end in Mexico City in October as part of its new role supporting Formula One, organisers said today.

The single sex series started in 2019 with the aim of helping women progress up the motorsport ladder and eventually break into Formula One where no female has raced in 44 years.

It shelved activities this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Six of the races provisionally scheduled are in Europe before the final two rounds at Austin's US Grand Prix circuit and Mexico's autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

The European races accompany grands prix in France, Austria, Britain, Hungary, Belgium and the Netherlands, which is returning to the F1 calendar with a race at Zandvoort for the first time since 1985.

"W Series' mission will always be to further the interests and prospects of female racing drivers, and to inspire girls and women everywhere," said founder and chief executive Catherine Bond Muir in a statement.

"Our 2021 race schedule in partnership with Formula One will significantly increase our global reach, impact and influence by placing W Series on motor racing's greatest stage and taking us to new audiences and territories."

W Series has yet to confirm who will be driving.

Britain's Jamie Chadwick won the 2019 title, with its prize of US$500,000, but has committed to the new Extreme E off-road all-electric SUV series due to start up next year with five races.

Two of the provisional W Series race dates — Belgium on Aug 28 and the United States on Oct 23 — clash with those published by Extreme E for races in Greenland's Arctic and Brazilian Amazon.


Bentley to debut the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible in St Tropez

                CREWE: The Bentley Continental GT Mulliner Convertible will make its global debut at Cheval Blanc in St Tropez, as part of a European Summer Tour hosted by Bentley.

The Continental GT Mulliner is the first member of the new Collections portfolio introduced by Bentley Mulliner.

Grand Black walnut veneer is standard, while a new extensive range of 88 different piano-finished wood veneers is available through Bentley Mulliner Personal Commissioning.

Bentley Mulliner introduces a bold new Double Diamond front grille, which is further complemented by bespoke Mulliner-branded side vents that continue the unique silver-on-black diamond theme.

The new Double Diamond design was inspired by Bentley’s exclusive Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting design concept, which adorns all four seats, the door casings, rear quarters and now for the first time furnishes the tonneau cover.

The Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting was tailored to include contrast stitching in two complementary colours to accentuate the thread against the quilting.

It takes almost 400,000 stitches to deliver this quilting across the cabin of the car, with each diamond containing exactly 712 individual stitches – each one precisely aligned to point to the centre of the diamond it creates. Developing the embroidery process to deliver this process alone took 18 months.

Furnishing the sleek and muscular profile of the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible, the all-new 22” 10-spoke painted & polished wheels have floating, self-levelling wheel badges that remain upright as the wheel rotates.

The ultimate handcrafted Continental GT Convertible interior offers eight custom-made three-color combinations.

An exquisitely tactile Diamond Milled Technical finish has been applied to the centre console, through Bentley's first use of a multi-machined panel process.

The centre console houses a new and exclusive Breitling for Mulliner clock with a new brushed metallic face and bejewelled hour marks.

The clock bezel and air vent surrounds are finished in chrome to complete the stunning interior jewellery. The ornate and luxurious design of the Breitling for Mulliner clock face is also applied to the Driver Display Kombi, with the precision-rendered gauges of the LED-display driver’s instrument panel using the same brushed finished and Mulliner branding, linking the analogue and digital harmoniously.

The new Continental GT Mulliner Convertible features mood lighting comprising of seven different themes, uplifted by illuminated Mulliner tread plates and LED welcome lamps that project the famous Bentley wings to the ground from the door mirrors.

The Continental GT Mulliner Convertible is available with the top of the range Naim for Bentley audio system. It  features eighteen speakers and two Active Bass transducers driven by a 2,200‑watt, 20-channel amplifier and eight DSP sound modes with Active Bass.

Customers of the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible will receive their keys in a sumptuous, Mulliner-branded handcrafted presentation box, which matches the three-color interior configuration of the car.

And last but not least, the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible will be available with Bentley's V8 and W12 powertrains.

When equipped with Bentley’s 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W12, the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible accelerates from 0-100 kph in 3.8 seconds and is capable of a top speed of 333kph.

The new-generation 4.0-liter, twin‑turbocharged V8 delivers a top speed of 318kph and 0-100kph in 4.1 seconds.


World Car of the Year award goes to Mercedes-Benz C-Class

                NEW YORK: The compact executive car from Mercedes-Benz has won the 2015 World Car Awards, with the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mustang its fellow finalists.

World Car Awards jurors praised the C-Class for its "all-new aluminum/steel hybrid platform and updated rear-drive powertrains that delivers levels of refinement, luxury, safety, ride and handling that challenge best-in-class."

Seventy-five automotive journalists from 22 countries comprised the international jury panel, with their decision announced at the New York International Auto Show on April 2.

READ: CarSifu reviews C 200 Avantgarde

Volkswagen's Passat won European Car of the Year in early March.

