Scrambler Ducati bikers meet skaters

                PETALING JAYA: Next Bike Sdn Bhd (Ducati Malaysia), the official distributor of Ducati Motorcycles in Malaysia, hosted an exclusive ‘Bikes X Boards’ barbeque gathering for its Scrambler Ducati owners last Saturday, Mar 3 at the Ducati Malaysia showroom.

“With the increase in Scrambler Ducati motorcycle ownership within the market, we are proud to host an event for our valued Scrambler Ducati owners here at our retail Petaling Jaya showroom.

"The event also sees the introduction of a skate competition in collaboration with Frontside TV, who are established in the local skateboard scene,” said Head of Next Bike Sdn Bhd (Ducati Malaysia), Fazli Shukor.

The ‘Bikes X Boards’ event was an appreciation night to reach out and develop the Scrambler Ducati community and get them to be more involved in the local Ducati activities.

It is also targeted at potential prospects from the skateboard community and social media influencers as a youthful and inventive partner.

Apart from showcasing the complete range of Scrambler Ducati variants, dedicated lifestyle apparel and functional accessories available for Scrambler Ducati owners, two new lifestyle elements are introduced that evening, the Scrambler Ducati Radio and DJ concept and the Scrambler Ducati Food Factory concept.

The Scrambler Ducati Radio and DJ concept saw 2 local DJs from Disco Santan performing live sets throughout the entire event while interspersing with Scrambler Ducati Radio Live Streaming aimed at educating the public on the availability of a live-streaming radio specifically for Ducati enthusiast.

The Scrambler Ducati Food Factory concept, on the other hand, offered a Barbeque-style cookout in keeping with the theme of Scrambler Ducati menu items, but with localised taste.

Finally, the event was also to launch the official Scrambler Ducati Malaysia social media channels on Facebook and Instagram, in line with Ducati Asia’s request and Corpotate Identity (CI) guidelines for individual brand management of both Ducati and Scrambler Ducati brands.

About 100 Scrambler Ducati owners, local skateboard community and invited guests turned up for an evening of exciting skateboarding action, mesmerizing music from Scrambler Ducati Radio and Disco Santan, delicious barbeque food and, of course, the Scrambler Ducati line-up showcase.


World may have hit peak car output, says auto-parts supplier Bosch

                STUTTGART: Global automotive production may have peaked, auto supplier Robert Bosch said today, announcing job cuts and a review of its business to cope with a 44% drop in full-year operating profit and a downturn in demand for cars.

Global automotive production is expected to fall for the third consecutive year, by 2.6% to 89 million vehicles in 2020, following a drop in demand in China, Europe and the United States, the Stuttgart-based car parts supplier said.

“It could well be that we have passed the peak of automotive production,” Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner said.

He also said he assumed the low level would remain constant and did not expected an increase in global automotive production before 2025, while the market would shrink by 10 million units in 2020 compared with 2017.

Bosch said its full-year earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) fell to 3 billion euros in 2019, a 44% drop from 5.4 billion euros in the year-earlier period and its EBIT margin contracted to 4% from 7% because of lower demand in China and India.

Total revenue was stable last year, at 77.9 billion euros, as Bosch benefited from increased complexity in vehicles, which allowed it to sell more components and systems per vehicle produced.

A shift to electric cars is expected to create opportunities longer term, but will affect jobs in the near term, Denner said.

Ten workers are needed to make a diesel injection system, three for a petrol system, and one to produce an electric motor, he said.

As a result, Bosch has said staff adjustments will be made where necessary, including shorter working hours, voluntary redundancy and severance packages, although Bosch declined to provide a global figure for headcount reductions.

Already last year, Bosch reduced its headcount by 6,800 to 402,800, with 2,000 jobs cut in Germany and 3,600 positions reduced in Asia Pacific.

Bosch hopes to exceed 1 billion euros in sales from electric car components this year, and has set aside 500 million euros for investments in electromobility for 2020, Denner said.

Bosch will also start production of long-range LIDAR, a new sensor category, and begin production of hydrogen fuel cells in 2022.


Toddler in miraculous escape after being flung out of vehicle in two-car collision

                SEREMBAN: A two-year-old boy miraculously survived after he was flung out of a vehicle he was travelling in with his family in a crash involving another vehicle on the southbound North-South Expressway near Senawang.

Negri Sembilan Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Supt Ibrahim Mohd Abdul Kadir said the toddler sustained injuries in his forearms and head, and is being treated at Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital here.

He said in the 3.21pm incident on Tuesday, the boy was thrown out of the vehicle due to the impact of the collision with another car that was being driven dangerously.

"The suspect who was driving a Perodua Myvi on the left lane drew up alongside a Honda Jazz on the right lane before it returned to the left lane.

"He tried to change lanes once again but collided with a Honda Civic, causing the Civic to lose control and ram into the road divider before crashing into the rear end of the Myvi," he said in a statement.

A video clip on the crash also went viral.

Ibrahim said police had arrested the Myvi driver and the case was being investigated under Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving. The 20-year-year-old man will be remanded until Friday.


2018 CarSifu Auto Show:  Crowd swarms in on final days

                KUALA LUMPUR: Today and tomorrow are the final days of the 2018 CarSifu Auto Show with many of the exhibitors expecting to be swamped with people who have brought their family members along to enquire about the latest offerings.

"My father is actually looking for his retirement car at the moment," said Alicia Ng who brought along her father Kelvin and mother Irene to take a look.

 Alicia (right) with parents Kelvin and Irene, talking to a sales representative (left) about the Renault Koleos.

"He really wants a SUV and I think he really likes the Renault Koleos," she added after taking a look at the Subaru XV and Forester as well as a Peugeot 3008.

For Mohamad Shah Sharif, who got to know about the show in The Star newspaper, he brought along his wife Zarina Mohd Ghazali and 18-year-old son Akmal Haziq to take a look.

"Currently we're looking to get a small car," said the 56 year-old business man who was looking at a Proton Iriz.

 Mohamad Shah Sharif (centre) with wife Zarina Mohd Ghazali and 18 year-old son Akmal Haziq taking a look at a Proton Iriz.

"Right now we've got a Hyundai Starex and a new Mitsubishi Triton, so this is something that my wife and son can use," he added.

The 2018 CarSifu Auto Show is currently being held at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (MVEC) at Mid Valley Megamall until today at 9pm with great deals from automotive brands such as Subaru, Mazda, Nissan, Renault, Kia, Peugeot, Citroen, Proton, Isuzu and Volvo.

Visitors who book their cars at the show will automatically be entered into the Book and Win contest that has Sharp Malaysia sponsoring five units (and not one as shown in the The Star print version) of Aquos 60-inch 4K television with Easy Smart and 10 units of the Japanese electronics brand’s Plasmacluster Car Ion Generator.

There are also trendy apparels from Camel Activ as well as property developer Sunsuria showcasing its iconic Sunsuria Forum freehold mixed-integrated development located in Setia Alam, Shah Alam.

Also on display is official fuel partner Petron Malaysia who are giving away free Petron gift cards (each pre-loaded with RM10) to 500 lucky visitors, a 20% discount for two packs or more of Petron engine oil along with special discounts on their Avenger merchandise.

Official tyre partners Toyo Tyre and Silverstone are also at the show and will be giving talks on tyre care as well as hosting game sessions.

There are also other attractive promotions and contests by Qwik Pay ticketless and cashless payment app for car parking, Ottoman high-quality PU leather car floor carpets (40% discount for the duration of the show), Touch ‘n Go eWallet, Noco vehicle battery chargers and jump starters from RDS Marketing, and vehicle inspection specialist Aucnation Synergy.


KIA to show off SP Concept SUV at 2018 New Delhi Motor Show

                NEW DELHI: Kia Motors India is making its market debut at the Auto Expo 2018 in New Delhi with its new SP Concept sport utility vehicle (SUV) that's exclusive to India.

Kia will unveil its concept at the upcoming New Delhi Motor Show on Feb 7, alongside a showcase of 16 of the brand’s global models.The concept is inspired by Indian heritage and driven by advanced technology while hinting at the company's plans to introduce a new sport utility vehicle to the Indian market in the future.

Alongside the concept, the company will also showcase its range of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and other cars in its global product line up – including the Stinger gran turismo.

"We are here to build more than just great cars. We aim to set a new standard in the Indian auto industry by providing consumers with world-class products and services, while engaging with and giving back to the local community,” said Kia Motors Corporation president Park Han Woo


Volvo to unveil EX30 electric SUV on June 7

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo announced on Tuesday that its smallest electric SUV - the EX30 - will have its world premiere on June 7.

On the same date, it will also become available to order or pre-order in selected markets.

But to Volvo's dismay, someone had recently leaked online patent images showing the SUV's exterior.

The front indicates the EX30 looks like a mini EX90 but its shorter wheelbase has given the smaller SUV a marked different design when viewed sideways. Meanwhile, taillights look similar to those in the bigger SUV but has some styling tweaks to set them apart.

As its numbering suggests, the EX30 is positioned below the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge.

The EX30 is expected to launch in a choice of rear-wheel drive (single motor) and all-wheel drive (second motor in front).

With Volvo sharing technologies and parts with parent Geely and affiliated brands in the family, it won't come as a surprise if the EX30 uses Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform on which the Smart #1 and a small Polestar SUV are based on.

The SEA, introduced in 2020 as an EV-focused platform, is able to accommodate smaller to larger passenger vehicles as well as light commercial vehicles, according to Geely.

With the EX90 and EX30 in hand, Volvo would cover both the top end of the premium electric market as well as the entry level premium segment.

Together, they would complement the existing line-up of the fully electric XC40 and C40. This sets the company up for a future with strong growth and improved profitability on fully electric cars.

The EX30's world premiere would be streamed live at 13:30 CEST (7.30pm in Malaysia) on June 7.


