Toyota bZ3 highlights

                BEIJING: The bZ3 is a battery electric sedan jointly developed for the Chinese market by BYD Toyota EV Technology Co., Ltd and FAW Toyota Motor Co. Ltd.

BYD Toyota EV Technology itself is a joint venture established by Toyota and BYD.

The bZ3 will be produced by and sold through the FAW Toyota dealer network.

Over 100 Toyota engineers from the design, production, engineering, and quality control departments participated in the development, working in unison with engineers from BYD and FAW Toyota.

BYD has specialised in batteries and other core technologies for electrified vehicles, including its e-Platform 3.0, since its establishment in 1995.

For the bZ3, BYD and its partners provide advanced, safe, and reliable battery technology.

The bZ3 offers customers a novel automotive experience based on three keywords: electrified, dynamic, and enjoyable.

The electrification system combines BYD's lithium-ion LFP battery using lithium iron phosphate and Toyota's extensive electrification technologies honed through long-standing HEV development, achieving a maximum cruising range of over 600km.

The battery structure, cooling, control, and safety monitoring systems were all newly designed for this car.

Furthermore, Toyota has leveraged its electrification expertise to reduce battery degradation, with the development goal of ensuring 90% capacity even after 10 years.

Toyota said the bZ3 uses the e-TNGA vehicle platform to achieve more pleasant driving, including more responsive performance, with a low centre of gravity and excellent handling stability.

The result is a more comfortable ride for both the driver and passengers.

The Toyota bZ3's development concept is the "Family Lounge", based on the idea that cars provide a space to enjoy time with family and friends, rather than merely being a means of transportation. With a people-centred focus, Toyota emphasises a comfortable interior space with enhanced digital features integrated inside the cabin to suit customer preferences.

The vehicle features the Toyota bZ series' hammerhead shark-like design format. It has a relaxed silhouette, combining the long wheelbase of a BEV-specific package with the long cabin of a fastback.

The corners of the bumper emphasise air guides and air curtains that consider airflow, while the flat door handles, aluminum wheels, and rear bumper shaped to reduce air resistance result in class-leading aerodynamics with a Cd value of 0.218.

The interior features the Digital Island system that integrates a large vertical centre display with a tray-type console.

In addition to wireless charging, it integrates functions for linking smartphones and multimedia, providing a new experience for customers. Air conditioning, music, trunk release, and other controls are also integrated into the large display, and voice control greatly advances convenience and innovation.


Hino Malaysia launches latest 3S centre in Seri Kembangan

                KUALA LUMPUR: Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Hino) has officially launched its newest 3S - Sales, Service, and Spare Parts centre, operated by Soon Seng Truck & Parts Sdn Bhd (SSTP).

The facility is situated in a strategic area to provide good accessibility and more convenience to the customer in Balakong and its surrounding area.

SSTP invested about RM1mil in the new Hino 3S center that spans up to 20,000 sq ft land area and is equipped with the latest facilities that comply to Hino standard.

The facility is equipped with six service bays includes two express maintenance bays that guarantee a 45 minutes servicing exclusively for customers who made appointments.

Customers can also enjoy a variety of amenities in the new Hino 3S centre such as comfortable lounges, complimentary Wi-Fi services, free flow of refreshment and beverages.

Other convenient services for customers include service maintenance and repairing, road tax renewal, insurance coverage renewal services, and 24-hour towing truck services.

 Uchiyama (fourth from left) and SSTP managing director Chan Swe Wah (fourth from right) with their management teams at the event.

Hino and SSTP have been in partnership for more than 40 years, since 1978, started as authorized spare part distributors in Seremban.

In 2008, SSTP was upgraded to 3S centre and in 2014 it relocated to more strategic location situated in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.

The upgraded center offers vehicle sales, vehicle maintenance and repair, spare parts provider, and body and paint that includes truck body fabrication and repair.

Appointed as Hino Authorised 3S Dealership for more than 10 years, SSTP has emerged about 30 awards throughout the journey with Hino, and their latest achievement includes Excellent Dealer Award 2021 and Total Support Award 2021, during Hino Annual Dealer Conference, held early this year.

Hino managing director Atsushi Uchiyama said the company placed high importance on customer-centric services.

“We believe this new 3S centre is convenient for the customer from making inquiries about the latest Hino models, vehicle body work, and attaining after-sales services and genuine parts supply,” he added.

The new 3S centre is located in Taman Taming Jaya, Seri Kembangan, Selangor and opens on Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm, and on Saturday from 8:30am. to 4:30pm.


Malaysia to impose end-of-life vehicle policy by 2025

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is studying a suitable approach to implement the end-of-life vehicle (ELV) management policy by 2025, says Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Minister said the development of the policy was important to ensure the components and usable materials of old vehicles can be of use and not be simply thrown away.

"The excess of dilapidated vehicles, which also have resulted in dengue outbreaks, occur because there is yet a policy that decides on the proper action that needs to be taken, with emphasis on the method of proper disposal," he said during the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, representing the ELV Research Consortium, and Malaysia Automotive Recyclers Association.

Malaysia is looking at Singapore and Japan, two countries that have expertise in ELV recycling in drafting the framework, he said, adding that 70% of dismantled items from ELV can be exported to other countries, and has the potential of reaching RM10bil for the related industries.

Based on data from the Transport Ministry, since May 2022, there were a total of 33 million registered vehicles in Malaysia, with 19 million of them being at least a decade old.

On the agreement signed today, Dr Adham said the consortium involved three universities, UTM, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka working with industry players, such as Malaysia Automotive Recyclers Association, to resolve the issue of ELVs through recycling or upcycling.

The MoU is aimed at gathering data and information about re-manufacturing and recycling, as well as foster cooperation between industrial and consortium members through research and training programmes and to develop a re-manufacturing and recycling plan to support the National Automotive Policy 2020.

When asked about electric vehicles (EV), Dr Adham said Malaysia intends to set up 10,000 charging stations throughout the country by 2025 compared to 700 at present.

The EV battery development industry would also need to be coordinated to the use of EVs to provide jobs for the B40 group, he added.


Porsche offers automatic extension on warranties worldwide

                ATLANTA: Porsche is now offering an automatic extension on new vehicle warranties worldwide.

The three-month extension will benefit owners of new vehicles with warranties set to expire between March and May 2020, thus ensuring customer mobility at a critical time.

For example, a warranty that would otherwise expire on May 15 will automatically be extended until Aug 15. The extension also pushes back the start and end dates of Certified Porsche Approved Warranties, if they were scheduled to start immediately after new car warranties in the same March-May period.

“We wish to help our customers as we work our way through this unparalleled situation together,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA). “The purpose of a warranty is peace of mind, which is something we are happy to provide at a time when it is needed most.”

For US owners, the warranty extension is the latest in a line of initiatives driven by PCNA and Porsche dealer partners under the banner of “Porsche At Your Service” (PAYS). This new programme bundles online and home options, providing a seamless customer experience and access to mobility.

PAYS services include home pick-up and drop-off for maintenance and repair. While this offering has been available, PCNA is assisting an increasing number of Porsche dealers to adopt the solution for customers who may be concerned about coming to the dealership.

Additionally, digital retail programmes have been expanded to more dealer partners, allowing Porsche customers to complete the majority of the car buying experience online with home delivery available upon purchase.


Startup Lightyear kicks off sales of first solar electric car but it's pricey

                NEW YORK: A Dutch company is starting deliveries of the world’s first production-ready solar car to customers later this year, promising months of charge-less driving in summer conditions.

Lightyear, founded in the Netherlands in 2016, is making 949 of the models featuring curved solar panels across the car’s hood and roof.

Power derived from the sun will add as much as 70km of driving range per day from the sun.

“Electric cars are a step in the right direction, but they are dependent on the grid, which is still dependent on mostly fossil fuel energy,” chief executive officer and co-founder Lex Hoefsloot said at the reveal of the €250,000 (RM1.1mil) Lightyear 0 prototype. The prototype will go into series production as Lightyear One.

