To Infiniti and beyond

Stepping into the new luxury 3.5-litre V6 hybrid sports sedan, the Infiniti Q50S, and driving it out of the Infiniti showroom made me feel like I was in the DeLorean from Back to the Future.No, the Q50S does not have a flux capacitor or time travelling capabilities (it’s a bummer, I know) but it does give you a good indication of what the future holds for cars and their drivers.The Q50S unit came equipped with Safety Shield technologies, which is an option so you do not have to get it if you don’t want to but I strongly recommend it.And here is why.The bells and whistles for safety in this car runs as long as my arm (I’ll get to the cool bits soon, I promise) and these include Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Forward Emergency Braking, Distance Control Assist, Lane Departure Prevention and Blind Spot Intervention.Got it? Good.Now here’s the cool bit.I was driving on Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur and any city dweller can tell you how traffic simply comes to a crawl on that road and sure enough, I was inching my way through it.And then the Q50S did something which put a broad smile on my face.With the Safety Shield on, the car started braking by itself when it detected another object in front of it (my foot was off the accelerator and brakes at this point) and the first part of braking was to slow the car down and if you do not do anything as it slowly rolls closer to the car in front of you, the car brakes harder and comes to a full stop ... autonomously!At this point, you put your foot on the brakes and release it when traffic starts rolling again.I never enjoyed myself so much in a traffic jam.Even when you are up to speed, all the safety features are working for you as the car will automatically start braking and even disengage the accelerator (you can actually feel the accelerator pedal kick back) once it determines the speed you’re driving and the object in front of you.All these advanced safety features are but a taste of the future and how the different processes in autonomous cars are already evident here and in other car manufacturers too (Lane Departure technology for example, is all the rage right now).But I digress...Infiniti is the world’s first automaker to introduce the Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) in a vehicle which is a steer-by-wire system that controls the front-tyre steering angle and inputs electronically.This makes steering rather effortless.It was more precise and light, so minimal hand movement was involved.With its Lane Detection Camera to monitor lane markers, the Q50S is often dead centre in the lane and with the Lane Depature Warning and Prevention system, the car steers itself back if you are off your trajectory.The downside to this steering system is the lack of feedback and I could not tell whether I turned the wheel enough sometimes and where the tyres were pointing.But it was a minor niggle.The system has a lot of benefits and you can customise it according to effort (standard, heavy or light) and how fast or slow you want the turning response to be.Plus for a car this long, with an overall length of 4,800mm, you would be surprised at how easy it is to steer it even in narrow parking lots and tight corners.This car is also incredibly sexy, what with all its curves and creases.It sits really low in the front and high in the rear and that gives it a really sporty stance.Overall, it is quite refined whether you are looking at it from the outside or inside its well-crafted cabin.And it is all about comfort and elegance when you’re in the car.The centre dash is designed with the driver in mind with not one but two display system screens.The leather seats are cosy and inviting and it’s really quiet and spacious too for rear passengers with a wheelbase of 2,850mm.I enjoyed listening to the Bose 14-speaker Premium Audio System (which is optional) which had a crisp quality to it whether playing CDs or the radio.And it’s so insulated, that you only hear and feel a slight rumble of the V6 engine once you open up the throttle.But it is still a good sound to hear.And the power delivery is simply silky smooth; it is like a gush of wind and you are off.The electronically-controlled 7-speed transmission works effortlessly and mind you, this car has got 364hp combined and 338Nm of torque, so it’s fast.How fast? The Q50S does the century sprint in just 5.1 seconds.The suspension is catered more towards comfort while still being firm enough for spirited driving.And to top it off, it is frugal with a combined fuel economy of 6.2L per 100km.There is no doubt that Infiniti has produced a car that stands on its own in the luxury class.There is a learning curve with all the technology involved but it is a pleasure more than an impediment.The Q50S will be launched in Malaysia late next month together with another variant - the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine.The rear-wheel driven Q50S Hybrid is expected to cost around RM400,000 and the turbo version at RM250,000.


Bikers face insect hazard. Here's what to do

                ESSEN: Motorcyclists with an open helmet visor risk getting hit in the face by flying insects, stones or swirling dust and dirt. A particularly unpleasant possibility is that a wasp could get stuck in the helmet while you're riding.

If this happens, it's essential to keep calm and slow down gradually, advises Matthias Haasper from the German Institute for Motorcycle Safety (IFZ). If you brake too quickly, you risk danger from and for traffic behind you.

Instead of trying to rip off the helmet as quickly as possible, you should simply accept that you are going to be stung by the wasp, Haasper says.

Even reaching into the helmet while you are driving is not a good idea a driver's full concentration should be on safely coming to a stop.

Even at slow speeds, foreign objects can temporary blind riders if they are hit in the eye. The IFZ therefore advises always riding with your visor closed, or at least with goggles, even if it is tempting to enjoy the breeze.


Triumph Rocket 3 R can be yours with great savings

                PETALING JAYA: Triumph Malaysia is offering a special price of RM130,000 for the Rocket 3 R year model 2020 in stock.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Rocket 3 R Roadster model is available in Korosi Red and Phantom Black colours, and is priced at RM135,900.

Price does not include insurance, road tax and registration fees.

 Rocket 3 R in Korosi Red.

The 2021 Rocket 3 is also sold in the GT touring version that is more rider-friendly (fitted with backrest, windscreen, forward set footpegs for laidback ergonomics) and available in Phantom Black and Silver Ice/Storm Grey priced at RM139,900.

The Rocket 3 is the production motorcycle with the world's largest engine capacity at 2,458cc.

 Rocket 3 GT in Phantom Black.

The engine also delivers the highest torque of any production motorbike at 221Nm at 4,000rpm.

The Rocket weighs only 291kg, making its one of the lightest motorcycle in the "biggest" bike category.

It is also Triumph's quickest production motorcycle with a record 0-100kph sprint time of 2.73 seconds.

For further inquiries, Whatsapp Sales Team at 601123002007 or email: info@fastbikes.com.my or visit www.triumphmotorcycles.my.


Peugeot testing next-generation 208

Current 208.
PARIS: Peugeot has been receiving a lot of plaudits lately for its crossover SUVs, especially the 3008 which was named European Car of the Year just last year. Now its focus is returning to the supermini segment it's also enjoyed considerable success in over the years with a completely new generation of the 208 that's now being seen out and about on European roads undergoing testing.

It was originally expected that a completely redesigned 208 would have been launched this year to follow on from the successful redesign of the larger 308. However, as the PSA group has been concentrating on expanding the DS brand, maintaining the impressive momentum of the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUVs, and a new 2008 is also on the way soon, the all-new 208 has been pushed back to early 2019.

As camouflaged versions of the new 208 in what appears to be its production form are now being seen in public -- with photos appearing on motor1.com and carscoops.com, the smart money is on a full reveal happening at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March of next year.

 The interior and exterior styling of the Peugeot 3008 (seen here) will inspire the 2019 208.

The new 208 looks to be closely following the latest Peugeot signature look with the intricate light designs already in evidence on models such as the 3008 SUV and 508 sedan. Although the 208 will look a lot like a smaller version of the excellent 308, the new model will be only the second PSA model to be built on the new CMP platform after the DS 3 Crossback SUV that's due to be unveiled soon.

Like a lot of new platforms, as well as delivering more internal space and better packaging, CMP is also specifically designed to accommodate EV powertrains as well as small displacement turbocharged conventional engines.

Not much is known about the all-electric version of the new 208, other than Peugeot promising a range on a single charge of more than 300km, and that it will look almost the same as combustion engine versions.

As well as a new interior that's sure to draw considerable inspiration from the highly regarded cabin of the latest 308 and 3008 models, the new 208 is also likely to be one of the first superminis on the market to be offered with some of the latest semi-autonomous driving technology.


Looking after your car battery

                PETALING JAYA: As new generation cars are equipped with more energy-hungry electronic devices, the power demand on the humble car battery has never been more.

Understanding the car battery and the important role it plays in your everyday journey is key to enjoying peace of mind behind the wheel.

Know the battery
Today, the most commonly used type of car batteries are the maintenance-free 12V lead acid batteries.

These ‘flooded’ batteries are sealed and does not require servicing once it has been installed in the vehicle, however, not all maintenance-free batteries are made equally.

As automotive technologies become more advanced, Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFB) have become the standard for vehicles with start-stop technology.

Premium vehicles with more advanced start-stop technology and regenerative braking systems may require Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries.

AGM batteries are designed to be more resistant to leakage and corrosion; thus enabling a reliable supply of power over a longer service life.

When it comes to selecting the right battery for your car, Bosch AA advises to always refer to your user manual or authorised service centre to correctly identify the right battery for your vehicle.

Using the wrong type of battery may be detrimental to your car.

A regular maintenance-free battery may experience accelerated wear if installed in a car with start-stop technology.

Prolonging battery lifespan
Although most car batteries are marketed as ‘maintenance-free’, there are several steps drivers can take to prolong their lifespan.

One of the simplest methods is to have your mechanic incorporate a battery health check into your
regular maintenance schedule to monitor the state of your battery and reliably predict wear and tear.

Many car workshops and service centres are equipped with the tools and expertise to perform a thorough health check.

An often-repeated piece of advice is to start your cars regularly, especially with work-from-home becoming the norm. Batteries left idle discharge over time.

