Car from 'Knight Rider' sells for US$300,000 at auction

                NEW YORK: David Hasselhoff, best known as the crime-fighting and beach-strutting star of 1980s TV shows "Knight Rider" and "Baywatch", has sold one of the few replicas of the most famous talking car in television.

The AI-powered car known as K.I.T.T. from "Knight Rider" attracted around 30 bids at the online auction and finally sold for US$300,000 (RM1.2mil), according to the auction's website. The buyer was not immediately revealed.

The fully functional car belonged to Hasselhoff himself but was not used in front of the cameras during the series' production, the auctioneer said.

Although the car didn't come with the turbo boost or built-in AI that can talk, drive and smell, as fans of the show will remember, it did feature the same button-crammed cockpit seen in original episodes.

Pieces of clothing and cardboard cutouts of Hasselhoff in his attire from "Baywatch" were among the other items that went under the hammer, mostly for a few hundred dollars.

A lunch with the actor and singer brought in US$9,000 (around RM37,000), significantly lower than the expected price of US$20,000 (around RM81,000).

Hasselhoff's fame peaked in the 1980s and 1990s when he starred in hit television shows. As a singer he is mainly known for his song "Looking for Freedom."

In recent years, the 68-year-old's career has stalled. Hasselhoff has been promoting "The Hoff Auction" on Twitter and Instagram almost daily for weeks. He said in a Saturday video that he was going to give "lots of money" to charity.


Kia Niro hybrid sets world record in LA-NY challenge

 Gerdes (right) and Winger (left) revelling in their achievement alongside a Guiness World Record official.
NEW YORK: The 2017 Kia Niro hybrid has set a Guinness World Record title for the lowest fuel consumption driving across the United States.

The new record-setting mark was an incredible 76.6 mpg or 3.07l/100km.

The Niro EX was driven by Wayne Gerdes of Carlsbad, California, and co-driver Robert Winger of Williamsburg, Virginia, 5,979km from Los Angeles City Hall to New York City Hall using only 48.5 gallons or 4.1 tanks of fuel. The vehicle was not altered in any way for the attempt.

The Niro, which is basically an elevated Ioniq, is set to arrive in Kia retailers across the US in the first quarter of next year and will be available in five trim levels.


2019 Byton electric SUV with 520km range close to production

                NANJING: Over the last 12-18 months, a seemingly endless amount of exciting new electric cars and SUVs have been teased from a plethora of companies many of us have never heard of. They're often promoted with incredible power ratings and ranges that would make them a practical option for most commuters, but so far none have been up for sale.

But it now appears that one is set to soon become a retail reality as the 2019 Byton electric SUV is reportedly edging closer to production.

When it arrives, this first model from the Chinese brand will be an all-electric SUV boasting 469bhp and a claimed driving range on a single full charge of its battery of some 520km. Of course, "close to production" is a relative term as the company's headquarters in Nanjing, China, will only be opened this week, and construction work is only now close to completion on Byton's factory. However, the production facility has already produced prototype vehicles ahead of the full launch of what will shortly be a rival to the highly acclaimed Jaguar I-Pace.

To help achieve its production goals, Byton has also revealed an investment from Chinese automotive giant FAW of around US$260 million (RM1bil). The company's co-founder, Daniel Kirchert, says: "The Chinese automobile market offers excellent conditions for our company. The infrastructure developments, the market forecasts and the keen interest of the people in our products strengthen us enormously. Of course, our deep understanding of the Chinese market as a basis for our economic success also helps us."

As part of the Milan Design Week earlier this year, Byton unveiled a concept version of the SUV that it claimed was "85% there." And although some minor modifications are probably required to meet various legalities, company boss Carsten Breitfeld says the touchscreen-dominated interior of the vehicle is "series production ready."

A first prototype version of the SUV was completed last week, a small number are currently being built now for crash testing, and the first development prototypes are due to be ready around the middle of this year.

Even so, the all-electric SUV still won't go on sale in China until late next year, and its arrival in Europe and the USA as Byton's first model isn't anticipated until 2020.


New Land Rover Defender testing almost done — 1.2 million km clocked

                LONDON: Land Rover has announced plans for the new Land Rover Defender to complete a final phase of field testing with Tusk Trust, on location in Kenya.

A Land Rover Defender prototype, wrapped in a unique camouflage, will experience life at the Borana Conservancy as part of Land Rover’s 15-year partnership with Tusk Trust.

The prototype will tow heavy loads, wade through rivers and carry supplies across unforgiving terrain in a series of real-world trials at the nearly 14,000 hectare reserve.

By the time the new Defender makes its public debut later this year, it will have passed more than 45,000 individual tests in some of the most extreme environments on earth.

Land Rover engineers have taken the test fleet to the 50 degree Celsius heat of the desert, the sub-40 degree Fahrenheit cold of the Arctic, as well as up to 10,000ft altitude of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to ensure the new Defender will take everyday life in its stride, for even its most adventurous customers.

With on-road dynamics honed at the Nürburgring facility in Germany and all-terrain credentials tested on the muddy roads of Eastnor, UK, the rocky trails of Moab in Utah, and the sand dunes of Dubai, the new 4x4 promises to bring broader capabilities and new levels of comfort and driveability to the Defender family.

The new Defender has been designed and developed in Britain but global production will be shifted to the recently opened plant in Nitra, Slovakia.

Land Rover has been an official partner of Tusk Trust wildlife conservation charity for 15 years, helping to reach some of the world’s most remote locations.

News of the testing initiative has been announced to mark World Land Rover Day, which is celebrated on April 30 every year to mark the world premiere of the original Land Rover at the Amsterdam Motor Show on this day in 1948.


Geely SX11 crossover: A future Proton compact SUV?

                SHANGHAI: Geely Auto is developing a new crossover SUV code-named SX11 and a compact sedan, the Bin Rui, using its new B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) for small and compact vehicles.

It is quite possible that these two compact cars might be re-skinned as Proton vehicles in the future, as the Geely Group has a 49.9 per cent stake in national automaker Proton Holdings Bhd.

BMA is an entirely new global modular architecture independently developed by Geely Auto, which greatly shortens the vehicle development cycle and improves product quality.

The BMA will be used to develop B-segment vehicles and will cover SUVs, sedans, crossovers, wagons, and MPVs.

BMA based models can be developed with a wheelbase as short as 2,550mm (similar to Proton Persona) or as long as 2,700mm (similar to 2018 Honda Civic).

Multiple powertrain options can be used with BMA, including Geely’s 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbocharged direct injection engines, 1.4-litre turbocharge engine, and hybrid powertrains such as Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Hybrid Electric (HEV) and Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV).

The new SX11 SUV Crossover will be officially unveiled later this year and will utilise a 1.5 turbocharged direct injection engine jointly developed by Geely Auto and Volvo Cars.

In a recent benchmarking test, the SX11 achieved an average acceleration rate of 7.9 seconds from 0-100kph, faster than many of its rivals, including those from luxury brands.

The jointly developed 1.5TD engine utilized in the SX11 benchmark test uses a low-inertia turbo and in-cylinder direct injection combustion system.

Maximum power can reach 174hp and maximum torque is 255Nm.

Both the Bin Rui sedan and the SX11 Crossover will be formally launched in the third and fourth quarters of 2018.

Geely Bin Rui compact sedan


Volkswagen Malaysia: 2 extra years of free maintenance for Tiguan and Passat

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has announced an additional two years free maintenance for its two bestselling models – the Tiguan, Passat 1.8TSI Comfortline and 2.0TSI Highline.

This promotion is valid for new car buyers from 1st of July till 31st December 2019 and is available for all variants of the Tiguan and Passat, including the Sound & Style and JOIN editions.

With this new promotion, those who purchase a Tiguan or Passat now will enjoy a total of 5 years free maintenance (or 75,000km whichever comes first), 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and 5 years roadside assistance.

With low interest rate of 1.88% per annum along with the additional two years free maintenance, buyers get up to RM13,800 savings on the Tiguan and up to RM15,100 savings on the Passat.

The Tiguan is powered by a 1.4TSI turbocharged direct injection engine with a 6-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG) with sport mode to give an output of 150PS and a torque of 250Nm.

It boasts safety features such as six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Multi-collision brakes, Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) as well as hill-hold control.

For comfort, the Tiguan features Park Assist, Manoeuvre Braking and 3-Zone Climatronic.

The Passat is available in two engine variants.

The Highline combines a 2.0L turbocharged TSI engine with a 6-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG) giving an impressive output of 220PS and a torque of 350Nm.

The Passat Comfortline comes with a 1.8l turbocharged TSI engine and is paired with a 7-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG) with sport mode that provides an output of 180PS and torque of 250Nm between 1,250 to 5,000rpm.


Driver told to enter defence over 2017 death of teen cyclists

Sam arriving at the Johor Baru High Court with Muhammad Faizal.
JOHOR BARU: A woman, who was acquitted of ramming into a group of 30-odd teen cyclists and killing eight of them in 2017, will now enter her defence after the High Court overturned the earlier decision.

Judicial commissioner Dr Shahnaz Sulaiman made the order after allowing the prosecution’s appeal yesterday.

She ruled that the prosecution had proven a prima facie case against Sam Ke Ting.

Members of the media and family members of the deceased were barred from entering the courtroom.

Sam, 26, was charged with driving recklessly and dangerously, which resulted in the death of eight cyclists, under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which provides for a jail term of not more than 10 years and a fine not exceeding RM20,000, upon conviction.

Exactly four years ago, on Feb 18,2017, the eight teen cyclists were killed while another eight were injured when a car driven by the accused ploughed into the group.

The teenagers were mostly riding modified bicycles commonly known as basikal lajak.

The incident occurred at about 3.30am along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam near the Mahmoodiah Muslim cemetery here.

The court set the trial dates from May 9 until May 11 this year as well as bail of RM10,000 in one surety.

The court also ordered the accused to hand over her passport and driving licence until the case is over.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Ghazali prosecuted while lawyer Muhammad Faizal Mokhtar represented Sam.

