Toyota announces new recall of 2.4 million hybrid cars

                TOKYO: Toyota says it is recalling more than 2.4 million hybrid cars over a fault that could cause crashes, just a month after another recall affecting hybrids.

The firm in September said it was recalling more than one million hybrid cars globally after uncovering a technical problem that could cause fires.

The latest announcement affects several models of the Prius and its Auris hybrid vehicles produced between October 2008 and November 2014, with more than a million of the affected cars in Japan.

Another 830,000 are in North America, 290,000 in Europe, 3,000 in China, and the rest in other parts of the world.

In a statement, Toyota said the cars had already been involved in previous recalls in 2014 and 2015, but "the remedy conducted then did not anticipate the new condition identified in this recall".

The problem identified arises when the cars fail to enter "failsafe driving mode as intended".

"If this occurs, the vehicle could lose power and stall. While power steering and braking would remain operational, a vehicle stall while driving at higher speeds could increase the risk of a crash," Toyota said.

Japan's transportation ministry said Toyota had reported three malfunctions locally related to the issue, but no accidents.

The car giant last month issued a recall for 1.03 million cars globally over an issue related to wiring that could cause fires in vehicles.

"We can't assess the impact of the recall immediately as we first need to analyse details of the problem, but the latest recall at least raised concerns as Prius is Toyota's leading brand," said Satoru Takada, an analyst at TIW, a Tokyo-based research and consulting firm.

But the news had little impact on Toyota shares, which ended marginally lower.

Toyota has sold more than 12 million hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles globally, including the Prius, since 1997.

In 2016, it announced the recall of 3.37 million vehicles globally over problems with airbags and a fuel emission control unit.


Buying a Vespa will get you free riding lessons or free fuel

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Premira, the sole importer and distributor of Vespa motorcycles in Malaysia, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Metro Driving Academy to give free B2-class riding lessons.

"While it is common knowledge that it is compulsory to have a riding licence to operate a motorcycle, many in Malaysia do not comply with this law," said Naza Premira Chief Operating Officer Farouk Faisal.

The MoU is in support of the government's efforts to help make riding safer and with every new purchase of a Vespa Primavera ABS 150 and Vespa Sprint ABS 150 scooter, a new rider will have free lessons at Metro Driving Academy.

However, if new riders are not able to pass on their first try, Metro Driving Academy managing director Mat Aris Bakar assured: "we will make sure that they are re-trained until they pass."

New Vespa owners who already have a valid riding licence can opt for six months of free petrol under the current "Vespa, why drive? Let's ride..." campaign.

The Vespa Primavera ABS 150 and Vespa Sprint ABS 150 scooters come standard with the fuel-efficient i-Get (Green Engine Technology) motor and anti-lock braking system for safety as well as a USB charging port.


Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tyre rolls in from RM700

                KUALA LUMPUR: Michelin has just unveiled its Pilot Sport 4 SUV (PS4 SUV) that takes aim at high performance, premium Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV).

With prices starting from RM700, there are 39 tyre sizes for wheels ranging from 17 to 23-inch and can be found at Tyreplus and all Michelin authorised dealers nationwide.

In terms of technology, the PS4 SUV has been specially developed with longevity, braking performance, dynamic handling and comfort in mind.

The tyre's new compound incorporates elastomers with thin silica to give it a better edge over its competitors.

During tests against its competitors, the tyre was able to complete a 1,050m circuit up to 5.06 seconds faster and brake up to 2.7m shorter on a wet track.

While testing on wet roads, the tyre was able to brake up to 4.9m shorter (new) and up to 8.5m shorter (worn) against its competitors.

The tyre boasts of a new asymmetrical groove design that helps heighten the rigidity of the tread pattern for better grip qualities during dynamic cornering.

It also uses a hybrid aramid-nylon belt for better steering response and driving precision.

In terms of durability, the French tyremaker touts that the tyre can last up to 13,000km more compared to other brands.

This is thanks to its rigid tread blocks and a high-density double casing ply for an increase in robustness against road shock damages.

“The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV completes our well-established Pilot Sport family with the latest motorsport technologies and intelligent enhancements to provide unlimited driving pleasure in total safety," said MICHELIN (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei) managing director Pascal Nouvellon


Top Michelin executives agree to pay cuts to help with Covid-19 response

                PARIS: French tyre company Michelin said on Monday that its leading executives had agreed to take pay cuts as a gesture of solidarity to help deal with the negative effects of the hit to its business from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Michelin said its managing partners Florent Menegaux and Yves Chapot had agreed to reduce their remuneration by around 25% for April and May.

Members of its executive committee had also voluntarily decided to reduce their remuneration by around 10% during the same period, added the company.


International motorcycle show coming to KL in January

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia International Motorcycle Show 2016 (MIMS 2016), the biggest such event in Southeast Asia, is expected to attract more than 300,000 visitors.

It will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)here from Jan 7-10 and aims to gather dealers and sellers of all motorcycle brands, ranging from small to super bikes, under one roof.

Organiser Eria Ventures Sdn Bhd CEO Iskandar Dzulkarnain Nordin said there would be 850 booths for exhibitors.

"About 20 companies, including some from overseas, have registered their participation to date," he told a press conference after the soft launch of the MIMS 2016 here on Friday.

He said the event would showcase bikes, ranging from electric bikes to monster bikes.

"The latest and high-tech machines will also be on display and includes the 2300cc Triumph Rocket III, the motorcycle with the world's biggest engine capacity," he added.

Meanwhile, MIMS 2016 founder, Datuk Abdul Rauf Yusoh said the event will not only attract visitors from Malaysia, but also countries within the region such as Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.

It will be opened by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Jan 7.


Travel Home with Michelin and get AirAsia e-voucher

                PETALING JAYA: Motorists can look forward to great promotional deals offered by Michelin Malaysia before they hit the road for the journey back home this coming Chinese New Year.

In conjunction with the ‘balik kampung’ rush, the French tyremaker is going the distance to help families reach their destination safely with its 'Safe with Michelin' campaign.

“The Safe with Michelin campaign features treasured moments from the lives of people travelling with those they love in their cars on their journeys home; trusting Michelin tyres to get them there safely this festive season,” said Michelin Malaysia managing director Pascal Nouvellon.

The objective is to get closer to the heart and lives of Malaysians with the key message that the company's tyres are built with safety in mind, and there is nothing more important to them than the safety of its customers.

As part of the campaign, the company is running 'The Travel Home with Michelin' promotion from Jan 8 to March 2, which offers an Air Asia e-voucher worth RM88
along with an exclusive Michelin luggage tag to customers who purchase four Michelin tyres at any of their dealer outlets.

To redeem the e-voucher via email (requires 14 working days), customers are required to take a WhatsApp snapshot of the receipt and send the following details to 017-2576849, which includes:
Name as per NRICNRIC numberEmail address
Those who purchase two tyres will also be rewarded with a Michelin branded luggage tag.

“We are thankful and appreciative of our customers’ support throughout the years and through the promotion, consumers can rest assured that they travel long distances safely as Michelin tyres are designed to deliver safety and long-lasting performance.” added Nouvellon.


Ministry changes tactic to check fuel smuggling

                KOTA BARU: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is implementing a box and log book for inspection by enforcement officers at petrol stations located at the country's borders as another measure to contain the smuggling of subsidised petrol and diesel.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, said the box and log book would enable the ministry to monitor the movements of foreign vehicles entering to fill petrol at the stations near the border.

"We do not want foreign vehicles to enter and take the opportunity fill up their tanks as fuel in neighbouring countries are more expensive. So the requirement is to closely control the sales of petrol and diesel at the stations involved," Linggi said at an official function here.

Apart from monitoring the presence of foreign cars to fill petrol, the ministry is also monitoring other activities taking place at the petrol stations.

There are 281 petrol stations located near the country's borders as at November last year.


Toyota RAV4 wins Japan Car of the Year

                TOKYO: The Japan Car of the Year organization has announced that the Toyota RAV4 is the 2019 Car of the Year.

Celebrating its 40th year, the Japan Car of the Year organization gathered at the Tokyo International Exchange Center in Tokyo Bay to choose the best cars of 2019.

Some 60 jurors, representatives from 40 of the country’s most influential automotive publications and dozens of OEM executives gathered to witness the vote-counting and prize-giving ceremony for this year’s Japan Car of the Year.

Pre-ceremony hype centered on an expected battle between the Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda3 with the BMW 3-Series seen as a strong contender for the import car of the year gong.

That tussle did not eventuate as the RAV4 polled well from that start and with a convincing total of 436 votes, it triumphed to win the 2019 Japan Car of the Year.

The Mazda3 came in second with 328 votes while the BMW 3-Series finished with 290 votes giving it the Import Car trophy. The Toyota Corolla was 4th with 118, the Jaguar I-Pace was 5th with 109 and in 6th place, the Jeep Wrangler polled 56 votes.

In the special awards categories, the Jeep Wrangler picked up the Emotional Award for its robust on- and off-road capabilities, the Nissan Skyline took home the Innovation Award for its world-first ProPilot 2.0 “hands-off” semi-autonomous driving system, and the Small Mobility trophy went to the Mitsubishi eK Cross and Nissan Dayz.


Rare 295hp BMW (E36) M3 GT Individual goes under the hammer

                LONDON: Classic Car Auctions in Warwickshire, England, will kick off its August sale catalogue with a rare BMW (E36) M3 GT Individual going under the hammer.

Only 356 M3 GTs were made with an additional 50 right-hand drive M3 GT Individual (mostly coated in British Racing Green) versions designated for the UK.

This limited edition M3 GT (40 of 50) is estimated to fetch between £20,000 and £25,000 (RM106,000 to RM133,000) and will be accompanied by its extensive history file and original build sheet.

