VinFast rolls out long-awaited electric SUVs, eyes overseas deliveries

                HANOI: Vietnamese carmaker VinFast said on Thursday it will begin delivering its new electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to local customers this week and targets overseas deliveries in the coming months.

VinFast, which began operations in 2019, is gearing up to expand in the United States, where it hopes to compete with legacy automakers with its two electric SUV models.

"After Vietnam, VinFast expects to export the first batch of VF9 to international markets in the coming months," VinFast said in a statement, without providing a specific timeline for deliveries of the new model.

The VF9 model was initially scheduled to debut at the start of this year.

The company currently sells the VF8 model of SUV.

It started to ship those last year and began delivering them to customers this month. The company has said it would ship the second batch to the US in the second quarter of 2023.

VinFast, backed by Vietnam's biggest of conglomerate Vingroup JSC, is the country's sole EV maker.

As of December last year, VinFast said it secured 55,000 orders globally, of which 12,000 were from the US market.


Singaporeans become Uber drivers to get around high car prices

Singaporeans are becoming Uber drivers to bypass the city-state's onerous car-ownership costs while also earning a side income. — Bloomberg
SINGAPORE: In one of the most expensive countries in the world to own a car, Peter Chiu is finding a novel way to pay for one.

The 58-year-old retired policeman rents a car in Singapore, drives three to four hours a day for Uber Technologies Inc to cover its cost, and has a shiny Honda Vezel the rest of the time for his personal use. Hiring a vehicle to work for Uber is becoming a more common sight in the city-state, where Chiu’s SUV costs more than a BMW M3 luxury sports sedan does in New York.

“Buying a car in Singapore is so expensive,” said Chiu. “If you want to drive around to cover expenses, that is quite easy. And any extra money you get, that’s more income for you.”

New technologies are not only disrupting traditional industries in Singapore – a trend that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said will force the economy to transform – but also changing consumers’ behaviour as they try to cope with rising costs and unemployment at a six-year high.

“Uber is another avenue for employment,” said Brian Tan, an economist with Nomura Holdings Inc in Singapore. “It makes the labour market more efficient, because it provides you with an alternative career. You don’t need a special license for that.”

A Honda Vezel like Chiu’s typically sells for more than S$100,000 (RM316,652) in Singapore, almost four times the price in the US. On top of taxes, car owners in the city state are forced to buy permits – called Certificates of Entitlement – which are limited in supply and auctioned by the government to help curb road congestion and pollution. At the most recent offering this week, the permit cost S$50,789 (RM160,824) for the smallest vehicles.

Chiu drives six days a week for Uber, just enough to cover the S$500 (RM1,583) weekly cost of his vehicle, which he rents from Lion City Rentals, a local subsidiary of the car-hailing company. He doesn’t mind the part-time work or the traffic in a country that’s smaller than Rhode Island in the US.

Between 2014 – the year after Uber began operating in Singapore – and 2015, the number of rental cars in the country soared more than 50% to 29,369, surpassing the number of taxis on the road, according to official data. Even so, the total vehicle population decreased by 1.5%.

Simon, a 45-year-old former property agent who preferred to give his first name only, rents a Toyota Corolla and drives for Uber four hours a day at most. A slump in home sales since the government began imposing measures to rein in prices has pushed many in the industry to seek other sources of income, including ferrying commuters around the island for Uber.

Simon said his main job now is making “alternative investments” and the Uber gig allows him to have a car of his own to use on weekends, when he makes trips about 20 kilometres (12 miles) across the border to Malaysia with his wife and two kids. The journey has an added cost-saving advantage: he buys gas for his car in Malaysia, where it’s cheaper.

Uber is using auto rentals and financing to attract and retain drivers around the world, as are rivals such as GrabTaxi Holdings Pte in Singapore and Lyft Inc in the US. While for many drivers, earning an income may be the main reason they turn to the ride-hailing companies, in Singapore, having the car may be just as important.

“It makes a lot of sense to rent a car,” said Tang Kin Yee, 53, whose main job is in commercial photography and advertising. Business was slow last year and he started driving for Uber to supplement his income.

He now rents a Honda Vezel and is thinking about driving for Uber full time.


New Honda Accord 2.4 VTi-L Advance comes with Sensing tech, priced at RM169,800

                PUTRAJAYA: Honda Malaysia announced a new variant of the Accord D-segment sedan, the 2.4 VTi-L Advance, which is now equipped with the Honda Sensing advanced safety features priced at RM169,800.

It was also announced that the Accord is now available in two variants only, starting with the 2.0 VTi-L, priced at RM149,350. Previously, three variants were available.

 From left, Honda Malaysia MD and CEO Toichi Ishiyama; President and COO Roslan Abdullah and Group Vice President Akkbar Danial at the launch of the Accord 2.4 VTi-L Advance with Honda Sensing.

All prices are on-the-road inclusive of GST without insurance.

The upgraded Accord 2.4 VTi-L Advance with Honda Sensing still maintains the same premium features which include front and rear LED lights, a 7-inch Advanced Display Audio unit with i-MID that is Apple CarPlay compatible and Android Auto ready, and Honda LaneWatch.

The 2.4 litre Accord engine is mated to a five-speed automatic and produces 175PS and 225Nm of torque. The 2.0 litre outputs 155PS and 190Nm of torque.

Honda Sensing consists of driver-assist safety features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

“To keep a step ahead and further redefine the D-segment, Honda Malaysia is offering Honda SENSING in the Accord as an additional safety feature on top of the current premium safety features that are already available.

“With this upgrade, the Accord with Honda Sensing now offers an unbeatable complete premium package of smart and elegant features such as LED headlights, smartphone connectivity and a host of standard safety features,” said Honda Malaysia Group Vice President, Akkbar Danial.

Also present at the event was managing director and chief executive officer Honda Malaysia, Toichi Ishiyama and Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd president and chief operating officer, Roslan Abdullah.

The Accord is also available in a premium White Orchid Pearl colour at RM400 extra for both variants.

More than 5,500 units of the Accord has been sold since its launch in September 2016.


Lamborghini celebrates production of 400th Huracán racing car

                BOLOGNA: Lamborghini is celebrating the production of its 400th Huracán model from its headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese, where all Lamborghinis, both road and racing, have been produced since 1963.

This milestone was recognised at a special event, which was attended by Stephan Winkelmann (president and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini), Maurizio Reggiani (chief technical officer), Ranieri Niccoli (chief manufacturing officer) and Giorgio Sanna (head of motorsport). They were joined by the various technicians who build both the Huracán Super Trofeo Evo and GT3 Evo.

Commenting on the 400th Huracán, Winkelmann said: "We are proud of the milestone, which is important not only for Squadra Corse but for the whole company. In a few years, Squadra Corse has established itself in the most important international competitions and the Huracán GT3 and Super Trofeo are an undisputed point of reference in the Gran Turismo category.”

The first Huracán Super Trofeo was presented in 2014, replacing the Gallardo as the car of choice in Lamborghini’s single-make championship in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The following year, the Huracán GT3 made its debut, marking Lamborghini’s official entry into GT racing.

Over the next six seasons, the Huracán GT3, and its successor the GT3 Evo, have won nearly 100 races, including the prestigious Daytona 24 Hours a record three consecutive times.

The GT3 Evo has also won the coveted Sebring 12 Hours twice as well as the “triple crown” of the GT World Challenge Europe in 2019. In 2020 alone, the Huracán GT3 Evos were represented by 24 different teams, in 15 national and international championships and covered a total of 20,000km across 88 different drivers.


MINI develops concept for electric John Cooper Works

                MUNICH: The evolution of the MINI model range is focused on the ongoing expansion of electric mobility and opens up new possibilities for the John Cooper Works brand.

Future MINI vehicle architectures mean that extreme performance and genuine driving enjoyment will also be available with electric drive as well as combustion engines.

“With the MINI Electric, we’ve shown how well brand-typical driving enjoyment and electric mobility can be combined,” says Bernd Körber, Head of the MINI brand.

“Now it’s time to translate the passion for performance of the John Cooper Works brand to electromobility. That’s why we’re working to develop concepts for electric John Cooper Works models.”

The current focus on the development of a MINI John Cooper Works Electric demonstrates just how important electric mobility is in terms of the brand’s future direction – the goal is a unique blend of sustainability, performance and passion.

“John Cooper Works models with conventional combustion engines will still continue to have an important role to play, to make sure we’re addressing the wishes and needs of performance enthusiasts all around the world,” says Körber.

“With this new focus on electric performance, we’re also creating the opportunity to sharpen the distinctive profile of the John Cooper Works brand more than ever before.”


MINI Malaysia kicks off 'Great British Deal' campaign

                KUALA LUMPUR: MINI Malaysia is running a "Great British Deal" campaign from now until Dec 31.

Under the campaign, buyers enjoy significantly lower monthly instalments starting from RM2,388 with the MINI Balloon Financing, at a lowered interest rate starting from 0.77% for vehicles bought.

New owners would also enjoy insurance rebate of RM2,000 off vehicles with the MINI Financing plan.

With every purchase of any MINI model during the campaign period, the buyer gets an automatic contest entry where he stands a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Britain for two.

All MINI vehicles come with a 4-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service; 24-hour roadside assistance and MINI Black Card membership.

“This year marks yet another milestone for us at MINI as we celebrate our 60th year anniversary, and we want to extend that celebration to MINIacs across Malaysia who have helped grow our brand to where we are today," said BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl.


GM's Barra bets she can deliver where predecessors fell short

                DETROIT: General Motors chief executive officer Mary Barra's deal on Monday to return up to US$10 billion to investors is a career-defining bet that she can reverse the automaker's history of doubling down on money-losing products and failed expansion strategies.