In October 2019, magistrate Siti Hajar Ali, in acquitting Sam, said the accused could not be prosecuted based on the failure of the investigation officer to investigate the case properly.

She said the accused had the right to drive her car, and had driven her vehicle within the speed limit, was not driving while using her phone, was not drunk, and was using a car seat belt.

Siti Hajar added that the victims, however, had created an unsafe condition for other road users by being at the location.

She said it was impossible for the accused to have predicted the whereabouts of the group of teenagers behind the hill at 3am that day.

Siti Hajar said the road conditions had also limited the field of vision of the road user and the group had gathered behind the hill to race on the road that had dim lighting.

She said the victims had also made dangerous modifications to their bicycles by removing brakes and lowering the seat to the same level as the handlebars where they also failed to equip themselves with proper safety equipment such as reflective jackets or bicycle helmets.

The prosecution filed a notice of appeal against Sam’s acquittal in November 2019.

Meanwhile, one of the victims’ mother, Nur Cahya Amrun, said she thought the case was over when the accused was acquitted.

“I do not want this case to prolong any longer because I accepted that my son, Fauzan Halmijah, is no longer around.

“Maybe as parents we share the blame and maybe the accused is also wrong. But for me, everyone is wrong in this incident, ” she said when met outside the courtroom.

Nur Cahya added that she did not want to be reminded about what happened to her son.

“I love my son but if it is already fated how it will end, then we should accept the way it is, ” she said.


Nissan’s Around View Monitor goes deep sea diving

                TOKYO: From helping drivers navigate parking spots to heightening safety levels through better visibility, Nissan's Around View Monitor (AVM) technology will now help remote operated vehicle (ROVs) operators avoid obstacles on the seafloor.

The Japanese carmaker is providing its unique AVM technology to the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) and Topy Industries in a joint development project that could uncover some of the ocean’s mysteries.

The joint development contract with JAMSTEC and Topy is one of the top manufacturers of robot crawlers in Japan and will to enhance the government agency's ability to search for natural resources deep underwater with the ROVs.

Aside from helping ROV operators avoid obstacles and navigate the ocean seafloor more easily, the next objective would be to search for natural resources in the Earth's oceans.

This project exemplifies how AVM know-how is being put to practical use in complex operating environments and is among the Japanese Cabinet office's Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP), which aims to realise innovation through the promotion of research & development activities across government ministries.

Nissan’s AVM system is actually one of the base technologies for Nissan's autonomous drive vehicles, which the company aims to bring to market by 2020.

The innovative safety system can be found on Nissan's entire crossover range including the new Juke, Qashqai and X-Trail.

First commercialised in 2007, AVM provides a virtual 360-degree overview of a car from a bird's-eye view as pictured from above.

The technology helps drivers visually confirm the vehicle's position relative to parking spaces and adjacent objects and manoeuvre into parking spots more easily.

Nissan added Moving Object Detection (MOD) technology to AVM in 2011 and continues to develop other associated safety technologies.

The ROVs being tested by JAMSTEC and Topy include a version of Nissan’s AVM which features a three-dimensional (3D) picture processing capability and is combined with the ROV's camera to improve measurement of distances on the ocean floor.

Operators controlling the ROVs aboard mother ships at sea get an overhead real-time bird's-eye view of the remote vehicle and its immediate surroundings.

The goal is to improve the efficiency of undersea searches by avoiding obstacles on the seabed with better real-time situational awareness.

Nissan’s AVM (non-3D version) is currently found in the new Juke, Qashqai and the X-Trail.


VW Golf to get 48V mild hybrid system first followed by entire fleet

                WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen is to launch an electric version of its Golf, offering a sustainable, efficient and powerful alternative.

The introduction of innovative, new hybrid systems in the eighth generation of Golf vehicles marks a new era for the brand with regard to drive technology. In the future, Volkswagen will gradually electrify almost every vehicle in its range of models. The company is offering a first look at the future of electrified drive systems as part of the International Vienna Motor Symposium – one of the world’s key event on the automotive technology of today and the future.

Electrifying conventional drives will enable us to further reduce consumption and emissions while also increasing dynamics and convenience”, says Dr Frank Welsch, Member of the Board of Management for Volkswagen Passenger Cars with responsibility for Technical Development. Welsch continues: “We are starting this extensive electrification campaign with Volkswagen’s best-selling vehicle to date – the Golf. Our newly developed, cost-effective 48V mild hybrid will pave the way for introducing this type of technology to the mainstream”.

Volkswagen will combine the combustion engine with a 48-V belt-integrated starter generator and a 48V battery. The 48V mild hybrid makes it possible to “coast” with the combustion engine completely switched off, thereby saving up to 0.3 litres of fuel over 100km. Moreover, this mild-hybrid solution offers much improved dynamics and convenience as a result of providing an electric boost upon start-up.

The 48V technology is a new chapter in engine design, enabling drives to be electrified in a cost-efficient manner. The 48V system will be used in vehicles in addition to the well-known 12V system. In the case of very small wire cross-sections and a lightweight wiring harness, the 48V system enables a higher amount of energy to be saved than the 12V system, e.g. via recuperation when the vehicle brakes.

This high level of voltage enables a number of operations, including the activation of the 48V belt-integrated starter generator.

The Vienna symposium also saw the world debut of a 1.5 TGI Evo natural gas engine (EA211 Evo) and the 2.0 TDI diesel engine.

 The 1.5 TGI Evo natural gas engine.1.5 TGI Evo natural gas engine

The 1.5-litre direct injector, fitted with VTG forced induction (latest-generation turbochargers with variable turbine geometry), is based on the 1.5 TSI ACT BlueMotion engine.

The TGI petrol engines can be run on e-gas – renewable CNG based on methane obtained from wind, solar, hydropower or biomass power generation processes.

Production of the 1.5 TGI Evo engine will start this year. With an estimated average consumption of 3.5 kg/100 km (CNG) in the current Golf featuring dual clutch gearbox (DSG), the turbocharged engine will offer a combined range of range of 680km (490km on natural gas and 190km on petrol). The switch between both fuels is automatic.

2.0 TDI diesel engine

Despite being badly hit by Dieselgate, VW is not giving up on diesel. Its new 2.0 TDI diesel engine
will for the first time also be available in conjunction with hybrid systems; the EA288 Evo will already start as a mild hybrid drive with 12V belt starter generator on its first use. In conjunction with a lithium-ion battery, the mild hybrid system reduces fuel consumption and increases comfort.

The output ranges from 136hp to 204hp. Volkswagen has cut the CO2 emissions of EA288 Evo engines by up to 10 g/km compared with the predecessor generation. In general, what sets the new TDI engines apart is their extremely low emissions in all driving cycles. It is said to meet current and future emission stipulations for WLTP/RDE certification.

The TDI engines will initially be used at Audi in vehicles with longitudinally installed drive train. The new TDI engines will also be used transversely in the MQB vehicles of Volkswagen and other Group brands in the future (MQB: modular transverse matrix).


2020 Beijing Auto Show put off

                BEIJING: China’s annual auto show, which was scheduled to be held here in April, will be pushed back because of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The new date for the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, originally scheduled for April 21-30, will be announced to a later date, the organiser said in a statement today.

The postponement of the show in the world’s largest auto market is the latest high-profile conference to be shelved because of the epidemic. Credit Suisse Group AG pushed back its Asia investment conference and the government is considering delaying its political meeting for the first time in decades.

It’s not just events in China being affected, with the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona cancelled earlier this month because of the virus.


What's faster than a Corvette? A 'Vette with an electric motor

                DETROIT: General Motors Co on Tuesday revealed a new, hybrid Corvette sports car that uses an electric motor and battery to amp up acceleration and go in the snow.

The Corvette E-Ray - a play on the Stingray name used for gasoline-powered versions of the sports car - was revealed on the 70th anniversary of the debut of the original Corvette.

GM executives have said previously a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the automaker's supercar was coming.

The Corvette E-Ray will use a 12-volt lithium-ion battery and a 160-horsepower electric motor to drive the front wheels. A 495-horsepower, gasoline-fuelled V8 engine will drive the back wheels as in other Corvettes.

GM said the hybrid system will accelerate the E-Ray to 100kph in 2.5 seconds, making it the quickest production Corvette ever, GM said.

The E-Ray will also be able to operate in a battery-only "stealth mode" for short distances, GM said.

The E-Ray is the first Corvette equipped with all-wheel drive. Many rear-drive Corvettes spend winters in their owners' garages.

The E-Ray is a derivative of the current Corvette and does not use GM's latest, Ultium battery technology, GM executives told reporters in a briefing. A fully electric Corvette will come, but GM executives are not saying when.

The E-Ray is scheduled to go into production later this year at a starting price of US$104,205.


Honda HR-V RS offers dark brown leather cabin

                PETALING JAYA: The Honda HR-V RS gets a new interior colour addition – a classy dark brown leather option, in addition to the black leather interior.

This new interior colour is fitted into the centre console, front panel, driver and passenger seats (front and rear) as well as door panel lining.

The new dark brown leather interior is exclusively introduced for Malaysia.

The HR-V RS is priced at RM124,800 on-the-road price without insurance.

Read more: Honda BR-V gets a makeover

It is available in 3 colour options namely Passion Red Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic and White Orchid Pearl.

The HR-V RS is powered by a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine combined with Honda's Earth Dreams Technology Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT).

Read more: Honda Jazz Hybrid takes off in Europe

It also has the Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering system for a sportier and responsive driving experience.

The HR-V RS has features such as the 7-inch Display Audio, Paddle Shift and Honda LaneWatch.

It also sets the benchmark in the compact SUV segment with its practical Multi-Utility Cargo Space, which offers excellent cabin and trunk space.

Standard safety features in the HR-V include Six Airbags, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Automatic Brake Hold (ABH), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Rear Seat ISOFIX.

Launched in 2015, there are more than 91,000 (as of May 2020) units of HR-V on Malaysian roads.

The facelifted HR-V which was introduced in January 2019, has sold more than 19,000 (as of May 2020) units with the RS variant contributing 21% to the total facelifted HR-V sales.