Still in its original state and bearing the registration number M3 XYX, it has had three former owners and almost 170,000km on the clock.

The M3 GT was produced because the Bavarian automaker was looking to compete in the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile  Series Grand Touring Cars class II (FIA-GT2), US-based International Motor Sports Association (IMSA GT) and other endurance-based racing series.

Power comes from a cast-iron 3.0-litre (2,990cc) inline-six Euro-spec S50B30 engine that was produced from 1992 to 1995 in the Bavarian city of Munich, Germany.

The engine was extensively modified, resulting in a higher compression ratio of 10.8:1, thanks to the larger camshafts, reinforced valve springs, new cast-iron crankshaft, lighter and larger 86mm (+2mm) diameter cylinders, stronger 142mm rods, enlarged 34mm inlet valves, individual throttle bodies, dual mass flywheel and a new sports exhaust system to name a few.

With a Bosch Motronic M3.3 electronic control unit and a higher 7,280rpm red-line, the 151kg naturally-aspirated engine is able to produce up to 295hp at 7,100rpm and 323Nm of torque at 3,900rpm while firing in an order of 1-5-3-6-2-4.

At approximately 1,460kg (-30kg) compared to the standard M3, century sprints (0-100kph) take about six seconds with a six-speed manual before reaching an unrestricted top speed of 275kph.

Externally, the car was differentiated by a more prominent and adjustable front splitter, more aggressive double rear wing, aluminium doors and clear front indicators with amber for the sides and rear.

It was further equipped with staggered 17 x 7.5-inch (front) and 17 x 8.5-inch (rear) forged M double-spoke alloys fitted with 235/40 series tyres.

The suspension, though similar to a standard M3, used shorter and stiffer springs in order to accept the extra down-force generated by the fully extended front splitter and rear spoiler.

Inside, the cabin is accented by graphite bird's eye maple wood inserts on the centre console and glove box while the seats are upholstered in Anthracite with the M tri-colour stripes on the backs of the front and rear seats as Mexico Green Nappa Leather adorn the door inserts and grab handles.


Lexus to unveil all-new RX on June 1

                TOKYO: Lexus has released a teaser image of the new RX in the run-up to its June 1 unveiling.

Lexus said the luxury SUV has undergone a complete renewal inside and out - all the better to stand up to its German rivals.

The announcement came as the company's NX and all new RZ electric SUV have been introduced.

The teaser photo shows an RX with new headlight designs, large air intakes and a new take on the signature "Spindle" grille.

What is anticipated is an improved infotainment system from the 12.3-inch centre touchscreen and a range of hybrid engine options.

An RX 450h+ with a 2.5-litre petrol mill paired with front and rear motors should give a total output of 305hp, while an 18.1kWh battery could give the big SUV an electric range below 70km.

We should also see a 3.5-litre V6 hybrid variant making its way to market.


Past its peak? Battered oil demand faces threat from electric vehicles

                LONDON: Oil companies may be facing uncertainty as the coronavirus pandemic triggers a collapse in demand for their products, but auto makers are betting the crisis will help accelerate an electric future.

With economies reeling from lockdowns to curb the virus, the sharpest plunge in oil prices in two decades has slashed the cost of filling up a tank of gas, eroding some of the incentive to make the switch to cleaner fuels.

Looking ahead, cuts in capital spending forced upon energy companies as their revenues crumble could tighten supply enough to cause a spike in oil prices, making electric vehicles more attractive just as automakers ramp up production, analysts say.

“We think this will lead to a tipping point, accelerating the switch to electric vehicles in many more countries around 2023-24,” Per Magnus Nysveen, senior partner at Rystad Energy, a consultancy in Oslo, told Reuters.

“We will start to see that this starts to dig into global oil demand in a very significant way,” he said.

According to a Reuters analysis of 27 automakers compiled in partnership with Constellation Research & Technology, most companies apart from Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc and China’s BYD Co Ltd are still in the early stages of transitioning to EVs, which make up a fraction of global sales.

With mid-sized to large petroleum-fuelled SUVs and trucks driving much of the recent growth in the auto sector, many companies are banking on these high-emitting gas-guzzlers to drive their near-term performance.

Nevertheless, with China’s BAIC Motor Corp and German rivals Volkswagen Group and Daimler AG pursuing some of the industry’s most ambitious decarbonisation targets, investors are increasingly using a company’s EV prospects as a proxy for future success.

“All the growth in transportation is being eaten by electricity,” said Harry Benham, chairman of Ember-Climate, a British energy transition think-tank. “Oil and gas companies have got no ability to defeat electricity as a transport fuel.”

Peak oil demand?

With fuel for road transport accounting for about half of all oil demand, the possibility of a faster-than-expected switch to EVs in the wake of the pandemic is one of the main reasons some forecasts for a peak have been brought forward.

Global oil demand hit a record of just over 100 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2019. Rystad now sees demand topping out at 106.5 million-107 million bpd in 2027-2028. The consultancy had previously forecast a marginally higher peak in 2030.

Although the oil industry has defied numerous attempts to call “peak oil” in the past, the fact that the International Energy Agency projects that demand will plunge by a record 8.6 million bpd this year has reignited the debate.

Though as yet a minority view, some believe the pandemic is reshaping patterns of work, aviation and commuting so profoundly that oil demand might never return to 2019 levels — a potential boost to hopes of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.

“It’s inconceivable that all that demand for oil comes back in one go, so the real question is how much of that is lost permanently,” said Mark Lewis, head of sustainability research at BNP Paribas Asset Management.

Underscoring the changing economics of transport, Reuters revealed last week that Tesla plans to introduce a new low-cost, long-life battery in its Model 3 sedan in China that it expects to bring the cost of EVs in line with gasoline models.

Despite such potential breakthroughs, the Constellation data shows that automakers still have a long way to go to align themselves with climate goals enshrined in the 2015 Paris Agreement, with Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles among the biggest laggards.

Volkswagen has announced some of the most aggressive long-term plans to decarbonise its fleet, but the company still has to prove it can build EVs at scale, and has led the field in ramping up sales of mid- and large SUVs, the data shows.

Although the public decarbonisation targets of Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp are only a little bolder than the industry average, the company’s proven capacity to build hybrids may bode well for its EV ambitions, the data suggests.

Japan’s Subaru Corp, which produces only a small number of hybrid vehicles, might have to rely on its partnership with Toyota if it wants to prosper as demand for EVs picks up, Constellation analysts said.

‘Crisis of uncertainty’

Although the oil industry hopes to offset demand lost to EVs with a growing appetite for crude to make petrochemicals and plastics, companies facing growing pressure from investors over climate change are increasingly open about the risks.

In April, Ben van Beurden, chief executive of Anglo-Dutch oil major Royal Dutch Shell, said the company did not expect oil demand to recover in the medium term, saying the industry was living in a “crisis of uncertainty”.

Bernard Looney, chief executive of BP, was later quoted in the Financial Times as saying he would not “write off” the possibility the world had reached peak oil.

Much will depend on whether economies stage a V-shaped recovery, as some forecasters predict, and how far governments adopt new EV targets as part of “green stimulus” packages to spur a faster shift to a low-carbon future.

With many European politicians calling for green recoveries, the French government signalled on Monday that the country wants to boost sales of low-emission cars. China has extended backing for EVs as part of its recovery package, and US Democrats are exploring ways to boost demand for clean vehicles.

With various European countries planning to ultimately ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars, some see increasingly ambitious EV commitments by automakers as another sign of the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era.

“One of the primary factors holding back the transition has been resistance by the fossil fuel incumbents,” said Kingsmill Bond, senior strategist at financial think-tank Carbon Tracker. “Now those incumbents are significantly weakened.”


Rising demand for EVs presents BMW with more avenues for musical collaborations

                MUNICH: BMW outlined this week that the developing popularity of EVs will open up new opportunities for the company to collaborate with musical ensembles.

To create the various sounds that make up the complete BMW driving experience, the brand has previously collaborated with musical ensembles like the London Symphony Orchestra, Polish National Opera and Munich Philharmonic. With the company committing to a future consisting of a battery-powered vehicle portfolio, new sounds need to be composed and created for these electric cars.

The company stated on Thursday that, "Developing new sounds continuously represents an incredible opportunity," and that "[t]o this end, BMW intends to also involve orchestras as part of the sonic exploration that will define sounds of the future and its international partners were thrilled at the prospects of this initiative."

Back in June, the company partnered with Hans Zimmer, the composer behind the scores for "Inception," "The Dark Knight Rises," and the live-action adaptation of "The Lion King," to create sounds for the Vision M Next concept.

With the increasing desire of consumers to have a library of electric drive sounds and sound signs to choose from — for instance, Tesla drivers can look forward to being able to select coconut sounds, in the future — BMW will be seeking out possibly more musical collaborators than ever before.


Honda won't be selling Civic Coupe and Fit in US anymore

The Civic Coupe is history but US buyers still get to buy the Civic hatch, Si or sedan.

LOS ANGELES: Honda's North American unit announced today it is reshuffling its product portfolio and dropping some models.

It will stop selling the Fit/Jazz city car and is dropping the Civic Coupe as well as the manual variants of the Accord, citing poor sales as the reason.

According to Honda, Americans these days prefer the HR-V instead of the Fit, and it will be ramping up production of the crossover to meet demand. Nevertheless, the global version of the Fit - now in its fourth generation - will continue to be sold in other markets, including Malaysia soon.

On the Civic front, the hatchback variant has been outselling the Coupe, thus putting the latter on the chopping block.

As to the sportier Civic Si, which is available in sedan and coupe bodystyles, Honda said it would suspend its production after the 2020 model year as it works on the next-generation Civic.

 The Fit.