The linchpin of the strategy GM outlined to buy back US$5 billion worth of shares and distribute another US$5 billion in dividends to shareholders by the end of 2016 is a vow that the company will generate 20 percent or better returns on cash invested in new vehicles, advanced technology and other capital projects.

The automaker also said it will be more open than ever about how it keeps score on investments. GM disclosed on Monday that it had US$44.9 billion in invested capital, or net assets, at the end of 2014, and generated US$9.3 billion in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes for a ROIC of 20.8 percent. GM executive pay will be tied closely to the return target.

To hit the 20 percent mark, GM must make good calls on new models or new markets more consistently than in the past. It also must pull the plug more rapidly on strategies that fall short.

During the years leading up to its bankruptcy in 2009, GM tolerated chronic red ink in North America and Europe, nursed along flops such as the Pontiac Aztek and pumped up U.S. market share through unprofitable sales to rental fleets.

Monday's agreement commits GM to disclosing to investors on a quarterly basis how its return on capital stacks up to the 20 percent target, a mechanism that should give investors clear warning of a return to old ways.

Already, Barra and her senior executives are showing less patience with losers.

An overhaul of internal financial controls led by President Dan Ammann has given GM executives more detailed data than ever about the profitability of specific models or marketing strategies.

"Better tools give you better transparency that gives you better decisions," Ammann told Reuters on Monday.

Among the results: GM's decision last month to stop building cars in Indonesia after more than 70 years of trying, and largely failing, to make money in that developing market of 240 million people.

That move followed the 2013 decision to shutter manufacturing operations in Australia, and a separate call to pull the Chevrolet brand out of Western Europe.

The return on capital target will also influence product decisions, both pro and con. GM's decision to re-enter the market for smaller pickup trucks in the United States so far seems like "a very good investment," Ammann said.

Investors in the auto industry understand that "good bets and bad bets take some time to manifest," he said.

More tough calls lie ahead. Ammann said GM faces a "very challenging" situation in Russia, where it is reviewing possible steps in response to troubles in that once-promising market.


Rowan Atkinson to auction two modern classics

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E.
LONDON: British comedian Rowan Atkinson, who is probably best known for his roles as Mini-driving idiot Mr Bean and the acidic Blackadder, is also well known for his love of cars.

The most famous and well-reported car to grace his collection was a McLaren F1, but he's not averse to selling any of his cars when he no longer wants them.

Well, two very interesting cars he owns now appear to be surplus to requirements as they're scheduled to go under the hammer in England at the Race Retro Classic Car Sale next month held by Silverstone Auctions.

The first of the two Atkinson cars is a much-vaunted Mercedes-Benz 500E, which boasts a five-litre V-8 under the hood that produces 326hp and 481Nm of torque.

Despite this considerable lump of German engineering weighing-in at a substantial 1,710 kg, it could still get to 100kph from a standing start in less than six seconds, and 160kph arrived in around 14 seconds. Perhaps a little surprisingly, they were all hand built at Porsche's facilities, which got them the type code 2758 in Porsche's official nomenclature.

 Atkinson as 'Mr Bean'. 1989 Lancia Thema 8.32.

This particular one is a 1993 example that Atkinson is putting up for sale that has only been with him since 2015, and it only has around 50,000 miles (around 81,000km) on the clock. Apparently, it was far and away the best example of the 500E he could find at the time he bought it.

The second car is probably even more interesting — and definitely rarer than the Mercedes — and that's because it's a 1989 Lancia Thema 8.32. Related to the Alfa Romeo 164 and Saab 9000, the Lancia has a Ferrari-derived 3.0-litre V-8 powering the front wheels through a manual gearbox, although the power is a little modest at just 215hp.

This car has been owned by Atkinson for considerably longer than the Mercedes; he's been enjoying things like its pioneering, electrically raised rear spoiler for some seven years now.

Both cars will be auctioned at the Race Retro Classic Car Sale to be held on Feb 24-25 at the Race Retro International Historic Motorsport Show 2018 at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, England.


59% of Malaysian motorists still not covered for flood damage

                KUALA LUMPUR: Zurich Malaysia found that 59% of Malaysian motorists still do not have adequate protection against flood damage, as one of the findings under its Impact of Pandemic on Protection survey.

Drivers may be caught unaware if they are not prepared and think they are not affected.

This is a cause for concern as Malaysia regularly experiences monsoon seasons, such as the current Northeast Monsoon season from November until March next year.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department has warned certain states are expected to have higher than average rainfall of between 450mm and 1,000mm in November and December.

The survey, by Zurich Malaysia to understand the local consumer landscape and design better protection plans, was conducted in late September and engaged 1,201 Malaysians from all states of which 990 are vehicle owners.

In addition to flooding, landslides and falling trees are potential perils that Malaysian motorists are not prepared for.

Only one in three active motorists (34%) reported having coverage for storms including falling trees, and only 29% are covered for landslides.

The survey also found that in terms of renewing their motor vehicle insurance and takaful, Malaysians still engage agents to do so.

Out of 990 respondents who own a motor vehicle, 38% chose to go through an agent despite the availability of online portals.

However, online portals were the most preferred method with 43% of the motorists utilising them, indicating the importance of digital tools in today’s market.

Meanwhile, 16% of Malaysians opted to visit a physical kiosk or post office themselves to renew their insurance personally.

In terms of motor insurance and takaful coverage, a noteworthy trend is that most Malaysians prefer plans that cover all drivers (36%) instead of just named drivers in the policy (34%).

This is particularly useful if the car owner is in the vehicle but not behind the wheel, such as taking turns on a long interstate journey.

Some Malaysians may only sign up for protection solely to have a valid motor insurance or takaful as mandated to be able to renew their road tax and drive.

This is evidenced by 47% of vehicle owner respondents reporting they are unsure of their coverage content.


The best way to get rid of insects stuck to your windscreen

                BERLIN: If your car's windscreen is getting dirty and the remains of squashed insects are affecting visibility, you're best off giving the wipers a break and taking matters into your own hands.

Wiping the windscreen down with plenty of water and a sponge is far more effective than relying on the windscreen wipers, and is also better for the wipers' rubber, explains the Tuv, a leading safety inspection agency.

The insects' exoskeletons in particular can be very hard, so if you do use the wipers to get rid of even a few insects, it's always best to squirt plenty of water on. That means holding down the washer fluid button and spraying liquid during at least the first three wipes, Tuv suggests.

Also, remember to keep the washer fluid topped up with a special cleaning formula that helps loosen and remove insects.


BMW Safety 360° returns with a focus on kids

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Group Malaysia today introduced the third edition of its BMW Safety 360° program in collaboration with the Julia Gabriel Centre and the Association of Registered Childcare Providers Malaysia in a bid to raise awareness on road etiquette as well as in-car safety technology and practices for the upcoming school holiday and Ramadan season.

Held at the Citta Mall branch of Julia Gabriel Centre here, the event marked the start of a six-month long programme where BMW Group Malaysia will be visiting selected kindergartens and Montessori centres nationwide to raise awareness and galvanise action for more responsible on-the-road and in-car safety practices with parents and their children.

The programme kicked off at the Julia Gabriel Centre with a week-long Traffic Safety Programme where a series of road safety themed activities and learnings are incorporated into the syllabus for the Julia Gabriel Centre children and their parents.

 Hwong speaking on child seat safety issues to parents and the media today.

The association's child passenger safety consultant, May Hwong, said: “Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death and injury to babies and young children. While events leading up to the car swerving sharply, braking suddenly or colliding may be unavoidable, the outcome of how your child survives it can be. Your child must be properly restrained in a safety approved child car seat while traveling in the car, even if it is for short trips down the road.”

Apart from the initial collision in an accident, two other collisions also take place, she said. They are human collision as the accident victim continues moving to hit against the cabin parts even when the car has stopped. And there is an internal collision when vital organs in the body collide with the skeletal frame and other hard parts of the body, which could caused internal injuries leading to death.

READ MORE:
BMW child seats
Child passenger safety checklist
Volvo coming out with better child seats

Buckling children in age- and size-appropriate child car seats, booster seats, and seat belts reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries. Child car seats reduce the risk of death to infants by 71% and to toddlers by 54% in passenger vehicles, while booster seats reduce the risk of serious injury by 45% for children aged 4-8 years old when compared with seat belt use alone.

Hwong said car seats of acceptable standards retail from RM300 to RM3,000.

The association also held a child restraint demonstration with ISOFIX technology which makes the seat safer by eliminating the risk of it being incorrectly fitted in the vehicle. Additionally, a child restraint “health check” for families with car seats or booster seats was conducted to ensure appropriate seat use and installation.

 Three child seats can fit into the second row of the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer.

“The BMW Safety 360° program reflects our commitment to view safety and responsibility from the complete view of technology, behaviour and action,” said BMW Group Malaysia corporate communications head Sashi Ambi.

The first edition of the BMW Safety 360° program tackled motorcyclist safety while the issue of child restraints in cars was highlighted the following year.

“This year, we are continuing with our work from last year and we want to speak directly to parents and children because we believe that they are the group that urgently needs to be reached out to when raising awareness on road safety issues, particularly on those related to children,” said Sashi.

The week-long Traffic Safety programme held at Julia Gabriel Centre includes the following: Monday – What’s on the Road? (a visual lesson); Tuesday – Little Messengers (colouring activity); Wednesday – Stop, Look, and Listen (role-playing activity); Thursday – We Hold Hands (arts and crafts activity); Friday – My Car Seat (play and learn activity); Saturday – Seat belt experiment (practical experiment).


Toyota to launch new Yaris in Japan on Feb 10

                TOYOTA CITY: Toyota said today it will launch its new Yaris in Japan on Feb 10.

The new Yaris was developed to combine the nimble handling characteristic of compact cars with a high-quality ride comfort and the latest safety and security technologies.