This is often compounded by electrical equipment that run full-time such as anti-theft and vehicle telemetry systems.

Bosch Automotive Aftermarket Malaysia (Bosch AA) recommends driving continuously for 30 minutes at least one to two times a week to allow the battery to fully recharge.

Short trips can be detrimental to the battery as they make it difficult for the battery to maintain a full charge.

The best way to minimise battery discharge is ensuring all electrical equipment, including headlights and infotainment are fully switched off before leaving the vehicle.

Alternatively, you could invest in a charging device like the Bosch C7 Battery Charger to keep the battery permanently charged to an optimum level.

Check the specs
Have you ever wondered how a mechanic always seems to know what battery your car needs when a replacement is needed?

Like all automotive components and spare parts, car batteries have specifications that communicate useful information such as its dimensions, battery capacity and how long it can last.

All car batteries come with factory recommendations for cold cranking amps (CCA) and Amp hour (Ah) values.

These are essentially the minimum requirements expected of the car battery by the vehicle.

Although it can be possible to get a car battery that falls short of these requirements to function, doing so may introduce issues to other parts of your vehicle in the long run.

Frequent starting of the engine using a battery without sufficient CCA may damage the ignition system over time.

A car battery does more than just getting the engine started when you hit the start button.

Therefore, it is also important to consider other electrical equipment and accessories that draw power from the electrical system the moment you start your car before being drawn to more affordable options in the market.

Understanding the battery that best suits your car’s needs will help you get the most out of your vehicle and keep it running just the way it did right off the assembly line, even if you have to do it yourself.

To find out more about Bosch’s range of batteries, visit any Bosch Car Service or Bosch Preferred Workshops (https://bit.ly/MYDealers).

For more information, log on to Bosch Autoparts Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BoschAA.MY/).


Mazda seeks to reduce dependence on Chinese supplies after Covid lockdowns

                TOKYO: Mazda Motor Corp said today it would ask its parts suppliers to increase stockpiles in Japan and produce components outside China after Covid-19 lockdowns in Shanghai destabilised supply and hampered production.

The request from the Hiroshima-based automaker underscores the vulnerability of sprawling supply chains that have been tested by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, casting uncertainty over businesses.

The Japanese automaker reported on Tuesday an operating loss of 19.5 billion yen (RM642mil) for the first quarter of its financial year, due to disruptions resulting from the stringent Covid-19 counter-measures in China.

Mazda said it brought chips and crucial auto parts to China to be assembled, but was unable to receive those parts from Shanghai during the city's lockdown.

Even if Mazda's direct suppliers were Japanese and European companies, they still had parts coming through China, said Takeshi Mukai, the automaker's senior managing executive officer.

"In our case, we were the first to be affected by the lockdown, as we had been promoting the procurement of parts via China for a while," Mukai said. "Given the current (zero-Covid) policy, the key point is to keep (parts) in our hands."

Mazda will seek to include higher domestic inventories and diversification of production outside China when forming contracts with suppliers for designing new models in the long term, he said.

The automaker will also seek to simplify its procurement structure as a way to reduce the frequency of distribution between bases, he said.

"As we continue to do business globally, we must manage the current changes based on the recognition that we are no longer in the era of globalisation as we were in the past," said Mazda senior managing executive officer Masahiro Moro.


Ford recalls 2,900 EV F-150 Lightning pickup trucks

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co said Monday it will recall about 2,900 F-150 Lightning trucks because a software issue may result in a failure to provide adequate warning of low tyre pressure.

The recall is the first for the Ford electric pickup truck.

Ford said the trucks tyre pressure monitoring system light may not illuminate when intended and may not be able to provide adequate warning of low tyre inflation pressure because the recommended tyre cold inflation pressure value was incorrectly set to 35 psi rather than the correct inflation pressure of 42 psi.

The recall covers 2,666 US vehicles and 220 in Canada. There are no accidents or injuries connected to the recall.

Ford said low tyre inflation pressure may lead to poor vehicle handling and a possible loss of vehicle control, which could increase the risk of a crash.

Dealers will update the Body Control Module software for undelivered vehicles and customers who want the remedy immediately, a fix that takes 20 minutes.

Ford will also have the software update available through an over-the-air update in 30 days for all current customers.


Tesla’s former India policy chief to join e-scooter startup

                NEW DELHI: Tesla Inc.’s former India policy chief is joining homegrown electric scooter startup Ather Energy Pvt, one of the best-funded fledgling firms in a sector attracting record investment.

Manuj Khurana, who quit his post as Tesla’s local head of policy and business development in June, will start next week at the firm based in the southern technology hub of Bangalore, a person with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg News.

Khurana will join as a vice president, though his specific role there is unclear, the person said, declining to be named as the matter is not public.

Ather, which competes with local rivals including Ola Electric, this year raised US$128 million from investors including Hero MotoCorp Ltd. and India’s National Investment & Infrastructure Fund.

It’s one of several players vying for a slice of a market expected to surpass US$150 billion by the end of the decade — roughly 400 times its current size.

Representatives for the startup didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Khurana had joined Tesla in March 2021.

The US electric automaker, run by billionaire Elon Musk, has faced a raft of challenges in India over import taxes and a local factory.

It sought lower levies in India so it can test the market by selling cheaper imported electric vehicles before committing to a manufacturing base of its own.


Trevo offers school break promotion

                KUALA LUMPUR: With the school holiday season back again, more families will be embarking their roadtrips.

Trevo is offering the Lift Your Family Hols promotion running from now until March 20 for existing users wanting to maximise their excursions with a wide variety of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) listed on its platform.

> Use the promo code FamTime22 to get 22% off your booking (capped at RM120), with a minimum booking value of RM220

> Use the promo code FamTime40 to get 40% off your booking (capped at RM160), with a minimum booking value of RM350

Users are advised to book their vehicles at least 12 hours before the scheduled drive to enjoy the promotion.

First time users can enjoy up to 50% off with an auto-applied promo.

Aside from Lift Your Family Hols, join TREVO's social media giveaway campaign this March 1 to 31.

In this campaign, Trevo is accompanying you with fun activities as you enjoy the open roads with the best rental drives on your family getaway or even on your daily commutes.

Take part in the contest and stand a chance to win a free trip for you and your family!

Stay updated on the latest news from Trevo via Facebook, Instagram and via TREVO’s website.


Govt gets four offers to take over PLUS

                KUALA BERANG: The Works Ministry confirmed that it has received four formal offers so far from interested parties to take over PLUS Malaysia Bhd.

Its minister, Baru Bian, said the bidders were Widad Group Bhd, Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd, RRJ Capital and businessman Tan Sri Halim Saad.

He said the offers would be reviewed and presented to the Cabinet for a decision to be reached within a few weeks from now.

"At this stage, we are evaluating all offers. As the ministry responsible for all toll highways throughout the country, we will make our preparations and advise the cabinet on what will be best for us," he told reporters after the launch of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Terengganu Edition and Malaysia Worldskills Competition here today.

Baru added that the matter would be settled as soon as possible.


Modern assistance systems blur the lines between passenger and driver

                BERLIN: Despite what "autopilot" mode suggests, there is not currently a car in production that can actually replace a driver.

But that's not to say that driving has become substantially easier in recent years thanks to improvements in driver-assistance systems.

Until just a few years ago, in fact, comprehensive assistance systems could be found only in the luxury-class vehicles.

Nowadays, there are systems that enable autonomous driving on well-developed routes even in small cars like the Volkswagen Polo. Following the lane, keeping a distance from other cards and maintaining a certain speed are all typical features these days.

 Some vehicles can roll into tight parking spaces all by themselves at the push of a button, without a person behind the wheel.

But these systems are evolving fast, and there's always something new: For example, the Tesla Model S can overtake another car on the highway as soon as the driver commands it with their turn signal.

Mercedes has announced that its top models will be kitted out with the first Level 3 automated driving systems - before the end of this year for the S-Class. The electric EQS will then follow in 2022.

On the highway, in traffic jams or up to 60 kilometres per hour, the driver will be able to permanently take their hands off the steering wheel and perform other activities, like watching videos on the on-board computer. Cameras constantly monitor the driver's eyelids and head to ensure that they are capable of taking over at anytime.

Driver still necessary

It's still imperative for the driver to remain behind the wheel though: "The driver must be able to steer the car manually again within a few seconds after the takeover request," explains Mercedes spokesman Koert Groeneveld. "If the driver does not react, the car is brought to a halt with controlled braking," Groeneveld adds.

A request to take over could occur in poor visibility, for example. And when the traffic jam is over or there is no other car in front for a longer period of time, the Drive Pilot will switch off again.

 The new Mercedes S-Class will offer automated valet parking: In specially equipped parking lots, you park the luxury car in the driveway and walk away - the vehicle will then park itself.

Driving assistant are already well ahead in the car park: Since it's a low-speed situation that's easier to control and there are fewer regulations than on the roads, the electronics are up for the task.

Parking capabilities

While steering and manoeuvring aids have long been standard, essentially allowing the car to park or leave a spot almost by itself, there is now movement towards remote-control parking.

Many BMW models or the new Kia Sorento, for example, roll out of a parking spot at the push of a button, even if the driver is not in the car, according to the manufacturers. "This makes the gymnastics involved in getting into a car in a small garage or doing damage to the car parked next to you a thing of the past," says BMW.