Vehicles sales rose 6% in July, thanks to zero-rated GST

                KUALA LUMPUR: The sales volume of vehicles in July 2018 rose 6% from the preceding month to 68,465 units on the back of lower prices due to the zero-rating of the GST during the period.

“At 68,465 units, the sales volume in July 2018 was the second highest monthly total industry volume (TIV) achieved in the history of the local automotive industry,” the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said in a statement.

Year-on-year, sales volume for the month rose 41% or by 19, 912 units.

The highest monthly TIV achieved by the industry was 69371 units in December 2015.

The association said sales volume for August 2018 was expected to be maintained at the July 2018 level due to the continuation of the tax holiday period.


S8 not enough, Audi had to go make S8 plus

                INGOLSTADT: Technicians have taken Audi's flagship executive sedan and managed to coax an extra 84bhp out of its already potent V8 engine.

The results are remarkable. The S8 plus is a car that can carry five in absolute luxury even at speeds of up to 304kph and one capable of going from 0-100kph in just 3.8 seconds.

To put those figures into some kind of context, the new Audi S8 plus is faster off the mark and has a higher top speed than a current-generation Porsche 911 Carrera.

But those numbers also mean that despite is huge size - the car's over 5 metres long and just under 2 metres wide - its 597bhp 4-litre V8 engine makes it the fastest S-designated Audi in the company's current range.

Yet, even with those supercar-baiting levels of performance, the car shouldn't leave owners shaken and stirred. It has permanent quattro four-wheel drive for assured grip whatever the conditions and clever adaptive air suspension that responds to how the car's being steered in order to optimise handling and comfort. It also gets carbon ceramic brakes as standard and sits on special 21-inch alloy wheels that will help distinguish the S8 plus from the "standard" S8 and the A8 models.

Other unique exterior features include a carbon fibre blade on the front apron spoiler, carbon fiber flaps on the air inlets and a special trunk lip spoiler. As an optional extra, the wing mirror housings and rear spoiler can be specified in carbon fiber, too.

The S8 plus also comes with Matrix LED headlights as standard, which offer a wide area of bright illumination but won't dazzle or glare oncoming drivers, plus darkened rear lamps for extra menace. What's more, Audi has developed a special matte paint finish called Floret Silver that will be exclusive to the model.

Interior features include 22-way adjustable leather sports seats, stainless steel accelerator and brake pedals, privacy glass, a 14-speaker Bose sound system, power-operated doors and trunk plus keyless entry.

Meanwhile, safety and assistance features include an advanced parking system which incorporates a top view camera and adaptive cruise control.

The S8 plus will be available to order from October.

HIGHLIGHTS OF S8 PLUS


GM and Ford among firms curbing China travel as Wuhan virus spreads

Wuhan has a population of 11 million and is five times the size of London. — SCMPpic
NEW YORK: General Motors and Ford are among a growing number of global corporations operating in China that are limiting travel or forgoing long-held traditions around Lunar New Year to protect their employees against a spreading deadly virus outbreak.

The carmakers, along with HSBC and other firms, are restricting non-essential travel to Wuhan, the epicentre of the contagion that so far has killed at least 25 people and seen cases spread across the region and even to the US. The number of confirmed infected people in mainland China rose to 830 as of Jan 23,

China has kicked off a nationwide screening to tackle the outbreak of the new respiratory virus, with hundreds of millions set to travel during the looming Lunar New Year holiday.

Social media giant Tencent Holdings Ltd was among Chinese corporations that responded swiftly to reduce individual contact.

It called off a longstanding annual tradition where top executives hand out Lunar New Year red envelopes in person to employees.

The operator of WeChat is suspending travel to Wuhan along with brokerage Citic Securities Co., according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named as they aren’t authorised to speak publicly.

Wuhan is a city of 11 million people and is five times the size of London.

The World Health Organisation has declared the new coronavirus an emergency in China but stopped short of calling it an international public health emergency, a designation used for complex epidemics that can cross borders.

Wuhan clampdown

China has now halted travel from Wuhan, a city of 11 million people. About 4,000 people in Wuhan may be currently infected, based on the number of known cases and the estimated mean time between infection and detection, according to a study by Neil Ferguson, a researcher at Imperial College London.

“We have issued a global travel advisory for Wuhan,” Detroit-based GM, which has employees from its joint partners in the area, said in an emailed statement Wednesday. “If someone needs to go there, travel has to be business critical and they must get managerial approval .”

Ford, which doesn’t operate in Wuhan, advised its employees not to travel to the city, saying via email that it is “watching the issue and will adapt, as necessary.” Ford’s Chinese operations are located in Chongqing and Nanjing, which are about 900km and 650km, respectively from Wuhan.

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also known as Foxconn, is mulling contingency plans to deal with the outbreak, founder Terry Gou said.

The firm, best known for assembling iPhone components, asked Wuhan-based staff and their families to stay away from a corporate gathering on Wednesday. Gou warned that China lacks enough drugs and medical equipment to handle a coronavirus pandemic.

The rumour mill is starting to churn in Hong Kong, where large parts of the population are now wearing face masks and hand sanitisers are readily available at offices, apartment buildings and hotels. The outbreak of the SARS virus in 2003 is still fresh in people’s memories.

Keeping clean

A number of firms, including German carmaker Volkswagen AG, have issued employees advice on how to avoid contagion, including urging them to wash their hands. A VW spokesman said production at its joint ventures in China is unaffected.

FedEx Corp. is supplying surgical masks and alcohol wipes to its employees and disinfecting facilities in areas where outbreaks have happened.

“We are also encouraging our team members to take any signs of illness seriously and seek medical attention as needed,” the delivery giant said via email.

The disease is so far considered less deadly than SARS, which killed 800 people and stunted economic growth across the region.

“The next few weeks will be very important not just for containing the outbreak but also to help us understand how this virus behaves,” Sanjaya Senanayake, associate professor of medicine at the Australian National University, told Bloomberg Television.

“It’s really important for countries around the world to make sure they’re prepared for this.”

Concerns about the virus extend beyond health to its impact on the economy, with warnings that China’s fragile stabilisation could be at risk.

Mounting fears about the outbreak have roiled financial markets, and the Shanghai Composite Index had the worst end to a Lunar Year in its three-decade history.

The virus is believed to have emerged last month in a seafood and wildlife market in Wuhan, spreading from infected animals to humans.


Aston Martin DBX gets dark, sinister look for Geneva

                LONDON: Adding to the already generous number of ways future DBX owners can personalise their SUV, Aston Martin says its Q by Aston Martin bespoke service is adding a few more customisation options for those with finer — and darker — tastes.

The model that will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show will feature Q design touches from two categories: Commission and Collection.

The Commission category allows owners to "create tailored options for their personal specification" which are then complemented by a series of bespoke upgrades like 22" gloss black wheels and an interior covered in Obsidian Black leather and a specially designed carbon fibre trim.

For those with even more exclusive tastes, the Collection category upgrades give the DBX an even more luxe character thanks to the addition of design elements developed by Aston Martin's in-house design team themselves. On the outside, these models have been finished with a "Satin Xenon Grey paint," black tread and sill plaques and a carbon fibre lower-body exterior pack.

A DBX outfitted with these bespoke elements will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show which runs from March 5 to 15. The model will debut on March 4, a day before the conference opens to the public.


New BMW 3 Series revealed

                PARIS: The seventh generation BMW 3 Series Saloon has been revealed prior to its debut at the Paris Motor Show.

It now sports revised proportions, wider track, longer wheelbase, reduced weight and drag. Also, the new design language focuses on clean, precise lines to emphasise superior driving dynamics.

The BMW 3 Series Saloon has had an unparalleled reputation both for its quality, and supreme handling in the premium midsize segment for more than 40 years and this, the seventh generation, raises the bar even higher.

Precision, clean lines and bold contours are the hallmarks of the new 3 Series Saloon, which has had its proportions radically revised.

The new car is 85mm longer than its predecessor (at 4,709mm), 16mm wider (1,827mm) and just 1mm taller (1,442 mm). Added to that, its wheelbase has been extended by 41mm to 2,851mm, as has its track widths (front: by 43mm, and rear by 21mm).

The interior is designed to accentuate the spaciousness of the cabin and the driver- focused cockpit. The instrument panel has a modern, light look with horizontal lines, high- quality electroplated trim strips and contours that extend into the doors.

The newly-designed instrument cluster and Control Display form a large surfaced screen grouping, while the controls not included in these units are arranged into clearly structured function panels.

The upgraded four-cylinder engines from the BMW Group’s Efficient Dynamics family are used in the BMW 330i and the BMW 320d.

The 3 Series Saloon will feature a new- generation six-speed manual gearbox and the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. As an alternative to rear-wheel drive, the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system will also be available for the new BMW 320d at launch.

Systematic upgrades have been made to the BMW TwinPower Turbo technology for the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engines in the BMW 320d and BMW 320d xDrive models.

It now includes multi-stage turbocharging, which brings increased efficiency across all engine speeds. The revised diesel has a maximum output of 190hp and a peak torque of 400Nm enabling the BMW 320d to accelerate from zero to 62mph in 7.1 seconds (automatic: 6.8 seconds) while the BMW 320d xDrive can get from zero to 62mph in 6.9 seconds.

The new BMW 3 Series Saloon features a restyled leather sports steering wheel with multifunction buttons, thumb rests and electroplated applications.

Adaptive LED headlights and LED foglights are standard, LED headlights with extended features include a dynamic cornering light function.

Standard-fit equipment includes rain sensor, automatic headlight activation, a Bluetooth hands-free phone facility, automatic climate control (including three zones with independent controls for the driver, front passenger and rear passengers) and acoustic glass for the windscreen, driver and passenger side windows which dramatically reduces cabin noise.

Safety-wise, the car features as standard with Active Guard Plus which includes speed limit information, lane departure warning and Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function along with Cruise Control with braking function.