It is the first model to adopt the TNGA platform (GA-B) for compact cars, and features a lightweight and highly rigid body with a low centre of gravity.

The car's next-generation hybrid system is based around a 1.5-litre inline three-cylinder Dynamic Force Engine, and fuses powerful, seamless driving performance with world-leading fuel efficiency for a compact car*4 of 36.0 kilometers per liter*5, according to WLTC test cycles.

The new Yaris is the first Toyota compact car to feature the E-Four electric four-wheel-drive system.
The petrol-powered grades are equipped with a newly developed 1.5-litre inline three-cylinder Dynamic Force Engine, with the option of either a six-speed manual transmission or a Direct Shift-CVT with 2WD or 4WD settings that provides smooth, direct acceleration. The petrol 4WD version is scheduled to go on sale from April 2020.

To offer customers with more variety, there is also a grade that pairs an improved 1.0-litre engine with a lighter and more compact CVT.

The new Yaris is expected to become a highly popular compact car, especially when it is equipped with a wide range of advanced and convenient functions.

It is the first Toyota car to be equipped with Toyota Teammate Advanced Park (including Panoramic View Monitor functions), Toyota's advanced parking support system. It is available as an option on hybrid variants.

The Yaris also features the latest Toyota Safety Sense, which is now capable of detecting oncoming cars when turning right at an intersection, and of detecting pedestrians crossing the street when turning right or left. It comes with Turn Tilt Seats, which make it easier to enter and exit the vehicle. Display Audio, which can be connected to smartphones, is also fitted to all grades as standard.

The new Yaris comes with a 1,500-watt accessory power outlet.

This not only allows the use of electrical products using the same electrical outlets found in the home, but also enables the vehicle to be used as a power generator during blackouts and other times of emergency.

The Yaris is scheduled to be added to Toyota's KINTO ONE car subscription service.

The model name is derived from Greek mythology; it was named after goddess Charis, who was a symbol of dignity and elegance.


FGV beefs up logistics business with 44 MAN trucks

                KUALA LUMPUR: FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV), through its logistics arm and subsidiary, FGV Transport Services Sdn Bhd (FGV Transport) has recently acquired 44 MAN TGS 6X4 prime movers from MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAN Truck & Bus SE of Germany.

With the new fleet additions, the FGV Group now owns 560 units of trucks of which 503 units are for inland transport and 57 units for courier transport.

FGV’s group chief executive officer Mohd Nazrul Izam Mansor said that as a major logistics player in the country with a fleet of over 500 trucks and 14 nationwide hubs, the new fleet additions would support the Group in meeting the rising market demand for efficient logistics management.

“This purchase is also part of the Group’s plan to strengthen our inland businesses under FGV Transport, with a projected additional revenue of RM6.5mil a year,” said Mohd Nazrul.

The first 15 units of the 44 prime movers have been delivered, with the remaining units expected to arrive by the end of December.

MAN Malaysia managing director Andrew O'Brooks said the tender was also the largest single order for MAN Malaysia this year.

“Major transportation and logistics companies are increasingly putting their trust in MAN Trucks. Despite the pandemic, we have recruited a number of new customers to the MAN Truck family in the last 24 months,” he said.


Proton cars for Rio 2016 medallists

                SUBANG JAYA: DRB-Hicom Bhd in collaboration with Proton Holdings Bhd will present Proton cars as appreciation to medal winners at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The prizes are a Perdana 2.0L for the Gold medallist, a Suprima S 1.6L Turbo Premium for the Silver medallist and Iriz 1.6L Premium for the Bronze medallist.

The cars will be presented to the medal winners after the Rio 2016 Olympics, upon their return from the Games.

“As a national car manufacturer, we are extremely proud of our athletes competing at the Rio 2016 Olympics. This gesture is in line with our pride towards Jalur Gemilang,” said Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar, group managing director of DRB-Hicom and chairman of Proton.

Syed Faisal added that “we hope that this will provide further encouragement to our athletes to strive harder to make our beloved Malaysia proud especially at the highest level such as the Olympics.”

DRB-Hicom and Proton would like to congratulate all the medal winners who have contributed to the nation’s pride.

Malaysia is one of the 207 nations participating at the current Rio 2016 Olympics and the nation has 32 competitors competing in 10 sporting events.

To-date, our nation’s athletes have contributed 3 medals comprising of 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal.

Rio 2016 marks Malaysia’s 15th appearance at the Olympics which started in 1956.


Hyundai's SangYup Lee wins FAI design award

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor's global design chief, who created the latest EV concept, ‘Prophecy’, has won the coveted grand prize of design at the 36th edition of Festival Automobile International (FAI).

Celebrating its 36th anniversary, the Paris-based FAI honours the best in the world of automotive design.

The top prize is given to a designer or company for its global strategy of innovation or pursuit of beauty. Past winners included automotive designers such as Ian Callum, Jaguar's former head of design, and Peter Schreyer, Hyundai Motor Group's president of design management.

Since joining Hyundai Motor in 2016, Lee has shaped the company’s design strategies and direction, leveraging over 20 years of experience with top luxury auto brands. He assumed the role of Hyundai Global Design Center Head in 2018 and has since led the development of several award-winning works, including the Prophecy.

“Every year, the jury chooses a designer for the grand prize of design. This year, the entire members voted for SangYup Lee and recognised his wonderful work,” said an FAI official. “The recognition is especially given for his contribution to Hyundai Prophecy’s aesthetic beauty and purity.”

The Prophecy, which was unveiled in March 2020, is Hyundai’s visionary EV concept that expresses the company’s latest design identity, Sensuous Sportiness. Prophecy has received accolades from various global design competitions, including 2020 Red Dot Awards, 2020 International Design Excellence Awards, and 2020 GOOD DESIGN Awards.


Ford could make electric cars in Germany after 2023, says daily

                FRANKFURT: Ford could make electric cars in Germany after 2023, when the life cycle of Ford’s Fiesta model is due to end, the head of the carmaker’s German business told a paper, adding he would welcome state subsidies to support the shift.

“Purely hypothetically that (2023) could be a good time for it,” Gunnar Herrmann told German business daily Handelsblatt in an interview published on Tuesday, He said it would take around 15 months to retool the company’s plant in Cologne but said it would not be worth the investment if sales of electric cars reached only 30,000 or 40,000 vehicles a year.

“It will be possible if the sales’ numbers are moving up more powerfully. Unfortunately, today electric cars are not especially profitable yet,” said Herrmann.

German premium carmaker BMW last week echoed Hermann’s comments, saying it would not mass produce electric cars until 2020 because its current technology is not profitable enough to scale up for volume production.

US carmaker Ford plans to invest US$5 billion in electric vehicles by 2022 and introduce at least 13 electric or hybrid models worldwide in the next five years and aims to make its first fully electric vehicle in Europe in 2020.

Herrmann suggested that the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Ford’s Cologne plant is located, could offer subsidies to support the shift to electric vehicles. “The state could do its part to initiate the structural shift, as could the federal government,” he said.

Germany’s new coalition government plans to ease the tax burden on drivers of electric vehicles, provide at least an additional 100,000 charge points across the country and subsidise car-sharing to push a shift to greener transportation.

There are also plans to provide funding for research into autonomous driving technology and support the establishment of battery cell production in Germany.


Honda back to work in China's Wuhan with temperature checks and masks

Honda factory workers resuming work in Wuhan after lockdown measures were eased. — Reuters
WUHAN: Temperature checkpoints and posters telling workers to keep more than a metre apart at Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co’s reopened plant in the Chinese city of Wuhan show how the coronavirus has created a new normal on the factory floor.

The plant, a Honda joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group was shut in late January when authorities ordered a lockdown in Wuhan in a bid to snuff out the coronavirus, which emerged there late last year.

It reopened on March 11 to resume operations in stages and is now back to pre-virus production levels, Li Shiquan, assistant director of the joint venture’s No. 2 final assembly plant, told reporters today.

Returning workers were asked to report where they had been since the epidemic started and temperature checkpoints were set up, Li said.

About 98% of its 12,000 workers were now back and were putting in overtime to make up for lost production, he said.

The joint venture produced 800,000 cars last year.

“We have many customers who are waiting for cars so this week we have arranged for each worker to work 1.5 hours more,” he said, adding that a typical shift was eight hours.

A sign hanging from the ceiling in the factory said the goal was 1,237 cars that day, 17% higher than the 1,060 it usually produced.

Plants at Honda’s Guangzhou-based joint venture with GAC are also running extra shifts, GAC’s chairman Zeng Qinghong told analysts on its earnings call last week.

The central industrial hub of Wuhan started allowing people to leave the city on Wednesday in what is seen as a turning point for China’s fight against the coronavirus.

Rubber gloves, QR codes

China’s factories begun to reopen weeks ago as infection rates in their localities began to drop off.

Now other countries such as Italy and United States are trying to curb the spread of the virus by asking workplaces to shut and the public to stay home.

Honda has suspended operations in the United States and Canada, its biggest manufacturing hub, until May 1. It has also stopped output at plants in countries ranging from Britain to Thailand, and has announced intermittent stoppages at some of its Japanese plants.

The Wuhan plant reopened after the government approved its plan to curb infection risks, Li said. The plant’s smoking and rest areas have been shut to stop people from gathering while meetings have to be held on video links.

Workers needing a rest from the assembly line are encouraged to sit on red stools spaced out on the factory floor, Li said.

Reuters reporters on a visit to the factory saw workers dressed in white overalls, rubber gloves and masks. Posters told them to keep a metre apart at all times, though that was not always adhered to.

Pasted on pillars were QR codes, which workers use their mobile phones to scan in order to fill in - once a day - forms asking about any coughing or contacts with unwell people.

