Continental says five million vehicles worldwide may have faulty air bags

                WASHINGTON: Continental Automotive Systems said on Thursday it supplied potentially defective air bag control units to 5 million vehicles used by Honda, Fiat Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, and three other manufacturers built over a five-year period worldwide, widening an air bag safety crisis.

Continental Automotive, a unit of Germany-based Continental AG, told the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that electronic systems built from 2006 through 2010 and used in 5 million vehicles may fail and air bags may not deploy in a crash or may inadvertently deploy without warning.

Continental spokesman Mary Arraf said the recall involved between 1.5 million and 2 million vehicles in the United States.

Honda Motor Co said it is recalling 341,000 Accord models from 2008-2010 to replace control units linked to failures in Continental systems. At least two injuries are attributed to the defect.

Honda said it has received 1,575 warranty claims, 83 field reports and two confirmed injuries related to the defect. It also said there have been 74 injury allegations related to airbags that did not deploy but those are not confirmed.

In one case, a parent in Belleview, Florida, filed a complaint that their son was injured driving their 2008 Accord last March after running into a concrete block wall at about 80kph and the airbags failed to deploy, according to NHTSA records.

Honda told its dealers that replacement parts are in very short supply and can only be ordered for vehicles with crash damage or with airbag issues. Honda will not have enough parts for replacement for all vehicles until autumn.

Fiat Chrysler said it is recalling 112,000 US vehicles for the same issue, including the 2009 Dodge Journey, 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country and 2009 Volkswagen Routan that it had assembled for the German automaker.

Fiat Chrysler has reports of as many as 25 inadvertent air bag deployments.

Continental told the NHTSA the callback would also involve vehicles built by Volvo Trucks North America and Mazda Motor Corp.

Mazda was aware of Continental's recall and investigating and VW did not know how many Chrysler-built Routan minivans are involved, according to company spokespeople.

The other manufacturers could not be reached immediately.

This is the latest large-scale US recall related to air bag problems.

To date, 14 automakers have recalled about 25 million vehicles for air bag inflators made by Takata Corp that could rupture, emitting potentially deadly metal fragments. They are linked to 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries.

NHTSA said tens of millions of other vehicles with Takata airbags will likely need to be recalled eventually.

Earlier this week, Toyota Motor Corp said it was recalling 320,000 2003-2006 US vehicles because of improper programming that could allow them to deploy when not necessary.

Regulators have increased their attention after General Motors Co delayed the recall of 2.6 million older Cobalt and other cars in 2014 linked to at least 124 deaths and 275 injuries for faulty ignition switches that prevented air bags from deploying in some serious crashes.

The latest Continental recall developed over years.


Rice, eggshells and lentils are recipe for sustainable car cockpits

                LONDON: It might sound like the recipe for a tasty meal, but the mix of eggs, walnuts, rice, lentils and coffee could be just as likely found in your future car's interior.

According to a new study by design and engineering consultancy Callum, founded by famed Aston Martin and Jaguar designer Ian Callum, designers and engineers are now looking beyond sustainable materials already under consideration to identify fresh options.

Global automakers have been heavily marketing their increased use of sustainable materials and Mercedes-Benz recently filled the interior of its new all-electric concept car, the Vision EQXX, with such materials.

The door handle of the EQXX is made of bio-steel fibre, which is stronger than steel and biodegradable, and artificial leather made from mushrooms and cactus is used for the seat.

Using a retromod Porsche 911 interior as the basis for the research, Callum identified coffee pulp, eggshells, red lentils, walnuts and rice as viable materials for car interiors from 2030.

Callum consulted with green-tech company Ottan to identify the best materials capable of replacing plastics yet still meeting the rigorous design, environmental and engineering requirements of a car.

Meeting temperature and wear specifications, eggshells mixed with resin created a smooth, opaque material with either a glossy or matt surface.

Application examples include the trim surround for the window switches. By adding walnut shells to the eggshells, the recycled content of Ottan's material increases to 84% from 78%

Out of date rice or lentils can be turned into a smooth translucent material, which the engineers say is well-suited to illuminated areas of a car such as lamp covers or illuminated switches.

As a flame-resistant alternative, coffee pulp could replace traditional plastics for glossy, decorative trim such as dashboard inserts.

Callum also singled out purple carrot pulp that produces a mulberry-like colour for trim parts. Tree leaves can be recycled into a dark, smooth surface offering an alternative natural finish to wood veneers for the centre console or dashboard.


Honda PCX scooter ridden

                Launched in 2013, the Honda PCX made scootering stylish and fun, as evident by good sales in developed countries such as North America and Europe, where it is sold in variants ranging from 125cc to 153cc.

The latest iteration of the PCX assembled by Boon Siew Honda Sdn Bhd here sports a 149cc engine, making it road-tax free for Malaysian riders.

Like all other modern scooters, the PCX comes with a dry type automatic centrifugal clutch mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), promising convenience and superb fuel economy.

In my extended testing of the PCX lasting close to 10,000km, the system really delivered: the “worst” consumption figure I got was 42km per litre (kpl) of RON95, and the best, close to 48kpl.

Average consumption for city riding under heavy traffic yielded an average of 44kpl, putting the PCX as a good long range ride as it comes with an eight litre fuel tank.

And all there are achieved without even resorting to another fuel-saving feature called the idling stop feature, which puts the engine is “sleep mode” when it is idle for more than three seconds.

I found this feature disconcerting, and turned it off as I also wanted to ensure the battery remains in a good state of charge, given that the PCX does not come with a kick starter as backup.

Strangely, riding on expressways did not improve consumption figures, given the scoot was running at full throttle.

It is easy to hit full throttle riding this scooter as it is not designed for top speed - the PCX struggled to hit 110kph even on a downhill incline as there is a built-in speed limiter.

The PCX is not built for expressway speeds, but that is fine as most of my rides are below 90kph.

The PCX boasts a host of innovations found in the more luxurious two-wheelers, such as an anti-theft alarm, LED lights and indicators all around, and a beautiful, uncluttered LCD instrumentation panel with clock, digital tripmeter and fuel consumption tracker (there is no tachometer though, while speedometer remains analogue).

Underseat storage space is good, with no hassles involved when one needs to stuff a full-faced helmet.

There is also a helmet hook for putting a second helmet securely, so there is a lot of thought that went into making this scooter a commuter-friendly one.

There is also no need to hold the seat when accessing the storage space as the seat is fitted with a hinge that will keep it upright as long as you need it to be.

The icing on the cake would be a lockable 12-volt adaptor for charging devices such as phones and GPS units.
Overall, built quality is good, and the pearl white finish is gorgeous (the other colour is Candy Red).

The combined braking system (left lever operates front and rear brakes simultaneously) is adequate for bringing its mass of 131kg to a stop (for more on this brake system, go to world.honda.com/motorcycle-technology/brake/p4.html)

Incidentally, another fun aspect of a CVT scoot is not having to oil any drive chain at all, which also makes for a cleaner experience when inflating the rear tyre.

The Achilles heel of the PCX is its suspension, especially the pair of rear shocks, which feels like jelly.

Many riders have gotten around this weakness by replacing them with aftermarket parts to gain a more acceptable ride feel, and I am strongly considering this option.

My other complaint is the slightly odd placement of the horn button, which to me is a departure from the “normal” Japanese switch configuration.

The handlebar is also slightly too wide for manoeuvres through extremely heavy traffic - it touched car side mirrors a couple of times - so one would have to exercise extreme caution or patience.

Like all good things in life, there is a price to pay for all these, and the PCX will set one back by RM11,340.94 with GST.

The PCX is expected to face some serious competition when Yamaha’s 155cc NMAX hits the road next month, priced at RM8,812.84.

But until then, the PCX remains the king of the 150ccc scooter segment.

If you have more cash to spare, the 299cc Kawasaki J300 scooter is now available for RM31,489.


Lamborghini presents Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster and Huracán EVO GT Celebration

                SANT'AGATA: Lamborghini presents its Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster and Huracán EVO GT Celebration - both in exclusively limited numbers to tribute its company and racing achievements.

Just like the SVJ 63 coupé, the Roadster variant will be produced in just 63 numbered units too, to commemorate the company’s founding year of 1963.

Alongside the SVJ 63 Roadster, the Italian sports car builder also paid tribute to its endurance motorsport victories with the unveiling of the Huracán EVO GT Celebration and will be producing a run of just 36 examples.

This is in tribute to the Huracán's dual victories of 2018 and 2019 at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring ‒ 36 is the sum time of the two famous endurance races, also known as the “36 Hours of Florida”.

With the Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster, Lamborghini’s Centro Stile design team and Ad Personam department collaborated to create eight exclusive new design expressions that comprise of an exotic exterior and interior, unique to the Roadster version of the SVJ 63.

The exterior styling is specifically developed for the Roadster model, with a matt or shiny carbon fibre upper part that includes roof, engine cover, engine air vents, windscreen rim and wing mirrors.

A new matt titanium finish features on the Leirion forged rims and the car carries the SVJ 63 livery, as well as a ‘1 of 63’ numbered plate.

Inside, three colour schemes in Alcantara, featuring carbon fibre elements throughout the cockpit, are complemented by Lamborghini’s patented lightweight CarbonSkin.

A badge on the steering wheel endorses the car as one of a limited edition, as does a ‘63’ logo on the rear wall in Alcantara and CarbonSkin.

The car is shown on the concept lawn in Pebble Beach in a matt grey Grigio Acheso, set off by the dominance of the visible carbon fibre exterior elements.

Details in orange Arancio Dac include SVJ and ‘63’ logos, with the matt titanium rims featuring an Arancio central locking plate.

Inside, it's tri-tone Alcantara upholstery in Grigio Octans (grey), Grigio Cronus (grey) and Arancio Dryope (orange) which are combined with carbon fibre and CarbonSkin.

The carbon fibre sports seats are finished with white Q-Citura cross stitching while the ‘63’ logo behind the seats in carbon fibre and lasered Alcantara reminds the occupants of the exclusivity of this SVJ Roadster.

While sporting the ‘Super Veloce’ for superfast and ‘Jota’ suffix signifying the car’s performance and track prowess, its coupé stablemate took the Nürburgring-Nordschleife production car record.