The compact SUV upheld its No.1 position in the non-national compact SUV segment with 85% (as of April 2020) market share.

Honda Malaysia managing director and CEO Toichi Ishiyama said, "Today, we are delighted to provide yet another selection of interior styling to suit the differing personalities of our discerning customers - the new classy dark brown leather interior. We are committed to continuously improve our product offerings as we listen to customers’ feedback and market demand.”


Mitsubishi Motors to electrify 100% of its fleet by 2035, says daily

                TOKYO: Mitsubishi Motors Corp plans to electrify 100% of its fleet by 2035 through active introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles (EV), the Yomiuri Shimbun daily said today.

Mitsubishi is a junior member of the partnership of French carmaker Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co, which last month announced a deal to redesign their alliance.

Mitsubishi had previously said it would have 50% of its fleet electrified by 2030, a goal the Yomiuri said would remain unchanged, with emphasis then being on pushing forward with electrification over the next five years.

Mitsubishi also plans on introducing EVs in Europe, it added, saying the company would make an announcement about its plans soon.

The company, which is scheduled to hold a news conference later today, declined to comment when asked about the report.


Volkswagen CEO Diess 'not afraid' of Apple EV

                FRANKFURT: Germany’s Volkswagen is not concerned by any Apple plans for a passenger vehicle that could include the iPhone maker’s battery technology, its chief executive Herbert Diess said.

Reuters reported in December that Apple may have progressed enough to build a vehicle for mass markets by 2024, helped by cost cuts in battery technology.

“The car industry is not a typical tech-sector that you could take over at a single stroke,” Diess was quoted as saying an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

“Apple will not manage that overnight,” he told the daily newspaper.

While Apple’s plans are not public, Diess said its intentions as such were “logical” because the company had expertise in batteries, software and design, and that it had deep pockets to build on these competencies.

“Still, we are not afraid,” he said.

Volkswagen plans to develop software needed for autonomous cars in-house to ensure it can compete against tech firms in the field of electric car data.


Porsche to broaden battery-powered lineup with 718 Boxster

                STUTTGART: Porsche will turn the 718 Boxster into an exclusively electric model from 2025 as the sports-car maker’s returns on the successful Taycan improve.

The Volkswagen AG luxury unit will also offer a plug-in hybrid version of the iconic 911, it said today.

The manufacturer, whose parent is preparing an initial public offering of the brand, expects electric models to be just as profitable as combustion engine vehicles in about two to three years, according to chief financial officer Lutz Meschke.

“We have already achieved double digit profitability for the Taycan, and we are working hard to reach the same profitability as we already have for our combustion engine cars,” Meschke said during a call with reporters.

“I am convinced that we will achieve this in a period of two to three years.”

Porsche plans for half of its sales to be battery-only or plug-in hybrid models by 2025, including a fully-electric version of the Macan SUV, before moving to 80% of sales that are exclusively powered by a battery by 2030.

Keeping up profit margins at Porsche, next to Audi and Lamborghini VW’s most profitable brand, is key for the group to help finance the industry’s biggest shift to electric cars.

Volkswagen and its controlling shareholder, the billionaire Porsche-Piech family, are pushing ahead with a listing of Porsche even as global markets face major turmoil because of the war in Ukraine.

The plan, the biggest structural change for Europe’s biggest carmaker in years, is set to go ahead during the fourth quarter this year in a bid to improve spending power on new technologies.

An IPO “could sharpen Porsche’s profile and boost its entrepreneurial options,” Meschke said in a statement. “At the same time, Volkswagen and Porsche will be able to benefit from joint synergies.”

The potential listing is estimated to value the sports car brand at as much as €85 billion (RM396bil), according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

That compares with total market valuation of €96 billion of the entire Volkswagen group. The move would partly reverse a tumultuous takeover of Porsche more than a decade ago.

“The capital market values homogeneous, focused business units,” Meschke said. “In alliances with tech players, for example, it helps to be set up quickly and flexibly.”

Volkswagen is set to provide further details about its plan in late summer.

“I hope that by then the war in Ukraine will be over,” he said. “Because peace is much more important than any IPO."


BMW iFE.20 first race car with parts made out of renewable textile fibres

                MUNICH: The BMW iFE.20 recent victory at the FIA Formula E Championship in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, highlighted the key role its flax cooling shaft played in its track success.

The iFE.20 is the first BMW race car fielded by a works team with parts made out of renewable textile fibres – making it a pioneer for series production.

Compared with carbon, flax has greater absorption and greater impact resistance, which can be advantageous on the street circuits with their bumps and crash barriers, on which Formula E takes place. The same is true of contact with other cars during races.

The use of the material is being expanded to other BMW Motorsport race cars.

“The flax cooling shaft that we use in the BMW iFE.20 is further proof of the hugely important role of BMW i Motorsport as a tech lab for the BMW Group,” said BMW Group motorsport director Jens Marquardt.

“We are consistently using Formula E as an innovative platform for series development – in this instance for testing flax in extreme weather conditions. What’s particularly remarkable is the fact that in some areas this renewable material even has advantages over materials established in racing, such as carbon. Our ambition is to always use the best suited material for each part.”

BMW i Andretti Motorsport and the iFE.20 got off to a successful start in Season 6 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship with their victory in Saudi Arabia last November.

Briton Alexander Sims heads into the new year and the next race in Santiago, Chile, at the top of the driver’s standings, backed by a winning car.


DriveOn by Tan Chong app for Nissan, Renault and Infiniti owners

                KUALA LUMPUR: A 5% discount on vehicle parts for Nissan, Renault and Infiniti owners is offered to the first 5,000 app downloads and registrations of DriveOn by Tan Chong.

It is the first vehicle service mobile application by Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Sdn Bhd (TCEAS).

The new DriveOn by Tan Chong mobile app provides real-time convenience for owners to plan their vehicle maintenance.

Available free-of-charge via Google Play Store and Apple App Store, the app also allows multiple vehicles owned by a single owner to be registered under it.

Features include:

1) Scheduling a service appointment – view live booking slots and schedule an appointment, locate any of TCEAS 60 service centres and set favourite service centre, as well as navigation to the outlet. Replacement of Takata airbag inflator recall campaign appointment can also be made through this app.

2) Service history record – view and keep track of your vehicle service records.

3) Service information - obtain Service Package information, parts and price estimation in advance.

4) Service reminders – be reminded whenever your vehicle service date approaches, and be notified when it is ready for collection.

5) Easy roadside assistance – access to 24-hour emergency roadside assistance and call centre for vehicle-related assistance. The app also provides the ‘Do’s & Don’ts’ information should users get involved in the unfortunate situation of a vehicle accident.

6) Mobile app only promotions – be entitled to promotions that are available only to app users.

7) Instant promotion updates – notifications on attractive promotions or upcoming events.

8) ‘Drive On’ e-magazine – get latest Nissan news and developments, tips on driving and maintenance, even topics of interest for you, your family and friends.

9) GoCar Malaysia – additional offers to obtain GoCar services while your vehicle is under maintenance.


Volkswagen maintains prices post-GST

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen is maintaining its vehicle prices, following the implementation of GST (goods and services tax) on April 1.

In a statement, Volkswagen Group Malaysia managing director Armin Keller said the mathematics of the GST is not as simple as finding the difference between 10% (sales tax) and 6% (GST).

"There is a different tax treatment for different models at different supply chain stages. Our calculation shows that, in general, the GST is neutral on car prices, meaning that it will not see any immediate increase or decrease in vehicle prices," he explained.

"This applies to every model and Volkswagen is committed to maintaining its current vehicle prices post-GST," said Keller.


No transfers or changes to car bookings allowed

                PETALING JAYA: Most car companies will not entertain requests to transfer bookings made before the sales tax exempt deadline of June 30.

Major car dealerships said this was barred in the name of fairness and to prevent abuse.

National carmakers Proton and Perodua are among the car companies that have decided on such a policy, with both not accepting a change in the vehicle specs and model, too.

“This is to avoid any possible unfair outcome for genuine buyers and also to reduce the likelihood of speculators looking to profit from such practices,” Proton deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah told The Star.

A Perodua spokesman also confirmed that any change in the order would not be allowed after a booking was finalised on or before June 30.

“This is because the booking information is submitted to the Finance Ministry for the sales tax exemption. Our sales advisers made it a point to remind buyers before they placed the bookings. So there will be no changes allowed,” he said.

Bermaz Auto director Datuk Wong Kin Foo confirmed that a name change for any booked Mazda model was not possible to “avoid speculation and profiteering”.

He said there had been a rise in Mazda orders during the last two weeks of June with about 2,000 units booked.

However, with the current disruption in the supply chain and production capacity constraints, he said it was unlikely that all outstanding orders could be fulfilled by March next year.

Mazda sales adviser Annison Francis said the condition was in compliance with government regulations, with all information submitted for tax exemption.

“However, one can ask for a change in colour or model but do not expect the vehicle to be allocated soon,” he said, adding that his company allowed this as not many models were available in June for buyers to see or test drive.

Asked what would happen if the customer’s bank loan was rejected, he said a full refund of the booking fee would be granted.

Teoh SP, a Honda sales adviser based in Klang, also said any transfer in the booking was not allowed.

Eve Lee, a Toyota sales adviser based in Rawang, however, said a name change would only be considered in special circumstances.

“We don’t encourage it but sometimes it happens. For example, when a customer’s car loan is rejected, then we will consider transferring the booking to the spouse or other family members,” she said.

However, she said a change of model or specs “is not advisable”.

“Customers who have booked their vehicles are waiting anxiously. Such changes will be unfair to them. Those who change their specs or models at the last-minute may not be entitled to the sales tax exemption,” she added.


German carmaker group sponsored emissions experiments on people, says paper

                FRANKFURT: A research organisation funded by German carmakers sponsored scientific experiments testing nitrogen dioxide, a gas found in exhaust fumes, on people, German daily Stuttgarter Zeitung said.