Li said no coronavirus cases had been found since the plant resumed operations.

The plant’s more than 500 suppliers in Wuhan had also been allowed to resume operations on March 11, Li said, adding that Dongfeng Honda had provided them with some help but he did not go into details.


Aston Martin sets foot in Indonesia

                JAKARTA: Aston Martin has opened its first dealership in Indonesia.

Set up in partnership with PT Pesona Intan Abadi, the two-storey showroom is located here and is due to open for business next month.

The latest Aston Martin showroom is fully-equipped for new and pre-owned sales. Located in the centre of Jakarta’s most exclusive neighbourhood,the showroom will display examples of the company’s model line-up.

The standalone facility in Jakarta features a reception area and new car showroom sporting Aston Martin’s corporate identity. The showroom itself is designed and decorated in Aston Martin’s international standard to give customers a luxury experience.

“Jakarta, and Indonesia as a whole, represents an excellent opportunity for Aston Martin as this iconic brand continues its programme of global growth,” said PT Pesona Intan Abadi CEO Joerg Kelling.

“Our new showroom brings the brand to a wide audience here.”

In 2013, the marque celebrated its first 100 years in business with a year-long ‘birthday party’ that included high profile lifestyle events and international celebrations right around the globe.

Today, it has 155 dealers in 45 countries worldwide and within the last few weeks has launched two new models, the Vantage GT3 special edition and the Aston Martin Vulcan track car.


Ford and SK Innovation in EV battery joint venture

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co and South Korean battery maker SK Innovation today announced they will form a battery joint venture in North America to support the No. 2 US automaker's electric vehicle rollout.

The companies said they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the formation of the venture, called BlueOvalSK. Reuters on Wednesday reported plans for the joint venture.

The plan is for the partnership to produce about 60 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually in traction battery cells and array modules, starting mid-decade, with potential to expand, the companies said.

"This MoU is just the start; it's a key part of our plan to vertically integrate key capabilities that will differentiate Ford far into the future," Ford chief executive Jim Farley said in a statement.

SK Innovation CEO Kim Jun added: "Our JV with Ford will play a pivotal role in fleshing out the electric vehicle value chain in the United States, a key objective of the current U.S. administration."


Hyundai cuts prices on SUVs to counter China slowdown

                BEIJING: South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co cut the price of two sport-utility vehicle (SUV) models in China by as much as 11.8 percent, the company said on Tuesday, the latest carmaker to do so as a sales slowdown grips the world's largest auto market.

Hyundai said the price cuts of up to 30,000 yuan (RM18,600) on the larger Santa Fe model and 20,000 yuan (RM12,400) on the ix35 SUV were aimed at increasing its competitiveness in China, where it is due to launch the new Tucson SUV in September.

The South Korean automaker's shipments in China fell 14 percent in the second quarter, leading it to pledge further incentives in order to compete with Chinese automakers.

The price cuts follow similar moves by General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co in China, where car sales are expected to grow 3 percent this year, less than half the pace of the previous year.

Volkswagen AG has also increased discounts on several popular vehicles, as an economy expanding at its slowest pace in quarter of a century and a stock market slump depresses demand for cars and other consumer goods.

But SUVs remain a bright spot, with many middle-class Chinese trading up from sedans, helping to lift SUV sales by more than a fifth this year, according to IHS Automotive.


In India, govt aid helps carmakers go green and cheap to fight smog crisis

                NEW DELHI: Carmakers are gearing up to launch affordable hybrid and electric cars for India in the next few years, executives said, lured by government incentives for fuel-efficient vehicles as the country accelerates efforts to cut worsening air pollution.

As the industry descends on smog-bound New Delhi for India's biggest car show, starting Wednesday, foreign firms like Toyota Motor Corp will join domestic players like Tata Motors  and Mahindra & Mahindra in displaying green cars designed to reel in potential buyers.

The stakes are high in one of the fastest-growing car markets in the world. While hybrid and electric cars now make up a tiny fraction of sales, new government aid worth up to US$2,000 (RM8,285) per car could help catapult green vehicles to nearly a third of a 5 million car market by 2020, IHS Automotive says.

"It is not enough to just introduce new technology in India, you have to make it relevant for the market and the buyers," said C.V. Raman, head of engineering at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd , India's top-selling carmaker.

India's rampant pollution has forced the government's hand. A top court last month ordered an overnight temporary ban on the sale of large diesel cars in New Delhi, among the world's most polluted cities.

Carmakers were left jittery, many having invested heavily in comparatively cheap diesel technology over the years to conquer India.

Reliance on imported parts still makes full-scale hybrid technology cars expensive, but with India's new sales incentives, "semi-hybrid" technology is seen as a potential longer term solution.

To incentivise carmakers, the government introduced a scheme last year called FAME - Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric cars - that offers concessions of up to 138,000 rupees (RM8,450) on the sale of such cars.

The scheme, introduced before the New Delhi court order and originally planned for two years, will now likely be extended till 2020.

To be sure, some carmakers, like General Motors Co, Hyundai Motor Co and Honda Motor Co, are yet to be convinced on hybrid technology potential in India.

Instead, they will focus their presence at the New Delhi auto show on gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles.

Toyota is among those now looking at bringing in a hybrid variant for future models, as well as cars it now sells in India, which is also moving towards stricter emission norms.

"Our strategy is to go for hybridisation," said Naomi Ishii, head of Toyota's India unit. Ishii did not give a specific timeline, but said the Japanese carmaker will first bring it hybrid in for its top-end models and then in the mass segment, mainly because of the high cost of imported components.

Meanwhile Maruti, majority-owned by Suzuki Motor Corp, has already invested in developing a low-cost version of hybrid technology, irrespective of government incentives.

Maruti says the technology combines fuel efficiency and lower emissions, but is not as expensive as existing traditional hybrid technology.


BMW joins new consortium to tap into quantum computing

                BERLIN/MUNICH: Ten leading German companies are jointly founding the Quantum Technology and Application Consortium (QUTAC).

The goal of the newly founded consortium is to further develop the existing fundamentals of quantum computing into usable industrial applications.

QUTAC will help bring industry-relevant applications to market for the technology, chemical and pharmaceutical, insurance, and automotive industries.

This is intended to create the basis for a successful industrialisation of quantum computing in Germany and Europe.

"Quantum computing is one of the most promising future technologies and can revolutionise application fields from materials research to automated driving," said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

"Germany and Europe need a strong quantum computing ecosystem to be at the cutting edge of technology and remain globally competitive. With QUTAC, we are laying the foundation for a successful ecosystem that will allow us to make the most of the great potential of quantum computing."

At the time of its founding, the consortium includes BASF, BMW Group, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bosch, Infineon, Merck, Munich Re, SAP, Siemens, and Volkswagen.


HJC helmet: A capable riding partner

                PETALING JAYA: HJC is a popular Korean helmet brand with a well-established global presence.

I had the opportunity to review the popular HJC i90 model with a flip-up feature.

HJC is exclusively distributed by HJC Malaysia.

The HJC i90 polycarbonate flip-up helmet is a simple touring helmet which comes with internal sun visor, pinlock anti-fog layer for the visor, chin curtain, enlarged visor for greater visibility and glasses cutouts in the liner.

This helmet is also perfect for daily commuting.

HJC has ensured smooth opening and closure of the helmet( flip-up) and not forgetting the visor and sun visor is super easy to manage while riding at any speed.

This polycarbonate helmet weighs at 1.7kg which is not much heavier than the premium HJC RHPA 90S, which is 150gm heavier.

This is a decent weight by my standard and I did not feel any pressure on the head or neck during my ride.

Its SuperCool moisture wicking liner system, air-flow ventilation system and an internal sun visor kept me comfortable on my 2,500km ride under hot weather.

A special groove along the temple is able to accommodate my glasses which is good news for riders who have bad eyesight without their spectacles.

The front vents, one on the chin and one above the forehead, are well integrated and easy to operate with a gloved hand.

While riding on the highway between 100kph-120kph, there is very little intrusion of wind/outside noise.

A quiet helmet is very important especially on a long ride where one can enjoy the ride rather being irritated by outside sounds.

HJC Malaysia and Spokes & Wheels in Petaling Jaya are offering a trade-in programme, where you can trade in an old helmet and buy a brand new HJC helmet up to 40% discount.

Only selected HJC helmets are made available for this trade-in programme. Terms and conditions apply.

For details, call Spokes & Wheels sales executive Rizal at hp: 018 389 6716.

This offer is valid for December only.


Crowds flock to see Johor Sultan’s Mack Truck

                JOHOR BARU: The Istana Bukit Serene was all abuzz as passers-by stopped their vehicles in front of the entrance to view Johor's latest pride - the Johor Sultan's mega Mack Truck.

The monster truck, believed to have cost over RM1.4mil, was parked below the large crown replica in front of the palace as the Sultan's way of letting his subjects have the first look of the vehicle.

Hundreds of visitors were seen whipping our their smartphones to take photos and selfies with the truck which was modeled after the Optimus Prime character from the blockbuster flick Transformers. A publicity shot by Mack Trucks Australia showing the Sultan's customised vehicle.

G. Kevan, 29, and his girlfriend were among the excited visitors who were seen snapping away photos of the truck.

"My friends will go crazy when I upload the photos on Facebook. We have been talking about it since we saw a video of it recently on social media," he said when met here on Sunday.

Student Sunny Kee, 19, said he was on his way to dinner when he saw the truck and decided to stop by.

"My hungry stomach can wait. I didn't want to miss seeing the massive truck up close!" he said, adding that it was a proud moment for Johoreans.

The Super-Liner, which was unveiled in King George Square in Brisbane, reportedly took a year to build at the manufacturer’s Wacol headquarters, south-west of Brisbane.