The Mercedes-Benz group accumulated several other accolades at the 2015 WCAs - World Luxury Car (Mercedes-Benz S Coupe) and World Performance Car (Mercedes AMG GT) - with World Car Design of the Year going to the Citroen C4 Cactus and World Green Car awarded to BMW's hybrid sports performance vehicle, the i8.

 The C-Class.


Big MPVs clash: Maxus G10 SE vs Kia Grand Carnival EX

                Kia and Maxus in Malaysia have rustled up their answer to grab a piece of the local large multi-purpose vehicle segment held by used imported models.

Large multi-purpose vehicles offer business-class road journeys with quality interior trim, classy leather-clad cabins, powerful engines and silky-smooth gearboxes, and a plush ride quality.

Recent entrants in this segment where buyers are business owners or top corporate executives, include the Kia Grand Carnival and Maxus G10.

The Grand Carnival, imported from South Korea, is priced at RM161,191 (KX variant) and RM180,668 (top grade EX variant).

The Maxus G10, assembled in Klang, is priced at RM133,091 (standard variant) and RM152,623 (SE variant).

Both MPVs offer value for money in a niche segment where the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire are popular, despite the astronomical prices for the Japanese MPVs.

Compared with the diesel-powered Grand Carnival, the petrol-powered G10 has slightly bigger dimensions – it is 53mm longer and 188mm taller, and a wheelbase that’s 138mm longer.

The Grand Carnival is an eight-seater, while the G10 is sold as a 10-seater.

It is worth noting that while both are powerful vehicles, the Grand Carnival has a lot of pulling power at relatively low engine speeds.

The G10 has a 225hp/345Nm turbocharged petrol engine, while the diesel-powered Grand Carnival produces 193PS/440Nm.

Another point to check out for buyers is fuel economy.

This is where the diesel engine of the Korean people carrier proves to be particularly frugal, with combined fuel consumption rated at 7.9 litres per 100km (compared with 10.3 litres per 100km for the Chinese transporter).

Kia Grand Carnival

Here’s Kia’s latest Tiger-nose grilled eight-seater multipurpose vehicles – the Carnival, which is conventionally shaped but does its best to look smart with its gentle curves and creases on its body panels.

The Carnival seen here is in the range-topping EX model variant draped in Snow White Pearl (Aurora Black Pearl and Titanium Brown also available) and the eight-seater is packing lots of goodies that should have it selling like hot cakes at RM180,668 (OTR with GST without insurance), and if it isn’t, it should be.

Under the hood, it has a 2,199cc turbodiesel engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox that manages the 193PS and 440Nm of torque going to the front wheels.

But more importantly, the bulk of the power comes in from 1,750rpm mark, which means hauling a full load of ‘bulky lads’ will be rather sufficient and won’t be putting too much strain on the mill.

Its looks is easy on the eyes with a definitive crease along the shoulder line that connects the front projector halogens with LED daytime running lights to the rear LED light cluster.

There is also a set of large 18-inch machine finished alloy wheels for ‘bling’ wrapped with 235/60 series tyres.

You venture within a few meters to its parked location and the car lights up to ‘welcome you home’.

Depress the button on either the driver, front passenger door or tailgate, and gain access to the cabin.

But aside from that, approach the Carnival and stay at the rear for about three seconds and the tailgate pops open automatically.

The cabin feels premium, with its two-tone beige leather upholstered seats and car-like ergonomics.

It is comfortable and the leather feels durable with the controls being quite self-explanatory and comprehensive.

Taking a look around and visibility is pretty much unperturbed with a generous amount of visibility also coming from the external mirrors while the driver ‘whirs’ up the 12-way powered seat to dial in that preferred position.

The seats are well bolstered and there’s plenty of support, but can it really fit a total of eight, with the usual number usually residing at seven.

Even with a full load of eight persons, cargo space is left to 359-litres, which is not very much for eight to begin with, but folding down both second and third rows expands it to a whopping 2,718 litres.

Not to mention, the second row seats are versatile enough to be able to stand upwards and allow for easier access to the third row.

The powered sliding doors can be controlled by the driver and there’s even a dedicated button to activate them, or simply pulling on the handles will also do the trick.

Firing up the 2.2-litre turbodiesel mill is a smooth process and the usual clatter seems subdued, but not eliminated.

There is a good amount of grunt from the engine, thanks to the bulk of its power coming in early.

The steering is responsive, and it feels borderline sharp with a nice amount of heft to suggest a sporty nature about it.

Step on the throttle and the diesel mill is a giver without complaints and the brakes feel rather strong in performance, ready to bleed speed at any given moment.

While combining performance with handling, there is some medium frequency shocks intruding into the cabin, but aside from that, the Carnival it’s simply zippy in the hands thanks to that responsive engine – now combine that with all its bells and whistles and it makes this eight-seater MPV a very hard one to ignore.

