Volvo's driverless tech struggles with kangaroos

                SYDNEY: It seems like almost every vehicle manufacturer is working on self-driving technology right now, and you don't have to be a scientist to imagine just how much testing is required to make the technology safe for use on public roads.

As well as different types of road, weather and environments, self-driving cars also have to be able to cope with other vehicles, pedestrians and other variables. Even when you think you've thought of everything, there's always the possibility of a curve ball, and that's certainly what Volvo has found while testing its own version of the technology in Australia.

Although the technology has already been designed to identify and make allowances for large animals, it appears the Volvos are really struggling to cope with kangaroos. Even though it's one of Australia's most identifiable and symbolic animals, the kangaroo is also well-known as a nuisance on roads in areas where they're prevalent. But as well as being a potential collision hazard, the way the kangaroos move is proving to be just too confusing for the self-driving cars.

The detection system employed by Volvo has been exposed to large animals before such as moose while undergoing testing in Sweden and it's already been shown to be able to respond to deer, elk and caribou.

The problem with kangaroos is they simply move differently to just about any other animal you can think of, and their hopping is baffling the Volvo system. Volvo Australia's technical manager, David Pickett, told the ABC network, "When it's in the air it actually looks like it's further away, then it lands and it looks closer," so it's easy to understand why it's proving to be a problem.

Kangaroos are actually responsible for the overwhelming majority of collisions vehicles have with animals in Australia, so developing the self-driving cars' detection system to be able see, accurately assess and evaluate their movement is just another part of the process of bringing the technology to market.

For the moment at least, Volvo is saying doesn't expect the kangaroo problem to prevent it from meeting the scheduled production deadline of having its self-driving vehicles available for sale by as soon as the year 2021.


New Maserati Levante Hybrid makes world premiere

                MODENA: The Maserati Levante Hybrid is presented to the world in both a physical and digital World Premiere event.

In fact, the dual nature of Maserati is shown at the Shanghai Auto Show for its live presentation, and, for the rest of the world, in a virtual launch event on the brand’s website (houseof.maserati.com).

With the brand’s first electrified SUV, Maserati takes a major step forward in its strategy for electrification, which began last year with the Ghibli Hybrid.

The Maserati SUV, which has already made an impact in the history of the brand with its record-breaking figures, now presses ahead into a future in which all new Trident models will be electrified.

With the latest Levante, Maserati aims to improve performance while delivering speed, agility and fuel savings in the pursuit of driving pleasure and luxury.

The Levante Hybrid combines the 4 cylinder, 2 litre engine with a 48 volt Hybrid system to recover energy during deceleration and braking.

The hybrid car weighs less than the 6 cylinder engine equivalent (both diesel and gasoline), and above all has an even better weight distribution since the battery is placed in the rear without compromising the load capacity and optimally balancing the masses of the vehicle.

Thanks to a maximum power output of 330hp and torque of 450Nm delivered from just 2,250 rpm, the performance data of the new Levante Hybrid, only available with all-wheel drive, is impressive: a top speed of over 240kph and acceleration from 0 to 100kph in 6 seconds.

The Levante Hybrid launch version is characterised by a new metallic tri-coat colour called Azzurro Astro, available as part of the brand’s customisation programme, Maserati Fuoriserie.

Other exterior and interior details contribute to this car’s immediately recognisable design: some are in blue, the shade chosen to identify hybrid cars, already used by Maserati on Ghibli Hybrid.

On the exterior, blue characterises the three iconic side air ducts, the brake calipers and the C-pillar logo. The same blue shade reappears inside the car, specifically on the embroidered seams of the seats.

Having your Maserati connected at all times enables an eye to be kept on the car's health, and Maserati Connect will alert the driver when a service is due.

With a smartphone or smartwatch, drivers can stay in contact with their car via the Maserati Connect App; this is also possible from home via their virtual personal assistant (Amazon Alexa & Google Assist).

Special guests at the digital premiere of Levante Hybrid were David Beckham, the new Maserati Brand Global Ambassador, and Dardust, with an exclusive soundtrack.


Police cripples ring targeting car exhausts, nabs 15 men

                KUALA LUMPUR: Fifteen male suspects including two Bangladeshis, who were suspected to be active in stealing vehicle exhausts, were nabbed at three separate locations last Friday.

Gombak district police chief ACP Arifai Tarawe said the suspects, aged between 27 to 56 years, were detained in Rawang, Gombak and Sentul.

He said the suspects could make a profit of between RM500 and RM2,000 depending on the type of exhaust box which had been cut to be sold to recycling premises and vehicle exhaust workshops.

“The syndicate was found to be active since the middle of the year based on reports received on loss of exhaust boxes," he told reporters on Monday.

The suspects were believed to be targeting cars that were parked in the porch of houses at night and at quiet places, he said.

Arifai said the police were still investigating all the suspects to determine their involvements in the vehicle exhaust theft activities.

‘’They are believed to be linked to nine missing car exhaust boxes reported in Selangor,’’ he said.

He said the suspects were remanded until today and the case was being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code.


2019 Mitsubishi Triton: Ready to rough it out

                The latest Mitsubishi Triton certainly looks modern and it proves its off-road DNA has not been diluted at a recent media drive on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu.

Having been on numerous new pick-up and SUV (sport utility vehicle) drives over the years, the off-road terrain that we often drive through were mildly challenging at best, with a few exceptions.

The one at the Jeep ‘proving ground’ or Rubicon Trail in the US in the mid-1990s was one of them and the other was the Range Rover Sport experience at its dedicated testing ground Eastnor in Britain.

A third experience, also in the 1990s, was with the Land Rover Discovery in very trying and muddy conditions near the Gua Musang region.

We would now like to include the recent Mitsubishi Triton off-road excursion in Tamparuli, about 50km from Kota Kinabalu, as one of the more memorable ones.

The drive was made so much more exciting due to two primary reasons; one was the weather and the other was the tyre fitted to the new Triton.

It hadn’t been raining for a while but the skies suddenly opened up on the day we arrived in Kota Kinabalu and it continued raining overnight.

This made the off-road track very slippery and that was when we discovered that the Dunlop AT20 245/65 R17 tyres fitted on the new Triton assigned to us simply lacked the vital traction required on the unforgiving ground.

A third factor was that we were given the six-speed manual transmission Triton VGT MT Premium and there went our opportunity to gauge the newly included Hill Descent Control (HDC) on trying conditions.

The HDC is only available in the flagship VGT AT Adventure X and VGT AT Premium, which are equipped with the new six-speed automatic transmission.

As such, we were left to gauge the new Triton manual’s off-road prowess mostly in first gear with the four wheels locked in 4L (four-wheel drive low transmission ratios).

Under such conditions, it was highly inadvisable to hit the brakes as that would mean the tyres would lose all traction completely and we would go into a slide.

The other advice we received was to dab at the accelerator hard enough to raise engine revs and use the torque produced to serve as some sort of engine braking to slow vehicle descent.

Perhaps the most important thing was to maintain steering control and avoid the nasty bumps and dips, and pretty deep ones at that.

We did suffer going into some deep holes on two successive descents, jolting us badly, and as a rear passenger, we came away with some elbow scrapes to show for the experience.

Thankfully, the new Triton now comes with hand grips on the B-pillars for rear passengers to get on board or exit and we could use that as a brace in subsequent descents.

We believe the latest Triton would have fared a lot better through these highly greasy conditions if it was shod with dedicated off-road tyres that the pace Triton was running on.

The guys in the Triton automatic, however, appeared to have less of a handful going down the same slippery gradients with the HDC controlling the crucial areas in engine speed and braking to provide the best possible tyre traction.

After this exciting downhill experience, the subsequent three water crossings and rolling off-road sections were a stroll in the park.

On subsequent tarmac driving, the six-speed manual transmission seemed to be a little wanting as the ratio between second and third gears was a bit too wide.

This showed up quite painfully on the hilly and winding drive to Kundasang as it required a lot of work selecting the gears manually to keep up with the Triton six-speed automatic.

Although the clutch action was not heavy, it wasn’t light either and for someone who hadn’t driven manual transmission vehicles in a long, long time, an aching left leg was soon the order of the day.

Added to that the frequent manual gear shifting while crawling along due to the heavy vehicles and traffic along the hilly route, driver fatigue soon set in.

Furthermore, continuous rain, thick fog and heavy traffic didn’t give us much of a chance to feel much of the award-winning 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine.

This engine, which is now the standard engine offered across the 4X4 range, delivers 181PS and 430Nm of torque.

We were all too glad to move to the Triton VGT AT Adventure X automatic half way through as it was nice to enjoy the leatherette ambience from the fabric interior of the Triton VGT MT Premium.

The instrument panel was also a nicer sight with the multi-information display, the leather wrapped steering wheel provided a more likeable feel and the soft supports on the central console added to the comfort factor.

The control panel on the centre console was also a lot busier with the HDC button as well as that for Offroad mode that features the addition of a 4HLC mode for sand and the 4HLL for rock, gravel and mud.

Common between them was the air circulator system on the roof with individual controls and inclined seatrest for the rear passengers.

The former is similar to the air-conditioning controls in cars for rear passengers and the roof vents have movable deflectors to direct cool air accordingly.

The latter feature made long distance travel a lot more pleasant along with the foldable centre armrest with cupholders and UBS power sockets.

By having an inclined rear seatrest, Mitsubishi has also provided some space for storing slim items behind it.

We also noted during the convoy drive that the Triton VGT MT Premium comes with less engaging rear lamps without the characteristic ‘question mark’ design of the automatic flagship.

Another hiccup was that the Triton automatic we took over had this quirky electronic warning – Transmission Service Required - on the instrument panel that came up from time to time.

And when it did, the engine response became less powerful as it was running on ‘safe’ mode; it was a ‘suspected’ electrical problem that the technician could only solve when the vehicle was returned to the service centre.

At the end of it, whether it was the manual or automatic drive experience, you could say our Triton adventure in Sabah was not the usual run-of-the-mill outing and we certainly came away knowing more about the new Triton than we would have under less demanding circumstances.


Tesla CEO Musk suggests India entry in 2021

The Tesla Model 3 cabin. — Reuters
BANGALORE: Tesla Inc chief executive Elon Musk indicated on Friday that the US electric carmaker will make a foray into India in 2021.