The truck has some of the fanciest gadgets including a six-camera CCTV system, two flat screen TVs, a stone-topped kitchen area, barbecue, double bed and seats with 72,000 stitches of gold thread.


Indonesia's 'singing road' warns motorists if they go too fast

                JAKARTA: As part of its effort to curb traffic accidents ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga Ngawi Kertosono Kediri (JNK) has installed rather unusual pieces of equipment along the sides of a toll road connecting Madiun in Central Java to Surabaya in East Java.

Dubbed the “singing road”, the equipment emits melodic harmonies when a motorist exceeds the speed limit or veers off-course to the side of the road, warning them of imminent danger.

“The singing road along the Madiun-Surabaya toll road is the only one of its kind in Indonesia. We installed the equipment to remind motorists to always be mindful of road signs, including the speed limit, ” said JNK head AJ Dwi Winarsa on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com.

The equipment, which was previously installed along Kilometre 618 of the toll road, was moved to KM644 from Surabaya to Madiun – an area known for its high rate of traffic accidents.

Dwi said the equipment previously helped reduce the number of traffic accidents along KM618.

He went on to say the equipment would play the melody of “Happy Birthday” when a motorist drove on it at 80kph or more.

In addition to the singing road, JNK also installed several other facilities such as mobile readers at tollgates and designated health posts along several toll roads.

“We have also installed one security camera per km. In total, we have installed 100, ” Dwi said.

He called on toll road users to comply with the 100kph speed limit, as many traffic accidents occurred because of speeding motorists. — The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network


Five more highways to implement open toll payment system

                KUALA LUMPUR: Five more highways have agreed to participate in implementing the open toll payment system that will begin in mid-September.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said they are Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), SPRINT Highway, Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), SMART Tunnel and the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway (MEX).

"As I have said before, the open payment system will be implemented in phases involving various concession companies.

"Negotiation on this is an ongoing effort by the ministry and needs to be done to ensure successful implementation of the Multi Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) system,” he said in a post on Facebook today.

Prior to this, Nanta announced that six highways, along with the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway, will implement the open payment system to allow users to pay tolls using other means.

He said this brings the total number of highways involved to 11.

Nanta also announced that the Sungai Besi Expressway would be the first location for the implementation of MLFF Proof of Concept (POC).

"This will be done at the end of October to evaluate the MLFF system before it is implemented in all highways in Malaysia.

"The ministry is also in negotiations with other concession companies to get another highway for the implementation of the MLFF POC. I will announce the location of the second POC in the near future,” he said.


Continental Tyres' PremiumContact 6 sporty and comfortable

                Cars are becoming quieter on the move and the decibels in the interior get even lower as you move up the premium model ladder and this has exposed how noisy tyres are as they pick up the various frequencies generated over the different types of road surface.

At the same time, the tyres are expected to perform well in ride comfort, good fuel mileage as well as in grip and stability through winding roads.

Continental AG has obviously received its fair share of feedback in these areas and has focused its development efforts to come up with a tyre that is as quiet as it should be to complement current car developments while not compromising other areas of tyre performance.

Its latest tyre product is the PremiumContact 6 that is meant to take over the role of the ContiPremiumContact 5 and ContiSportContact 5.

By design, based on the tyre name, the former is designed more for premium motoring where comfort is prized higher than sporty driving and that is where the latter tyre is better sought after.

With the PremiumContact 6, Continental has decided to up the game by providing a tyre that would meet premium comfortable motoring needs while catering to sporty driving as well.

It’s all a matter of providing the best mix of ingredients that go into the making of a tyre, from the tread pattern, sidewall design to the blend of rubber and chemical composition that would yield the desired level of performance.

In developing the PremiumContact 6, Continental used the ContiSportContact 5 as the benchmark to achieve the sporty aspect while not forgoing the comfort side.

The eventual product was found to improve in almost all areas of tyre performance; handling up 3%, mileage improved by 15%, exterior noise quieter by 10% and interior noise by 2% while matching the ContiSportContact 5 in dry and wet braking, and rolling resistance.

It only lost out in hydroplaning or aquaplaning by 5%, which was considered acceptable with the bigger footprint.

Continental sees this as a successful resolution of what it calls ‘target conflicts’ in achieving the optimum in dry handling (stiffness of tyre), wet braking (softness) and rolling resistance (softness) through tyre compounds and tread pattern.

It also developed the tyre according to vehicle dynamics, especially in how the tyre would complement the car when taking corners, described as another target conflict.

That too, Continental says, its PremiumContact 6 would provide the steering precision and stability to enjoy a ‘fun to drive’ experience in the car.

The proof of the pudding is in the driving and this was gained at the Monteblanco Circuit in Seville, Spain where we participated in three driving routines, each to sample a different aspect of the improved tyre performance.

The first was the public road drive, albeit a short one of about 2km covering the approach roads to the circuit at speeds between 40 and 70kph.

Four Mercedes-Benz E220d were provided; two had ContiPremiumContact 5 tyres (225/55 R17, the biggest for this range) and the other two ran on PremiumContact 6 (245/45 R18).

We were to experience the routine in the same order, i.e. as driver or as passenger when moving from one car to the other; we experienced that feel as a rear passenger.

There was no difference in tyre noise as both new and old ran as quiet as could be expected and it was only in road impacts that the difference was discerned, especially when running over bumps.

We felt an extended resonance of the road impact with the ContiPremiumContact 5 while that of the new PremiumContact 6 was short and sweet; just a thud.

That made the ride more comfortable as you don’t feel the road impact any more than necessary.

The second routine was driving three fast cars - Volkswagen Golf GTi, Subaru WRX and Renault Megane RS275 – that were all shod with the PremiumContact 6 tyres, with pressures set to the respective car manufacturer’s recommendations.

We followed a pace car for three laps around a short section of the circuit (1.3km) with mostly corners turning right and one left at full bore speeds; braking hard into the corners and accelerating hard out.

Good directional feel of the PremiumContact 6 tyres was enjoyed for the quick corner bashing, especially in the Golf GTi with its automatic transmission (245/40 R18).

The impressive part was not hearing the tyres squeal when the cars were pushed through the corners.

We found it a hassle shifting gears for the manual transmission Subaru WRX (we did not drive the Renault as it was another manual transmission car) and kept mostly in third and fourth, falling somewhat behind the pack except on the short straight.

Nevertheless, we were pushing the car fast enough through the corners and still didn’t hear the tyres (225/40 R18) protesting audibly.

The third routine was in experiencing the improved stability and grip of the new PremiumContact 6 against the ContiSportContact 5 and ContiPremiumContact 5 in a BMW 640d.

We felt this was a little flawed; although the cars were the same, each car was in a different state of wear and tear, considering that we were the last media group to enjoy this experience.

This drive routine had us going through slaloms at a constant 90kph, taking a particular corner at 100kph and doing lane changes at 80kph to 90kph to gauge entry and rear stability.

We turned the steering less with the ContiSportContact 5 and new PremiumContact 6 (based on the gauge fixed behind the steering wheel), while we had to work the steering more with the ContiPremiumContact 5 while covering three laps each in the BMWs with the respective tyre.

Improved rear stability was felt in the Bimmer with the PremiumContact 6 and it was the ContiPremiumContact 5 that squealed a little when the vehicle was pushed through the corners.

Continental came up with a measuring system to gauge tyre improvements in the respective area using a BMW 640d that ran on different tyres so that results were consistent.

And this equipment used for the exercise was said to cost more than double that of the price of the BMW 640d!

That’s plenty of money Continental is willing to spend to ensure its final products are top-notch.


BMW forging ahead in electric vehicle technology

                KUALA LUMPUR: It must make sense for car buyers to buy green cars like hybrids or zero-emission vehicles such as all-electric vehicles (EVs).

“I believe mandates don’t make markets,” said BMW Group’s head of steering government, external affairs and sustainability Andreas Klugescheid.

“Let’s say the government decides the country needs to have a certain number of EVs. But the customer will ask - why should I buy an EV?,” he asked on the sidelines of the recent third E-Mobilia World, which was a partner event at the 2015 International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM), held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

To explain his view, Klugescheid spoke about the difference in the ways that the state of California, United States and Germany promoted electric mobility.

“In California, which has a population of 39 million, there are 150,000 EVs on the road. In Germany, which has a population of 80 million, there are 40,000 EVs. So, why is California more successful in encouraging EV sales?,” he asked.

The answer, said Klugescheid, was in giving incentives to car buyers.

“In the typical American manner, California looked at the point of sale - where’s the money? There is a state tax break of US$2,500 which is on top of a national tax break of US$7,500 for EV buyers. So, for example, if you buy a US$30,000 Nissan Leaf, you get US$10,000 back.”

Klugescheid also noted that successful EV adoption in California was also due to Californians being more accepting of new technology and concerned about air pollution.

“In the past, Los Angeles had a bad smog problem. People in California, which is home to Silicon Valley, are also more keen on new technology.”

As for Germany, he said Europe’s largest economy did everything right except incentivising the customer.

“In a typically German way, we decided - let’s do strategy. So, we set up a National Platform for Electric Mobility. Then, we formulated a goal of one million EVs on the road by 2020. And, we have to do research - understand the potentials in terms of industry policy, battery manufacturing, user behaviour, how to integrate renewable energy into the grid, etc, etc.”

Klugescheid said wryly, “What we didn’t do, was directly incentivising the customer. There is a vehicle tax break for EVs, but given that German car taxes are relatively low, this is not really important for the German EV buyer.”

 BMW Group’s head of steering government, external affairs and sustainability Andreas Klugescheid.

Concerning the relevance of hybrid cars and EVs in the present era of cheap oil, Klugescheid pointed out that the driving force for green cars is still regulations on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

“Oil prices go up and down, depending on factors like politics and wars. Fossil fuel resources will end one day. But, 95% of the markets that BMW operate in have CO2 regulations which are getting more stringent. So, electrifying our drive trains continues to be a key research area.”