With an output of 770PS at 8,500rpm and 720Nm of torque at 6,750rpm on tap, accelerating from 0 to 100kph takes 2.9 seconds (100 to 0kph requires 31m to stop) thanks to a weight-to-power ratio of 2.05kg per horsepower, before reaching a top speed of 350kph.

The Aventador SVJ Roadster’s 63 units are already sold to collectors worldwide, with delivery from 2020 onwards.

As for the Huracán EVO GT Celebration, the design evokes the livery of the GRT Grasser Racing Team, which along with Paul Miller Racing brought Lamborghini the four victories, characterized by the combination of Verde Egeria green and Arancio Aten orange.

The three colours have been created by Lamborghini Ad Personam in collaboration with the Centro Stile, with which three other colours can be combined for the livery, for a total of nine combinations.

The car’s racing look is underscored by both the hexagons on the doors and front hood that frame the number “11”, inspired by the number plates for racing cars, and by the 20-inch single-nut wheels that can be combined with coloured brake callipers.

On request, the body can be personalized with the Lamborghini Squadra Corse shield, applied on the roof and framed by the Italian and U.S. flags, and laurel wreaths placed on the rear fender.

Additionally, the side members are decorated with identification plates “Daytona 24” and “Sebring 12”; the driver’s side B-Pillar features a carbon fibre plate with the inscription “1 of 36”.

The interior features other exclusive details such as upholstery in Alcantara with contrasting stitching in the same colour as the livery; and the hexagonal plate with shield, flags and laurel, situated between the new racing seats, making their debut on the Huracán EVO GT Celebration.

This limited edition of the Lamborghini coupé, powered by the same naturally aspirated V10 engine used in the racing car, is only available for the North American market, and the first deliveries are planned for early 2020.

Next on Lamborghini's list will be the Urus which will soon be available in one of the many new colours soon, a typical Lamborghini orange colour, Arancio Borealis, a four-layer paint emphasizing the depth of the colour which was created in the new paint shop in Sant’Agata in Italy.


Fiat, PSA to win EU approval for US$38b merger, say sources

FCA and PSA have said they hope to complete the merger in the first quarter of 2021. — Reuters
BRUSSELS/MILAN: Fiat Chrysler and PSA are set to win EU approval for their US$38 billion merger to create the world’s No. 4 carmaker, people close to the matter said, as they strive to meet the industry’s dual challenges of funding cleaner vehicles and the global pandemic.

The green light from the European Commission would formalise the creation of Stellantis, a carmaking group that could tap hefty profits from selling Ram pickup trucks and Jeep SUVs to US drivers to fund the expensive development of zero-emission vehicles for sale in Europe and China.

The all-share merger announced late last year would unite brands such as Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Maserati with the likes of Peugeot, Opel and DS - while targeting annual cost cuts of US$6 billion without closing factories.

The Commission and Italian-American group Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) declined to comment. France’s PSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

To allay EU antitrust concerns, PSA has offered to strengthen Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp, with which it has a van joint venture, by ramping up production and selling it vans at close to cost price, the people said.

FCA and PSA will also allow their dealers in certain cities to repair rival brands.

Following feedback from rivals and customers, the carmakers only had to tweak the wording of their concessions, with no changes to the substance, the people said.

The companies did not have to use the Covid-19 pandemic to argue for the merger, they said, adding the EU decision could come by the end of the year, ahead of the official Feb 2 deadline.

FCA and PSA have said they hope to complete the merger in the first quarter of 2021.

The challenge of switching to electric cars has been complicated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Just last month, FCA and PSA restructured the terms of their deal to conserve cash and raised their targeted cost savings because of the economic fallout from the health crisis.

The companies have said about 40% of the savings will come from product-related expenses, 40% from purchasing and 20% from other areas, such as marketing, IT and logistics.


Former Ferrari chief to replace Carey as F1 CEO, say reports

                LONDON: Former Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali (pic) is set to become the new CEO of Formula One after leaving the Italian team earlier than expected, media reports said today.

The 55-year-old Italian is to replace Chase Carey, who has been in charge since US group Liberty Media took over the sport in 2017, according to the BBC and autosport.

While Formula One officials would not confirm the appointment of Domenicali, senior sources in F1 told the BBC it was a done deal.

The news — which will also see American Carey remain as chairman in some form — has been communicated to the team bosses.

Domenicali took over at Ferrari from Jean Todt, now the FIA president, at the end of 2007 and tasted immediate success when Ferrari won the 2008 constructors championship — the last time they did so.

However, his term at Ferrari ended early when he stood up to then team president Luca di Montezemolo who wanted the head of the engine section to be sacked for incompetence.

He has subsequently filled a senior management role at Audi, before being appointed chief executive of Lamborghini, which is also part of the VW Audi Group.

Carey can step aside having overseen a shortened season played out with virtually no spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He also will leave the CEO post with crucially all 10 teams agreeing a new Concorde Agreement, a new five-year commercial deal from 2021 which guarantees motorsport's "sustainable" future.


BMW M charts new sales record

                MUNICH: The BMW M GmbH has concluded the 2019 financial year with a new sales record of 135,829 performance/high-performance automobiles.

Compared with the previous year, the number of newly registered M cars increased by 32.2%. With this result, the BMW Group subsidiary, which has the status of an independent automobile manufacturer, assumes the leading position as the most successful company in its competitive environment.

Moreover, the 2019 financial year saw a significant increase in the demand for M Sport Packages and exclusive optional equipment from BMW Individual.

“We are very proud of the fact that we have been able to acquire market leadership in the performance/high-performance automobile segment for the first time in the almost 50 years of the company’s history,” said BMW M CEO Markus Flasch,

“This success is the result of a continuous growth strategy and shows how much BMW M, the authentic character of our products and the unique driving experience inspire performance-oriented customers all over the globe.”

The M company’s record year was characterised by a big model offensive.

It was the first time there were so many new M cars presented and brought to market within a single year. With the X3 M, the X4 M and each respective Competition model, high-performance cars became available in the midrange Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) and Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) segment for the first time.

With the introduction of the M8 Coupe, the M8 Convertible and the corresponding Competition models, a new generation of luxury sports cars designed for the high-performance segment was launched.

Also in 2019, the United States was the most important single market. Here the number of M vehicles sold increased to 44,442 units.

The second most important sales market was once again Germany with 26,110 vehicles sold, followed by Britain with 17,688 units.


Auto Shanghai 2019:  Peugeot 508L PHEV world premiere

                SHANGHAI:  After the reveal of the new Peugeot 508L at the Guangzhou Motor Show in November 2018 and the reveal of its new signature illustrating its repositioning in China, Peugeot presents the new Peugeot 508L PHEV in world premiere at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2019.

This Plug-in Hybrid version announces a new chapter in the brand's history and its strategy in terms of low-emission vehicles in China.

The new brand signature ("GAN WEI XIN DONG" / Feel your heart beat), illustrates the recent repositioning of the brand in a young, modern, dynamic territory.

It is Peugeot's ambition to offer Chinese customers a sensory experience of the brand and its products.


Volkswagen launches US electric vehicle infrastructure unit

                WASHINGTON: Volkswagen Group of America on Tuesday announced a US subsidiary that will manage US$2 billion in investments in zero emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure and awareness programmes over a decade as part of a court settlement on its excess diesel emissions.

The world's largest automaker by sales said the unit plans to install more than 500 charging stations nationwide, including more than 300 stations in 15 metro areas, and to develop a high-speed, cross-country network consisting of more than 200 stations for electric vehicles. VW said it has not decided on a business model for its charging stations.

VW will also launch a "Green City" initiative in a yet-to-be-identified California city to pilot future concepts, including potentially a ZEV-based shuttle service, an EV-based car-sharing programme or a ZEV transit programme.

VW named long-time auto executive Mark McNabb as chief executive of Electrify America. McNabb has overseen the diesel settlement programme and will continue to do so in his new role.

 The electric ID Buzz concept.

"It is a very fast and furious project," McNabb said in an interview, adding that the push to expand EVs is "an opportunity to transform an industry. How many times in life do you get that opportunity?"

The company will make four US$500 million investments every 30 months and must get approval from the California Air Resources Board and the US Environmental Protection Agency for spending.

VW must submit draft plans to regulators on the first funding plan by Feb 22.

The Electrify America LLC unit, based in Reston, Virginia, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group of America and is separate from Volkswagen AG's automobile brands. It initially expects to employ around 40 or 50 people in the first few years, but it will also use outside contractors, McNabb said.

The German automaker's settlement on excess diesel emissions from nearly 600,000 US vehicles requires that US$800 million be spent in California and US$1.2 billion be invested throughout the rest of the United States.

In December, California said Volkswagen agreed to add at least three additional electric vehicles, including an SUV, in the state by 2020 and must sell an average of 5,000 electric vehicles annually through 2025 in the state.

Funds spent on education and outreach must be brand neutral and cannot feature Volkswagen vehicles. Charging stations must be accessible to all vehicles.

Volkswagen halted sales of diesels in the United States in late 2015 and has said it has no plans to resume US diesel sales.

Volkswagen is set to plead guilty on Feb 24 to three felony counts as part of a plea agreement with the US Justice Department to resolve charges it installed software in US vehicles to allow them to emit excess pollution.

In total, VW has agreed to spend up to US$25 billion in the United States to address claims from owners, environmental regulators, US states and dealers, and offered to buy back about 500,000 polluting vehicles.


BMW plans to make fuel-burning engines for next 30 years

                MUNICH: BMW has announced that it expects to continue making combustion engines which run on petrol or diesel for between 20 and 30 years, according to a top technical manager.

The surprise statement comes at a time when the car industry is abuzz with the latest electric-powered cars from manufacturers around the world.

"Our four-and six-cylinder diesels will remain for at least another 20 years and our gasoline units for at least 30 years," Research and Development boss Klaus Froehlich told the industry journal Automotive News Europe.

However BMW said it would phase out some of the more complicated petrol units like the range-topping V12 6.6-litre, and also drop the entry-level three-cylinder diesel in the MINI One runabout.

This would avoid huge expenditure on updating such outdated combustion engines to comply with emission regulations, especially in China.