The new S-Class will offer automated valet parking: In specially equipped parking lots, you park the luxury car in the driveway, get out and walk away - the vehicle will go ahead and park itself.

Afterwards, as you're on your way back, you can summon the car so that it's waiting in the drop-off area, ready to go, explains a Mercedes spokesman about the procedure developed with Bosch.

Safer driving

These systems also don't make just everyday driving safer - they're also helpful in challenging situations.

First and foremost, this applies to those critical moments when the stability control system has to kick in and keep a car steady - on a stretch of slippery road or when braking too hard, for example.

But then there are also less-typical examples, like the All Terrain Progress Control function in the new Land Rover Defender, which is a kind of cruise control for fields, forests, meadows and even deserts.

Same for the Trailer Assist system in the VW Tiguan, for example, which can manoeuvre the SUV where it needs to go in the yard with pinpoint accuracy - even with a trailer attached to the hook.

 The Trailer Assist system in the VW Tiguan can manoeuvre the SUV where it needs to go in the yard with pinpoint accuracy - even with a trailer attached to the hook.


Škoda introduces plasma-coated cylinder blocks for greater engine efficiency

                PRAGUE: Škoda Auto has added a new processing line for plasma coating into operation which allows conventional cylinder liners to be replaced with a powder coating to improve efficiency.

The  0.15mm-thick coating will be used when producing the new Evo three-cylinder engines from the EA211 series of Volkswagen engines and will help to reduce internal friction.

As a result, the 1.0 TSI EVO turbocharged petrol engines will be even more efficient and boast even lower emissions.

The carmaker from the Czech Republic has invested almost 29mil euros in preparing, converting and upgrading its Mladá Boleslav-based headquarters.

The vehicles that will benefit from the plasma coating are the Octavia e-Tec mild-hybrids.

The Czech car manufacturer has added an assembly line with two special fixtures for plasma coating at its main plant and both of them include two torches.

Furthermore, the company also invested an additional 28.8mil euros in upgrading the plant in this way; overall, the carmaker spent 69.1mil euros to modernise its engine production line.

During the production process, the cylinders are first bored on the machining line.

A 1,500W laser then abrades the cylinder bores to ensure that the plasma layer will optimally adhere to the surface.

This involves the laser beam creating ten grooves per millimetre, each measuring an average depth of 0.04mm.

This production step takes place in a controlled atmosphere filled with nitrogen to keep the laser’s optics free from contamination and to ensure the necessary level of accuracy.

A mixture of hydrogen and argon is used to create plasma gas, requiring 4.5 litres of hydrogen per minute during the process.

The plasma reaches a temperature of 15,000 degrees Celsius and is then mixed with various types of elements (iron, carbon, silicon and manganese among others) that have been grounded into a fine powder with each grain no more 0.05mm.

When sprayed onto the cylinder walls, the molten powder forms a layer measuring approximately 0.25mm-thick.

During final processing, this layer is honed out, so that it measures just 0.150mm-thick compared to a conventional cylinder wall that's usually 4mm-thick.

Each cylinder is automatically measured at several stages throughout the process to assess its quality.

Optical measuring instruments first record the surface abraded by the laser before a second measurement is taken once the plasma has been applied.

Finally, the structure of the plasma layer is and then tested using turbulent flow.

“The technically highly innovative plasma coating makes our EA211 TSI EVO engines even more efficient. It reduces friction losses and thus also fuel consumption. What’s more, this type of coating also allows heat to be more evenly distributed within the cylinders and helps it to dissipate more efficiently, thus optimising the thermal load.

"We produce the plasma-coated engines at Mladá Boleslav in three shifts and are installing them in the Fabia, Scala, Octavia, Kamiq and Karoq,” said Škoda Auto component production head Christian Bleiel.


Lexus, Mazda get highest marks in Consumer Reports auto brand study

                DETROIT: Toyota Motor Corp's Lexus brand finished on top of the Consumer Reports annual "brand report card" for the third straight year, the influential US magazine said on Tuesday.

Japanese brands took four of the top five places. Mazda Motor Corp was second and the best finisher among non-luxury brands. Toyota came in third, followed by Volkswagen AG's Audi from Germany and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd's Subaru from Japan.

For the first time, a US brand made the top 10. General Motor Co's Buick came in seventh, just behind VW's Porsche.

"Today, many domestic models can go toe-to-toe with the best imports," said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports.

For the second year in a row, Tesla Motors Inc's Model S was named the best model overall.

The Audi A6 was named the best luxury car for the third straight year.

The Subaru Forester was named the top small SUV, and the Toyota Highlander the top mid-sized SUV.

The Chevrolet Impala from GM was named best large sedan.

Consumer Reports subscribers rated 1.1 million vehicles in the annual auto survey.

The results come from those ratings, along with US government and insurance industry safety tests and road tests by the magazine's staff.

No pickup truck was named as best.

Last year's winner, the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Ram 1500, was not reliable enough, Consumer Reports said, and the best-selling model in the United States, Ford Motor Co's F-150, is too new to have a testing record.

Consumer Reports also judged the GM Chevrolet Silverado as unreliable and the Chevrolet Colorado as too new for testing results.

Of all the brands in the survey, Buick had the greatest percentage of its models "recommended" for purchase, at 83 percent. No other US brand had even half of its models recommended.

Lexus got "recommended" ratings for 78 percent of its models tested, compared with Mazda, 67 percent; Toyota, 68 percent; Audi, 56 percent; and Subaru, 80 percent.


China wants new energy vehicle sales in 2025 to be 25% of all car sales

                BEIJING/SHANGHAI: hina hopes new energy vehicle (NEV) sales can reach around a quarter of all car sales in 2025, up from a target of “over 20%” laid out in a 2017 planning document, the industry ministry said on Tuesday in a draft plan for development of the NEV sector.

China’s market for NEVs - which include plug-in hybrids, battery-only electric vehicles and those powered by hydrogen fuel cells - has been a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster car market, with sales jumping 62% last year, versus a 2.8% drop in all car sales.

But a steep cut in subsidies this year has dented NEV sales in recent months. In October, NEV sales fell 45.6% from a year earlier.

READ MORE: Electrified cars gaining traction in Malaysia followed by full EVs — in the distant

China sold a total of 28.1 million cars in 2018, including 1.3 million NEVs, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, so NEV sales were 4.6% of the overall market.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s draft proposal on NEVs noted that China would keep developing electric vehicle battery technologies, and improve infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and connected vehicles.

The proposal, covering NEV development from 2021 to 2035, did not include sales forecasts or targets for 2030 or 2035.

China is also discussing introducing stricter green car quotas in coming years that would require carmakers to produce a certain amount of NEVs.


Get ready for the Nissan Almera – Black Series

                KUALA LUMPUR: Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) has given the Nissan Almera some spit and polish with the introduction of the Almera – Black Series, with prices starting from RM70,000. It's the second Nissan model after the Navara pick-up truck to get the Black Series badge.

The new Almera - Black Series features a new gloss black front grille,gloss black side mirror covers, gloss black trunk lid spoiler and gloss black Y-Spoke 15-inch alloy wheels, together with a new aerokit from Japanese tuner Tomei Powered Inc Co, Ltd.

The interior comes with newly designed leather seats with dark titanium accent, and a 6.75-inch Clarion audio system with reverse camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for a connected drive. The Almera – Black Series is also equipped with Solar Gard tinting, and a driving video recorder (DVR) with 150 degrees wide angle.

Like the standard Almera, the Black Series variant uses a 1.5-litre four cylinder engine with Continuously Variable-valve Timing Control (CVTC) that offers fuel economy of 14.9km/L. The Almera also comes with Intelligent Key (i-Key) with Immobiliser* (Keyless Entry System), Push Start Ignition*, and Automatic Climate Control*, while its spacious 25-inch rear legroom and huge trunk space of 490 litresoffers a comfortable ridewithout compromising on space.(*Applicable to VL variant)

The Almera – Black Series is available in five colour options namely Diamond Black, Brilliant White, Tungsten Silver, Bronze Gold and new Titanium Olive, which is exclusive to only the Almera – Black Series.

The Almera - Black Series is factory fitted and available in E and VL variants. The vehicle comes standard with 5-years unlimited mileage warranty, whereas the accessories come with 3-years or 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first).

“The Almera is one of our best-selling Nissan models in Malaysia. With the introduction of the Almera - Black Series, it adds more style, presence and personality " said ETCM sales and marketing director Christopher Tan.

Existing Nissan Almera owners who are interested may also opt for an upgrade to the all-new TOMEI Aerokit. Call 03-4047 8786 or email tomei@tanchonggroup.com for an appointment.

The Almera - Black Series will make its appearance in the upcoming Nissan Nationwide Test Drive Carnival at selected showrooms over two weekends on Nov 9-11 and Nov 17-18. The carnival opens from 10am to 8pm.


Ford patents attachable entertainment system for cargo bed viewing

                DETROIT: Ford was recently granted a patent for a portable entertainment system that features a pull-down screen that can be mounted in the bed of a pickup.

Late last week CNET's Roadshow spotted a Ford patent that has recently been granted, outlining a "portable entertainment support system for a pickup truck box."

Basically, the entertainment system would comprised two main components: one crossbar mount placed right behind the truck's cabin which supports a roll-down screen facing towards the bed and a second crossbar mount placed further down the bed towards its rear that supports a video projector for the display and two flanking speakers.