Steep rise in global EV sales

Klugescheid’s bullish view on electric mobility is supported by high global sales of EVs.

According to the Global EV Outlook 2015 report by global forum Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), electric cars on the road have risen from 180,000 units in late 2012 to 665,000 units at end-2014.

The United States has the most EVs on the road (39%), followed by Japan (16%) and China (12%).

Sales is growing rapidly, rising from 45,000 EVs sold in 2011 to more than 300,000 sold in 2014.

The CEM report also said it has become easier for drivers to recharge their vehicles, as countries expand public charging infrastructure.

It also noted that since 2011, EV batteries’ cost has dropped by about 50% and energy density has also risen, which in turn improves EV travel range — a key consumer concern.

Klugescheid also highlighted BMW’s eDrive technology, used in all electrically powered cars and plug-in hybrids from the German premium automaker.

BMW eDrive spans the electric motor, the lithium-ion high-voltage battery and the power electronics.

At the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW premiered the eDrive models of its 2, 3 and 7 Series and X5 SAV (sports activity vehicle).

Electro-mobility research in Singapore

Also present at the third E-Mobilia World was BMW director of future mobility research Dr Felix Klanner, who highlighted BMW’s collaboration with Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

NTU is among eight universities in the world that BMW work with, for research and development projects. Others include Tsinghua University in Beijing, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.

“We turn ideas into nuts and bolts,” said Klanner.

 BMW director of future mobility research Dr Felix Klanner.

The Future Mobility Research Lab on the NTU campus is BMW Group’s first joint laboratory in South-East Asia.

The lab carries out research in electronics, powertrain technologies, and mobility habits and concepts.

In June this year, the co-funded lab received SGD$1.3mil to drive new research projects, on top of the initial SGD$5.5mil given two years ago.

The lab uses the all-electric BMW i3 and plug-in hybrid sports car BMW i8 as research platforms.

Klanner said Singapore was chosen as a research venue as it is a densely-populated city state.

“We can gain insights on the driving behaviour here, and improve EV technology for global megacities.”


Saab is back, but in all-electric form

                TROLLHÄTTAN (Sweden): Saab enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that the brand is back, but not perhaps in the way some might have hoped or expected.

That's because the business who bought the automotive assets of the Swedish carmaker from bankruptcy in 2012, the Chinese-Swedish company National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), has now launched production of a rebadged all-electric version of what used to be the Saab 9-3.

This sort-of reborn Saab is being built at a new factory in Tianjin, China, and NEVS describes the venture as, "an important milestone in implementing NEVS' vision to shape mobility for a more sustainable future and to start delivering EVs to our partners."

At the moment, the current manufacturing capacity of the new facility is 50,000 electric vehicles annually, but that's only phase one of the plan, and phase two will see that ramped up to as many as 220,000 units per year.

The NEVS 9-3 EV was first shown to the public at CES in Shanghai earlier this year, and they're very heavily based on the old 9-3 that dates back as far as 2002. The driving range of the new model is said to be around 300km, and it also features an air-filtration system for the cabin that removes up to 99 percent of airborne particulates, which is especially important for the Chinese market.

Other cutting-edge features include in-car Wi-Fi, smartphone connectivity, and the ability to update the car's software over the air.

Unfortunately, NEVS is unable to use the Saab name for its cars. And that's because the still-operating aircraft manufacturer and defence company that used to be the Swedish automaker's parent company, Saab AB, revoked permission a number of years ago after NEVs experienced financial difficulties.

NEVS claims to have thousands of pre-orders for its EVs from a number of Chinese companies and has signed a US$12 billion collaboration agreement with an EV leasing company for 150,000 units.

A deal is also in place to allow the Turkish government use the intellectual property rights for the Saab 9-3, but not the name, to develop a completely new Turkish brand in the country.


Flying cars take off on French Riviera

                MONACO: Flying cars might seem like the stuff of science fiction, but two prototypes were launched Thursday on the French Riviera, at an event showcasing "supercars" in Monaco.

Dutch and Slovak companies unveiled their designs as world premieres in the tiny well-heeled principality, where luxury automakers have gathered until Sunday for the Top Marques showcase event.

Bratislava-based Aeromobil, whose first prototype presented two years ago suffered an accident, is back with a "new generation" of flying vehicle named after the firm which makes it.

"We are taking reservations from today for deliveries expected in 2020, after the process of (regulatory) approvals is completed," the Slovak firm's spokesman Stefan Vadocz told AFP.

The Aeromobil vehicle, six metres long and with a fully-deployed span of nine metres, is a normal four-wheeled car which can unfold its wings to transform itself into a plane able to fly two passengers at a cruising speed of 260kph for up to 750km.

The price is between 1.2 and 1.5mil euros, depending on options chosen.

Its Dutch rival for the futuristic vehicle type, the Pal-V Liberty, is the brainchild of Robert Dingemanse, whose company is based near Breda in the south of the Netherlands.

His crossover car-plane is more compact, at four metres long, and should be deliverable as early as next year, once official approvals are secured. He is already taking orders for a vehicle which will cost between 299,000 and 499,000 euros.

The Dutch flying car is in fact a gyrocopter with three wheels and a retractable rotor. It can carry two people at a cruising speed of 160 km/h for between 400-500 kilometres.

It is "one of the safest flying machines on the planet," able to fly "whatever the weather conditions," say its designers.

Users of the the Aeromobil and the Pal-V Liberty will require both a driving licence and a pilot's qualification.

The Aeromobil, a flying supercar is on display as part of the "Top Marques" show, dedicated to exclusive luxury goods, on April 20, 2017 in Monaco.


Finally, VW brings back the Microbus, with a battery

The concept ID.Buzz is seen during the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. — Reuters
DETROIT: Volkswagen will show a production version of its long-awaited ID.Buzz, an electric reincarnation of its beloved Microbus or Kombi, on March 9 and plans to launch it in the United States in late 2023, the company said on Friday.

The ID.Buzz is one of "the most anticipated and most hyped" models anticipated from the Volkswagen brand since the company launched its new Beetle in the late 1990s, Scott Keogh, head of Volkswagen's North American operations said during a media call.

Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess tweeted on Thursday "The legend returns on 03/09/22!" The tweet contained a sketch of the profile of the ID.Buzz van.

Volkswagen has shown a series of prototypes for a new Microbus over the past decade. But those prior show vans - the Budd.E and the Bulli - never made it to production, to the frustration of fans of the vehicle.

Keogh said that a three-row version of the ID.Buzz will launch in the United States, where the original microbus became an icon of the counterculture, in late 2023 or early 2024.

Volkswagen will launch a two-row version in Europe.

Volkswagen does not plan to build the ID.Buzz at its US factory in Chattanooga.

"You want to get to 100,000 units before you localise," Keogh said.

Volkswagen will ramp up production of its ID.4 electric SUV at Chattanooga this year.

Earlier Friday, Volkswagen said US sales of its VW brand vehicles rose 15% in 2021, driven largely by strong sales of gasoline-fuelled SUVs such as the Atlas and Tiguan.

Shortages of vehicles caused by chip supply chain problems will continue to limit vehicle production and sales in the United States through 2022, Keogh said.

He said he believes as many as two million potential car buyers did not buy a vehicle in 2021 because of the lack of supply, creating pent-up demand for this year and beyond.


Audi teams up with supplier to create urban purifier for EVs

                LONDON: Audi is working with supplier MANN+HUMMEL to develop a particulate filter for electric cars that collects particulate matter from the surrounding area.

Both while driving and charging, it is to already help improve air quality in cities during a first pilot phase. The innovative technology was demonstrated at the Oct 13-14 Greentech Festival here.

Regardless of a vehicle’s drive system, 85% of fine dust in road traffic is caused by brake, tyre, or road abrasion. The smallest dust particles, hardly noticeable to the naked eye, are only a few micrometres in size with a diameter of only 10 micrometres and can therefore be easily inhaled.

In the past year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended significantly lower particulate matter limits than in the past but according to experts, it would be impossible to comply with these new values in many urban areas in Germany.

Together with the supplier MANN+HUMMEL, Audi has developed a filter for the front end that can collect particulate matter from its environment; it functions similarly to stationary systems that are already in use in some cities.

The mobile version ensures not only are the car’s own particulate emissions absorbed, such as those of an Audi e-tron, but those of other vehicles can be absorbed as well – right where they are generated.

The pilot project was launched in 2020 and will run for a period of four years.

Fabian Groh, Project Manager in Attachment System Development at AUDI AG, said: “This particulate filter is an example of our pursuit of innovation for everyone’s benefit and a successful collaboration with specialised suppliers. We are already doing a lot today on our own initiative. We anticipate it will also become a legal requirement in the future.”

The filter is integrated into the vehicle’s existing airflow in front of the radiator so that only a few modifications to the car are necessary, keeping costs down. The filter element is controlled via the switchable cooling air inlet and its mechanical function is comparable to that of a vacuum cleaner. By a similar principle, the fine dust particles remain stuck in the filter and the air can still flow through it.

Thus far, the filter has been used in Audi e-tron test vehicles. While driving, it passively filters by means of the movement of the vehicle; air flows through the filter system, which captures even the smallest particles.

Another possibility is filtering during stationary charging. A fan that is already built into every electric vehicle conveys ambient air through the radiator – the system takes advantage of this process and can thus actively filter the air flowing through it, using the fine dust filter, ensuring the smallest particles are absorbed, even when stationary. This is ideal for use in urban environments, where the particulate matter pollution is much higher than in rural areas.