“Next year for sure,” Musk said on Twitter in reply to a post with a photograph of a T-shirt with the message: “India wants Tesla”.

“Thanks for waiting,” Musk said.

Tesla’s entry could come at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is increasingly becoming focused on promoting the use and manufacture of electric vehicles.

India’s auto sector, already reeling from a slowdown in demand last year, has been further hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic and carmakers are seeking government support to push sales.

Musk commented last year about coming to India, in response to someone on Twitter who asked “What about India sir?”.

“Would love to be there this year. If not, definitely next!” he said in March 2019.


Last 918 Spyder leaves Zuffenhausen

                STUTTGART: The last Porsche 918 Spyder has rolled off its Zuffenhausen assembly line, marking 21 months of production for this high performance hybrid plug-in.

First seen at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show as a concept, Porsche AG subsequently gave the green light for the production of 918 units (hence part of its nomenclature) and was then launched in late 2013.

With a kerb weight of 1,700kg (1,640kg with optional Weissach package), the car uniquely combines a high-performance combustion engine with two electric motors on the rear axle – providing an efficiency-oriented drive or maximum performance.

There’s 4,593cc of displacement for the Spyder, which measures in at 4,643mm-long, 1,940mm-wide, 1,167mm-tall and has a wheelbase of 2,730mm with a 1,664mm front track and 1,612mm for the rear.

The 135kg naturally-aspirated 4.6-litre mid-mounted 90-degree V8 engine puts out 600bhp at 8,500rpm and 530Nm of torque at 6,600rpm, while mated to a seven-speed Porsche PDK double clutch automatic gearbox and can be decouple from the engine when not in use.

Furthermore, the engine gets assisted by two electric motors with a 6.8kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack, allowing them to produce 280bhp of instant boost.

One of the batteries provide an additional 150bhp for the rear wheels alone and functions in parallel with the main engine while acting as the main generator and the other provides the remaining 130bhp of electric-traction for the front wheels.

Recharging an empty battery with the Spyder’s engine alone will require two litres from its 70-litre fuel tank and two hours with a dedicated Charging Dock supplying 240V.

Combining both electric and engine outputs, the Spyder gets nothing less than 880bhp and 1,280Nm of torque for its all-wheel-drive system, allowing it to run the century sprint (0-100kph) in 2.5 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 340kph.

The 918 Spyder rolls on 20-inch wheels at the front with 265/35 tyres and 21-inch wheels at the rear with 325/30 tyres – partially hiding the 410mm (front) and 390mm (rear) disc brakes.

It also features five separate cooling circuits and an innovative hybrid cooling of the rear electric motor via a combination of water and air, while being able to convert more kinetic energy into electrical energy than any other hybrid vehicles.

To help keep its weight down, there exists its all-carbon body equipped with a fully variable aerodynamics and a rear axle steering system – both of which have already made their way into production sports cars such as the 911 Turbo models that include the GT3 and GT3 RS.

In September 2013, it managed to set the lap record for street-legal vehicles with production tyres on the North Loop of the infamous Nürburgring (Green Hell) with an un-bested time of 6 minutes and 57 seconds.


Honda EX5 gets minor makeover

                PETALING JAYA: Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd has unveiled a new livery for its legendary EX5. In its latest iteration, the best-selling Honda underbone now comes in four new colour schemes – including magenta accompanied by bold retro stripes.

Since its launch in 1987, more than two million units of EX5 has been sold as at April 2018. The EX5 is the first Honda underbone model in Malaysia in its class to be equipped with fuel injection, which naturally improves power and fuel efficiency.

Other than good fuel efficiency, more good news comes in the form of a decently-sized fuel tank, which at 4.3 litres - is enough to provide a range of more than 200km if ridden carefully.

Whatever the livery, the heart of the workhorse remains unchanged – an air-cooled single cylinder mill that is nearly 110cc, with power transmitted via a four-speed semi-automatic gearbox.

The refreshed bike is also equipped with a chrome muffler cover that not only enhances the look, but is also actually useful in providing added safety shielding from the hot exhaust pipe.

The new EX5 starts from RM5,150.54 (with GST) for the model with spoke rims, while the price goes up to RM5,404.94 for the one with cast alloy rims. Colour choices for the spoke-rim model are Pearl Magellanic Black and Pearl Nightfall Blue, while the cast rim model comes in Pearl Nightfall Blue, Candy Scintillated Red, and Space Magenta Metallic.

The new EX5 is warrantied for two-years or 20,000km, whichever comes first, while recommended prices exclude road tax and insurance.


Immigration dept explains reason for Causeway jams

                JOHOR BARU: The Immigration Department has denied claims that the installation of a new system had caused massive traffic jams at the Causeway, extending more than 3km from the Johor Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex.

Johor Immigration Department director Rohaizi Bahari confirmed that both Malaysia and Singapore immigration authorities have not made any changes to its systems recently.

“There have been many claims that the new immigration system is the reason for extremely slow moving traffic on the Causeway, especially during peak hours and more so recently.

"We have contacted our counterparts in the island republic and they have denied any changes in their system and neither have we tweaked anything," he told The Star when contacted here on Thursday.

Commenting on the major traffic congestion on the causeway on Dec 17 morning, Rohaizi said that the huge volume of vehicles entering Singapore were the main reason for the early-morning chaos.

“We have been receiving numerous complaints on the slow traffic flow since the school holidays started but the situation on that day was really bad.

“However, Singapore authorities confirmed that they were only conducting the usual Customs checks, nothing out of the ordinary," he added.

Rohaizi said the pedestrian walkway was closed due to the overflow of traffic and the exodus of people entering the Singapore Customs via buses.

“Maybe their priority was the people on the buses, as the pedestrian walkway is not an official recognised route,” he said, adding that the Singapore authorities would usually allow pedestrians into the checkpoint in batches.

Malaysians working in Singapore took to Facebook to vent their frustrations after being held up at the Singapore Customs for hours, and some even called in for half-day leave.

Some claimed that the pedestrian walkway to enter the island republic was closed despite the exodus of Malaysians who started arriving by 4am.

User Andrew Vijenthern Subramaniam claimed that the pedestrian gates and the lorry lanes were closed until 6am, causing a major human and traffic jam towards Singapore.

Gloria Lai alleged that many who used the pedestrian walkway to try to enter Singapore were forced to turn back after hours of waiting for the gates to open.

Another Facebook user, Noralni Mokhtar, said the overflow of people caused fear of a possible stampede, leading to the Singapore Immigration’s refusal to open the gates.

User Suresh Shiva Sakti predicted that the heavy congestion would continue until January in view of the school holiday and strict checking due to terrorism threats.

“Yes, everyone finds it troublesome to go through the jam but remember even the Customs officers have a hard time and they are doing it for everyones benefit and safety. Better to be safe than sorry,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Johor Indian Business Association president P. Sivakumar said that the congestion did not only affect those working in Singapore but also those heading towards Permas and Johor Baru for work.

“The lorry drivers were not giving way for vehicles to pass through and exit at the Permas exit near the turning to CIQ along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam.

“Many of us were stuck and eventually had to make an illegal U-turn to enter into the Permas exit," he said, adding that not a single traffic police officer was in sight directing traffic flow.

Johor Traffic Police Chief Supt Baharudin Mat Taib, however, slammed the accusations, saying that a team of traffic officers were deployed to help ease traffic congestion.

“My men are on duty day and night. The problem is not because we are not performing our duties but for the past two weeks the number of vehicles has increased tremendously.

“Even our Singaporean counterparts are trying their best to handle the traffic jam,” he said.


First drive in new Mercedes C 200 and AMG C 43

                Luxembourg happens to be well-known for its fortified medieval town perched on sheer cliffs, a little Notre-Dame Cathedral and some of its restaurants commonly serving horse meat as a main dish to its residents who happen to be fluent in French, German and the native tongue of Luxembourgish of course.

This writer wasn’t keen on consuming the likes of Black Beauty, Seabiscuit, Hidalgo or any relatives of theirs.
As a motoring writer on location to test-drive the new facelifted Mercedes-Benz (W205) C 200 and Mercedes-AMG C 43, horsepower is preferred anytime over horse meat.

It was a wet and cold early morning as I walked to the carpark located next to the Luxembourg Airport. One hand clutched the C 43’s key fob and the other a hot cup of coffee, while juggling a backpack, jacket and a cabin-sized rollie.

 The AMG C 43 Cabriolet.

Finally, after a good 10 minutes of searching, I found the cabriolet backed up against the fence with its sheet metal painted in Eileen Gray and sporting a red fabric roof - all ready to drop its top once the clouds parted. But alas, the sun never did peek through, but the top came down nonetheless.

Cramming what little belongings I had into the boot, the media group headed off on a 150km journey that would have us cross into Germany and meet at the Seezeitlodge Hotel & Spa resort as we followed the GPS instruction on the new 10.25-inch widescreen display.

Most who are familiar with the C 43 would notice its new twin-louvre front grille, LED headlights, new bumper with front splitter and air-curtains, aerodynamically optimised wheels and double-rounded exhaust tips.
We were told the rear boot and diffuser are now made of lightweight carbon fibre.

 The AMG C 43 Cabriolet engine.

Putting it through its paces, I couldn’t help but notice a slight improvement in the V6 engine’s throttle response, which made it seem a little more willing to charge up the dial. Other than that, it felt almost the same as the one we tested back in Malaysia.

Sure, it sees a few changes inside and out, but in terms of actually feeling the difference in performance, there wasn’t much to brag about.

The C 43 now gets a new steering wheel with touch control and wrapped in a combination of leather and Dinamica as well as a fully digital instrument cluster.

The engine apparently has been optimised and now gets a bigger turbocharger, adding 23hp and raising output to 390hp. Torque remained at 520Nm.

 The AMG C 43 Cabriolet sports 19-inch wheels.

With a nine-speed automatic, it now allows the 4MATIC all-wheel driven C 43 to sprint from 0 to 100kph in under 5.0 seconds.

The Cabrio still felt surefooted and “uber” sporty despite being a slightly more heftier than its stablemates and the steering still felt sharp for that dart-like performance.