Heavy vehicle drivers prefer using Causeway

                JOHOR BARU: Efforts to get heavy vehicles, especially lorries, to use the Second Link instead of the Causeway to enter and exit Singapore seem to be in vain.

Instead, more heavy vehicles are jamming the Causeway, adding to the already severe congestion there.

In July, the Federal Government had stated that measures would be introduced to get more lorries to use the Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ (KSAB) complex at the Second Link.

However, checks showed that not only were more lorries jamming the Causeway, the heavy vehicles were even “encroaching” into lanes designated for cars.

Last week, Malaysian traffic police had to be sent to the halfway mark of the Causeway to order errant lorry drivers to turn back to Johor.

Johor Lorry Operators Association president Novan Hing said although the number of lorries using the Second Link had increased, many still preferred using the Causeway.

“The lower levy imposed on heavy vehicles at the Second Link has managed to sway more lorries there.

“However, the issue of congestion persists as the number of vehicles using the two routes are high, especially during the holiday season, ” he said when contacted.

Hing said the only way to ease traffic was to improve facilities at the Second Link and the Causeway.

The levy for commercial vehicles and toll charges at the Second Link were reduced in February last year to encourage more lorries to use the Second Link.

Outbound and inbound commercial vehicles pay only RM50, instead of RM200 for outbound commercial vehicles and RM100 for commercial vehicles entering Johor from Singapore previously.

Lorry driver Eddy Tan, 42, said he still preferred to use the Causeway because the delivery location in Singapore was nearer.

“It is faster for me to use the Causeway as it will link me straight to areas near Woodlands.

“While the reduced levy may woo some lorry drivers to use the Second Link, for many others, the location of delivery still plays a big role, ” he said.

Johor Public Works, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri said plans to relocate heavy vehicles, including cargo and container transporters, to the Second Link was part of the initiative decided at a technical committee meeting to reduce congestion at the Causeway.

“This will not only ease the congestion at the Causeway but also at Johor Baru city centre.

“However, the plan is still at its early stage.

“We need further talks with all stakeholders in the industry as well as with the Singapore authorities, ” he said when contacted.


Apollo's Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV is Europe’s first dedicated all-season EV tyre

                AMSTERDAM: Apollo Tyres has confirmed that the new Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV, which will become Europe’s first dedicated all-season electric vehicle (EV) tyre when it goes on sale in December, will debut a range of advanced design features and materials.

Developed specifically for year-round use by battery electric vehicles and hybrids, the tyre has been created to deliver greater driving range while providing superior levels of grip and traction in all conditions – including ice and snow.

The new EV tyre has been benchmarked against the current range of award-winning Vredestein all-season tyres. Apollo Tyres’ computer simulations and real-world test programme showed that the new EV tyre delivers superior levels of grip, facilitates increased driving range thanks to its lower rolling resistance and lighter construction, has a lower environmental impact, produces less noise, delivers a quieter and more comfortable ride, and reduces braking distances.

In addition, the Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV has been engineered so that less CO2 is generated during production, contributing to a reduced whole-life carbon impact. The new tyre will be made at Apollo Tyres’ two European production facilities, in Enschede in the Netherlands and Gyöngyöshalász in Hungary.

The new EV tyre’s all-weather performance is fully certified to the highest industry standards for an all-season tyre, allowing it to carry the benchmark "Three Peak Mountain Snowflake" symbol on its sidewall, which confirms its proficiency in winter conditions.

Among the "firsts" for the Quatrac Pro EV are an optimised blend of fourth-generation polymers and "smart" silica in the tread, which maximise wet-surface grip while also delivering low levels of rolling resistance. To reduce energy consumption in use, the construction of the tyre is significantly lighter, thanks to its thinner sidewalls, lower apex and lighter belt material.

The new EV tyre will feature a number of new EV-specific design characteristics. These include longitudinal grooves with much steeper flanks to brace against higher cornering loads, and an outside shoulder that is wider than the inner shoulder to resist deformation and improve dry and wet handling.

Further details of the Vredestein Quatrac Pro EV tyre – including performance data and available dimensions – will be confirmed prior to launch.

Vredestein is a Netherlands-based tyre maker. In 2009, it was acquired by Apollo Tyres Ltd of India.


Coker Tire Company reproduces Dunlop Sport Classic radial tyre range

                ATLANTA: Coker Tire Company, the world’s largest supplier of collector vehicle tires and wheels, has expanded its product line with the addition of the Dunlop Sport Classic radial tires.

The US tyre maker brought about the new line to provide an option for vintage European sports cars and some classic American muscle cars from the 1950s through to the 1980s.

Drawing on Dunlop’s racing expertise, Sport Classic tyres are speed rated and feature a clean black sidewall with a classic tread pattern.

The tyres are said to perform well in dry and wet conditions and enhance the style of any vintage sports cars.

Although aimed primarily at European sports cars, certain sizes, such as 205/70R15, 215/70R15 and 215/60R15, fit classic American muscle cars.

The tyres are Department of Transportation (DOT) approved while featuring an H, V or W speed rating, depending on the tyre size.

The new tyre product line currently features 15 sizes, with fitments for 13, 14 and 15-inch wheels.

This includes direct fitments for the Jaguar XK-E, Aston Martin, Austin Healey and other European sports cars.

With aspect ratios ranging from 60 to 80 series and widths ranging from 155 to 215mm, fitment options are extensive.


VW Arteon opens for booking from RM290K to RM310K

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is now accepting pre-bookings for the Arteon.

The fully imported Arteon R-Line is expected to be priced between RM290,000 and RM310,000 when it launches in a few months.

The 5-door fastback is Volkswagen’s flagship model and offers a combination of avant-garde design with dynamic handling.

Built for speed, the Arteon is powered by a 2.0L TSI turbocharged engine paired with a 7-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG). Its output of 276hp and torque of 350Nm between 5,100 and 6,500rpm is transferred via 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.

Equipped with the new Active Info Display with high-resolution display colour thin-film transistor (aka full digital meter cluster as is the trend now), the new setting allows for customisation and full map view.

The new Discover Pro infotainment system runs through a 9.2-inch screen fitted with gesture control and Wireless App-Connect (CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink). For added convenience, a new 360-degree area view camera enables drivers to see the surroundings of the car through four discreetly integrated cameras.

The Arteon comes fitted with both interior and exterior R-Line styling package and is available in eight colours – Manganese Grey, Deep Black, Reflex Silver, Romance Red, Urano Grey, Turmeric Yellow, Oryx White Pearl and Pyrite Silver.

The Arteon will be making an early appearance at Volkswagen showrooms (see table below), and interested buyers are invited to register their interest on the Volkswagen website.


Toyota says it’s sticking with UK in move to electric vehicles

                LONDON: Toyota Motor Corp. reaffirmed its commitment to the UK after a newspaper reported it may halt making cars in the country because of government plans to shift more rapidly to fully electric vehicles.

The Japanese automaker said it’s ready to sell only zero-emission cars and reiterated its view that hybrids have a role to play in the transition by 2035 as the UK prepares to set new targets for the auto industry.

Toyota is focused on achieving a long-term and sustainable future in Europe, including for its British plants, the carmaker said in an emailed statement.

The company was responding to a Sunday Times report that it had warned Transport Secretary Grant Shapps it may cease manufacturing in Britain.

Toyota said it shares the UK’s ambition to head toward zero emissions, though declined to comment on the government’s mandates because it hasn’t seen a draft of the rules being prepared by the Department for Transport.

"We continue to see a role for many different technologies in the transition to zero emission based on the principle of mobility for all — including the current hybrid vehicles built in the UK,” Toyota said in the statement.

The government will require that zero-emission vehicles will make up a rising proportion of new car and van sales each year starting in 2024, the London-based Times reported.

Manufacturers that don’t hit targets will have to pay penalties or buy credits from competitors who surpass the thresholds. Details of the mandate are still being developed.

Toyota vowed in December to be ready to sell only zero-emission cars in Europe by 2035 and set an intermediate goal for them to make up at least half of its sales by the end of the decade.

The company announced a more than £240 million (RM1.3bil) investment in its plant in Burnaston, central England, in 2017 to support production of Corolla compact cars.

It also has an engine plant in Deeside, north Wales. The UK plans to ban sales of new cars that run entirely on gasoline and diesel after 2030 and is permitting hybrid sales until 2035.


Goodyear claims connected tyres can reduce stopping distance by 30%

                KUALA LUMPUR: Goodyear’s connected tyres  are said to be able to reduce stopping distance lost between a new and worn tyre by 30%.

Connected tyres – those with embedded sensors – are able to “talk” to the vehicle and the road and measure characteristics of the tyre, leading to potential enhanced vehicle performance and safety.

Goodyear’s connected, intelligent tyre system continuously measures and records tyre-derived information, which is paired with other vehicle data and connected to Goodyear’s cloud-based proprietary algorithms.

The intelligent tyres can measure tyre wear, load, inflation and temperature, along with road surface conditions, in real time, allowing the vehicle to adjust and respond to these measurements and optimise vehicle performance.

“Consider someone driving on a slick, curvy road in wet conditions. The driver adjusts his movements by slowing down, tapping the brakes or avoiding sudden steering,” said Goodyear chief technology officer Chris Helsel.

“But what happens when nobody is behind the wheel? The tyre is the only part of the vehicle that touches the ground and it can communicate vital information to the vehicle, enhancing safety and performance.”

While Goodyear’s connected tyres are not yet available to consumers, the company is continuously testing connected tyres extensively with auto makers and start-ups, and has more than three million miles of data from road tests and field trials with customers derived from its connected tyres.


New battery from Toshiba promises 0-320km of range in six minutes

                TOKYO: A new prototype battery from Toshiba could make recharging an electric car as quick and simple as filling the gas tank.