The assessments conducted on the test vehicles were not only used to analyse the effectiveness of the filters, but also to determine whether the technology affects overall vehicle usage. After over 50,000km of endurance tests on the Audi e-tron, the answer was clear: the filters have no negative effect on the operation of the electric vehicle, including on hot summer days or during fast charging.

The system is so effective that, depending on the usage scenario, the Audi e-tron particles are completely filtered out in a highly polluted city such as Stuttgart. In polluted cities, fine dust emissions can be actively and passively absorbed by up to three vehicles in a typical customer scenario.

To make the system even more efficient, Audi is working with MANN+HUMMEL to connect with existing sensors such as weather stations, plus they plan to develop a display logic in the vehicle, allowing passengers to determine when the system is active and how much has already been filtered.

The filter is easy to maintain and must only be replaced when the regular service interval has been reached.

A lifecycle analysis of the entire filter system has shown that it will account for 14.9 kilograms of CO2 equivalents. Additionally, the filter itself consists of 15% recycled material and the entire system is 60% recycled.


Nissan to cease producing cylinder heads for Renault from 2024

                PARIS: Nissan said it would stop production of cylinder heads for French car maker Renault at its plant in Sunderland, northern England, from early 2024, adding it did not expect this move to result in job losses.

"From early 2024, Nissan Sunderland Plant will cease production of cylinder heads on site. We do not expect this to result in job losses, and are working with staff as we redeploy them to other parts of the business," the company said, confirming a Sky News report.

Nissan employs about 250 people to make cylinder heads for Renault petrol vehicles.

"Following a study about the economics of cylinder head suppliers, Renault Group has found another supplier that will start working with us from 2024," a Renault spokesman said.

Renault has embarked on a multi-year cost-savings plan and a strategy shift in order to redress its financial situation.

Industry watchers say the end of the contract with Nissan will raise further questions about the future of the Renault-Nissan alliance, following the departure of former CEO Carlos Ghosn, the architect of that alliance.

Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi want more than 80% of their models to be based on common platforms by 2026, despite questions about strategic convergence at the three companies in the coming decade.


Toyota reveals world-first flexible fuel hybrid prototype in Brazil

                SAO PAULO: A prototype of the world's first hybrid flexible-fuel vehicle (Hybrid FFV), debuted in an event Toyota held today here.

The prototype is the combination of a flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) that can be powered by both gasoline and alternative fuels such as ethanol, and Toyota's famous hybrid system which combines a combustion engine and an electrical powertrain.

Hybrid FFV is a new powertrain system that Toyota is developing with an aim to popularise hybrid electric vehicles in Brazil and contribute to the environment through reduction of CO2 emissions.

Hybrid FFV has the potential to drastically reduce total CO2 emissions as it is built on Toyota's hybrid system that has high energy efficiency and low emission levels and it also leverages the CO2 re-absorption capacity of ethanol, a plant-derived 100% renewable fuel. The prototype uses the Prius as a base model, which is currently sold and becoming popular in Brazil.

Toyota's initial studies indicated that Hybrid FFV has a great advantage in environmental performance compared to a standard FFV, when CO2 emissions is estimated starting with the extraction of the raw material, through its distribution at the fuel pumps to the ignition in the combustion process of the car. If it is fuelled only by sugarcane-based ethanol (E100 fuel), the results are better, said Toyota.

The development of Hybrid FFV represents one of Toyota's efforts to achieve its "Environmental Challenge 2050" where it challenges itself to reduce vehicle CO2 emissions by 90% in comparison with 2010 levels, by 2050. Toyota also targets to have more than 5.5 million electrified vehicles in its global new vehicle sales by 2030.

The prototype is expected to undergo more real-world road testing in Brazil to evaluate the system's reliability, durability, and powertrain performance.

Stakeholders in the project included the state government, universities, and the Sugarcane Industry Union.


Honda Malaysia enhances HiP insurance coverage

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has introduced an enhanced version of its Honda Insurance Plus (HiP) programme.

Introduced since 2002, the insurance package is exclusively available to all Honda owners and boasts of being able to provide comprehensive protection and coverage in various situations.

“The all-inclusive and wide-ranging HiP is the best insurance plan for Honda owners because it is developed by Honda, for Honda customers and with our Honda cars in mind," said Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO Toichi Ishiyama.

The newly enhanced insurance package has been expanded to include three areas of protection - dubbed Rescue, Protection and Savings.

The first benefit, Rescue entails the HiP rescue team which are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which provides 24/7 towing assistance* in case of accidents, breakdowns and floods.

The cars will be sent to any Honda authorised Body & Paint Centre within a 450km round trip from the location while the roadside repair service offers free labour of up to RM200 per event, excluding spare parts.

Apart from that, 24/7 roadside repair services are also available during unforeseen incidences such as a flat tyre, running out of fuel or replacing a flat battery.

In addition, the company promises to provide an efficient and hassle-free claim assistance where members will be updated constantly throughout the claims process.

Regarding Protection, HiP members will be promised with only high-quality workmanship on all body and paint repairs at all Honda Authorised Body & Paint Centres.

The company also promises that only 100% of Honda genuine body and parts replacements which come with a six-month warranty or 10,000km mileage warranty are used at these authorised Honda centres.

Furthermore, HiP members whose cars are repaired at a Honda Authorised Body & Paint Centre will receive speedy claim pre-approval for claims below RM20,000.

Aside from that, HiP members will also be given medical assistance (minimal fees may be required) such as medical referral and arrangement of appointments, dispatch of medications which are not available locally, and medical evacuation or repatriation if required.

As an additional new protection benefit, a HiP member is now entitled to Personal Accident Coverage of up to RM15,000 in the event of Accidental Death or Permanent Disability in the Named Vehicle Car accident.

HiP enables members to enjoy the benefit of Savings - which received the most enhancement in the overall package.

The existing HiP 100% insurance payout based on the agreed value if the vehicle is stolen or severely damaged in an accident for the vehicle age of up to 10 years since its registration is now upgraded to 13 years for all HiP members.

Other newly introduced privileges include Unnamed Driver whereby HiP provides coverage for all drivers under private registration with no additional names and compulsory excess payment required; flood allowance of up to RM1,500; special relief allowance of RM1,500 in the event of car theft or total loss and RM1,000 for lost key reimbursement.

Apart from that, HiP members are also entitled to a 100% coverage for 10 years with no betterment fee that allows old parts of a Honda car damaged due to accident to be replaced with new original parts.

All existing and new Honda customers can renew and apply for HiP at their preferred authorised dealer.

For more information, log on to www.honda.com.my or call Honda’s Toll-Free at  1-800-88-2020.


Porsche 360 Financing introduced

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Auto Performance, the official importer and distributor of Porsche vehicles in Malaysia, has introduced it latest Porsche 360 Financing programme to help make owning a sports car from Stuttgart, Germany an easier one.

Potential Porsche owners must take note that although the programme applies to all Porsche vehicles, it does not  include the special limited edition models or those that bear the 'GT' badge.

The programme is an alternative to conventional financing by promising lower monthly instalments and flexible terms for better cash flow management.

Within the third to fifth year prior to the end of the financing programme, owners are able to trade-in their vehicle for a new model with the same badge or refinance the loan amount.

Additionally, the programme claims that it will help to enable better savings via lower monthly repayments compared to conventional hire purchase financing.

Those who opt for the programme can choose three financing periods of three, four or five years for their preferred Porsche.

Afterwhich, an assured resale value will be established based on the model and specifications of the vehicle.

At the end of the financing term, owners will have three options.

The first option is to trade in the vehicle at any authorised Porsche Pre-Owned Centre at the assured resale value, which will be upheld as long as the vehicle in question is serviced at any of the three Authorised Porsche Service Centres in Kuala Lumpur or Penang.

The company also assures that the programme has been structured in such a way that the remaining loan amount is generally lower than the assured resale value of the vehicle and the balance payment could go towards the down payment of another new vehicle for a fuss-free transition.

The second option allows customers, from the third year onwards, to extend the financing programme for their vehicle or to terminate it by settling the outstanding amount in full.

Or simply return the vehicle without any additional commitments as the last option.


Honda Malaysia celebrates its 250,000th City owner

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has chalked up another milestone with the delivery of the 250,000th City.

This outstanding cumulative sales of the City since the second generation City which was first introduced in Malaysia 16 years ago in 2001, attests to the strong market acceptance of the B-segment sedan.

The 250,000th City is a Modern Steel Metallic (V Variant) delivered to owner Tan Kian Hui, who bought the car at Tiong Nam Motor (M) Sdn Bhd.

In appreciation of him selecting the City as his first car, Honda Malaysia presented Tan with RM1,000 worth of service vouchers, a full set of Honda merchandise and Honda Genuine Accessories consisting of Modulo package, Urban package and Utility package worth RM5,300.

Tan was also among 25 lucky customers whom Honda Malaysia is giving RM1,000 worth of service vouchers each as token of appreciation and in celebration of this milestone.

The remaining 24 lucky customers will be announced on Honda Malaysia Facebook page.

“I have always had a good impression of Honda cars. When it came to buying my own car, I immediately only thought of Honda and I liked the City very much because the design is very attractive. When I sat in the car, I was impressed with features such as rear view camera and rear air conditioning. I booked the car a week ago,” said Tan, who hails from Klang.

Honda Malaysia is currently running multiple campaigns including the 3S or “Best Deals Promotion” which rewards new customers automatically, the “Best Time to Get Best Protection” promotion with Ecotint as well as “The Digital Treasure Hunt Wall Contest” which is open to all Malaysians whereby participants in the Facebook contest will stand to win a variety of prizes.

Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO Katsuto Hayashi said, “The City was the main contributor to Honda Malaysia sales in 2015 and 2016, propelling the company to become the No.1 Non-National brand in Malaysia for two consecutive years and also enabling Honda Malaysia to end 2016 as the 1st Non-National brand to achieve No.2 position in overall TIV (total industry volume)”.