The suspension has a wonderfully sporty character about it that’s willing to take on anything that’s being thrown at it and it won’t hesitate to translate it back to the driver.

Put it in normal mode and, like its predecessor, it’ll provide much compliance.

But due to its brutish power ratings, it’s hard to imagine that its owner won’t be tempted to gun the throttle at a moment’s notice.

At our destination, we were later handed the C 200 with its 1.5-litre (1,497cc) turbocharged engine producing 184hp and 280Nm of torque that comes together with a belt-driven starter alternator for its EQ Boost 48-volt system.

Additionally, its new electronics architecture allows for an extension of its multimedia features, a fully-digital instrument display with three display styles and the current driving assistance packages with functions adopted from the flagship S-Class.

To up its appeal, the new C-Class has a new lightweight body design that is a combination of steel, aluminium and plastic components.

Out on German country roads, this sedan performed admirably with its plush seats that have plenty of bolstering.

The light and easy steering-feel and the comfort-oriented suspension soaked up road imperfections well.
Inside, the cabin’s natural touches of wood accents and leather upholstery has been paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch centre display (Classic, Sport and Progressive designs), LED cabin lights and an Audio 20 GPS infotainment system with reverse camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Additionally, the C 200 came with a host of safety equipment that included seven airbags, active brake assist, autonomous emergency braking, PRE-SAFE positioning for front seats, active parking assist, cruise control with Speedtronic speed limiter, adaptive brake lights, and a newly added Blind Spot Assist that functions from 10kph to 200kph.

Stomping on the throttle, the engine responded instantly. There’s nothing abrupt about it as the engine consistently pulls through the rev-band to reach 100kph in 7.7 seconds to reach a top speed of 239kph.

The brakes have a beefy response and gearshifts were hardly noticeable.

 The digital instrument panel of the new C-Class can be customised.

The next day, I drove the C 200 back to the airport and had a chance to gauge its autobahn-performance. The car wafts its occupants up to speed, but there’s a lack of road feel for the driver.

While travelling at over 150kph, the car just doesn’t seem to enjoy undulations much, lacking that planted feel with the emergence of some wallowing. Cut the speed to around 100kph, and this car will start to be in its element.

Throwing it around corners, there’s some degree of roll and the driver may have to play the guessing game when interpreting what the tyres are doing.

By the time we reached the airport for the flight home, it was obvious the C 200 belongs in an urban setting.
This surprisingly breaks away from that usual assumption that German cars prefer high-speed extra-urban commutes. Not really in this case.

Here, the C 200, with its compact dimensions, luxury and comfort levels associated with the three-pointed star, as well as its added safety equipment and improved efficiency seemed more skewed towards running about in an urban environment.

READ MORE:
Refreshed Mercedes-Benz C Class (W205) arrives, prices start from RM260K
Refreshed Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupes swing in, EQ Boost for C 200SPECIFICATIONSMercedes-Benz C 200Engine: 1.497cc (M264) turbocharged 4-cylinder
Maximum power: 184hp from 5,800 to 6,100rpm
Maximum torque: 280Nm from 3,000 to 4,000rpm
Transmission: 9-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic
Acceleration (0-100kph): 7.7 seconds
Top speed: 239kph
Mercedes-AMG C 43 / Coupe / Cabriolet 4MATICEngine: 2,996cc twin-turbo (M276) V6
Maximum power: 390hp at 6,100rpm.
Maximum torque: 580Nm from 2,500 to 5,000rpm
Transmission: 9-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic
Acceleration (0-100kph): 4.7 seconds
Top speed: 250kph

Features: Airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control, Active Blind Spot Assist, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.25-inch centre display, steering wheel touch control, centre console touchpad, start/stop button, active brake assist, active parking assist, cruise control, adaptive brake lights, Blind Spot Assist, reverse camera.


Lucid Motors hires former Tesla production executive

Hochholdinger left Tesla last week and is now Lucid Motors manufacturing.vice president.
SAN FRANCISCO: Lucid Motors said on Monday it hired Tesla Inc’s former vice president of production at its Fremont factory, Peter Hochholdinger, as vice president of manufacturing.

The Newark, California-based electric carmaker in April also named here Peter Rawlinson, former chief engineer of Tesla's Model S, as its chief executive officer.

Lucid, which has more than US$1 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, was founded in 2007 as Atieva by Sam Weng and Bernard Tse, a former vice president of Tesla.

The company positions itself as being less of a direct competitor to Tesla than with luxury car makers such as Audi or BMW, Rawlinson had said.

Hochholdinger, a former production executive at Volkswagen AG, left Tesla last week after three years with the company. At Tesla, he was tasked with improving production for Tesla’s luxury Model S sedan and Model X sport utility vehicle as well as helping build a cost-effective manufacturing programme for the Model 3 sedan.

He was the latest high-profile executive to leave Tesla in the past two years, as the automaker struggles to ramp up production of Model 3, which is seen as crucial for its long-term profitability.

Rawlinson said Hochholdinger’s experience in manufacturing would help the company in launching Lucid Air and other future models.

Tesla is expected to report its second-quarter delivery and production numbers this week.


New Michelin performance tyre coming in June

Nouvellon talking about Michelin achievements and future plans in Malaysia at the media luncheon today.
PETALING JAYA: Michelin Malaysia says it will introduce a new performance tyre locally during a regional event to be held at the Sepang circuit in June.

It is targeted at 60% of the mass market in Malaysia and would provide the same long-lasting performance as the Primacy 4, said Michelin regional director (Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei) Pascal Nouvellon.

"It would be the biggest product launch in five years," he said at a Chinese New Year media luncheon here today. He declined to give further details.

The announcement followed Michelin's launch of the Primacy 4 tyre in Thailand last July, which the tyre maker claims offers long-lasting performance and safety even when the tyre is worn.

Another tyre product aimed at "maximum driving pleasure" would also be launched this year catering to luxury SUVs.

Michelin has production sites in Thailand that makes tyres for regional distribution from its Bangkok hub.

Nouvellon said the company aims to improve local availability of new tyres, cutting the delay from a few months to around two weeks after their initial market debut.

Michelin also owns the BF Goodrich tyre range. It inked a deal last week to acquire Indonesian tyre maker PT Multistrada Arah Sarana TBK, which makes the Achilles tyre brand for cars, SUVs and light trucks. Multistrada also produces Corsa tyres for motorcycles.

While Michelin tyres are the top tier products,  BF Goodrich tyres are more affordable and cater to the mass market. The Achilles tyre range is expected to slot below BF Goodrich as the entry-level offering to complete the Michelin portfolio in Asia.

Nouvellon said he expected the Achilles tyre range to be introduced in Malaysia in 2020 once the US$439mil (RM1.8bil) Multistrada acquisition is completed.

The takeover also means Michelin is well poised to tap into Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest market for new cars and the region's second in production volume after Thailand.

Other Michelin activities in Malaysia planned for 2019 are free tyre checks at petrol stations during festive seasons and raising public awareness on proper tyre care for a safer driving experience. The Michelin Pilot Sport  Experience  campaign for the media and dealers from around the region would continue to enable them to enjoy the thrill of motorsport excitement.


Cops looking for motorist who stopped on fast lane of highway

                PORT DICKSON: Police are looking for the driver of a car seen stopping and blocking traffic on the fast lane of the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway after a nine-second clip of the incident went viral.

District deputy police chief Deputy Supt Muhamad Mustafah Hussin said the incident happened at KM20.9 on the stretch from Telok Kemang to Seremban.

"We believe the incident happened between 11am and noon on Friday (April 28).

"Apart from the driver, we also want the owner of a Facebook account identified as _'azamaziz'_ on which the clip was uploaded, the passengers of both vehicles and other witnesses to come forward to assist in investigations," he said.

In the clip, the car slowed down and then came to a near-complete stop on the fast lane.

The recording was made by the occupant of the car behind. A female voice can also be heard expressing fear.

The driver of the car behind then turns to the left and drives off.

DSP Muhamad Mustafa said anyone with information can call investigating officer Insp Syakinah Ahmad at 06-647 2222.

"I would like to remind road users to always remain patient and abide by traffic rules at all times.

"Please remember that Malaysians are still celebrating Hari Raya and we do not want such actions to lead to road accidents and bring grief to those involved," he added.


Rolls-Royce Dawn gets Mansory treatment

                BERLIN: German premium car tuning and customisation firm Mansory took the wraps off its unique take on the Rolls-Royce Dawn.

One of the most exclusive and exquisite production cars money can currently reserve (the first deliveries are only just underway) the "standard" Dawn is one of the most ambitious vehicles that Rolls-Royce has attempted since BMW acquired it in 2003 and one that needs over 1,500 skilled technicians to build.

In fact, the company is so proud of it, that in March, Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, said: "Dawn represents the most glamorous expression of Rolls-Royce luxury in history. It is the product of the uncompromising commitment to delivering perfection."

However, Mansory clearly disagrees and has given the US$380,000 car's exterior, interior and engine bay some serious attention. The nose gets a new carbon fiber front spoiler with larger air intakes, the LED running lights have been changed and the hood section completely remodelled in carbon fiber to cut weight. The car also gets side skirts and a trunk-lid spoiler.

Yet all of these enhancements are subtle by the company's normal standards. However, under the hood it's business as usual. Mansory has re-tuned the Dawn's 570hp 6.6-litre V12 so that it now produces 740hp, 1,000Nm of torque, delivers a 0-100kph time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 285kph (that's 35kph more than the standard car delivers).

Inside, the company will offer customers whatever they want in terms of precious metals, rare leathers or carbon fibre detailing, much like Rolls-Royce itself.

And while purists and many luxury carmakers may frown upon the exploits of companies like Mansory, its services are in demand. So much so that Rolls-Royce itself has recently introduced a new ‘Black Badge' model line which Müller-Ötvös describes as "Motor cars for a group of young, driven, self-made people that will make a bold and edgy lifestyle statement about their lives." They offer more powerful engine tuning, carbon fibre instead of wood as an interior trim, larger wheels and matte exterior finishes.

The Dawn isn't currently part of the lineup but it soon could be and the idea is simple, Rolls-Royce wants to curate its cars so that no matter how each one is styled or personalised, it is still first and foremost a Rolls-Royce.