The European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector, EUGT, commissioned the study, the paper said. Reuters could not immediately confirm the details of the study and a representative for EUGT, which was dissolved last year, could not be reached for comment.

The research organisation received its funding from German carmakers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW .

The purpose and outcome of the study remain unclear but revelations about experiments involving people come as the auto industry faces bans of toxic diesel vehicles from inner cities following revelations in 2015 that Volkswagen manipulated emissions on diesel-engined cars.

Stuttgarter Zeitung said around 25 healthy young people inhaled nitrogen dioxide in varying doses over a period of hours at an institute belonging to Aachen University in Germany.

The impact of the gas on people could not be determined when the study was published in 2016, Stuttgarter Zeitung said.

Daimler on Sunday condemned the studies, done by the same research body which sponsored another experiment forcing monkeys to inhale toxic exhaust fumes from a polluting diesel Volkswagen equipped with illegal software.

“We are appalled by the extent of the studies and their implementation. We condemn the experiments in the strongest terms. Even though Daimler did not have influence on the study’s design, we have launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter,” Daimler said in a statement on Sunday.

The New York Times on Friday said the scientific study involving monkeys was conducted in 2014. BMW, Daimler and VW have condemned the emissions experiments involving monkeys.

The New York Times said EUGT had commissioned a study to defend the use of diesel after the World Health Organisation said the fuel’s exhaust fumes were carcinogenic.


Hyundai opens motor-themed art complex in Busan

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motorstudio Busan opened its doors on Wednesday, serving as a creative playground of sorts and to showcase the automaker's commitment to push the boundaries of design.

Located in the country’s second-largest city and seaside attraction of Busan, the venue is the sixth of its kind joining others in Seoul, Goyang, and Hanam in Korea as well as Beijing and Moscow. It is themed on the concept of "Design to Live by" that explores how great design inspires and enriches people’s daily lives.

The facility seeks to spark visitors’ imaginations with a year-round programme of artistic works associated with automotive and other industries.

The new brand space is located in Busan’s F1963, a former wire rope factory run by Kiswire that transformed into an art and culture complex after holding the Busan Biennale in 2016.

The five-storey building housing the art complex was designed by architect Choi Wook, who used wires and steel frames as key elements of the architectural design and function — inspired by F1963’s history as a wire rope factory.

“Hyundai Motorstudio is a space that allows customers to experience our brand through a variety of arts and cultural activities that reflect our brand identity and vision,” said Cornelia Schneider, Vice President and Head of Global Experiential Marketing at Hyundai Motor.

“We hope visitors to Hyundai Motorstudio Busan will enjoy exploring the power of design by participating in the process of its making and see how it reinvents our everyday lives.”

In celebration of its official debut, Hyundai Motorstudio Busan will showcase its first design exhibition, "Reflections in Motion" from April 8 to June 27, inviting visitors to explore and reflect on the interaction between time and design, in the context of Hyundai’s vision of "Progress for Humanity".

Hyundai Motorstudio Busan will also feature digital media artworks on its creative wall. "Run Forever" by long-time partner Universal Everything, a UK digital media arts group led by Matt Pyke, is a collaborative piece that explores Hyundai’s work in future mobility and sustainability. Other past works also will be shown on the creative wall.


Tesla's rise made 2020 the year the US auto industry went electric

                DETROIT: Tesla Inc and Wall Street made 2020 the year that the US auto industry decided to go electric.

Tesla’s market capitalisation surged above US$600 billion, making the once wobbly startup founded by billionaire Elon Musk worth more than the five top-selling global vehicle making groups combined.

The exclamation point came on Friday when Tesla rose to a record high in frantic trading ahead of the stock’s much anticipated entrance into the benchmark S&P 500 index.

For 2021, all signs point towards the industry accelerating its shift towards electrification, a turning point as historically momentous as the launch of Ford Motor Co’s moving assembly line for the Model T or General Motors ’ 2009 bankruptcy.

Tesla’s ascent came the same year that activist hedge funds and other investors ratcheted up pressure on corporations to fight climate change.

Evidence is growing that more investors have concluded the century-long dominance of internal combustion engines - “ICE” in industry slang - is headed towards a close within a decade.

From London to Beijing to California, political leaders also embraced plans to start phasing out internal combustion engine-only vehicles as early as 2030.

Pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions undermines the logic for significant new investments in ICE engines. Thousands of manufacturing jobs are currently tied to internal combustion in the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Japan and other countries.

Other powerful forces also shook the auto industry’s status quo this year.

The Covid-19 pandemic stripped away the sales and profits that incumbent automakers had counted on to fund methodical transitions to electric vehicles. China’s rapid recovery from the pandemic exerted an even more powerful gravitational pull on industry investment.

Will consumers plug in?

This was the year GM chief executive Mary Barra and other top industry executives began to echo Tesla’s Musk, saying electric vehicle battery costs could soon achieve parity with internal combustion technology.

Still, it remained to be seen whether consumers, particularly in the United States, are ready to say goodbye to petrol-fuelled pickup trucks and SUVs.

The best-selling vehicles in the United States remain large, petroleum-burning pickup trucks. Demand for these vehicles powered a recovery for Detroit automakers after the pandemic forced factories to shut down in the spring.

The best electric vehicle and battery makers could field models that match internal combustion upfront cost as soon as 2023, brokerage Bernstein wrote in a report.

“ICE game over with BEV ~ 2030,” Bernstein’s auto analysts wrote, using the industry’s acronyms for internal combustion engine and Battery Electric Vehicle.

The shift towards electric vehicles is speeding a parallel transformation of vehicles into largely digital machines that get much of their value from software that powers rich visual displays and features such as automated driving systems.

Across the industry, century-old manufacturers such as Daimler AG are scrambling to hire programmers and artificial intelligence experts.

The capability of software to manage autonomous driving systems, electricity flows from batteries and data streaming to and from vehicles is replacing horsepower as a measure of automotive engineering achievement.

Tesla’s use of smartphone-style over-the-air software upgrades was once a unique feature of the Silicon Valley brand.

In 2020, the best-selling model line in the United States, the Ford F-150 pickup, was redesigned to offer over-the-air software updates, making the technology as mainstream as it gets.

The pandemic and China

In the best of times, traditional internal-combustion vehicles would have faced huge costs and disruptions to their workforces to evolve to electric, software-intensive vehicles.

But the shock delivered by the coronavirus pandemic gave manufacturers much less money and time to adapt.

Consultancy IHS Markit forecasts that global vehicle production will not match 2019 levels again until 2023. Automakers will have produced 20 million fewer vehicles by 2023 than they could have built had output stayed at 2019 levels.

“Only the most agile with a Darwinian spirit will survive,” said Carlos Tavares, the Peugeot SA chief who will lead the combined Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler when that merger is completed.

The pandemic also elevated the importance of China to the industry’s future. That country’s swift recovery from the pandemic amplified the gravitational pull of its huge market on automotive investment, despite anti-China rhetoric from U.S. and European politicians.

China’s drive to reduce dependence on petroleum is compelling automakers to shift investment towards battery electric and hybrid vehicles, and re-center design and engineering activities to Chinese cities from traditional hubs in Nagoya, Wolfsburg and Detroit. Tesla said it will establish a design and research center in China.

Daimler AG chief executive Ola Kaellenius put it bluntly in October: “We need to look at our production footprint and where it makes sense, shift our production,” he said during a video call.

“Last year, we sold around 700,000 passenger cars in China. The next biggest market is the US with between 320,000 and 330,000 cars.”


Mercedes-Benz C-Class expands with C 180 and C 300 variants

                PETALING JAYA: There's more to choose from the C-Class now that Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is offering from today the C 180 and C 300.

The C 180 with Avantgarde Line is selling at RM228,888 , while the C 300 with AMG Line is RM307,888. With the entry of the two variants, there are now five versions of the C-Class to choose from. All are locally assembled.

C 180 with Avantgarde Line

The C 180 is equipped in Avantgarde line with 17-inch 5 spoke alloy wheels, enhancing the sportiness and exclusivity of the vehicle. The AGILITY CONTROL suspension with selective damping system enhances driving dynamics.

Standard on the C 180, 7G-TRONIC PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission combines a high level of comfort with driving pleasure and efficiency. It impresses with smooth operation and rapid gear shifts while reduces fuel consumption and emissions at the same time. With the DYNAMIC SELECT transmission modes "Economy", "Comfort", "Sport", "Sport+" or "Individual", the shift characteristics can be preset from highly economical to dynamic. In "Individual" mode, gears can be selected manually via the steering wheel gearshift paddles ("M" mode). Drivers looking to adopt a sporty driving style are able to change gears similar to the method used in motorsport.

The C 180 features the Audio 20 with CD player. This multimedia system combines entertainment, information and communication. The Audio 20 CD offers internet capability, radio, twin tuner and CD player. It enables networking with mobile devices via Bluetooth® and offers navigation capability in conjunction with other equipment features. The Audio 20 CD can be operated with the touchpad and is furthermore equipped with a CD drive (MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV-capable) and in conjunction with the Garmin® MAP PILOT. Also standard in the C 180, the Active Parking Assist enables automated parking with active steering and brake intervention in both parallel and end-on parking spaces.

The C 180 is the entry level model to the C-Class family. The four-cylinder 1.6 litre petrol engine,  outputs at 156 hp.

C 300 with AMG Line
The C 300 is designed for the performance enthusiast. The 2-litre engine develops 245hp with a maximum torque of 370 Nm from 1,300 to 4,000 rpm. With sports car-like performance figures to boast, the C 300 accelerates from 0 - 100kph in 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 250kph.

The C 300 features a commanding and sporty appearance, featuring AMG bodystyling, 19-inch multispoke AMG alloy wheels and a sports suspension lowered by 15 milimetres. The vehicle's dynamic character is reflected in the striking AMG design. This includes the AMG front apron in A-wing design with front splitter and A-wing trim strip in matt iridium silver, AMG side sill panels and AMG rear apron with three diffusor fins. The C 300 is also equipped with sports exhaust system. It features an even sportier character and reinforces the emotional sound experience. The acoustics can be tailored to suit personal taste in conjunction with the DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes via the integrated exhaust flap.