The City is one of Honda Malaysia’s most sought-after models, with the second generation recording more than 61,000 unit sales and the third generation more than 84,000 unit sales.

The fourth generation is the most successful, capturing 33 per cent of the B-segment market share in 2014 when it was launched, and this market share rose to 39 per cent at the end of December 2016.

This generation sold an impressive 100,000 units during the period of March 2014 to December 2016, making it the most popular generation of all the City and accounting for 38 per cent of Honda Malaysia sales of the same period.

The Taffeta White and Modern Steel Metallic are the favourite colours of Malaysian customers.

The City is a locally assembled or CKD model starting from the second generation until the current fourth generation.

Bookings for the newly launched refreshed City now stand at 2,500 units.


Lexus revs up with world’s first ‘heartbeat car’

                SYDNEY: Driving a great car can stimulate the senses and quicken the heartbeat. Now Lexus has created the world’s first vehicle that directly translates the driver’s heart patterns into a visual display across the bodywork.

The one-off RC F high-performance coupe is the result of collaboration between Lexus Australia and the creative agency M&C Saatchi.

Different technologies have been integrated into the car to monitor the driver’s heartbeat and use the data captured to send an electric charge through the bodywork.

The body panels are finished in an electro-luminescent paint, produced by the US specialist Luminor, which reacts to the charge with an intense glow, pulsing in the same rhythm as the driver’s heart rate.

“This latest concept follows other innovative projects we have developed this year, including smart outdoor advertising billboards that respond to the car you’re driving and the fantastic new Lexus Hoverboard,” said Lexus Australia chief executive Sean Hanley.

“The heartbeat car also links to another key part of Lexus – high performance vehicles – via our F marque models, and the emotional responses a machine like the RC F can inspire in a person.”


Book X50 only through authorised dealers, says Proton

                PETALING JAYA: Proton is urging those who want to get the soon-to-launch X50 SUV to book through only authorised Proton dealers and outlets.

It said in a brief statement yesterday that some unscrupulous parties were seeking to profit from the keen public interest by misrepresenting themselves.

Proton said only bookings made via authorised Proton dealers and outlets are legitimate.

It said it has not appointed any parties outside of its authorised sales network to act as sales agents for the company’s products.

"We would like to strongly urge all potential customers to be wary of individuals or organisations claiming otherwise and if in doubt to contact us," it said.

The automaker recently announced that it had registered 20,000 bookings for the X50 two weeks after series production began at its plant in Tanjung Malim, Perak.

Proton can be reached at its official site. Alternatively call its customer care hotline at 1-800-88- 8398.


Mitsubishi dishing out Raya goodies

                SHAH ALAM: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) is offering attractive deals including free maintenance programme up to five years and cash rebates up to RM6,000 for selected models in the run-up to the Raya celebrations,

From now until July 31, customers who book and register the new 2015 ASX can enjoy a 5-Year Free maintenance programme and 5-Year warranty period.

The 2WD ASX is priced at RM114,043.50, while the 4WD is priced at RM128,179.50.

Customers who choose the most fuel efficient compact in its class, Mitsubishi Mirage will enjoy cash rebate up to RM6,000.  The Mirage is priced at RM63,740.65.

Those who buy the award-winning Pajero Sport sports utility vehicle will enjoy cash rebates up to RM5,000. The Pajero Sport VGT is priced at RM172,211.60.

Last but not least, customers who choose the sporty Mitsubishi Lancer GTE will enjoy cash rebates up to RM3,000. The Lancer GTE is priced at RM115,581.63.

That’s not all! Mitsubishi owners will also be happy to know that Mitsubishi Motors is offering Mitsubishi genuine accessories at discounts up to 70%!

Prices for the items start as low as RM45 after discount and can be purchased at all authorized Mitsubishi 3S (Sales, Service, Spare parts) centres.

Mitsubishi Motors will also be having an open house at all its showrooms on June 6,7,13 and 14.

There will be gifts for those who booking or test-drive Mitsubishi models. Refreshments will also be served.


Pokemon Go and driving don't mix

                LONDON: The new Pokemon Go mobile phone craze has swept the world this week, and is available in Britain from Thursday – but drivers are reminded not to play the game while at the wheel of their cars.

Pokemon Go has been released in the United States, Australia and Germany with its Asian debut scheduled for today.

The game allows a player to seek out Pokemon characters in real life settings via a mobile phone. But the British Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) fears that young drivers especially could go on the search for Pikachu and his friends on the roads.

“Kids and adults alike are going crazy for this game. But the risk is that some people are going to be playing it at the wrong time – and driving a car is the last place you should be looking for Pidgey, Rattata or the others," said IAM RoadSmart digital content executive Samson Ruwangu.

“I nearly tripped over playing this game. Pokemon GO makes you concentrate on catching characters and it takes both hand and eye coordination.”

Research conducted last year by IAM RoadSmart showed the extent to which smartphone use had become an addiction to some.

Eight per cent of drivers admitted to driving while using a video-calling application such as FaceTime and Skype to make and receive video calls, rising to 16 per cent among 18 to 24 year olds.

It found nine per cent of drivers admitted to taking a selfie while driving within "the last month". This increases to 15 per cent of young drivers aged 18-24 and 19 per cent of 25-35 year olds. Women are less selfie obsessed than men, with just five per cent of women citing they have taken a selfie while driving compared to 12 per cent of men (reference 1).

“While looking out for Eevee, Weedle and the rest is great fun, it is important to keep concentration on what matters – and that’s keeping your eyes on the road. Psyduck can wait for later,” said Samson.

The British Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) was set up in 1956 and helps improve driver and rider skills through coaching and education. It also provides advice and publish research into driver and rider behaviour.


BMW says e-fuels have highest impact for current fleet, not new cars

                BERLIN: BMW chief executive Oliver Zipse said he viewed e-fuels as having the biggest impact for decarbonising transport if used in existing car fleets, rather than in new cars as was being discussed in Europe.

"The main impact of e-fuels is on existing fleets, not in the regulation of new vehicles being hotly discussed in Europe," Zipse said.

"We aren't discussing the existing fleet. The only opportunity to make a difference there is e-fuels. I agree strongly with the colleagues proposing that, particularly because our motors are prepared for it," he added.


Good Samaritan uses own car to stop a runaway vehicle in S. Korea

                SEOUL: A man who purposely crashed his car into an unconscious driver’s car on a highway is being widely praised for preventing a more serious accident.

Han Yeong-tak, 46, told local media that his own car was the least of his concerns when he spotted an oddly crawling vehicle scraping the middle divider of the highway.

The driver of a car, who reportedly had a chronic illness, had passed out while driving due to the previous day’s stress. The car had already rolled on for 1.5km when Han - quite literally - stepped in.

Blackbox footage from the car revealed several passing cars overtaking the vehicle without stopping to look, until suddenly Han decided to stop his Tuscani in front of the unconscious man's moving vehicle, bumping it to a halt.

Incheon District Police said Monday (May 14) that it will close the case on the crash that occurred on May 12 on the second West Coast Highway, as the collision was “unlike other highway accidents”.

Hyundai, the carmaker of Han’s Tuscani, offered to repair his vehicle free of charge. — The Korea Herald/Asia News Network


Apple’s Car is beloved before it even exists

                SAN FRANCISCO: If semiconductor shortages, recession risks and the once-a-century shift in propulsion weren’t enough to keep auto executives up at night, here’s one more sleep disruptor: Consumers are keen to buy an Apple car before one even exists.

Strategic Vision just released the results of an annual study that this year reached 200,000 new-vehicle owners.

For the first time, the consulting firm included Apple among the more than 45 brands it surveyed consumers about. The findings: 26% said they would "definitely consider” buying a set of wheels from the iPhone maker, behind only Toyota and Honda. And 24% ticked the top box ("I love it”) when asked their impression of the quality of the brand, beating all others by a wide margin.

That’s serious brand power and suggests there would be significant appetite for autos alongside all those phones, computers, watches and television boxes.

Whether Tim Cook will actually green-light a product for all these prospective buyers is still unclear.

"We’ll see what Apple does,” the chief executive officer told the New York Times last year. "We investigate so many things internally. Many of them never see the light of day.”

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported Apple is shooting for a fully autonomous electric car and aims to have one ready around 2025.

Many companies working on self-driving technology have been unable to deploy robotaxis on the timelines they targeted, and only a handful are offering ride services in select cities.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration keeps having to remind Americans that no vehicle available for purchase today is capable of driving itself (hear that, Tesla owners?)

Autonomous or not, an Apple car could be a formidable force, especially given the challenges incumbents have had meeting those expectations (see Bloomberg’s feature story yesterday on Volkswagen’s software woes.)

Cook employs legions of coders capable of developing the brains a modern electric vehicle needs to manage battery power and navigate traffic.

The company also owns all sorts of content that could be piped into dashboard screens, assuming passengers will be able to safely avert their eyes from the road.

For the time being, at least, Apple lacks an industrial partner.

But one of the companies it knows best — iPhone assembler Foxconn —recently acquired a former General Motors assembly plant in Ohio from struggling startup Lordstown Motors. That factory is big enough to easily make 400,000 vehicles a year.

While there are already plans to make Endurance pickups for Lordstown and an EV called the Pear for Fisker, both those companies are unproven startups.

There may be plenty of space for Apple in that factory’s future.

Strategic Vision’s study indicates automakers already having issues responding to the competitive threat posed by Tesla could be in for another menace.

But Elon Musk also ought to take notice: More than 50% of Tesla owners said they’d definitely consider a future Apple vehicle. "Everyone should be prepared,” Strategic Vision president Alexander Edwards says.