It sounds like good news for petrol-heads, and yet BMW is also becoming increasingly electric. Froehlich said the maker aimed to electrify between 20 and 30 per cent of the range by 2030.


GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler target May 18 US restart date, says WSJ

                DETROIT: General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are targeting May 18 to resume some production at their US factories after shutting down plants in March due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Executives from the companies in recent days tentatively settled on the timeline following talks with United Auto Workers (UAW) leaders and Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer's office, the Journal said on Monday, citing people familiar with the plans.

Ford said in a statement it is yet to determine when it will resume production at its North American plants, while Fiat Chrysler said it will communicate new restart dates in due course.

The head of the UAW union last week warned it was “too soon and too risky” to reopen auto plants and Michigan’s economy in early May, citing risks to workers.

Michigan governor Whitmer is yet to provide details on restarting the state’s crucial manufacturing sector and has said she would be “guided by data, not artificial timelines.”

The companies are working with the union on drawing up safety protocols for reducing exposure risk for workers, but haven’t finalised those terms yet, according to the WSJ report.

GM and UAW did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Michigan had reported 38,210 Covid-19 cases, including 3,407 deaths, according to a Reuters tally as of Monday.


Subaru Forester GT Edition SUV launched in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: The special edition Subaru Forester 2.0i-S EyeSight GT Edition has been launched and priced at RM177,788 (on-the-road without insurance).

This marks the second GT Edition model to be offered in Malaysia after the initial launch of the XV GT Edition.

The Forester GT Edition was created in close collaboration with engineering company Giken Co Ltd and former Chief Designer (Head of Global Advanced Design Studio) at Subaru Corporation, Masahiko “Jack” Kobayashi.

READ MORE:
A review of the fifth-generation Subaru Forester
New Subaru Impreza spotted in Singapore

The GT Edition features an aero kit which includes front bumper lip extension, side skirts, roof spoiler and rear bumper lip extension as well as 18inch wheels, a new 8-inch display audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and a Superview Around Recognition 360 System.

“We are proud to introduce the Forester GT Edition to Malaysia. Now, the Forester looks more rugged yet refined, sophisticated and sporty.

"It is specially made for those who want to stand out from the crowd and defy convention. With it, we are offering customers here a better line-up, better quality and value.

"I believe it will excite the market and drive product interest,” said Tan Chong International Ltd deputy chairman and managing director Glenn Tan.  Tan Chong International Ltd owns the Motor Image Group of companies.

The Subaru Forester GT Edition is offered in seven colours – Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Jasper Green Metallic, Horizon Blue Pearl, Sepia Bronze Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic and Crystal Black Silica.

TC Subaru Sdn Bhd is the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia. Visit the local website and international website for more information.

Below is the original press release:Kuala Lumpur, 1 June 2020 – TC Subaru Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia, is proud to launch the new Subaru Forester GT Edition.

The special edition Forester is the second GT Edition model in Malaysia – the first being the XV GT Edition – created in close collaboration with renowned engineering company Giken Co. Ltd and Masahiko “Jack” Kobayashi.

Kobayashi is the former Chief Designer (Head of Global Advanced Design Studio) at Subaru Corporation and was responsible for the exterior design of more than 12 Subaru production models, including the legendary WRX STI.

The special GT Edition aero kit has four well-made and integrated elements, which give the rugged yet refined Forester a sleeker and even sportier look:

Front bumper lip extension
Side skirts
Roof spoiler
Rear bumper lip extension

These are complemented by a set of 18-inch bespoke alloy wheels. It also boasts its own seat-leather design. Completing the equipment package of the Forester GT Edition is a new 8-inch Display Audio System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a Superview Around Recognition 360 System (360° around-view monitor system), which enables drivers to park and manoeuvre with ease.

Tailored specifically with Motor Image’s in-depth understanding of the market, Mr Kobayashi’s expertise, as well as Giken’s experience, the Forester GT Edition is expected to be a game-changer for Subaru in Malaysia.

An extraordinary SUV that does it all, the Forester GT Edition comes with the four hallmark Subaru Core Technologies – Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Boxer Engine, Subaru Global Platform and EyeSight Driver Assist Technology – all of which contribute to a total of more than 100 safety features.

“We are proud to introduce the Forester GT Edition to Malaysia. Now, the Forester looks more rugged yet refined, sophisticated and sporty. It is specially made for those who want to stand out from the crowd and defy convention. With it, we are offering customers here a better line-up, better quality and value. I believe it will excite the market and drive product interest,” said Mr Glenn Tan, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Tan Chong International Ltd. Tan Chong International Ltd owns the Motor Image Group of companies.

Mr Kobayashi originally trained and practised as a fashion designer in Tokyo before graduating with a degree in Transportation Design. In his 25-year career with Subaru, he was known as the ‘hit maker’, after designing numerous successful models, including the original Outback, which was the world’s first sports utility wagon, several generations of the Legacy and Impreza, the current WRX and WRX STI sports saloons, the Levorg sports tourer and the first-generation XV. He is now an independent designer.

Giken is an award-winning engineering company founded in 1964. Holding numerous patents in Japan, South Korea and the United States, it has established itself as an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of technological and material handling systems. Giken is a global supplier of aero-parts and other passenger car components to Subaru and other major Japanese car brands.

Available for order

The Subaru Forester GT Edition is offered in seven colours – Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Jasper Green Metallic, Horizon Blue Pearl, Sepia Bronze Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic and Crystal Black Silica.

Subaru Forester 2.0i-S EyeSight GT Edition - RM177,788

View the Subaru Forester GT Edition today at all Subaru showrooms nationwide. In line with Subaru's focus on safety, the company has implemented stringent protocols at all its facilities for the health, safety and peace of mind of customers when they visit.


Remaking Henry Ford’s production line for the modern era

Arculus’ system works by moving components on flat self-driving robots. — Arculus/TC
MUNICH: A German startup run by a former Porsche engineer received backing for his planned makeover of the assembly-line approach to carmaking introduced by Henry Ford a century ago.

Arculus GmbH wants automakers to ditch rigid production lines and adopt its more flexible platform where self-driving robots move half-built cars to different sections.

London-based venture capital firm Atomico is among the investors who put in a total €16 million (RM76mil).

"Now that we have this funding, it’s going to be about broadening the customer base,” said 36-year-old Fabian Rusitschka, who has set up shop in Ingolstadt, close to BMW.

Having piqued the interest of Audi AG and others, the next step is scaling up to take on major manufacturing projects.

While the coronavirus pandemic has decimated the car industry, the need for social distancing at work could play in Arculus’ favour, he said.

There’s limited space on a traditional assembly line, with fixed machinery packed close together.

"You can’t move the workplaces apart from each other, you can barely create any distance,” Rusitschka said.

Arculus’ system works by moving components on flat self-driving robots, allowing for a two-dimensional production grid where steps can be skipped, or stations moved if need be.

If the traditional production line is a conveyor belt, Arculus’s system is more like a shopping mall, where every step in the process is a store that can be visited at will, he said.

The move to electric vehicles could also be a boost. With the technology still evolving, carmakers will want to keep their options open. That doesn’t suit the traditional car-making set up.

"With that long-lasting system, you basically need to decide now what you’re going to have for the next 10 years,” he said.

Currently, Audi is using the platform for some aspects of pre-production, but Rusitschka said he believes long-term the benefits of modular production will outweigh the costs.

Carmakers will have to be more nimble and innovate to keep up with EV developments.

"Nobody knows what the future is going to look like,” Rusitschka said. "One of the biggest strengths of the modular production system is you can adapt.”


Tesla testing powertrain with record-breaking power for Model S

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla's CEO has announced that a modified Model S "just set record for fastest 4 door ever at Laguna Seca" thanks to its "Plaid" powertrain and new chassis, both of which are undergoing testing.

The announcement was followed up a few hours later with a clip revealing that the record-breaking EV was outfitted with new powertrain and chassis prototypes.

According to the caption of the video published by Tesla on Wednesday (and later on Twitter) showing off the feat, this Model S beat the four-door sedan record by one second while undergoing R&D testing.

This record points to the "Plaid" powertrain as having a mode even more powerful than the Ludicrous Mode which costs owners about US$20,000 (RM84,000) on top of the pricier of their Model S. In fact, Musk himself tweeted that "The only thing beyond Ludicrous is Plaid."

Besides the record time, no other specs were revealed about Plaid or the Model S's new chassis. Musk only stated that the powertrain is still about a year away from production and will only be available for the Model S, Model X, and Roadster models.

When it does come out, Musk confirmed that it will "cost more than our current offerings, but less than competitors."

Given that upgrading a Model S to a performance version (and therefore giving owners access to Ludicrous Mode) tacks on an extra US$20,000 to the model's final cost, Plaid's price tag could only be higher.


BMW 8 Series staging comeback?

                MUNICH: The rumour mill has been turning about BMW's 8 Series making a comeback to rival Mercedes-Benz's S-Class coupe and cabriolet model range.

The word is that the 8-Series has been earmarked for launch by 2020 and will use the G14/G15 internal codes to take its place alongside the current generation G11/G12 (long wheelbase) 7-Series.

There's also mention that the new 8 Series will effectively replace the current 6 Series models, which will then begin its training to take on the Porsche 911 and Mercedes-AMG GT - leaving the upcoming 5 Series GT to carry on Bavaria's Gran Coupe legacy.

Apparently, there's also unconfirmed reports of the Munich-based carmaker having submitted applications for the trademarking of the 825, 830, 835, 845, 850, M850 and M8 names.

As Automobile Magazine reported, the 8 Series will use the German carmaker's latest Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform that uses high-strength steel, aluminum and carbon fibre for significant weight savings like in the current 7 Series.

Furthermore, there's also mention that there will not be a four-door 8 Series variant for fear that it may cannibalize sales of the 7-Series.

BMWBlog says that a 650hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 could reside under the hood of the range-topping models, as well as a 450hp 3.0-litre inline-six and a four or six-cylinder plug-in hybrid for powertrain options.

But, with all the speculations bouncing through the interweb, we hope that BMW doesn't depart too far from the original 8 Series (E31) after it was retired in 2000.