Toshiba has been building and developing lithium-ion batteries for automotive use since 2008, and, for its latest-generation cell, which it hopes to take from prototype to production reality before the end of 2019, it has developed a new anode using titanium niobium oxide.

By going with this material, rather than graphite as is the norm, the new battery's storage capacity is doubled. And more importantly, it is less likely to start breaking down as a result of constant re-charging.

"We are very excited by the potential of the new titanium niobium oxide anode and the next-generation [battery]," said Dr Osamu Hori, Director of Corporate Research & Development Center at Toshiba Corporation. "Rather than an incremental improvement, this is a game changing advance that will make a significant difference to the range and performance of EV."

Indeed, Toshiba claims that after six minutes of ultra-rapid charging, this particular battery, if fitted in a compact car, would be sufficient to add 320km of range. What's more, the new materials ensure that it operates at a safe temperature and in lifecycle testing retains 90% of its initial capacity after 5,000 charges and discharges.

For some context, a typical lithium ion battery pack as found in a compact plug-in electric car needs 30 minutes of rapid charging to offer 200km of range. Or it needs to be left plugged in overnight at a domestic charging socket to fully recharge.

The same will be true of the new battery pack; it will only offer this remarkable surge in range when connected to a suitable ultra-rapid charger

"We will continue to improve the battery's performance and aim to put [it] into practical application in fiscal year 2019," said Dr Hori.


Auto sector to navigate bumpy road ahead

                KUALA LUMPUR: The automotive sector is in for a bumpy ride for the remainder of 2022 as rising inflation, inconsistencies such as labour and parts shortages and the discontinuation of the efficacious vehicle tax holiday could potentially dampen sales.

Vehicle sales in May slumped 12% month-on-month (m-o-m) to 49,603 units, as production was affected by the shorter working month amid the persistent chip shortage and component shipment delays.

While several marques had softer sales as a result, RHB Investment Bank noted that market leader Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd’s (Perodua) sharp 26% m-o-m decline dragged total industry volume (TIV) down in May.

“Excluding Perodua, May’s TIV would have risen by 0.5% m-o-m.

“Perodua’s shortfall was mainly due to plant shutdowns during Aidil Fitri and from the supply shortfall from a key vendor, due to the labour shortage.”

“It is envisaged that many prospective and speculative buyers will take advantage of this outcome and place token deposit bookings, just to lock in orders. That would skew bookings.”

Based on this assumption, Maybank IB said vehicle bookings could surge tremendously in June and then fall drastically from next month and into the second half of 2022.

Year-on-year sales in May rose 5%, but mainly due to the lower base in the previous corresponding period, which was affected by nationwide lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Going forward, RHB said there are also concerns of persistently high inflation. This, it added, may dampen consumer sentiment in 2023 and pose potential risks to demand.

“Inflation may also post margin compression risks to the auto players. We like Sime Darby Bhd and Bermaz Auto Bhd for their ability to weather inflationary pressures, given their relatively more premium marques and for the recovery in Sime Darby’s auto sales in China.”

Other downside risks that may hamper the automotive sector’s recovery, said RHB, include persistent shortages of key components, tighter bank approvals for car loans, the weaker ringgit and delays in new model launches.

For now, RHB is maintaining its TIV forecast of 615,000 units for 2022.

Separately, the government’s announcement earlier this week that the vehicle sales tax exemption will end on June 30 has set tongues wagging on how this could potentially affect forward vehicle sales.

Buyers who had booked their vehicles during the tax holiday period still have until March 31, 2023 to enjoy the tax exemptions.

Despite the additional nine-month delivery lead time, Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB) said the situation could create unnecessary operational issues.

“Firstly, speculative bookings will rise over the next few days (until the expiry of the tax holiday on June 30).

“It is envisaged that many prospective and speculative buyers will take advantage of this outcome and place token deposit bookings, just to lock in orders. That would skew bookings.”

Based on this assumption, Maybank IB said vehicle bookings could surge tremendously in June and then fall drastically from next month and into the second half of 2022.

“Another potential unnecessary outcome may be that some not-so-time-sensitive buyers may place orders by end-June 2022, but could request for a 2023 delivery (from a depreciation value angle).

“That could see weaker sales in the second half of 2022 and strong first quarter 2023 TIV.” For now, Maybank IB said that it was maintaining its 2022 TIV forecast of between 580,000 and 600,000 units.

“All in all, the vehicle sales tax holiday has proven to be a wise and popular policy to drive vehicle sales (868,422 units sold during this period) and counter the Covid-19 lockdown effect.

“While the revenue loss from the sales tax exemption totalled RM4.7bil, we reckon the revenues gained from the excise and import duties collected during the period far outweigh the loss incurred during the tax holiday period,” it said.


Jan 5-11: Fuel prices unchanged

                KUALA LUMPUR: The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol, and diesel will remain unchanged for the Jan 5-11 period.

The Finance Ministry said today that RON97 petrol remains at RM3.35 per litre, RON95 (RM2.05) and diesel (RM2.15).

"To protect consumers from the effects of a rise in global oil prices, the government has maintained RON95 petrol at the ceiling price of RM2.05 per litre and diesel at RM2.15 per litre although the retail prices of the two products have exceeded the set ceiling prices," it said.

The weekly retail prices are set based on the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.


Porsche Motorsport gets new boss

Laudenbach.
STUTTGART: Porsche Motorsport has a new man at the helm.

Thomas Laudenbach, 53, will assume the role of managing Porsche Motorsport on Oct 1.

The engineer takes over from Fritz Enzinger, 65, who has led the racing department of the sports car maker to numerous successes since 2011.

When the Austrian Enzinger came to Porsche in 2011, he spearheaded the successful LMP1 programme with the 919 Hybrid. Between 2014 and 2017, he achieved three overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as winning a total of six world championship titles in three consecutive years.

In 2019, Enzinger took over complete responsibility for Porsche Motorsport. Two more world championship titles followed that year, this time with the 911 RSR in the GTE-Pro category of the World Endurance Championship FIA WEC.

Under Enzinger’s direction, the sports car manufacturer also tackled the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, and won the titles in the North America IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) in the fiercely contested GTLM class with the 911 RSR.

“The big goal is to build on the great successes that have been achieved under the direction of Fritz Enzinger," said Laudenbach.

"It’s a wonderful challenge. We will adapt motorsport to the changed conditions in the automotive industry – from customer racing to factory involvement in the major racing series around the globe. We have our sights firmly set on claiming our 20th Le Mans victory, we want to win world championships – both in endurance racing and in Formula E. It’s also important to continue developing our customer racing. With the Mission R concept study, we are showing how attractive this can look.”

Laudenbach completed his mechanical engineering studies at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. His path initially led him to the DTM and to a service company that developed powertrain components for various European vehicle manufacturers. In the autumn of 1998, Laudenbach came to Porsche AG. As Head of Powertrain Development, he was involved in racing and sports car projects such as the 918 Spyder, 911 RSR, 911 GT3 R and the 911 GT3 Cup until 2013.

 Enzinger.

As the leading developer of the 3.4-litre direct-injection V8 engine for the Porsche RS Spyder, Laudenbach also became acquainted with the North American motorsport scene.

This will soon come full circle: From 2023, Porsche will compete for overall victories with a new LMDh hybrid prototype in the US IWSC racing series and the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship. As was the case with the RS Spyder between 2005 and 2008, the top American team Penske will once again serve as Porsche’s cooperation partner.


New Mercedes-Benz GLC SUVs launched

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) today unveiled the latest generation of its locally-assembled SUVs at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre here.

They are the GLC 200, GLC 300 4MATIC and GLC 300 4MATIC Coupé priced at RM299,888, RM350,000 (estimated) and RM419,88 respectively. All prices are on-the-road without insurance.

The refreshed SUVs, still in the first generation, now feature muscularly sculpted surfaces and distinctive details such as the chrome elements, which  run from the front to the rear end as standard. Other changes include the redesigned LED high performance headlamps and the heavily contoured radiator grille on the GLC 200.

 Jopp with the newly launched GLC today.

These are included in the Optical Off-road package along with the 20in five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels.

The GLC 300 4MATIC is equipped with the Night Package based on the AMG Line exterior that features striking, black design elements to underline the vehicle’s sporty and expressive character while enhancing the exclusivity and high-quality details of the exterior.

It comes with the 20- inch AMG 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, Multibeam LED headlamps and the panoramic sliding sunroof.

The GLC 300 Coupé is also equipped with a Night Package based on the AMG Line exterior with sport aprons and the 20-inch AMG five twin-spoke light-alloy wheels. It also comes with the Multibeam LED headlamps.

The exterior exudes an even sportier design with the imposing diamond radiator grille and at the rear features the tailpipe trim integrated into the bumper and the streamlined LED rear tail lamps.

Inside, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 and GLC 300 4MATIC are adorned with the Exclusive Line and AMG Line packages with the Artico leather upholstery featured in both variants.

The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) comes standard across the GLC line-up with a fully-digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster display and the media display touch screen is now measured at 10.25 inches.

Meanwhile, the cabin of the new GLC 300 Coupé is lined with leather upholstery and aluminium trim. It features the MBUX and Mercedes me connect service with a fully-digital cockpit including navigation display.

The GLC range is powered by the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine (M264) paired to a 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission but each variant is tuned differently. As such, the GLC 200 outputs 197hp and 320Nm of torque. The GLC 300 4MATIC produces 258hp and 370Nm of torque and lastly, the GLC 300 Coupé produces 258hp and 370Nm of torque.

Mercedes Benz Malaysia also announced the Mercedes me connect (Mmc) for owners to remain connected to their vehicles whether it is starting the engine, getting customer support or simply checking their fuel level.