US drops plan to require vehicle brake-throttle override system

                WASHINGTON: The Trump administration said Monday it will drop rules first proposed in 2012 that would have required automakers to install brake-throttle override systems to prevent runaway vehicles.

The regulation was proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in response to a series of unintended sudden acceleration incidents in Toyota Motor Corp vehicles. It would have required that all motor vehicles’ brakes be able to override the accelerator pedal.

The proposal was aimed at ensuring the driver could halt a vehicle by applying the brakes if a throttle pedal was trapped by a floor mat, shoe or other obstruction.

In 2012, NHTSA said some automakers had not yet made the systems standard. On Monday NHTSA said all automakers have voluntarily installed brake throttle override systems on all new vehicles and the agency does not anticipate any automakers removing the system.

But in dropping the proposed rule, NHTSA will not set braking distance requirements for the systems and other performance requirements.

Gloria Bergquist, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group representing General Motors Co, Toyota, Volkswagen AG and others, said the rule was no longer necessary.

“When the technology is in widespread use now, there is no need to continue a rule-making,” she said.

Brake throttle override systems work by the vehicle software cutting power to the throttle if both pedals are depressed.

NHTSA had also proposed extending its rules to require vehicles to return to idle when a driver stops pressing on the accelerator pedal or in response to a “failsafe operation” to include electronic throttle control systems.

On Monday, NHTSA said a “broader understanding of safe design of vehicle electronic control systems is needed to make an informed decision on regulating return-to-idle.”

It said there were “substantial challenges” in designing objective tests for the operation of brake throttle override systems.

The agency in 2012 cited the August 2009 sudden acceleration crash that killed four people when a California Highway Patrol officer was driving a loaner Lexus ES350 that had the wrong floor mat installed.

Toyota recalled more than 10 million vehicles worldwide because of unintended acceleration issues in 2009 and 2010. Several government reviews found no evidence that electronic glitches were to blame for unintended acceleration — but blamed the issues on mechanical interference like floor mats.

In 2014, Toyota paid a US$1.2 billion Justice Department fine after it admitted it misled US consumers by concealing and making deceptive statements about the extent of sudden acceleration problems.


Carsome Academy gets government accreditation

                KUALA LUMPUR: Carsome Academy, the education arm of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform Carsome, was recently appointed as an accredited Recognition for Prior Achievement (RPA) test centre by the Department of Skills Development (JPK).

In its first step towards becoming the centre of excellence for industry gold standard, this appointment allows the Academy to award the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 3 in Motor Vehicle Inspection to experienced technical workers in the automotive industry.

The RPA is a special program to award government- and industry-recognized certification to technical workers who do not have formal qualifications, but are able to demonstrate skills that have been outlined in the National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS) based on working experience and achievements.

Being a JPK accredited center for RPA, Carsome Academy is equipped to lead motor vehicle inspection standards in the automotive industry.

Carsome Co-founder and Carsome Academy director Teoh Jiun Ee said that the Academy is the first accredited RPA test centre offering the SKM Level 3 in Motor Vehicle Inspection.

"By setting the gold standard in vehicle inspection, Carsome is set to become an automotive industry game changer and continue spearheading the used car market.

"JPK’s appointment allows us to provide an opportunity to experienced workers to gain or upgrade their certification in a short period of time; we hope that it will serve as an encouragement and motivation for them to continue excelling in what they do,” Teoh added.

With the accreditation, Carsome Academy is set to certify all Carsome vehicle inspectors, in a step to bring more assurance and transparency to the used car industry traditionally marred by distrust.

This is in-line with the Academy’s continuous effort in building a professional technical workforce and moving the Southeast Asian automotive industry forward.

“Recognising all Carsome inspectors through certification will strengthen the assurance factor as we deliver an elevated customer experience to people who matter to us.

"As we see more players foraying into the used car business, there will be an increased demand for vehicle inspectors.

"Carsome Academy is in the best position to plug the gaps in the demand for certified skilled workers,” Teoh said.

A certification in Motor Vehicle Inspection can open up more opportunities for vehicle inspectors and ensure continued success in their career paths.

Carsome Academy also offers a hassle-free process for those who wish to gain or upgrade their certification.

Candidates who have three years’ working experience in the automotive industry only need to sit for a one-day certification assessment. Upon passing, they will be awarded the SKM Level 3 in Motor Vehicle Inspection by Carsome Academy.


India proposes electrifying motorbikes, scooters in six-eight years, says source

File pic of people commuting on a smoggy morning in New Delhi. — Reuters

NEW DELHI: The Indian government’s leading think-tank has proposed electrifying most motorbikes and scooters within the next six to eight years to curb pollution and reduce dependency on fossil fuels, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The draft proposal from Niti Aayog, which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and plays a critical role in policymaking, also recommends electrifying the country’s popular three-wheeled autorickshaws, said the source, who declined to be identified as the proposal is not public and still needs the go ahead from the government.

India sold more than 21 million motorbikes and scooters in the year to March 31, making it one of the world’s biggest two-wheeler markets. In the same period, it sold just 3.3 million cars and utility vehicles.

Electric scooters accounted for just a fraction of the total but sales more than doubled to 126,000 in the 12 months, from 54,800 a year earlier, according to the data from the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles.

“We have lagged in electrifying the car segment ... India has decided to take the lead in two-wheelers and three-wheelers,” said the source.

Although exit polls suggest the political alliance led by Modi will win a clear majority in the country’s recent election, final results will only be announced on Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether the new administration would adopt the electrification proposal.

If the proposal, which is being worked on with the Ministries of Heavy Industries, Road Transport and Power, is approved, it would open up a new market for global companies like Japan’s Yamaha Motor and Suzuki Motor, which are drawing up plans to launch electric two-wheelers in India.

Modi’s government set an ambitious target in 2017 to electrify all new cars and utility vehicles by 2030 but resistance from the auto industry forced it to scale back the plan.

The government now expects electric vehicles to make up 15 percent of all new sales in five years from less than 1 percent currently.

Efforts to convince car makers to produce electric vehicles have flopped mainly because there is no clear policy to incentivize local manufacturing and sales, a lack of public charging infrastructure and the high cost of batteries.

The draft proposal goes someway toward rectifying that, offering incentives for the manufacture and sale of electric motorbikes and scooters while penalizing gasoline models, said the source, adding that the plan will be finalised after input from industry players.

Hero Electric as well as start-ups Ather Energy, Twenty Two Motors and Okinawa currently sell electric scooters in the country.

India’s cabinet in February approved a scheme to spend US$1.4 billion over three years to subsidise sales of electric and hybrid vehicles.


Pininfarina kicks off Battista production

                MUNICH: Production of the Pininfarina Battista, the world’s first pure-electric hyper GT, has begun in Cambiano, Italy.

Located in the Piemonte region of Italy, this milestone represents an exciting chapter in the development story of new Italian luxury carmaker Pininfarina.

The award-winning Battista is now being hand-crafted by a team of artisans in the bespoke 2,300 square metre facility, with no more than 150 to be created over its lifecycle.

Owners of thew US$2.2 million (RM9.8mil) Battista can look forward to world-class customer service through 25 experienced luxury partners in the Pininfarina global retailer network, as well its own team of client relations specialists.

Deliveries to customers worldwide of Battista will start this summer.

The electric hyper GT is specified in either "Pura" body style or featuring the "Furiosa" body design package.

Five examples of the Battista Anniversario will be created as part of the total 150-unit production limit, with this unique specification vehicle celebrating the lifetime achievements of design icon Battista "Pinin" Farina. All five pieces are already sold.

Producing more than 1,900PS and 2,340Nm torque, Battista is the most powerful Italian sports car in history.

Pininfarina offers Battista buyers three types of aftersales packages: Eccellenza, Futura and Eterna.

Eccellenza: A five- or 10-year exclusive maintenance programme ensuring safety and reliability on all vehicle functions and components throughout ownership, providing optimum performance and safeguarding its warranty and value.

Futura: Pininfarina’s extended battery and powertrain warranty for Battista, providing an additional seven years of cover and reassurance over the standard three-year warranty.

Eterna: A ready-to-install solution to enrich the ownership experience and long-term value of Battista, the Eterna Programme offers a replacement body parts kit which can be ordered when configurating the car. It is crafted and matched to the original configuration and painted at the time of production.


All cars pre-sold until early 2024, says Lamborghini

                FRANKFURT: Lamborghini has already pre-sold the entire production run to early 2024, its boss said today, with luxury goods seemingly unaffected by global economic uncertainty.

The Volkswagen subsidiary is enjoying "high demand" and has an order book covering the next 18 months, CEO Stephan Winkelmann said.

Wealthy customers are flocking to the brand despite the global financial fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"We have more and more stepping into Lamborghini. Because they trust the brand, they see how beautiful the cars are, how (high) performing they are," Winkelmann said.

The global economy only has to "stay a bit stable" for that to continue, he added.

The long order times are also the result of a shortage of components, particularly chips needed for new electric models.

Lamborghini is planning a hybrid version of each of its models by 2024 and the first fully electric Lamborghini in the second half of the decade.

This is "a lot in just two years" and the company is doing "as much as we can, as fast as we can to keep all the things updated and rolling in a positive way", Winkelmann said.

Lamborghini in early August reported the best half-year in its history with record sales and profits.

The carmaker's operating margin reached 32 percent, while operating profit jumped to 425 million euros on 5,090 cars sold.

Fellow luxury carmaker Ferrari also posted record results in the second quarter and raised its annual forecast, with orders at record levels.

In late July, the world's top luxury consumer goods group LVMH also reported a jump in sales and profits in the first half of the year despite the uncertain economic environment.


In Scotland, video surveillance and a multitude of sensors will be used to make this city smarter

                EDINBURGH: Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh, is to deploy a brand new intelligent surveillance system, initially designed to combat crime and improve traffic flow. The idea is that over time, it should help the city adapt its policies to the habits of residents, while also helping it improve its carbon footprint.

In partnership with network security specialist North, the city is inaugurating a connected monitoring centre capable of processing real-time video surveillance data 24 hours a day.

All this data will be captured by the new system deployed throughout the city, a system that has been considerably expanded compared to what may have existed previously.

