Motorcycle permits now cost more than motorcycles in Singapore

                SINGAPORE: Singapore’s reputation as one of the world’s most expensive cities now extends to one of its cheapest modes of transportation: motorcycles.

The cost of a 10-year motorcycle permit in the city-state hit a record S$12,801 (around RM43,000) this month according to data from the Land Transport Authority, up over 200% in four years and more than the cost of a new, entry-level bike in the Southeast Asian nation.

Singapore controls the number of permits, called certificates of entitlement, as a way to limit the number of motorcycles and cars on the road.

As of September, the city caps its motorcycle fleet at around 142,000. The number of cars is limited to about 650,000.

At current permit prices, drivers would need nearly S$20,000 to own and ride an entry-level motorcycle worth S$5,000.

That’ll eventually trickle down to delivery riders who zigzag the island on low-end bikes, Nathan Peng, a political science lecturer at the Singapore Management University, told Bloomberg.

As of now, renewing an existing permit costs more than S$11,000 -- less than a new one, but almost six times more than the price a decade ago.

Those who own their bikes will pay the increased fees directly, and those who rent are likely to see their fees go up. Many delivery drivers rent their vehicles, either from an independent operator or from a food delivery company like Grab.

Several motorcycle leasing companies in Singapore are considering rate hikes to make up for the higher permit costs, the Straits Times reported.

One company, GigaRider, said it’s likely to raise rent by 10% in the first quarter of 2023 for its corporate clients. Grab notes on its website that rental charges may rise because of COE price hikes.

Singapore isn’t only targeting motorcycles. The land-scarce country is also limiting cars on the road — permits for entry-level cars now cost over S$80,000, nearly triple 2018.

Higher prices will add to the already-widening inequality among residents, though it’s difficult to predict the extent of the impact with limited data available, said Peng.

For many low-income workers, a motorcycle is one of the very few cost-effective ways to meet work or family responsibilities.

"I don’t think motorcycles, for most, are a lifestyle choice,” said Peng. "If they could afford to take a Grab to work, they may not buy a motorcycle because of concerns like safety and comfort. Why would they take on the extra risk if they had a choice?”

Singapore has been trying to narrow its wealth gap, even as the cost of living rises.

At an event on Oct 10, Singapore’s prime minister-in-waiting Lawrence Wong pointed to the housing market as a sign that social stratification is becoming more entrenched, with more families with young children staying in rental flats.


Renault and Nissan in talks that could reshape autos alliance

                PARIS/TOKYO: Renault and Nissan said today they were in talks about the future of their alliance, including the Japanese automaker considering investing in a new electric vehicle venture by its French partner.

The talks, which could prompt the biggest reset in the alliance since the 2018 arrest of longtime executive Carlos Ghosn, have included consideration of Renault selling some of its Nissan stake, two people with knowledge of them said.

Negotiations are expected to continue ahead of a Renault investor presentation in early November, when the French carmaker is expected to give an update on its new EV unit, which is code-named "Ampere".

Renault owns about 43% of Nissan, which in turn has a 15% stake in its long-term partner, in which the French state also has a 15% holding.

Renault and Nissan said in a joint statement that they were "engaged in trustful discussions around several initiatives" including a potential Nissan investment in the EV venture and what they called "structural improvements" in their alliance.

Renault CEO Luca De Meo, who was in Japan over the weekend, and Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida have been central to talks about reshaping its terms, a person familiar with the talks said.

A group of Nissan executives, including chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta, have also been involved in developing discussions in recent months, the person said.

Renault is looking to win Nissan as an investor in its new EV venture, which it is setting up alongside a separate combustion engine unit, essentially splitting out the higher-growth and investment-hungry portion of its auto business.

In exchange for investing in the EV venture, Nissan is looking to Renault to reduce its stake in the Japanese automaker, a person familiar with the talks said.

The French dominance of the alliance has long been a point of contention for Nissan, which wants Renault to cut its stake to 15% to draw level with its own holding in Renault, the source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

For Nissan, the talks could represent a chance to reset a structure that many executives at the Japanese firm have seen as unbalanced, given the way vehicle development work between the two carmakers has progressed in recent years.

Nissan may consider raising funds to buy back the shares held by Renault, one person told Reuters.

Renault and Nissan declined comment beyond their statement.

Seiji Sugiura, a senior analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, said he did not expect Nissan would have trouble financing a buyback on that scale.

"My own guess is that Japanese investors - by something like 60-to-40 - would rather have Nissan operating more as a separate company, or at least with a lower stake," Sugiura said. "If they're going to do this, now could be as good a time as any."

Any sale of a stake in Nissan to take Renault's holding to 15% - which at current market prices would be worth US$3.8 billion - would not affect their continued cooperation, the source said.

Nissan may need to raise funds to buy the shares back from Renault, the source added.

The source said Mitsubishi, another partner in the alliance, was also considering taking a single-digit percent stake in Renault's EV unit.

At the beginning of the year, Nissan and Renault detailed plans to invest US$26 billion over the next five years in electric car development.

Nissan is set to launch the Ariya crossover, its first EV since the pioneering Leaf, in the US market in coming weeks. Its launch was delayed by about a year because of shortages of semiconductors, Nissan has said.


Hyundai Mobis aims to separate key businesses into new units

                SEOUL: South Korean auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd said on Thursday it was considering separating its modules and key parts production businesses into new wholly owned units in an effort to enhance each segment's expertise and maximise efficiency.

Hyundai Mobis, an affiliate of automaker Hyundai Motor Co, said in a regulatory filing it aims to hold a board meeting in September to approve plans to separate the businesses, expected to be launched in November.

The new units will be in charge of manufacturing operations, including facility and labour management, while the central management of the company will be focusing on securing future mobility technologies, as well as developing new products.


Limited Edition VW Beetles now available online at Lazada

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) and SEA Lazada Malaysia today announced their collaboration that will see 12 Volkswagen Beetles sold online.

“We live in a digital age where goods and services can be obtained online, so why not cars. To be able to purchase an iconic limited edition car through an e-commerce platform is something that has never been done before here," said VPC managing director Erik Winter.

The partnership allows Malaysians the opportunity to own the exclusive
limited-edition Volkswagen Beetles by purchasing them through the convenience of Lazada’s online platform.

 Pure White

This comes in conjunction with Lazada’s Online Revolution campaign that will run from Dec 12 to 14.

Each of the 12 limited edition Beetles will be sold online at RM112,112 (on-the-road with GST without insurance) with two designs for choice – the “Herbie 53” in Pure White and White Silver, and the “Hot Bug” in Tornado Red.

Customers interested to own any of the Beetles will simply need to visit
Lazada’s platform and purchase an exclusive Welcome Kit at RM5,000, which doubles as a pre-payment booking fee.

 White Silver

The Welcome Kit contains a limited edition Volkswagen keychain and a
Touch & Go card with a pre-loaded value of RM100.

Once the purchase is finalised, the customer will be contacted by a Volkswagen representative for customers to select their preferred dealership and complete the purchase.

“This collaboration is a testament that customers can purchase anything via our platform, with cars being sold online for the first time in Malaysia," said Lazada Malaysia CEO Hans-Peter Ressel.

 Tornado Red

The limited-edition Beetles comes with leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, a 5.8-inch Touchscreen 'Composition Colour' with USB, Bluetooth, eight-speaker sound system and ‘Pepita’ fabric seats to name a few.

Under the hood lies a 1.2-litre turbocharged TSI engine providing 105PS and 175Nm that's managed by a seven-speed DSG.

The limited edition Beetles, as well as all Volkswagen vehicles, come with a five-year manufacturer warranty and a five-year roadside assistance.

For more information, visit www.volkswagen.com.my and http://www.lazada.com.my/volkswagen-passenger- cars-malaysia/


PSA's Carlos Tavares is 2020 World Car Person of the Year

Tavares. — Bloomberg
TORONTO: World Car Awards (WCA) jurors have voted PSA Group CEO Carlos Tavares as the 2020 World Car Person of the Year.

Tavares is expected to receive the award at the 2020 New York International Auto Show. The show, scheduled for April, has been postponed to August because of the Covid-19 scare.

Tavares was picked in a secret ballot by 86 jurors who hail from 24 countries.

Tavares’ many accomplishments over the past year made him the jurors’ choice over several other auto industry executives, engineers, designers and entrepreneurs from all around the globe.

Among his accomplishments was making PSA brands profitable. He also negotiated a merger of PSA and FCA that will create the fourth-largest automaker in the world by volume.

READ MORE: 2020 World Car Awards jury nails down three finalists

“It is a great honour to receive this prestigious award which I wish to dedicate to all the employees of the Groupe PSA, to its responsible and demanding social partners and to the supervisory board which guarantees effective governance," said Tavares.

Previous World Car Person of the Year recipients were Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO, Volvo Car Group (2018) and the late Sergio Marchionne, CEO, FCA; Chairman, CNH Industrial; and Chairman and CEO, Ferrari (2019).

The World Car Person of the Year award is one of six awards handed out annually by the World Car Awards. The awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognise, reward and inspire excellence, leadership and innovation in a rapidly changing automotive industry.


June 29-July 5: Fuel prices unchanged

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol and diesel will remain unchanged for the period from June 22-28.

The Finance Ministry, in a statement, said that RON97 petrol remains at RM3.37 per litre, RON95 (RM2.05) and diesel (RM2.15).

The weekly retail prices of the products were set based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Amazon places big bet on aspiring Tesla rival Rivian

                DETROIT/SAN FRANCISCO: Amazon.com Inc said on Friday it would lead a US$700 million investment in US electric pickup truck startup Rivian Automotive LLC, in the e-commerce giant’s biggest bet on technologies with potential to reshape the automotive sector.

The deal represents a major endorsement of Rivian’s electric vehicle technology by the world’s largest online retailer. Amazon is hoping Rivian will assist it in its development of delivery vehicles that will bolster its logistics network, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing the confidential strategy.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Amazon and General Motors Co were in talks to invest in Rivian. GM’s talks with Rivian about an investment are continuing and any deal would be announced at a later date, people familiar with the talks said on Friday.