Lets hope some, if not, most of its elements - other than its nomenclature, makes it to the present such as the lack of a B-pillar, sleek 0.29Cd design, long hood, 4+4 seating and maybe those pop-up headlights once more as an ode to the original.

*BMW 8 Series renders from BMWBlog. BMW 8 SeriesBMW 850Ci

The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe concept's (below) design cues could also find its way onto the upcoming 8-Series as well.

*sourced from BMWBlog


Kia looks to first India plant after China troubles hit profit

                SEOUL: Kia Motors Corp signed a deal today to invest about US$1.1 billion to build its first factory in India, aiming to tap a fast growing market at a time when its China sales are sagging.

The Hyundai Motor Co affiliate posted a 19 percent slump in first-quarter net profit as anti-Korean sentiment and a conflict with dealers hit its China sales, sending its shares down 2.2 percent in a flat market.

Production at the factory in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh state, would begin in the second half of 2019, the company said.

Kia is expected to leverage Hyundai's supply chain network built around its factories in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu to gain a foothold in the Indian market, tipped to become the world's third-largest by 2020. Hyundai is India's No.2 automaker by sales.

The plant, which will have production capacity of 300,000 vehicles a year, will produce a compact sedan and a sport utility vehicle tailored for the Indian market, Kia said in a statement. It will break ground in the fourth quarter of this year.

"Our new India plant will enable us to sell cars in the world's fifth-largest market, while providing greater flexibility for our global business," Kia president Park Han-woo said in a statement.

Reuters reported in February that Kia was close to finalizing Andhra Pradesh as the site for its first Indian factory.

The announcement came after Kia and Hyundai Motor suffered a March sales slump in China, their biggest market, and sharply cut production in the wake of Seoul's decision to deploy a US anti-missile system, which angered China.

"The fall in consumer sentiment in China is stemming from a political issue, a situation which is beyond the control of an individual firm and is difficult to be resolved within the short term," Han Chun-soo, Kia's chief financial officer, said during an earnings conference call.

Kia would adjust its China production to reduce inventories, cut costs and launch new models including a small crossover to minimise the impact of the political row, he said.


DRB-Hicom holds promo on 11 auto brands

                SHAH ALAM: Five more days before the DRB-Hicom Auto Sale 2015 ends.

The sale, which started on June 6, promises attractive packages and offers on 11 brands that include Proton, Lotus,  Cars, Audi, Volkswagen, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Tata and Suzuki.

DRB-Hicom COO (Automotive Distribution and Manufacturing) Datuk Radzaif Mohamed said if customers book cars during the sale, it would strive to deliver the cars before Hari Raya.

Visitors would also be able to find out more about other auto-related services such as financing and trade-in packages. There will also be lucky draws at the participating outlets.

Go here for information on the participating outlets and their locations.


Drive home a Haval for CNY

                PETALING JAYA: In conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year festive season, Go Auto Sales Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor for Haval SUV in Malaysia, is running the Ang Pow Prosperity Deal promotion on all Haval models.

The promotion is on-going from now until end of March 2018 at all Haval showrooms nationwide offering new customers 5-year free service or savings up to RM3000 with ang pow offerings.

“We wish to rewards new customers to usher in the festive Chinese New Year with our Prosperity Deal promotion for both Haval H1 and H2 models. Hopefully, with the savings from the ang pow promotions the money can be spent on their family celebration during this festivity.

"In addition, we also hope with this offer it will allow customers to enjoy better value for their money by owning an SUV at an affordable and competitive price,” said Executive Director of Go Auto Group Datuk SM Azli SM Nasimuddin Kamal.

Aside from the current promotion, Haval Malaysia is also carrying out roadshows and exhibitions nationwide in shopping malls and other locations to get closer to the public.

Do visit these locations to enjoy the deals.

1. Venue : NSK Seremban 2, Seremban
Date: 1 – 31 January 2018

2. Venue : Tesco Taiping, Taiping
Date: 1 – 28 January 2018

3. Venue : Giant Kota Padawan, Kuching

Date: 23 – 30 January 2018

4. Venue : Tesco Saujana Impian, Kajang

Date: 24 – 30 January 2018

5. Venue : Pahang Karnival, Parking Stadium Darul Makmur, Kuantan

Date: 25 January – 3 February 2018

6. Venue : MAI Auto Galleria, Dataran Aman Jaya Mall, Sg Petani

Date: 26 – 28 January 2018

7. Venue : Alamanda Shopping Mall, Putrajaya
Date: 1 – 11 February 2018

For more information, customers can contact Customer Care at 03-5569 7332 or email us at customercare@goauto.com.my.

Customers can also visit www.haval.my or our official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/havalmy or instagram page at www.instagram.com/havalmy.


Nissan make breakthrough to halve recycling cost of rare earths

                TOKYO: Nissan Motor Co Ltd has developed a new technology to halve the cost of recycling rare earths used in magnet motors for electric vehicles (EVs), the company said.

With tension simmering between China and the United States, automakers are trying to reduce their reliance on a key driver of the EV revolution - permanent magnets that power electric engines, as most are made of rare earth metals from China.

Automakers are also concerned about huge price swings of the metals and environmental damage in the supply chain.

Nissan, collaborating with Katsunori Yamaguchi, a professor at Waseda University, established a new recycling technology to recover rare earth compounds in high purity and efficiency without dismantling the motor, which is the conventional way.

Permanent magnet motors - using rare earths such as neodymium and dysprosium - naturally have magnetic force. These are at the heart of many electric motors, powering the rotor of the drivetrain.

With the new technology in a dry refining method, Nissan melts the rotors in a furnace above 1,400 Celsius, extracts them as an oxide liquid, and then separates them to extract the rare earths.

The new method will shorten the processing time to about 4 hours from 8 hours now and halve the recycling cost, Kazuhiro Ogawa, senior manager at Nissan, told reporters last week.

Nissan will continue experimenting with larger scale facilities, with an aim to make the process commercially viable in the mid-2020s.

"Reducing the use of rare earths is a key challenge as the resources are unevenly distributed, prices fluctuate depending on supply-demand balance, and the mining and smelting process has an impact on ecosystems," Ogawa said.

Nissan, which has been cutting the use of heavy rare earths at the design stage and recycling them, will aim for zero dependence on newly extracted resources in future, he said.


Finally! Urus, Lamborghini’s first SUV, unveiled

MILAN: Lamborghini has unveiled its first modern-day sport-utility vehicle (SUV) as the Volkswagen-owned luxury sportscar brand strives to grab a share of a fast-growing market.

Produced at its Sant‘Agata Bolognese headquarters in Italy, Lamborghini believes the model could double its annual sales volumes, which stood at 3,457 last year.

Called the Urus, which links to the brand’s bovine branding, the "super SUV" could help it access new markets and customer groups traditionally not attracted to its high-powered, low-slung sportscars.

“It is a true Lamborghini in terms of design, performance, driving dynamics and emotion as well as drivable every day in a range of environments,” chief executive Stefano Domenicali said in a statement on Monday.

The first Urus SUV will be delivered in the spring of next year, with a retail price tag in Europe of 171,429 euros (RM828,000), excluding taxes. It is expected to sell in China for RMB 3,130,000.00 (RM1.9mil) and in Japan for 25,740,000 (RM927,000, both suggested retail prices, taxes included).

The model marks Lamborghini’s entry into one of the fastest-growing vehicle markets.

READ MORE: Lamborghini's first SUV fetches hefty price at auction

Global crossover and SUV sales have grown to 26.47 million units in 2016 from 7.93 million just a decade earlier, data from IHS Markit showed. The forecaster expects that to grow to 34.34 million units by 2020.

SUV sales in the upper luxury end of the market, which includes the likes of Mercedes G-Class and Bentley Bentayga, have grown nearly five-fold in the six years to 2016, IHS added.

The Urus boasts a 4.0 litre V8 twin-turbo engine with 650hp and top speed of 305kph. It can race to 100kph in 3.6 seconds, Lamborghini said.

“It will feature driving modes that give it capabilities in off-tarmac situations such as snow or sand. This could make it particularly appealing in markets where its sports cars are less suitable,” said Ian Fletcher, an analyst at IHS Markit.

Fletcher forecasts Urus’ annual sales peaking at around 2,900 units in 2019 and 2020, making up around half of Lamborghini’s total sales. The brand’s line-up currently includes the Huracan and Aventador sportscars.

Lamborghini, one of Volkswagen’s stable of super-luxury brands along with Bentley and Bugatti, has said a plug-in hybrid version of the Urus will be brought out by 2020.


Bespoke wealth for Rolls-Royce buyers

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Bespoke business continues to drive Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to new heights, with every Phantom - the British super-luxury marque's flagship model - produced nowadays being significantly personalised.

"Bespoke is more than just customisation - the only limit is one’s imagination," said the company's Asia Pacific communications manager Hal Serudin.

He pointed out that 2014 marked the first year in which every Phantom, and the great majority of Ghost and Wraith models, left the home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in West Sussex, England in remarkable Bespoke form.

A record number of customers spent personal one-on-one time with Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke design consultants commissioning their personalised vehicles.

"The cost of Bespoke can equal or be more than the price of the car," said Serudin.

He pointed out that Rolls-Royce Bespoke customers can choose from 44,000 external paint hues, limitless wood veneer options, leather styles and colours.

To reinforce the claim that Rolls-Royce is the go-to luxury carmaker for the connoisseur who demands the best in individualisation, the company's Bespoke designer Michael Bryden highlighted the unique Celestial Phantom which was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show two years ago.

The Celestial Phantom one-off edition was made to celebrate the moment when the first Phantom rolled off the production line at Goodwood at midnight on January 1, 2003.

Its headlining features hundreds of tiny LEDs meticulously configured to represent the star-filled sky exactly as it was in Goodwood on January 1, 2003.

 Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bespoke designer Michael Bryden.

The night-sky constellation arrangement was verified by the South Downs Planetarium to ensure authenticity, whilst hand-stitching to the headliner subtly maps out the constellations.

"We work with astronomers for constellation positioning. For our Bespoke customers, if it can be done; we will do it," said Bryden at a recent media briefing at the Rolls-Royce showroom at Quill 9, Petaling Jaya.

Bryden also highlighted the Wraith Inspired by Music, which is said to be the most exclusive music venue on wheels that delivers an unrivalled aural experience.