“Adding a new source, the sun, adds certainty that you will always have that charge and you will have to charge a lot less often.”

The company claims that the car, which will be made in Finland by Valmet Automotive, allows two months of driving without charging in Amsterdam during summer and as many as seven months in Portugal.

Cars powered by the sun have struggled to make it beyond the prototype stage because of the large area solar panels require.

Lightyear has driven the car more than 700km on a single charge of a 60 kilowatt-hour battery.

Following the small production run of the Lightyear 0, the company plans to make a more affordable model at a starting price of €30,000 (RM139,000). Production is set to start in late 2024 or early 2025.


Proton sales exceed 2020 volume

                SUBANG JAYA: Domestic car maker Proton has now exceeded its year-to-date (YTD) sales volume from last following a 28.7% sales growth in October over the month before.

By selling 13,362 units, cumulative sales now stand at 86,379 units, which is a 1.6% improvement over sales from the first 10 months of 2020 (84,999 units).

The achievement means the company has outperformed the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for the Malaysian automotive market, which has fallen by an estimated 4.7% despite selling more than 65,000 total units for the first time in 2021 in October.

Forecast market share for the month is estimated at 20.5%, while the YTD market share figure now stands at 22.7%.

 Roslan with the X50.
Proton models continue to lead sales in three market segments namely Saga, X50 and X70.

“Proton’s sales in October can be summarised as a story of strong buyer demand and unrealised sales potential," said Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah.

"While we are happy with the continued popularity of the Saga and our achievement with the two SUVs, we missed out on adding more units to our final tally as we continue ramping up our supply of components. Market demand however is expected to remain strong towards the end of year, so we are working diligently towards closing 2021 on a high note.”

He said sales are expected to be spurred by the extension of the Sales and Service Tax under Budget 2022.

READ MORE: Perodua continues record-setting streak


UPDATE: Petrol prices unchanged


Dakar 2019 to be raced in Peru as organisers eye African return

                PARIS: The 2019 Dakar Rally will be run solely in Peru with the start and finish in Lima, organiser Etienne Lavigne announced Friday, adding the race aimed to return to Africa in 2020.

The 41st edition of the rally, which will take place between Jan 6-17 next year, is a looping 10-stage rally-route mapped around the Peruvian deserts, with organisers admitting it "promises to be one of the sandiest in the history of the rally".

"Each stage will be harder than the previous, which will create a suspense-filled battle until the final days."

Not only is it the first time a sole country has hosted the rally, but new rules mean that competitors who suffer a mechanical breakdown or accident in the opening week that could lead to withdrawal will be able to rejoin the rally from the rest day on.

Those rejoining would return to competition in a distinct classification to guarantee fair-play.

Turning to a potential return to Africa, Lavigne told AFP that worsening austerity in Argentina and Chile, coupled with general difficulties hosting the Dakar in South America meant other avenues were being pursued.

"We already have some avenues open, notably in Algeria, Angola and Namibia, where we've had very high-level talks with for several months," said Lavigne.

"If we can no longer host it in South America, we must find countries that have a topography that can offer up 10-12 days of competition," Lavigne said.

"This can be found elsewhere provided you have a little bit of time to anticipate it."

The Dakar was moved from Africa in 2009 because of security issues that saw the 2008 rally cancelled.


GM's Barra accelerates 'all out pursuit of global EV leadership'

                DETROIT: General Motors Co chief executive Mary Barra said the Detroit automaker is accelerating an "all out pursuit of global EV leadership," challenging electric vehicle leader Tesla Inc with increased spending and sped-up vehicle production targets.

Over time, GM plans to offer electric vehicles across its lineup, from below US$30,000 to over US$100,000, with a goal of “putting everyone in an electric vehicle,” Barra told investors Thursday during a conference sponsored by Barclays.

Barra said EVs could help GM expand sales in the United States by as much as 280,000 vehicles a year in coastal states where the company’s brands are weak. “We want to be No. 1 in EVs in North America,” Barra said.

GM plans to increase spending on electric and autonomous vehicles to US$27 billion by 2023, up 35% from previous disclosed plans, she said. The automaker also plans to speed the launch of a dozen new electric models.

GM's ambitions to be the leading electric vehicle producer put it on a collision course with Tesla and German automaker Volkswagen AG, which last week outlined an US$86-billion electric vehicle investment plan. GM and VW compete head to head in China.

GM shares rallied into positive territory after Barra outlined her EV strategy. Tesla shares were up 3% on Thursday, pushing the carmaker towards a US$475-billion market capitalisation that is almost eight times greater than GM’s.

Some investors have pressed Barra to separate GM’s electric vehicle operations from the automaker’s profitable, legacy internal combustion business. Asked about a spinoff of GM’s skateboard or battery operations, Barra said, “We don’t think it has to be separated.”

Instead, Barra emphasised the advantages she sees in integrating internal combustion and electric vehicle businesses, noting that EVs can share up to 70% of the components used in traditional vehicles.

GM will boost battery-making capacity at the plant it is building in northeast Ohio with South Korea's LG Chem and will increase the number of plants in which it builds electric vehicles, Barra said.

Tesla’s soaring market capitalisation, and growing pressure from regulators to phase out carbon-emitting gasoline engines, has put pressure on established automakers to accelerate production of electric vehicles, even though for now those models promise less profit than current trucks and SUVs.

GM was criticised by Democrats and environmentalists last year when it sided with US President Donald Trump in backing efforts to strip California from setting its own vehicle emissions rules and later on Trump’s decision to cut Obama-era efficiency requirements.

GM confirmed it will speed up the rollout of new EVs, and will offer 30 models globally by 2025, expanding on a prior target of 20 electric models by 2023. Barra said GM wants to exceed its prior target of annual sales of 1 million EVs in the United States and China by 2025.

GM’s pitch to investors focuses on the company’s Ultium battery technology, which GM said will now offer electric driving range of up to 720km on a single charge, up from 640km previously stated.

The second generation of Ultium batteries, available mid-decade, should close most of the cost gap with gasoline engines, GM global product development chief Doug Parks said on a call with reporters.

GM also said it was creating an umbrella organisation for its electric vehicle and digital marketing efforts called Ultifi.


Third national car blueprint to be presented to Dr M in 2 weeks

Mohd Redzuan says the blueprint will go to the Cabinet for approval after Dr Mahathir has vetted it. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The blueprint to drive the third national car project will be presented to the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in two weeks and then submitted to the Cabinet for approval, says Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof.

He said a deadline for submissions for the project's vendor development programme would be established once the blueprint was completed, adding that more than 50 local vendors had submitted their applications to the ministry.

“The third national car project will be what the market wants. Cars nowadays are like gadgets when looking at the technology. So, we are shaping the car based on our capability and on the environment that is provided by the world in terms of technology and application,” he told reporters at the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) SME Conference 2018 here today.

Mohd Redzuan said the establishment of the new car project would be among the main drivers to boost the manufacturing sector's contribution to the economy.

He said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which formed the backbone of the economy were highly concentrated in the services sector, which accounted for 89.2 per cent of SMEs.

“We need the manufacturing sector to spin off the services sector. Hence, there is a need to upgrade and graduate the micro and small players to become medium enterprises,” he said.

Out of 907,065 SMEs in the country, 76.5 per cent are micro players, 21.2 per cent are small sized and the remaining 2.3 per cent are medium enterprises.

FMM president Datuk Soh Thian Lai said there was a strong need for SMEs to re-engineer their operations by embracing Industry Revolution 4.0 technology.

“There were three significant game-changing plans announced by the government, namely the 2019 Budget, the Mid-Term Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan and the launch of the National Policy on Industry 4.0.

“We certainly need to digest these development plans closely. We hope to receive clearer directions and details through the implementation of various programmes and initiatives,” Soh said.