New for the BMW 3 Series Saloon, drivers and passengers will be joined by the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, an intelligent, digital character that responds to the prompt “Hey BMW”.

The BMW Digital Key employs Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to allow the new BMW 3 Series Saloon to be locked and unlocked from a smartphone. Holding the smartphone up to the door handle opens the car and, once inside, the engine can be started as soon as the phone has been placed in the wireless charging or smartphone tray.


Man sold car 12 years ago, but is still getting over 100 summonses

                KUALA LUMPUR: A 57-year-old plumber has incurred more than 100 traffic summonses for a car he sold to a second-hand car dealer some 12 years ago.

The victim, Kor Eng Chai, thought that the ownership of the Proton Wira Aeroback had been transferred, but unfortunately, the dealer allegedly duped him.

"I purchased a new car through the dealer and traded in the Proton Wira on Oct 24, 2010.

"The dealer even wrote a ‘guarantee’ letter promising to take full responsibility for the vehicle," he told a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong at Wisma MCA today.

However, Kor only discovered that the car ownership was still under his name when he received an insurance invoice on Jan 26, 2017.

"I lodged a police report at the Skudai police station in Johor on Feb 19, 2017," he said.

In August this year, Kor's plight worsened when he discovered that the same Proton Wira had more than 100 overdue summonses totalling RM7,440 from August 2018 until September 2020.

"It is disheartening to know that I sold the car for RM7,500 but the overdue summonses are almost worth almost that amount.

"I managed to contact the used car dealer initially and he promised to investigate. However, I did not manage to contact him again as he refused to answer my calls or reply to my texts," he said.

Kor urged the new user of the car with the registration number JFG 9226 to come forward to sort out the matter.

"I also appeal to the public to report the matter to the police if they see the car anywhere," he added.

Chong advised the public to follow proper procedures when they intend to sell their vehicles.

"I already received about four such cases this year.

"Most of the time, the victims are bankrupt as they cannot afford to pay the overdue finances of their previous cars," he said.

He said the public should also go to reputable and legitimate second-hand car dealers.

"The victims are paying the price due to their carelessness.

"We hope the public will be vigilant and follow proper procedures when selling their vehicles," he said.


Expats chill with Dubai desert off-roading

                Mohammed Iqsaan runs a real estate company in Dubai but off-roading over desert dunes on weekends is his escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The glitzy Gulf emirate's skyline is dominated by skyscrapers, topped by the world's tallest tower, while the emptiness of the Arabian desert lies only a short drive away.

And as the city-state attracts droves of tourists with its luxury resorts and grandiose malls, many expats opt instead for the tranquility of the vast sands.

"The desert has a different charm," said Iqsaan, a South African, standing at a camping spot after a day of driving near Swaihan, in the east of the United Arab Emirates of which Dubai is a member.

Iqsaan reached Swaihan in a convoy of all-terrain vehicles that are a must to navigate in the soft sands.

Fans of desert driving go through a briefing places are assigned for vehicles within the convoy, tyres deflated to gain traction and seat belts must be worn at all times.

Sinking in the sand is not a problem, recovery is part of the weekend fun. If shovels fail to dig the vehicle out, another car comes to the rescue with a strap.

The desert outings are a "getaway from the hustle and bustle, the life of the city and traffic", said Anthony Alan, a US aircraft engineer.

"It's just a great place to be," he said, setting up a barbeque.

Autumn and winter are the best seasons for desert trips in the UAE, when the temperature drops to pleasant levels.

For Liudmyla Pykhtina, the temperatures are perfect compared with the freezing winters of her native Ukraine.

"I like the weather," she said, sporting a thin fleece on a chilly pitch-black evening.

"You can see the stars," she said, compared with the light pollution in the city where the skies are often hazy.

Several companies organise dune-bashing desert safaris for tourists, while expats prefer to join off-road clubs, keeping updated on excursions through social media.

"Our website brings us all together," said Islam Mantawy, co-founder of an Abu Dhabi club which organises driving and camping trips.

Mantawy is a vice president at a local bank.

At weekends, he drops the suit and tie to don the black-and-orange outfit of a desert marshall and lead novice off-roaders on desert trips.

"The desert is beautiful... calm," he said, adding that his club boasts now 5,000 members who make regular trips across the UAE.

His convoys motor through the desert in search of a quiet spot, then set up camp. At night, families gather around a crackling log fire as the mercury falls.

Such trips can however pose an environmental threat to the ecosystem of the desert, just like any off-road activities.

According to the US-based website "Defenders of Wildlife", off-road vehicles, as well as military activities, cause "extensive, lasting damage to the fragile desert cover".

Leaving rubbish in desert areas after camping trips and picnics endangers grazing camels, who can choke to death from swallowing plastic bags.

"We avoid driving over grown grass that is grazed by animals and carry away our leftovers," said Hadeel Balbissi, a woman off-roader and human resources head at a local firm.

Iqsaan highlighted the draw of off-roading for expats.

In the desert, "all the noise pollution is left behind in the city. It just resets your whole biological clock. You get back to work revitalised," the realtor said.


Volvo Cars to produce electric motors in Skövde, Sweden

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo Cars will assemble electric motors at its powertrain plant in Skövde, Sweden, and plans to establish complete in-house e-motor production by the middle of the decade.

It will invest 700 million SEK (RM337mil) to this end in the coming years. Skövde is 160km north-east of here in the hinterland.

The company is committed to becoming a premium electric car company and aims for its global sales to consist of 50 per cent fully electric cars by 2025, with the rest hybrids.

The Skövde operations have been part of the Volvo Cars story ever since the company’s founding in 1927. Adding e-motor production to the plant’s activities means the historic ground in Skövde will be a part of the company’s future as well.

Volvo Cars announced earlier this year that it is investing significantly in the in-house design and development of e-motors for the next generation of Volvo cars. With the planned investments in Skövde, it now takes the first steps towards in-house e-motor assembly and manufacturing.

In a first stage, the Skövde facility will assemble e-motors. At a later stage, the company intends to bring the full manufacturing process for e-motors in-house into a facility in Skövde.

Bringing the development and production of e-motors in-house will allow Volvo Cars’ engineers to further optimise electric motors and the entire electric driveline in new Volvos. This approach will allow engineers to make further gains in terms of energy efficiency and overall performance.

Design and development of the company’s electric motors takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Shanghai, China. Earlier this year, Volvo Cars opened a new electric motor lab in Shanghai, in addition to ongoing e-motor development in Gothenburg, and state-of-the-art battery labs in China and Sweden.

The remaining activities at the Skövde engine plant, focusing on the production of internal combustion engines, will be transferred to a separate subsidiary of Volvo Cars, named Powertrain Engineering Sweden (PES). PES is intended to be merged with Geely’s combustion engine operations, as announced earlier.


Proton X70 launched,  4 variants priced from RM100K to RM124K

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, at the launch of the X70, recreating the moment when the Proton Saga was launched in 1985.
KUALA LUMPUR: Proton's first SUV, the X70, was finally launched this evening after months of previewing the car to the media and the public. Four versions are available with prices ranging from RM99,800 to RM123,800.

The variants and their prices are as followed:

> Standard 2WD (two-wheel drive) — RM99,800
> Executive 2WD — RM109,800
> Executive AWD (all-wheel drive) — RM115,800
> Premium 2WD — RM123,800

Prices are on the road, without insurance. In an industry first, the prices are the same in all states including Sabah and Sarawak.

"This means East and West Malaysia car buyers will pay the same price for the same vehicle, making Proton the first automotive brand to offer such a deal. It is our hope that by doing this, Proton proves that a Malaysian product can be offered at the same price for all Malaysians regardless of where they live,” said Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong.

The after-sales package includes:

- a 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty

- free parts and labour for the first service as well as free labour for five scheduled service appointments within 100,000km or five years.

- free Internet data for 5 years (capped at 1GB per month).

Proton also has financing packages that offer low interest rates starting from 2.34% per annum for qualified buyers.

The prices were announced tonight during its official launch by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here.

“Deliveries of the Proton X70 will commence over the coming weeks as we want customers to get their cars as soon as possible. Some have had to wait for over six months, having given their name to dealers before bookings were even officially opened,” said Dr Li Chunrong.

This is the most anticipated sport utility vehicle (SUV) in recent Malaysian automotive history, with over 10,000 bookings received as at end-October 2018.

Based on the Geely Boyue, all versions of Proton's first SUV are powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol direct injection engine, producing 184ps at 5,500rpm and 285Nm from 1,700 to 4,400rpm. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard.

Also, Malaysian elements were incorporated in the design of the X70, thanks to a team led by Geely executive vice president of design Peter Horbury and Geely Shanghai design chief Guy Burgoyne who collaborated with Proton design head Azlan Othman and his team of designers.

This is immediately noticeable in the silhouette, which was sculpted with explosive energetic lines inspired by the muscular and agile feline form of the Malayan Tiger, conveying a sense of explosive forward momentum.

Headlamps, featuring daytime running lamps (DRL) create a distinctive pair of ‘eyes’ to reinforce the link.

Other Malaysian touches can be found in the shape of the grille, which takes the shape of a traditional bow, as well as the horizontal elements used featuring a distinctive repeating pattern inspired by Malaysian craftsmanship, termed the infinite weave.

The infinite weave pattern also makes a subtle appearance on the door handles and speaker grilles.

The driving dynamics of the Proton X70 were developed by Horiba Mira in the United Kingdom.

Standard safety equipment for all variants consists of six SRS airbags, rear seat ISOFIX with top tether anchorage, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Hold Assist (HHA), Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS).

Standard kit across all X70 variants include voice recognition technology, an air purifier system, electric parking brake and auto brake hold, an 8-inch touchscreen with voice command, automatic dual-zone air conditioning and six USB ports.

The entry-level X70 has 17-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlamps, fabric seats, an 8-inch touchscreen head unit and a rear view camera.