Maxus G10

The G10 was launched by Weststar Maxus in April 2016 at RM137,888 on-the-road, and since then, the Torino-designed MPV has been a hit with sales of over 600 units to date.

Maxus is the commercial vehicle marque of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), the leading automaker in China which has joint ventures with Volkswagen and General Motors.

In Malaysia, SAIC Motor has a partnership with the Weststar Group which has been selling Maxus V80 vans for a few years, mainly to government and corporate entities.

The G10's growing sales is due to its competitive pricing and generous kit level.

It is fitted with full leather seats and safety features including dual airbags and ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability programme, brake assist, brake override system, tyre pressure monitoring system and reverse camera.

Other features include all-round disc brakes, xenon HID headlights, LED taillights, powered sunroof, keyless entry system, push-start ignition, rain sensing wipers, leather upholstery, and a six-speaker audio system with MP3, DVD and Bluetooth features.

The G10 is presently locally assembled in Klang, and the new SE variant shown here was launched in June with more premium features and priced at RM152,623.

The new features on the SE variant include an enhanced infotainment system with a 15-inch touchscreen mated to a 360-degree surround view camera system, a ceiling-mounted 10.1-inch LED screen and LED reading lights for rear occupants, a double panoramic glass roof, and anti-squeeze automatic dual sliding doors.

Its powerful engine is mated to a ZF-sourced six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, and the G10 is a smooth, responsive performer.

It has a Lotus-tuned chassis, and runs on ContiCrossContact UHP tyres sized 225/55 R18.

The G10 handles road curves well at speed, and there isn't much body roll when dealing with corners.

We found strong stopping power and progressive brake feel.

Cabin sound insulation is high-quality - noise intrusion into the cabin is relatively muted, even when we stepped hard on the accelerator pedal, and the tachometer moves near the 6,000rpm redline.

The G10 proves to be a smooth, refined and strong people carrier that eats up the miles in comfort.

The cabin is replete with storage spaces including four door pockets that can each fit a 1.5-litre water bottle, cup holders, and a deep centre storage box.

Rear passengers get six ceiling mounted air-conditioning vents to ensure they are comfortably cooled on a hot day, as well as rear reading lights.

However, the fit-and-finish in the cabin still has room for improvement; the top of the front doors' interior plastic panel has a sharply cut edge that can be covered by a rubber seal.

VERDICT

Sure, the G10 trumps the Carnival with its 32PS of added power (although down by 95Nm of torque), costs about RM28,000-less, and bears the respectable Lotus-tuned suspension badge. It somehow feels a little strange seeing the badge on a different car brand other than a Proton.

Having said that, the Carnival answers back with a better build quality, a suspension system that can rival the G10’s handling abilities and just overall better ergonomics.

Initially, the G10 will stand out rather handsomely with its Xenon HID headlights and LED tail lights.

So just like a moth to a flame, the G10 simply amazes with all its ‘offerings’ but stand it toe-to-toe against the Carnival and you start to notice certain areas where the G10 can improve on.

Firstly, the G10 has a little plastic flap that’s located just under the driver’s right foot that contains the stamped vehicle’s identification number.

Not that we pried and took a look, but instead, it made itself known to us because that particular flap simply came loose and there wasn’t any way to secure it - other than with super glue (probably).

Step on the accelerator and the G10 feels a tad less responsive compared with the Carnival’s more peppy response.

The G10’s cabin is very much more accommodating, but the driver’s seat seems to perch the driver a little too high up in respect to the steering wheel and almost making it bus-like in terms of ergonomics.

Although the G10 also has leather upholstery, it didn’t seem as thick as the Carnival’s.

The Carnival also has a much better-looking cabin with its up-scaled interior, compared with the G10’s hard plastics.

In all honesty, the G10 will simply make the Carnival’s owner appreciate, if not love, his MPV more thanks to the better design, ergonomics and far better fuel economy.

Plus, Kia also has a stronger global brand compared with Maxus, which is just starting to flex its muscles in the Asean region.

Maxus G10 SE
Engine: 1,995cc petrol turbocharged, direct injection
Maximum power: 225hp at 5,500rpm
Maximum torque: 345Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: ZF six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption (combined): 10.3 litres per 100km
Features: Two airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability programme (ESP), brake assist, brake override system, tyre pressure monitoring system, child seat attachment points, all-round disc brakes, xenon HID headlights, LED tail lights, 15-inch touchscreen mated to a 360-degree surround view camera system, a ceiling-mounted 10.1-inch LED screen, LED reading lights for rear occupants, double panoramic glass roof, anti-squeeze automatic dual sliding doors.
Price: RM152,623.30 (on-the-road with GST, without insurance), three-year or 100,000km (whichever is first) warranty