He also emphasised the need to support the manufacturing sector by ensuring a business-friendly operating and investment environment.


Volvo XC60 tops list in Euro NCAP 2017 safety tests

                BRUSSELS: Models from Volvo and Volkswagen top the list of this year's safest vehicles, according to the various crash tests carried out by Euro NCAP in 2017.

This year, the Volvo XC60 gets the best score overall in Euro NCAP's various tests. The premium SUV also comes top of the crop on adult occupant protection (98%) and safety assistance (95%), with onboard technology including autonomous emergency braking and blind spot information.

In the 2017 overall ranking, the Volvo XC60 comes ahead of the Volkswagen Arteon, the Volvo V90 and S90, the Volkswagen T-Roc and the Subaru XV and Impreza. The XC60 is expected to be launched in Malaysia next month.

READ MORE:
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Volvo rolls out compact XC40 in latest upmarket move under Geely

Note that the latter two models get the highest scores of the year for child occupant protection (89%). The Volkswagen Arteon tops the table for pedestrian protection (85%).

These days, there aren't many cars that don't score five stars overall in the famous safety rating. Even more rare, thankfully, are models with no stars at all! In 2017, just one car got an overall zero star rating — the Fiat Punto — which has no safety assistance technology and proved less effective in all domains.

This European program for evaluating the safety of new cars (Euro NCAP) — which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year — tests models on sale on the European market. The results are therefore only valid for these specific models.


Bosch sued over alleged role in VW diesel emissions scandal

                WASHINGTON: German auto supplier Robert Bosch GmbH has been accused of conspiring with Volkswagen AG to evade diesel emissions standards in at least 11 million vehicles worldwide in a class action lawsuit filed late on Monday.

The lawsuit filed by a New York diesel owner in US District Court in Detroit names Bosch - the world's largest auto supplier - along with VW, former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and VW US chief Michael Horn.

"Volkswagen's fraudulent scheme was facilitated and aided and abetted by defendant Bosch, which created the software used in Volkswagen's defeat device," said the 56-page lawsuit, which accuses the parties of violating civil racketeering laws and consumer fraud.

"Bosch's Hear no evil, See no evil' rationale for knowingly profiting from Volkswagen's crimes does not enable Bosch to escape civil liability under American law."

Reuters reported last month that federal prosecutors with the US Justice Department are examining whether Bosch knew or participated in Volkswagen's years-long efforts to circumvent US diesel emissions tests, citing people familiar with the matter.

Bosch built key components in the diesel engine used in six Volkswagen models and one Audi model that the automaker has admitted to rigging to defeat emissions tests.

The probe of Bosch is at an early stage and there is no indication that US prosecutors have found evidence of wrongdoing at Bosch, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

A US Bosch spokesman declined to offer an immediate comment on the lawsuit. Bosch previously declined to comment on the investigation.

Bosch also faces similar class-action lawsuits in Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Alabama and Alexandria, Virginia.

The latest lawsuit says "as early as 2007, Bosch warned Volkswagen that using its software in vehicles that were driven on the road would constitute a criminal offence. Nevertheless, Bosch proceeded to sell or license 11 million of the component devices to Volkswagen over the next seven years."

The lawsuit cited a report from Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper in September that said VW's internal probe had turned up a 2007 letter from Bosch that also warned against the possible illegal use of Bosch-supplied software technology.

Under US law, that would make Bosch a co-conspirator under anti-racketeering laws, making the company liable for triple damages for the fraud caused to US consumers, the lawsuit says.

A US judicial panel will meet in New Orleans Thursday to consider consolidating more than 350 lawsuits filed against VW in connection with the emissions scandal. VW and the Justice Department want the lawsuits centralized in Detroit.


Volvo using opera's most horrid villainess to sell SUVs in US. But why?

                LOS ANGELES: The Swedish car company Volvo must have thought it was being really cultural and high-toned when it decided to use a famous opera aria as the soundtrack for its new television commercial in the United States.

Its idea, plainly, is to make a connection between the luxuriousness of its XC90 SUV and the classiness of grand opera.

"Can you design an SUV for an aria?" asks the commercial, which is in frequent rotation on broadcast and cable TV. The camera wanders lovingly over the vehicle's soft leather upholstery and its high-tech sound system while the aria sounds sweetly in the background. The ad's tagline is: "Our idea of luxury."

Fact is the music on the soundtrack is no paean to grace and loving kindness, but the signature aria of one of the most monstrous characters in the canon.

She's the Queen of the Night, the supreme villainess of Mozart's "The Magic Flute," and she's one vicious specimen. Think Cruella de Vil times 1 million.

Volvo isn't the first advertiser to strike a discordant note in a TV commercial. Examples are the legion of multinational companies committing cultural solecisms by overlooking vernacular translations of their slogans that turn innocent words in one country into insults or profanities in another.

In this case, Volvo plainly is counting on consumers' ignorance of the true import and cultural context of its soundtrack. It sounds comforting as background music, after all, and it's sung sweetly enough.

So let's fill in the blanks. The aria itself, which is heard in the opera's second act, opens with the words "Der Holle Rache," or "The vengeance of hell," and gets only nastier from there: "Death and despair flame about me," the Queen sings. "Hear, gods of revenge, Hear a mother's oath!"

The aria is addressed to her daughter, Pamina, whom she is commanding to commit murder on pain of being "disowned, abandoned, destroyed ... forever."

The particular passage Volvo chose for the commercial is especially famous. It's a warhorse for sopranos to show off, an astronomically long, florid division that takes the soprano up to top F after a punishing string of high Cs.

The division is based on the Queen's warning to Pamina that if she doesn't commit the murder she commands, "Then you will be my daughter nevermore."

She seems nice.

(The lyrics can be heard on the commercial soundtrack, but who understands German anymore, outside of Germany?)

It's worth noting that Volvo's commercial producers placed their thumbs on the scale a bit. The Canadian soprano featured in the ad, Emily Cheung, is coached or recorded to give the music a gentle chirpiness - which happens to be the most common shortcoming of bad recordings of the number, committed by singers unable to summon what the critic William Mann called the "unrighteous wrath" of the Queen of the Night.

The producers discarded Mozart's thunderous arrangement (flutes, oboes, bassoons, horns, trumpets, drums and strings) in favour of a wan sort of synthesizer pizzicato.

None of that means that Volvo might not be able to sell its luxury SUVs to buyers entranced by Mozart's music without them knowing it's true meaning. — Los Angeles Times

> This article originated from Los Angeles Times and is re-distributed via dpa The Queen of the Night is the supreme villainess of Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'. — dpa


Hyundai introduces dedicated fuel cell brand HTWO

                DETROIT: Hyundai Motor Group on Thursday said it is launching a brand dedicated to its hydrogen fuel cell system in a move meant to boost that business.

Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp, said the name "HTWO" stands for the hydrogen molecule, H2, as well as “hydrogen” and “humanity.”

Hyundai said it is stepping up efforts to develop fuel cell systems that can be used in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM), auto, vessels and trains markets, with a focus on South Korea, the United States, Europe and China.

Since introducing the ix35 fuel cell electric vehicle in 2013, Hyundai has added the NEXO SUV, the XCIENT fuel cell heavy duty truck and a fuel cell electric bus.

When he took over as Hyundai Motor Group’s group chairman in October, Euisun Chung identified hydrogen fuel cells, as well as autonomous driving, electrification, robotics and UAM - industry jargon for flying cars- as his initiatives for the future.

Hydrogen backers say it is cleaner than other carbon-cutting technologies because water and heat are the only byproducts and it can be made from numerous sources, including methane, coal, water, and even garbage.

Fuel cell vehicles remain a niche technology, however, amid concerns about a lack of fuelling stations, resale values and the risk of hydrogen explosions.


Petaling Jaya mulling an increase in parking rates

                PETALING JAYA: Too many cars. Not enough parking bays. This is a common complaint in cities everywhere.

Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is hoping to ease the problem with a proposal to raise the hourly parking rate from the current 60 sen especially in prime areas that see regular heavy traffic.

“It does not make sense to collect 60 sen an hour at locations such as PJ New Town and Damansara Uptown as these are prime areas," said city councillor Terence Tan.

“Kuala Lumpur City Hall charges much more at its central business dfistrict (CBD). The rates in MBPJ have not been reviewed for decades. I would like to suggest that a maximum period of two hours be imposed to park in these areas to free up space for others,” said Tan.

He added that Australia and Singapore were among countries imposing a much higher rate to park in the CBD.

Another city councillor Derek Fernandez said there was no pressing need for an increase.

He said MBPJ should be able to collect more revenue from parking as the middlemen had been removed.

“Now that the private parking service operators have been terminated, the city council should have more revenue,” said Fernandez.

Councillor Suriase Gengiah also disagreed, saying any increase would burden the public.

Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain said any increase would not be over 20%.

He said the matter was still at the discussion stage.

Pros and cons

Other than Uptown and New Town, other busy commercial areas in Petaling Jaya include SS2, Section 14 and Section 17.

Motorists said many open-air public bays are being hogged by office workers as the rate was much lower than covered parking at 60 sen an hour and RM5 per day while a monthly pass costs RM100.

Some businesses rent dedicated parking bays in front of their shops for RM400 per month each.

Section 14 (Jalan 14/1 to 14/15) Residents Association chairman Selva Sugumaran welcomed an increase.

“Most visitors cannot find parking in busy commercial areas as many of the bays are taken up by office workers.”

SS20 Rukun Tetangga chairman Eileen Thong said if parking became too expensive, people might consider other alternatives.

“They can carpool, for example. Increasing the rate when the number of hours exceeds two is a good idea too. This will discourage motorists from parking at the same bay for the whole day,” she said.

Esham Salam from SS7 Lengkuk Golf Residents Association said the city council should consider removing all parking fees as this would eliminate MBPJ’s burden in managing the service.

“Make parking free. The city council may actually save money as there will be no costs involved in managing parking related matters from maintenance to enforcement.”

Section 14A RT chairman Tee Kee Tian urged the city council to put any increase on hold as it might adversely affect businesses operating in these areas.

“Businessmen, especially those operating family businesses are having a hard time.

“The fruit seller was telling me that he found it hard to sell mandarin oranges as the price had gone up.

“If the city council increases the parking rate, it may push patrons to go to malls.

“The public are feeling the pinch. MBPJ should put on hold any increase as the timing is just not right.”

Resident K. Gerald lives in Section 52 and does his grocery shopping in Section 14 and runs errands in New Town.

“Many people live close to these areas. Having cheaper council parking bays makes a difference.

“However, I welcome an increase for those who park for long hours to discourage them from doing so.”


BMW is the world's top luxury carmaker

                MUNICH: BMW on Tuesday reported record combined quarterly sales of 605,534 units for MINI, BMW and Rolls-Royce cars, making it the world's most popular premium car maker.

"We sold more vehicles in the second quarter than ever before and achieved record earnings," said BMW AG managment board chairman Harald Krüger.

And it's not MINI sales that are leading the charge; the big demand among customers has been for Rolls-Royce, BMW's flagship 7 Series and for its growing range of X-badged SUVs.

During the first six months of 2016, the company sold a record 986,557 BMWs and demand for the 7 Series is up 31.7% on the previous year. The company sold 94,156 X1 compact SUVs (a 61.7% jump) and 77,486 larger X3 models (a 16.6% increase in demand).

Over the past three months, Rolls-Royce has also set a new quarterly sales record — 1,133 cars. And 514 of them were the new Dawn convertible.

"Sustainable profitability on this scale provides us with the financial headroom we need to pursue our work on future technologies such as electric mobility and automated driving. For me, there is no 'either/or' between the present and the future. The strength of today's core business is the cornerstone for tomorrow's success," Krüger said.

And the figures show that customers are already moving towards this brave new mobility world.

In June, electrified BMW-made cars — be it battery or plug-in hybrid accounted for 4% of the company's sales in Europe. What's more in countries where the charging infrastructure is strongest and where government and other incentives are greatest, the numbers are significantly bigger. In the Netherlands, for instance, 14.9% of all BMWs sold in June alone were electric or hybrid and across Scandinavia they represented 13.2% during the same period.

BMW also noted that since its only fully-electric car, the i3, got an upgraded battery for increased range this July (it can now cover up to 200km of everyday driving on a single charge), it has received more than 7000 orders — that's three times as many reservations that the first generation i3 received when it was launched. This suggests that range anxiety, rather than price is still the biggest hurdle to overcome when it comes to getting drivers to move from gasoline-powered cars.


How petrol-powered supercars could stay on sale in Europe past the 2035 cut-off

                PARIS: Carmakers like Ferrari could continue to sell combustion-engine-powered or hybrid cars after 2035 because of their limited production numbers.

The European Parliament recently voted in favour of legislation stipulating that car manufacturers will no longer be able to sell new combustion-engine-powered cars in Europe from 2035 onwards.

However, an amendment was tabled, known as the "Ferrari" amendment, covering cars produced in small quantities, with specific exemptions for automakers registering up to 1,000 new cars a year and for those registering up to 10,000 new cars a year.

The so-called "Ferrari" amendment exempts all manufacturers producing under 1,000 units per year from the EU-wide ban on sales of combustion-engine vehicles in 2035, and gives a one-year reprieve to manufacturers registering up to 10,000 new cars a year.

Supercars and other gasoline, diesel or hybrid cars produced by Ferrari and the likes could therefore continue to be sold up to 2036, or even beyond for niche manufacturers.

The amendment states that manufacturers registering fewer than 1,000 new vehicles in a calendar year will be exempt from the greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements that will apply to other automakers.

It goes on to state manufacturers newly registering between 1,000 and 10,000 passenger cars or between 1,000 and 22,000 light commercial vehicles in a calendar year should see the possibility of applying for an exemption from their specific emissions targets removed from 2036 onwards.

In the end, this is only likely to apply to a few manufacturers, assuming, of course, that Ferrari and likes do not convert their entire ranges to electric vehicles before that time.

However, nothing is certain yet, since this regulation must yet be approved by the Council of the European Union - with or without this amendment - as part of a legislative process beginning in the coming weeks.

It will then be up to each Member State to ensure that this decision is enforced throughout its territory.


New Aprilia and Moto Guzzi service centre opens in Sg Buloh

                PETALING JAYA: Last year, the Aprilia and Moto Guzzi service centre opened its doors to the public, situated here at The Gasket Alley.

Recently, Didi Resources the sole distributor of Moto Guzzi and Aprilia, has moved quickly to set another service centre for both brands in the Klang Valley at Sungai Buloh represented by Welly World Cycle.

Welly World Cycle is a household name for new or used bikes and motorcycleaccessories. Welly has been distributing big brand motorcycles for many years now, and is well equipped to maintain motorcycles through a well-trained aftersales team.

General manager of Didi Resources Sdn Bhd, Juan Chow Wee said, “We believe in finding the correct partner as this is important as we work together to build and develop the brand and its lifestyle. Welly World Cycle has a strong proven track  record in delivering the best motorcycle ownership experience to its buyers by connecting with its owners personally."

Director of Welly World Cycle, Ngo Yoke Kwang, said, “I am really happy to welcome these two legendary brands into our company portfolio. I believe 100% in strong aftersales service, and believe that before selling any motorcycle, I need to ensure that the appropriate aftersales support is in place. With Aprilia and Moto Guzzi, my customers are assured of the right support when they buy an Aprilia or Moto Guzzi from us.”

Welly Sungai Buloh is located at No.2135, 2136 and 2137, Jalan 3/1, Batu 13 1/2, Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh, Selangor.