The new programme aims to protect residents by combating "anti-social behaviour" and crime, while it also learns how to manage traffic (cars and public transport) in order to make it more fluid and gradually reduce the city's carbon footprint.

This data will also help to better manage specific events such as Hogmanay (New Year's Eve celebrations) or the Fringe, the art festival that takes place in the city every year in August.

Over time, other sensors will gradually be integrated into this device, in order to monitor the volume and collection of waste.

The aim of this ultra-modern control centre is to be able to provide ever more efficient public services for the population of Edinburgh, while respecting the environment.


Bermaz expects challenging 2020

                PETALING JAYA: Bermaz Auto Bhd, Malaysia’s sole distributor of Mazda vehicles, expects its performance for the financial year ending April 30,2021, to remain very challenging.

It also said any launch of new or facelifted Mazda models would depend on the market sentiments and economic conditions.

Amid the challenging landscape, Bermaz said appropriate austerity measures were being implemented to mitigate the current conditions such as tightening of operational costs and overheads.

“New marketing strategies via e-platform have been introduced to cater for the “new normal” such as wearing face masks, social distancing and conducting meetings via the internet, ” it said in its filings yesterday.

The group filed its worst-ever quarterly results since its listing in 2013 after the movements restrictions in Malaysia and the Philippines due to Covid-19 resulted in zero car sales in the mid-March to mid-May period.

The group’s net profit plunged by nearly 96% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM2.06mil in the fourth quarter of financial year 2020 ended April 30 (4Q20). A year earlier, Bermaz’s net profit was recorded at RM60.06mil.

The drastic drop in profitability was due to the exceptionally low profit contribution from both the domestic and Philippine operations, and lower share of profit contribution from one of its associated companies, Mazda Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

“Concurrently, the group also incurred expenses relating to the group’s Employees’ Share Scheme amounting to RM0.8mil in the quarter under review as compared to RM1.2mil in the preceding year’s corresponding quarter, ” Bermaz told the stock exchange yesterday.

As a result of the poor bottomline, Bermaz’s earnings per share in the three-month period dropped to 0.21 sen as compared to 5.18 sen a year earlier.

Its revenue also fell by 44.4% y-o-y in 4Q20 to RM299.4mil, following a drop in sales volume from both the domestic and Philippine operations.

“In Malaysia, no vehicle sales were recorded as the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia (RTD) was closed due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed by the government from March 18 until May 12.

“Similarly in the Philippines, vehicle ownership certificates could not be generated and hence, no vehicle sales were registered during the Enhanced Community Quarantine imposed by the government in Metro Manila and other areas, from March 17 until May 15, ” stated Bermaz.

No dividend was declared for the fourth quarter.

For the full financial year of 2020 (FY20), Bermaz’s net profit was down by nearly 62% y-o-y to RM100.51mil, largely due to weaker revenue, which has declined by 30.2% y-o-y to RM1.76bil.

The weaker revenue was largely due to lower sales volume from both the domestic and Philippine operations.

According to Bermaz, the lower sales volume in Malaysia for FY20 was mainly attributed to the delay in delivery of the new facelift CX-5 and all new CX-8 models, caused by resolution of certain pricing issues as well as the closure of businesses due to the MCO.

“Previous financial year recorded significantly higher unit sales mainly due to the three-month “Sales Tax holiday” period and also boosted by the group’s promotional campaign in absorbing the sales tax, ” it added.


US probes air bag failures in deadly Hyundai, Kia car crashes

                WASHINGTON: The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Saturday it is opening a probe into why some air bags failed to deploy in Hyundai and Kia vehicles after crashes in which four people were reportedly killed and another six injured.

The agency said it was reviewing 425,000 2012-2013 Kia Forte and 2011 Hyundai Sonata cars. It also said it will determine if any other manufacturers used similar air bag control units and if they posed a safety risk.

Hyundai Motor Co issued a recall last month for 154,753 US Sonatas after non-deployment reports were linked to electrical overstress in the air bag control unit, but said it did not have a final fix yet.

Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor said the South Korean automaker is aware of reports of two deaths in its vehicles, which he said occurred in head-on collisions at extremely high rates of speed. Trainor said the automaker is working with NHTSA in the investigation, and that it has not seen any issues with any vehicle apart from the 2011 Sonata.

“We are working on getting the fix as fast we can,” Trainor said.

NHTSA, which announced the start of the probe in documents posted on a government website, said it was aware of six crashes in which six people were injured when air bags failed to deploy in frontal crashes, including four in 2011 Hyundai Sonatas and two in 2012 and 2013 Kia Fortes. The 2013 Forte crash occurred in Canada.

The agency said the air bag control module was built by ZF Friedrichshafen-TRW, a German auto supplier that acquired TRW Automotive Holdings Corp in 2015.

“ZF is aware of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recently announced investigation,” a ZF spokesman said in a statement. “ZF continues to work with its customers and NHTSA to support the ongoing investigation.”

NHTSA said it believed that the 2012-2013 Forte cars also use similar air bag control units supplied by ZF-TRW.

Kia Motors Corp said in a statement it has “carefully monitored the quality and safety performance of the 2012-2013 Kia Forte.”

The company added it “has not confirmed any airbag non-deployments arising from the potential chip issue.” Kia said it will work closely with NHTSA on the investigation, “including monitoring and conducting additional crash testing as appropriate.”

The agency also said that electrical overstress appeared to be the root cause in a 2016 recall by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles of 1.4 million US vehicles for air bag non-deployments in significant frontal crashes.

In 2014, Hyundai agreed to pay a US$17.35 million fine to settle a NHTSA investigation into delays in the recall of 43,500 Genesis cars to fix a brake defect. NHTSA said in 2014 Hyundai “must change the way they deal with safety-related defects.” Hyundai vowed to make improvements.

In 2017, NHTSA opened a formal investigation into the recall of nearly 1.7 million vehicles by Hyundai and Kia over engine defects. A South Korean whistleblower reported concerns in 2016 to NHTSA, which is probing the timeliness of three recalls carried out in the United States and whether they covered enough vehicles.


Proton-Perodua rivalry to heat up auto sector in 2018

                PETALING JAYA: THE Malaysian automotive industry looks set for a much needed shake-up in 2018 following a lacklustre couple of years – as competition between national carmakers Proton Holdings Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) intensifies.

The resounding success of Perodua’s third generation Myvi, which was launched last month, will surely continue to dominate the market well into 2018 while former market leader Proton will be determined to reclaim its throne with strategic partner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd (Geely) now at its side.

Total industry volume (TIV) hit 580,124 units last year, meeting the Malaysian Automotive Association’s (MAA) target of 580,000 units for 2016. Year-to-date November 2017, vehicle sales stood at 521,907 units.

The MAA projects a 1.7% year-on-year TIV growth to 590,000 units this year. This would make it two years in a row that TIV had fallen below 600,000 units.

Perodua Myvi rocks market

To many, the launch of the new Myvi is deemed timely, and considered “a game-changer model” for the company.

“The Myvi will spark new interest in a subdued and dull industry,” says one industry observer.

And spark interest it has - over 20,000 units of the new Myvi has been booked within a month since it was opened for booking.

Says one industry observer: “The new Myvi is indeed a game-changer. It shifted the old thinking that only high-end cars can come with pre-collision functions. This is an advanced safety system and the Myvi has it.”

Available in five variants, the Myvi starts from RM44,300.

“People looking for something that’s affordable, stylish and packed with the latest technological features can look to the new Myvi. The model is a leap forward for the company,” says an industry expert.

The Myvi was Malaysia’s best-selling car until the end of 2014, before being taken over Perodua’s own Axia.

Given the price-range and features, like the previous generation, the new Myvi will appeal to a wide range of customers – first time buyers, as well as individuals that are looking to get a second vehicle (for themselves or their grown-up children).

“The Myvi has been Perodua’s premium range model. Its competitive pricing and proven ability will drive sales for the company and boost TIV,” says an analyst with a local bank-backed brokerage.”

He adds that the new Myvi will “hit hard” Proton’s Iriz model – which is deemed the direct competitor of the Myvi.

“The Iriz has been outclassed in terms of looks, features and pricing by Perodua’s new Myvi,” he says.

 The Saga remains a volume seller for Proton.Proton to raise its game

According to MAA statistics, Perodua maintained its top spot in 2016 at 207,110 units, followed by Honda at 91,830 units. For the first time, Proton dropped to third at 72,290 units.

Proton has been losing market share for years. The major factor that enabled Perodua to overtake Proton in sales in the domestic market was the former’s Myvi model. In 2006, Perodua captured 30% of market share compared to Proton’s 27%.

After years of talks that Proton needed a strategic foreign partner to be able to remain competitive (and take it to the next level), the national carmaker finally hit the jackpot this year when it announced its tie-up with China-based Geely, which owns Volvo.

Geely completed its acquisition of a 49.9% stake in Proton in September this year.

Similarly, the China-headquartered company also completed its acquisition of a majority 51% share in British sports car manufacturer Lotus from Proton.

Completion of these exercises was followed by the change in Proton’s senior leadership.

 Various models on display at a Geely showroom in China.

Under newly-appointed chief executive officer Li Chunrong, Proton is currently formulating a business plan to turn it around, leveraging on the global resources of the wider Geely group.

In a report earlier this year, Kenanga Research said Geely will facilitate Proton in terms of technology and at the same time assemble its four-wheel drive model, intelligent artificial car and develop their right-hand drive technology in Malaysia, known as the Boyue.

“While Geely is more popularly known for its successful acquisition of Volvo, the ability of Geely to assist Proton from technical and marketing perspective as well as to penetrate new markets remains a concern given that Geely is also a relatively weak brand from a global perspective with a global market share of less than 5%.”

The research house says Proton still has to deal with the challenges posed by increasing competition and a weak brand perception.

 The Geely Boyue will be the base for Proton's first SUV to be launched in the later part of 2018.Boyue and more

“The outlook for Proton’s owner DRB-Hicom emains challenging given the tough operating environment of lower sales of motor vehicles amidst stiff competition.”

RHB Research says the entrance of Geely as Proton’s foreign strategic partner is a major milestone and offers hope for the national carmaker to regain its market leadership.

“Through Geely, Proton would be able to procure competitive products and technologies, advanced production techniques, manufacturing efficiencies and raise product quality.