Kia Grand Carnival EX
Engine: 2,199cc CRDi (common rail direct injection) VGT turbocharged diesel
Maximum power: 193ps at 3,800rpm
Maximum torque: 440Nm at 1,750rpm to 2,750rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption (combined): 7.9 litres per 100km
Features: Six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Start Assist, all-round disc brakes, 4.3-inch TFT LCD colour display touchscreen, front and rear parking sensors, Reverse camera, tri-zone full automatic air-conditioning, cluster ioniser, 12-way powered driver’s seat, dual powered sliding doors, push-button powered tailgate, auto down for all powered windows
Price: RM180,668 (on-the-road with GST, without insurance), five-year/unlimited mileage warranty


Britain faces huge costs to avoid power shortages with electric car plan

                LONDON: Britain must plough billions of pounds into new power plants, grid networks and electric vehicle charging points if it is to avoid local power shortages when a planned ban on new diesel and petrol cars begins.

Supporting millions more battery-powered vehicles over the next two decades is technically feasible, and if drivers can be persuaded to recharge them overnight - when spare power capacity is abundant - the huge infrastructure cost could be kept down.

Local networks particularly face problems, so the country will need a range of technologies for managing consumption to meet an estimated rise of up to 15 percent in overall demand and prevent spikes of up to 40 percent at peak times.

“It will be a challenge and a lot of investment is required - in generation capacity, strengthening the distribution grid and charging infrastructure,” said Johannes Wetzel, energy markets analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

In July, the government said it would ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040. The aim is to reduce air pollution, a source of growing public health concerns, and help Britain to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels - the target it has set itself.

Although some conventional cars will remain on the road, numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) could balloon to 20 million by 2040 from around 90,000 today, experts estimate. Charging them all will require additional electricity.

Britain already faces a power supply crunch in the early 2020s as old nuclear reactors come to the end of their lives and remaining coal-fired plants are phased out by 2025.

Four years ago, well before the conventional car ban was raised, the government said over 100 billion pounds (RM553bil) in investment would be needed to ensure clean, secure electricity supplies and to reduce demand.

That looks optimistic. The cost of Hinkley Point C alone, the only nuclear power station now under construction in Britain, is estimated at 19.6 billion pounds (RM108bil).

Gas plants are cheaper and faster to build but investment in new ones is flat, and they still produce carbon emissions. Renewable energy presents problems of matching supply and demand; solar panels for instance produce no power in the night when drivers would ideally recharge their electric cars.

Estimates vary on future numbers of electric vehicles, as well as hybrids and those powered by hydrogen fuel cells which do not require mains electricity. However, several analysts surveyed by Reuters said anything up to an extra 50 terrawatt hours (TWh) would be needed for them by 2040.

Bernstein analysts say overall demand could increase by 41-49 TWh, or 13-15 percent of current levels. However, a 15 percent rise would translate into a 40 percent jump in peak demand if drivers charged their cars between 6 and 9 pm, when electricity consumption is at its highest.

This problem can be eased by encouraging charging at night, when demand is currently only about a third of during peak periods. “We do not see the transition to EVs as posing a significant stress on peak demand if charging were incentivized to happen at off-peak times,” they said.

Britain has made progress in energy efficiency. Overall and peak power demand fell by around 14 percent between 2005 and 2016, even though the economy grew by the same amount.

“There is definitely some slack in the transmission and distribution system to tolerate an increase in the peak demand,” according to Bernstein.

Its “extreme scenario” projection of a 40 percent rise in peak demand equates to 24 gigawatts (GW). But National Grid, which operates the transmission system, has said the rise in peak demand can be kept to 5 GW if there is smart charging and time-of-use electricity tariffs.

Such encouragement of off-peak EV charging by making power cheaper than at peak times of the day will be essential.

“A very large peak demand could be the outcome if other things don’t happen, such as smart grids, smart charging and energy storage, although we expect these technology solutions to be developed to support increasing power demand within sensible peak levels,” said Richard Sarsfield-Hall, director at Poyry Management Consulting.

While nationally there may be some slack, local grids and distribution networks could feel the pinch. A trial by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks found that uncontrolled EV charging would double the usual domestic load to 2 kilowatts (kW) when using a 3.5 kW charger. More powerful chargers would exacerbate the load strain further.

The company’s head of asset management and innovation, Stewart Reid, said up to 30 percent of its local networks could experience problems such as power loss if 40-70 percent of its customers have EVs, based on 3.5 kW chargers.

Spreading out charging through the night could save around 2.2 billion pounds (RM12bil) of expenditure in replacing or upgrading cables or transformers, he added.

Capacity problems could also start in the home. National Grid says that drivers charging their cars at home might not be able to use items such as kettles, ovens and immersion heaters at the same time without tripping their house’s main fuse. “The house electricity supply is one ‘pinch point’,” it said in a background article.