The system of mounts has been designed to be assembled and disassembled by truck owners so that they can set up their mobile cinema whenever and wherever they please; having a factory solution is far more practical than owners creating a similar mechanism themselves by drilling holes in the bed to add mounts and making damaging installations at home.

A couple of years ago, Hitch Theaters tried to bring a similar truck entertainment system into the world, but their Kickstarter campaign failed to earn enough funding to make the system a reality. Ford, however, may just make the dreams of those who did support the project come true.


US says about 20 models will get EV credits through end of 2022

                WASHINGTON: The Biden administration said on Tuesday about 20 models will still qualify for electric vehicle tax credits of up to US$7,500 (RM33,510) through the end of 2022 under legislation signed by President Joe Biden.

The law signed Tuesday immediately ends credits for about 70% of the 72 models that were previously eligible, said the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an industry trade group.

To qualify, EVs must now be assembled in North America.

New restrictions on battery and mineral sourcing and price and income caps take effect on Jan 1 that will make all or nearly all EVs ineligible, the auto group said. The new sourcing rules will rise annually.

The automaker group said it will work with the administration "as they issue critical guidance and new regulations – so the EV tax credit is as available and beneficial to consumers as possible."

Currently eligible vehicles are 2022 model year EV or plug-in hybrid electric versions of the Audi Q5; BMW X5 and 3-Series plug-in; Ford Mach-E, F Series, Escape PHEV and Transit Van; Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV and Wrangler PHEV; Lincoln Aviator PHEVand Corsair Plug-in; Lucid Air; Nissan LEAF; Volvo S60; and Rivian EDV, R1S and R1T. The 2023 LEAF, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes EQS are also eligible.

Some models are built both in North America and overseas and consumers should check vehicle identification numbers to ensure eligibility, the Treasury Department said.

The signing ends eligibility for EVs sold by Toyota, Hyundai, Porsche, Kia and others.

Buyers can still qualify if they had binding written contracts before Biden's signing and some automakers had been urging customers to make portions of deposits non-refundable to qualify.

The IRS said "if a customer has made a non-refundable deposit or down payment of 5% of the total contract price, it is an indication of a binding contract."

The law makes General Motors and Tesla eligible for EV tax credits starting Jan 1.

They lost credits after previously hitting the 200,000-vehicle per manufacturer cap. It is unclear how many of their models will be eligible in 2023 under the sourcing and price caps.

In 2024, EV buyers can transfer credits to dealers at the point of sale to reduce purchase prices.

Also in 2024, rules take effect making vehicles ineligible if they have content from a "foreign entity of concern," a provision aimed at barring Chinese content.

The administration must write rules detailing what countries and companies are covered.


Christian Bale and Matt Damon to join cast for a biopic on the battle between Ford and Ferrari

Bale will join the cast of a biopic on the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari in the 1960s.
— AFP
LOS ANGELES: Christian Bale and Matt Damon have been approached to play the two main roles in a film that will tell the story of the famous rivalry between American and Italian carmakers in the 1960s, says Variety.

The biopic is to be directed by James Mangold.

The yet-to-be-titled film will tell the tale of an eccentric team of American designers and engineers led by the visionary Carroll Shelby and the British-born racing driver Ken Miles, which was tasked by Henry Ford II to build a new racing car from scratch that would be capable of beating Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.

Bale, who has been linked to a biopic on Enzo Ferrari being prepared by Michael Mann, is under consideration for the role of Ken Miles: an English-born driver who finished in second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans of that year on board a Ford GT40, which was the major winner of the endurance race.

 Damon is set to play Carroll Shelby.— AFP

For his part, Damon will play the role of Carroll Shelby, a retired driver who, in the early 1960s, dreamed of developing an American sports car that would beat the one fielded by the Italian carmaker.

There is at this point no confirmation that Mangold, the director of Logan and The Wolverine, will make the biopic his next project. The director who has already been associated with the adaptation of the Don Winslow novel "The Force" is currently working on the “Logan” spin-off "X-23".

However, his biopic on Patty Hearst, the American heiress who was kidnapped by a far-left terrorist group in the 1970s, which was expected to feature Elle Fanning, has now been cancelled.

Let's not forget that the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari in the 1960s is already the subject of a TV series produced by actors Channing Tatum and Peter Dinklage.


To Malacca in 2016 VW Jetta

                The introduction of Jetta in Malaysia years ago was an attempt by Volkswagen to break into the C-segment market held by Japanese makes.

Can the improved model with better driving performance and fuel efficiency shine brighter this time?

IT IS fun. It is fast. It is spaciously accommodating and more importantly, it has gotten a little more refined.

That is what the latest range-topping Volkswagen Jetta Highline is all about after a quick 218km run down to the historical state of Malacca.

Firstly, the Jetta looks... like it did when it was first introduced in Malaysia in 2011 as a fully imported completely built-up unit (CBU), before becoming a locally-assembled completely knocked-down (CKD) unit and inheriting some stiffer suspension and loosing the paddle-shifters to name a few, while gaining some ride-height and other bells and whistles.

Although the Jetta is not something to shout about in terms of its simplistic looks, it still manages to attract, mainly with its practicality and capability.

For one, the Jetta offers a decently sized cabin that is good on its shoulder width and length for knee-room.

There is also 510-litres of boot space, a 55-litre fuel tank and an engine that will have many mistake it for a 2.0 or 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine lurking under the hood.

Instead, it has a little turbocharged 1.4-litre (1,395cc) engine producing 150PS from 5,000 to 6,000rpm and 250Nm of torque from 1,500 to 3,000rpm, while being able to provide 5.0 litres per 100km on the combined cycle. Not too shabby indeed.

Yes, the Jetta’s sheet metal has not changed (at all) and it is still a CKD, but it now comes with three options – the entry-level Trendline, Comfortline and range-topping Highline, all priced with GST without insurance at RM108,990, RM117,990 and RM128,990 respectively.

Compared to its lone CBU predecessor, only its list of bells and whistles have been altered.

But, now with its new 1,395cc engine marking a departure from the previous 1,390cc twin-charged (supercharged and turbocharged) engine, we take a closer look at how it fairs.

For this drive, only the Highline model was made available with its 17-inch Queensland alloy wheels wrapped with 225/45 Continental ContiMaxContact MC5 tyres as well as the Bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights to project a more sophisticated character.

Getting in with the keyless access system (KESSY) and having the Engine Start-Stop button was certainly an added convenience and the Black Vienna leather upholstered seats felt comfortably plush for those long hauls.

Furthermore, the driver gets a 12-way electrically adjustable (including lumbar support) seat, which allowed us to dial in our preferred seating posture, but there wasn’t any memory function, so changing between dimensionally-different drivers can be a pain.

Also, there is now a flat-bottom steering wheel that’s lost some girth to it and the interior now sports Zebrano (dark wood-like) inserts that try their level best to fit in within the dark confines of the cabin by adding some mature appeal to it.

But, as time progressed, the inserts seemed more out of place than before, reinforcing the fact that the Jetta has a knack for attracting a younger crowd instead and should prefer something more along the lines of faux-carbon fibre reinforced plastics instead.

The entertainment unit, with its eight speakers of clarity, makes use of a rather small 5.0-inch RCD 330G colour touchscreen display, which happens to come with USB, iPod interface, SD card slot, AUX-in, Bluetooth connectivity and MirrorLink for Android-based smartphones, but still lacks a reverse camera.

Soon we were puttering about in heavy stop-go traffic and a major surprise was how the gearbox felt “uber” smooth and refined for a judder-free experience.

The brakes too now felt more direct leaving behind its nervous over-bite from before and not to mention the start-stop functionality did feel relatively smooth.

A while later, we were finally cruising along on the highway (at legal speeds of course), and it was at this point that we realised that the Jetta’s noise vibration and harshness (NVH) levels for the cabin was getting a pounding and subsequently robbed of the comfort levels accorded by the leather seats.

To explain, the suspension has been carried over from the outgoing CKD variant, which is stiffer and carries the car higher than the CBU before it.

Now add on the larger 17-inch wheels fitted with thinner and wider 225/45 tyres and voilà – a harsher ride.

It will pick up quite a lot of notes and nuances from the road and ranges from the reflectors to pebbles.

Move to the rear, which is directly above the rear axle, and those notes and nuances become even more pronounced.

During our attempts at over-taking, the engine seemed to lag behind in response and needed a moment to put the power down.

Instead, it was due to another fuel-saving technology that’s been included – coasting function, which decouples the transmission and puts the engine on idle while travelling at a constant speed.

Pushing the accelerator pedal deeper to demand for more power, will have the engine’s speed climbing back up to a point where the transmission can be re-coupled before the power can be smoothly delivered and then the speed increases.

Although this function does help to improve fuel economy, the process does take a moment and can delay the sudden need for some defensive driving.

In order to get to know the engine a little better, we de-activated it and from that point, the Jetta was delivering on our addictive demands for more power, thanks to the added 10Nm of torque for a total of 250Nm, although it is now down by 10PS at 150PS from the outgoing model.

There’s not much that can be said about comfort levels, except to drive it slower or get up to exorbitant speeds and go around tight bends, because that’s where the added stiffness can be properly appreciated for its high-speed and cornering stability – which did well to keep it firmly grounded and composed as much as possible.