Rivian could ultimately be valued at between US$3 billion and US$4 billion, one of the sources said.

The Rivian deal comes as its much larger electric car manufacturing rival, Tesla Inc, struggles to stabilise production and deliver consistent profits as it ramps up its Model 3 sedan, with pricing ultimately aimed at giving it mass market appeal.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk told investors in August that an electric pickup is “probably my personal favourite for the next product” from the company. But he has spoken only in general about a potential launch, saying that it would happen “right after” Tesla’s Model Y, which the company has targeted to start production in 2020.

Rivian unveiled its electric R1T pickup and R1S SUV for the first time at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November. But the company had piqued Amazon’s interest earlier, according to one of the sources.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos personally reached out to Rivian founder and CEO R.J. Scaringe last summer to express interest in an investment, the source said. Since then Amazon has stepped up its investment in the car sector, participating in a US$530 million funding round announced last week in self-driving car startup Aurora Innovation Inc.

Amazon is looking for deals that can speed packages to shoppers’ doorsteps regardless of spikes in consumer demand or shortages of delivery personnel. Last year, Mercedes said Amazon had become the biggest customer of its Sprinter vans, securing 20,000 vehicles for delivery contractors.

Amazon has sought to win customers inside the car as well. Working with BMW AG, Ford Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp, Amazon has enabled its Alexa virtual assistant to be installed in new models so drivers can dictate what music they want to hear and what tasks they want it to perform, hands-free.

Rivian aspires to be the first to produce a mass market electric pickup. It intends to begin selling its R1T by the end of 2020.

Scaringe has described the Rivian vehicle’s platform as a skateboard that packages the drive units, battery pack, suspension system, brakes and cooling system all below wheel height to allow for more storage space and greater stability due to a lower center of gravity.

He has also said the company plans to partner with outside firms to develop advanced self-driving technology, rather than try to do so on its own.

Lyft's strategy to compete with Uber on IPO
Rivian’s existing financial backers include Saudi auto distributor Abdul Latif Jameel Co, Sumitomo Corp of Americas and Standard Chartered Bank.

Some existing shareholders participated in the funding round, Rivian said, stressing that it will remain an independent company.


Proton records slightly lower 2017 sales from previous year

                KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd's sales for 2017 was slightly lower at 70,991 units from the 72,291 sold the previous year, due to lower taxi orders.

In a statement, the national car manufacturer said the Saga, Persona and Ertiga made up 80 per cent of total Proton car sales for 2017.

“Our best-selling car, the Saga registered steady sales at above 30,000 units in 2017. As the most affordably-priced sedan, the Saga is still viewed as the best value-for-money car in its segment, and hence, maintained its popularity among first time Proton car-buyers or as a second car.

“The Persona, however, registered a 27 per cent increase with 19,510 units sold compared with 15,390 units in 2016. The Ertiga also gained healthy acceptance in the market with 6,091 units sold in 2017,” it said.

Proton vice-president of sales and marketing Abdul Rashid Musa said the company would intensify efforts this year at implementing activities which were aligned to the new three to 10 years Business Plan, which is key to its turnaround.

He said Proton is also coming up with attractive consumer campaigns, as well as an improvement of product and services quality, to pick up the sales numbers.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration, Proton is rewarding its customers with prosperity discounts until Jan 31 for all models.


Honda Malaysia leads again, targets 95,000 unit sales in 2019

                KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia remains the envy of its peers as it continues to retain pole position in the non-national segment for the fourth year in a row.

It also maintained its No.2 position in overall total industry volume for three consecutive years.

All locally assembled models were segment leaders and the City was the highest sales unit contributor at 32%. The Civic and CR-V were also strong players in their respective segments, recording 16% and 13% sales unit contribution

It sold 102,282 units in 2018, boosted by the three-month GST-free period. With GST being replaced by SST and a tougher operating environment this year, the company is setting its 2019 sales target at 95,000 units.

Honda Malaysia has been notable for being the first Japanese car maker to introduce a turbocharged model in the mass market C-segment in 2016. The 10th-generation Civic has sold more than 41,000 units since its official launch three years ago, with the turbocharged variant accounted for 58% of this sales figure.

For 2019, Honda Malaysia would be focusing on improving customer satisfaction, introducing more new and upgraded models as well as strengthening its dealership network, said its managing director/CEO Toichi Ishiyama at the Honda media gathering on Tuesday.

The company kicked off 2019 with the launch of the HR-V 1.8L RS and the first ever hybrid model in the compact SUV segment, the HR-V 1.5L Sport Hybrid i-DCD in January. The following month, it rolled out the limited edition Jazz Mugen and BR-V Special Edition, where only 300 units of each model are available.


Automakers urge FTC to seek appeal after defeat in Qualcomm case

                WASHINGTON: A group of tech companies and automakers including Ford Motor Co, Honda Motor Co Ltd, Daimler AG as well as Tesla today urged the US Federal Trade Commission to seek an appeal after its loss in a case against chip supplier Qualcomm Inc.

Earlier this month, a US appeals court reversed a lower-court decision against Qualcomm, which makes technology for connecting devices to mobile data networks. The court also vacated an injunction that would have required Qualcomm to change its patent licensing practices.

Qualcomm was fighting a May 2019 decision by US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California in a case brought by the FTC.

Koh sided with the FTC, writing that Qualcomm’s practice of requiring phone makers to sign a patent license agreement before selling them chips “strangled competition” and harmed consumers.

Automakers have increasingly put chips in vehicles to connect them to the Internet, which requires them to sign patent agreements for communications standards such as 5G.

The companies had previously argued that connected car prices could go up if Qualcomm won its case.

Qualcomm won its appeal of that ruling before the US. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in an Aug 11 ruling by a three-judge panel. In a letter sent today, the automakers - as well as Qualcomm rivals Intel Corp and MediaTek Inc - urged the FTC to seek an “en banc” rehearing of the case by the full appeals court.“If allowed to stand, the panel’s decision could destabilise the standards ecosystem by encouraging the abuse of market power acquired through collaborative standard-setting,” the group said.

An FTC spokesman declined to comment.


How to recharge your car at home safely

                KARLSRUHE (Germany): When electric vehicles catch fire, the damage is often immense and the incidents often make big headlines.

Is bad charging to blame and where are the dangers? And how can you replenish the batteries of your electric vehicle safely? First, a few words of comfort.

"Examining our statistics, we have no evidence that electric vehicles catch fire more frequently than cars with combustion engines," said Jörg Asmussen, chief executive of the German Insurance Association (GDV).

Police and firefighters take the same view, yet many people believe there is an element of danger to charging battery-electrics at home.

According to a survey conducted by the market research institute YouGov on behalf of DEVK insurance group, 49% of respondents believe electric vehicles catch fire more quickly than cars with combustion engines. Older people in particular rate the fire risk of electric vehicles (EVs) as higher.

So where does this fear come from? The number of EV fires making headlines may simply to do with the rise of EVs on roads. The Interior Ministry in Germany's Baden-Württemberg state points to the steady increase in vehicles with alternative drive systems, which leads to a growing number of electric-powered vehicles involved in accidents and fires.

READ MORE: How to choose best home charger for electric car

Car manufacturers meanwhile point to the multi-stage safety system installed in battery-electrics. This is designed to rule out overheating and overcharging during operation. Expert organization Dekra admits however that risks do arise during charging that do not affect vehicles with thermal engines.

At the same time, the causes of fire in combustion-engined vehicles such as spilt petrol igniting are not a problem.

"So there is a shift in potential risks without, in our view, an increase in the overall risk," said a Dekra spokesman.

Serious fires involving EVs are still rare, although fire safety expert Frank Hachemer expects to see more of them in the future.

This poses challenges for firefighters since extinguishing the blazes calls for large amount of cooling water.

Battery defects can lead to overheating or overcharging, and broken emergency charging cables can also be a fire hazard. Dekra and ADAC also point out the danger of smouldering cables and and fires triggered by an outdated or overloaded home electrical installations.

The automobile club advises against regular charging at household sockets for safety reasons. According to Dekra, it is even more problematic when vehicles are charged in communal garages using emergency charging cables fitted with household plugs.

The majority of domestic leads are not designed to transfer that much power. They are more likely to give you an electric shock, and can also increase the risk of electrical fires. Using a regular extension lead to charge your EV is just as risky.

Household sockets are designed for domestic use and when EVs are charged for several hours, increased resistance can occur in the circuit due to worn contacts. This generates excess heat and can cause a fire. Experts recommend a permanently installed charging station - the so-called wallbox.

Models cost between €700 and €1,600 (up to RM7,200) with installation costs on top of that. An electrician will firstly make sure that the domestic network is up to the job and beef it up if need be.

In addition to a safe charging experience, wallbox charging stations will also power your electric vehicle much faster than if you were to use a domestic socket. They come too with a range of smart functionalities to help balance energy use and maintain battery life.

Wallboxes are also designed to withstand extreme weather conditions too, so you never have to worry about running electricity cables when it rains.


Auto parts maker EP Manufacturing wants to assemble EVs in Malaysia

                KUALA LUMPUR: EP Manufacturing Bhd has signed an MoU with Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute today to collaborate and venture into making electric vehicles and create an electronic payment system.

Both organisations agreed to explore a production and localisation plan to assemble two-wheel and four-wheel EVs.

"This will include marketing support and a charging network to help sell these EVs in Malaysia," said EP Manufacturing.

The MoU would be valid for two years.

EP Manufacturing has set up a branch office in China to help source materials and identify EV players to work with.

Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute is a unit under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia.

EP Manufacturing's main business is in making and supplying metal body panels, chassis parts, modular metal and engineering plastics assemblies to original equipment manufacturers.

Its main customers include domestic car makers Proton and Perodua as well as foreign car makers such as Honda, Mazda and Toyota.