ADVERTORIAL: Kia Sportage is a cut above the rest

                The all-new Kia Sportage has been completely redesigned to wow and calling it a showstopper or a head-turner does not do it enough justice.

Available in two variants – the GT Line and the KX, the Sportage cranks up the excitement in the mid-size sports-utility segment with its muscular lines and powerful looks.

The GT Line tops the range with all the bells and whistles, while the KX is the entry-level variant.

Both the GT Line and the KX come fitted with automatic headlights, audio controls on the steering wheel, drive mode selection (Eco, Normal and Sport), rear fog lamps, rear air-conditioning vents, an eight-speaker JBL infotainment system with USB/auxiliary port connectivity and a rear-view camera as standard.

The Sportage’s 2.0-litre MPI Nu engine with Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (DCVVT) that produces 155PS and 192Nm torque and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, delivers more than enough performance for a thrilling drive.

The front MacPherson struts suspension has enhanced steering response and provide a comfortable ride feel.

The rear suspension is fitted with a multi-link suspension that boosts ride comfort and driving stability.

From the safety standpoint, the Sportage leads the pack.

Standard safety features across the range include vehicle stability management (VSM), electronic stability control (ESC), hill-start assist, anti-lock braking system, front parking assist, six airbags and an advanced high-strength steel construction.

The most innovative safety feature in the Sportage is the VSM.

VSM combines five different safety features and makes them work in harmony with each other in the event of an emergency.

For instance, in the event of a slide, VSM kicks into action by controlling the motor-driven power steering and ESC in the Sportage to regain directional stability.

To top off an already class-leading package, the Sportage recently won first place in the 2016 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, standing out with an extremely low number of faults.

Not only did the Sportage bag the dependability award for compact SUVs, it came out on top when compared against 68 models of all body types from 24 different carmakers.

According to Naza Corporation Holdings’ Automotive Group chief operating officer Datuk Samson Anand George, achievements such as this are made possible by the impressive team of designers and engineers at Kia in producing the all-new Sportage.

On the local front, the Sportage also won the Best SUV/Crossover – Mid-size 4X2 5-Seater category of the recent CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards 2016.

Bundled with a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, the Sportage GT Line is priced at RM141,888 on-the-road while the Sportage KX is priced at RM121,888.

Available colours are Mercury Blue, Fiery Red, Snow White Pearl and Mineral Silver.


Mitsubishi sold 4,008 cars between Jan-July 2020

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia, has recorded a total sales of 4,008 units between the period of January to July 2020.

This resulted in the company’s market share growing from 1.4 per cent (January to July 2019) to 1.7 per cent (January to July 2020) of the Total Industry Volume (TIV), the company said in a statement today.

“The company’s volume seller, the Triton, recorded a 22.2% market share from January to July, an increase from the same corresponding period of 2019 which was at 16.9%.

“The Triton is now ranked number one in the double-cab pick-up truck segment in three states — Malacca, Penang and Kedah,” it said.

Its chief executive officer, Tomoyuki Shinnishi, said the improved sales was largely because of the sales tax suspension.

He expected the upcoming Xpander crossover would boost sales further.

To prepare for the introduction of the Xpander, Shinnishi said selected showrooms would be upgraded to Mitsubishi Motor’s latest visual identity this year.


Ford offering Sept 1-2 service deal with RM5 vouchers

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) today announced its "Service Reward" promotion, which will see 1,000 service vouchers on sale from Sept 1-2.

The promotion is to reward customers with up to 30% discount on after-warranty service costs, with the purchase of a voucher at just RM5 over an 18-month period from the date of purchase, said the Ford distributor.

The voucher can be bought at any Ford authorised service centres, while stocks last.

With the use of the voucher, customers can save 10% on engine oil on their first vehicle service, 20% on their second vehicle service and 30% on their third vehicle service.

During all three service intervals, customers will gain a 10% discount on the oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, battery and wiper blades as well as a 10% discount on labour.

Customers with the voucher can also take advantage of the free 27-point vehicle inspection conducted by Ford-certified technicians to ensure their vehicles are in tip-top condition.

Redemption of the voucher is valid at any Ford authorised service centre, and the voucher must be presented at each vehicle service.

On a related note, customers can book a vehicle service appointment online by going to www.sdacford.com.my/book-a-service-form.

For more details, go to www.sdacford.com.my.


Infiniti finally debuts QX30 concept

                GENEVA: Making its debut at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show, the QX30 concept cements Infiniti’s ambitions to expand into the global premium compact segment.

The QX30 concept combines the sleek lines of the coupe with the command sitting and all-wheel drive of a crossover.

“QX30 concept embodies our conviction to give customers the freedom to go wherever they want, whenever they want – in a style that turns heads and makes a statement,” said Infiniti president and CEO Roland Krueger.

The QX30 concept is the latest in a series of concept vehicles for which Infiniti has announced a definite and clear intent for production.

The Q30 will be built in the U.K. this year while a sports coupe based on the Q60 concept revealed in Detroit earlier this year will go into production next year.

The QX30 concept-inspired crossover will also be launched next year.

Infiniti continues to broaden its line-up to cover the spectrum from smaller premium vehicles, namely the Q30, to full-size crossovers such as the QX70.

In fact, Infiniti has drawn on its heritage of creating successful high-performance crossovers namely the QX50 and QX70 to craft the QX30 concept.

Infiniti designers have added visual cues which instantly identify the QX30 concept as a crossover.

The body looks wider and thicker, thanks to the 21-inch wheels, large tyres, and increased blackout around the wheel opening.

Inside, all four seats have been streamlined for a suspended look, evoking a feeling of honed athleticism.

The U-shaped seat frame is partially wrapped with a layer of premium Connolly saddle leather offset by blue stitching.


Bentley Flying Spur gets more bespoke options

LONDON: The latest individual offerings for the Flying Spur will no doubt spur on Bentley's competition in the luxury car market.

Bentley's Mulliner division has just one job - to find a way of meeting the needs of the brand's most discerning clients, whether through providing stone veneers, creating integrated picnic hampers or sourcing the most exotic finishes. And if enough clients demand the same features, then Mulliner will turn the request into a potential option for all.

Mulliner director Geoff Dowding explains: "Mulliner offers customers the opportunity to personalise their car over and above the one million plus combinations already available to them. Creating bespoke features is about understanding our customer needs and requirements, and the Flying Spur is a perfect outlet for us to interpret their ideas."

As a result, the 2016 Flying Spur is now available with a selection of singular Mulliner options that may never be offered on a typical executive sedan, yet somehow make perfect sense on a Bentley.

Chief among them is a rear-seat bottle cooler, optimised for champagne and one that can be hidden out of sight by raising the middle seat when required. When on-the-road refreshments are required, the middle seat folds flat as a table.

The cooler contains two specially designed champagne flutes that feature a design at their base that mimics that of a Bentley wheel. However, each cooler is made to order so that clients can add further flourishes or features.

But that's just the start. Mulliner can also offer rear-seat passengers hallmarked silver atomisers that can be used for dispensing water vapor or perfume. Offering them meant that the car's rear doors had to be redesigned so that they could hold not just the atomisers but their specially created cases too.

At the beginning of the year, Mulliner announced that it could now offer 200 million-year-old stone as an internal veneer option, and it is adding to this with the option of hand-painting for what it refers to as an "ultra-modern" look.

Each panel starts out as a book-matched wooden panel and then is hand painted, lacquered and polished so that it perfectly matches the car's external paint finish while still showing the wood's natural grain.


Hyundai teases new motorsport-inspired trim for Tucson SUV

                FRANKFURT: Hyundai's European SUV lineup is gaining the N-Line offering for the first time.

A couple of weeks ago, AutoExpress insiders reported that an N-Line treated-Tucson SUV is on its way and, sure enough, on Thursday Hyundai confirmed that the rumours are true with a couple of new teasers.