Shifting in to S (Sport) mode gets the engine speed wanting to stay closer to the redline, and there is no qualms about its ability to deliver what is being demanded with the right foot, while paddling through the gears for a confidence inspiring drive.

The only chink in its armour is that it lacks some of the bells and whistles found in some of its similarly-priced C-segment competitors, even though it does come with a few fuel-saving tricks up its sleeves, such as the regenerative braking system, stop-go functionality and coasting function.

Instead, the real value remains in the way the Jetta is able to spur that joyful driving experience when behind the wheel and for some this is what’s most important and may even find it to be absolutely irresistible, even though it lacks “loudness” in the looks department, but it will be accommodating to say the least.


This is why you should never wear flip-flops when driving

                BERLIN: Nobody wants to wear closed shoes on a hot day, but drivers should resist the temptation to leave their toes on show - and not just because open shoes make driving more difficult, experts say.

Flip-flops and other slip-on shoes can easily slip off the pedals or get jammed against them, according to German consumer advice centre GVI. And, more worryingly, they may not offer enough support if a driver has to hit the brakes suddenly.

But there is also another reason why drivers should wear closed shoes at all times: if you have an accident while wearing unsuitable shoes, you could face criminal charges, since improper footwear while driving could be seen to go against the driver's obligation to exercise due diligence.

This could also lead to problems with insurance. While most insurance will cover damages independently of the driver's footwear, there could be a reduction in comprehensive coverage if the driver is deemed to have been negligent. (In Malaysia, both the criminal and insurance aspects of wearing unsuitable footwear have arguably not been reported.)


Toyota to Tesla nearing plant reopenings, putting pressure on Detroit

                DETROIT: Automakers are cautiously coalescing around plans to reopen North American assembly plants early next month following what will be a roughly six-week shutdown for virtually the entire industry.

Toyota Motor Corp., Tesla Inc., Hyundai Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG are among the major automakers that have said they intend to resume production in the first week of May.

Even if they stick to that schedule, many won’t restart all their factories at once, and the facilities that do restore output will run assembly lines at slower rates than they did pre-shutdown.

The non-unionised carmakers’ intentions add to the urgency of talks General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV are having with the United Auto Workers that weigh the need to get back to business against the possibility that reopening will sicken employees.

Of the three, only Fiat Chrysler is confirming plans to progressively restart with government approval beginning May 4, a date the union thinks is premature.

“A lot of automakers are looking at some point in May starting production for at least half or a majority” of their plants, said Jeff Aznavorian, president of Clips & Clamps Industries, a supplier to Fiat Chrysler and other manufacturers.

“All of them are planning on staggering those openings to make sure their processes are in place so they can go back to work safely.”

Less-dire sales

Weeks ago, analysts assumed there would be little reason for the industry to rush its restart.

Sales in China plummeted almost 80% in the wake of the country’s coronavirus outbreak early this year, and some were expecting a decline of similar magnitude for the US.

Yet demand has held up better than expected, with researchers LMC Automotive and J.D. Power predicting a roughly 50% decline this month.

“We want to be able to have a steady supply of products based on the anticipated demand from consumers,” Chris Reynolds, Toyota’s chief administrative officer in North America, told reporters on Thursday, noting the Japanese automaker will prioritise output of SUV and trucks.

“Their production cadence might be a little bit faster than those plants that make sedans.”

The traditional Detroit automakers also are gearing up.

“We’re confident, we’re ready to go with the proper safety protocols in place,” Gerald Johnson, GM’s executive vice president of global manufacturing, said in an interview Thursday. “We surveyed our supply base. They are as committed as we are. They’re as ready to start as we are.”

While the UAW likely won’t want to put its companies at a competitive disadvantage or keep its members from earning bigger paychecks again, the union also is opposed to reopening plants early next month after two dozen union workers at Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler have died of Covid-19 complications.

“We strongly suggest to our companies in all sectors that an early May date is too soon and too risky to our members, their families and their communities.,” Rory Gamble, the union’s president, said in statement Thursday.

Speaking at GM’s shuttered transmission plant north of Detroit that’s now making face masks, Johnson said the company is figuring out what timing is right without compromising on safety. “It’s not either-or,” he said. “It’s our responsibility to be safe and bring the economy back.”

Slow ramp-up

Because many factories were running at full speed prior to the shutdown, automakers were carrying plenty of inventory of both parts and finished vehicles. Toyota estimates it has at least two days’ worth of components in stock at its assembly plants.

“Suppliers won’t have to rush parts to us immediately,” said Sean Suggs, the president of Toyota’s Corolla plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi. “We already have a pipeline.”

The process of restarting production will unfold in stages and it could take months for certain products to return to full capacity. With supply chains increasingly global, it’s unclear when all components needed will be available.

“We do expect to see a slow ramp-up of volumes over the coming weeks” starting the first week of May, said Julie Fream, chief executive officer of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association, an auto parts industry trade group. “That doesn’t mean that all plants will be back online and certainly not that all shifts will be working.”

Not all companies in the supply chain will resume output at the same time, nor are all states in alignment on policy.

Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday cautioned automakers in her state to “slowly engage in a safe manner,” while southern governors are pushing hard to become the first to lift shelter-in-place orders.

“Even if the stay-at-home gets extended, there may be some exceptions,” said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting for researcher LMC Automotive. “I have no doubt that the industry is lobbying hard for that.”

Schuster expects the industry to produce at 50% of normal production levels or lower at least through May, if not through the remainder of the second quarter.

“Following the model they used in China, it’s probably one shift initially, heavy-duty disinfecting and cleaning, slower line rates because of social distancing, staggered entrance and exits, temperature monitoring and, if they can get them, those quick self-administered test kits,” he said.

Pre-paying for parts

Cash-strapped smaller suppliers need detailed timelines - and sometimes pre-paid orders - before bringing workers back, sourcing new materials and investing in equipment to promote social distancing on their shop floors, said Alan Baum, an independent auto analyst based near Detroit.

It’s typical for suppliers to take in receivable payments on a 45-day delay, so they’re still getting paid for work they were doing before production was halted. By late May and early June, that money will dry up and cause a cash crunch for some companies.

To help bridge the gap, some automakers are considering front-loaded payments to avoid any cash-flow issues. The approach, referred to in the industry as “factoring programs,” generally involves suppliers surrendering a few percentage points of profit in exchange for early payment, OESA’s Fream said.

“Most of the first tier is ramping up in a very organised way, but my clients are often frustrated they’re not getting enough guidance to make specific plans for restarting,” Baum said.


Special plates with an aim to help artistes

                PETALING JAYA: A special number plate series, A1M or Artist 1Malaysia has been introduced to help raise funds for the welfare of artistes.

Datuk DJ Dave, who is the president of Yayasan Artis 1Malaysia (YA1M), said the funds collected would be channelled to actors, singers and to musicians who were ill.

The monies would also go to family members of deceased performers or to those who were above 60 years old, said the entrepreneur and singer.

“The YA1M has received approval from the Road Transport Department to have an open tender for this special number plate series to help artistes who are in need,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

The special number plate series will be from A1M 1 to A1M 1000 and the public can start bidding from now until Oct 2 via www.plata1m.com.my.

Dave added that the A1M could also be read as “Aim” or target.

He said that lucky bidders could also attend a dinner with popular artistes at an event organised by YA1M.


Porsche heads to Silicon Valley

                STUTTGART: Porsche is taking the next step in its digitalization campaign: By opening a new site in Santa Clara, in California's Silicon Valley, Porsche Digital, Inc. is beginning its activities in one of the world’s most important centers of innovation and digital leadership.

Above all, the aim is for Porsche Digital to work in partnership with innovators and leaders in new technologies, as well as cooperate with venture capital companies. Porsche also wants to invest directly in new companies that offer ideas and solutions for the digital future. Porsche Digital, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Porsche Digital GmbH, is set to employ around 100 people.

Its mandate is to recognize digitalization strategies and trends in the U.S. market more quickly and to be able to develop and test solutions for Porsche – making its proximity to technology enterprises and start-ups of particular importance.

The office will focus on the topics of digitalization, connectivity, and smart mobility.

“The car is the ultimate mobile device of the future, and the future is being written in Silicon Valley,” said Thilo Koslowski, Managing Director of Porsche Digital.

“This means it is particularly important to be right next door to leading IT companies in the USA, as this allows us to identify trends early and invest in new technologies at the right time. In addition to our own potential for innovation, above all we want to form strong partnerships.”

The company has already invested in the venture capital fund “E.ventures US.” In the future, these activities will be intensified and expanded by the office in Santa Clara.

After founding Porsche Digital GmbH based in Ludwigsburg, opening a US subsidiary was the next logical step in Porsche’s digitalization strategy, said Koslowski. “In order to tailor the Porsche experience to the specific needs of our customers, we need to recognize the innovations that are relevant to us and bring them to the market as intelligent and fascinating offerings.”

Before joining Porsche, Koslowski spent 20 years working in Silicon Valley for the high-profile US advisory company Gartner. He is an expert in the automotive industry as well as the Internet and technology sector.

Porsche Digital is the competence center for digitalization where new value creation models and innovative digital product ranges are defined and implemented in close cooperation with Porsche companies globally.

Its tasks also include worldwide scouting; it will identify and evaluate trends, ensuring Porsche has access to all relevant technologies and talents.