“Geely would develop Proton as a stand-alone brand and its right-hand drive manufacturing hub, offering it an expedited route into growing Asean markets.”

The research house says it is slashing its 2018 to 2020 net profit forecasts by 67% to 200% after assuming continued Proton losses in the interim, until Geely makes its presence felt.

 The Boyue interior.

“Key risks to our recommendation and target price include the inability to obtain regulatory approvals, worsening consumer sentiment and weaker-than-expected economic growth.”

In the meantime, efforts are also being made to rationalise Proton’s dealer network and parts of the supply chain.

An industry observer points out that there has to be cultural synergy for the Proton-Geely partnership to work.

“Both parties have to work very hard to ensure that there are no cultural clashes in terms of expectations and quality issues at the manufacturing and after sales levels.”

Geely saw its first half 2017 net profit jump 128% to 4.34 billion yuan (RM2.8bil).

With sales jumping 89% in the first six months of this year, the company has raised its 2017 sales target by 10% to 1.1 million vehicles.

It sold 766,000 vehicles last year.

Vehicles engineered with Volvo technology, such as its GC9 sedan and the Boyue sport-utility vehicle (SUV), have been a hit in China, the world’s biggest auto market.

According to reports, the Boyue is expected to arrive in Malaysia in the second half of 2018.

An automotive analysts says the Boyue would appeal to Malaysians and rival the likes of the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5.

“The Boyue will be popular in Malaysia. This is because its attractive features, high specs and reasonable pricing would appeal to local customers."

 The CX-5 (left) and CR-V.

The Boyue is priced from 98,800 yuan to 157,800 yuan (between RM62,000 and RM98,000). Both the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5 are priced over RM100,000.

However, another analyst says Proton cannot just rely on the Boyue to help the national carmaker turn around.

“Offering the Boyue is a good first step for Proton. However, Proton cannot thrive on a one-product strategy. This is because the SUV segment is a small segment compared with the passenger car market - which is where the volume is.”

He adds that while Malaysians will typically expect the Boyue to be cheaper than its competitors, Proton cannot price the vehicle too low or margins will be affected.

Noteworthy also is the fact that in 2009, Geely bought Australian transmission maker DSI (Drivetrain Systems International) for A$47.4mil (RM160.2mil). It acquired Volvo Cars from Ford Motor in a US$1.5bil (RM6.44bil) deal in August 2010.

“With Volvo under its stable, Geely has grown by leaps and bounds in terms of technology know-how - an area that Proton lacks,” says an industry observer.

 A Proton worker assembling a car at its Tanjung Malim plant in this file pic.The perception game

To some, there is still the perception that China-manufactured vehicles are inferior, especially when compared to Korean and Japanese models.

“While the Boyue is already a successful model, the local market still needs to be convinced that it is a product that’s worth owning.

Proton certainly is no stranger to perception issues.

While the days of poor quality parts such as the infamous power-window winder woes are long gone (Proton now offers a life-time warranty for its power windows), the bad reputation that the company has garnered over the years has shown no sign of dissipation.

An analyst says that negative consumer perception on Proton’s quality has impacted the national carmaker for years. “Poor perception has led to distrust in the brand and ultimately, lagging sales.

“However, it has been coming with quality models and engaged in various branding initiatives to improve its image.”

Since the Proton-Geely collaboration was announced, there has yet to be any announcement on how the Boyue would be marketed in Malaysia. It is still uncertain on whether the model would be nothing more than a simple rebadge.

To save time and resources, the more cost effective way to go would be to rebadge.

An industry observer says a typical car manufacturer needs to be able to recoup its high development cost by the end of the vehicle’s product life cycle. Or else, they would risk making losses.

“Vehicle model development cost in lower cost economies can be from around RM500mil to RM600mil. A typical vehicle model has a life cycle of around five years. Therefore, to be profitable, the model would need to achieve cumulative volumes of at least 200,000 units over that five-year period,” he says.


Rent and drive with car-sharing service Socar

                PETALING JAYA: South Korean car-sharing service Socar is now in Malaysia, giving an alternative to ride-sharing services for those who don’t have a car but still prefer to drive.

Unlike current ride-share services which function like taxis, Socar  provides short-term car rentals, starting at 30 minutes.

According to its site, users can rent the car using its Android or iOS app for as low as RM8 an hour, which includes 30km worth of petrol, though an additional 0.25sen per-km will be charged after the first 30km.

Users will also have to return the cars with at least half-a-tank of petrol or face an RM100 penalty. A petrol card is provided to refuel.

The cars incorporates a keyless system which can be unlocked using the Socar app, and are available at parking bays in malls and near public transportation.

A check of the app showed cars were available in various locations across Kuala Lumpur, including KL Sentral, Bangsar and Bangsar South.

The company also offers a door-to-door valet service, where the company will deliver the car to the users’ desired pick-up point, and later pick up the car from a return point after users are done driving.

This costs an additional RM5 and for now is only available within Bangsar and Damansara Heights.

The cars available for rental are Perodua Axia compacts, Honda City sedans and Honda HR-V SUVs.

Socar was founded by Korean Jimahn Kim in Nov 2011 and is reportedly the largest such service in South Korea, with over three million users as of Sept 2017.

According to CrunchBase, the company has raised US$74mil (RM297.04mil) through two rounds of funding.


China vehicle sales rise 19% in Feb, NEVs also up, says industry body

                BEIJING: China's auto sales rose 18.7% in February from a year earlier, continuing last month's uptick that snapped eight consecutive months of decline, industry data showed today.

Overall sales in the world's biggest car market rose to 1.74 million vehicles in February, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) showed.

Sales of new energy vehicles (NEV), which include battery-powered electric vehicles, plug-in petrol-electric hybrids and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, increased in February by 197.5% from a year earlier to 368,000 units.

But NEV sales declined 18.6% from January, during the Lunar New Year holiday, when most stores are shut and consumers typically delay purchases.

NEV sales this year have also been hit by China's move in January to slash subsidies by 30%.

NEV sales in January fell 18.6% from December, when sales surged ahead of the subsidy cuts kicking in.

China has ambitious goals in promoting NEVs to curb air pollution but believes the industry has matured enough to be driven by demand rather than subsidies.

"We remain cautiously optimistic about the future development of the industry," Chen Shihua, deputy secretary general of CAAM, said today.

"Affected by the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the external environment of the industry is more complicated."

CAAM said last year China exported more than 100,000 vehicles to Russia and less than 10,000 vehicles to Ukraine, about 5% to 6% of China's total auto exports.

"The Russia-Ukraine conflict will have some impact on China's export enterprises," Chen said.

"But it is hard to assess the impact as the situation is not clear."

The market has seen financial speculation in the nickel market recently, but that market "will return to a market price which depends on supply-demand relations," Chen said.

The auto industry is also facing a global shortage of chips that are used in everything from brake sensors to power steering, leading to production cuts that are hurting sales.

"In addition, factors such as the chip shortage and rising raw material costs still affect the production and operation of enterprises," Chen said.

The development of NEVs is facing increased uncertainty, especially because of a shortage of lithium that is used to make batteries, another industry body, China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), said earlier this week.

Prices of lithium, nickel and other raw materials key to the NEV supply chain have surged and are expected to rise further as supplies are disrupted due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

American EV makers Rivian warned on Thursday that it could cut its planned production in half this year due to supply chain issues.

On Tuesday, data from CPCA showed that Tesla Inc, the world's largest EV maker, sold 56,515 China-made vehicles in February, including 33,315 for export.

Tesla is the only foreign automaker among the top 10 best selling NEV brands in China, where local brands such as Nio and Alibaba-backed Xpeng Inc compete.


Taiwan's Gogoro to enter India scooter market with Hero tie-up

An instrument panel showing batteries residual quantity in a Gogoro's electric scooter in Taipei. — Reuters
TAIPEI: Taiwanese electric scooter maker Gogoro has partnered with India's Hero MotoCorp to offer its battery-sharing infrastructure in the world's largest motorcycle market, top company officials said on Wednesday.

Gogoro, which sells motorcycles in Taiwan and known for its battery distribution network for riders, will build battery swapping platforms in India's scooter market in a joint venture with Hero, the world's largest producer of two-wheelers.

The two companies will also launch Hero-branded two-wheelers powered by Gogoro's battery sharing infrastructure, which would be available in multiple cities in India.

Hero chairman Pawan Munjal said electric vehicles are one of the priorities for Hero, which currently does not offer any products that run only on electricity.

"We will set up a joint venture between the two companies to bring Gogoro's swapping technology into India and set up swapping infrastructure across the country, and then we will take it to the rest of the world," Munjal said in a joint interview with Gogoro founder and CEO Horace Luke.

 Customers looking at a Hero MotoCorp Karizma motorcycle at a Hero dealership in Ahmedabad. — Reuters

"We know the landscape, we know the customers, we know the requirements ... We will move very, very fast," Munjal said, referring to the company's position as the market leader in India.

Munjal declined to provide details about the partnership plans such as timeline, sales target or how many battery swapping stations would be built, saying the two companies are working on the specifics.

Partly funded by investors including Singapore's Temasek and Japan's Sumitomo Corporation, Taipei-based Gogoro in recent years has launched scooter-sharing services in Europe and battery sharing infrastructure in Japan.

At home, albeit being the largest electric scooter maker, Gogoro has for years trailed major players such as Kymco and Sanyang Motor in a competitive market long dominated by lower-priced petrol scooters despite government subsidies on electric vehicles, market data shows.

Gogoro's Luke acknowledged the challenge, saying it would take time for consumers to adopt electric vehicles. But with the scale of Hero, he said, pricing and supply chain complexity would be reduced.

"That certainly can change the market and flip the market over," he said.


New EV concept from Volkswagen heading to Paris Motor Show

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen today teased a new electric vehicle concept, which it touts “is as revolutionary as the Beetle was seven decades ago.”

The production vehicle which follows will be the first Volkswagen to enter the market based on the new modular electrification kit (MEB).

It will certainly aimed the cars at China, from where it derives more than a third of its global vehicle sales. In fact, Volkswagen had recently said it is exploring a joint venture to make electric cars in China with a state-run company, as it tries to steer away from the “Dieselgate” scandal.