The Executive 2WD variant gets better kit like 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps with daytime running lights, faux leatherette seats, a driver's powered seat and a 360-degree camera system.

The Executive AWD variant gets a tyre pressure monitoring system on top of the stuff found in the Executive 2WD model.

The flagship Premium 2WD variant gets Nappa leather seats, two front powered seats, a panoramic sunroof and Advanced driver assistance systems like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS).

READ MORE:
KLIMS'18: Proton X70 revealed in full glory
Proton X70 a connected car
2018 Geely Boyue: Track thrills in Beijing
2018 Proton SUV: Facelifted Geely Boyue gets more premium featuresProton X70 (Standard 2WD) — RM99,800

- electric power steering
- 5.5-metre minimum turning radius
- MacPherson strut front suspension
- multi-link rear suspension with stabiliser
- all-round disc brakes
- electric parking brake
- 225/65 R17 tyres
- T155/85 R18 spare tyre
- kerb weight of 1,660kg
- halogen projector headlights
- automatic headlamps and Follow Me Home function
- LED front fog lamps (auto on when turning)
- electric door mirrors with auto fold
- LED rear combination lamps
- leather steering wheel
- keyless/intelligent door entry
- engine push-start button
- fabric seats
- 60:40 split rear seats
- automatic dual zone air-conditioning
- rear air-con vents
- air purifier system
- 8-inch touchscreen
- voice command
- online music streaming
- online navigation
- smartphone and Bluetooth connectivity
- 4G WiFi
- 6 audio speakers
- 6 USB ports
- 6 airbags
- rear seat ISOFIX points
- auto brake hold
- ABS, EBD, brake assist
- traction control
- electronic stability control (ESC)
- hill hold assist
- hill descent control
- 4 rear parking sensors
- reverse camera

Proton X70 (Executive 2WD) — RM109,800

- 225/60 R18 tyres
- kerb weight of 1,670kg
- LED projector headlamps
- daytime running lamps
- automatic wipers
- auto dimming rear view mirror
- front welcome and footwell lamps
- leatherette seats
- 6-way driver's powered seat
- 8 audio speakers
- 2 front parking sensors
- 360-degree camera

Proton X70 (Executive AWD) — RM115,800

- All-wheel drive
- kerb weight of 1,725kg
- tyre pressure monitoring system

Proton X70 (Premium 2WD) — RM123,800

- 225/55 R19 tyres
- Nappa leather steering wheel
- kerb weight of 1,695kg
- Windows and Sunroof open/close remote function
- Nappa leather seats
- driver's powered seat; 2 way lumbar support
- 4-way powered front passenger seat
- front passenger powered seat-Boss switch
- 9 audio speakers with amplifier and subwoofer
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
- door opening warning system
- intelligent high beam control
- 4 front parking sensors

 Image from AFP


Porsche wants to help develop synthetic fuels

                STUTTGART: Porsche is keen to find partners to develop synthetic fuels or eFuels as it aims to continue making cars with pure combustion engine alongside hybrids and electric cars.

Fuel cell cars are not in its future plans however, said Porsche R&D chief Michael Steiner.

"We are convinced that these three drive technologies will survive on the market in the medium term," said Steiner.

eFuels are considered a realistic alternative to make car traffic more climate-friendly but availability is poor.Porsche wants to change this.

 Steiner says the internal combustion engine has a long life ahead.

“With electricity alone, you can't move forward fast enough,”

Porsche is also considering the use of eFuels in motorsports as well as for its historical cars. It said it wants to have a say in the specifications of a new synthetic fuel following lessons learnt from using E10 biofuel previously.

"We absolutely want to help with this process so that the fuel is suitable for high-performance engines.” Problems like those encountered with the introduction of E10 should not be repeated. "When E10 came onto the market, the blend had some disadvantages. It must be different this time: it must have advantages."

Although Porsche plans for half of all its vehicles sold to be electric by 2025, the existing fleet is large.

"Our cars are driven for a very, very long time," said Steiner. “And, while our hybrid vehicles are powered electrically for short distances, they rely on their combustion engines over longer distances.”


Jeep is turning 80, special edition to follow

                DETROIT: Jeep, the US carmaking brand that brought about the Willys MB in 1941, is about to turn 80.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, the company soon brought about the Willys Wagon with a four-wheel-drive system which effectively creatively created the sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment with a first-ever mass-produced 4x4 drivetrain.

To celebrate the company's 80th anniversary in 2021, it will be holding dedicated events starting in early January to help bring customers and fans closer to the heritage of the brand.

The milestone will also be marked with the launch of distinctive 80th-anniversary special-edition models with distinctive and possibly exclusive fixtures and fittings to go along with its 4x4 abilities.

The 80th-anniversary special edition models will be made available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) later this year until early 2021.

Currently, the company is concentrating on the official reveal of its Jeep Renegade 4xe and Compass 4xe – the first Jeep vehicles with plug-in hybrid technology for the EMEA region to underline the brand’s commitment to electrification.

The company also said that the next few years, an electrified option will be available on each nameplate of the Jeep SUV range.

This is in line with the brand’s ambition to become a leader in technologies for more eco-friendly mobility.

All electrified Jeep vehicles will carry the 4xe badge, centred around the pillars of efficiency, performance, responsibility, 4x4 capability and driver confidence.


Kia BLACKPINK Wanna Be contest winners announced

                KUALA LUMPUR: After eight-weeks through a nationwide roadshow in search for Malaysia’s biggest BLACKPINK fans, Naza Kia Malaysia selected three lucky winners to meet the sensational South Korean girl group BLACKPINK in Korea.

The winners of the ‘Kia BLACKPINK WANNA BE’ global contest are Wadi Ridhzuwan Mohd Rasli, 29; Angeline Goh Xuan Huew, 16 and Nur Emylia Muhd Syafiq Chu,16.

They will soon be on their way to Seoul on an all-expense paid trip for two inclusive of accommodation, flight tickets, Seoul city tour and exclusive passes to meet and greet BLACKPINK at an exclusive by-invitation only Kia Special Party held at Kia BEAT360.

These lucky BLINKS will also be watching the Melon Music Awards 2019 live at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul and a Korean culture class to experience the ‘Korean wave’ from Korea’s oldest traditions to the latest K-pop hit.


Stellantis plans to triple electric vehicle sales in 2021

                MILAN: Stellantis is looking at nearly tripling its global sales of electric vehicles this year, the head of holding company Exor, the carmaker’s main shareholder, said on Thursday.

The world’s fourth largest carmaker targets global sales of 400,000 high voltage vehicles this year from 139,000 in 2020 thanks to the launch of 11 additional models, John Elkann, who also serves as Stellantis chairman, said in a letter to Exor shareholders.

Stellantis, formed in January by merging Italian-American Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA, wants to exploit its size to take on rivals in the race to produce more electric vehicles.

It plans to have fully-electric or hybrid versions of all of its vehicles available in Europe by 2025, broadly in line with plans of rivals such as Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan.


BMW Engage platform extended to BMW Premium Selection

                CYBERJAYA: BMW Financial Services Malaysia has extended BMW Engage to the all-new BMW Premium Selection digital experience in-line with the company's commitment to digitalise touch points early last month.

BMW Engage is a fully-digitalised financing application platform that enables customers to tailor the financing of their BMW vehicle to their own needs, and to apply for financing pre-approval through a contactless process from the comfort of their own homes.

Meanwhile, BMW Premium Selection digital experience offers a wide selection of pre-owned premium vehicles from the BMW portfolio.

From now on, prospective customers in the BMW Premium Selection range will be able to enjoy a seamless financing pre-approval process with the BMW Engage platform – including calculating monthly instalment, generating a quotation, submitting an application and obtaining pre-approval.

BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia managing director Tobias Eismann said, “When BMW Engage was introduced early this year, it was a reverberation of our commitment to our loyal customers to continue delivering the Premium Ownership Experience – no matter the distance.

"The digital feature became a timely and necessary solution for customers during that period of physical divide at the height of the pandemic, and it continues to further enhance their purchasing journey.”

“As we enter a new normal, we are proud to extend BMW Engage to the pre-owned vehicle segment by expanding its coverage to the BMW Premium Selection portfolio.

"At the same time, we are also proud that through this, we are able to extend another avenue for customers to join us in our ongoing efforts to assist the B40 community in attaining the highest level of safety for their children while on the road, via the BMW Safety 360° subsidy programme,” he said.

Until Dec 31, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia will contribute RM100 to the BMW Safety 360° subsidy programme on behalf of their customers for every contract funded through BMW Engage.

The contribution helps ensure B40 families in Malaysia are able to provide the highest level of safety for their child while on the road.

The BMW Premium Selection range of cars can be browsed through at https://www.bmwpremiumselection.com.my/.

To access the BMW Engage platform, visit www.bmwfs.my.


SEAT's road sign-reading tech could cut speeding fines

                LONDON: Exceeding the speed limit on roads is costly and dangerous, so drivers should be pleased to learn that SEAT has come up with new technology promising to end the problem of driving too fast.

Using front-mounted cameras which detect roadside speed limit signs, the system slows the vehicle to comply with the regulations automatically. The Dynamic Road Sign Display system is an option on the all-new 2021 Leon hatchback

The new tech goes a step further than onboard navigation systems or pre-adjustable bleepers in many cars which already warn of prevailing speed limits but leave the driver to react. The warning system can also scan school zones and other road signs.

SEAT said that in Britain alone the new tech could save drivers up to US$451 million (RM1.8bil) annually in penalty fines.

A survey of 2,000 drivers asked by SEAT found that nearly 10 per cent admitted to being caught speeding every year. More than 76 per cent said they were not always aware of the speed at which their car is travelling.

The same figures would probably apply in many other countries and it is odd that not more car manufacturers are offering such useful technology.

Another rare exception is in the United States where the three-row Lincoln Aviator SUV offers road sign recognition as part of the sophisticated Co-Pilot360 Plus assistance suite.