The piece raised another difficulty: it estimated that 43 percent of households have no off-street parking, meaning drivers could not recharge their cars overnight in their garage or driveway as they slept in their homes.

An alternative is more public power points at supermarkets, allowing cars to be charged while their owners shop inside. However, few drivers would probably want to buy groceries in the dead of night, the best time for easing grid loads.

Even if the grid can bear the burden, increasing charging points from the current 13,000 won’t be cheap.

“The UK by 2040 needs 1-2.5 million new charging points. An average public charging point costs 25-30,000 euros so it would need to invest 33-87 billion euros from now until 2040,” said Wood Mackenzie’s Wetzel.

All but one of Britain’s existing nine nuclear plants, which can together produce around 9 GW, are set to close by 2030 unless their lives are extended. On top of this, 12 GW of coal capacity will shut by 2025.

At the end of last year, gas-fired capacity totalled 32 GW and the government has said more such plants could help fill the gap left by coal. However, weak wholesale power prices have stunted new development.

Britain’s largest gas plant to open for three years, at 884 MW, came online last year in Manchester at a cost over 700 million pounds. But plans for a 2-GW gas plant nearby have stalled as the developer struggled to find investment for the 800 million pound project.

One risk is that by using this fossil fuel to meet extra power demand, Britain could end up emitting more greenhouse gases in charging EVs than conventional cars do already.

Norway has proportionately the largest EV fleet in the world, and in January they accounted for 37.5 percent of new car sales. However, the country relies on carbon-free hydropower for almost all electricity supplies.

The government has projected that almost 140 GW of generation capacity is needed by 2035 to replace ageing plants and as electricity demand increases. This is around 30 GW higher than current levels.

Sources could include onshore and offshore wind, gas, biomass, nuclear and power links with Europe.

But Britain has struggled to get nuclear projects built, mainly due to the high costs. EDF’s 3.2 GW Hinkley Point C plant is expected to be operational by 2025 at the earliest.

Much of the necessary investment will fall on the private sector. But experts say the state, including energy market regulator Ofgem, must ensure the country achieves a reliable mix of power sources and builds infrastructure such as more interconnectors. These links with continental Europe allow the import and export of power to match supply and demand.

“If we get an increase in renewables, interconnectors, some new gas and nuclear (plants), we can get the power required, but you need the government and Ofgem to help deliver that,” said Simon Virley, UK head of power and utilitieå≈s at KPMG.

“And there is a question mark over localised pinch points and grid stability issues,” he added.


New survey reveals EV switchers don’t look back

                LONDON: A new poll of Zap-Map’s community of electric vehicle (EV) drivers in Britain has revealed more than 90% of drivers will not be replacing their current EV with a petrol and diesel vehicle.

The results are strong evidence of the fundamental shift in consumer attitudes in favour of environmentally friendly cars.

In the poll, which was carried out in November 2020 with over 2,000 respondents, 91% said “no thanks” to replacing their EVs with a petrol or diesel vehicle; and in stark contrast less than 1% were hankering for a return to fossil fuels. Nine per cent said they were not sure.

The majority of respondents were first-time EV drivers, with 73% stating their current vehicle was their first EV, and 52% making the purchase within the last year.

Driver satisfaction was notably higher for both battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, with EV drivers reporting a satisfaction score of 91 out of 100 (BEV 92, PHEV 84), compared with only 72 for petrol or diesel vehicle ownership.

The data overwhelmingly shows the positive impact of the EV experience on drivers who may have become accustomed to loud, inefficient, and dirty fossil fuel vehicles.

EV models which received the highest satisfaction scores included: the Volkswagen ID.3, Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid, and BMW 3 Series saloon (all 100); Tesla Model 3 (96); Kia e-Niro (96); and the Hyundai KONA electric (94). Nearly all the models, including popular ones such as the Renault Zoe (92) and Nissan LEAF (90), also achieved high levels of driver commitment.

The survey results come at a time of record-breaking sales for the electric vehicle industry in the UK. Latest industry figures show that for the year-to-date 9.7% of all new car sales had a plug, compared to 3.2% in 2019, and 1.1% in 2015.

“Our latest poll shows the strong and enduring impact of switching to a clean car," said Zap-Map co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham. "The evidence in favour of electric vehicles grows more compelling with each one of our surveys, even in a year as disruptive as 2020.

“The challenge for the automotive industry is to take advantage of the opportunities that EVs present, not only in terms of the rapidly expanding range, but also ensuring that sales staff are knowledgeable enough to present the benefits to their customers."

Zap-Map offers mapping service that helps EV drivers locate available charge points, plan longer journeys, share updates and pay for charging on participating networks.