Germany's Stuttgart set to ban some diesel cars from city centre

                STUTTGART: Stuttgart, home to Germany's Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, said on Tuesday it will ban from next year diesel cars which do not meet the latest emissions standards from entering the city on days when pollution is heavy.

Only around 10% of diesel cars in use on German roads at the start of 2016 conformed with the "Euro 6" standard, which is the latest EU anti-pollution rule.

Engines which adhere to the standard produce fewer nitrogen oxide fine particle emissions, which cause respiratory disease.

Diesel emissions are in particular focus following the Volkswagen scandal involving cheating mechanisms in some of its cars which made them appear less polluting than they actually were during routine testing.

Particulates often exceed thresholds set by the European Union in at least 90 German towns, including Stuttgart, which is particularly affected because it is in a valley.

Germany has already been sued by the EU for exceeding those thresholds for more than a maximum of 35 days per year.

Exceptions to the ban in Stuttgart, which is the capital of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg and governed by a coalition of the environmental Greens and Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, could be granted for goods vehicles.

The regional government has also been sued by the German environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe for failing to do enough to tackle pollution.

As well as diesel exhaust emissions, oil-fired heaters, chimneys and tire abrasion also contribute to the particulates problem, which is exacerbated by certain weather.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said last year that outdoor air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 3 million premature deaths worldwide per year in 2012, due to exposure to small particulate matter which cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease and cancers.


Proton brand-building in focus as it looks back on 2018

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton looks set to face a busy 2019 as the local carmaker gears up to focus on brand-building.

It is expected to announce a series of initiatives towards that goal in the course of the year.

Meanwhile, 2018 has been a year of ups and downs for the national car maker as it underwent an upheaval under a transformation process with strategic partner Geely in charge. The changes were necessary to restore public confidence in the brand and to make Proton competitive - a situation it struggled to adapt to following decades of protectionism.

Turning Proton around will require more years of hard work as success doesn't happen in weeks or months.

Still, despite the frustrations and resistance from within and without Proton as Geely set to work to change bad practices and mindsets, improvements did happen in 2018.

Proton employees would be the first to see the bright side of the year that went by. They identified 10 highlights that would be important markers of its turnaround.

The 2018 ended with the launch of the X70 sport utility vehicle (SUV) by  Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad; the new model was also the most extensively covered vehicle by the media and resulted in a well-spring of being interest from Malaysians who flocked to showrooms to place advance bookings.

Pre-launch publicity efforts for the new model started much earlier in 2018.

On April 14, the online naming poll was launched to get Malaysians to select a name, garnering a huge number of responses.

The favoured choice of course was the X70 moniker, both for its simplicity and easy naming convention making it applicable in a wide number of export markets.

Focus turned to the current range of Proton models on July 17 with the launch of the Proton 1-Tank Adventure, which invited owners of the Iriz, Persona and Saga to compete alongside media members and "influencers" to explore the attractions of various Malaysian states on a single tank of fuel.

It then shifted to the deepening of the collaboration between Geely and Proton with a Heads of Agreement signing ceremony being held in China in August to explore future plans to build and sell Proton cars there.

In the same month, the company created a new entry in the Malaysia Book of Records for most people in an MPV when 55 people managed to squeeze themselves into an Exora during the Ace the Space Challenge.

In September, the Proton X70 was previewed to invited guests, kicking off a series of events that brought the SUV to seven major cities/towns in Malaysia.

A brief respite from product centred events followed on Oct 13 with the company’s sponsorship of the HSN21KM race but the spotlight returned to the X70 on Oct 17 with the launch of an online booking platform specific to the SUV.

As the year rolled into November, there were two more milestones where the X70 received a five-star Asean NCAP rating and was quickly followed by its public debut at KLIMS 2018.

Lastly, the company managed to win the Sepang 1000KM race on Nov 23 with its Iriz, to mark the fourth model to have won the race so far.


Oslo temporarily bars diesel cars to combat pollution

                OSLO: Oslo will ban diesel cars from the road for at least two days this week in a bid to combat rising air pollution, angering some motorists after they were urged to buy diesel cars a few years ago.

The ban, announced by the city late Sunday, will go into effect today on municipal roads but will not apply on the national motorways that criss-cross the Norwegian capital. Better atmospheric conditions are expected on Thursday.

Motorists violating the ban will be fined 1,500 kroner (RM750).

This is the first time Oslo has implemented a ban of this type after the city council - made up of the Labour and Greens parties - agreed in principle in February 2016 on the use of such a measure. While diesel cars emit less carbon dioxide (CO2), they emit more nitrogen dioxyde (NO2).

"In Oslo, we can't ask children, the elderly and those suffering from respiratory problems to remain holed up at home because the air is too dangerous to breathe," Greens city councillor Lan Marie Nguyen Berg told Norwegian media.

The measure has angered some motorists, who were encouraged in 2006 by Norwegian authorities to opt for diesel vehicles, which at the time were considered a better environmental choice than petrol-fuelled cars.

"Make up your minds. It wasn't very long ago that diesel was recommended over petrol by Jens (Stoltenberg, the former prime minister, now NATO's secretary general). Not sure you really know what is best," wrote an annoyed Irene Signora Maier Tziotas on the Facebook page of newspaper Verdens Gang (VG).

Others used even stronger language.

Mazyar Keshvari, an MP from the populist right Progress Party which is a member of the coalition government, urged motorists to seek compensation.

"The biggest swindle of Norwegian motorists has now become a reality," he told TV2.

"This was part of the red-green government's (Stoltenberg's coalition) ingenious climate measures," he ironised.

"Not only did they recommend motorists to buy diesel cars, they also changed the taxes to make them less expensive. That led a lot of people to buy a car that they can't use now," he lamented.

Other Norwegians were more philosophical.

"Very good measure. We should introduce a permanent ban on diesel in all big cities. The fines should also be doubled," one member of the public, Kenneth Tempel, wrote on VG's Facebook page.

According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, air pollution causes 185 premature deaths in Oslo each year.


The Aston Martin DBX can be yours from RM818K

                KUALA LUMPUR: Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur has unveiled the DBX - the brand's first sports utility vehicle here in Malaysia.

Available with a base price of RM818,000 (before duties, options, taxes and insurance), the DBX is ready for viewing appointments and bookings.

The DBX is of course fully imported as a CBU unit and hails from the British sports car brand's new manufacturing plant in St Athan, Wales in the UK.

In the looks department, the DBX possesses the signature ‘DB’ grille at the front, through the sculptured sides and design feature line, to the tailgate with a flip that draws inspiration from Vantage.

Other details pepper the DBX, including the hidden side glass seals on the frameless doors while the glass B-pillar finishers enhance the breadth of this SUV.

Cutaway sills also assist in narrowing the stepover required to enter the sumptuous cabin, while reducing the risk of ruining a fine dress or suit on arrival to a dinner engagement.

At the car’s front, the daytime running lights (DRLs) have an integrated aerodynamic duct which channels air through the front wheel arches and along the side, helping to reduce both drag and lift while also cooling the brakes.

With a 3,060mm wheelbase, this British performance SUV comes in measuring 5,039mm-long, 2,220mm-wide and 1,680mm-tall.

The DBX rolls on 22-inch wheels equipped with tyre pressure monitoring system and wrapped by Pirelli P Zero tyres in staggered formation - 285/40 (front) and 325/35 (rear).

Stopping power comes from the six-piston (front) and single-piston (rear) callipers that bite down on the 410mm(front) and 390mm (rear) discs.

Air flows cleanly over the roof, through the rear wing, over the rear window and on to the rear lip.

This unique approach and design detail allow the rear screen to self-clear on the move. Aerodynamic design has also played a key part in passenger comfort because as one of only a few companies using computational aeroacoustics technology.

Aston Martin’s engineers have been able to keep cabin noise to a minimum while at speed.

Power comes from a 4.0-litre (3,982cc) twin-turbo V8 engine that's also found in the DB11 and Vantage and drinks from an 85-litre fuel tank to produce 550PS at 6,500rom and 700Nm of torque from 2,200 to 5,000rpm for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) system.

This allows the 2,245kg (Kerb) SUV to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 4.5 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 291kph - all thanks to a nine-speed automatic gearbox with an electronic shift-by-wire control system to manage power delivery, and is able to tow up to 2,700kg.

The AWD system comes with active differentials featuring an active central differential and an electronic rear limited-slip differential (eDiff) that's connected by a carbon fibre propellor shaft.

This allows the torque to be moved precisely both fore and aft in the vehicle and also across the rear axle when swapping between four on-road and two off-road modes.

Weight distribution for the DBX stands at 54% (front) and 46% (rear) and has a 22.2-degree approach angle, 15.1-degree break-over angle and 24.3-degree departure angle.

The DBX is suspended by an adaptive triple volume air suspension system that's been combined with the latest 48V electric anti-roll control system (eARC), electronic adaptive dampers and variable spring stiffness.

The eARC is able to provide an anti-roll force per axle of 1,400Nm and the air suspension system allows the ride-height to be raised by 45mm or lowered by 50mm. Ground clearance stands at 190mm to give it a wading depth of 500mm.

This five-seater SUV has a boot capacity of 632 litres (with an additional 62 litres of underfloor storage) and can be accessed via the 40:20:40-split-folding rear seats.

Optional accessory packages are offered for new owners such as the Pet package which includes a portable washer to help clean their pet after a "muddy" excursion before heading home.

The interior is imbued with plenty of luxury accoutrements that include full-grain leather (from Bridge of Weir) for the sports seats and Alcantara for the roof lining and blind for the full-length glass panoramic roof.

There's plenty of metal, glass and wood to go around throughout the cabin.

The front seats are 12-way powered with three memory slots and heating.

For comfort and convenience, the DBX features keyless-entry with push-start button, three-zone climate control, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, acoustic laminated glass, automatic wipers, powered tailgate, powered steering column and approach illumination.