BMW's R18 pays tribute to the brand's motoring history

                MUNICH: BMW Motorrad brought a showy concept motorcycle to this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy — a bike inspired by the company's iconic history to draw the audience's attention from the plethora of four-wheel models on display to those with just two. The R18 concept rolls together BMW Motorrad's classic models with today's motoring technology.

To open the 2019 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy, an event dedicated to showcasing classic vehicles on both two and four wheels, BMW Motorrad debuted a classically-styled yet contemporarily-designed concept motorcycle that has been created to appeal to your senses.

The company describes the R18 as demonstrating "how a forward projection of a 1960s boxer engine could look like today as a purist custom bike in combination with all the classic design icons of BMW Motorrad design."

All components are visible — the boxer engine, the cradle frame, the universal shaft, that fuel tank; the design, according to BMW, is honest and shares similar contours and proportions as the classic R5 while still answering today's technological transportation needs.

The 1,800cc, two-cylinder boxer engine is related to that used in Motorrad bikes during the 1960s but with bigger displacement and modern air and oil cooling. The leather seat has also been inspired by the 1950s classics, though it's been reinterpreted and is allegedly more comfortable.

Each of these details give the R18 a vintage yet modern character that has been built for 2019 and beyond.

According to Chris Paukert who was in Italy during the reveal, officials said that a production version of the concept will debut next year.


Here's a carnival to draw Peugeot buyers

                PETALING JAYA: For Peugeot owners, the Glenmarie Carnival is the place to be this weekend.

The carnival, to be held at Peugeot Glenmarie, Shah Alam, over two days promises visitors great offers and attractive rebates of up to RM45,000 on new cars. The event will  be a place to get used Peugeot demo cars that have undergone a 75-point inspection.

The new Peugeot 508 will also be previewed at the outlet.

Bookings for a new Peugeot of any model this weekend come with free Tribos paint protection worth RM2,000 upon successful registration. Every booking qualifies a buyer to play "Spin the Wheel", with the chance to walk away with such prizes as a 50-inch LED TV, ipad Mini, or a 3 days, 2 nights holiday. Peugeot merchandise are being sold at 90% discounts.

Other promotional activities include 0% downpayment, five years free service including labour, three years free road tax and low interest rate of 1.88 % per annum. Trade-ins are accepted.

Peugeot distributor Nasim Sdn Bhd  is organising a Peugeot roadshow outside the Klang Valley at the following venues:
·    Sunway Carnival Mall, Seberang Jaya from May 21-24;
·    Amanjaya Mall, Sungai Petani from May 22-24;
·    Mydin Mall, Kuala Terengganu from May 28-30; and
·    City Square, Johor Baru from May 29-31.


BMW and MINI i-Renewal digital service introduced in Malaysia

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia has introduced the i-Renewal digital service for the BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme to simplify renewal processes for BMW and MINI owners insured by the programme.

Tobias Eismann, Managing Director of BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia said, “The BMW Group is committed to innovating and further improving the premium mobility experience for all our customers while digitalising our existing touchpoints and services.

"By introducing the new i-Renewal digital service for the BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme, we are expediting this essential part of the premium mobility experience to keep it as hassle-free and seamless as possible.”

The BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme is designed to give customers complete peace of mind and total protection for their vehicle. With the i-Renewal digital service – provided in collaboration with Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad, customers are now able to easily request for an instant quotation by providing some basic information, or renew their insurance policies with only a few clicks.

Every owner who successfully renews their BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme online by Dec 31, 2020 will be entitled to a complimentary Enhanced Road Warrior coverage (terms and conditions apply) for one year.

For more details and information click on the Enhanced Road Warrior Programme and visit here to access the i-Renewal digital service.


Mazda sees CX-50 and other SUVs boosting US sales a third by mid-decade, says US chief

                DETROIT: Mazda Motor Corp expects the rollout of three new sport-utility vehicles, starting with the CX-50 next year, will help the Japanese automaker boost US new-vehicle sales by a third by mid-decade, the company's North American chief executive said on Monday.

The company expects US sales to finish this year "on the order of 330,000," up from almost 280,000 last year, when supplies were hurt by the semiconductor shortage, Jeff Guyton said in an interview after Mazda unveiled the mid-sized CX-50.

Mazda's US sales through October this year were up 30% to almost 293,000.

With two larger SUVs joining the CX-50 by 2023, Guyton sees sales jumping further.

"We do see a significant increase coming from CX-50, and the CX-70 and CX-90," he said. "Maybe those don't all mature in 2022, but by the middle of the decade, I would hope that we're on par for 450,000 in the US."

Mazda is scheduled to launch the CX-50 in January at the plant it built in Huntsville, Alabama, with Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota, which has a 5% stake in Mazda, already builds the Corolla Cross crossover vehicle at the US$2.3 billion plant, which will have an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles split evenly between the two automakers.

Guyton said the launch remains on track despite a "moving feast" of supply-chain constraints like the chip shortage, higher raw material costs and port congestion.

"I’m not seeing that it's going to affect our launch cadence right now. We don’t see that," he said. "We have a steady build of production starting in January and then through the spring."

Guyton said the Alabama plant was built to be able to produce electric vehicles in the future, but said no plans beyond a hybrid version of the CX-50 have been announced.

Mazda has said it plans to launch 13 electrified vehicles by 2025, including five hybrid models, five plug-in hybrids and three pure electric vehicles. Guyton said Mazda had no announcements to make around any battery joint ventures.


Fiat 500 features in a new virtual museum

                TURIN: Fiat has presented a new virtual museum, the "Virtual Casa 500," devoted to its iconic compact car.

Internet users from all over the world will be able to discover the history of the Fiat 500 with a selection of videos and archive pictures, while visiting a space that is destined to open for real here as early as next year.

The virtual 3D exhibition staged in a real venue on the fourth floor of the Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli here will allow visitors to navigate between different historical periods showing how the Fiat 500 has evolved over the years. For its part, the physical exhibition will open in the spring of 2021.

An exploration of the new virtual space offers an opportunity to interact with a variety of multimedia elements, which are distributed over a total of 11 thematic zones representing a series of historical periods. Via the numerous documents on show, which include archived interviews and advertisements, visitors can discover both the industrial and cultural heritage of the Fiat 500 and how it gradually became an international icon.

They will also be introduced to the latest all-electric 500, "La Prima," which also features a level-2 autonomous driving system that can accelerate, brake, stay in lane and read road signs for drivers who will nonetheless retain complete control of the vehicle.

The new museum, which will remain virtual in 2020, pays homage to an ambassador of la dolce vita which, since it first appeared in 1957, has been exhibited all over the world, most notably in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, United States.

Relaunched in 2007, the Fiat 500 continues to be an icon for fashion and Italian style. This year the new electric version of the automobile has already caused a sensation with its groundbreaking autonomous driving system.

Discover the Virtual Casa 500: www.fiat.co.uk/casa-500-virtual-museum


Japan tax agency finds Ghosn used Nissan money for private use, says daily

Ghosn being escorted as he walked out of the Tokyo Detention House on April 25 following his release on bail. — AFP
TOKYO: Japan’s tax authorities have determined former Nissan Motor Co Ltd boss Carlos Ghosn used company money for private use, bolstering the automaker’s case that he diverted corporate funds for personal gain, the Yomiuri reported today.

The Japanese newspaper, without citing sources, said the National Tax Agency found Ghosn used Nissan money for several years to pay consultant’s fees to his sister for fictitious work and to make donations to a university in Lebanon.

The former Nissan chairman holds Lebanese nationality. He is awaiting trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct, which he denies.

Nissan recorded some 150 million yen (RM5.9mil) as secretary’s office expenses for three years through March 2014. But the agency ordered Nissan to pay tax on the amount after judging the expenditure was for private use and should not have been deducted as expenses from corporate income, the Yomiuri reported.

While the finding has not led to a criminal case, it backs up Nissan’s claim that Ghosn improperly used the company’s money, the newspaper said.

A tax official told Reuters that the agency could not comment on individual cases. A Nissan spokeswoman said the automaker was checking the newspaper report. Lawyers for Ghosn did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.

Since his first arrest in November last year, Ghosn has been charged four times on allegations he underreported his Nissan salary, temporarily transferred personal financial losses to Nissan’s books, and authorized payments to car dealers with the purpose of enriching himself.

On Thursday, Ghosn’s lawyers said they had asked the Tokyo District Court to dismiss all charges against their client, saying prosecutors had colluded with government officials and Nissan executives to oust him from his post.

At the time of his arrest, Ghosn was working to strengthen Nissan’s relationship with Renault SA, which he also chaired and which is part-owned by the French government. The effort was unpopular among Nissan management, people close to the Japanese automaker previously said.

The Yomiuri said Nissan had already filed a correction and paid additional tax of around several tens of millions of yen.

The tax agency is investigating additional years, the newspaper said.


SPAD seeks to legalise ride-hailing services

                PETALING JAYA: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has submitted a proposal to the Government to legalise and regulate ride-hailing services such as Uber and Grab.

In a statement on Saturday, SPAD said it had taken a "balanced approach" that focuses on ensuring present policy, regulations and requirements form a level playing field for the taxi industry in the future.

"We recommend the issuance of new individual taxi licences to drivers with clean track records to encourage entrepreneurial spirit at the individual level," said the Commission. "It also provides a viable exit option for eligible taxi drivers who are burdened under the current leasing (pajak) model."

SPAD also proposed that taxi drivers be allowed more vehicle model options.

"The Commission believes that liberalising the taxi model is part and parcel of a competitive industry landscape that we want to drive for this industry," said SPAD chief executive officer Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah.

“Clearly these reforms and the change will have a big impact on our taxi industry.

"Once Cabinet approval is in, we will work through the details to ensure that the solutions are properly implemented considering the complexities of the transition,” he said.