The C 300 also features LED Intelligent Light System with Adaptive Highbeam Assist, which makes driving with permanent high-beam possible by masking detected road users in the cone of light for the first time. As a result, the best possible headlamp range is always available to the driver. The function is active from a speed of 30 km/h on roads with no road lighting.

In addition, the C 300 will also feature COMAND Online, a control and display system with DVD player, radio and 10 GB memory for compressed audio files (mp3, wma, aac, wav) and video files (mpeg, avi up to 720p.) With COMAND Online, information is shown on a 21.3cm (8.4 inch) high-resolution colour display with its easy and intuitive touchpad.

The C 300 is also equipped with Burmester surround sound system that drives 13 speakers configured specifically for this vehicle with a total system output of 590 watts. It brings a concert hall atmosphere to the Saloon. The vehicle interior can be fragranced to suit personal preference with the AIR-BALANCE package. It offers four high-quality interior fragrances to suit personal preference and mood. In addition, the air quality can be improved by ionisation and by optimised filtering of the incoming and recirculating air.

It gets electric panoramic sliding sunroof.  In the raised position, the glass roof automatically adjusts in three stages to suit the current vehicle speed. The glass roof is lowered at high speeds, reducing the noise level and air circulation in the interior. Conversely, it raises itself again at low speeds. The panoramic sliding sunroof also responds automatically to rain: If it is open, it automatically moves to the raised position to prevent rain from entering the interior.

Mercedes-Benz Financial is extending its current C-Class financing campaigns for the two new C-Class variants. Customers are imposed low interest rates starting from 2.38%.


Tesla unveils much cheaper Model Y in China after months of bad press

                SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc. debuted a significantly cheaper version of its locally built Model Y sports utility vehicle in China as deliveries for June slipped amid concern a string of negative publicity may have soured consumer sentiment towards the electric-carmaking pioneer.

Wholesale shipments of China-made Teslas decreased 0.9% last month to 33,155 from 33,463 in May, data from China’s Passenger Car Association showed today.

May’s figure was a surge of almost 30% from April. The wholesale figures may not necessarily reflect the level of retail demand Tesla fields directly versus via traditional dealerships.

The so-called standard-range version of the Model Y crossover starts from 276,000 yuan (RM178,000) after government subsidies and Tesla began taking orders today, according to its website. That’s about 20% less than the original longer-range Model Y, which can run for 594km on a single charge.

This latest version, which is available in Hong Kong but hasn’t been sold in China before, can run for 525km and because it’s priced under 300,000 yuan (RM193,000) is eligible for a particular state new-energy vehicle subsidy. Its price is only 10% higher than Tesla’s most-basic China-made Model 3 sedan and deliveries will start as soon as next month.

“China has the world-leading new-energy market and is the first market outside the US that Tesla owns a locally produced product,” Tesla said in a statement. The company will “continue its investment in China and carry on its corporate mission of accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy and helping to boost the realisation of a carbon-neutral target.”

Tesla, which counts China as its second-most-important market after the US, has a history of repeatedly lowering the price of its cars, particularly around the start of a new quarter, in order to boost sales.

However today’s launch is especially telling considering it comes after months of bad press in the world’s biggest electric-car market.

This year alone, Tesla has battled everything from an angry driver protest that went viral at the Shanghai Auto Show in April to online criticism about its perceived arrogance and lack of customer service.

The California-based company has also weathered upsets that have seen its cars banned from some military complexes over concern the vehicles’ in-built cameras may be collecting sensitive data. Tesla immediately moved to reassure authorities, saying any data collected in China is stored locally.

The latest setback came last month when the Chinese government ordered that almost all the cars Tesla has sold in the nation - more than 285,000 of them - be fixed to address a safety issue.

The State Administration for Market Regulation said vehicles’ autopilot systems could be activated automatically, potentially leading to crashes from sudden acceleration.

Export breakdown

Tesla’s Model Y, a bigger, sportier car, is a make that chief executive officer Elon Musk has said has the potential to outsell all other vehicles the company manufactures.

In June, China’s Passenger Car Association forecast increased interest in roomier cars, particularly in the seven-seater category, as government rules allow parents to have more children.

“Chinese consumers love SUVs and crossovers,” Tu Le, the managing director of Beijing-based consultancy Sino Auto Insights said after Tesla recorded a brisk jump in Model Y sales in May. “I think the Model Y is going to do really well towards the end of this year.”

Sales of the longer-range Model Y, which starts from around 347,900 yuan (RM224,000), rose to 12,785 in May from 5,520 in April.

By way of comparison, Nio Inc.’s ES6 SUV, which competes head-to-head with the Model Y, starts from 358,000 yuan. Tesla’s lower price for the standard range will put pressure not only on local competitors but also foreign manufacturers including Volkswagen AG, which has launched similar models in the same price range.

Of Tesla’s 33,155 deliveries in June, 5,017 of the cars were exported while 28,138 went into local sales channels. That export figure is down sharply from the previous month of May when 11,527 vehicles were exported from Tesla’s Shanghai factory, mainly to markets in Europe.

Retail passenger vehicle deliveries overall in China declined 5.3% year-on-year in June. For the month, they were down 3.5%. New-energy vehicle retail sales, which includes plug-in hybrids, increased 170% year-on-year to 223,000 units in June, the PCA data show.

For the first half, new-energy vehicle wholesale deliveries totaled 1.09 million vehicles while retail sales were around 1 million.

“It was beyond our imagination that half-year NEV sales would top 1 million units,” PCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu said during a briefing Thursday. “The 2.4-million-unit forecast for 2021 NEV sales that we made in May seems conservative now.”

Cui added that Tesla’s launch of a SUV for less than 300,000 yuan was “of great significance to the development of new-energy vehicles” considering a core part of the cars’ acceptance is lower prices.


New Arteon R-Line 4MOTION to launch July 16

                KUALA LUMPUR: The arrival of the VW Arteon R-Line 4MOTION is near.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia announced on Monday that it would launch the new flagship model on July 16. Virtually, of course.

The public can tune in at 12.30pm on that day to catch the launch on Volkswagen Malaysia’s Facebook or YouTube.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia had opened bookings for the new model in mid-June.

Locally assembled at Pekan, Pahang, the new Arteon is expected to be priced between RM245,000 and RM255,000 at launch. CarSifu has more details in this post.


Honouring mechanics with dance contest and 2-years' supply of Castrol oil

                KUALA LUMPUR: Castrol Hari Mekanik Malaysia (Malaysian Mechanic Day) is back.

Themed “Beat of Mechanics” to honour mechanics working behind the scenes to keep drivers safe on the road, Castrol aims to honour mechanics' dedication to the automotive service profession throughout March 2021 through a fully virtual experience with social media activations, giveaways and advertising.

These experiences aim to increase awareness for mechanics' importance to Malaysian society and how they keep the economy moving through thick and thin.

The annual event started in 2019 and is a move by Castrol to highlight the importance of mechanics in mobility.

The campaign features a social media contest whereby Castrol will be giving away two years’ supply of its most advanced fully synthetic Castrol EDGE 5W-40 4L engine oil, along with a host of Castrol limited edition merchandise to 20 lucky winners.

Taking a cue from Tik Tok, the contest, called the “Beat of Mechanics” calls upon social media users to demonstrate their talent for dance moves by making a short video of their own, based on the #beatofmechanics music and a predefined choreography displayed in the video coupled with their own creativity.

The video must also feature a vehicle, as a tribute to mechanics.

Contestants may post the video on their personal Facebook, Instagram or Tik Tok pages and by adding the official hashtags #beatofmechanics & #CastrolHariMekanikMalaysia.

To find out more about Castrol and its products, visit www.castrol.com/my


VW offers self-levelling wheel badges.

                LONDON: A touch of the super-luxury segment has arrived in the Volkswagen world, with the introduction of alloy wheel centre caps featuring self-levelling Volkswagen badges.

The Dynamic Volkswagen Hub Caps cover the centre of the alloy wheel and pop in and out when the wheel needs to be removed or replaced. The self-levelling function of the centre caps allow the Volkswagen badge to stand freely within the item, meaning that the roundel is always the correct way up, no matter the speed of the car or the position of the wheel.

Retailing at £156 (RM806) fitted for a full set of four caps, the items are compatible with vehicles whose alloy wheels are able to accept the standard-fit 5G0601171XQI hub caps. It’s the first time such an option has been produced by Volkswagen, and sets of the caps can be ordered through British retailers across the Volkswagen retailer network.

The Dynamic Volkswagen Hub Caps are, unfortunately, not compatible with up!, Polo, Lupo, T-Cross, Phateon and Touareg alloy wheels, but work with the majority of other models.


Proton and Affin Bank launch credit card

                KUALA LUMPUR: Proton has forged a strategic collaboration with Affin Bank to offer an affiliate credit card/-i targeted at Proton owners.

The Affin Avance Proton Affiliate Credit Card/-i provides exclusive privileges and benefits to Proton customers when they use it to make payments at authorised outlets.

Privileges to be enjoyed by cardholders include:

> Lifetime annual fee waiver.
> 3X AFFIN Rewards points for dining, online/e-commerce, and transactions at Proton outlets.
> 1X AFFIN Rewards points for other retail transactions.
> Hassle-free Overdraft/Cash line application.
> 0% Easy Instalment Plan for up to 24 months – 0% interest/ profit rate for purchase at Proton outlets including servicing.

 Wan Razly (left) and Roslan.

At the launch of the card at Menara Affin, Proton deputy chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the card was created specifically for Proton customers.

“By offering a host of benefits and privileges, we believe the affiliate card will further enhance the ownership experience while rewarding them when they service their cars or purchase our products.

“Any Proton buyer who finances their purchase with Affin Bank will automatically be offered this new card and we encourage all existing owners to also apply for it to enjoy its special privileges,” said Roslan.

 Customer with the brand-new X90.