To begin using Mercedes me connect, owners are required to define and activate their vehicle on the Mercedes me portal where they will be conveniently guided through all the necessary steps.

The Mercedes me connect application can be downloaded from both, the Apple App Store as well as the Google Play Store. The application is designed to work with Android and Apple devices, including the Apple Watch.

The service will be made available in 2020 onwards, starting with the new generation GLC range.

For customers with Mercedes-Benz vehicles built after 2002 without connected functionality, they will still be able to enjoy the experience of connected features through the Mercedes me Adapter. The Mercedes me Adapter is priced at RM250 and will be available in the first quarter of 2020.

“With the new generation Mercedes-Benz SUV line-up, we are redefining the standards of luxury SUV segment in Malaysia by combining a different level of mobility and innovation. As part of our product offensive strategy, the line-up offers our customers comfort and luxury beyond what you would expect from an SUV, in addition to the spaciousness, practicality as well as the performance,” said Vice President, Sales & Marketing Passenger Cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Michael Jopp.
GLC 200GLC 300 4MATICGLC 300 4MATIC CoupéSpecifications of facelifted Mercedes-Benz GLC


Sono unveils Sion's moss-covered interior

                MUNICH: A few months after Sono Motors revealed the production exterior of the Sion EV, the company has unveiled its minimalist interior whose air is cleaned by integrated moss.

The Munich-based solar electric car maker uses 248 solar cells built into the body to harness some of its energy needs. Today the company published images of the inside of the eco-friendly city car, revealing moss integrated into the dash.

According to Sono Motors, the foliage in the cabin is meant to help filter the air and improve its quality. Despite its vibrant green coloUr, it has been "specially treated" so that it's no longer alive; its air-filtering and humidity-regulating qualities, however, remain active.

Above the moss is a 10-inch display, though the company did not disclose what exactly the tech can do.

Sono is marketing the Sion as a family vehicle complete with "a tow bar for holidays and a large trunk for weekend shopping." With room for five, height-adjustable seatbelts, and space for long legs, the Sion should be able to fit all members of the family.

In terms of specs, a single charge gives the vehicle a 250km - the maximum solar range possible is 34km. Top speed measures in at 140km/h thanks to the 120kW motor and 35 kWh battery.

Other features of the Sion briefly outlined by the company include DIY standard part replacement and the ability to charge via a standard power socket.

Though production isn't expected to start until 2020, Sono Motors has already corralled over 10,000 preorders for the €25,500 (RM119,000) vehicle.


New Ford Ranger Test Drive at 1Utama

                PETALING JAYA: Ford invites the public to experience all the capabilities of the smart new Ranger pickup for themselves at the ‘Tough Done Smarter Experiential Test Drive’.

Each visitor will be paired with a professional driver, who will lead them through an exciting course that simulates tough driving environments, like wading through water and navigating steep terrain.

A variety of the new Ranger’s features will be demonstrated, including driver assist technologies like the e-Locking Rear Differential, Hill Launch Assist, Hill Descent Control, and Forward Collision Warning, as well as Ford’s SYNC 2 connectivity system.

The ‘Tough Done Smarter Experiential Test Drive’ will be held from Oct 9-11, at the Central Park Avenue outdoor area of the new wing (use the main entrance on the Ground Floor) at 1Utama Shopping Centre. No advance bookings required.

Admission is free.


Stellantis scraps digital speedometers for Peugeot car in chips shortage

                PARIS: Stellantis said today it would replace digital speedometers with more old-fashioned analogue ones in one of its Peugeot models, in a fallout from a global shortage of semiconductor chips that is roiling the auto industry.

The change will only affect Peugeot 308 cars, among group brands that include Chrysler, Citroen and Jeep since France's PSA Group merged with Italian-American company Fiat-Chrysler this year to form Stellantis.

"It's a nifty and agile way of getting around a real hurdle for car production, until the 'chips' crisis ends," said a spokesman for Stellantis.

Manufacturing of Peugeot 308 cars had already been disrupted at the group's French factory of Sochaux due to the shortage, echoing temporary halts and production cutbacks globally, from Ford Motor to Volkswagen, in recent months.

 The dashboard of the outgoing 308.

The Covid-19 pandemic drove up demand for semiconductor chips for use in electronics like computers, as people worked from home, and suppliers are struggling to adjust.

The traditional speedometers on Peugeot 308 cars should start appearing in vehicles by the end of May, the company said, while Stellantis is keeping chips for digital dashboards on its most popular models, like the Peugeot 3008 SUV.

The current Peugeot 308 is due to be phased out in the autumn, and the next generation of this vehicle will be produced with digital speedometers at a different factory, in Mulhouse.

Peugeot sold around 98,000 of its 308 models last year.

French news channel LCI said Peugeot was mulling a €400 (RM1,983) discount on cars with the analogue speedometers. Stellantis declined to comment.

READ MORE:  Peugeot's smarter new 308 will tell you how fast you should drive


Smarter storage in station wagons and SUVs

Citroen Berlingo.
BERLIN: When choosing a new car, the first thing many customers look at is the size of the boot. But with station wagons and SUVs, it's not just size that matters. In fact a few clever design solutions are often much more important.

For example, many new cars allow you to stow the luggage compartment cover in an extra compartment under the loading floor, instead of having to remove it and store it at home. In the BMW X5, there is even an electric solution: the cover whirrs to the bottom of the boot at the touch of a button.

In many station wagons and SUVs you can increase the boot size with sliding and folding seats. While manual mechanisms are often difficult to operate, in the top categories electrical solutions are now standard. In Land Rover’s Discovery model, you can even use an app to expand the trunk from your smartphone while still standing at the furniture store checkout.

While a big hatchback may mean more room, sometimes this can have serious disadvantages when it comes to finding a parking space big enough. Many manufacturers have addressed this problem with a split hatchback: in the Range Rover or the BMW X5, one half swings upwards and the other half downwards. With models like the Peugeot Rifter, the Mercedes V-Class or the BMW Five Touring, you can open the windscreen separately and load the boot easily even when parking is tight.

 Peugeot 3008.

Meanwhile, larger trunks increase the risk of overloading your car. Opel's new Combo counteracts this with a kind of built-in scale for automatic weight control: LEDs in the cockpit sound the alarm when the load in the back is too heavy.

What about storing camera equipment, fishing rods or a hunting rifle? Admittedly, these are luxury problems. But since the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is a luxury SUV, the manufacturer takes such questions very seriously - especially since money is hardly an issue with its clientele. Its "Recreation Modules" - electric drawers with tailor-made inserts for all kinds of leisure equipment – are available for a high four-digit surcharge.

Anyone who arriving at their car with arms full of bags will appreciate the gesture control for the hatchback. Instead of having to fumble for the key, it’s enough to swivel a foot under the tail or kick in the direction of the car, so that the trunk flap opens electrically.

There are also lots of innovative little storage spaces for long journeys. The new Citroen Berlingo, for example, has flaps in the footwell for stowing items and a kind of high shelf under the roof. While in the front, the storage space functions a bit like the luggage rack in a coach, in the back there’s access from both the boot and the back seat to the compartment in which you can stow jackets or cuddly toys.

 For an even higher price, the Rolls Royce Cullinan will give you leather seats mounted on the rear of the car.


Socar teams up with Bosch in trial run for stress-free mobility

                KUALA LUMPUR: Car-sharing company Socar is working with Bosch on a pilot project to install the latter's in-vehicle sensing (IVS) system that can detect smoke and other types of damage in shared cars to ensure comfortable and safe rides for users.

Monitoring the vehicle’s interior state allows vehicle owners to create a welcoming experience by keeping the interior smoke-free.

The Bosch solution likewise senses unusual damage to the vehicle, which can be quickly matched to a specific rental period, enabling vehicle owners to take appropriate action.

The trial run of the Bosch system aims to improve Socar's operational uptime for its fleet as well as open new avenues for elevating the car ownership experience.

Bosch is expanding this collaboration to the aftermarket workshops with Trevo, a people-to-people car sharing platform and Socar subsidiary.

With nearly 5,000 aftermarket workshops across Malaysia, Bosch is promoting Trevo via the eXtra loyalty programme for workshop owners to be among the hosts in Trevo’s P2P car sharing marketplace.

Additionally, participating workshops will receive benefits when their customers sign up as new Trevo users.

In Malaysia, an accumulative total of 33.3 million motor vehicles were registered in the Malaysian road transport department's system as of December 2021, of which 11.37 million passenger cars are inactive and remain stationary for more than 20 hours in a day.

This makes car-sharing a viable business opportunity for owners of vehicles, and an attractive option for users looking to drive but not own a
vehicle.


New boss of Russian carmaker Avtovaz enters a lion's den

                MOSCOW: Nicolas Maure, brought in to turn around Renault-Nissan's Russian carmaker Avtovaz, is entering a lion's den where his predecessor fell foul of diving sales and powerful vested interests among shareholders, suppliers and workers.

The 55-year-old Frenchman is likely to press on with cutting the workforce and weeding out shoddy component suppliers, albeit at a slower place than the last chief, while fending off those who want to keep the status quo.

Avtovaz, producer of Russia's best-selling Lada brand and the country's biggest automaker by sales, is deeply troubled.

Maure was named chief executive on Tuesday to replace Swedish national Bo Andersson, who fell victim to Russia's economic slump which hurt car sales, and came under fire from Avotvaz's Russian shareholders who criticised him for laying off workers.

Until now, Maure has been running Renault's Romanian business Dacia, giving him experience of working in a former Communist bloc state and dealing with prickly unions. But the problems he will encounter at Avtovaz's Togliatti plant on the Volga river are on a different scale.

One manager has been shot dead since the collapse of communism in Russia - an incident linked to organized crime which at times has infected the auto industry - and in the past few years some senior staff at the plant have gone around Togliatti with bodyguards.