Porsche Digital sees itself as an interface between Porsche and innovators all over the world. In addition to sites in Ludwigsburg and Berlin, and the new subsidiary in Santa Clara, there are plans to establish additional affiliates in key innovation centers around the world, such as in Asia.


Goodyear appoints company veteran to head Malaysian ops

                KUALA LUMPUR: Goodyear Malaysia today announced the appointment of Alex Ng as its managing director.

Ng is expected to take up his new position in the fourth quarter. In the meantime, Goodyear Asean managing director Andy Cooper would stand in until Ng takes over.

Ng replaces Ben Hoge who is moving on to a senior role within Goodyear’s European, Middle East and Africa organisation (EMEA) after a three-year posting in Malaysia.

Ng joined Goodyear in 2008 as a general manager in Singapore. In 2009, he was promoted to become the general manager for the company's aviation business, based in Bangkok.

He was subsequently promoted to original equipment director for Asia Pacific in 2012. From 2013, he assumed his current business portfolio as market director for Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philipines and export markets.


Electrified cars gaining traction in Malaysia followed by full EVs  — in the distant

The EQC (left) keeps company with the C 300 e plugin hybrid (middle) and the S 560 e plugin hybrid earlier this month.
PETALING JAYA: The all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQC was previewed in Malaysia recently, and the crossover SUV (sports utility vehicle) is the first of a new breed of battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs) from the luxury German automaker.

With increasingly tighter emission standards in Europe and many developed nations, vehicle electrification is the way forward for many global automakers.

At this year's Geneva Motor Show, Ola Kallenius who was recently appointed Daimler AG chairman, said "An electric heartbeat for our entire fleet - that's the future" as Mercedes-Benz reiterated its future strategy of a massive expansion in offering EVs and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles.

Japanese automakers like Toyota Motor Corp have also stepped up plans for electric cars, with more than 10 EV models in the pipeline worldwide by the first half of the 2020s, starting with a rollout in China in 2020.

The uptick in the demand and roll-outs of EVs is also partly thanks to improved lithium-ion battery technology which allow shorter charging durations and longer driving distances.

While EV users still need to plan their journeys and battery charging locations, "range anxiety" is becoming less of an issue.

This year, Nissan will deliver a longer range e+ version of its LEAF, Europe’s top-selling 100% electric car, which has a new 62kWh battery with a range of 385km.

The EQC has a range of up to 471km and the forthcoming Taycan four-door sports saloon, which is Porsche's first pure electric car, is expected to have a range of over 500km.

However, consumers at large are still not keen on adopting EVs due to concerns about the sticker prices, rapid depreciation rates and future lithium-ion battery replacement costs.

In countries like Malaysia with high duties for imported cars, selling EVs in significant numbers are especially tough.

In 2013, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia and Edaran Tan Chong Motor (local distributor for Nissan vehicles) introduced the all-electric i-MiEV and LEAF respectively, but consumer reception was weak and sales eventually stopped.

The 2013 i-MiEV compact electric car with a 150km range was launched at around RM136,000 and came with a 5-year warranty that included the battery pack, and a 5-year free maintenance deal.

It sold just 30 units before Mitsubishi Motors discontinued sales a year later. Meanwhile, the 2013 five-door LEAF hatchback with a 195km travel range was priced at RM168,800 on-the-road, with a three-year or 100,000km warranty (whichever comes first).

To date, Edaran Tan Chong Motor has sold 27 units of the LEAF and the company has plans to launch the second-generation LEAF in the third quarter of 2019.

It's hardly any surprise that Malaysian sales for the i-MiEV and LEAF were very low, when you can pay perhaps RM90,000 less and get equivalent sized petrol-powered cars.

For the time being, EVs in Malaysia will continue to be driven in the realm of those with deep pockets and a penchant for exotic machines.

In recent years, grey import units of the all-electric Tesla Model S large luxury hatchback have been brought in at sticker prices upwards of half a million ringgit.

Also, Malaysian Green Technology Corp (GreenTech Malaysia) bought a small fleet of Model S cars for lease to the government and government-linked companies (GLCs).

 The Model S in 2016.

GreenTech Malaysia is a unit of the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change and it was reported two years ago that it had received 17 units of the Tesla Model S.

Also, another factor when considering the purchase of an EV is the charging duration for the battery pack and the costs of installing a home or office charging unit.

It's always better to have a home or office charging unit that can charge the EV significantly faster, rather than wait hours for the car to be fully charged from a domestic wall socket.

However, buying and installing a charging unit is not cheap.

For example, back in 2013, a 6.6kWh wall-mounted charging unit which can fully power up the Nissan LEAF in four hours, cost RM6,500 inclusive of installation.

Today, a charging wallbox unit for EVs or PHEVs from premium European marques can cost more than RM5,000 to RM7,000 and this excludes the estimated RM2,000 cost of installation.

A check with the ChargeNow Malaysia website shows that owners of BMW PHEVs will need to fork out RM1,888 to install a 16A single phase wallbox.

Still, there is a growing infrastructure for charging PHEVs and EVs in Malaysia, as seen from data on the website of ChargEV, which is GreenTech Malaysia's EV charging solutions provider.

ChargEV says the company has installed 251 public EV charging stations across 192 locations nationwide as of December 2018.

ChargEV subscribers pay an annual membership fee of RM240 and get an RFID card which enables charging of their EVs for free at the charging stations.

ChargEV says it has 5,500 subscribers for its services and has recorded 70,851 EV charging sessions.

The 5,500 ChargEV subscribers are a good indication of the strong acceptance among premium car buyers for PHEVs from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volvo Cars which have seen sales boomed for such cars in recent years thanks to tax incentives designed to spur local assembly of EEVs (energy-efficient vehicles).

These customised tax incentives resulted in significant reduction in sticker prices for these premium cars, and the sales of cars like the BMW 330e M Sport benefited tremendously.

For example, without the EEV incentives, the 330e M Sport would be priced RM130,000 higher. As it is, the 330e M Sport is priced at a more accessible RM258,800.

However, it should be noted that such customised tax breaks can be removed or changed drastically, and as such, the strong sales of premium PHEVS in Malaysia is unlikely to last.

New policies on hybrid cars, PHEVs and EVs have yet to be announced by the present government, and for now, automakers selling such cars in Malaysia are operating based on previously established tax incentives.

Automotive policymakers in Malaysia should take note that global demand and sales for PHEVs and EVs are predicted to continue rising rapidly in the coming years, with major automakers such as Volkswagen, Toyota Motor Corp, BMW and Daimler AG already swinging their mighty financial clout towards making better EVs, with hybrids seen as a transition towards all-electric cars.

In Japan and the United States, Toyota has introduced another alternative to zero-emission mobility, namely the the all-electric Mirai sedan which has a 500km driving range, and - meaning it's dependent on hydrogen refuelling stations.

While cars with fossil fuel powered internal combustion engines (ICE) will be the bulk of auto sales for decades to come, their numbers will be slowly whittled away as more hybrids and EVs go mainstream.

According to the EV Volumes database site, global sales of EVs and PHEVs reached 2.1 million units in 2018 (a 64% year-on-year jump) and had a share of 2.2% in the global light vehicle market for 2018.

The largest growth contributor by far was China, where sales increased by over 500,000 units to 1.2 million in 2018.

Meanwhile, a report by RnR Market Research predicts that global sales of electric vehicles will surge to 4 million units in 2020, 12 million units in 2025 and 21 million units in 2030 with accompanying cuts in production costs.

"As per current cost, the market will be at a tipping point in 2022 when a BEV will have almost the same cost as a fossil fuel ICE-powered vehicle, which means electric vehicle can be selected on an equal footing," says RnR Market Research.

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Nissan to produce new crossover based on Kicks Concept

                RIO DE JANEIRO: Nissan president and chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn has announced that the brand will produce a new crossover that will be sold globally, starting with Latin American markets from 2016.

The new model was inspired by the Kicks Concept car presented at the 2014 Sao Paulo Motor Show, and would retain the Kicks name for the production version.

Following an investment of US$192 million, the Kicks will be produced at Nissan's Resende Industrial Complex in Rio de Janeiro state. The facility was opened in 2014 and produces compact vehicles March and Versa. After the start of production, Nissan expects to hire 600 new employees and start a second shift in Resende facility.

 Ghosn.

"Nissan invented the first crossover in 2003, with the Murano," said Ghosn. "Since then, we've established our global crossover leadership with vehicles like JUKE, Qashqai and X-Trail – which have been great successes. The Kicks will bring Nissan´s unique Crossover expertise to more regions."

Led by Nissan's Global Design Centre in Japan, the Kicks Concept was conceived through a collaboration between Nissan Design America (NDA) in San Diego and Nissan Design America - Rio (NDA-R), the company's local satellite design studio. The teams are engaged in the design and development of the production model.

As well as its introduction in Latin American markets, Nissan continues to study the business case for launching Kicks in other regions, underlining the brand's commitment to global crossover leadership.


Bosch makes driving safer via voice commands

                LAS VEGAS: At CES 2018, in Las Vegas, Bosch is showcasing smart cockpit technology that lets drivers concentrate on driving.

Eyes can be kept where they should be: on the road.

Bosch's idea is that the driver controls car functions using voice commands and a touchscreen with haptic feedback.

“We are uncluttering the cockpit. The more complex the technology in modern vehicles, the simpler and more intuitive control systems need to be,” says Dr Steffen Berns, the president of Bosch Car Multimedia.