The company didn't explicitly state that this SUV - the first one with the motorsport-influenced trim - will be a Tucson, but everything that was stated in the brief press release matched what AutoExpress reported last month.

The only spec that Hyundai offers is that the upcoming SUV will be powered by a 48-volt powertrain; the images - a closeup of the right fender and another of the gear shift - both feature silver N-Line badges built into the hardware.

The redesigned front bumper has received some sporty new LED details, and the grille lost the chrome bars spanning its width. The interior looks like it's been re-upholstered in black leather with contrasting red stitching holding everything together.

This N-Line Tucson is expected to be a hot competitor with the Audi SQ5, whose 2019 model year version is already available, and the Volkswagen T-Roc R, which is expected to go on sale in the second half of this year.

Even though the original unofficial report predicted that this model will not debut this year, this teaser leads us to believe its launch is destined for the second half of 2019.

As of now, the new offering will only be available in Europe. Though Hyundai only tells us that "more details will be released in the near future" it's likely that the "near future" means the Geneva Motor Show which begins next month.


Mitsubishi Ralliart returns in Triton and Pajero Sport

                BANGKOK: Mitsubishi Motors Corp (MMC) has launched its first models of the revived Ralliart brand - the Triton Ralliart and the Pajero Sport Ralliart as special editions.

Both models are exhibited at the 38th Thailand International Motor Expo 2021 in Bangkok, and sales started on Dec 1 at the Motor Expo and Mitsubishi Motors' dealerships nationwide in Thailand.

Ralliart is MMC's iconic brand that had refined the driving performance and style of Mitsubishi vehicles over the years through its participation in the World Rally Championship and the Dakar Rally.

Paying homage to the Ralliart image built at the extreme motorsport scenes, the revived will start from sales of accessories and provide the excitement and pride that only the owners of Mitsubishi vehicles can feel.

The Ralliart special editions are based on MMC's global strategic models - Triton 1-tonne pick-up truck and Pajero Sport mid-size sports utility vehicle (SUV) - and are equipped with special accessories, including side decals with red, silver and black stripes, and red mud flaps reminiscent of its historic rally cars, and other exterior and interior accessories with the Ralliart logo.

Also, the front grille and alloy wheels are painted black to differentiate from the standard trim.

For the interior, floor mats with the Ralliart logo and red-accent overlocks are specially equipped.

MMC president and chief executive officer Takao Kato said the company was truly honoured to bring back the Ralliart brand products to the fans of Mitsubishi Motors and Ralliart,.

"Starting from these Ralliart special editions in Thailand, we are planning to introduce more of the attractive items sequentially.

"We are also considering some exciting activities in the near future, so that the fans can feel and enjoy our Ralliart spirit. Please stay tuned with our revived Ralliart, there is more to come," he said.

Triton Ralliart
The Triton Ralliart is based on the low-rider variant of the Triton Club Cab (Mega Cab) and Double Cab.

Enhancing the dynamic and sporty styling of the Triton, every special edition is equipped with front bumper garnish with a red accent and bed liner with the Ralliart logo.

In addition, the two-tone model features black door mirrors, black door handles, black rear gate handle and black rear bumper.

Two exterior color options are available for the Triton Ralliart: a two-tone exterior with a Solid White body and a Black roof, and Jet Black Mica.

Pajero Sport Ralliart
Adding an aggressive and sporty essence on top of Pajero Sport's elegant styling, the Pajero Sport Ralliart features front and rear under garnish with red accents and the Ralliart logo.

Exclusive to the two-tone color model are black fender arch moldings, black roof rails, black shark fin antenna and black tailgate spoiler.

Two exterior color options are available for the Pajero Sport Ralliart: a two-tone exterior with a White Diamond body and a Black roof, and Jet Black Mica.


Targeted fuel subsidy plan to be revealed in two weeks

                PUTRAJAYA: The targeted fuel subsidy plan for RON95 petrol will be announced in two weeks, says Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

"We plan to make the announcement in two weeks, subject to Cabinet's advice.

"The media will be duly informed," he said after attending the ministry's monthly assembly on Tuesday (Aug 20).

It is understood that the targeted fuel subsidy for RON95 petrol will be rolled out by the end of the year.

The targeted RON95 petrol subsidy is a measure outlined under the 2019 Budget to reduce the cost of living among bottom 40% households (B40), which are defined as households earning less than RM3,860 per month.

Previously, Saifuddin had said that the ministry had been in discussions with the Finance Ministry to iron out issues related to the mechanisms and formula that will be used for the subsidy.

The ministry had also engaged oil companies, petrol dealers, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Statistics Department and consumer groups.


Peugeot takes tech approach to seats

                PARIS: With the widespread use of the i-Cockpit on almost all of its range, Peugeot is overhauling vehicle interiors and has taken particular care with the seats, which are now becoming increasingly complex and technological.

According to Peugeot, seats are subjected to diverse and strong daily constraints, and therefore must meet expectations: to convey a distinctive and customisable visual image, and to convey a different sense of safety and comfort for occupants depending on the geographic area of marketing.

Seats are now part of Peugeot's basic services. A seat kit consists of 150 parts and is made up of a driver's seat, a passenger seat and a rear bench seat. It presents a strong economic challenge with cost prices that can exceed several thousand euros.

 The proposed seat design for the e-LEGEND concept car.

In addition, seats are subjected to various typres of stress:
> Resistance (morphology and weight of the customers very different according to the user);
> Wear and tear (a seat will wear out thousands of times over several years or even
decades);
> Temperature (inside a vehicle, it can be very cold or very hot).

The seats of the future would be increasingly influenced by clothing fashion, said Peugeot.  The colours and materials used for the upholstery of the seats would be inspired by the major trends in ready-to-wear and furnishing, it added.

To Peugeot seat designers, passenger well-being is also an important factor. Recent innovations include the integration of air bags in the foam to adapt car seats to the morphology of the occupants.

Peugeot offers, as an option on many vehicles in the range, a back massage system that is particularly appreciated by customers because it promotes the relaxation of the occupants while working the body.

In future where driverless cars could become prevalent, seats would figure even more in interior design

They would have to offer multiple possibilities for transforming

Peugeot's vision is to transform the time spent in the car into a moment of familiarity and relaxation.

By that time, composites would have partially replaced the metal frame of the seats to offer more subtlety, thereby freeing up space in the passenger compartment.


French government calls for Renault board meeting to replace Ghosn

Le Maire, shown here, in favour of replacing Ghosn witb outgoing Michelin boss Jean-Dominique Senard. — AFP
PARIS: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Wednesday the government had requested a Renault board meeting in coming days to replace the company’s scandal-hit chairman and chief executive Carlos Ghosn.

The company needs a change of governance, Le Maire said in an interview with French TV station LCI, confirming an earlier Reuters report that France wanted a new Renault leadership.

“We have to move to a new phase,” the minister said.

The government, Renault’s biggest shareholder, had publicly supported the company’s decision to keep Ghosn in office while he awaits trial in Japan for alleged misconduct at Nissan (7201.T), the French carmaker’s alliance partner which he also chaired until his dismissal in November.
 Senard
Behind the scenes, however, the state had begun seeking candidates to replace Ghosn in November and December, said sources familiar with the matter.

Renault’s nominations committee is now expected to meet on Jan 20, a source with knowledge of the matter said, followed by a full board meeting as soon as Monday under the interim chairmanship of Philippe Lagayette.

Headhunter Korn Ferry has been advising Renault management on succession matters, with Emeric Lepoutre & Partners acting for the government.

Ghosn has been charged over allegations he failed to disclose close to $80 million in additional compensation for 2010-18 that he had arranged to be paid later. Nissan director Greg Kelly and the company itself have also been indicted.

Both men deny the deferred pay agreements were illegal or required disclosure, while former alliance boss Ghosn has denied a separate breach of trust charge over personal investment losses he temporarily transferred to Nissan in 2008.