Last month, SPAD presented its proposed solutions under the Taxi Industry Transformation Programme to the Economic Council and received positive feedback.

The Commission will announce the full details in due course following Cabinet approval that has been targeted for July.

In the meantime, SPAD requested the cooperation of all parties and to be patient to avoid controversy and confusion.

Recently, taxi drivers protested against ride-hailing apps, blaming them for a loss of income.

Uber and GrabCar have been seen as cheaper alternatives to taxis, with some users claiming that its drivers have been giving better services as well.


UK to ban drivers from scrolling through playlists on phones

                LONDON: Drivers in the UK are set to be banned from scrolling through playlists on handheld devices from next year as part of a government crackdown on road safety.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced it is planning to strengthen laws from next year to make it easier to prosecute drivers using and holding their phones at the wheel.

Under current UK laws, drivers are banned from texting or making a phone call (other than in an emergency) while using a handheld device.

From 2022, drivers will not be allowed to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games on their phones when driving. Anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a 200-pound fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence.

Drivers can still use devices such as sat navs and mobile phones using satellite navigation, if they are secured in a cradle.

But motorists must take responsibility for their driving and can be prosecuted if the police find them not in proper control of their vehicle.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "By making it easier to prosecute people illegally using their phone at the wheel, we are ensuring the law is brought into the 21st Century while further protecting all road users.

"While our roads remain among the safest in the world, we will continue working tirelessly to make them safer, including through our award-winning THINK! campaign, which challenges social norms among high-risk drivers."

The crackdown comes after a public consultation which found 81 per cent of respondents supported proposals to strengthen the law.

The Highway Code will also be revised to make it clear that being stationary in traffic counts as driving and hand-held mobile phone use at traffic lights or in motorway jams is illegal except in very limited circumstances.

Mary Williams, chief executive of road safety charity Brake, said the changes, coinciding with Road Safety Week, were "very welcome".

President of the AA Edmund King said: "By making mobile phone use as socially unacceptable as drink-driving, we are taking big steps to make our roads safer.

For years, the AA has campaigned hard and helped educate drivers to the dangers from bad mobile phone use. "To help ensure drivers get the message, we also need more cops in cars to help catch and deter those still tempted to pick up."

RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: "As our phones have become more sophisticated, the law has not kept pace and this has allowed some drivers who have been using their handheld phones for purposes other than communicating to exploit a loophole and avoid the maximum penalty.

"While today's announcement is clearly good news, it's absolutely vital that the new law is vigorously enforced otherwise there's a risk that it won't deliver the sort of behaviour change that will make our roads safer."


Cycle & Carriage Johor Baru is Mercedes Dealer of the Year 2021

                KUALA LUMPUR: Cycle & Carriage Johor Baru has won the Dealer of the Year 2021 award which was presented at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's outstanding dealerships event recently.

Aside from the coveted award Dealer of the Year 2021, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia also gave away Best in Financial Services, Best in Business Excellence, Best in Customer Services, Best in Sales, Best in Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) 5 Star Rated and Most Improved Dealer awards.

 Hap Seng Star Kinrara - Best in Financial Services.

Hap Seng Star Kinrara won Best in Financial Services, while the Best in Business Excellence was taken home by Cycle & Carriage Glenmarie.

Meanwhile, BR Jaya won the category for Best in Customer Services, while the winner for Best in Sales was awarded to Asbenz Motors.

 Cycle & Carriage Glenmarie - Best in Business Excellence.

The 5-star rated Best in Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI), was bagged by Hap Seng Star Melaka, and the Most Improved Dealer went to Hap Seng Star Kuala Lumpur.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and CEO Sagree Sardien said automotive excellence goes beyond just producing the world’s most desirable vehicles.

 BR Jaya - Best in Customer Services.

“For us at Mercedes-Benz, it also encompasses delivering a luxurious customer journey and experience.

“We thank our dealer partners for their continued dedication and commitment towards elevating the brand’s presence and our customers experience in Malaysia this past year. Together, we look forward to accelerating our retail customer experience to the next level,” she said.

 Asbenz Motors - Best in Sales.

Cycle & Carriage Bintang CEO Thomas Tok said the company had always been committed to delivering Exceptional Journeys to its customers.

“We are extremely proud of Cycle & Carriage Johor Bahru for being recognised as the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Dealer of the Year 2021.

 Hap Seng Star Melaka - 5-star rated Best in Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI).

“This is a testament of our continuous commitment in providing the best-in-class retail and after-sales experience to all Mercedes-Benz owners and fans across all our 11 locations,” he said.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has the largest network in the premium vehicle segment with 31 authorised dealerships nationwide to provide the best customer experience, while delivering the best products throughout a customer’s journey.

 Hap Seng Star Kuala Lumpur - Most Improved Dealer.


Chery sees record sales in January 2022

                WUHU (China): Chinese automaker Chery Group recorded the best January ever in its sales history, as it posted a 20% year-on-year jump in sales to 107,710 units in the first month of 2022.

Of that figure, 26,900 units were sold outside China (60.9% higher year-on-year), showing a steady growth trend, especially in key markets such as Russia, Chile, Brazil and Egypt, where Chery’s sales volumes and market shares continue to rise.

In Russia, where Chery has been present for 17 years, the company’s January 2022 sales grew 47% year-on-year, ranking it 10th among all automotive brands, according to Association of European Businesses (AEB) data.

The Tiggo 7 Pro was Chery’s best-selling model in Russia in January.

Chery ranked second in Chile in January, selling 2,969 units (188% higher year-on-year) to achieve a market share of 8%, according to Asociación Nacional Autoriz de Chile A.G. (ANAC) data.

The company also continued to top the sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment in January with a market share of 20.5% - the biggest contributor being its Tiggo 2 model.

Over in Brazil, Chery steadily ranked among the top 10 passenger vehicle brands by selling 3,131 units (36.6% higher year-on-year) and capturing 3.4% of the market in January, based on data released by the National Motor Vehicle Distribution Federation (Fenabrave).

The Arrizo 6 Pro ranked fourth in the car segment with a 6.47% market share, while the Tiggo 3X, Tiggo 8, Tiggo 5X and other models continued to sell well.

Meanwhile, in Egypt, Chery's sales also maintained a steady increase, with 1,658 units (87.3% higher year-on-year) in January, after having reached a historical peak by ranking third in total automobile sales only the previous month (December 2021).

According to authoritative Egyptian media brand Contactcars, 2,186 Chery vehicles were registered in January.

Chery has so far accumulated more than 10 million users worldwide, including 1.95 million users outside China.

In 2022, with the formal commissioning of Chery’s Future Factory of Intelligent Connected Vehicles, improvements in technology, products and the brand, the launch of new products including Omoda 5, as well as the further promotion of adaptive product development and globalisation efforts, the sales volumes of the Chery Group are expected to rise to a new level.

Visit @cherymalaysiaofficial on Facebook or @chery.malaysia on Instagram, or email cherymalaysia@mychery.com for more information.


First 11 buyers get their Hyundai Ioniq 5

                PETALING JAYA: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) presented the keys of the award-winning Ioniq 5 Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) to the first 11 customers at HSDM’s Ara Damansara showroom here.

The Ioniq 5 is available in Lite, Plus, and Max variants, all delivering a stellar performance with excellent driving range, fast charging, a maximum speed of 185kph and the innovative SmartSense suite safety feature.

It is also equipped with advanced connectivity and driver assistance features amid its modern finish, designed with eco-friendly materials.

The Ioniq 5 has garnered overwhelming response globally, winning six trophies at the Auto Express New Car Awards 2021 in the United Kingdom, including the coveted ‘Car of the Year’ award.

In addition to receiving their new vehicles, the first 11 Ioniq 5 customers were also provided a complimentary one-year membership with chargEV sponsored by Yinson GreenTech.

chargEV is a leading provider of electric vehicle charging solutions in Malaysia with over 400 charging stations nationwide.

Sime Darby Motors Malaysia managing director, retail and distribution Jeffrey Gan said the Ioniq 5 is the HDSM's second EV after the Kona Electric.

“As the mobility landscape continues to see greater adoption of EV vehicles in Malaysia, we are pleased to expand our EV line-up with world-class high-quality affordable offerings, supporting the nation’s transition towards a low carbon mobility future,” he said.

HSDM managing director Low Yuan Lung said the Ioniq 5 sets the benchmark for redefining the electric mobility lifestyle with its global acclaim for combining sustainability with a powerful performance.

“Testament to this, since the launch in Malaysia in March, we have recorded close to 300 bookings. This indeed reflects the highly positive reception for this innovative sustainable vehicle, and we will continue to strive to meet customer demand,” he said.

The Ioniq 5 starts from RM199,888 (on-the-road without insurance – fully exempted from import and excise duties, sales tax as well as road tax as announced under Budget 2022).

Interested customers can visit Hyundai Cl!ck to Buy (www.hyundai.com.my/clicktobuy/) or any of Hyundai’s authorised showrooms.

For more information, contact Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1300-13-2000 or check out www.hyundai.com.my.


Soon you'll be able to connect to the Internet by satellite while in a car, bus or RV

                AUSTIN: Starlink is about to add a new high-speed, low-latency mobile Internet kit to its offering, wherever its satellites offer active coverage.

Beware though, the bill could be high. According to US website The Verge, the hardware required and installation alone could cost a total of up to nearly US$2,500 (RM11,789) and the monthly subscription is US$135 (RM637) for the United States, while in Europe the monthly fee for RVs is €100 (RM473).

This price should give users a high-quality connection, even in very remote places and in less than ideal conditions.

By connecting simultaneously to several satellites, this solution offers constant connectivity during any trip. The idea is to be able to stay connected in one's car, van or RV essentially everywhere.

Earlier this year, Starlink received the go-ahead from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to transmit in moving vehicles. In the wake of this, Starlink expressed its intention to install its technology in school buses in rural, underserved areas. Now, it's going directly to individual customers.