Operating human-machine interface (HMI), without getting distracted

According to Allianz Center for Technology, 63 percent of drivers in Germany operate their navigation systems while driving, 61 percent switch through radio stations, and 43 percent browse through complicated menus on their on-board computers.

Distractions like these are among the most frequent causes of accidents.

At the heart of the HMI is a voice-controlled assistant that responds to natural speech and can even understand dialects.

Thanks to natural language understanding (NLU), drivers can talk to the assistant Casey as they would with a passenger.

Another virtue of Casey is her ability to think ahead.

Drawing on artificial intelligence, she can learn to predict likely destinations depending on the time of the day; or if she is asked to switch on the radio, she knows the driver’s preferences, such as listening to the news in the mornings and music in the evenings.


Infiniti celebrates 30 years by launching 5 special edition models

                HONG KONG: Thirty years ago, Nissan launched its luxury car division Infiniti. To celebrate this anniversary in 2019, the company is launching not one, not two, but five pearly special edition models which will debut at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance during Monterey Car Week.

The Edition 30 lineup consists of the Q50, Q60, QX50, QX60, and QX80 models, all of which have received matching exterior styling and "a collection of the world's first driver assistance technologies that Infiniti has brought to the market."

All five models will come standard with Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control Assist, Around View Monitor, Backup Collision Intervention, and Predictive Forward Collision Warning - basically, all the same driver assistant technology that comes with the ProAssist package.

In addition to the white paintjob, all vehicles' grille surround, fender trim, and rear finisher have been refinished in a dark chrome, the side view mirrors have been darkened to black, and the wheels have received a new dark finish.

Though Infiniti has not revealed the respective prices of the models, they did confirm that the Edition 30 range will hit retailers this fall as 2020-year models.


2018 Bangkok Motor Show: FOMM AWD Sport concept

                BANGKOK: Japanese electric vehicle developer FOMM (First One Mile Mobility) had a Thai debut for its AWD Sport concept at the 2018 Bangkok Motor Show.

The FOMM AWD Sport concept is a compact two-seater, electric powered, all-wheel drive vehicle.

Size-wise, it has a length of 3,300 mm; width of 1,490mm; and height of 1,255mm.

The design of the radiator grille is inspired by Kabuki, a traditional Japanese mask.

This is an interesting convertible roadster with scissor doors, and a carbon fiber interior.

It has 4 batteries (2.96 kWh each) and power output is 27hp (20 Kw) and the maximum torque is 1,120Nm (825 lbf-ft).

A full charge allows a range of 160km.


Volvo's all-electric semi-truck comes out of hiding in 2019

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo Trucks' upcoming sustainable transport vehicle, the VNR Electric, will hit California highways next year and be up for purchase in 2020.

Tesla is not the only company developing electric semi-trucks; Volvo Trucks this week announced that it, too, is in on the electric mass-transport game and in fact, has been since early this year. On Wednesday, the company tweeted a couple pictures of their newest iteration of a green unit designed to haul:

The VNR Electric will be the third electric truck that Volvo Trucks will have produced, the first being the FL Electric that was announced earlier this year and which can transport up to 16 tons for 300km. The battery, though, can be adjusted based on transportation distance need. Two of these models will be used in the company's hometown in Sweden — one as a garbage truck and the other as a hauler.

Just a few weeks later, the Volvo FE Electric was unveiled. Designed for even heavier duties weighing up to 27 tons, use of this vehicle will begin in Germany early next year.

Now, Volvo Trucks is teasing a third electric truck model that's on the way. From the electric green, shadowed images of the vehicle, it's clear that the Volvo version will take on a much more traditional semi-truck face than Tesla's Semi which looks more like it's transporting groups of people on vacation than goods.

The development of this electric model was done in partnership with Volvo Group, California's South Coast Air Quality Management District, and industry leaders in transportation and electrical charging infrastructure (totalling 16 partners) who share the goal of creating a "comprehensive electrified transport ecosystem."

As the director of product marketing of Volvo Trucks North America Johan Agebrand said, the VNR models will be used for "heavy urban distribution, drayage and other regional applications where electric trucks will first have the greatest impact."

The demonstration units that will be shown off by Volvo next year will be based on FE Electric's drivetrain, technology that the company has had under its belt for a while now and which has a range of about 200km.

The VNR Electric models will be on the road in the Golden State next year and will be commercialised in 2020.


Volvo integrates Spotify into latest models

                BARCELONA: Volvo Cars is the first car maker to integrate the popular Spotify music streaming service globally in its new cars, starting with the new XC90, S90 and V90 this spring, it was announced at the 2016 Mobile World Conference here.

The Swedish car maker has worked closely with the popular music streaming service to ensure a natural and familiar user interface in the car. The integration takes advantage of Spotify’s most appreciated features using the large real-estate of the tablet-like touch screen in the new XC90, S90 and V90, and does away with the need to use a smartphone for music streaming while on the road.

“Anyone that has used Spotify knows how great it is – you have access to your favourite music, all the time. We are very proud of our unique and custom-made interface for Spotify,” said Björn Annwall, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service at Volvo Cars.

Accessing Spotify will require a Premium subscription. A 30-day free trial period will be available for those new to the service. The app will be available for Volvo owners in all countries where Spotify is available.

“As before, you can still play music from your Spotify smartphone app in your car, or you can use the in-car app, which will contain all of your favourite playlists, artists and albums. And with Spotify’s ability to deliver extremely high-quality streaming, it has never been a better time to get the most out of the Bowers & Wilkins sound system in our new XC90, S90 and V90,” said Annwall.

At present, Spotify is also available to stream in Volvo models via Bluetooth or through Apple CarPlay. However, the native application in Volvo Cars’ Sensus user interface in the  XC90, S90 and V90 provides a much richer experience and a search functionality that non-native applications cannot deliver.

Volvo’s integrated Spotify application includes the Spotify Connect functionality, which allows passengers to use their mobile devices as remote controls for the Spotify in-car app without the need to connect their devices to the car or drain their batteries.


Tesla launches cheaper variant of Model Y SUV

Visitors checking a China-made Tesla Model Y at the electric vehicle maker's showroom in Beijing. — Reuters
SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc launched a cheaper variant of the Model Y, bringing its sports utility vehicle’s price closer to that of its Model 3 sedan, the electric-car maker’s least expensive car.

The new standard range Model Y is priced at US$41,990, only US$4,000 more than the entry level Model 3, according to the company’s website.

Shares of the carmaker, which have surged more than 700% in 2020, were up nearly 5% at US$853.89 in trading before the bell on Friday.

Tesla’s stratospheric rally has helped chief executive Officer Elon Musk surpass Amazon.com Inc’s top boss Jeff Bezos to become the world’s richest man, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Tesla’s new Model Y variants come days after the carmaker beat Wall Street targets for 2020 vehicle deliveries, driven by a steady rise in electric vehicle adoption, but narrowly missed its ambitious full-year target of half a million deliveries.


Sony seeks new partners for EV project, says exec

Sony Vision-S 01 and Vision-S 02 electric vehicles are displayed during CES 2022 in Las Vegas, on Jan 5. — Reuters
TOKYO: Sony Group will likely add new technology partners to its electric vehicle (EV) project to help it forge a mobility business to transform cars from transportation machines to entertainment spaces, says a Sony executive.

An ongoing shift to electric cars, which are easier to build than those with internal combustion engines, is allowing new entrants into vehicle manufacturing.

At the same time, autonomous driving and 5G connectivity is expected to remold the auto industry by turning cars into mobile platforms for information and entertainment services.

"We see the risk of ignoring EVs as greater than the challenge they pose," Izumi Kawanishi, the senior general manager who will manage a new Sony Mobility business, said in an interview. The coming transformation of cars was in some ways similar to how information technology turned phones into smartphones, he added.

Announcing the creation of that new mobility unit at the CES technology tech fair in Las Vegas this month, Sony chief executive Kenichiro Yoshida suggested for the first time that the creator of PlayStation games consoles will try to turn an EV development project started two years ago into a money-making venture.

"We understand that speed is important in terms of making a decision," said Kawanishi, who joined the Japanese consumer electronics company as a software engineer in 1986 and heads the AI Robotics unit making Sony's Aibo robot pet.

Kawanishi declined to say whether a final decision on whether to go ahead would come this year.

Partners

So far, Sony has built two EV "Vision" prototypes with a factory in Austria owned by Canadian auto parts maker Magna International, which also makes cars for firms including BMW, Mercedes Benz and Toyota Motor Corp.

Other members of its Europe-based project include German auto parts maker Bosch, French automotive technology company Valeo SE and Hungarian autonomous vehicle start-up AImotive.

To bring an EV to market, Sony would likely have to invest heavily in plant and equipment. Tesla Inc, which delivered its first electric vehicle in 2008, has spent billions of dollars to make its business viable.

Sony will also have to take on traditional carmakers too, such as Toyota, General Motors Co and Volkswagen AG, which are spending tens of billions of dollars to beat the EV newcomers.

Sony is one of a growing list of technology firms exploring automotive opportunities, including iPhone maker Apple Inc, South Korea's LG Electronics, Taiwan's Foxconn, and China's Alibaba Group.

Sony will pick new partners for its EV project based on the technology they can bring to the project, without regard to their nationality, Kawanishi said, when asked if Sony would partner with Chinese companies.