For lighting, it's LEDs of course, for the active rear brake lights, automatic Bi-LED headlights with auto high-beam function, daytime runners, rear fogs and third brake lights.

As part of ‘Q by Aston Martin’ – Aston Martin’s personalisation service, optional features for the centre console can be machined from a solid piece of wood, such as Walnut, for added tactility.

A contemporary range of exquisite wood, composite and metal veneers ensure that the cabin can be tailored to any taste.

This includes a range of innovative materials and an industry-first application of a fabric made from 80% wool.

A new flax composite – derived from the same plant as fine linen, also provides an alternative to carbon fibre and a distinctive design aesthetic.

Framed by these materials is the 10.25-inch TFT screen for the infotainment system that's only bested by the 12.3-inch TFT screen for the driver's instrument cluster.

The infotainment unit features standard applications such as Apple CarPlay, a 360-degree camera system and a dual-zone (front and rear) 64-colour ambient lighting system as well as an 800-watt, 14-speaker audio system with four USB ports, an SD-card slot, voice control, sat-nav and Bluetooth connectivity.

For safety, the DBX gets fitted as standard with an electric parking brake with auto park brake hold, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control, traction control, emergency brake assist, roll-over stability control, hill descent control and hill start assist.

Further bolstering safety is the inclusion of adaptive cruise control, speed limiter, forward collision warning autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane departure warning.

Also included are lane keep assist, lane change warning, rear cross-traffic warning, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot warning, door opening warning, emergency call, six airbags and Isofix child-seat anchor points.

"The DBX's striking design echoes the unmistakable style of Aston martin's iconic sports cars and is matched by its impressive versatility in performance," said Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur general manager Kumara Sooriar Sivanasan.


Bentley ties up with poets for World Poetry Day 2021

Charly Cox.
LONDON: Bentley is celebrating World Poetry Day today, working with five rising poets to produce unique works inspired by Bentley and what it stands for.

In commissioning contemporary poets and launching the poems via social media, Bentley hopes to provide a fresh cultural perspective, challenging preconceptions of poetry as traditional.

Bentley said it recognsises poetry as a unique art form. First adopted in 1999 by UNESCO, World Poetry Day was conceived as a moment to reflect on the power of language and to celebrate creativity.

In 2021, Bentley pledges its support for the creative medium which is seeing a revival through new and current channels such as social media, and through the resurgence of podcasts.

Each of the poets picked by Bentley, documented their work in a variety of mediums from hand-written notes, to voice recordings on their phones, digital typeface, photography and video.

 Shaquille-Aaron Keith's poem.

Rhael Cape is an award-winning British poet and spoken word artist who has inspired readers with his candid coverage of mental health, emotional vulnerability and masculinity.

Charly Cox is a British writer known for her best-selling book ‘She Must Be Mad’, a coming-of-age poetry anthology she wrote in her teens and early 20s, and ‘Validate Me’, her latest book documenting her own experiences with social media addiction and mental health.

Shaquille-Aaron Keith is a well-known British-Trinidadian poet, illustrator, artist and YouTube star.

Irina Dubtsova is a 25-times award-winning Russian singer, poet and composer. Throughout her career, she has written lyrics for over 100 songs by various artists and has a passion for language and its power within music and the peforming arts.

Leticia Sala is a Spanish artist and writer living in Barcelona. Her first book ‘Scrolling After Sex’ features a compilation of stories, poems, drawings and photographs, and was published in 2018.

Each of the poets were given the keys to a Bentley model to experience the car. The writers each put together a work of poetry inspired by this experience, which they would share on their social channels today to brighten World Poetry Day for their audiences.

 Rhael Cape.


Five tips for a fuss-free year-end holiday travelling with Cycle & Carriage

                PETALING JAYA: After missing out on multiple year-end holidays for the past few years, now is the time to go all out and prepare for your best “revenge travel” this December.

Before you begin your drive, get your trusty Mercedes-Benz ready as you hit the road for your year-end
vacation.

If you have been putting off doing a check up on your car’s health and performance, use this easy-to-follow car health checklist this year end to sail smoothly right into the new year with your loved ones!

Tip #1: Get your car’s health check up
Just like maintaining your own health, your car also needs a regular “health checkup” to evaluate the health condition of its different parts.

Get your car checked at Cycle & Carriage and let the experts go over everything from the brake fluid and brake pads, main and starter batteries, to headlamp settings and cleaning inspection.

You will also get a Digital Service Report which means you can have a more secure and convenient record of all the service work undertaken for the next time you want to “follow-up” on your car’s condition.

Best of all, you can be rest assured of your car’s safety and reliability for a worry-free holiday.

Tip #2: Know who to call in the case of an emergency
Even as you and your family are excited for the year end holidays, don’t forget you’ll still need to ensure a safe journey for everyone to truly kick back and relax this year end.

This includes knowing your car insurance's emergency hotline to dial when in need of roadside assistance.

In the unfortunate event where your car faces a breakdown mid-journey, Mercedes-Benz owners can immediately dial Cycle & Carriage’s 24-hour roadside assistance at 1800-22-8000 and you’ll be attended to in no time by round-the-clock Cycle & Carriage experts.

If you are facing milder car issues while outstation, fret not because you can make the most of Cycle & Carriage’s wide network coverage and get your Mercedes-Benz checked at any of its 11 locations across Peninsular Malaysia, including up north in Ipoh, Georgetown, and Alor Setar, to down south in Johor.

Tip #3: Safeguard your Mercedes-Benz for added peace of mind
Similar to our own bodies that reveal more health issues as we age, most cars also experience a little more hiccups than usual after a few years.

To protect your car after five or six years of usage, you can choose to benefit from the Mercedes-Benz Extended Limited Warranty Programme that offers coverage plans for your Mercedes-Benz no matter the mileage.

This means your car can get covered for all the essentials including air conditioning, brakes, engine, front and rear wheel drive, suspension, electrical components, among others.

Tip #4: Prepare for slippery roads with brand new tyres
Travelling all across Malaysia means you can expect rainy days every once in a while.

If you want your car to be able to weather the storms, one of the ways isto prepare your car for the wet roads and make sure the wheels are in tip-top condition.

You’ll want to get only the best quality Mercedes Original tyres from the Mercedes-Benz Tyre and Rim Boutique which is located exclusively at Cycle & Carriage Petaling Jaya, or by visiting any Cycle & Carriage autohaus.

By swapping out the tattered tyres with these high-performance ones that fit the car perfectly will ensure a confident and steady drive on the road, even in rainy weather.

Also don’t forget to replace the old, squeaky windscreen wipers with new ones while at it to brace for the
heavy downpours too.

Tip #5: Deck up your Mercedes-Benz for the Festive Holidays
Speaking of brand new tyres, nothing says festive like dazzling new accessories to make your car look fancier for the year-end celebrations.

Give your car an upgrade with shiny rims also available at the Mercedes-Benz Tyre and Rim Boutique.

Take your pick from modern and trendy designs that will give your vehicle a whole new edge and looking sharp while you drive around town in your stylish ride.

Of course, you will get to view, touch, and feel the differences of each Mercedes Original assortment available in-store to pick the ones that match your vehicle and personality.

Owners can also check out any Cycle & Carriage autohauses for more Mercedes-Benz genuine parts from fresh floor mats to shiny door handle recesses.

Visit https://www.ccb.mercedes-benz.com.my/passengercars/about-us/contact.html to locate Cycle & Carriage centres across West Malaysia.

To make an appointment with your preferred Cycle & Carriage Autohaus call 1800-22-8000 or visit https://www.ccb.mercedes-benz.com.my to learn more about Cycle & Carriage offerings.


Cars that are not rusting in peace

                Letting go, for some, can be the hardest thing in the world.

Many of us are all too keen to snap up a new model at the car showroom the moment it arrives, trading in our old jalopies for newer, sexier, more expensive models.

The Malaysian Automotive Association figures for the number of cars sold in 2014 seem to lend credence to this point of view. Last year, a total of 588,341 passenger cars were snapped up compared to 576,657 cars sold in 2013.

And yet, there are still some of us who find it hard to let go of old faithful. You can see this manifested in the many classic cars from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s that are still pottering this country’s motorways and country roads.

The state of these cars range from seemingly near-mint (an indication of the tender loving care lavished on the vehicles) right down to old hulks that are more rust than metal. In the case of the latter, many hold on to them because they cannot afford a new or used car.

For others, like a former colleague, it was love.

Said fellow held on to a first generation Proton Saga dubbed the “Blue Monster” for close to three decades. It was only after it died of “natural causes”, i.e. when every single mechanical and electrical component underwent a massive shutdown, did he buy a new car. He calls it “Blue Monster 2”.

And then you have those who get a little creative once their cars can no longer potter around. A case in point was Hyundai Motors’ recent “Brilliant Memories” campaign.

The Korean car giant collected stories from drivers who had planned to sell or scrap their old Hyundais. The company then engaged 14 of South Korea’s top artists to transform said cars into sheer works of art that would highlight “the emotional aspect of driving”.

Both artwork and transformations were then displayed at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. Note that the owners got to keep their transformed cars while the artwork was retained by Hyundai Motors in its own art collection.

According to the report in The Korea Herald, some of the owners got more than what they bargained for. Veteran taxi driver Kim Young-gyui, 66, found his taxi – which he had driven for 750,000km (16 hours a day for 30 years) – converted into a living room couch by artist Khan (see video above; it's in Korean but you don't have to understand the language to feel the emotional impact).

The couch, which has Kim’s portrait engraved on the polished surfaces of his old taxi, also came with the car’s old cup holder and car stereo system, which still works. There were even LED lights installed underneath the couch’s metal panels.

Another outstanding transformation featured in this campaign was by artist Yang Soo-in.  Yang literally created a “car swing” where a mid-sized Sonata II was placed in an installation that could rock the car backwards and forward gently while people sat in the cabin.

Lest one thinks that such “car” creativity is confined to our East Asian neighbours, we cannot forget the arty engineering masterpieces of French artist Benedetto Bufalino.