The Wraith Inspired by Music's Bespoke audio system saw a two-year development process that had Rolls-Royce interior designers ensuring the system was perfectly tuned to the interior of the cabin.

 A white Ghost made for a client to mark the 50th anniversary of the state of Singapore.

"The contemporary use of copper creates an atmospheric setting for this encompassing music system," said Bryden, who graduated from Coventry University three years ago with a degree in automotive and transport design.

The Wraith Inspired by Music's clarity of sound and dynamic range is delivered via a 1300W, 18-channel system comprising two bass speakers, seven tweeters and seven mid-range speakers.

Two "exciter" speakers hand-fitted in the car’s headlining bring the sound to the listener at ear-level, while microphones constantly monitor ambient and exterior noises, and adjust volume and tone settings automatically to ensure no external agent detracts from the user’s listening pleasure.

"Bespoke has been embraced with particular enthusiasm in Asia. A fine example is the "Year of the Dragon" Phantom which has specially commissioned, hand-painted coach-line with dragon-motif," said Bryden.

He also noted that in July this year, Rolls-Royce celebrated Singapore’s national day with the SG50 Ghost Series II.

It was the first time Rolls-Royce has commissioned a car to commemorate the anniversary of a country.

The car’s exterior is finished in English White with a contrasting Consort Red coachline to represent the colours of the Singapore flag.

The Merlion and the Singapore skyline motif features in various interior appointments.

The iconic Merlion logo was stitched to each of the four headrests in the car.

When the doors are opened, passengers are greeted by a treadplate featuring Singapore’s skyline.

Bryden had referenced images of Singapore’s Central Business District and harbour to create an abstract interpretation of the iconic skyline. The drawing was done digitally, and laser engraved onto the stainless steel tread plate, completed with the words “Hand Built in Goodwood, England for Singapore’s 50th Anniversary”.

"The Rolls-Royce showroom in Singapore has been getting a lot of calls regarding the SG50 Ghost Series II," said Serudin.


Ora Good Cat finally launches, 2 variants priced from RM140,000

                PETALING JAYA: The wait is finally over. Malaysia's most affordable electric car is launched today.

We are of course referring to the Ora Good Cat.

The fully imported model from China is available in two variants. The 400 Pro variant with a 47.7kWh lithium ion phosphate battery is priced at RM140,500 (on-the-road without insurance), while the 500 Ultra with a 63.1kWh ternary lithium battery is RM170,500. Range is 400km (NEDC) and 500km respectively.

Distributor Great Wall Motor (GWM) Malaysia also introduced an attractive 4-in-1 "Purr-fect package" where Good Cat buyers can enjoy a complimentary portable and home charger, a 5-year or up to 150,000 km warranty, an 8-year or up to 180,000 km battery warranty, and 5 times free service labour maintenance.

The 400 Pro and 500 Ultra feature a single electric motor in front that makes 105kW/143PS of power and 210Nm of torque. Both cars go from 0-100kph in 7.9s and top speed is 152kph. Three units of the 500 Ultra were on display at the launch.

As for charging times, GWM states DC fast charging (up to 60kW) from 30% to 80% at 32 mins for 400 Pro and 40 mins for 500 Ultra. It's 46 mins and 1 hour respectively if DC fast charging from 0 to 80%. With AC normal charging (up to 6.6kW), as at home, a full charge would take around 8 hours for the smaller battery and 10 hours for the bigger one.

GWM has been previewing the electric hatchback for months now, with booking starting earlier this month.

Last month, Great Wall Motor organised a media drive in the 500 Ultra variant.

Of the 100 plus bookings received so far, over 80% are for the 500 Ultra. The first batch of cars are expected to be delivered next month. Thailand had a headstart in selling the Good Cat and sales is purring along nicely. Some 5,400 of the Good Cat have been sold there in the past year and 4,200 units have been delivered to customers.

According to GWM, the Good Cat has been well received by Malaysians in the months leading up to the launch, adding that the public liked its overall design, performance and driving experience.

Designed around a "Futuristic" concept, the Good Cat is said to combine timeless essence with cutting-edge design, making it stand out in a sea of cars.

Available in two-tone and monotone colours, the retro-futuristic car comes with an intelligent LED headlamp system shaped like cat-eyes that promises high driving visibility.

It features sporty 18” alloy wheels and LED taillight strip.

The car is equipped with a 7-inch instrumentation display that comes with a user-friendly interface, paired with a 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The electronic shifter comes in the form of a rotary gear shift located at the centre console. Other notable highlights are a fully electric panoramic sunroof and foldable leather seats that can accommodate up to 858 litres of storage space.

Both variants come with auto emergency braking and five driving modes namely Normal, Sport, Eco, Eco+ and Auto. They also have a "wisdom dodge system" that can detect and avoid large vehicles within their proximity.

The 500 Ultra adds an integrated intelligent parking system that assists in three modes of automatic parking.

This variant is equipped with a high definition 360-degree cameras as well as an electronic driver massage seat to reduce the stress of driving.

The Good Cat is supported by a 24-hour roadside assistance by its appointed panel insurance company and a spare parts warehouse located in Shah Alam.

The launch of the Good Cat is just the start under GWM's grand plans to introduce more models under its multi-brand portfolio.

It says it will roll out a range of vehicles including SUVs and pick-up trucks in the next few years. Word is the Ora Lightning (aka Grand Cat) fastback sedan will also be coming in due course.

In his presentation, Great Wall Motor Asean Region president Elliot Zhang said the company aims to be a leading automaker in Malaysia and targets to roll out 9 models in three years covering sedans, SUVs and pick-up trucks. GWM is targeting local assembly in 2023 and that includes the Good Cat further down the road in partnership with the Go Auto Group at its facility in Gurun, Kedah.

“The Malaysian public have always expressed their interest and excitement for EV vehicles, which was our main drive to cater towards their needs," said Zhang.

"Our local strategy and approach are to help as many Malaysians move from fuel-consumption vehicles to more energy-efficient vehicles. Thus, we have engineered this model (Good Cat) to serve and meet the expectations of our customers for everyday use."

Prospective customers can view and test-drive the Good Cat at GWM’s designated authorised dealers in the Klang Valley at Glenmarie and Puchong as well as in Penang.

For more information,  visit GWM Malaysia website: www.gwm.com.my or contact GWM’s call centre at 1800-18-2882. Alternatively, send your enquiries to the customer service support team at support@gwm.com.my.

SPECIFICATIONS & HIGHLIGHTS Zhang presenting the Good Cat at the launch today. Prices shown are selling prices with SST. On-the-road price is as indicated in third paragraph of text.


Mercedes sees car demand continuing to outrun supply

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz AG raised its outlook, expecting more new models will keep it racing to meet demand during the rest of the year.

The automaker pointed to "solid” orders and "healthy and high-quality” demand for vehicles like the flagship electric EQS while reporting better-than-expected second-quarter earnings Wednesday.

A new SUV version of the model will join the lineup later this year and help bring in more buyers.

"We see healthy demand across all main markets,” chief executive officer Ola Kallenius said on a call with analysts.

"Maybe it’s a result of being in the third year of artificial constraint from the semiconductor shortage.”

The world’s biggest luxury-car maker now expects group profit to be slightly higher than last year, rather than unchanged, while returns from carmaking are seen at between 12% to 14%, slightly higher than before.

While outlining a solid few months ahead, Mercedes chimed with other major manufacturers with concerns about high inflation, supply-chain problems and a worsening energy supply crisis in Europe.

Carmakers continue to battle a dearth of chips that has led to widespread production halts.

Most manufacturers are seeing signs of the logjam easing, though they’re still far from assured to procure enough of the high-tech components.

At Mercedes, deliveries fell 7% during the second quarter because of a lack of chips as well as other logistical challenges.

Empty dealer lots have allowed carmakers to do away with typical heavy discounts and prices for used vehicles have also ballooned.

Mercedes, like other automakers, has prioritised production of their most lucrative models, a strategy that is also in line with the company’s shift to more high-end cars to rival electric leader Tesla Inc.

Mercedes also has taken further steps to keep its operations running due to the threat of gas rationing in Germany after Russia’s decision to cut supplies through a key Baltic sea pipeline have raised fears of an abrupt halt of deliveries during winter.

The Sindelfingen plant, where the company makes the high-end S-Class and Maybach, can now function without natural gas, a fuel typically used in automaker’s paint operations.

"We can, in some circumstances, replace gas with oil, and also we’re looking at a bundle of efficiency measures,” Kallenius said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

"We’re preparing ourselves for some uncertainty, for scenarios, and trying to make our operations more resilient.”

Should gas become scarce, the company will be able to continue full operations with half of its usual supply if German authorities allow it to pool the fuel between plants in the country.

That would entail giving the company credit for reducing gas usage at its Stuttgart plants, for example, and not ordering a cut in consumption at its Bremen factory, even though there’s no physical sharing of gas supplies among the facilities.


Eco-friendly goods defy downward trade trend, says UN

                GENEVA: Environmentally friendly products like electric cars and wind turbines have bucked the current downward trend in overall global trade, continuing to show strong growth, the United Nations said Thursday.

Global trade surged to a record US$32 trillion in 2022 before reversing course in the second half of the year amid deteriorating economic conditions and swelling uncertainties.

And global trade growth is expected to stagnate in the first half of this year, said the UN's trade and development agency UNCTAD said.

But in a brief report, it said that so far, trade in so-called "green goods" was bucking the trend.

"The silver lining was the strong performance of trade in "green goods", whose growth held strong" throughout 2022, the agency said in a statement.

Green goods refer to products like electric cars or non-plastic packaging that are designed to use fewer resources or emit less pollution than their traditional counterparts.

Trade in such goods grew by around four percent in the second half of 2022, with their combined value hitting a record US$1.9 trillion by the end of the year, UNCTAD said — over US$100 billion more than in 2021.

Among the products that performed especially well were electric and hybrid vehicles, which saw trade surge 25 percent last year; non-plastic packaging, up 20 percent; and wind turbines, up 10 percent.

"This is good news for the planet," Alessandro Nicita, one of the report's authors, said in the statement.

"These goods are key to protecting the environment and fighting climate change."