Maure's appointment was announced by Avtovaz's main shareholders, the Renault-Nissan alliance and Russian state-owned Rostec, confirming an earlier Reuters report.

"Avtovaz has modernised its line-up and manufacturing processes, and significantly improved product quality," said Carlos Ghosn, who heads the Franco-Japanese alliance and is Avtovaz chairman. "We remain bullish about the long-term future of the Russian market and Avtovaz as the leading domestic automaker."

Renault-Nissan owns a combined 67 percent of the holding company that controls Avtovaz while Rostec, a defense conglomerate, owns the remaining 33 percent.

Maure is a 16-year veteran of Renault who decorated his office in Romania with large numbers of miniature cars. In his job as president and CEO of Automobile Dacia SA, he handled tough wage negotiations, with unions threatening to strike.

Management raised the prospect that production could move to Renault's more competitive plant in the Moroccan city of Tangiers if wages in Romania rose too much. In the end, the two sides settled on a 5 percent wage rise and bonus for 2016.

Nevertheless, the Dacia business is growing. By contrast, Avtovaz has been hammered by the Russian economic crisis caused by low oil prices and Western sanctions.

Avtovaz reported a net loss of 73.85 billion roubles (US$999.3 million) for 2015, almost triple the 2014 loss, and issued a plea for cash to shareholders. Renault wrote down the value of its investment in the firm by 70 percent.

Lada is also being challenged by South Korean rivals Kia and Hyundai which make cars in a similar price range and, as foreign brands, are preferred by some status-conscious Russians.


Toyota's New Year promotion

                Shah Alam, 5 December 2017 – Get ready for the New Year with a brand new Toyota and save money when you buy and register this month.

With the Toyota RM1,000,000 Bonanza promotion, buyers can save up to RM7,000 as well as get free accessories and free service for up to 5 years.

During the promotion period, three lucky buyers will stand a chance to win the Grand Prize, Toyota Camry Hybrid 2.5.

Another 100 lucky buyers will also receive a smartphones worth RM5,000 each.

Cash rebates of up to RM7,000 are available for the Toyota Vios, Corolla Altis, Avanza, Sienta, Innova, Camry, Hilux and Fortuner.

Vios - Up to RM3,000 Cash Rebate + Free Accessories (worth up to RM4,100)
Hilux - RM4,000 DC 2.4G (M), DC 2.4G (A) & DC 2.8G (A)
Camry - RM7,000 Cash Rebate
Altis - RM5,000 Cash Rebate + Free Accessories (worth RM5,790)
Innova - RM3,000 Cash Rebate
Fortuner - RM3,000 Cash Rebate
Avanza - RM2,000 Cash Rebate
Sienta - RM4,000 or RM3,000 Cash Rebate + 3 Years Free Service
(All offers are for selected variants and subject to terms and conditions, while stocks last).

The free accessories offered with the Vios and Corollas Altis are valued at up to a total of RM4,100 and RM5,790. They include a DVD AVX system with Reverse Camera, Digital Video Recorder, Panoramic View Monitor and Autofold Door Mirrors.

Customers who require a financing plan could also check out Toyota Capital services offers like the Toyota 2-Tier Plan which offers lower monthly instalments for graduates and Toyota Drive financing plan, the first of its kind where customers can save more.

All Toyota models sold by authorised Toyota dealers come with a 5-year warranty and unlimited mileage (except for the Toyota Hilux with maximum mileage of 150,000kms) for peace of mind ownership.

The warranty is available for the next owner within 5 years coverage which further enhances the value of the car.

For further information of these offerings and financing packages, visit toyota.com.my


Nissan 370Z Nismo gets into the donut act — VIDEO

                NASHVILLE: The United States has been celebrating National Doughnut Day, which is marked on the first Friday of every June, since 1938.

For this year's occasion, Formula Drift icon Chris Forsberg took to a production set in southern California to put a unique spin on making donuts. Forsberg’s mission was to fling thousands of the tiny sprinkles onto more than 300 donuts using a Nissan 370Z NISMO as a utensil.

To be sure each of the cakes received ample coating, the team brought in two pallets of sprinkles weighing in at more than 1,270kg. Using all 350hp on tap in the 370Z NISMO, Forsberg made 15 passes, ensuring a proper layer of sprinkles was achieved.

By the time it was over, more than 325 donuts and 120 boxes of sprinkles were used to create the stunt. However, the 370Z NISMO that powered the experiment proved to be the most delicious treat on the set.


Hyundai, Kia to offer software upgrade to 8.3 million US vehicles to prevent thefts

                WASHINGTON: Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp will offer a software upgrade to 8.3 million US vehicles in response to increasing thefts targeting vehicles without push-button ignitions and immobilising anti-theft devices, US auto safety regulators said.

Hyundai said it is "introducing a free anti-theft software upgrade to prevent the vehicles from starting during a method of theft popularised on TikTok and other social media channels."

The upgrade will cover 3.8 million Hyundai and 4.5 million Kia US vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said.

The agency said the effort is in response to a TikTok social media challenge that has spread nationwide "and has resulted in at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities."

Hyundai will also provide its customers with a window sticker alerting would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with anti-theft protection.

The software "updates the theft alarm software logic to extend the length of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute and requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on."

The initial Hyundai upgrade will cover more than 1 million 2017-2020 Elantra, 2015-2019 Sonata and 2020-2021 Venue model year vehicles.

The software upgrade is scheduled to be available for remaining eligible affected vehicles by June.


New relocated Minsoon Star Mercedes-Benz autohaus opens in Seremban

                SEREMBAN: Minsoon Star Sdn Bhd has launch its newly relocated Mercedes-Benz Autohaus in Seremban that features a new luxury brand presence.

The new outlet of Minsoon Star, formerly known as Minsoon Credit Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, comes with the latest luxurious retail experience concept for customers in its commitment to enhance the No.1 premium automaker’s local presence and customer centric efforts nationwide.

The Seremban Autohaus, located on Jalan Haruan 2, Oakland Industrial Park, is managed by a team of 50 personnel team and spans close to 136,070sq ft of land area with plans for expansion into a 4S service centre by 2023.

The showroom floor spans over 13,149sq ft with 10 cars on display with luxury amenities such the Star Lounge and Mercedes-Benz Luxury accessories and collection boutique.

The lifestyle boutique offers a range of accessories, apparels, trendy sunglasses, elegant watches and many more.

Customers can now choose the right outfit to suit every occasion as well as the matching Mercedes-Benz accessories like belts, wallets, and cufflinks.

The outlet's service area takes up almost one third of the facility's total built up area, spanning over 17,431 sqft with a maximised service capacity of up to 700 cars a month.

Schedule service maintenance and major repairs are carried out by trained technicians equipped with complete and approved special tools from Mercedes-Benz.

Other service differentiation offerings range from Express Service 2.0, door-to-door and drop and go service booking, 24 HRS roadside and emergency assistance, wheel alignment and balancing, electrical diagnosis and repairs, paint coating, glass tinting along with insurance and warranty claims.

Minsoon Star, which commenced operations at the new location since July 2022 with total investment of over RM20mil in this new Autohaus and offers a wide range of demo vehicles including the latest C-Class and Mercedes-EQ.

It also has a dedicated area for Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz vehicles within the compound.

Also available at the new Autohaus are EV fast chargers, making it a convenient location for EV vehicles driving up north or down south to charge their vehicles.

President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Head of Region, South East Asia II, Sagree Sardien, said the company were continuously working with its dealer partners to grow the brand’s luxury retail concept presence while ensuring all customer expectation, needs and demands are met and exceeded.

Minsoon Star dealer principal Jim Tan said Seremban has a growing population and township that is booming with affluent communities.

“We believe that this is the right location for us to further cater to our customers in this region.

“We are the only authorised Mercedes-Benz Sales and Service dealer in Negeri Sembilan since 1968 and we are proud to showcase our new Autohaus showcases the brand’s latest luxury retail presence for our customers,” he said.


US luxury EV maker Lucid set to enter China market

                SHANGHAI: US luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker Lucid Group is preparing to enter the world's largest auto market, its head of China operations Zhu Jiang said today.

Lucid will sell imported cars in China while also considering local production in the country, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorised to speak with media.

Zhu confirmed to Reuters that the company was preparing to enter the Chinese market. He declined to comment on any plans for local production.

The auto industry veteran previously worked at Jidu Motor, the EV arm of local technology giant Baidu, and before that was Ford Motor's Mach-E project leader in China.

Lucid last week said it planned to raise about US$3 billion through a stock offering, nearly two-thirds of which will come from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Zhu said the funding would help Lucid "bring the advanced EV technology and product experience to the industry and users globally at a faster pace."

"China is also looking forward to it," he said.

Lucid, like its peers, is battling mounting losses and tightening cash reserves amid recession fears and a price war sparked by market leader Tesla.

The company last month trimmed its 2023 production forecast and reported lower-than-expected first-quarter revenue, with CEO Peter Rawlinson citing rising interest rates as a challenge to the market.

In the US, it has largely shied away from lowering prices on its Air luxury sedan that starts at US$87,400.


Honda develops new front airbag to reduce injuries

                LOS ANGELES: Honda announced the development of an innovative new passenger front airbag technology designed to better protect occupants in a wide range of frontal collision scenarios, including angled crashes between vehicles or a vehicle and another object.

Honda plans to begin applying its advanced airbag design to new products in the United States in 2020.

Development and testing of the new airbag was led by engineers at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Ohio in partnership with Autoliv, one of the company's safety systems suppliers.

The new design is based on Honda's commitment to developing technologies that better protect vehicle occupants in a wide range of crash scenarios.