The EV concept will be showcased at the Oct 1-16 Paris Motor Show.


New motorcycle lubricant Petronas Sprinta with UltraFlex launched

                SEPANG: Petronas Lubricants Marketing Malaysia (PLMM) has launched a new range of motorcycle lubricants known as Petronas Sprinta with UltraFlex formulated to resist engine stress and promote longer bike life.

The Sprinta lubricants is available in a wide variety from mineral, semi- and fully-synthetic and the prices range from RM15 to RM70.

It claims to have the ability to provide superior oil film strength that is up to 41% higher than the industry benchmark.

As such, this helps the engine endure the effects of load, speed and engine stress while allowing the bike to respond better. The new range of lubricants also offers exceptional deposit control, thus maintaining power and ride quality.

 The launch of Petronas Sprinta with UltraFlex lubricant. From left, Kwan Beng Keat, General Manager of Marketing, Petronas Lubricants Marketing Malaysia; Zubair; Mohd Khalid Mohamed Latiff, Regional Head of Asia Pacific, Petronas Lubricants International and Khairul Nizam Baharudin, General Manager, Direct Sales Division Petronas Lubricants Marketing Malaysia.

Chief Executive Officer of PLMM, Zubair Abdul Razak said, “Daily usage puts a lot of stress on bike engines, even under normal riding conditions. As a result, many consumers constantly worry about their bikes breaking down, forcing them into costly repairs or major overhauls.”

Bike stress is caused by high shear conditions that results from severe mechanical stress and high temperatures inside the engine, which can reach temperatures of up to 33% higher than that of car engines. These issues can lead to rattling noises and sluggish performance.

To find out more about the new Petronas Sprinta with UltraFlex lubricants, you can visit the nearest Petronas partner workshops or Kedai Mesra outlets.


Volkswagen keen on bringing brand closer to Malaysians

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Malaysia is bringing the German brand closer to people with a showcasing of its models at a few malls around the Klang Valley.

The showcasing is currently at Ikano Power Centre till June 28 and will move on to One Utama (July 1-5) and finally to Paradigm Mall (July 9-12).

Visitors to the road show will be able to get up close and personal with the recently launched limited edition versions of the Volkswagen Beetle Bug as well as other selected models.

For each day of the road show, one winner of an Instagram competition will be provided with a RM200 petrol voucher, simply by post the most creative photo with the Limited Edition Beetle Bug and tagged with the following hashtag - #VWRevealYourStripes.

Potential owners of a Volkswagen Polo, Polo Sedan, Jetta, Golf, Passat and Tiguan, may find the company's current "0%" promotion, a hard one to resist.

The promotion allows new owners to pay no downpayment and will not require any interest payments for a limited time (as long as there's sufficient stock available), allowing new owners to save up to RM48,000.


Updated Volvo S90 Recharge T8 plug-in hybrid arrives at RM339,315

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Car Malaysia has updated the flagship Volvo S90 model with a new exterior and interior finishing that complements the latest, leading safety and technology features.

With this facelift, the new S90 Recharge T8 plug-in hybrid offers a different take on luxury, safety and sustainability.

Built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, the large 4-door, 5-seat, top-of-the-line sedan comes with Volvo’s Drive-E powertrain that combines internal combustion and electric performance for a system output of 407 horsepower and 640Nm of torque.

The 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder engine and the powerful electric motor utilising a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, delivers a performance-filled drive while producing lower CO₂ emissions.

This eco-friendly powertrain is also featured in all Volvo models built on the SPA, which underpins the 90 and 60 series launched in recent years.

Volvo Car Malaysia Marketing & Public Relations Director Akhtar Sulaiman said the S90 is the embodiment of luxury for the Swedish automotive brand.

"Now with its recharged design, we want to redefine the concept of ‘travel in style’ and showcase that ‘luxury’ can also equate to ‘safety’," he said.

From the chrome-accented exterior and refined trims, to the updated interior with a cleaner overall look, the aesthetics of the S90 Recharge T8 is Scandinavian luxury at its finest.

"And as a final touch, the T8 Twin Engine setup in the S90 Recharge T8 gives the driver a refined, agile and powerful driving experience,” Akhtar said.

Similar to the XC90 premium sports utility vehicle, the S90 Recharge T8 carries on the rich legacy of Volvo cars through the pronounced elegance in Volvo’s design language.

This blend of minimalist design and stylistic cues creates a premium image that is accentuated by Volvo’s key aesthetic features, such as the “Thor Hammer” LED headlight design, vertical chrome grille with the Volvo Iron Mark, and a bold and clean use of the Volvo spreadmark on the rear.

The tail lamps of the S90 Recharge T8 have also been updated to now bear a similar design to the recently launched S60 T8 R-Design mid-sized premium sedan, thus marrying luxury with a little sportiness.

The Scandinavian motif is also integrated into the cabin of the car to further enhance its overall look and feel.

The inclusion of vertical air blades on each side of the Sensus user interface, perforated front seats and sunroof raises the bar on elegant aesthetics.

The Sensus panel on the S90 Recharge T8 ensures that the driver stays connected with intuitive technology and personalised convenience, featuring two front USB outlets that allows for both Apple Carplay and Android Auto, for varied compatibility.

The intuitive, 9-inch portrait touchscreen gives easy and quick access to a full menu of safety features, and in-car entertainment applications for an immersive media and audio experience.

A comprehensively upgraded Bowers & Wilkins sound system features a total of 19 speakers with an output of 1,400W to provide true high-end, in-car audio performance.

The signature Tweeter-on-Top speaker is seamlessly integrated into the design contours of the S90 Recharge T8 and sits just above the dashboard.

This speaker system in the S90 Recharge T8 also employs Bower and Wilkin’s exclusive Nautilus™ speaker technology for an incredible clear and immersive listening experience.

Several speaker updates, such as the new double-dome aluminum tweeters and the new generation mid-range speaker cones in Continuum™ composite, result in a more refined, pure and natural sound production.

Combined with the unique feature of different room modes such as the Concert Hall Mode, which is modelled after the exact acoustic qualities of the famous Gothenburg Concert Hall, and also a Jazz Club Mode, drivers and passengers will be instantly transported to the seats of a Swedish theatre or a classy jazz club.

Additionally, the S90 Recharge T8 also comes with a variety of standard Volvo safety features, starting with a chassis made out of boron steel for added body strength.

This comes in combination with Volvo’s Intellisafe system, which equips the S90 Recharge T8 with the latest safety technology developed by Volvo, such as the Blind Spot Information Systems (BLIS), City Safety, Cross Traffic Alert, Front and Rear Warning and Mitigation Support, Lane Keeping Aid, Pilot Assist, a 180kph speed cap and many more.

Akhtar said the fundamentals surrounding safety, design and performance are the same for the S90 as with any other Volvo.

"Through the dedication of our team, we are confident that the S90 checks all the right boxes to provide a premium driving experience," he said.

Akhtar also said the S90 Recharge T8 is a plug-in hybrid that looked to tomorrow without compromising today’s experience.

"The S90 Recharge T8 is luxury that makes a difference and is the perfect choice for people who embrace their uniqueness and stand out from the crowd,” concluded Akhtar.

Priced at RM358,888, the S90 Recharge T8 is now at RM339,315 after sales tax exemption (on-the-road, without insurance) and will be available for viewing at all authorised Volvo dealers nationwide starting today.

Additionally, the T5 variant, now priced at RM328,888 (before sales tax exemption), will be available from June 2021 onwards. The sales tax exempted pricing is subject to later announcement.

At the same time, it is also available for online booking through Volvo Car Malaysia’s website as a safer alternative and in adherence to the government’s standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Five distinct colours are Bright Silver, Crystal White Pearl, Onyx Black, Platinum Grey and Thunder Grey.

For details, go to www.volvocars.com/my or follow Volvo Car Malaysia on Facebook http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-FB and Instagram http://bit.ly/VolvoMY-IG for more updates.


Lamborghini follows Porsche offroad with Huracán Sterrato

                BOLOGNA: Porsche recently debuted an off-road version of its 911 sports car, the 911 Dakar. Now another brand that made its name building track-focused sports cars wants to do the same.

Lamborghini unveiled the Huracán Sterrato, a jacked-up version of its US$270,000 Huracán supercar on Nov 30.

The Sterrato is for neither rock crawling nor forging through dry river beds.

It’s not for fanning out waves of sand in the dunes as if in some tourism advertisement for Dubai. You’re more likely to see it on the Las Vegas Strip than down the highway at King of the Hammers.

The best it will do is carry you across "loose or dirt surfaces,” the company says. Let’s be honest: In many parts of the world (even and especially those owned by rich people), that describes the driveway. Sterrato means gravel in Italian.

Even being able to navigate a choppy driveway is a win for the Lamborghini Huracán.

In its more common form, the 631-horsepower coupe has an exoskeleton of carbon fiber components whose cringeworthy cost to repair is surpassed only by the frequency with which they need repairing.

With road clearance barely able to handle speed bumps, and exterior visibility an afterthought in that cockpit, carbon fiber chins and splitters and rims tend to get scraped, even on the most innocuous city streets.

Porsche’s brass told Bloomberg they made the trailfinder 911 to capitalize on a new wave of customers who have camped, hiked, skied and off-roaded with their 911s-at least approximated the look for posts on Instagram.

Lamborghini executives can’t exactly claim customers are out glamping with their Huracáns. Unlike Porsche, they don’t even have a cross-country, baja-style race car with rally wins somewhere in their heritage. Still, who needs heritage when there’s money to be made?

"We were very inspired by the rally races and cars from the 1980s,” says Rouven Mohr, Lamborghini’s chief technology officer. During a phone interview, he says he’s been toying with the idea of an off-road Lamborghini since at least 2017; the project was put on ice until Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini’s president and chief executive officer, retook the helm in 2020.

"Winkelmann came in and said, ‘Why did this car not get made? You should do it.’”

There is genuine financial incentive behind making wild, limited-edition versions of existing models, said Michael Dean, senior European automotive analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, in an email.

Small production numbers and "specialness” can command high price premiums and bolster profit margins-which is particularly critical for companies considering initial public offerings.