The standard Starlink kit is not designed for use on the move, but only when parked, including in remote areas.


Volvo's Polestar 2 gives Tesla Model 3 a run for its money

                GOTHENBURG: Polestar has unveiled the second generation of the fully electric Tesla competitor with a 442km range and 408hp powertrain.

After weeks of teasing, Volvo finally revealed the Polestar 2, a fully electric five-door fastback powered by two electric motors, a battery capacity of 78kWh and Google.

The all-wheel drive electric powertrain is capable of generating 408hp and 662Nm of torque, putting it right in line with the Tesla Model 3.

The range produced by the two electric motors is estimated to reach 442km, just a hair under Musk's model which clocks in at 500km, and the 0-100km acceleration time is under five seconds just like the Model 3.

The chassis used, even with the 27-module battery pack set inside it, reduces the road noise by 3.7dB compared to more traditional options and can be enhanced by an optional Performance Pack. This addition gives the Polestar 2 a new set of high-performing dampers, brakes, and 20-inch forged wheels.

Android powers the infotainment system, providing drivers and passengers with a highly connected experience complete with the Google Assistant, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store which can either be accessed by natural voice control or via an 11-inch touch screen. The model can even "predetermine the driver's next move to create a seamless experience with a prepared cabin and quick start sequence."

The Polestar 2 will make its first public appearance next week at the Geneva Motor Show after which it will be on an international roadshow through Europe, North America, and China. When the model comes out next year, it's expected to be priced around €39,900 (RM185,000).


Honda cyberattack halts Japanese carmaker's plants in India, Brazil

                TOKYO: Honda plants in Brazil and India have halted operations as the Japanese carmaker battles to recover from a cyberattack that affected several factories worldwide.

The cyberattack at the beginning of the week targeted Honda's internal servers and spread a virus through the company's systems, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

Motorcycle plants in India and Brazil were still out of action following the attack, while a four-wheel vehicle plant in Turkey resumed operations on Wednesday, the spokesman said.

The firm was "still investigating details", she said.

In total, the cyberattack affected 11 Honda plants - including five in the US, according to local media reports.

All US plants have resumed operations, the spokesman said, declining to elaborate further.

She said the suspension would have only a limited impact on Honda's business globally.

Global automakers including Honda have already been hit hard by a slump in sales because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Last month, Honda reported a 25.3-per cent fall in net profit from the previous year as sales dropped six percent to 14.9 trillion yen (US$138 billion) in the fiscal year ending in March.


Valeo sees more growth from car electrification and automation as orders hit record

                PARIS: French car parts maker Valeo on Thursday forecast strong sales growth this year, as record 2022 orders helped by demand for car electrification and driving assistance technology helped it navigate a challenging year for the automotive sector.

The group is targeting sales between 22 billion and 23 billion euros this year, against the 20.04 billion posted for 2022. The 2022 performance was in line with its guidance from October.

Valeo is betting on car electrification and the adoption of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), as governments and companies shift towards a low-carbon economy while consumers warm to the idea of automated driving.

Its record order intake of 32.6 billion euros in 2022 included many orders for electric vehicle components and ADAS technology, Chief Executive Christophe Périllat told reporters in a call.

The company's core profit (EBITDA) for 2022 came in at 2.40 billion euros, above the 2.34 billion expected by analysts in a company-provided poll.

But Périllat still flagged macroeconomic pressures including inflation, chip shortages, Covid-19 in China and Russia's invasion of Ukraine contributing to "relatively weak" global car production in 2022.

Valeo said the net impact of higher costs of raw materials, energy and transportation in 2022 was roughly 200 million euros, and about 60 million for wages.

It will aim to curb inflationary impacts this year through productivity, cost reduction and price increases, the CEO said in a statement, adding in the call that the company has "passed onto clients a significant chunk of our costs."


Proven to be safe – the new Mercedes-Benz EQC

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz's first electric SUV, namely the EQC, has completed a accident safety validation at the Mercedes-Benz technology centre for vehicle safety (TFS), known as the most advanced crash test centre in the world.

Here vehicles, including prototypes with large electric batteries, have been tested under harsh crash conditions.

The result is a whole array of constructive measures which deliver the EQC's high level of crash safety:

- The battery is surrounded by a robust frame with an integral crash structure. Deformation elements are installed between the frame and the battery, and these are able to absorb additional forces in the event of a severe side impact.

- The high-voltage system can also be shut down automatically in a crash, depending on its severity. A distinction is made between a reversible and an irreversible cut-off. When it is shut down the voltage in the high-voltage system outside of the battery reduces to below the safety-relevant voltage limit in a very short time.

- Another feature of the comprehensive high-voltage safety concept is that the charging process is automatically curtailed if an impact is detected when stationary at a quick-charging station (DC charging). There are also shutdown points where emergency teams can deactivate the high-voltage system manually.

- Automatic activation of Mercedes-Benz emergency call to notify emergency services of the location and emergency situation and initiate rescue.

- Shutdown of the high-voltage system

- Lifting of the electrically adjustable steering column


Next Bugatti hyper car to be named Chiron

                MOLSHEIM (France): The next Bugatti is to be called Chiron and will make its world premiere at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

The Veyron successor is named after Louis Chiron, a legendary racing driver who won virtually all the major grands prix for the brand in the 1920s and 1930s. His name is more closely connected with the history of Bugatti than any other racing driver.

 The next Bugatti is named after Louis Chiron.

With the Chiron, Bugatti says it will continue to produce the world’s most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car. The Chiron is currently being shown to selected customers and the feedback has been positive: more than 100 orders have already been received.

Currently, the Chiron is undergoing final testing. A number of prototypes are on the road in several continents for the fine tuning of the vehicle – right down to the last detail under a variety of road and climate conditions.

“The development brief for the Chiron can be summarised in one sentence and is probably the shortest in the history of the automobile: we want to make the best significantly better,” said Bugatti president Wolfgang Dürheimer.

Relaxnews reported that it would have a tough act to follow considering the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport could accelerate from 0-100kph in 2.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 431kph. Or it could just as easily drive its owner and a companion in both style and comfort to the opera.

Bugatti is being coy about how it will better those numbers while still keeping the car comfortable and practical enough to be driven on a normal road.

When briefing the press earlier this year, the company hinted that hybrid power, like that used by the current flagship Porsche 918 Spyder, could be the key to faster acceleration, a higher top speed and an engine that conforms to emissions requirements.

Other reports suggest that the Chiron would use an updated version of the Veyron engine - an 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 lump that would produce 1,500 PS and 1,500Nm of torque.

Lydie Barre-Chiron, descendant and biographer of Louis Chiron, recently visited the Bugatti’s headquarters here to inspect the vehicle that will bear the name of her famous forebear. “The Chiron is a modern super sports car that is instantly recognisable as a Bugatti,” said Barre-Chiron.

“It looks fantastic, just magnificent. The design already indicates that this car will be very powerful and very fast. If Louis Chiron were alive today, I’m sure he would be proud that such an extraordinary sports car is to bear his name and is to represent the brand with which he achieved his greatest successes.”

The Veyron Super Sport.


Shell Malaysia reaches new milestone with 216 stations fitted with solar panels

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia has reached another milestone in its journey to lower carbon emissions in its mobility operations with the installation of solar panels at 216 of its retail stations.

This is part of the energy company’s drive to adopt a combination of measures to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint.

Shell is working with Cleantech Solar to install solar panels at its retail stations in Malaysia.

So far, a total of 22,505 solar Photo Voltaic (PV) panels with a total capacity of 10.12MWp have been installed on the roofs of 216 stations as part of the company’s commitment to run a safe, efficient, responsible, and profitable business.

The current number of solar panels installed can generate 12,939MWh of electrical energy, enough to power roughly 3,740 households in a year.

 Seow.

Installation of solar panels at retail stations help supplement and reduce dependability on local utilities, resulting in increased electrical savings for the stations in the long run.

Mobility Shell general manager Seow Lee Ming said the company was progressing towards installing solar panels on about 350 stations by the end of the year.

“At Shell, we aim to make the transition towards a low-carbon future possible for our operations and will always look out for initiatives that will enable us to provide cleaner and sustainable energy solutions for our customers,” she said.

In 2019, Shell Damansara Jaya and Shell Taman Connaught were the first two retail stations in Malaysia to receive the Green Building Index (GBI) Certification.

The GBI is the country’s industry-recognised green rating tool for buildings to promote sustainability in the built environment by saving energy and resources.

These two Shell stations mark the first entries in the new retail fuel category introduced for the certification standard.

 Shell Bandar Botanic Klang.

The company is also the first in the Asia Pacific region to receive this GBI certification.

Shell also opened what is an example of “the station of the future”, Shell Mint Hotel, which is Malaysia’s First Gold GBI Certified Petrol Station.

Apart from being powered by solar, this station has sustainable features such as a food waste composting machine that converts food waste into fertilisers, energy-efficient air conditioners and chillers, recycling facilities and a smart LED lighting system at the forecourt.

To reduce the station’s usage of water from municipal systems, a rainwater harvesting system is utilised to collect and store rainwater to be reused in its facilities such as the toilets.

Shell has now received GBI certification for five of its stations in Malaysia - Shell Taman Connaught, Shell Damansara Jaya, Shell Mint Hotel, Shell Tangkak Layby and Shell Alor Pongsu.

The Shell Group has set a target to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society.
This is also in line with the government’s ambition towards Malaysia achieving Carbon Neutral in the same year.

For details on Shell’s sustainability approach and initiatives, visit: What Sustainability Means at Shell.

https://www.shell.com.my/sustainability/what-sustainability-means-at-shell.html


VW celebrates production of 150-millionth car

                WOLFSBURG: The 150-millionth Volkswagen has emerged from the manufacturer's famous plant in Wolfsburg, Germany. Over 80 years, two models have accounted for more than a third of this high-volume production: the Beetle and the Golf.