Bufalino is famous for converting an old police car into a functional chicken coop.

He was also the same man who converted a Seat Ibiza into a working Jacuzzi or hot tub that allowed users to soak up the sun while lying back in bubble-infused hot water comfort.

What Bufalino did was to remove the Ibiza’s roof, windshield, seats, steering wheel and other components before adding in a watertight liner and the full working components of a hot tub. The pictures shown online seem to indicate that he gave it a new coat of paint as well.

Aside from art installations and Jacuzzis, there is also another use for old faithful and you get to save the environment too.

As you are all aware, there has been a recent movement to make cars more environmental-friendly. One such way is to use a car that runs on electricity.

However, going green can come with a hefty price tag. A top of the line Tesla Model S – not available here yet – can set you back more than US$100,000 (RM360,000).

Even Nissan’s Leaf, which was introduced in Malaysia in 2013, can set you back RM168,000.
There is an alternative, make your own.

Apparently, in the US (where else?), people are converting old cars into electric ones... at a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.

Take the case of 14-year-old Ashton Stark (no relation to Tony of Iron Man fame, we think) who spent US$14,000 (RM50,400) to convert a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle into an eco-vehicle. The car is “fuelled” by nine golf cart batteries and can travel for close to 50 miles (80km) on 10 cents (36sen) of electricity.

Top speed for this electric Beetle? A respectable 45mph (72.5kph).

Not bad for an old jalopy that should have gone to car heaven many, many moons ago.

As Ashton’s father Noel told the Argus Observer newspaper, anyone can build an electric car.

“I think any vehicle can be converted to electricity. It is so simple to get one. I do not know why more people do not own one.

It does not have to be a Bug, it can be any lightweight vehicle: a Porsche, Toyota or Honda. It would be a great neighbourhood or commuter vehicle and would save a fortune on gas.”

Mr Stark’s advice is certainly food for thought. It is also probably a better idea than what UK farmer Dave Issac did. In order to honour the memory of a departed favourite sheep dog (named Floss, no less), Issac converted the family’s Peugeot estate car... into a sheep dog car.

It cost him £2,000 (RM11,100) to modify and cover the car in fur so that it would look like Floss... a Floss that could go at 40mph (64kph) and can even herd sheep.

As Issac told the Daily Mail, it was a tribute to a beloved dog.

“We loved her and as a family we all missed her terribly. So I got together with a friend and we built Floss the sheep dog car in my barn, copying as closely as I could every last detail of my old dog.”

I suppose you could do worse things to an old car.


Hyundai in joint effort to develop air taxis by 2028

                LONDON: Hyundai Motor is partnering with three other parties to accelerate the development of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and work together to conduct test flights.

Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding on Sept 18 with Incheon International Airport Corp, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. and KT Corp to commercialise UAM by 2028

The Korean government had announced in June the Korean UAM Roadmap, outlining steps needed to commercialise UAM.

Hyundai Motor and its partners would follow the roadmap that includes jointly studying the construction and operation of airports for UAMs.

Hyundai said it would develop the UAM business and securing business cases while Incheon airport team would work to establish the infrastructure and study feasibility of using UAM as airport shuttles.

Hyundai Construction will use its expertise to build vertiports as well as the transit hub that would connect UAM to other public transportations. KT would set up the communications infrastructure and make business cases for UAM as a mobility service.

All four parties would share their expertise and jointly work on test flights.

At CES 2020 in January, Hyundai unveiled its first concept Urban Air Mobility vehicle equipped with eVTOL.


Mercedes enters new era with flagship sedan going electric

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz has long billed the S-Class as the pinnacle of luxury and performance for the combustion age. It’s now intent to do the same with an all-electric sibling.

The EQS sedan the German manufacturer will unveil today boasts a market-leading driving range and luxurious interior rarely found in battery-powered cars. It’s meant to usher in a new era for Daimler AG’s main brand, which spent decades designing high-powered combustion rides chauffeuring around captains of industry and heads of state.

Attempts by BMW’s 7 Series and Audi’s A8 to win over more of those deep-pocketed customers yielded only modest results over the years. But Tesla Inc.’s Model S outselling the S-Class in markets including the US proved that the electric shift wouldn’t spare the upper echelons of the automotive world.

“Mercedes claims that the S-Class is the best car in the world, hence the EQS should be the best electric car in the world, and it will most likely be scrutinised with that expectation in mind,” said Roman Mathyssek, a consultant at Arthur D. Little GmbH. The bar for the Mercedes EQS is “very high in every respect.”

Criticised for taking too long to embrace EVs, Stuttgart-based Daimler is under pressure to prove it can retain its engineering prowess in the electric age, where expertise in battery technology and software is key.

Tesla is amping up the Model S with a fresh performance version and new rivals like Lucid Motors Inc. are plotting inroads into the lucrative segment that’s still largely dominated by Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus.

READ MORE: Mercedes straddles old and new with electric S-Class reboot

The EQS, which features an optional digital panel stretching across the entire dashboard, will be the first Mercedes built on a dedicated platform for battery-powered cars. It does away with the engineering compromises that earned the brand’s first EV, the EQC SUV, criticism from Tesla aficionados and Mercedes loyalists alike.

Initial feedback from analysts who drove a camouflaged prototype of the EQS has been positive:

“Mercedes has succeeded in distilling the essence of its brand DNA into a completely new from-the-ground up platform,” Societe Generale analyst Stephen Reitman said in a note. “The EQS sets new benchmarks in comfort, handling, technology, material quality and we believe desirability for sedans in the EV space.”

“This is the ultimate ‘where luxury meets EV’ limousine,” Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Arndt Ellinghorst wrote. “Very impressive performance and amazing interior.”

The EQS will likely “set the benchmark” in terms of technical features, design and quality, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Tim Rokossa. The vehicle could “improve the perception of the entire brand.”

While the praise should come as a boon to Mercedes, it remains to be seen how well the EQS will sell and — more importantly — if it can win over more Tesla customers than it lures away from the highly profitable S-Class.

Volumes of the EQS “will depend heavily on the price point versus competition,” UBS Group AG analysts led by Patrick Hummel said in a note, adding that they expect the electric model to cost more than a comparable S-Class.

“While the vehicle is unlikely to challenge the performance of Tesla Model S, it will likely deliver a better luxury experience.”


Lamborghini bids V12 engine farewell with pair of new supercars

                LONDON: Lamborghini has called time on its famous naturally-aspirated V12 engine with a pair of one-off supercars.

The Invencible coupe and Autentica roadster both use the Italian firm’s 12-cylinder 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 which has become a calling card in many of Lamborghini’s famous models, but against tightening emissions regulations is being discontinued..

In both one-off vehicles, the V12 produces 769bhp, which sends that power to all four wheels via a seven-speed gearbox. Lamborghini hasn’t stated how quickly either model will accelerate, but it’s likely to be similar to the Aventador – upon which the pair are based – zero to 100kph time of 2.6 seconds.

“The V12 engine is one of the pillars of our history and our marque’s success,” said Stephan Winkelmann, chairman and CEO of Lamborghini.

“As we head towards embracing a new era of hybridization at the heart of our strategy, this is the Lamborghini way of celebrating the naturally aspirated V12 with two one-off vehicles that perfectly represent our concept of excellence in personalization.

Both the Invencible and Autentica also pay homage to some of Lamborghini’s stand-out creations from the past, including the Sesto Elemento and the Veneno. It’s the former which gives both cars their large rear wing, while aerodynamic touches help reference the latter.

The duo are centred around the same carbon fibre monocoque used in the Aventador, while Lamborghini’s trademark hexagonal elements are used throughout in areas such as the front and rear light assembly.

Inside, the cabin has been stripped back as much as possible, with no instrumentation featuring on the dashboard whatsoever.

The Invencible features a ‘Rosso Efesto’ bodywork with contrast sills and doorframes finished in carbon, while the Autentica roadster incorporates a ‘Grigio Titans’ exterior shade with matt black details.

Lamborghini is expected to unveil its next-generation hybrid supercar ‘in the coming weeks’. - PA Media


Japan tax reform to target low-emission cars, shift to investment

                TOKYO: Japan will extend tax breaks on low-emission cars and seek to shift its massive household savings into investment in the government's annual tax code revision to be approved today.

The government will also raise corporate, income and tobacco taxes to pay for a scheduled doubling of Japan's defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027 - a response to an increasingly assertive China and North Korea's missile launches.

Below are key changes under the revised tax code, according to a draft of the document obtained by Reuters. The revised code will take effect in the next fiscal year beginning in April 2023, upon approval by parliament.

Automobile tax

Japan will extend tax breaks on low-emission cars past the end of 2023, while increasing the required level of emissions reduction for eligible vehicles in several stages from 2024. The revision, to remain in place until April 2026, will cover half of all new automobiles.

The government will also exclude gasoline-powered cars beginning in 2025 from tax cuts that were granted to the automobile sector to help it overcome supply constraints.

'New capitalism'

Under his flagship "new capitalism" initiative aimed at redistributing income, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has sought to shift Japan's 2,000 trillion yen (US$14.52 trillion) in household assets away from savings and into investment.

As part of this initiative, the government will make permanent a programme that offers tax breaks for households' stock investments. Specifically, it will triple the limit on investments eligible for tax breaks from 2024.

Capital gains tax rate

The capital gains tax rate is uniform across income brackets in Japan, unlike the income tax, which is progressive.

As part of a symbolic effort to address income disparities, the government in 2025 will apply an additional tax to 200 to 300 individuals who earn an annual income of more than 3 billion yen from investments in stocks and real estate, on top of their salary.

Start-ups

Kishida's administration has stressed the need to nurture more start-ups that could give a boost to Japan's anaemic economic growth.

The government will expand preferential tax breaks for retail investors when they buy and sell stocks in start-up firms.

Profits from the sale of start-up shares will be exempt from income tax if they are reinvested in other venture businesses.