"Given Porsche is now listed, and Lamborghini’s next in the IPO list, these limited editions show they can match Ferrari’s business model with very lucrative sports car derivatives,” Dean said.

"Lamborghini has actually overtaken Ferrari’s EBIT margin [operating earnings over operating sales] this year. For them it’s a case of showcasing new technology and continuing to build the brand, as well as underpinning the margin.”

Mohr says that although the close timing for the two vehicles was unintentional, Lamborghini and Porsche (both controlled by Volkswagen AG) shared ideas during the development processes.

In fact, Lamborghini has done nearly as much to pump up this Huracán for overlanding use as Porsche did with the 911 Dakar.

The Sterrato has increased ground clearance by 44mm compared with the Huracán EVO, and widened the front (by 30mm) and rear (by 34mm) at the wheels; Porsche increased ground clearance by 50mm.

The Sterrato offers a Rally mode like the one in Lamborghini’s Urus for low-grip conditions, along with new calibrations for Strada and Sport modes; Porsche introduced Rallye and Off-Road modes.

Sterrato has additional aluminum underbody protection, and a high-set air intake in the back sends dust-free air to the engine.

Underneath the hood, this dirt-road Huracán boasts a 610-hp, V10 engine that goes zero to 100kph in 3.4 seconds, and has a top speed is 257kph.

By comparison, the Huracán STO gets to 100kph in just under 2.6 seconds and has a top speed of 315kph.

Production of the limited-edition Huracán Sterrato will begin in February 2023, with pre-orders starting by the end of this year.

A total of 1,499 will be made and sold worldwide. (There is no significance to the random number, although it does reflect increased production volumes that were raised after preliminary photos of the vehicle resulted in higher-than-anticipated demand, a spokesman said.)

Pricing in Europe starts at €263,000 (RM1.2mil).


Self-driving cars could only prevent a third of US crashes, study shows

                WASHINGTON: Self-driving cars, long touted by developers as a way to eliminate road deaths, could likely only prevent a third of all US road crashes, according to a study released on Thursday.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a research group financed by US insurers, found the remaining crashes were caused by mistakes that self-driving systems are not equipped to handle any better than human drivers.

Partners for Automated Vehicle Education, a consortium of self-driving companies and researchers, said in a statement on Thursday the study wrongly assumed that automated cars could only prevent crashes caused by perception errors and incapacitation.

Some 72% of crashes were avoidable, based on the study’s calculations, if accidents caused by speeding and violation of traffic laws were included, the consortium said.

Traffic experts say roughly nine in 10 crashes result from human error and more than 36,000 people are estimated to have died in US car crashes last year.

Self-driving vehicle developers, including traditional automakers and technology companies, have repeatedly positioned fully automated driving as a tool to drastically reduce road deaths.

But not all human mistakes can be eliminated by camera, radar and other sensor-based technology, according to the IIHS analysis of more than 5,000 representative police-reported crashes nationwide.

One-third of all crashes were the exclusive result of sensing and perception errors, or driver incapacitation, the study found.

Most crashes were due to more complex errors, such as making wrong assumptions about other road users’ actions, driving too fast or too slow for road conditions, or making incorrect evasive manoeuvres. Many crashes resulted from multiple mistakes.

“Our goal was to show that if you don’t deal with those issues, self-driving cars won’t deliver massive safety benefits,” said Jessica Cicchino, IIHS vice president for research and a coauthor of the study.


Motorists urged to follow traffic rules as Aidiladha exodus begins

                KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic along the North-South Expressway (NSE), Elite and Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway is slow along certain sections as people begin to balik kampung for the Hari Raya Aidiladha holidays.

According to the Malaysian Highway Authority, traffic was slow from Tapah towards Gopeng along the NSE at around 12.30pm today.

It also tweeted that traffic was slow-moving from Slim River towards Sungkai.

Meanwhile, along the Elite Expressway, traffic was slow heading north from Putrajaya to Putra Heights, Putra Heights to Bandar Saujana Putra, USJ to Shah Alam and Seafield to USJ.

Along the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, traffic was slow from Gombak towards Lentang.

An accident at KM112.2 of the NSE from Bertam heading towards Sungai Petani at around 10am also caused traffic to slow down there.

PLUS also activated its SmartLane (allowing the use of the emergency lane) from KM19 to KM27 from Senai towards Kulai to alleviate traffic congestion.

The SmartLane was also activated from KM366.8 to KM354.1 of the NSE from Slim River towards Sungkai.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Comm Datuk Mat Kasim Karim advised motorists to always abide by the traffic rules to keep themselves, their loved ones and other motorists safe.

"Plan your journey carefully to avoid getting stuck in traffic and be courteous to and cooperative with other road users during your journey.

"Motorists should also place their full focus on the road and control their emotions while driving to avoid any untoward incidents," he said, adding that motorists who find themselves experiencing traffic congestion could make use of alternative routes or stop at the various rest areas.

He also advised motorists to ensure that their vehicles are well-maintained and roadworthy before beginning their journey.

"Motorists should also ensure that they have had enough rest before they start driving," he said.


Colombo Bike Week coming

                PETALING JAYA: Since 2014, Buzzword Events, Malaysia has been organising unforgettable rides in Sri Lanka designed for the owners of high powered motorcycles (600cc and above).

This year in conjunction with Colombo Bike Week 2017 (CBW 2017), Buzzword Events is organizing another ride of a lifetime from Feb 23 to Mar 12, 2017 comprising of a tour of Colombo – Anuradhapura – Jaffna – Trincomalee – Sigiriya – Colombo.

The total expected distance will be 1,200km.

This time, riders will cover destinations that you only get to see on magazines and television. How cool is that?

Riders who have confirmed their participation in this much talked about ride are from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Australia.

As an added bonus, the organisers Buzzword Events and MAS have successfully negotiated with the Sri Lankan government to allow participating riders an exemption from requiring Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD).

Seasoned riders would know that CPD rates are not only very costly depending on country, but deposit returns are time consuming as well.

For details on CBW 2017, visit : www.colombobikeweek.com or email to Leslie Tilak at leslie@buzzword.com.my.


China’s Huawei develops smart roads that talk to driverless cars

The bus in the Wuxi trial driving itself and communicating with sensors, cameras and radars on the road. — Bloomberg
WUXI (China): The abstract concept of connected vehicles becomes easier to grasp at a test site in eastern China.

On a four-kilometre road in the city of Wuxi in Jiangsu province, a self-driving bus travels back and forth, making stops, swerving past obstacles, accelerating and decelerating, based on information it constantly receives from its surroundings.

Embedded in the road, traffic lights, street signs and other infrastructure are sensors, cameras and radars that talk with the vehicle.

The site, used by telecom-equipment giant Huawei Technologies Co. and partners, is part of China’s first national project for intelligent and connected vehicles.

The country wants to make traffic smoother and safer, while ensuring local champions like Huawei benefit from the enormous opportunity of supplying the infrastructure.

“Autonomous driving is an irresistible trend, but any isolated vehicle alone can’t nail it,” Jiang Wangcheng, a president at Huawei’s information and communications technology business, said in an interview. “The only solution is to get more information from the roads.”

Codenamed X-Bus, the vehicle is linked to a transportation-control network that sees and decides everything that happens on the test road. The communication is two-way: the bus constantly sends information to the network and can make requests such as favourable traffic lights to help it stay on schedule. Though the bus is largely autonomous, a human safety driver sits behind the wheel and is ready to take control if needed.

Shenzhen-based Huawei, with its main network business facing global pressure after the US designated it a threat to national security, is targeting new growth areas such as transport.

Instead of making a smart car of its own — billionaire founder Ren Zhengfei and other top executives have said that isn’t the intention — Huawei wants to provide the communications equipment and software required for an intelligent-vehicle revolution.

While wide-scale use of such systems is still years away, technology companies around the globe are making progress.

Amazon.com Inc.’s Zoox won approval in September to test autonomous cars on public roads without a safety driver. News about Apple Inc. mulling over a self-driving car for 2024 sent its shares near record highs last month. Alphabet Inc.’s self-driving cars have been roaming on American roads for years.

In China, autonomous cars from search-engine giant Baidu Inc. drive on the roads of Beijing suburbs. Chip startups such as Horizon Robotics and Shanghai Westwell Lab Information Technology Co. are testing auto-driving technologies with the help of AI processors and algorithms.

China, the world’s biggest car market, wants smart vehicles with at least some automation to account for more than 50% of new auto sales by 2025, according to a national technology road map laid out in November. The plan also emphasised the need for infrastructure that allows vehicles to link to the Internet and each other.

Increased safety is a focus — currently one person is killed in a traffic accident in China every eight minutes. Huawei’s aim is for its technology to provide more accurate, real-time information to vehicles, drivers, pedestrians and other road users about traffic, weather conditions and potential hazards.

“Roads are supposed to serve the vehicles that run on them,” Huawei’s Jiang said. “They need to provide more information to offer better support.”


S. Korea bans sales of some Nissan, BMW and Porsche models

                SEOUL: South Korea has banned the sale of 10 models of Nissan, BMW and Porsche vehicles after the carmakers were found to have fabricated certification documents, in the latest fallout from the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

The government announced in August that it would ban all 10 models after conducting an investigation into whether foreign carmakers besides Volkswagen AG falsified documents on emissions and noise-level tests.

Nine of the models have been banned since last month and Nissan's Qashqai diesel sport utility vehicle has been banned since June, the environment ministry said on Monday.

It said it has also fined the carmakers' local units a combined 7.17 billion won (US$5.9 million) for the affected 4,523 vehicles already sold in South Korea.

Spokesmen at the South Korean units of Nissan Motor Co Ltd and BMW AG acknowledged the findings in the government investigation, saying they would try to achieve certification for those affected models again. A spokesman at Porsche AG, which is owned by Volkswagen, was not immediately available for comment.

South Korea has been tough with Volkswagen, filing complaints against local executives, suspending sales of most of its models and imposing fines for alleged forging of documents on emissions or noise-level tests.

In the latest move, South Korea said last month that it will file criminal complaints against five former and current executives at Volkswagen AG's South Korean unit and fine the company a record 37.3 billion won for false advertising on vehicle emissions.

South Korea's sales of imported cars fell 7 percent in the first 11 months of last year, heading for their first annual sales decline since 2009.