The report comes just days after scientists delivered a "final warning" in the latest UN report on climate change, saying rising greenhouse gas emissions were sending the planet towards irreversible change.

UNCTAD said it expected green industries to boom further as countries scale up their efforts to cut emissions and battle global warming.

The agency said it expected the global market for electric cars, solar and wind energy, green hydrogen and dozens of other environmentally friendly technologies to reach US$2.1 trillion by 2030 — four times their current value.


LEGO launches Classic Defender 90 set

                NEW YORK: The LEGO Group and Defender are celebrating 75 years of Land Rover with a build-your-own-adventure: the new LEGO Icons Classic Land Rover Defender 90.

The 2,336-piece set is complete with all the accessories for an off-road expedition.

The set has a two-in-one format, allowing builders to create an everyday road-ready model or customise it for adventures.

Defender has racked up 75 years of all-terrain expeditions. Instantly recognisable around the world, it has a unique record of adventure, humanitarian aid and hard work.

“Defender is synonymous with adventure and this new LEGO set is a perfect way to capture the spirit of an incomparable, unstoppable automotive icon, whilst also sharing the playful side of the vehicle,” said Land Rover Classic director Paul Barritt.

The 32cm-long LEGO model reflects this with accessories including a roof rack, raised air intake, front bumper with working winch, side rails and toolbox, plus traction plates for crossing mud and sand. It also has working steering and suspension, opening doors and bonnet and an interior with details based on the full-size Classic Defender.

“Bringing the Classic Defender to life in bricks was no easy challenge. Defender can take you anywhere, so during the design process we wanted to infuse the set with that sense of adventure,” said LEGO Design Master Kurt Kristiansen.

“We can’t wait to see the fans' reactions.”

To launch the set, the LEGO Group placed a real Classic Defender in the Scottish Highlands and used it to house the hardest-to-reach LEGO Store in the world.

That was the scene for a challenge, with adventurers Raha Moharrak and Aldo Kane racing to be the first to find and build the new set.

The LEGO Icons Classic Land Rover Defender 90 set is available starting July 1 in LEGO stores and online at www.lego.com/Defender, priced at US$239.99 (RM1,077).


China's Xiaomi completes business registration of electric vehicle unit

A Xiaomi store in Shanghai. The giant phone maker wants to be an electric car maker next and has formed a new unit called Xiaomi EV Inc. — Bloomberg

SHANGHAI: Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi Corp said today it has completed the official business registration of its electric vehicle unit, marking the latest milestone in its push into the automotive sector.

The new unit, to be called Xiaomi EV Inc, opened with registered capital of 10 billion yuan (RM6.5bil) and Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun as its legal representative, Xiaomi said in a statement.

Some 300 people have so far been hired to join the EV unit and it continues to recruit talent, it said.

The smartphone maker, which became the world's second top-selling brand behind Samsung in the second quarter, confirmed its foray into electric cars in March, pledging to invest US$10 billion (RM43bil) over the next 10 years. read more

Lei said at the time the push into electric vehicles would mark his "last major entrepreneurial project."

Xiaomi said today it has since conducted more than 2,000 interview surveys and visited over 10 industry peers and partners. However, it has revealed few details of its strategy for the automotive sector or vehicle types it intends to launch.

Last week, the company said it bought autonomous driving technology startup Deepmotion for over US$77 million, in an effort to boost research and development.

Earlier in August, Reuters reported that Xiaomi had entered talks with beleaguered real estate giant Evergrande Group to buy a stake in the latter's automotive unit.

In response to the news, a Xiaomi spokesman wrote on the company social media account that it is in touch with several automakers but has yet to decide which one to work with.

Xiaomi's second-quarter earnings last week beat analyst estimates, with revenues and net profits increasing 64% and 87.4% respectively.

The company's share of the global smartphone market has surged following the retreat of its chief rival, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in the face of US government sanctions.


Volvo Trucks Malaysia get new MD

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volvo Trucks has appointed Tony O’Connell as its new managing director for Volvo Trucks Malaysia effective Feb 1.

O’Connell who was previously vice president (sales) for Volvo Trucks Australia, took over from Mitch Peden, who served from 2018 - 2020.

He joined the Volvo Group in 2005 and after several stints in project management and business development, shouldered the VP (Sales), Australia position in 2018.

"He will inherit and continue to lead the dedicated and competent Volvo Trucks team in the region to further cement its position as the market leader in the premium commercial vehicle sector,” the company said in a statement.

Volvo Trucks first entered the Malaysian market in 1969 under Federal Auto Industrial Sdn Bhd, a year after its Swedish Motor Assemblies plant began operations in the country.

For the past five decades, Volvo Trucks has been expanding its footprint through launching new truck models and opening more dealerships across Malaysia.

Currently, the company offers heavy duty trucks under the Volvo umbrella mainly made up of Volvo FM, Volvo FMX and the Volvo FH in various specifications.


Govt not removing toll collection, says Works Minister

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government will not be able to do away with the highway toll collection due to the country's current financial position, says Works Minister Baru Bian.

Hence, it is misleading to assume that the new government will do away with toll collection in two to three months, he said on Tuesday.

"We will hold on to the present toll (collection) until the financial situation of this country is healthy. This means we are looking at other alternatives," he said.

He also said his ministry gets between RM600mil and RM800mil of the RM2bil annual budget.

"Every year, we get less than 50% of the RM2bil budget and we have been asked to reduce further. We have a 30% backlog of maintenance to do. If we do not carry out the road maintenance, this backlog will rise to 40%-50%.

"Safety of road users is paramount. So we are going to plead with Finance Ministry to get our allocation. If we do not do maintenance, you will get potholes and other issues," he said.

“So doing away with toll collection will have to wait until the country is in better financial health,” he said.


Govt mulling whether to bank in petrol subsidy or issue petrol card

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking at banking in money directly into the accounts of those eligible for RON95 petrol subsidy, says Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

"One method being considered is maintaining a single price for RON95 at the pumps and the subsidy is banked into the accounts of those eligible for the aid," he said when answering a supplementary question raised by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) in Parliament today.

He added the ministry would use the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) database to identify those under the B40 category who qualify for the subsidy.

However, Saifuddin noted that only 90% of BSH recipients had bank accounts.
The other alternative, he said, was to issue petrol cards to those eligible for the subsidy.

To a question by K. Subramaniam (PH-Sungai Siput), Saifuddin said the Finance Ministry had identified a vendor and was finalising details for implementation of the targeted subsidy programme.

"We want to ensure that the programme runs smoothly and not become chaotic the day it is implemented," he added.

He also told lawmakers there were no plans to compensate petrol station dealers under the programme.

The petrol subsidy was announced under 2019 Budget last November stating that owners of cars and motorcycles with 1,500cc and 125cc engines would receive subsidies for RON95 petrol at 30 sen per litre.

The subsidy for car owners would be limited to 100 litres of petrol monthly, while motorcycle owners will get 40 litres monthly.

Some RM2bil has been allocated for the new initiative, which is expected to benefit more than four million car owners and 2.6 million motorcycle owners.

The petrol subsidy programme is scheduled to be implemented by the second quarter of this year.


Chinese airline owner Juneyao Group plans to enter booming EV market, say sources

With airlines hit hard by Covid, Juneyao under chairman Wang Junjin (seen here) is said to be keen to tap into a booming EV market that has been aided by generous government subsidies and tax exemptions. — Reuters
SHANGHAI: Juneyao Group, the parent of Chinese carrier Juneyao Airlines, plans to start making electric vehicles (EVs), two people with knowledge of the matter said, as it seeks to diversify from businesses that have been hit hard by Covid-19.

Shanghai-based Juneyao, owned by Chinese billionaire Wang Junjin, his brother and nephew, is setting up a team internally to explore EV-making plans, said the people, who declined to be named as they were not authorised to speak to media.

The plans are still at a preliminary stage, they added, but it would allow Juneyao to tap into a booming market that has been aided by generous government subsidies and tax exemptions.

Juneyao did not reply to a request for comment.

EVs, including pure-electric and plug-in hybrids, accounted for 22% of sales in the first seven months of the year, according to Chinese industry data, the highest proportion among major global markets.

Established local brands Nio , Xpeng and Li Auto compete fiercely against foreign players such as Tesla in the world's largest EV market, but Juneyao would join a growing list of high-profile Chinese companies with little or no automotive experience that are rushing into the sector.

Property group Evergrande, smartphone maker Xiaomi and search engine giant Baidu have started making EVs in line with a government plan to lead the world's auto industry in electrification and automation.

Juneyao on July 20 registered a company with 1 billion yuan (RM655mil) of capital for businesses including EV sales, auto parts research and development and EV charging infrastructure operations, according to Qichacha, an information provider that uses official company registration sources.

An investment firm controlled by Wang Han, the son of the late Juneyao co-founder, Wang Junyao, is also a majority shareholder of Yudo Auto, a Fujian-based EV maker, according to Qichacha. Chinese media reported that Yudo Auto's shareholding change showed up in official records on June 24.

Yudo Auto, founded in 2015 with the support of the southern province of Fujian, is one of the few EV startups licensed by Chinese regulators, but it has been struggling to sell its cars and suffering losses.

Juneyao and Yudo Auto did not respond to a request for comment on the shareholding change.

Airline business under pressure

The move into EVs is a fresh undertaking for Juneyao, the Chinese conglomerate that began selling flavoured milk and yoghurt to children in the early 1990s and later broadened to operate one of the country's largest private airlines flying domestic and international routes.

China's domestic travel market, which had rebounded quickly due to its successful containment of the Covid-19 virus in the early days of the pandemic, is nursing heavy losses this year as authorities struggle to stop the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant under a strategy of eliminating cases.

Nearly half of planned flights are being cancelled every day across China, according to third-party aviation data providers. Lockdowns continue to be abruptly implemented across different parts of China over Covid case numbers that are small by global standards.

Juneyao Air warned last month of a net loss of 1.6 to 1.9 billion yuan for the first half, when its main hub Shanghai suffered from a stringent citywide Covid lockdown for two months and the number of flights fell to the lowest in the company's history, according to a regulatory filing.