In 2017, upwards of 37,000 people lost their lives on US roadways as a result of motor vehicle traffic crashes, a slight decrease from the previous two years, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

"This new airbag technology represents Honda's continuing effort to advance safety performance in a wider variety of crash scenarios and reflects the innovative thinking that our engineers are bringing to the challenge of reducing traffic injuries and fatalities," said Jim Keller, President of Honda R&D Americas, Inc.

Honda's next-generation airbag is designed to reduce the potential for injuries that can occur in a wider variety of frontal impacts.

It is particularly beneficial in angled frontal impacts in which lateral collision forces can cause an occupant's head to rotate severely or slide off the airbag, increasing the chance of serious injury.

Unlike conventional airbag systems that rely on a single inflatable compartment, the new system utilizes four major components: three inflated compartments - a center chamber and two outward-projecting side chambers that create a wide base across the dash - along with a "sail panel" that stretches between the two side chambers at their outermost edge.

Operating something like a baseball catcher's mitt, the sail panel catches and decelerates the occupant's head while also engaging the side chambers, pulling them inward to cradle and protect the head, mitigating the potential for injury.


Volkswagen Malaysia announces new zero sales tax prices: savings up to RM9,484

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is reducing the prices of its models of up to RM9,484, following the announcement on the sales tax exemption.

This adjustment will take effect from June 15 till Dec 31, 2020.

Locally assembled Volkswagen models are the Polo, Vento, Tiguan and Passat, while the Golf family, consisting of the R-Line, GTI and R, are fully imported.

With the sales tax exemption, customers can expect savings of up to RM3,881 on the Tiguan, RM6,133 on the Passat, and RM4,884 on the Golf R-Line.

"“We are always working towards making German engineering affordable to Malaysians. This good news translates to more savings for car buyers and offers a much-needed boost to the automotive sector that has been dormant during the Movement Control Order,” said VPCM managing director Erik Winter.

On top of the price reduction, customers can continue to enjoy ongoing promotions and services at Volkswagen, such as 6-months free installment for Tiguan units registered by June 30, online rebates exclusive on the Volkswagen eShowroom, and free home delivery service for customers.

All Volkswagen models come with a 3-year free maintenance contract, 5-years manufacturer’s warranty and 5-years roadside assistance.

For more information on the updated prices, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.


Budget 2023: RM332mil to promote active lifestyles

                KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM332mil has been allocated for sports and to promote active lifestyles.

Of the total, RM145mil was allocated for training programmes and enhancement of sports facilities nationwide.

RM154mil will be given to build a holistic sports ecosystem for athletes and the public.

A sum of RM20mil will be allocated for motorsports tracks, with emphasis on promoting drag racing while RM13mil will be given for eSports development.

Those contributing to non-government organisations (NGO) involved in sports grassroots development will be entitled to a tax exemption.

Meanwhile, RM12mil will be allocated for para athletes.

The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) will also get RM5mil to help former athletes in need.

To further boost the Fit Malaysia programme and National Sports Day, the government will be allocating RM10mil for 2023.

To combat obesity, the government will initiate the Healthy Malaysia National Agenda and allocate RM15mil.


Choose the right replacement tyres for EV. Psst! They are not the same as for ICE cars

                LONDON: EV owners or future EV owners will have to be very selective when it comes to replacing their tyres.

Increasingly, the tyres  designed for use on EVs can be significantly different to the "normal" tyres for conventional cars using an internal combustion engine (ICE).

According to UK's TyreSafe, EV owners who fit the wrong type of tyres could experience a loss of range, extra noise, accelerated wear and the risk of tyre failure that could lead to an accident.

TyreSafe has released detailed advice for EV owners in the ‘About Tyres’ section of tyresafe.org and advises drivers to familiarise themselves with the technology.

There are a wide range of factors which are important to choosing the right tyre, which the vehicle manufacturer has already taken into account when fitting the originals at the factory.

The vehicle’s weight is just one as it influences the amount of air pressure required to keep a tyre in its optimal shape along with the stiffness of its sidewall and even its centre section.

EVs are well-known for being heavier than their petrol or diesel equivalents, so an owner must be aware of their tyre’s load rating when a replacement is needed as well as maintaining the recommended tyre pressure at all times.

Another consideration is the impact tyre choice can have on an EV’s range, due to its "rolling resistance".

A tyre should have the least rolling resistance as possible, however, as always, a balance needs to be struck as grip is essential for safety when it comes to braking.

Minimising rolling resistance while providing adequate grip seems like a contradictory requirement but this is a key performance characteristic for EVs to ensure maximum range.

The tyre also needs to be robust as EVs produce maximum power from standing. This places high demands on the rubber compound, which needs to be of the right mixture of components and have the appropriate tread pattern to provide a lifespan comparable with petrol or diesel vehicles.

The amount of noise the tyre produces as it travels over a road surface is yet another example of the possible adaptations which could make tyres for EVs different to those of a petrol or diesel vehicle.

As EV motors produce very little noise, the quiet cabin environment is one of the big attractions of these cars, which could easily be ruined by the wrong choice of tyre.

“Tyres are an extremely sophisticated piece of technology, which we all too commonly take for granted," said TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson.

"However, drivers of electric vehicles must be aware of how different they could be to those on other cars, and when it’s time to replace the original tyres, owners need to ensure they are buying the right specification.

"Choosing a like-for-like tyre will allow EV owners to enjoy the full benefit of the electric car revolution and reduce the risks of an incident.”


Self-driving startups race down a narrowing road

Lei Xu driving a Lincoln MKZ sedan equipped with his company's prototype self-driving hardware and software in Fremont, California, earlier this month. — Reuters
DETROIT/SAN FRANCISCO: Lei Xu and Justin Song once worked at electric carmaker Tesla Inc, one of the hottest companies in Silicon Valley. But with interest and investments in autonomous vehicles mounting, they left to pursue what they see as the next big thing.

Their company, Nullmax, is one of more than 240 startups worldwide, including 75 in Silicon Valley, attempting to design software, hardware components and systems for future self-driving cars, according to a Reuters analysis.

Xu and Song are bankrolled by corporate money, but unlike many of their fellow entrepreneurs, they skipped funding from Silicon Valley venture capitalists. Founded in August 2016, Nullmax got US$10 million from a Chinese firm, Xinmao Science and Technology Co.

By seeking corporate backing in China, the Nullmax founders managed to sidestep an issue facing other startups in the sector: While big automotive and technology companies are pouring billions into the autonomous vehicle space, Silicon Valley investors so far have been fairly restrained in increasing their bets.

Headlines have been dominated by old-line players such as General Motors Co, which jolted the industry last year when it bought a tiny San Francisco software company called Cruise Automation for a reported US$1 billion. Just this week, top-tier supplier Delphi Automotive PLC acquired Boston-based software startup nuTonomy for US$450 million.

Now, “every startup thinks they will get a billion dollars” in valuation, said Evangelos Simoudis, a Silicon Valley venture investor and an advisor on corporate innovation.

Holding back
However, investment in untested startup companies remains relatively modest despite all the buzz and lofty expectations. Total funding of self-driving startups from both corporate and private investors has barely topped US$5 billion, the Reuters analysis of publicly available data shows.

With the notable exceptions of Andreessen Horowitz and New Enterprise Associates, few of the big Valley venture capital firms are heavily invested in the sector. Overall, only seven of the top 30 self-driving startups have received later-stage funding, the Reuters analysis shows, an indication that some venture capitalists are ambivalent about the industry’s potential.

Sceptics note that few of the startups are making money. And established auto and parts companies have not demonstrated a clear path to revenue and profitability in autonomous vehicles despite their big bets in the space.

Another sticking point: While the initial wave of self-driving vehicles is expected to begin commercial service in 2019-2020, experts expect the transition from human-driven to automated cars could take a decade or more to roll out.

Cautions Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: “You can destroy a lot of value by chasing your tail in autonomous driving.”

Corporate investments
All told, US automotive and technology firms likely have invested some US$40 billion to US$50 billion in self-driving technology in recent years, mainly through acquisitions and partnerships. The full extent is hard to know because big players such as Alphabet Inc, whose Waymo subsidiary is considered among the front-runners in the arena, have not revealed the full scope of their investments, although it is believed to be in the billions.

Among the top corporate investors in the sector are Samsung Group, Intel Corp, Qualcomm Inc, Delphi and Robert Bosch GmbH. Corporate investors also have backed five of the six self-driving startups with valuations of US$1 billion or more.

Whether the industry is poised to produce more such unicorns is now a topic of much debate. Two former investors in Cruise Automation, for example, are poles apart in their views of self-driving vehicles and technology.

Veronica Wu, managing partner in Palo Alto-based Hone Capital, said her company continues to invest in “quite a number” of self-driving startups, while acknowledging that the technology will take time to deploy.

“It’s a matter of when, not if,” she said. “We’re fairly optimistic.”

In contrast, Sunny Dhillon of Signia Venture Partners, another Cruise investor, said his firm does not see any attractive investments in the sector right now.

The hefty price paid by GM for Cruise, he said, “made the space very frothy, with every computer vision and robotics PhD student seemingly emerging with a new self-driving car startup.”

In addition, he said many established players “already have made their big investments (and) acquisitions” in the sector. That could limit investors’ potential returns and entrepreneurs’ payoffs down the road.

Quin Garcia, a partner in San Francisco-based AutoTech Ventures, concurs that the space is crowded and valuations are inflated. There may still be “a select few IPOs, but there will be many failures of autonomous vehicle startups” by 2021, he said.

Nullmax in China
Those odds haven’t deterred Nullmax founders Xu and Song, who are looking to differentiate themselves.

With many self-driving startups looking to supply U.S. and European automakers, the Chinese-born entrepreneurs, whose specialties are camera-based vision systems and artificial intelligence, are focused on China. They expect to deliver the first partially automated systems to Chinese automakers by 2020.