Affin Bank president and group chief executive officer Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah said the bank is proud to be a partner with Proton in the year the local automotive company celebrated its 40th anniversary.

“We believe the collaboration exemplifies the spirit of innovation inherent to both Affin Bank and Proton while helping to reward and grow the customer base for both brands,” said Wan Razly Abdullah.

At the event, a Proton X90, the latest addition to Proton’s range, was also handed over to a customer who had financed the vehicle using Affin Bank’s hire purchase facility.


Detroit's near future based on SUVs, not EVs, production plans show

An undated handout photo from General Motors shows one of its six new different types of electric vehicles that can accommodate the automaker's flexible battery pack.
DETROIT: General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co have widely touted their commitment to emission-free electric cars, but their production plans show a growing reliance on ever-larger gas-powered vehicles.

The two biggest US automakers will make more than 5 million SUVs and pickup trucks in 2026, but only about 320,000 electric vehicles, according to detailed production plans for North America seen by Reuters.

That will be about 5% of their combined vehicle production in North America, but less than Tesla Inc, the world leader in electric vehicles, produced last year.

The plans show that Detroit’s Big Two are betting their short-term future on satisfying America’s demand for bigger, petroleum-fuelled vehicles which they can sell at a higher profit margin than mostly smaller, expensive-to-develop electric vehicles.

Large SUVs consume about a quarter more energy than midsize cars, meaning the plans will most likely wipe out any gains in overall fuel efficiency or reduction in auto emissions that were targeted over the next six years, according to industry experts.

The recent collapse of oil prices - pointing towards cheap gas for the foreseeable future - and a dip in demand caused by the coronavirus may only serve to strengthen automakers’ commitment to the strategy.

Detroit has tried to latch onto the consumer and investor excitement over electric vehicles made by Tesla, whose market value is double that of GM and Ford combined, even though its sales are much smaller.

GM executives have been repeating a “zero emissions” mantra since 2017, and the company’s website features a prominent commitment to its “all-electric future.”

Ford’s executive chairman Bill Ford told the Detroit auto show two years ago: “We’re all in on this. We’re taking our mainstream vehicles, our most iconic vehicles, and we’re electrifying them.”

But it is hard to detect a major change of direction from the companies’ production plans.

According to data from AutoForecast Solutions seen by Reuters, North American production of SUV models by GM and Ford will outpace production of traditional cars by more than eight to one in 2026, and 93% of those SUVs are expected to be gas-fueled. The data has not previously been reported.

AutoForecast’s data is based on planning information provided to suppliers by the automakers, and is widely used across the industry. GM and Ford executives interviewed by Reuters did not dispute the accuracy of the data.

“GM and Ford understand that buyers want more SUVs and trucks, but they’re also trying to play to Wall Street, which thinks the future is all about electric vehicles,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president, global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast. “The Detroit automakers would love to get a little of that Tesla magic and money.”

‘Don’t violate the laws of economics’

Internal production plans from other industry sources seen by Reuters support AutoForecast’s numbers, which show GM and Ford expect to produce about 320,000 pure electric vehicles - powered solely by a battery - in North America in 2026. That is nearly 10 times the 35,000 they have planned to build in 2020, but fewer than the 367,500 Tesla delivered last year.

It is only a fraction of the 5.2 million SUVs and pickups that GM and Ford expect to make in North America in 2026, according to the AutoForecast data, up 14% from 4.6 million SUVs and pickups in 2019. SUVs and pickups will account for about 87% of vehicles made by GM and Ford in the region in 2026, compared with about 82% last year.

Executives at GM and Ford told Reuters in interviews they are serious about launching more electric vehicles in the United States in the coming years, but they are concerned about getting too far ahead of mass-market demand.

“We’re trying to time this with the natural demand of consumers (so) we’re not forced to do artificial things and we don’t violate the laws of economics,” Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product development and purchasing officer, told Reuters.

GM chief executive Mary Barra said in early March the company planned to spend US$20 billion to bring a million electric vehicles a year to market by the middle of the 2020s. A majority of those are expected to be built and sold in China, where a government mandate calls for increasing numbers of electric vehicles.

“We want to meet customer demand with the best possible (carbon) footprint on the planet to help improve the CO2 (carbon dioxide) situation,” said Doug Parks, GM’s executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, regarding GM’s production plans for SUVs and electric vehicles in North America.

Cheap gas, bigger trucks

The long-term battle between electrons and petroleum to be the primary energy source for future transportation took an unexpected turn with a crash in oil this month that sent fuel-pump prices to 20-year lows, with no signs of rising, making the cost of running internal combustion vehicles even more attractive to buyers.

The spread of the coronavirus will put more financial pressure on automakers, according to analysts, limiting their capacity to develop and build money-losing vehicles. A global recession triggered by the epidemic “could add strain to balance sheets and ability to fund aggressive technology shifts,” said Morgan Stanley auto analyst Adam Jonas.

In such an environment, automakers are not looking to depart from their winning formula.

They make more profit on each luxury SUV - such as GM’s US$80,000 Cadillac Escalade or Ford’s US$76,000 Lincoln Navigator - than they do on a dozen compact cars, according to analysts.

Because of that, automakers are replacing compact sedans with small SUVs that share many of the car’s mechanical parts, but sell for more. Ford discontinued the Focus compact sedan in the United States, which gets 31 miles per gallon of gas. Ford customers who want a similar-sized vehicle now can buy a 26 miles-per-gallon Ford Escape compact SUV, whose starting price is US$6,000 higher.

That may be good for automakers’ finances, but probably not for the environment.

SUVs and pickups burn more fuel and emit more carbon dioxide than comparable sedans, and those with larger “footprints,” - the area between the points where the wheels touch the ground - are subject to looser emissions standards.

Meanwhile, the administration of US President Donald Trump is threatening to roll back tougher fuel economy and emissions standards proposed by his predecessor, Barack Obama, removing an incentive for automakers to make more fuel-efficient vehicles.

That all indicates that any overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions enabled by new electric vehicles will be largely, or entirely, offset by the continued substitution of gasoline-fueled SUVs for cars, experts say.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned of this outcome in October, in a report that showed growing demand for SUVs across the world was the second-largest contributor to the increase in global carbon dioxide emissions from 2010 to 2018.

“If consumers’ appetite for SUVs continues to grow at a similar pace seen in the last decade, SUVs would add nearly 2 million barrels a day in global oil demand by 2040, offsetting the savings from nearly 150 million electric cars,” said the IEA report. The IEA declined to comment on this story.

The Obama White House predicted that doubling average car and truck fuel efficiency from 2011 to 2025 would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 6 billion tons. That does not look likely to happen.

Trump’s White House is planning to follow through on its plan to roll back the Obama rules by the end of March, administration officials have told Reuters.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates US auto emissions, did not respond to a request for comment.


Mercedes-Benz has plans to launch a fully electric G-Class wagon

                STUTTGART: The Mercedes-Benz G-Class will be available with a fully electric powertrain in the near future.

Daimler's digital transformation head Sascha Pallenberg this week relayed via Twitter that the head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, speaking at an automobile event in Berlin, revealed that an all-electric version of the G-Class wagon is in the works.

On the same day that Volkswagen outlined its plans to launch an all-electric wagon in 2021, Daimler's head of Mercedes-Benz Ola Källenius announced that "there will be a zero-emission EV version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class" wagon, too.

The G-Class has been in production since the late 1970s and has since retained its place in the company's portfolio as one of the least eco-friendly models to date. Switching its current powertrain out for an electric one would do wonders for its environmental profile.

The idea of the G-Class going electric was first brought up by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2018 (as reported by Automotive News); the company's then-CEO, Dieter Zetsche, simply stated in return that the company had plans to convert the "entire portfolio" to electric.

According to Källenius, Mercedes-Benz has plans to give customers "the choice of at least one electric alternative in every Mercedes-Benz model series" by 2022 whether that's a hybrid option or a completely battery-powered option.

Currently in the US, only the GLC and EQC are (or will soon be) available with electric powertrains; the former is a hybrid whereas the second will be the brand's very first fully electric model when it launches in 2020.

Neither Källenius nor Zetsche indicated a time frame during which the electric G-Class could be unveiled; however, based purely on the company's electrification strategy, we should see it within the next two years.


Volkswagen announces free three-year maintenance programme

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) announced the introduction of a free three-year or 45,000km (whichever comes first) maintenance programme.

All Volkswagen cars registered from Jan 1 are eligible, regardless of model.

VPCM managing director Erik Winter said that the programme on Volkswagen cars will help provide peace of mind to owners as the cost of caring for their cars are being absorbed by the company.

The programme covers all maintenance costs, as per the standard maintenance schedule with the exception of wear-and-tear parts such as brake discs, pads, windscreen wipers and bulbs.

Owners of the cars will also need to follow the service schedule at authorised Volkswagen service centres or risk voiding the coverage.

In addition to the new programme, customers purchasing any Passat variant will also enjoy low interest rates from 0.88% per annum.

For more information, log on to www.volkswagen.com.my

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Johor CIQ needs to be 100% efficient ahead of Raya exodus, says MB

                JOHOR BARU: With Hari Raya Aidilfitri just a couple of days away, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has expressed dissatisfaction on the efficiency shown at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex, which is currently not at a maximum level.

He said with the festive season getting nearer, the Causeway, which is known as the world’s busiest land border crossing, would be even busier with more people and vehicles travelling between Malaysia and Singapore for Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

“I just carried out my working visit at BSI and I can say that the efficiency level is not at 100% yet. It is now at 80%,” he said after carrying out inspection at BSI here during the wee hours today.

Onn Hafiz, who is also the Machap assemblyman, added that the state government was expecting two million people and vehicles to travel between Malaysia and Singapore via the Causeway throughout the Hari Raya period.

He extended an invitation to Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh to visit BSI as soon as possible to help find ways in increasing its efficiency level.

“During my working visit at the counters, some were closed due to staffing issues while some have system problem pertaining to Road Transport Department, which is expected to be fixed within one or two days.