Trevo kicks off exercise, invests RM2mil to attract new hosts

From left: Teoh, Foong, Wee and Trevo Malaysia regulatory affairs head Agyl Wan Hassan.
KUALA LUMPUR: Trevo, the people-to-people (P2P) car-sharing marketplace mobile application, has kicked off Phase 1 of its newly announced proof of concept exercise with an investment of RM2mil to fund new hosts.

In the multi-stage year-long POC exercise running from August 2020, the company is seeking to show how sustainable P2P car-sharing in Malaysia is and reinforce its role in it.

With the investment, the company aims to encourage more people to participate in the POC study by sharing their vehicles, and to support the Government's effort to mitigate the rakyat’s financial challenges through the Penjana plan.

The RM200 financial aid was announced at the launch of the Trevo Lighthouse Activation Centre and was officiated by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

Also present were Socar Mobility Malaysia CEO Leon Foong, Trevo general manager Susan Teoh, Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) Director-general Azlan Shah Al Bakri and InvestKL CEO Muhammad Azmi Zulkifli.

The financial aid will be given to the first 10,000 new hosts in the Klang Valley, Penang and Kota Kinabalu who sign up to make their cars available for bookings on at least 14 days of each month.

Host registration is open to Malaysians who own cars not older than 12 years as of Dec 31 this year.

"Beyond the initial incentive of RM200, we want Malaysians to turn their assets into a recurring income stream," said Foong.

Trevo, a subsidiary of Socar Mobility Malaysia, offers a platform that connects users (called guests) and car owners (hosts), allowing guests to book any car that fits their mobility needs and enabling hosts to earn extra income to offset the cost of car ownership.

Car owners can supplement up to 85% of their car loans just by sharing their car on Trevo for at least 10 days monthly.

They are free to choose their own pricing as long as it falls within the pricing band provided by the TREVO algorithm.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Wee said the ministry welcomed more players from the private sector to take part in exercises like Trevo’s.

Teoh added that the exercise would identify areas for improvement in the P2P car sharing ecosystem, including challenges and gaps that may become apparent once the car-sharing community gains critical mass.

According to the company, it has more than 70,000 members and more than 1,500 car listings, with more than 150 models from 30 automakers such as Proton, Perodua and Porsche.

Meanwhile, the new Trevo Lighthouse Activation Centre will serve as a support centre for hosts, with 30-minute onboarding sessions available daily from 9.00am to 5.30pm as well as regular community activities organised for members at the Lighthouse.

Car owners can join Trevo today by downloading the app and signing up with the referral code MOTxTREVO to earn the RM200 aid.

For more information, log on to the company's website or its Facebook page.


Mitsubishi ASX Orange Edition rolls in - limited to 180 units

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has introduced the limited edition Mitsubishi ASX Orange Edition today.

With a limited run of 180 units only, the limited edition 4WD ASX is being priced with GST without insurance at RM132,900.19 and comes with a five-year warranty package for the locally-assembled compact sport utility vehicle (SUV).

And in conjunction with the company's Raya promotion, there's also cash rebates of up to RM8,000 for bookings and registrations made before July 31.

For the sake of comparison, the 2WD ASX is similarly priced at RM115,468.71, while the 4WD costs RM129,010.43.

The limited edition ASX is only available in white with orange accents on the undercover, rear spoiler and side mirrors, before adding door visors, 17-inch matte black alloy wheels and ‘Spirit of Competition’ decals.

Inside, the cabin adds new scuff plates and carbon fibre trim, while the leather seats and floor mats are accented in orange.

Also, an All Round Monitor has been add as standard and includes four externally-mounted cameras that provide a bird’s eye view of the vehicle for improved all-round visibility.

Under the hood, a familiar 2.0-litre MIVEC engine with 150PS and 197Nm of torque resides, while mated to a continuous variable transmission (CVT) which offers Sports Mode.

Regardless of variant, standard equipment for the ASX includes keyless entry with push-start button, cruise control, paddle shifters, automatic air conditioning, coloured multi-info display, auto retractable side mirrors, seven-airbags, anti-lock braking system and electronic brakeforce distribution.

As for the 4WD variant, it adds Mitsubishi’s all-wheel-control 4WD system, active stability control, traction control, and hill start assist.


VW presents new Beetle, adds Allstar and GT to Vento lineup

                Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has unveiled its latest offerings, a 1.6-litre Vento Allstar, while a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine powers the new Vento GT as well as two variants of the new Beetle.

Prices for the new trio starts with the Vento Allstar at RM90,646, the Vento GT at RM98,461 and the latest Beetle from RM137,620 (all prices mentioned are on-the-road with GST without insurance).

All vehicles come with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty and a five-year road-side assist service.

Following the Polo Allstar’s launch earlier this month, the Vento Allstar costs an additional RM2,991 over the current Vento Comfortline at RM87,655.

Available in either Candy White or Reflex Silver, the Allstar comes equipped with additional kit worth RM7,000 that includes aluminium pedals, MyVWDrive App connectivity, black door strips, black trunk garnish, a boot lip spoiler and “Allstar” markings on the leather seats, scuff plates, floor mats and B-pillar .

The new app has been designed to help users gain insights on car condition and performance, remotely locate vehicle, understand driving style and improve fuel efficiency and safety, track trip mileage, locate nearest service centre and alert emergency assistance in the event of an accident.

As for the new 1.2-litre (1,197cc) turbocharged Vento GT that’s also available in the same colour options, it costs an additional RM3,841 over the Vento Highline and rolls on larger 16-inch Syenit wheels with 215/45 series tyres.

In terms of additional accessories, VPCM values it at RM9,000 and includes aluminium pedals, roof and side mirrors in Black 3M sticker as well as a “GT” body kit, and the “GT” nomenclature at the rear, side scuff plates, floor mats and leather seats.

The new Beetle, with a choice of seven colours of Blue Silk, Habanero Orange, Tornado Red/Black roof, White Silver, Tornado Red, Dark Bronze and Pure White, is priced at RM136,888 for the Design Package and RM147,888 for the range-topping Sport Package.

Both variants use the same 1.2-litre turbocharged TSI engine producing 105PS from 5,000 to 5,500rpm and 175Nm of torque from 1,400 to 4,000rpm, while mated to a seven-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG).

The Design Package includes electronically adjustable foldable and heated exterior mirrors with integrated turn signal, front fog lights with static cornering lights, halogen headlights, and 16-inch Whirl wheels with 215/60 series tyres.

Inside, there’s a matching body-colour dash pad, centre console in Platinum Grey Metallic, electro-mechanical speed-sensitive power steering, keyless-entry, front centre arm-rest and a manual dimming mirror.

Also, there’s manual climate controls, “Pepita” fabric seat upholstery and an eight-speaker sound system connected to a 5.8-inch touchscreen Composition Colour display with radio/CD/MP3 playback, USB port, SD Card slot and Bluetooth connectivity.

As for the Sport Package, there’s now App Connect, Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, dual-zone Climatronic climate controls, cruise controls, front sports seats in Vienna leather, paddle-shifters and a larger 6.5-inch Composition Media and added AUX-IN port and iPod/iPhone interface.

In terms of safety, both variants receive four airbags, antilock braking system with brake assist, anti-skid regulator, brake-pad wear indicator, electronic stability control, hill-start assist and ISOFIX anchor points.

“With the new Beetle, the Allstar series and the Vento GT, our customers now have an even wider array of products from Volkswagen in time for the upcoming Raya festivities,” said VPCM managing director Erik Winter.

At present VPCM is offering up to RM21,000 of Duit Raya for six of their models, starting with the Tiguan (RM5,000) Polo (RM7,000), Jetta (RM10,000), Vento (RM11,000), Passat (RM15,000) and Golf (RM21,000).

In addition, new owners of the Vento and Passat will be entitled to five years of free maintenance.

The locally-assembled Vento is currently available in three trims - the entry-level Trendline (RM80,655), mid-range Comfortline (RM87,655) and the range-topping Highline (RM94,620).

Next to make its debut will be the Jetta Allstar.

Volkswagen Vento 1.6 Allstar

Volkswagen Vento 1.2 GT

Volkswagen Beetle 1.2 Sport Package


Volvo inks multi-billion dollar battery supply deals with CATL and LG Chem

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo Car Group has signed long-term agreements with leading battery makers CATL and LG Chem to ensure the multi-billion dollar supply of lithium ion batteries over the coming decade for next generation Volvo and Polestar models.

The agreements cover the global supply of battery modules for all models on the upcoming SPA2 and the existing CMA modular vehicle platforms and represent a major step towards realising Volvo Cars’ ambitious electrification strategy.

In 2017 Volvo Cars made the industry-leading commitment that all new Volvo cars launched from 2019 would be electrified. The company has since reinforced this strategy, by stating that it aims for fully electric cars to make up 50 per cent of its global sales volume by 2025.

“The future of Volvo Cars is electric and we are firmly committed to moving beyond the internal combustion engine,” said Håkan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “Today’s agreements with CATL and LG Chem demonstrate how we will reach our ambitious electrification targets.”

CATL of China and LG Chem of South Korea are renowned battery manufacturers, both of which have long and successful track records supplying lithium ion batteries to the global automotive industry.

Volvo Cars’ first battery assembly line is under construction at its plant in Ghent, Belgium. It will be finalised by the end of this year and the first fully electric Volvo to be built in Ghent is the award-winning XC40 small SUV. Already now, plug-in hybrid variants of the XC40 are manufactured there.Volvo Car Group signs multi-billion dollar battery supply deals with CATL and LG Chem XC40 are manufactured there.


700hp Rezvani Beast X revealed

LOS ANGELES: Niche supercar maker Rezvani Motors has unveiled a 700hp car, said to be the most powerful it has ever produced.

Designed to be a true worldly competitor for the track (though completely street legal), the Rezvani Beast X produces features dual Borg Warner high-performance turbochargers, forged pistons and valves, and strengthened engine internals.

The rear-wheel drive car has a lightweight, 850kg carbon fiber body and steel chassis and is equipped with a standard six-speed manual gearbox. An optional sequential automatic is available.

 The founder, Ferris Rezvani.

Unique side wings provide improved downforce, a revised front and rear fascia give off a more menacing profile, and dual carbon fiber rear wings reduce the drag coefficient and improve handling in the corners.