Kia's first electric vehicle EV6 teased

                SEOUL: Kia has revealed the first official images of the EV6 – its first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) built on the company’s new EV platform (Electric-Global Modular Platform, or E-GMP).

The EV6, which features a distinctive silhouette, is also the first of Kia’s next-generation BEVs to be developed under a new design philosophy that embodies Kia’s shifting focus towards electrification.

Kia Global Design Center senior vice-president and head Karim Habib said the EV6 is the embodiment of both its brand purpose - ‘Movement that inspires’ -  and its new design philosophy.

"It has been designed to inspire every journey by offering an instinctive and natural experience that improves the daily lives of our customers, and provide user ownership that is simple, intuitive and integrated.

“Our aim is to design the physical experience of our brand and to create bold, original and inventive electric vehicles.”

As part of the company’s brand transition, Kia’s new dedicated BEVs will be named according to a new naming strategy.

The new approach brings simplicity and consistency to Kia’s EV nomenclature across all global markets.

All of Kia’s new dedicated BEVs will start with the prefix ‘EV’ which makes it easy for consumers to understand which of Kia’s products are fully electric.

This is followed by a number which corresponds to the car’s position in the line-up.

The EV6 will make its world premiere during the first quarter of this year.


Amazon's Alexa to provide basis for voice assistant in BMW cars

                WASHINGTON: Voice assistants are growing ever more important in cars, and while Google and Apple are increasing their foothold in automotive industry, Amazon has announced that BMW is set to rely on Alexa for future voice control software in its cars.

Amazon's voice assistant is set to be available in the first BMW vehicles within the next two years, the companies said on Wednesday, announcing a further collaboration in future.

The Munich-based carmaker will use Amazon's Alexa Custom Assistant solution, which allows various companies to develop their own voice assistants based on Alexa.

The announcement was made at Amazon's annual product launch event, where various smart home and voice assistant update were showcased.

Voice assistants in cars have become more and more popular in recent years, typically for streaming music, checking calendar entries, making phone calls and getting directions without having to take your eyes off the road.

Amazon Alexa has previously been integrated in some BMW vehicles, and drivers can also connect the Alexa voice assistant to smartphones in cars via the Echo Auto Bluetooth adapter.

Brands like Volvo, Fiat, Ferrari and Jeep meanwhile rely on Android Auto, meaning if you open certain apps on your phone, they can be seen and controlled on the car display, which makes operating them even easier.

Apple CarPlay offers a similar integration of smartphones into the car together with the Siri voice assistant.


Aston Martin unveils two very special takes on the DB11

The Aston Martin Henley Royal Regatta DB11 Volante.
LONDON: If an Aston Martin isn't already exclusive enough for you, there are always "Q by Aston Martin" models if you have enough money and are quick enough to get your hands on one when they are released. The latest of these super-exclusive Astons are a couple of very special takes on the DB11 in the shape of the Henley Royal Regatta DB11 Volante, and the DB11 Classic Driver Edition.

"Q by Aston Martin" is the British luxury sports car manufacturer's customisation service, which has been offering customers almost limitless opportunities to personalise their Astons since it was set up in 2012. But to complicate things a little, "Q by Aston Martin" is actually split into two distinct categories to offer varying levels of customisation and customer interaction: "Q by Aston Martin – Collection" and "Q by Aston Martin – Commission."

The first of the new cars is from "Q by Aston Martin – Commission" and is a one-off version of the DB11 Volante, marking the company's continued Official Automotive Partnership with the Henley Royal Regatta. Taking its inspiration from elite rowing's fusion of technology and tradition, the Henley Royal Regatta DB11 Volante is finished in White Stone paint colour, with an interior trimmed in Red Oxide Caithness leather. The car also features technical carbon fibre complete with stainless steel crossed oar motifs and hand-painted pale blue accents, which take inspiration from the rowing club's markings found on the blades of rowers' oars.

The second car is the DB11 Classic Driver Edition from "Q by Aston Martin – Collection", which has been created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Classic Driver, the world's first website for sophisticated car collectors and enthusiasts.

 The DB11 Classic Driver Edition.

This one was the result of a collaboration between Classic Driver's lead designer, Benjamin Knapp Voith and Q by Aston Martin, and is available as both a V8-powered Coupe and Volante. However, only 20 units will ever be built in total. These are finished in a fabulous deep, gloss dark grey paint called Classic Driver Grey, which is complemented by a "Q by Aston Martin – Collection" carbon-fibre body pack and uniquely finished with a bespoke satin Eifel Green lacquer.

This unique color scheme is continued through into the interior, where the seats, dashboard, and steering wheel have been beautifully trimmed in exclusive Eifel Green Caithness leather. And to finish things off, the Classic Driver logo has been embroidered into the headrests in Parliament Green thread.

If you would like to buy the Henley Royal Regatta DB11 Volante, it will set you back £199,995 (RM1.07mil), while the slightly less exclusive DB11 Classic Driver Edition models cost from £199,275 (RM1.06mil).


GM closes deals with suppliers, on course to reach 1 million EV capacity by 2025

                DETROIT: General Motors Co said today it had signed multi-year agreements with LG Chem Ltd and Livent Corp to secure key raw materials used in making batteries for electric vehicles.

With the latest deals, GM said it had lined up supplies for all battery raw materials, including lithium, nickel, cobalt and cathode active material, and was on course to reach its goal of producing 1 million EVs annually in North America by end-2025.

Nudged by the US government and looking to get ahead in a booming market for EVs, automakers are striking deals to source key inputs for batteries, with an aim to localize the supply at some point.

LG Chem will supply GM with 968,000 tons of cathode material starting in the second half of 2022 through 2030, enough for about 5 million EVs, GM said.

Cathode material, made from processed nickel, lithium and other materials, represents about 40% of the cost of a battery cell, according to the company.

The automaker will receive battery-grade lithium hydroxide from Livent over six years starting 2025, with neither company specifiying the quantity.

In both the agreements, GM and the suppliers will work to localise production.

GM's announcement comes about a week after Ford Motor Co signed on China's CATL to import lower-cost lithium iron batteries. Ford said its various agreements cover 70% of the material it needs to make 2 million EVs annually by 2026.


BMW aims to build in smart companion for you

                MUNICH/SAN FRANCISCO: One of the key developments in the auto industry is making cars more intelligent when talking to humans.

On Wednesday, we told you about Groupe PSA's partnership with Soundhound to introduce natural language understanding capability to their range of cars namely Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Vauxhall and Opel.

The BMW Group is also jumping on the bandwagon with a BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. From March 2019, BMW drivers and passengers will be joined by an intelligent, digital character that responds to the prompt “Hey BMW”.

The German car maker said it would mark the start of a new era for the group in which drivers will increasingly be able to operate their car and access its functions and information simply by speaking.

The personal assistant will also be able to assist the driver outside their vehicle, whether it’s at home with the help of a smart speaker or out and about via smartphone.

BMW claimed it would be compatible with other digital voice assistants beyond Amazon Alexa, providing a link to other rapidly growing ecosystems. The personal assistant’s capabilities is expanding as part of an ongoing effort by BMW’s Open Mobility Cloud and the use of artificial intelligence.

BMW said the range of functions and skills available would be constantly expanded as part of regular updates, which can be carried out seamlessly on a smartphone and in-car by Remote Software Upgrade.

Not only does the Intelligent Personal Assistant await the driver’s every command, he is always there to assist them and even provide casual conversation (“Hey BMW, what’s the meaning of life?”). He is familiar with the vehicle’s functions and is able to operate them as required. Saying “Hey BMW, I’m cold” will prompt the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant to adjust the temperature inside the car accordingly.

The assistant will benefit from constant technical upgrades and be able to learn more and more preferences and favoured settings. The assistant takes further strides forward with every command given, every question asked and every setting made. Forming the basis for all of this will be the portable, digital customer profile – the BMW ID. This profile links the car to the customer and their digital world.

The Intelligent Personal Assistant will be available in a basic version with voice control in 23 languages and markets from March 2019. In the USA, Germany, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Brazil, Japan and (from May 2019) China, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant will also feature more natural voice control along with further intelligent functions.

The personal assistant will be offered for models featuring the new BMW Operating System 7.0 and as part of the Live Cockpit Professional (6U3). The scope of functions can be extended with the Connected Package Professional.

The personal assistant will be available to order for the new 3 Series from November 2018 and will be included for three years. From March 2019, new X5, Z4 and 8 Series models fitted with the BMW Operating System 7.0 will be able to install the full version of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant by remote software upgrade without having to visit a dealer.


Car sharing marketplace Trevo debuts

                KUALA LUMPUR: Trevo, the latest people-to-people car sharing marketplace, is launched today by Socar Malaysia.

The app-based marketplace enables drivers (guests) to book any car that fits their needs and wants from the nearest car owners (hosts) in the Trevo community.

With Trevo, guests can loan a car from as low as RM55 per day for a Perodua Myvi or treat themselves to a luxury experience by loaning a Rolls Royce for a day of pampering. They can choose from compact cars and hatchbacks, sedans and coupes and SUVs and 4x4s.

For hosts, they can  cover their monthly car instalments as long as they share their cars for at least 6-8 days a month. Hosts are empowered to choose their own pricing as long as it falls within the pricing band that the Trevo algorithm provides. Corporate hosts such as car rental companies can also list their fleet on Trevo.

"With the official launch of Trevo in Malaysia, we are excited to introduce the next chapter of car-sharing in our overall multi-flex mobility story to Malaysians. Through Trevo, we want to empower Malaysians to drive their dreams," said Trevo general manager Susan Teoh.,

"For guests, we provide more mobility choices to help them fulfil their travel dreams, while for hosts, we offer the opportunity to earn extra income to offset the cost of car ownership. Thus, we can improve both the lifestyle quality and also enrich life experiences for both guests and hosts."

The Trevo app is available for download on Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store.

For more information on Trevo, log on to their website.