“I have asked that all counters at BSI either for cars, motorcycles, bus passengers, and even pedestrians to be open and in working order. I want all the technical and manpower issues to be resolve by then."

Onn Hafiz said this was why it was important for the newly appointed Immigration Department director-general to visit BSI and see for himself the issues facing here and get his commitment in resolving it.

“Among the issues is the welfare of the department personnel who have been working hard and coping with the influx of people coming and going through BSI.

“I’ve been told that their overtime claims took a long time to process and I do hope that this issue can be solved immediately,” he added.


Auto Shanghai 2019: Karma Automotive unveils ‘Shanghai Big Three'

2020 Karma Revero GT.
SHANGHAI: At the Auto Shanghai 2019 event, electric vehicle manufacturer Karma Automotive unveiled a trio of luxurious EVs coined by the company as the "Shanghai Big Three."

Earlier this week, luxury electric vehicle manufacturer Karma Automobile launched its New Dawn product showcase that's been teased since early last month.

The three new models, also known as the "Shanghai Big Three," are only the Chinese-owned, California-headquartered brand's second, third, and fourth vehicles, despite Karma being founded back in 2014.

According to the company, the new 2020 Karma Revero GT, the Karma Pininfarina GT coupe, and the Karma SC1 Vision Concept represent its "immediate, mid-term, and long-term future," respectively.

2020 Karma Revero GT

The Karma Revero that originally debuted back in 2016 has returned for the 2020 model year with a GT designation. In addition to improved technology and more interior and exterior customization, the performance has been enhanced thanks to a BMW-brand turbocharged three-cylinder engine that delivers 535 hp, 550 lb-ft. of torque and can bring the vehicle up to 100kph from zero in 4.5 seconds.

Karma Pininfarina GT

The Pininfarina GT was developed with Italian design house Pininfarina and is the first result of the partnership. It has the bones of the Revero GT but offers "an alternative design interpretation."

Karma SC1 Vision Concept

The Karma SC1 Vision Concept, according to the brand, is a roadster that represents their future - "one that recognises and embraces full electrification." It demonstrates that the company will focus on design customisation and the integration of the latest and smartest tech with multi-sensory (touch, voice, and eye) controls.

The 2020 Karma Revero GT will hit the market during the second half of this year. Pricing has not yet been announced.


VW teases new T-Cross SUV

                WOLFSBURG: Many people buy small SUVs because they assume they're safer for the driver and occupants than hatchbacks and sedans of a similar compact size. That's not always the case, of course, but it could be when it comes to the new T-Cross being teased by Volkswagen, which the German auto giant is claiming will be among the "safest vehicles in its class" when it arrives as a direct rival to the Nissan Juke next year.

The T-Cross will be the smallest SUV in the VW family when it arrives to sit in the range below the T-Roc, and this rival to the Citroen C3 Aircross and others will be making its full public debut at the Paris Motor Show in October.

If anyone was expecting the T-Cross to be something of a Russian doll approach to styling by Volkswagen where all its SUVs look the exactly the same, just in different sizes, this latest sketch of the rear puts paid to that notion.

The rear of the vehicle has a lamp cluster stretching along the full width of the trunk lid, but the proportions of the vehicle in the sketch are possibly slightly exaggerated so the arch-filling alloys and chunky bumpers won't make it into production without being toned down at least a little. This is the general consensus as a number of spy shots of prototypes have been seen in recent weeks showing a more restrained approach to exterior styling.

Although the manufacturer is refusing to be specific at the moment, this sibling to the SEAT Arona is designed to exploit the growing demand for family-friendly compact SUV crossovers. That means it will prioritise the key areas of safety, usability and practicality that see vehicles of this type continuing to eat into the sales of the MPVs that used to be the go-to vehicle for families on the go.
The T-Cross Breeze concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last year was the inspiration for what will eventually become the production T-Cross, and it's just one of some 19 new SUV models Volkswagen has in the pipeline. Eventually, it plans for SUVs to make up at least 40 percent of the German brand's global sales.


Find a way to ease Causeway congestion, commuters urge govts

                JOHOR BARU: Malaysians working in Singapore are urging the Federal Government to address the congestion problem at the Johor Causeway.

Factory supervisor Alvin Lim, 32, said the government should come out with short, medium and long-term solutions to address the issue.

“Authorities from Malaysia and Singapore need to sit together as both countries are losing in term of productivity levels and man-hours (due to workers being stuck in traffic),’’ he said.

Lim said the government needs to quickly roll out simple measures to ease the congestion such as building the proposed pedestrian walkway and a separate area for cargo transfer and clearance.

He hoped there would be no more delays in building the Rapid Transit System (RTS) project linking Johor Baru and Singapore as it was one way of easing congestion at both the Causeway and the Second Link.

“The Iskandar Malaysia economic growth corridor will benefit immensely from better connectivity and accessibility at the Causeway,’’ he added.

Grace Tan said it was time for the Johor government to engineer its own infrastructure projects such as RTS for the benefit of Johoreans and other Malaysians who call Johor Baru their home.

“Bring in interested parties for the project rather than waiting for a decision from the Federal government which wastes a lot of time and effort,’’ she said.

The 28-year old bank employee said thousands of Malaysians working in Singapore had helped boost the local economy.

“The money earned there and spent in Johor had contributed to the state’s development,’’ said Tan.

Surveyor Mohd Aizat Ahmad Fuad, 34, said Johor and Singapore were economically interdependent, and a win-win solution to address the traffic congestion at the Causeway would benefit everyone.

He said the strong Singapore dollar compared to the ringgit was a boon for Johor’s economy as locals working in the republic have strong purchasing power.

Aizat said over the years, the traffic congestion had gotten worse, with authorities unable to to improve the situation.

“Malaysian and Singapore must solve this,’’ he said.

The Johor Causeway which is about 1.06km in length was completed in 1932. It links Johor Baru to Woodlands in Singapore. About 100,000 vehicles use it daily.

Johor and Singapore are also connected via the 1.9km Second Link, linking Tanjung Kupang in Gelang Patah to Tuas in Singapore.


New Ford Mondeo arrives

KUALA LUMPUR: The new Ford Mondeo is here,  featuring a sport coupe profile with low roofline, and a side-profile sculpted to portray visual lightness.

Priced at RM198,000 on-the-road (RM203,771 with insurance) in Peninsular Malaysia, the new Mondeo is available in four stylish colours – Frozen White, Ruby Red, Panther Black and Tectonic Silver.

The elegant and technical front end design features Ford’s prominent trapezoidal grille, a power-dome bonnet and adaptive, slim-line, laser-cut headlamp design.

Inside, a sporty, cockpit-like cabin, reinforced with paddle shifters, boasts a symmetrical design accessible to both the driver and front seat passenger.

The car is powered by Ford’s 2.0L EcoBoost engine, delivering 240 PS and 345 Nm of torque. Power to the wheels is relayed by a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.

The combination of turbocharging, direct fuel injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) in Ford’s EcoBoostengine delivers fuel economy of 8l/100km.

 The new Mondeo is equipped with a comprehensive safety package, which helped it achieve a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Ford’s Lane Keeping Aid detects if the driver appears to be unintentionally drifting out of their lane by monitoring road markings, alerting them by vibrating the steering wheel. If lane departure continues, this advanced system will direct the driver back into the correct lane by applying steering torque unless the indicator is switched on.

The new Mondeo also comes with a rear view camera which enables the driver to see what is behind them, while the beep of the rear parking sensors tells how close the driver is. The system automatically turns down the music so the driver can clearly hear the beeps.

Also onboard is Ford’s MyKeysystem which allows the programming of various features, such as setting the maximum speed limit, a seatbelt reminder and the maximum volume of the audio system.

The SYNC 2 connectivity system boasts a larger, eight-inch colour touchscreen to operate phone, entertainment and climate control using voice command.  The advanced technology also extends to its lighting, which combines full-LED headlamps with adaptive front lighting to enhance the driver’s view of his surroundings.

Depending on the vehicle’s speed, steering angle and distance to an object in front, this system improves visibility by assessing the ambient light surrounding the vehicle.

Adaptive cruise control is standard, making for a smarter and safer drive.

The Ford Extended Service Plan (ESP) is a three-year or 60,000km maintenance programme that covers parts and labour for free.

Ford’s ESP also covers free replacements for selected wear-and-tear items, including spark plugs, shock absorbers, engine belts, brake pads and wiper blades.


Porsche trials NOx-absorbing surface tech at Taycan plant

                STUTTGART: Porsche's new factory for the all-electric Taycan has something else to boast about other than its first electric car.

Parts of the plant's facade is coated with a nitrogen dioxide-absorbing surface for the first time.

The facade elements are made of aluminium coated with titanium dioxide. The coating acts as a catalyst and breaks down the absorbed pollutant particles into the harmless substances water and nitrate when exposed to sunlight and with only low air humidity.

In a first pilot project, Porsche is testing the NOx-absorbing high-tech facade on an area of 126 square metres.

This design already performs the work of 10 trees on an area with a size of just ten parking bays.

“If the evaluation of the results confirms our expectations, nothing stands in the way of using nitrogen oxide-absorbing surface technology on other buildings and surfaces,” said Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Production and Logistics at Porsche AG.

The Taycan will make its debut towards the end of the year. Production of the Porsche Taycan will be CO2-neutral. “We are consistently pursuing our objective of sports car production completely without any ecological footprint,” said Reimold.


Tesla seeks approval for sensor that could detect child left in hot cars

                WASHINGTON: Tesla Inc. asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approval to market a short-range interactive motion-sensing device that could help prevent children from being left behind in hot cars and boost theft-prevention systems.

The California automaker wants permission to use unlicensed millimetre-wave sensors that would operate at higher power levels than allowed under existing rules.

Tesla’s device would use four transmit and three receive antennas driven by a radar front-end unit. Tesla says millimetre wave radar technology has advantages over other sensing systems like camera-based or in-seat occupant detection systems.

The radar-based system “provides depth perception and can ‘see’ through soft materials, such as a blanket covering a child in a child restraint.”