Jean-Dominique Senard, who is soon to step down as CEO of tyre maker Michelin, is likely to replace Ghosn in his chairman role, according to sources.

The French state and its advisers are also considering candidates for the CEO job currently occupied on an interim basis by Ghosn’s deputy Thierry Bollore.

Others under consideration include senior Toyota executive Didier Leroy and Elior boss Philippe Guillemot, a person involved in the discussion said.

 Steps are already under way at Renault to replace Ghosn.

Elior has denied Guillemot was a candidate, but acknowledged he may have been considered.

Le Maire endorsed Senard as a “great industrialist” when asked about his potential candidacy.

The move to replace Ghosn follows a Tokyo court decision to deny his request for release on bail, increasing the likelihood he will remain in jail for months.

Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa said in an interview on Monday he expected Renault to back the Japanese carmaker’s ouster of Ghosn when its board of directors were finally given full access to the findings of its internal investigation.


How about a Nissan-Honda alliance? Not so unthinkable at all

                TOKYO: A Nissan Motor Co. alliance with Honda Motor Co. "feels a little wrong” but shouldn’t be out of the question if the embattled automaker ends up severing ties with Renault SA, according to LightStream Research analyst Mio Kato.

Such a tie-up could appeal given the threat of Toyota Motor Corp., which has brought many smaller Japanese automakers like Mazda Motor Corp., Suzuki Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. into its fold, Kato wrote in a note available on SmartKarma.

"Honda has never been one to engage in aggressive M&A and a merger between Honda and Nissan should be unthinkable, but with Toyota’s increasing competitiveness we feel that if Nissan desired an alliance partner to replace Renault, Honda may not be entirely against the idea,” Kato said.

Nissan denied reports earlier this week that it was considering ending its alliance with Renault, which has been shaken by the dramatic escape of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn from trial in Japan. It referred to the Renault alliance as a "source of Nissan’s competitiveness.”

Nissan declined to comment on the report in SmartKarma and referred queries to its previous statements about its alliance with Renault. A Honda spokesman wasn’t immediately able to comment.

Kato said carmakers will be inclined to seek partnerships given their investment burden over the new few years. He suggested that the auto industry in Japan could ultimately be split into two giant groups.

Replacing Renault with Honda in the alliance would raise unit volumes to about 12 million units a year from under 11 million units and improve product mix, given that Honda produces larger vehicles than Renault, according to Kato.

"Nissan does have attractive possibilities to dangle in front of potential suitors and Toyota’s relentless march forward could necessitate drastic change for those on the outside in Japan,” he wrote.


Paris experiments with driverless buses

A self-driving bus shuttles between Austerlitz station and Lyon station in Paris, produced by Easymile company in Paris on Monday. - AFP
PARIS: Paris began its first experiment with driverless buses on Monday, with city officials saying they were eager to prepare for the coming "revolution" of autonomous vehicles.

Two box-shaped electric vehicles capable of carrying around 10 people have been deployed - within the safety of a special lane - on a bridge connecting two railway stations to the east of the city centre.

"Autonomous vehicles represent a revolution for every city on the planet... which will change our urban environment and public space in a spectacular fashion over the next 20 years," Paris deputy mayor Jean-Louis Missika told reporters.

The test unveiled Monday, which will last three months, is the first stage of the city's embrace of self-driving vehicles which use a combination of lasers and cameras to detect other objects and people around them.

The head of the Paris transport network, Elisabeth Borne, said she envisaged the buses being used one day to connect homes and railway stations in the suburbs, which are served by overland trains known as RERs.

"We dream one day of having buses like these parked near RER stations which would come to collect passengers on demand," she told reporters at the launch.

The advent of self-driving vehicles poses a series of regulatory, ethical and economic questions which policymakers will have to grapple with as the technology improves and grows more widespread.

One of them is: What happens to the humble bus driver?

"We need to start thinking from today about how to train drivers so they can shift into the new jobs created by autonomous vehicles," Missika, who is a transport expert in the mayor's office, told AFP.

In October, delivery drivers got an uncomfortable glimpse of the future when a self-driving truck built by Uber's Otto unit successfully delivered a beer shipment.

Cars with some autonomous functions are already on our roads, and more than a dozen automakers including BMW, Kia, Volkswagen and General Motors are racing to get fully self-driving cars to market by 2020.


Ferrari CEO does not expect fully-electric model until after 2025

                MARANELLO: Ferrari won’t have its first fully electric model ready until after 2025 as the battery technology requires more development, Chief Executive Louis Camilleri said, pushing back expectations.

The luxury carmaker had previously said a fully electric vehicle would be available only after the current industrial plan ends in 2022. Analysts said they had not expected it before 2023, but the latest comments suggest an actual launch could be further off.

“The battery technology is not where it should be yet,” Camilleri told reporters during a lunch in the Centro Stile at Ferrari’s Maranello factory.

“There are still significant issues in terms of autonomy, in terms of speed of recharging. So eventually we will come out with one. But it’s post-2025. Not in the short term,” he added.

Camilleri said Ferrari was “certainly” studying a fully electric grand tourer car (GT), but that it would stick to hybrid vehicles for the “current foreseeable future”.

Earlier this year, Ferrari unveiled the SF 90 Stradale, its first hybrid car in series-production.

Ferrari wants 60% of its cars sold by 2022 to be hybrids.

Camilleri said the group was also considering alternative technologies for its cars, including hydrogen and biofuels.

“We are looking at various powertrains and trying to see what would be the most efficient and effective in terms of what our vision is for Ferrari cars in the future,” he said.

Last month Ferrari raised its guidance for this year’s core earnings to 1.27 billion euros ($1.4 0 billion) and said it expects a strong performance in 2020.

“We’re about to close another record year, we did pretty well on all the metrics, volume, revenues, income, cash flow. So you’ll see a lot of smiling faces around here,” Camilleri said.


Tesla to pick location for new India factory this year, says Musk

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc chief executive officer Elon Musk said on Tuesday the automaker would probably pick a location for a new factory by the end of this year.

When the Wall Street Journal's Thorold Barker asked Musk at an event if India was interesting, he said, "Absolutely".

Tesla is "serious" about its plans to establish a manufacturing base in India, the country's deputy minister for technology told Reuters in an interview last week.

Tesla announced earlier this year that it would open a gigafactory in Mexico as the world's most valuable automaker pushes to expand its global output.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter and founder of several other firms, on Tuesday floated the idea of creating an educational institution that controls most of his votes, without giving details.

He said he has identified a successor to the board so that the person can run the company in "a worst case scenario". "I've told the board 'Look, if something happens to me unexpectedly, this is my recommendation for taking over,'" he said.

James Murdoch, a Tesla board director, testified in court last year that Musk has identified someone as a potential successor to head the electric carmaker at a time when investors were concerned about his distraction with Twitter.

Musk recently announced a new CEO for Twitter, and said he would focus more on Tesla.


Volkswagen eShowroom upgraded with live view of available units

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has refreshed its eShowroom to provide greater convenience for those looking to buy a Volkswagen.

On the revamped website, customers will now have access to available units on sale at Volkswagen authorised dealerships nationwide in real
time.

Based on the concept of “what you see is what you get”, only models that are available at dealerships will be featured.

Customers may search the website to find what models are currently available and their locations, and decide to either book a test drive, or reserve the unit online with a standard booking fee of RM1,500.

They will then be contacted by the preferred dealer on the next steps to complete the purchase.

As part of the Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations over the next two months, those who place a booking via the eShowroom will also receive
an exclusive RM500 rebate on their purchase.

“Volkswagen Malaysia is always looking for ways to enhance the ownership experience for our customers, and begins at the moment of purchase," said VPCM managing director Erik Winter.

"Our eShowroom is anchored on the concept of bringing a dealership right to the customer’s fingertip, and we are pleased to now bring it up a notch
by introducing real-time availability. This will bring greater convenience, thus ensuring a smoother journey for our customers.”