Michelin giving out Air Asia e-Vouchers in social media campaign

                PETALING JAYA: Michelin is inviting Malaysians to participate in a social media campaign that could see them win Air Asia e-vouchers and other goodies worth RM7,000.

The effort for the upcoming Chinese New Year is part of the Company’s Safe with MICHELIN campaign that encourages motorists to maintain safety as a top priority when heading back to their hometowns this festive season.

“Our social media drive serves as a perfect platform for Malaysians to join in the conversation online and extend their well wishes to their family and friends who are travelling on the road this coming Year of the Dog,” said Michelin Malaysia managing director Pascal Nouvellon.

The campaign encourages Malaysians to post a photo of themselves and their family or loved ones on Facebook or Instagram with the #SafeWithMICHELIN, and talk about their favourite memories related to the picture.

Participants can also tag their family members and loved ones, and encourage them to travel home safely to stand a chance to win prizes, which includes an Air Asia e-voucher worth RM1,500 as the grand prize.

The first runner up will win an Air Asia e-voucher worth RM1,000 while the second runner up will bring home a RM500 Air Asia e-voucher.

There will also be 100 Michelin consolation prizes available and includes 10 Bluetooth headsets worth RM70 each, 20 model cars (Ford T Camionnette M026) worth RM60 each, 35 ceramic mugs worth RM30 each, and 35 GPS holders worth RM20 each.

“By participating in the social media campaign, Malaysians will not only get to wish holiday cheer to their loved ones but also to remind them to stay safe on the roads during the festive season. On top of that, they will get the opportunity to win exciting prizes to make the celebration extra merrier,” added Nouvellon.

The Safe with Michelin campaign will further showcase a video entitled “Car-ing Kids” which will feature children talking about a memory of their most favourite road trip with their families, their views and understanding of road safety and the role of tyres, and their wishes for their parents to drive home safe this holiday season.


2017 Tokyo Motor Show: Toyota to debut next-gen Century

TOYOTA CITY: Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) is scheduled to showcase the new Century (to be released in the middle of 2018) at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show, taking place from Oct 25 through Nov 5 at the Tokyo Big Sight venue.

The theme of this year's show is "Beyond the Motor."

The new 3rd generation Century carries on the tradition of master craftsmanship and high-quality monozukuri (all-encompassing manufacturing) while realising high-demand environmental performance and a design layout that pursues passenger comfort.

The interior and exterior design injects new charm into the Century in line with its heritage. Moreover, the new Century features advanced equipment and comfort amenities only suitable for a luxury limousine.

Specifically, the Century is now powered by a 5.0-liter V8 hybrid system for outstanding fuel efficiency.

In addition, the wheelbase has lengthened, the height difference between the scuff plate and floor has decreased, and the height of the door opening has increased, all of which are refinements improving the rear seat riding experience.

The intricately glamorous and chic exterior is highlighted by traditional Japanese design elements used throughout the car including the grille and black trim on the rear combination lamps.

The interior features a raised ceiling design and exclusive fabric while the adjustable rear seats (with massage function), are upgraded with a power leg rest for first-class comfort and a sophisticated riding experience.


Hyundai to develop hydrogen mobility ecosystem in China

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Company is spearheading development of a hydrogen society and fuel cell commercial vehicle ecosystem in China with regional partners.

Hyundai Motor announced today that it has signed an MOU with Shanghai Electric Power Co., Ltd., Shanghai Sunwise New Energy System Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Ronghe Electric Technology Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., with an aim of establishing a hydrogen mobility ecosystem around Shanghai and Yangtze River Delta area.

The company also signed a separate MOU with China Iron and Steel Research Institute Group (CISRI) and Hebei Iron and Steel Group (HBIS Group) for an equivalent aim in Jing-Jin-Ji area as it introduced Hyundai XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty truck for the first time in China at the 2020 China International Import Expo (CIIE).

“Hyundai believes China has a massive potential for hydrogen powered commercial vehicles,” said In Cheol Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Vehicle Division at Hyundai Motor.

“The company is committed to becoming a FCEV solution provider by creating a business cluster across the entire hydrogen ecosystem in China.”

Hyundai Motor will supply its fuel cell electric commercial vehicles to major logistics companies in the Yangtze River Delta area where the company is going to establish and manage a fuel cell electric commercial vehicle operating company.

Through the MOU, the four parties aim to construct a cost-competitive and highly efficient business model drawing on each company’s respective expertise, supplying more than 3,000 fuel cell electric trucks in the Yangtze River Delta area by 2025.

Hyundai is cooperating closely with its Chinese partners in line with the Chinese government’s fuel cell roadmap, which aims to have 1 million fuel cell electric vehicles by 2030.

Hyundai’s goal is to supply over 27,000 FCEV units in China by 2030 as the company plans to further strengthen its position as a leading global FCEV technology brand through this multilateral cooperation in China.


Perodua Myvi production disrupted, around 3,000 customers affected

                RAWANG: Perodua Myvi - the best-selling model from the local compact carmaker, has had its production temporarily halted due to a supply disruption at one of its vendors.

The disruption will result in some 3,000 customers not being able to register their new Myvi before the end of August.

“We wish to apologise most sincerely to our customers who have been waiting patiently for their new Myvi. We take full responsibility for this issue and are putting all the necessary measures in place to ensure that production resumes as soon as possible,” said Perodua Sales managing director Datuk Dr Zahari Husin.

He also added that the company's current priority is to deliver the new Myvi to its 3,000 customers who were originally scheduled to receive their cars before Sept 1, adding that the allocation for all Myvi orders before June 1 has just been completed.

“We fully understand and are deeply concerned with the frustration of the customers involved. As such, we are currently working on a suitable form of compensation for said customers and will get in touch with them very soon via our outlets,” said Zahari.

There has been a surge in demand for vehicles since the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate was reduced from 6% to 0% effective June 1 , ahead of the imminent reintroduction of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) on Sept 1.

To date, over 68,000 Myvis have reached owners out of over 120,000 bookings collected since the hatchback was launched in November 2017 -  making it Perodua’s best seller throughout the year so far.

“We are working as hard as we can to remedy this supply disruption and resume Myvi production as soon as possible. That said, production of our other models are running normally and deliveries of our Axia, Bezza and Alza continue to be on track.

“We invite our valued customers to speak to our authorised sales advisers for more information on our models as well as the estimated delivery times of their Myvi,” said Zahari.

Perodua has sold an estimated 140,000 vehicles between January and July this year, representing a jump of nearly 19% over the 118,600 it sold in the same period last year.


Honda to pay US govt US$70mil for failure to report deaths, injuries

                WASHINGTON: Honda has agreed to pay US$70mil (RM250mil) to the US government in penalties for failing to report hundreds of injuries, deaths and other consumer claims involving its cars, transportation officials said today.

Honda will pay two US$35mil (RM125mil) fines, making it the largest amount ever paid by an automaker as a result of an investigation by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The automaker has been under investigation for violations of NHTSA's Early Warning Reporting regulations. The rules require automakers to report quickly any information about possible defects, deaths and injuries or damage and warranty claims made by consumers.

In November, Honda revealed it had failed to report 1,729 cases involving deaths or injuries between July 2003 and June 2014.

Eight of those incidents involved Takata Corp air bags that had ruptured and have been the subject of massive recalls and federal investigations.

"One thing we cannot tolerate and will not tolerate is an automaker failing to report to us any safety issues, because if we don't know about these problems, we're missing an essential piece of the puzzle in the recall efforts we use to fix them and to protect the public," US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said during a news call.

The automaker had earlier attributed its disclosure transgressions to data entry and computer programing errors, and also said it had relied on an "overly narrow interpretation" of its legal reporting requirements

"We have resolved this matter and will move forward to build on the important actions Honda has already taken to address our past shortcomings in early warning reporting,” Rick Schostek, executive vice president of Honda North America Inc, said in a statement.

The company said it was initiating new training regimens, changing internal reporting policy and enhancing oversight of its early warning reporting process.

Congress caps the fines for those kinds of violations at US$35mil. Foxx said the caps need to be lifted because a single violation could lead to a death.

"In this situation, we're talking about 11 years - 11 years of information we did not have. It's egregious and I think the penalties reflect that," Foxx said.


Ferdinand Piech quits, ending an era at Volkswagen

                HAMBURG/FRANKFURT: Ferdinand Piech, a towering figure at Volkswagen for more than two decades, resigned as its chairman on Saturday after losing a showdown he had provoked with chief executive Martin Winterkorn, ending an era at the iconic German carmaker.

Piech, the 78-year-old grandson of the inventor of the Volkswagen Beetle Ferdinand Porsche, had previously seen off other executives who crossed him, including his own hand-picked successor as CEO, Bernd Pischetsrieder.

But this time he was unexpectedly isolated in a five-to-one vote of Volkswagen's steering committee last week, as labor representatives, the state of Lower Saxony and even his own cousin Wolfgang Porsche stood firmly behind Winterkorn.

"The members of the steering committee came to a consensus that, in the light of the past weeks, the mutual trust necessary for successful cooperation was no longer there," the six-member panel said in a statement after another meeting on Saturday.

Berthold Huber, the senior trade unionist who will take over until a new chairman is elected, said: "The uncertainty had to be ended today. The steering committee was and is conscious of its responsibility to Volkswagen and its many thousand staff."

Two sources with knowledge of the matter said Piech had resigned without forcing a vote of the committee at its second crisis gathering in 10 days.

Piech resigned with immediate effect from all his roles at Volkswagen including as an ordinary supervisory board member, as did his second wife Ursula, a former nanny who joined the supervisory board in 2012.

"Piech's departure represents a seismic shift in Volkswagen's power structure, and could foretell drastic changes in how one of the world's largest automakers operates," wrote Karl Brauer, senior analyst at analysis firm Kelley Blue Book.

"VW has kept pace with General Motors and Toyota's growth in recent years, making it a very tight three-way race for the title of largest global automaker, but VW's struggles in markets like the U.S. and Brazil, along with lower profit margins versus GM and Toyota, shows there's still much work to be done."