As of December, Zap-Map features over 20,000 charge point devices in the UK at 13,200 locations. This is an estimated 98% of all public chargers, of which 70% receive live availability status updates every 5 minutes direct from the network.


Rebates galore for Toyota CNY promotion

                PETALING JAYA: To welcome the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese calendar, UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd is having a sales promotion throughout the month of January 2017.

During this promotion period, which ends on Jan 31, 2017, cash rebates of up to RM5,000 are offered for eight Toyota models.

The eight models which have rebates are the Toyota Vios, Camry, Corolla Altis, Hilux, Innova, Fortuner, Avanza and Sienta.

All models offered are the latest 2017 stocks.

The cash rebates available for each model are shown on the details below:-

Toyota Avanza – RM2,000 cash rebate

Toyota Innova and Fortuner – RM3,000 cash rebate

Toyota Corolla Altis - RM3,000 cash rebate with free accessories worth up to RM5,700

Toyota Vios, Hilux and Sienta – RM4,000 cash rebate

Toyota Camry – RM5,000 cash rebate

Selected units of 2016 models are also available and customers who would like to purchase these models will receive up to RM10,000 in cash rebates (depending on the model).

This offer is subject to availability of stocks and information can be obtained at the showrooms.

All new models come with a 5-year full warranty (subject to terms and conditions) with no limit on mileage after first registration.

The warranty is also transferable to the next owner if it is still in effect when sold off.

Toyota showrooms nationwide will be having a Toyota Showroom Weekender on Jan 14 and 15. The public can test-drive the latest Toyota models and enjoy refreshments as well.

For those who bring along their children, there are also fun activities to keep them occupied.

For information on the promotion or the locations of showrooms nationwide, please visit toyota.com.my or call the TOYOTA FREEPHONE: 1800-8- TOYOTA (869682).


Toyota halts robot-car tests citing drivers’ emotional toll

                TOKYO: Toyota halted tests of its “Chauffeur” autonomous driving system on US public roads after a Uber Technologies Inc vehicle operating in autonomous mode under the supervision of a human safety driver struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona, on Sunday evening.

“Because we feel the incident may have an emotional effect on our test drivers, we have decided to temporarily pause our Chauffeur mode testing on public roads,” spokesman Brian Lyons said in an emailed statement, referring to its hands-off testing mode.

The carmaker said it could not speculate on the cause of the crash or what it may mean to the future of the nascent automated driving sector.

Toyota had been doing on-road testing with self-driving vehicles in Michigan and California, Lyons said. The company has kept the number of vehicles small so they could be rapidly updated as the technology advances, he said, declining to name a specific number of self-driving vehicles in operation.

Prior to the incident, Toyota had been working on a plan to team up with Uber on autonomous driving. Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive officer of Uber, posted a photo on Twitter with Toyota president Akio Toyoda at the automaker’s headquarters last month, though details on the collaboration have been slim.

Representatives for Nissan Motor Co and Honda Motor Co declined to comment on the Arizona accident.

Nissan has this year tested an autonomous ride-hailing service on public roads in Japan and aims to officially start the “robot taxi” rides in the early 2020s. The company’s testing protocol includes a trained safety driver at the controls constantly engaged with the vehicle and a test engineer in the rear seat to operate the system, spokesman Nicholas Maxfield said by email on Tuesday.

Besides Japan, Nissan also tested autonomous vehicles on public roads in Europe and the US. The carmaker is aiming to introduce fully autonomous cars to the market in 2022.

Honda Motor Co has been talking to Waymo, the autonomous driving unit of Alphabet Inc, for a deal that would put its self-driving technology into some of the Japanese automaker’s cars.

The carmaker is also doing tests at its own courses in Japan, targeting to introduce autonomous vehicles to the market by 2025.


Volkswagen's Porsche drops diesel in electric car push

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen’s Porsche will stop offering diesel versions of its cars, the unit said on Sunday, sharpening its focus on hybrid and battery-powered vehicles instead.

Volkswagen has admitted to deliberately cheating diesel emissions tests, sending shockwaves through the automotive industries and causing a sector-wide crackdown on polluting diesel engines.

As a result, carmakers around the world have ramped up spending on the development of electric cars, hoping to catch up with pioneer Tesla.

“Porsche is not demonising diesel. It is, and will remain, an important propulsion technology,” Porsche chief executive Oliver Blume said in a statement.

“We as a sports car manufacturer, however, for whom diesel has always played a secondary role, have come to the conclusion that we would like our future to be diesel-free.”

Porsche’s existing diesel customers would continue to be served, he said.

Porsche, which is investing more than 6 billion euros ($7.1 billion) in electric mobility by 2022, said that demand for diesel models was dropping, adding their share of worldwide Porsche cars was 12 percent in 2017.

“We have never developed and produced diesel engines ourselves. Still, Porsche’s image has suffered. The diesel crisis has caused us a lot of trouble,” Blume said in a separate interview with weekly Bild am Sonntag.