Beast X has front and rear anti-roll bars and a 10-way  adjustable dampers, front and rear

It uses 19-inch staggered tyres with the following specifications: 235/35/19 Continental SportContact 5P or Toyo Proxes R888 (front) and 295/30/19 Continental SportContact 5P or Toyo R888 (rear).

Each Rezvani Beast X is handbuild to order. Only five Beast X will be produced, at a cost of US$325,000 (RM1.4mil) each. That price also give owners free access to a number of tracks around the United States.

With the introduction of the Beast X, Rezvani said on Monday it has set up a new X division, responsible for the most extreme Rezvani Motors high-performance tuning of Rezvani vehicles and motorsport.

Rezvani also makes a 500hp Beast and a 300hp Beast Speedster. The car maker is based in Santa Ana near Los Angeles and is named after its Iranian-born founder Ferris Rezvani, whose mission is to create the lightest, highest performing car on the market at a reasonable price.


E-hailing firms can have licences revoked for overcharging passengers, says Dr Wee

                PUTRAJAYA: E-hailing companies found to have charged passengers more than the allowed fare surcharge amount can be suspended or even have their licences revoked, says the Transport Ministry.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, said numerous complaints by commuters about exorbitant e-hailing fares have triggered a Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) investigation into the matter.

“We are investigating this matter to see if it is true that some e-hailing companies have violated the allowed surcharge amount, which has been set at 200% of the base fare,” said Dr Wee.

“If found to be true, we will not hesitate to take action on the operators. Their licences can be suspended or even revoked,” he said today.

Dr Wee said the 200% surcharge limit was a policy set by the Transport Ministry in 2019, before his tenure.

“This is a policy that we inherited from before. If you ask me whether the surcharge limit needs to be reviewed, that requires another process,” said Dr Wee.

He added that there are more than 25 registered e-hailing operators and passengers have the right to choose a different company if one is charging expensive fares.

Dr Wee also lambasted a claim made by operators that the high demand causing the lack of available e-hailing cars on the roads is due to the recent Employee Provident Fund (EPF) special withdrawal scheme.

“I want to clarify that the Transport Ministry does not side with e-hailing companies. Recently, they claimed in the media that the lack of available cars is because of high demand and also a shortage of drivers,” he said.

“They claimed that demand is high recently because people have just withdrawn RM10,000 from the EPF special scheme. This is absurd and I have asked APAD to investigate this,” said Dr Wee.


JAC is back with three new models from RM66K

                SUBANG JAYA: Mpire JAC, a subsidiary of Mpire Auto and the new sole distributor of JAC light commercial vehicles in Malaysia, has brought the brand back with the reintroduction of three new models namely the JAC X30, N45 and N75

In terms of pricing (on-the-road without insurance), the X30 costs RM65,898, while the N45 is at RM80,925 and the N75 at RM99,763.

All three commercial vehicles are available in six different configurations that include a box truck, mobile cafe, steel cargo, wooden cargo, Luton truck and refrigeration unit.

The X30 is equipped 15C wheels with 195/70 tyres and a 2,804mm-long cargo bed, 65-litre fuel tank, hydraulic power steering system, front ventilated disc and rear drum brakes as well as front independent wishbone suspension with torsion bar and rear leaf springs.

This light commercial vehicle has a gross weight of 2,835kg as well as a wheelbase of 2,470mm that allows it to measure in at 2,840mm-long, 1,750mm-wide and 2,040mm-tall.

Power comes from a 2.8-litre (2,771cc) HFC4DA1-1A four-cylinder turbodiesel mill, producing 107hp at 3,600rpm and 240Nm of torque from 1,800 to 2,000rpm for the rear wheels and is managed by a five-speed manual transmission with diaphragm spring.

The larger N45 also has the same displacement, power output and transmission for its HFC4DA1-2B1 turbodiesel engine, only the transmission adds on vacuum assistance while having a longer wheelbase at 2,490mm, higher gross weight of 4,800kg and larger 17.5-inch wheels with 205/75 tyres.

At 4,770mm-long, 1,725mm-wide and 2,215mm-tall, the N45 adds anti-lock braking system and ventilated hydraulics with an exhaust braking system to its front brakes, while the front suspension now uses leaf springs.

As for the N75, the company's current flagship, it uses a more powerful 3.8-litre ISF3.8s3141 turbodiesel engine to get things moving with an output of 141hp at 2,600rpm and 450Nm of torque at 1,200rpm - all of which gets sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

At 7,500kg (gross) the N75 has a 3,845kg wheelbase and measures in at 6,986mm-long, 1,995mm-wide and 2,222mm-tall, while being equipped with a larger 100-litre fuel tank and wheels at 215/75 tyres.

"The JAC X30, N45 and N75 is the complete solution that combines our latest technology to substantially bring down fuel consumption in long-haul operations with stylish appearance and this is without compromising drivability," said Mpire JAC group CEO Lau Yit Mun.

The company announced it is appointing 15 authorised service dealers nationwide to provide efficient after sales service to all JAC customers.

Lastly, JAC is currently offering a trade-in programme that will provide a subsidy of RM3,000 for any vehicle being traded in when buying a new JAC. Also, the package comes with a free two-year service (six times) and five-year or 150,000km warranty.

JAC X30

JAC N45

JAC N75


Audi raises offer to gain foothold in McLaren, says daily

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen AG’s Audi brand raised its offer to gain a foothold in sports car brand McLaren to €650 million (RM3bil) from €450 million (RM21.bil) , according to a report by German trade newspaper Automobilwoche.

The idea is to take a stake in McLaren’s Formula 1 unit, while an investment in the sports car maker itself could happen in a second step, Automobilwoche reported, without saying how it obtained the information.

The two parties plan to sign a letter of intent today and Volkswagen’s supervisory board will discuss the matter later this month, according to the publication.

The German car manufacturer’s interest in McLaren first emerged late last year.

Volkswagen AG’s premium brand had previously floated the idea of acquiring McLaren as a way to gain access to the Formula 1 business, but McLaren deemed the offer as too low, Bloomberg reported at the time.

McLaren is also continuing discussions with BMW AG and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Munich-based carmaker on March 24 about the joint development of an architecture for electric sports cars, according to Automobilwoche.

The agreement isn’t binding and could be voided by a deal with Audi, the report said.

Volkswagen, too, is pursuing a dual track strategy and plans a cooperation of its Porsche brand with Formula 1 team Red Bull, according to the report.


Diesel exhaust fluid or Adblue: Towards cleaner air

                HAMBURG: In a bid for cleaner air and to reduce levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx), carmakers developed a technology for diesel cars that had long been in place for commercial vehicles.

The process - selective catalytic reduction (SCR) - uses a catalytic converter to specifically reduce the nitrogen oxides in the car's exhaust gases.

But for the process to work, you need an additional liquid, a product widely branded as AdBlue and formally known as diesel exhaust fluid.

The substance triggers a chemical reaction that cleans your exhaust emissions.

AdBlue is a mix of 67.5 per cent water and 32.5 per cent synthetic urea, explains technical inspector Erik Pellmann.

The fluid is stored in its own separate tank in the car and is continually injected into the exhaust system, and then chemically broken down by a hydrolysis catalyst, says Pellmann, an expert from European vehicle inspection company Dekra.

In the exhaust system, the fluid responds to the nitrogen oxide that's generated during the engine's combustion, in a chemical reaction that takes place in seconds. It transforms the emissions into hydrogen and nitrogen, both of them harmless.

You have to be careful with AdBlue, however, and make sure it doesn't get in the diesel tank.

"AdBlue is not a fuel additive and must never be mixed with diesel," says Pellmann. It has its own separate tank with its own filler neck in the spare wheel well, next to the diesel nozzle or in the engine compartment.

The size of the tank varies, between 10 and almost 40 litres, depending on your car model.

Your car consumes AdBlue at about 3 to 5 per cent of its fuel consumption rate.

Depending on how your exhaust system is tuned, engine capacity and driving style, your tank will need refilling around every 5,000km to 15,000km. It might last far longer, however.

Your car will generally let you know if you're running out of the substance, and should give you advance warnings before the sensor spots that the tank is empty. At that point, the engine likely won't start anymore.

In most countries the system is monitored by an engine control software. You don't need to head to the garage to refill the tank. But if you do it yourself, you will need a special hose to fill it.


Anwar to meet Elon Musk to discuss further investments in Malaysia

A photomontage of Anwar and Musk. — Star/AFP
SEREMBAN: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will meet electric car giant Tesla's chief executive officer Elon Musk next week to explore ways the billionaire can increase his investments in Malaysia.

The Prime Minister said Musk, who also owns Twitter, had asked to meet to discuss the matter.

"Elon Musk has asked to meet next week to discuss with me the possibility of him increasing his investments in Malaysia," he said during a meeting session with state civil servants at MBS Hall here.

Anwar said the country needed more new investments to increase its income and reduce its debts which now amounted to RM1.5 trillion.

He said there was a pressing need to increase both domestic and foreign direct investments as these can help create more jobs.

International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz had on March 1 said that his ministry had approved Tesla's application to import battery electric vehicles (BEVs) into Malaysia.

Tesla, he said, will establish a head office in Malaysia, introduce Tesla's "experience centres", service centres and establish its "Supercharger" network.

Tesla’s presence in Malaysia is expected to create skilled and better-paying job opportunities for workers in the BEV segment and increase the participation of local companies in the Tesla ecosystem, both domestically and globally.

Tengku Zafrul said this also demonstrated Tesla’s confidence in Malaysia's economic fundamentals and conducive business environment.

Anwar said he had also met Japanese investors last week and they had agreed to invest an additional RM20bil in Malaysia.

"A few months ago, I was in China to attract new investments but some criticised me saying that the PM seems to be travelling a lot.

"But what is more important is we received a commitment (from Chinese investors) to invest RM170bil in Malaysia," he said.

A total of 19 memoranda of understanding were signed during Anwar's visit then which include the development of a high-technology automotive valley in Tanjung Malim focusing on new energy vehicles.

Anwar said he also met representatives from Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco two weeks ago.

"During the meeting, they had also agreed to increase their investments in Johor," he added.

He said his government would continue to seek more investments for the betterment of the people.