As it happened it was with a Golf GTE that the German manufacturer crossed the threshold of 150 million vehicles. The figure is a testament to a momentous journey that began in 1938 with the launch of the first Beetle.

With more than 21 million units produced, for many years the Beetle was Volkswagen's major seller until it was overtaken by the Golf, which, now in its seventh generation, has sold more than 34 million units worldwide.

Close behind these two leaders come three other familiar names. Volkswagen announced that over the same period it had produced 20 million Passats, approximately 19.5 million Jettas and close to 17 million Polos.

Some 50 production facilities in 14 countries contributed to the grand total of 150 million cars produced and assembled. The manufacturer's current range includes 60 models, which are distributed worldwide.

In 2017 alone, the brand plans to launch 10 further models. At the same time Volkswagen has a pipeline of no less than 19 new SUVs, which are expected to be announced by 2020, the projected launch date for the new I.D. brand, which is supposed to spearhead the German producer's move into electric vehicles. So it is that another chapter will shortly open up for Volkswagen.


Car battery recycling market gears up for future boom

File pic of a lithium-ion car battery pack being stripped down for recycling. — Reuters
DRESDEN: Researcher Anna Vanderbruggen peers into a vat of dark bubbling liquid, the result of a process she has developed to recover graphite from old lithium-ion batteries.

Although graphite represents up to a quarter of the weight of the batteries, no one has yet come up with a viable plan to recycle it, according to Vanderbruggen.

The 29-year-old researcher is still fine-tuning her method but has already received an award from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for her efforts.

As Europe shifts gear from fossil fuel vehicles to electrified cars, recycling graphite as well as other elements in batteries is gradually becoming a major focus.

All the more so as the continent seeks to wean itself off its reliance on countries like China for raw materials.

"Battery manufacturers were not interested" in recycled graphite up to now because "they could get it at low cost in China", Vanderbruggen told AFP.

Her method, developed at the Helmholtz Research Institute in Freiberg, Germany, involves extracting graphite from "black mass", a powder that also contains cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese.

"You put the black mass in water and add some chemicals and air bubbles, like in a jacuzzi," Vanderbruggen, who is from France, said.

"The graphite attaches itself to the bubbles, whereas the metals are hydrophilic and therefore remain in the water."

Vanderbruggen also works as a consultant for businesses exploring the opportunities that recycling electric car batteries could bring in the future.

Rising costs

Increasing raw material costs and shortages have led to a surge of interest in the field.

The price of lithium has increased by 13 percent over the past five years, according to Philippe Barboux, a professor of chemistry at PSL University in Paris.

Lithium has not been recycled on a large scale up to now "because it was not profitable", he said.

But that looks set to change with 350 million electric cars expected to be on the road worldwide by 2030, up from 16.5 million in 2021, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

"In 10 years' time, so many batteries will be manufactured that lithium will absolutely have to be recycled, otherwise there won't be enough," Barboux said.

In theory, the technology now exists to recycle almost all the materials that make up lithium-ion batteries, according to the experts interviewed by AFP.

German group Aurubis, one of Europe's largest suppliers of non-ferrous metals, claims to be able to recycle at least 95 percent of the metals that make up "black mass" at a pilot plant it has set up in Hamburg.

French mining group Eramet, Belgium's Umicore and German carmaker Mercedes have also launched similar ventures.

The majority of such projects are still in their pilot stages.

'Huge growing market'

"It's a huge growing market and we want to play a role in it," said Ken Nagayama, head of business development for battery materials at Aurubis, who is currently working on a graphite recycling process.

He believes there will be "sufficient market supply to develop a battery recycling plant in industrial scale during the second half of the decade".

Since the batteries tend to last seven or eight years, there are not yet "enough batteries at the end of their life" to feed the market, said Serge Pelissier, director of research at the Gustave Eiffel University in Lyon.

There are also many different models of car batteries, making it difficult to set up a standardised recycling system like those available for mobile phones and laptops.

The market for car battery recycling will probably not reach its full potential until the "early 2030s", according to Alex Keynes of the Transport and Environment NGO.

Swedish and Norwegian joint venture Northvolt-Hydro, a pioneer in the field, is aiming to recycle the equivalent of 500,000 batteries by 2030.

This would represent around half of the batteries likely to be available for recycling by that time, according to estimates from consultancies.

The European Union wants new batteries to incorporate 16 percent recycled cobalt and six percent recycled lithium and nickel by 2031.

It is also aiming for at least 70 percent of the weight of old batteries to be recycled by 2031.

"If they recover new components like graphite, they will be able to meet these requirements," Vanderbruggen said.

READ MORE: Ni Hsin to partner Sirim in setting up lithium-ion battery recycling plant


Honda declares all sales will be EVs by 2040

                TOKYO: Honda set what it called a challenging target for all of its sales to be electric vehicles by 2040 as it tries to keep up with the global EV race and revive profits under the new leadership of Toshihiro Mibe.

The Japanese company also said it will invest about 5 trillion yen (RM189bil) in research and development over the next six years, “regardless of fluctuations in our sales revenue.”

Automakers around the globe are rushing into the EV sector as the industry shifts to electrification and self-driving cars.

Among them, Jaguar Land Rover has vowed to go fully electric by 2025, and Volvo by 2030. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 from 2013 ahead of the global climate summit hosted by US president Joe Biden.

“It will be an uphill struggle,” Mibe said at a news briefing today, noting that Honda’s EV sales are less than 1% of its total in Japan. “It’ll be about how early we can build a structure that lets us make profits.”

Honda’s new goals include EVs accounting for 40% of sales in North America and China by 2030 and 80% by 2035. It has a 20% goal for Japan by 2030 and 80% by 2035. Japan’s target is different because it is a huge consumer of hybrids, Mibe said. The carmaker wants to achieve an operating profit margin of 7% even as it shifts to EVs, he said.

Toyota Motor Corp. has been able to assuage investors’ concerns on EVs with the introduction of its “bZ4X,” but Honda may not be able to do so just by declaring targets, said Tatsuo Yoshida, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “I wish they had more concrete plans,” he said.


CKD BMW X7 previewed, estimated at RM708K

                KUALA LUMPUR: BMW Group Malaysia today previewed the locally assembled variant of the new X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence.

The X7 is the latest in a series of BMW models that have been produced locally, including the 218i Gran Coupé, the 330e M Sport, and the M340i xDrive.

Its estimated price is RM708,000 (OTR without insurance, SST-exempted).

The massive front with the imposing kidney grille lends road presence to the vehicle, along with the slender BMW Laserlight headlights that can illuminate up to 600 metres ahead. Available as standard also are LED fog lights and high-beam assistant.

From the side, the near-vertical shoulder line visually elongates the X7 from the front to rear – with large windows and a long, dynamically flowing roofline that hints at a spacious interior.

The 21-inch light alloy wheels in Y-spoke style 753 Bicolour with run-flat tyres come as standard. The variant also features a fully-electric tailgate in the rear with the Comfort Access feature, and two large, rectangular tailpipes – one on each side, conveying its immense power.

The same six-cylinder in-line petrol engine is retained. It makes 340hp and peak torque of 450Nm. This results in a century sprint completed in 6.1 seconds. All of these are achieved with a combined fuel consumption of 9.5l/100km and a combined carbon emission of 218g/km.

Power is directed to all four wheels via an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. The xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system of the luxury SAV maximises traction, agility and handling stability which links up with the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) feature.

Included in the chassis design is a two-axle air suspension. With the DSC system, the vehicle load registered by the air suspension sensors can also be factored into braking modulation.

Like the imported variant, the locally assembled variant is offered with the Executive Drive Pro with active roll stabilisation. Ride comfort is enhanced by the Dynamic Damper Control system, which is able to process data from the navigation system and front camera.

The X7 interior features the opulent “Crafted Clarity” handmade diamond-cut trim element and a range of standard equipment including a sport leather steering wheel and electrically adjustable comfort seats with active seat ventilation in front.

The BMW Live Cockpit Professional with BMW Operating System 7.0 combines the fully digital, user-configurable 12.3-inch instrument cluster with an equally large central Control Display with touchscreen functionality. The BMW Head-Up Display is also located within the field of vision. The variant is fitted with the voice-controlled BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and BMW Gesture Control.

Other highlights include the Welcome Light Carpet feature, five-zone air conditioning, a Harman Kardon Surround Sound System with 16 loudspeakers and electric roller blinds for side windows. The Rear Entertainment Professional system is also available within the locally assembled variant, while the sheer spaciousness is further enhanced by the large Panorama Roof Sky Lounge.

The X7 features soft-close function for doors. Space is offered to the luxury SAV via a versatile 325-litre luggage compartment that can be maximised up to 2,120 litres with the backrests folded down.

The X7 is equipped with the BMW Personal CoPilot technology, that includes the Parking Assistant Plus with automatic manoeuvring in and out of parallel parking spaces, along with the Reversing Assistant to assist in safely manoeuvring out of a tight parking space.

The Driving Assistant has been outfitted with a full range of functions, tailored to allow full ease of mind when on the drive. They include Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning and front collision warning with brake intervention.

As a welcome addition, the X7 comes with Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function and Integral Active Steering, further enhancing the safety and comfort of the drive. Other features include the BMW Digital Key, wireless charging for mobile phones, as well as smartphone integration that are available as standard equipment for the locally assembled variant.

The X7 is offered in five exterior finishes, with selected interior colour combinations. The exterior colours of Black Sapphire and Sophisto Grey come in Cognac Leather Vernasca upholstery with Black design perforations, while Phytonic Blue and Manhattan Metallic exteriors come complete with an all-Black design-perforated Leather Vernasca interior. Lastly, Leather Vernasca in Coffee with Black design perforations comes exclusively with the Mineral White model.

Customers can register their interest for the CKD X7 from today or shop online.
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