The US-educated entrepreneurs, both 35, now work out of a small shop in Fremont, Calif., not far from Tesla’s sprawling home factory. Xu once worked at Tesla as a senior engineer while Song specialized in supply chain and quality engineering. Tesla declined to confirm their prior employment.

Xu said the company employs about 50 people, most of them in a larger office in Shanghai. He said the company wants to keep a foot in California, which is a hub of US tech talent, and where regulators have smoothed the way for testing of self-driving vehicles.

As for how Nullmax plans to cash out, Xu side-stepped question. “We’re pretty busy,” he said. “We don’t much time to think about an IPO right now.”


New Audi A8 to debut in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ movie

                INGOLSTADT: Audi's new A8 has been earmarked to appear in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster 'Spider-Man: Homecoming," that's due to hit theatres worldwide in July.

Also being featured in the movie, that's due to be premiered in Los Angeles on June 28, is Tom Holland who plays 'Peter Parker' and gets chauffeured around by 'Happy Hogan' (Jon Favreau) in the new Audi A8 L.

The movie scene allows a first impression of the front and side design of the new sedan and even showcases the German carmaker's latest Audi AI traffic jam pilot as 'Happy’ takes his hands off the steering wheel and and allows the A8 to take over driving duties.

Aside from the A8, ‘Tony Stark’ will be helming the R8 V10 Spyder, while 'Peter Parker' gets the baby-R8 - the TTS Roadster.

The new A8 will make its official debut on July 11 at the Audi Summit in Barcelona, Spain and until then, Audi is keeping tight-lipped about it.


BMW looking for partners to develop electric small cars

                LOS ANGELES: BMW AG is talking with other automakers ”around the world” to try to find partners to lower the cost of electrifying its future MINI small cars, said management board member Peter Schwarzenbauer.

“We are talking to many OEMs (manufacturers) around the world, not only in China, (about) how to electrify smaller cars,” Schwarzenbauer said. ”There’s no final conclusion on it.”

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor Co said last month it was discussing a possible venture to build MINIvehicles in China. BMW currently does not build MINI vehicles outside Europe.

Schwarzenbauer declined to discuss the Great Wall situation, saying ”this was speculation.” However, he said building smaller electric cars was challenging, not only because of the financial costs, but also the engineering problem of fitting batteries with sufficient range into a smaller vehicle package.

BMW has worked with rivals before to share the costs of clean vehicle technology. The automaker has a partnership with Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp to develop fuel cell vehicles.

BMW has said it plans to launch a new, electric MINI model in 2019. Eventually, MINI could become an entirely electric brand, aimed at urban consumers, Schwarzenbauer said.

MINI sales in the United States have fallen 10 percent through the first 10 months of this year, as demand for many smaller cars has waned in favour of sport-utility vehicles and trucks. “It’s really only in the US where we are facing this with MINI” Schwarzenbauer said.

BMW will not try to reverse that trend by adding larger SUVs to the MINI lineup, Schwarzenbauer said. Instead, he said, ”the way for MINI in the U.S. is ... building the MINIbrand in the direction of the electric urban mobility company.”

On a separate issue, Schwarzenbauer said BMW intended to offer a self-driving car planned to debut in 2021 at a price that could be below US$100,000 (RM409,000).

The iNEXT model, which BMW previewed earlier this year, will be offered to individuals, ride services fleets and put into service in BMW fleets, Schwarzenbauer said.

“By 2021, you will have a lot of people who want to own this car,” he said. ”It will be a normal price. We are thinking of scaling this. To bring a $150,000 electric car is nice, but it will not really scale.” When it launches, the iNEXT may not be offered with complete, so-called Level 5, autonomy because the regulatory and legal frameworks for such a vehicle likely won’t be in place, Schwarzenbauer said.
(Reporting by Joe White; Editing by Mark Potter)


Mitsubishi to showcase two concept cars at 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon

                TOKYO: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will reveal a kei EV concept and a Ralliart concept car at Tokyo Auto Salon 2022, which will be held from Jan 14-16 next year.

The kei EV concept is a new generation all-electric kei-car with Mitsubishi Motors-ness, founded on safety, security and comfort, as well as environmental-friendliness.

It combines easy handling and practical size of a micro car with smooth yet powerful road performance of an EV, while offering advanced driver assistance systems and connectivity.

The Ralliart concept car brings together Mitsubishi Motors' engineering and passion for Monozukuri challenges (craftsmanship).

With a premium-feel and a strong sense of presence, the styling expresses the company's vision for the new Ralliart, Mitsubishi's motorsport and performance division that was revived nearly a year ago.


Police investigating viral video showing child driving car in Rembau

                REMBAU: The police are investigating a viral video that appears to show a young boy driving a car along a village road here.

Rembau district police chief DSP Anuar Bakri Abdul Salam said action will be taken once the police obtain more leads.

"We will probe the matter based on the leads we got from the recording and we will also call in the boy's parents for allowing him to drive the car," he said.

In the 54-second "Handa orang Rombau haa" clip, the boy is seen sitting in the driver's seat of a car and can be heard telling the man recording it that he was in Standard Three and that he studied in a school in Bongek.

When asked who taught him to drive, the boy replied that his father did.


Poor labourers paying price for India's cheap car boom

                FARIDABAD (India): In a dingy factory in the sprawling industrial hub of Manesar in northern India, a plastic moulding machine malfunctioned, mangling Visheshwar Prasad Singh's right hand as he made parts for a supplier to the country's major automakers.

Singh was one of thousands of poor labourers, many temporary, who toil for 12 hours a day making auto parts for as little as US$3-a-day to feed India's cheap car boom.

"I had no training to use the machine and was asked to operate it one day," said the 51-year-old, who made parts for Ranee Polymers, supplying to Honda Motor Co and Yamaha Motor Co.

Doctors reattached his hand, but after 14 months and three operations it remains near-paralysed.

The plant manager at Ranee Polymers said the company did not allow workers to operate machines without proper training. There were only one to two accidents a year at the plant, which employs 250 people, R.K. Rana said.

Honda Cars India, which sources from Ranee, was not aware of the accident as it did not occur when making parts for the company, a spokeswoman said, adding that audits of incidents impacting safety or supplies were conducted.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India said a spokesman was not available to comment. India Yamaha Motor did not respond.

Car makers such as Maruti Suzuki India and Hyundai Motor see huge growth in India, set to become the world's third-largest auto market by 2020 as millions buy their first new car. Price tags can be as low as US$3,000 for a new Tata Motors Nano mini-car.

India is also becoming a low-cost export hub for global car makers such as General Motors and Ford Motor.
Consultant McKinsey estimates India's auto parts sector will grow five-fold to about US$200 billion by 2026, with exports rising to US$80 billion from US$11 billion.

As the sector expands, some of the work is sub-contracted out to small factories operating on paper-thin margins, where poor contract workers often have little or no access to safety equipment or health benefits, industry experts say.

"Undoubtedly, the workforce of suppliers, especially at the bottom of the chain, are paying for the growth in the auto industry," said Puneet Gupta, associate director at consultant IHS Automotive. But with more focus on quality and with India becoming an export hub working conditions would improve, he added.

Car makers say they conduct audits at their main suppliers, but it is not possible to check all the smaller companies that may be outsourced work.

A Maruti spokesman said the company conducts safety and quality audits at its 400 direct suppliers and shares best shopfloor practices, including those related to safety and working conditions.

Ford India and Hyundai, which manufacture cars in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, far from the Manesar hub, did not respond to an email seeking comment.

A report by non-profit organisations Agrasar and Safe in India on safeguarding workers in the auto hub of Gurgaon and Manesar, outside Delhi, said most accidents occurred due to lack of training and safety inspections and poor machine maintenance.

The region - some 50km south of the capital and home to top car maker Maruti Suzuki along with hundreds of small factories - employs 80,000 workers, but there are only about 35 to 40 inspectors in total to monitor all industries in the area.

A senior official in the state labour department said inspections happened once a year, or when a worker reported an accident - the leading cause of which was violations of safety rules such as having sensors or guards on machines, he said.

Every year, more than 1,000 workers in the auto hub, most below 23 years of age, are injured seriously and lose their livelihoods, the report said.

"Factory owners train people for a day or two and get them to operate machines. It is all about meeting targets," said Prerit Rana, founder of Agrasar, that helps rehabilitate injured workers.

The village of Mujesar in Faridabad, south of Delhi, is a labyrinth of auto part workshops, many operating in residential areas where most manufacturing is banned.

In one of the hole-in-the-wall workshops, made up of two small rooms with a window the size of a computer screen for ventilation, Reet Lal coats metal parts with anti-rust chemicals, earning him 8,500 rupees (US$125) a month.

With a glove only in one hand and no mask, Lal endures nauseating smells for 12 hours a day to complete work outsourced by a firm whose website says it makes parts for Maruti, Tata Motors and GM.

A Tata Motors spokeswoman said it no longer sources from the supplier due to poor quality of products. GM India said it did not source parts from that supplier.

Kamala, a 30-year-old worker at another small workshop in Faridabad, spends hours on a wooden stool labouring over a rusted drilling machine.

"My life is hell," said Kamala, a mother-of-two who spends part of about US$2.50 she earns a day to treat chronic backache.

"I hope my children don't have to go through the same."


China's auto sales likely to fall 16% in June, trade body says

                BEIJING: China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said today that it expects vehicle sales in China to hit 1.93 million units in June, down 16.3% from a year earlier.

Auto sales in China, the world's biggest car market, are expected to grow 24.8% between January and June compared with the same period last year, CAAM said.

In May, auto sales in China fell 3% from the same month a year earlier, snapping a streak of 13 consecutive months of gains since April 2020.