German chancellor Angela Merkel was to hold a meeting on Sunday to discuss whether to require the car industry to carry out costly hardware upgrades for older diesel vehicles to reduce inner-city pollution, government sources said.

Porsche has sold diesel versions of its cars for nearly a decade. It has not had a diesel in its line-up since February. Next year, it will launch the Taycan, which it says is its first fully-electric sports car.

According to Bild am Sonntag, Porsche is suspected of manipulating engines to improve their sound on the road at the expense of higher emissions, adding this function was not active in a testing environment.

Asked about this, Blume said: “In the individual case of the 8-cylinder Cayenne EU5, the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has declared an engine charge control as not being in line with the law. This was about nitrogen oxide, not CO2.”

Blume said that Porsche was owning up to the issue, adding it affected about 13,500 diesel vehicles and that the carmaker was also examining petrol cars as a precautionary measure.


Upgraded Touch ‘n Go card with eWallet reloading launched

                KUALA LUMPUR: Touch ‘n Go Group has launched the upgraded Touch ‘n Go Card that allows users to reload from the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app with their mobile devices anytime, anywhere.

Users of this card and service will also experience no surcharge when reloads are performed.

The upgraded card is minimalistic and comes in a fresh look of pastel pink to pastel blue gradient.

It also comes with higher encryption levels for better security.

In addition to this, each card is also fully registered by virtue of it being tagged to a Touch ‘n Go eWallet account when mobile reloads are performed.

Priced at RM10 or the same price as the older version Touch ‘n Go cards, the new card is available for purchase on the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app as well as at selected retail locations nationwide.

Once users receive the upgraded Touch ‘n Go card, they will need to link the card to their Touch ‘n Go eWallet.

Users will just need to hold the card to the back of their NFC-compatible smartphone for five seconds to activate the new card. Effendy (left) and TNG Digital CEO Alan Ni showing how the reload is done.

After completing the linkage, users can then view the card’s balance and perform reloads.

The function is currently available for both iOS and Android devices, and users can link up to five Touch ‘n Go cards to their Touch ‘n Go eWallet.

Group CEO of Touch ‘n Go Group Effendy Shahul Hamid said the new card offers more reloading convenience compared with older cards.

Similar to the current Touch ‘n Go card, the upgraded Touch ‘n Go card can be used for cashless payments as usual across all use-cases including toll highways, public transportation services, and over 700 parking sites in Peninsular Malaysia.

For details, visit www.touchngo.com.my.


The global EV transition hinges on one Chinese company

                DUBAI: The world’s largest battery maker doesn’t need Ford Motor Co. or Tesla Inc.

It’s the US — and global — carmakers, desperate to go electric quickly, that need the Chinese behemoth.

In recent months, news that Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., or CATL, will make its way to American soil with partners like Ford and Tesla has rustled feathers.

The increasing number of automakers turning to the one Chinese firm that has dominated the market for years raises a broader question: How did a single company manage to position itself as such a critical cog, with the world so deeply dependent on it?

Even though few are willing to outwardly accept this reality, CATL’s strong hold comes from more than just size.

Its batteries are in Teslas, Mercedes and many other electric vehicles.

The Fujian-based firm has backed realistic technology, carved out targeted partnerships and tapped viable markets for production at ever-lower prices.

The ways it scaled products and manufacturing facilities are key: licensing intellectual property and taking minority stakes.

Where possible, CATL has built huge factories and invested in raw material mines to keep a tight grip on supplies. The firm has gone deeper into the value chain and backed small EV companies, too.

That’s led to a sprawling — and underappreciated — global empire of partners and plants that have made the Chinese giant all but indispensable to the global electrification drive.

Last year, overseas revenue rose 176% and accounted for almost a quarter of its sales.

In Japan, CATL tied up with Toyota Motor Co.’s compact car subsidiary, Daihatsu Motor Co., to supply EV batteries. In Indonesia, it has invested almost US$6 billion into state-owned nickel miners, a key raw material.

That’s another astute move since carmakers like Tesla and Ford are also flocking there.

In Thailand, where EVs have been lagging, CATL is licensing proprietary technology to Arun Plus Co., a subsidiary of PTT Pcl. The state-owned oil and gas major has been pushing EVs, tying up with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also known as Foxconn, and committing US$1 billion for a new plant. In Bolivia, the Chinese firm is helping build out untapped reserves of lithium.

CATL’s most ambitious international projects are in Europe, where regulatory tightening has accelerated EV adoption, and prospects for energy storage products remain bright.

The company has plants in Hungary and Germany and is considering a third in the region. Hundreds of people are being hired to work at these factories, making a stronger economic case for CATL’s presence in those countries.