The leadership row burst into the open this month when news weekly Der Spiegel quoted family patriarch Piech as saying he had "distanced" himself from CEO Winterkorn.

The comment came at a time when VW is cutting billions of euros of costs and revamping structures, having struggled with chronic underperformance in the United States and declining profitability at its core autos division.

Winterkorn's current contract expires at the end of 2016, but last week's agreement to back him included a commitment to discuss an extension.

Piech's departure increases the chances of Winterkorn succeeding him as chairman - something that Piech wanted to prevent at all costs, Volkswagen insiders believe. That would leave the way open for Porsche CEO and VW management board member Matthias Mueller, already seen as a favourite to succeed Winterkorn, to take over.

"What changes will we see to fill the void left by Piech? Do we have Winterkorn stepping up to chairman and Matthias Mueller as CEO? That could happen," said analyst Stuart Pearson of Exane BNP Paribas.

But Piech's influence may still make itself felt through the 51-percent voting rights the Piech-Porsche clan owns in Volkswagen, now represented on the supervisory board by Wolfgang Porsche, if family ties withstand the recent turmoil.

While he may have failed to unseat the CEO, Piech's departure is unlikely to end the increased scrutiny the public duel has drawn to the group's strategic shortcomings.

Volkswagen's management may still have to address the criticisms Piech raised, which include the failure to engineer a low-cost car.

When Piech became CEO of VW in 1993, the company was losing money, prompting him to cut pay and working hours at German plants and streamline production

During his nine-year tenure, he turned a loss equivalent to 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) into a 2.6 billion euro profit while spearheading VW's expansion to a 12-brand entity that makes everything from fuel-efficient city cars to 40-tonne trucks.

Exane BNP Paribas' Pearson said Piech's abrupt resignation would come as a shock to investors despite the recent drama.

"Those seeing the glass half full may view this as an opportunity to improve corporate governance at VW," he said. "However, first VW will need to demonstrate that its operating performance is on track and not the cause of Piech and Winterkorn's discord."


VW hopes a song can save its soul and sell electric cars

                NEW YORK: American car buyers are a forgiving bunch. Although they all but abandoned Volkswagen in 2015 after the German car maker admitted to cheating on emissions tests, they didn’t stay mad for long.

Within two years Volkswagen sales had recovered. The company has regularly outsold Toyota since 2016 on a global basis, and while it did recently scale back its 2019 forecast, that had more to do with a general slowdown in car sales than anything else.

Still, the emissions scandal put Volkswagen in an awkward position this year when it announced plans to make 70 different electric models and sell 22 million electric cars within the next decade. Would people believe the promise? When it came to environmental claims the company didn’t exactly have a reputation for honesty. So, it turned to advertising.

“It was a very complicated and delicate challenge,” says Al Risi, the founder of the music licensing firm Groove Guild here and part of the advertising team that helped Volkswagen rethink its strategy. “Three and a half years after the scandal, how do you address it? It’s too late for an apology.”

In June, Volkswagen aired a nearly two-minute commercial during the NBA Finals. The spot opened with a dark room and audio clips of newscasters discussing the emissions scandal. It didn’t explain what had happened, just that “dissatisfied customers” were “filing complaints” against “the world’s largest car manufacturer.” Then, there were a few seconds of silence.

“We chose very intentionally to have a blank screen,” says Jan Jacobs, co-founder and co-chief creative officer of Johannes Leonardo, the advertising agency that created the spot. “It was going to be very difficult to describe what we wanted to convey. We thought it would be better if we just created an emotion,” adds his partner, Leo Premutico.

To express that emotion, Jacobs, Premutico and Risi turned to music. They wanted something from Volkswagen’s cultural heyday in the 1960s — people are stirred by feelings of nostalgia — but nothing too rock ‘n’ roll. This was a sombre commercial about pain and contrition. What about Simon & Garfunkel? Their music often evoked a sense of hopeful melancholy and their 1965 song “The Sound of Silence,” even used darkness and light to contrast feelings of loneliness with unity. “When we heard ‘The Sound of Silence,’ to be honest, this was the first time this has ever happened but the commercial wrote itself,” says Jacobs.

In the ad, which is named “Hello Light,” “The Sound of Silence” plays as a Volkswagen designer, visibly distraught over his company’s failure, tries to imagine its future. After several starts and stops and frustrated sighs, he draws an electric version of VW’s microbus — the colorful, bread loaf-shaped van that was a regular sight in the 1960s, especially at Grateful Dead shows and Woodstock. “My eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light,” Simon sings as the van’s headlights come to life.

Paul Simon had never licensed ‘The Sound of Silence” for commercial use before. He clearly wasn’t against commercials: Simon & Garfunkel songs had previously been used to sell everything from trucks to cream cheese and “America” had appeared in a previous Volkswagen commercial.

“Not every artist is on board with their songs being used in a commercial, but most are. They know it’s a major revenue stream,” says Risi. (The agency declined to say how much licensing a Paul Simon song costs.) But the fact that Simon had never approved its use gave him pause.

Luckily, Volkswagen has reputation for treating songs with great care in its commercials, thanks largely to its famous 2000 Cabrio commercial that featured Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon.” The company declined an interview request but issued a statement saying it likes to use “iconic songs that further elevate a great commercial and tell a story.”

To win Simon over, Risi laid out exactly what the commercial aimed to do, who it was for, and how the song would be used. Instead of the standard “rip,” or rough sketch of a commercial that gets made from publicly available video footage, the agency filmed a more complete demo version, timed to the song, and sent it to Simon. Months of back-and-forth emails later, Simon agreed. “The Sound of Silence” would be the voice of Volkswagen’s rebirth.

Johannes Leonardo is Volkwagen’s lead agency in North America will continue to make ads as the company rolls out its electric cars. “Hello Light” won a silver Clio award for “use of music” in a commercial this year.

The agency already followed it up with a previously unreleased demo version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” overlaid with footage of Americans watching the Apollo 11 moon landing to announce the company’s plan to go carbon neutral by 2050.

Securing Bowie’s music was much easier; his estate offered them up him instead of the other way around.


VW in talks with Tesla to adopt its charging standard

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen is in talks with Tesla to adopt its North American Charging Standard (NACS) technology, while the German automaker's charging network unit Electrify America has already agreed to use the system.

The announcement comes as a slew of automakers and charging equipment makers choose Tesla's charging design on concerns of losing out on customers if they offer only the Combined Charging System (CCS) design, which is backed by automakers like Volkswagen and Hyundai Motor.

Ford, General Motors and ChargePoint are among the companies that have signed up for Tesla's charging design in the past few weeks.

"Volkswagen Group and its brands are currently evaluating the implementation of the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its North American customers," Volkswagen said.

Electrify America, Volkswagen's EV charging network unit, has more than 850 charging stations with about 4,000 chargers in the United States and Canada.

 Tesla Superchargers are shown in Carlsbad, California. — Reuters

During the NACS transition, Electrify America will continue to offer the widely used CCS connector.

Tesla, meanwhile, has expanded beyond its connectors to include CCS at some of its US charging stations as the Biden administration seeks to provide billions in subsidies to expand charging networks.

Tesla's Superchargers account for about 60% of the total number of fast chargers in the United States, according to the US Department of Energy.

The companies' decisions for NACS transition have shaken up the EV charging industry that likely was drifting towards the rival CCS connection, with the help of federal subsidies.

Separately, Polestar has signed an agreement with Tesla to make available its charging network to the customers of the Swedish electric vehicle maker in the United States and Canada.


Northvolt plots EV battery grab with US$750mil Swedish lab plan

                STOCKHOLM: Northvolt plans to invest US$750 million expanding its laboratory facility in Sweden, a top executive said, to meet soaring demand for lithium-ion batteries as carmakers go electric.

As it aims to take on major Asian players such as CATL and LG Chem, Northvolt said it would set up the "first R&D campus covering the entire battery ecosystem".

Northvolt, which plans to start production this year at its battery plant in Sweden's Skelleftea, plans to build a new office in Vasteras, increase headcount there to at least 1,000 from 400, and create a centre for customers to experiment with battery technologies and electrification.

China is home to some 80% of lithium-ion cell production, but with demand soaring, capacity in Europe is set to expand quickly and Northvolt is targeting a 25% market share in Europe by 2030.

"The development in Vasteras is the funnel right now that will enable us to do that land grab," said Northvolt chief executive Peter Carlsson, adding that this would require it to hire around 5,000 engineers within five years.

"I have some slide presentation on the very early concepts ... we hadn't chosen Vasteras then but we had a first budget of US$80 million."

European carmakers are looking to use batteries from Northvolt for their electric vehicles to rival those from Tesla, which is building its own factory in Germany.

Backed by Volkswagen, Scania, the European Commission and Spotify founder Daniel Ek, Northvolt has raised funding of more than US$6.5 billion, with nearly US$20 billion in orders from the biggest automakers.

A source said in June that its latest fundraising had valued Northvolt at US$11.75 billion. Electric vehicle and related sectors have been a big draw for investors, who have driven up the valuations of pioneers such as Tesla and Lucid Motors.


Fuel prices down

PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices have retreated across the board after weeks of unrelenting increases.

RON95 and RON97 petrol have dropped 8 sen to RM2.30 and RM2.58 respectively. Diesel eased down 2 sen to RM2.23.

The new prices take effect from Nov 23-29.


Mitsubishi declares record-high market share in January

                PETALING JAYA: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) begun the year strong with an all-time high market share of  22.8% for the month of January 2020. This is the highest in the past 10 years.

The Triton was the only model in the pick-up segment that achieved growth and expanded its overall sales with 1.6% increase from April 2019 to January 2020, compared to the same period last financial year.

MMM’s financial year calendar is from the preceding April to March of the current year.

Also for January, the  Triton double cab ranked at No. 1 in the pick-up truck segment in four states namely Selangor, Malacca  Penang and Kedah.