Tesla added it “can differentiate between a child and an object left on the seat, reducing the likelihood of false alarms” and can detect “micromovements like breathing patterns and heart rates, neither of which can be captured by cameras or in-seat sensors alone.”

Radar imaging, Tesla adds, can assess body size to optimise airbag deployment in a crash depending on whether an adult or child is seated, which it says would be more effective than existing weight-based, in-seat sensor systems.

It would also more accurately determine when to engage seat belt reminders.

The FCC is seeking public comment on Tesla’s request through Sept 21.

Tesla notes the FCC in 2018 granted a similar request for a device of Alphabet Inc’s Google that works under identical operating parameters.

Valeo North America submitted a request in March to the FCC for its in-vehicle safety-related monitoring device that would also detect children in cars. The request is pending.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says more than 50 children died when left behind in hot cars in both 2019 and 2018. Of those incidents, 54% occurred because someone forgot a child.


GM plans to phase out Apple CarPlay in EVs, with Google's help

                DETROIT: General Motors plans to phase out widely-used Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technologies that allow drivers to bypass a vehicle's infotainment systems, shifting instead to built-in infotainment systems developed with Google for future electric vehicles.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems allow users to mirror their smartphone screens in a vehicle's dashboard display.

GM's decision to stop offering those systems in future electric vehicles, starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, could help the automaker capture more data on how consumers drive and charge EVs.

GM is designing the on-board navigation and infotainment systems for future EVs in partnership with Alphabet Inc's Google.

The decision to phase out CarPlay smartphone projection technology is a setback for Apple Inc in the competition with Google to capture more real estate on vehicle dashboards in North America. GM's Chevrolet brand in the past boasted of offering more models with CarPlay or Android Auto than any other brand.

GM has been working with Google since 2019 to develop the software foundations for infotainment systems that will be more tightly integrated with other vehicle systems such as GM's Super Cruise driver assistant. The automaker is accelerating a strategy for its EVs to be platforms for digital subscription services.

By 2035, GM's goal is to phase out production of new combustion light-duty vehicles.

GM would benefit from focusing engineers and investment on one approach to more tightly connecting in-vehicle infotainment and navigation with features such as assisted driving, Edward Kummer, GM's chief digital officer, and Mike Himche, executive director of digital cockpit experience, said in an interview.

"We have a lot of new driver assistance features coming that are more tightly coupled with navigation," Himche told Reuters. "We don’t want to design these features in a way that are dependent on person having a cellphone."

Buyers of GM EVs with the new systems will get access to Google Maps and Google Assistant, a voice command system, at no extra cost for eight years, GM said. GM said the future infotainment systems will offer applications such as Spotify's music service, Audible and other services that many drivers now access via smartphones.

"We do believe there are subscription revenue opportunities for us," Kummer said. GM chief executive Mary Barra is aiming for US$20 billion to US$25 billion in annual revenue from subscriptions by 2030.

GM plans to continue offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mirroring systems in its combustion models. Owners of vehicles equipped with the mirroring technologies will still be able to use the systems, GM said.

Drivers also will still be able to listen to music or make phone calls on iPhones or Android smartphones using Bluetooth wireless connectivity, GM said.


ASEAN NCAP awards Ford Ranger with Best Adult Occupant Protection

                KUALA LUMPUR: The ‘Built Ford Tough’ Ranger pickup truck recently received the ASEAN NCAP Grand Prix Award 2016 for ‘Best Adult Occupant Protection for Pick-Up Category’.

The Ford Ranger achieved the highest 5-star safety rating in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) among all pickup trucks being tested by the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (ASEAN NCAP) earlier this year with the strongest evaluation score in the segment of 15.45/16 points.

Ford Malaysia touts its Ranger's safety package as unmatched with the inclusion of up to six airbags - consisting of dual front, side and rear curtain airbags.

Also, it comes standard with electronic stability control, Isofix anchor points as well as driver and front passenger seatbelt reminders.


Perodua sets new record in car sales for October

                KUALA LUMPUR: Perodua recorded a fresh record with highest-ever monthly sales of 26,852 cars in October after the all-time high of 25,035 units in September.

Perodua president and CEO Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said in September, it sold more vehicles in a month than in its entire 27-year history and “now, we have gone even further”.

He said this milestone underscored its commitment towards delivering its vehicles to their owners as fast as possible while at the same time rejuvenating the automotive eco-system.

“In October, we purchased some RM600mil worth of parts from local suppliers, thus creating an enormous economic multiplier effect on the local auto eco-system, who too, has been impacted by the pandemic we are now facing, ” he added.

The automotive eco-system includes direct and indirect sectors, such as automotive component suppliers, authorised dealers, stockists, agencies and contractors. Indirect, yet crucial partners include financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies.

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“In terms of production capacity, we are on average at 98% in October 2020 with 26,362 vehicles – which is also our highest-ever monthly production figure – produced at our manufacturing facilities here in Sungai Choh, ” he said.

Zainal said Perodua managed to achieve these under the new standard operating procedures (SOP) which include working from home and mandatory testing for those in red zones – on top of the original SOPs introduced in May.

Perodua sold 8,052 Myvis, 6,738 Axias, 6,895 Bezzas, 3,193 Aruz and 1,974 Alzas in October. The top three models remain Malaysia’s best-selling cars so far this year.

“Our strategy moving forward is to further leverage on our value offerings and quality in both our products and services for the Malaysian public. In terms of vehicle maintenance, rest assured that we have sufficient parts to meet your every need as most of them were made locally, ” Zainal said.

“We are working to maintain this sales and production momentum to ensure that deliveries remain high and our customers are satisfied by providing affordability for all our products and services, ” he added.

Perodua is introducing a cash redemption of up to RM1,500 for the Perodua Aruz (terms and conditions apply) throughout November, on top of the current tax exemption amount.

In addition, Perodua is offering cash rebates of up to RM2,000 for its pre-owned vehicles until Dec 31. This offer is only available at the Perodua KL sales outlet located along Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur.


Audi cars will use ‘Vehicle-to-Everything' tech to communicate with work zones

                WASHINGTON: Audi outlined this week its plan to collaborate with Virginia Department of Transportation and Qualcomm to give cars the ability to communicate with construction zones on highways using C-V2X technology.

Later this year, work zones on select Virginia highways will be able to send warnings to Audi cars equipped with C-V2X, or Vehicle-to-Everything, communication technology.

The purpose behind implementing such a feature is to increase the safety of both drivers and workers in construction zones by "curtail[ing] road hazards and fatalities."

Drivers with Audi Q8 SUVs that support C-V2X communication via the integration of a Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset will receive warnings "with minimal latency" on their in-vehicle display as they approach a work area on a highway.

This tool complements Audi's existing V2X-powered Traffic Light Information service which gives drivers a countdown to green lights based on information sent from public infrastructure.

Though this technology will help drivers be safer on the highways by continuously giving them information about road conditions and hazards, it will ultimately lead to the development of safer, smarter autonomous vehicles.

This initial deployment will launch during the third quarter of this year on select Virginia roads.


Alfa Romeo updates Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV

                TURIN: Alfa Romeo is freshening up its two top models, the Giulia mid-range saloon and the Stelvio SUV.

The Italian maker has made some changes to the exterior, but you'll notice the changes above all in the interior, which is getting new steering wheels and a redesigned centre console.

There is now a large touchscreen with online infotainment at the top and new controls the driving and music at the bottom.

On the outside, the most noticeable change is rear lights in a darker aesthetic.

Alfa has also improved the assistance systems and extended the functional range of cameras and radar sensors.

Under the bonnet, however, nothing has changed. Both models are still available with a choice of two diesel engines with 190 or 210 hp and three petrol engines from 200hp to 510hp.

According to the manufacturer, prices in Europe for the Giulia sedan range from €37,500 to €82,500, while the Stelvio SUV is on the list at €44,000 to €92,500.


2018 Mazda CX-9 update: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto/360-degree View Monitor

                SHAH ALAM: Local Mazda distributor has upgraded the CX-9 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 360-degree View Monitor.

With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, drivers and passengers can access phone applications via the MZD Connect infotainment system through a simple USB connection.

Using the Mazda Commander Control, users can easily switch between different user interfaces and manage different capabilities.

Meanwhile, the 360-degree View Monitor utilizes four separate cameras to give the driver an accurate picture of the car and its surroundings by showing all sides of the vehicle during parking and reversing manoeuvres.

The mid-year 2018 updated Mazda CX-9 also comes with ventilated front seats that direct air through the seat unto its occupant for increased comfort.

The 2018 Mazda CX-9 Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre Turbo (CBU) selling price starts from RM288,610.40 (OTR without insurance) and are available in five colour choices: Machine Grey, Snowflake White Pearl, Deep Crystal Blue, Sonic Silver and Jet Black.

All new Mazda vehicles registered will enjoy 5 Years/100,000km Manufacturing Warranty and 3 Years/60,000km Free scheduled Maintenance (includes labour, parts, and lubricants).

The 5 Years Manufacturing Warranty and 3 Years Maintenance applies to all models except the BT-50 pickup.

Owners can also apply for the Mazda Privilege Card which entitles them to 15% discount on Mazda Genuine Spare Parts, 5%% discount on labour cost and 15% discount on Mazda official merchandise at participating outlets.

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Covid-19: Lear updates work safety book

                DETROIT: Lear Corp, a global automotive technology leader in seating and E-Systems, has released the second edition of its Safe Work Playbook, which provides new content for limiting the spread of Covid-19.

"While this is not a one-size-fits-all approach, we are sharing these potentially helpful recommendations with other companies as they develop their own plans for resuming operations," said Lear president and CEO Ray Scott.

The second edition of the 80-plus page Safe Work Playbook, with 30 new pages of health and safety information that may be pertinent to other businesses, can be downloaded at Lear.com's Safe Work Playbook webpage.

"Our goal is to keep all employees as safe, prepared and informed as possible while supporting economic recovery in the communities where we live and work," said Scott.

READ MORE: Auto-parts supplier’s back-to-work guide shows daunting task ahead