While not a priority, the US hasn’t been completely ignored either. In 2020, CATL bought a facility in Glasgow, Kentucky, investing almost US$100 million well before the launch of the US Inflation Reduction Act spurred the battery-building factory boom, with plans to hire around 350 workers.

Almost a third of this capital qualified under the Kentucky Business Investment program. Two years prior, the company had opened a sales outpost in Detroit, the first in North America.

It’s simplistic to attribute CATL’s rise to Beijing’s helping hand. That alone doesn’t explain how it became so crucial in the automobile and EV supply chain.

As is evident from the efforts of other manufacturers, making good batteries at scale isn’t a cakewalk.

Beijing’s generous grants and subsidies focused on batteries helped, no doubt. However, they only make up a relatively small portion of growing revenues.

And, the reality is, other companies have also been beneficiaries of the state’s largesse. That doesn’t give CATL a massive advantage over domestic firms.

Each plant CATL now builds costs less, and the raw materials and parts supply are effectively captive while it keeps a firm grip on research and development activities.

Battery production capacity is estimated to rise 1 to 800 gigawatt hours by the end of next year, more than double at the end of 2022.

The company spent just over 48 billion yuan (US$6.97 billion) to do so and has astutely restructured commodity pricing contracts, helping margins.

With over 5,500 domestic and 1,065 international patents, CATL has been fiercely protective of its intellectual property, waging legal battles to keep a tight grip.

This expansion hasn’t come without pain. CATL’s gross margins have halved in the past six years from a heady 43.7% in 2017 to a still high-20% as of December.

However, that was always going to be the balance to strike – margins versus market share. Investors have long been concerned about the erosion and whether that will eventually hinder growth, so CATL recently rejigged how it prices batteries. That will help push costs down more broadly.

The other issue is the hand that helped it. With this dominant position, CATL is walking a fine line with Beijing and its antipathy toward too-big private firms.

But then again, a large, legitimate hard-technology giant with a globally important product is what China always wanted — a key lever in its relationship with the US.

At this pace and with its tentacles firmly embedded across the world, it’s hard to see CATL replaced — or replicated anytime soon.


Mazda’s brains behind the CX-3

                Though he is not in the aviation industry, Mazda Motor Corp’s CX-3 programme manager Michio Tomiyama has a fondness for aircraft, especially jet fighters.

“Don’t get the wrong idea that I like wars. I only like jet fighters because of their beauty and uncompromising design and performance,” the soft-spoken bespectacled middle-aged man said at the media briefing of the CX-3 crossover in Melbourne, Australia recently.

Over the years of attending airshows, Tomiyama has built up a large personal photo and video library of fast jets.

He counts the Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) F/A-18 Super Hornet among his favourites.

 Mazda Motor Corp’s CX-3 programme manager Michio Tomiyama.

Working for the Mazda Motor Corp since 1986, Tomiyama said the CX-3 was designed as a new segment of its own and does not conform to any current ones.

He said the CX-3 was created to be compact on the outside and yet spacious inside while having a stylish outlook.

While the CX-3’s original target buyers were couples and young families with active lifestyles, Tomiyama said the vehicle’s smartlooks could also attract car buyers from other segments.

He said the seating position of the CX-3 was deliberately set at an “ideal” height so drivers would have good visibility of the road ahead, and make for an elegant entry and exit for women.

Also, the slightly higher seating position and cozy interior would make it easy for front and rear passengers to hold conversations.

The seats, Tomiyama said, were made of vibration absorbing urethane-based materials with appropriate firmness to provide comfort and support.

He said the 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine used in the CX-3 is fuel efficient, has 30% less friction and is 9% lighter compared with the previous Mazda engine.

In addition to good driving dynamics, Tomiyama said the CX-3 has a strong SkyActiv interior structure and a host of electronic safety devices, ranging from anti-lock braking system, traction control to smart auto-braking to make it a safe vehicle.

 Mazda Motor Corp chief designer Youichi Matsuda .

Mazda Motor Corp chief designer Youichi Matsuda said the CX-3 is not a smaller version of the CX-5 although both vehicles share a crossover body style in general.

“The CX-3 gets the next generation Kodo - Soul of Motion styling that is more intense, judging from the vehicle’s taut and energetic body lines,” he said.

He also said Mazda’s Shinari sports coupe concept had played an important part in shaping the aggressive looks of the CX-3.

The Shinari, the first vehicle to feature the Kodo styling, has a long nose, short front and rear overhangs, large wheels and a tight cabin.

“By adapting the Shinari’s key styling, we were able to inject a sporty feel and appearance into the crossover,” he said.

In addition to the energetic exterior, Matsuda said the interior of the CX-3 had to have a similar level  of vigor to maintain an overall premium feel and sophisticated packaging.

He said a multi-colour interior with soft-touch materials, quality stitching and metallic inserts were used to heighthen the CX-3’s interior appeal.