Bets on Aussie lithium miners rise as Chile plan stokes concerns

                MELBOURNE: Expectations that demand for Australian lithium will grow boosted Sydney-listed miners' stocks today after Chile unveiled plans to take control of its output of the metal essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Listed miners with lithium projects in South America suffered, however, on concerns other governments may follow Chile's lead.

Elsewhere in Asia, lithium prices stabilised on an improved demand outlook, and Japan acted to shore up its EV minerals supply by announcing a swathe of industry subsidies.

Shares in Australia's biggest independent lithium producer, Pilbara Minerals jumped 5.2% to a six-and-a-half week high, while Mineral Resources, Liontown Resources, Core Lithium and IGO Ltd also rose.

Australia, the world's top lithium producer, makes up around half of global supply.

Last Thursday, Chile's president Gabriel Boric announced a move that would see the world's second-largest lithium producer shift to a model in which the state holds a controlling interest in all projects, partnering with mining firms.

"Chile's decision could slow down investment into the country, which is probably slightly positive for the lithium world, and it may force the majors to pour in more investment dollars outside of Chile," said Glyn Lawcock, head of resources at Sydney investment bank Barrenjoey.

"It probably makes Australian hardrock more valuable, because you are in a much more stable regulatory environment compared to Chile. Sure, there might be small increases in royalties payments from time to time, but we don't generally nationalise assets."

Bucking the regional trend were Australian-listed miners with projects in South America's lithium triangle which spans Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, on concerns other governments may follow Chile's footsteps.

Lithium Power International, whose Maricunga brine project is Chile's largest permitted, proposed project welcomed the new policy which it said would "positively transform" Chile's lithium industry. Its shares fell 6.2%.

The nationalisation trend poses a challenge to EV manufacturers scrambling to secure battery materials, as more countries look to protect their natural resources and access to battery minerals supply.

In the latest move, Japan will subsidise half the cost of smelting and mine development projects of important minerals including lithium by Japanese companies, Nikkei Asia reported on Sunday.

Prices of lithium in Wuxi, China, which fell after news of the policy broke last week, rallied 14.8% today given expectations of an upcoming demand recovery.

"The jump in futures is mainly driven by improved sentiment as the market sees limited scope for prices to fall further," said Zhang Weixin, an analyst at China Futures.

"News from Chile has limited impact as the decision won't have any imminent impact on supply in the near term."

Demand for lithium appears to be improving after stronger-than-expected first quarter sales of EVs in China, said Reg Spencer of broker Canaccord.

Prices for lithium carbonate have slumped by more than two-thirds since November while those for Australian ore have dropped nearly 30% after a rush by EV makers over two years drove prices up sharply.


US federal safety regulators seek Takata whistleblowers

                WASHINGTON: US vehicle safety regulators want to find whistleblowers with knowledge "of possible defects or any wrongdoing" by Takata Corp, stepping up pressure on the air bag maker whose products are linked to five deaths and dozens of injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) told Reuters it was urging potential informants to call its hotline at 1-888-327-4236, promising legal protection.

"We encourage all individuals with information about the manufacture or testing of Takata air bag inflators, or who have knowledge of possible defects or any wrongdoing by the company, to make this information available to NHTSA," agency spokesman Gordon Trowbridge said.

Six former Takata employees interviewed by Reuters said they were asked to hide or alter data that showed certain parts and materials did not meet Takata's specifications or indicated potential issues with key components such as inflators and cushions.

Two of these employees said they witnessed others hiding, altering or ignoring unfavorable test results.

Company officials last year testified at two US congressional hearings, and the Japanese safety equipment maker remains the subject of at least two federal investigations and the target of dozens of lawsuits.

Asked for a comment, the company said in a statement: "Takata has a deep commitment to honesty and integrity. Since our founding in 1933, we have worked tirelessly to develop innovative and high-quality products that exceed our customers' expectations, save lives and prevent injuries. Our number one priority is the safety of the traveling public."

It added: "We are committed to working with NHTSA and our automotive customers to ensure the safety of the driving public." The company last year formed a quality assurance panel headed by former USTransportation Secretary Samuel Skinner "to conduct a comprehensive review to ensure Takata's current manufacturing procedures meet best practices in the production of safe inflators."

Most former Takata employees who spoke with Reuters did not want to be named while discussing incidents and situations of a sensitive nature. But they related similar or shared experiences at Takata facilities in Washington, Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina.

Two former Takata employees, Mark Lillie and Michael Britton, have spoken to the New York Times, and Lillie also spoke to congressional investigators, about their concerns with the safety of propellant manufactured in a Takata facility in Moses Lake, Wash., and used to create the gas that inflates air bags in case of a crash.

In interviews with Reuters, Lillie, a chemical engineer who is now retired and living in New Mexico, disclosed new information, saying he left the company before it began manufacturing a new, more volatile type of chemical propellant, ammonium nitrate.

Lillie said some Takata engineers thought the material was not thoroughly tested to make sure it was safe. He left the company in 1999.

"I literally said if we go forward with this, someone will be killed," Lillie told Reuters.

"I couldn't in good faith pump this stuff out believing that it was unsafe to put in front of a passenger in a car."

Ammonium nitrate was the principal propellant chemical used in hundreds of millions of Takata inflators made since 2000, including those installed in more than 24 million cars recalled in the United States, Japan, China and other global markets.

Britton described an incident in the late 1990s where a test batch of experimental propellant that had not been validated by Britton's technical group was used without his knowledge in production because the company was running out of approved material.

The experimental batch had not been sufficiently tested to see if it would remain stable over the expected life of the vehicle's air bags, but it was used in inflators that wound up in customers' cars, Britton said, adding that he was not able to get the inflators recalled from the customer.

Britton, in an email on Thursday, said investigators from NHTSA and the Department of Justice have not contacted him.

Lillie said Thursday he has not been contacted by federal officials, either.

Takata did not address specific allegations made by Lillie, Britton or other former employees.

Legal experts interviewed by Reuters said federal prosecutors could be examining a number of issues at Takata.

A provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act prohibits destruction or alteration of documents with the intent of impeding an investigation, "even though one hasn't started," said Peter Henning, a professor at Wayne State University Law School in Detroit.

In a related development, Honda said on Thursday that a driver was killed last week in a Houston suburb in a 2002 Accord equipped with a Takata air bag that may have ruptured.

The Harris County Sheriff is investigating the crash, which occurred Jan 18 in Spring, Texas, north of Houston, and identified the driver as 35-year-old Carlos Solis.

According to the county medical examiner's preliminary report, Solis died of "blunt force injuries to the neck."

(Editing by Joe White and Tomasz Janowski)


Goodbye Volkswagen Passat and Arteon?

                BERLIN: Here's a gloomy report from Automotive News Europe which claims Volkswagen has decided to discontinue production of the Passat sedan as early as 2023 and the Arteon will also follow suit.

According to company sources familiar with Volkswagen's agenda said the production shift will now focus more  on SUVs and EV vehicles.

If this report holds up then the Passat is now discontinued in both Europe and US.

The report also says that the Arteon, in both its fastback and shooting brake variant, is apparently on the way out as there are indications that there are no plans for the car's next iteration.

If this report is confirmed, then it looks like the traditional sedan lost out to the SUV as consumer habits changed over time.


Move to train local technicians to work on electric/hybrid vehicles

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia could be the first within the ASEAN region to develop an international version of the Institute of the Motor Industry’s (IMI) Level 4 Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Qualification.

The UK-based institute announced that it is now looking to partner with the Malaysian government and local institutions to help develop an international version of one of its latest qualification, the L4 Award in the Diagnosis, Testing and Repair of Electric/Hybrid Vehicles and Components (QCF).

The qualification will enable technicians to safely carry out repairs on the live high voltage electrical components and systems of electric or hybrid vehicles.

Developed in liaison with industry specialists, electric vehicle manufacturers, training providers, health and safety experts and the IMI Sector Skills Council, the UK version of the L4 qualification is the first of its kind to address working on electric or hybrid vehicle high voltage systems and components while the car’s engine is live and when it is potentially lethal to do so.

In the UK to date, 100 technicians have received this L4 award, with a further 1,500 holding the Level 3 qualification.

The IMI is a long time contributor to improving the training standards for the workforce in Malaysia’s automotive sector.

Since early last year, it has been working closely with the Malaysian government to provide training support across a network of community colleges, with a particular focus on electric and hybrid vehicles.

It is also in line with the nation’s aim to be a regional energy-efficient vehicle (EEV) hub.

The Professional Body now has 24 approved training centres in Malaysia, comprising of a mix of automotive companies and community colleges.

The existing 45 IMI electric vehicle assessors in Malaysia make the country even more eligible to offer the L4 qualification and the demand for assessors is expected to increase significantly in line with the development of the international version of the qualification.

The IMI L4 electric or hybrid vehicle qualification was originally developed in partnership with BMW with a view to providing the company with a benchmark standard against which it could establish the skills requirements for servicing its plug-in hybrid sports car, the BMW i8 and the fully electric i3 model.

This qualification will become a necessity across all makes and models as the electric vehicle sector matures.

“We see Malaysia as being ahead of others in this region in the area of electric vehicle adoption. With its conducive policies and a growing awareness of electric vehicles, Malaysia has a strong potential to become the main regional training hub for electric vehicles,” said IMI South-East Asia senior manager Matthew Stuart.