Vios Challenge race series qualifying rounds heats up in Penang

                BATU KAWAN: A cool day with ambient temperatures slowly dropping as dark clouds loomed, it was a hard morning for a few racers who struggled to find the right race setup during the official qualifying of the inaugural three-part Vios Challenge one-make street circuit race series.

Each 25-minute qualifying session for the categories of Promotional, Sporting and Super Sporting, around the 1.65km street circuit outside the Batu Kawan Stadium was rife with activity as drivers chased their best lap times after making a few adjustments to their car.

The Promotional qualifying session at 11.30am, concluded with Shawn Lee in the #6 car taking pole position with a time of 1 minute 18.508 seconds and a top speed of 75.661kph.

Finishing second fastest, just 1.355 seconds behind, was Fattah Amin in the #9 car with a time of 1 minute 19.863 seconds, while third fastest went to the #24 car helmed by Shukri Yahaya finishing with a best time of 1 minute 20.720 seconds.

In the Sporting category, the #10 car driven by Ken Foo finished the 12.30pm session at the top with a best time of 1 minute 19.592 seconds and a top speed of 74.631kph.

Exactly 0.259 seconds behind the top pace maker was the #86 car of Brandon Lim, driving for team Dream Chaser, who finished his qualifying session with a time of 1 minute 19.851 seconds, while Patrick Tam Wei Han in the #13 car representing Team Maxx 'N Go was third fastest with a time of 1 minute 19.876 seconds.

As for the Super Sporting category, which took place at 1.15pm, it was none other than Tengku Djan Ley in the #12 Team Maxx 'N Go car who finished at the top of the time sheets with a blistering time of 1 minute 16.932 seconds and managed to post the fastest overall top speed of 77.211kph.

Next was the #25 car of Mark Darwin, driving for team Dream Chaser, who lapped closely behind just 0.251 seconds slower with a time of 1 minute 17.183 seconds.

Another 0.866 seconds later was Syafiq Ali in the #7 M7 Racing Team car who managed to achieve the third fastest lap of 1 minute 17.798 seconds before the circuit was later almost inundated by heavy rain.

The first instalment of the three part one-make race series took place during the Toyota Gazoo Racing racing festival at the stadium and is open to members of the public for free, while hosting a number of activities including drift shows, celebrity performances, food trucks, test drives and a special showcasing of the Toyota C-HR.


Insurer Carrot is coming in hot

                SEOUL: Seoul-based tech-driven insurer Carrot General Insurance Corp has signed up 300,000 subscribers to its pay-per-mile auto insurance in just two years.

Carrot has been seen as the upstart that has been creating buzz from the moment it entered the Korean market dominated by large incumbents.

The key factors fuelling the startup's exponential growth seemed to be contributed by the high level of IT applications to its product and services, backed by superior customer experience surrounding claims process and payouts.

The pay-per-mile insurance product is becoming popular with motorists and Carrot's entry at the right time has enabled it to capture more market share.

Carrot had recently introduced a safe-drive-scoring service freely available to South Koreans, with the aim of promoting a culture of safe driving. Drivers with reduced risk exposure will receive points based on the driving score calculated via Carrot's sensor-based algorithm and the users may exchange the points for a desired voucher or gift card.

READ MORE: Berjaya Sompo now offers 'drive less, pay less' insurance

The company is also expanding its scope of auto insurance business to include wider mobility ecosystems; such as electric cars, car-sharing, commercial trucks, two-wheelers, and delivery vehicles.

Carrot's AI-triggered FNOL (First Notice Of Loss) and accident detection is set to roll out later this year, adding more value to customers while enhancing operational efficiency.

Carrot's disruptive practices has attracted some global insurance players who have expreseed interest in partnering with the company as it eyes the overseas market.

"The speed of growth Carrot is realising is something the industry has never seen before, globally," said Carrot CEO Paul Jung.

"In line with our continuous effort to supply high value services, we will keep pushing forward to advance our core technology and better serve consumers with more innovative products down the road."


Volkswagen to absorb price difference ahead of SST announcement

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has announced that it has added an extension to the tax holiday for its current range of models with its new Price Protection Scheme.

The scheme, in the form of a rebate, covers all Volkswagen models registered from now until Nov 15, while stocks last.

“The response in the past three months since the announcement of 0% GST has been overwhelming and we have been trying to keep up with the demand for stock.

With the implementation of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) set to be implemented on Sept 1, the company also stated that it will absorb any price difference from its current 0% GST prices for all its locally assembled and imported models.

The company advised that customers should take this opportunity to place their booking for a new Volkswagen to enjoy the scheme.

"The introduction of this Price Protection Scheme is a way for VPCM to assure our customers that we have their best interest at heart, so we urge customers to place their bookings now and enjoy the extended tax holidays”, said VPCM managing director Erik Winter. He had earlier revealed the scheme during a media luncheon in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

On aftersales support to customers, Winter said it is now better but "there's still room for improvement." VW owner complaints on problems relating to transmission and engine have been minimised, he added.

All Volkswagen models come with a standard five-year manufacturer’s warranty, three years free maintenance and five years roadside assistance.


Drivers have more breathing space

                KUALA LUMPUR: If your driving licence or road tax expired in February or is expiring in March, do not fret.

From the earlier extended renewal deadline of April 30, you now have another month, up to May 31, to do it.

And if your driving licence and road tax, technically the Competent Driving Licence and Motor Vehicle Licence, are expiring in April and May, you can still renew them from June 1 to July 31.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said he has granted exemptions to all private vehicle owners from renewing their licence and road tax until the said dates following the conditional movement control order period.

“Private vehicle owners can still drive their vehicles provided that the insurance is valid.

“In case of a roadblock, they only need to show their cover note or electronic cover note.

“They will be given time like before to do their renewals, ’’ he said after launching the MyRail5 unlimited monthly travel pass for students and the disabled at KL Sentral here today.

Also present were Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi Habibollah and KTMB chief executive officer Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin.

On Jan 29, Dr Wee granted exemptions to all private vehicle owners from renewing their driver’s licence or road tax from Feb 1 to March 31 due to the MCO 2.0.

They were given 30 days after the initial exemption period, which is until April 30.

He said similar exemptions have been announced in phases to reduce crowding at Road Transport Department (JPJ) offices nationwide.

Before this latest exemption, Dr Wee said there was RM1.3mil worth of road tax to be renewed.

“After a discussion with JPJ, I have decided to allow those whose documents are expiring in March or which expired before then to renew them through existing platforms by May 31, ” he said.

He added that the staff strength at busy JPJ branches will be increased and they will also open on Saturdays and Sundays.

“We hope this will help with crowd control, as JPJ handles more than 20 million people every year.

“We don’t want too many people rushing to JPJ offices during the conditional MCO and we must not rush in implementing the exemptions.

“We also encourage vehicle owners to do their renewals online to lessen the crowd, ’’ he added.


Honda Malaysia confirms driver airbag failure in two local crashes

                PETALING JAYA: Two Malaysians died in separate crashes in Honda vehicles, which were recalled to have components in their airbags changed.

Honda Malaysia confirmed the Takata single stage (SDI) driver’s airbag inflators ruptured in two crashes in April and May.

But the company, in a statement, added that no official cause of death had been determined for either case.

In 2014, a pregnant Malaysian and her unborn baby died when a Takata airbag failed. This brings the global death toll linked to airbag ruptures to 13.

“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families of the drivers during this difficult time,” it said.

The first crash involved the driver of a 2006 Honda City on April 16, in Sabah.

The vehicle involved in this crash was included in a Malaysian Product Update (recall) announced on May 21, 2015, requiring replacement of the SDI inflator of the Takata driver’s front airbag.

The second crash involved a 2003 Honda City on May 1, in Kedah.

The vehicle involved in this crash was included in a similar recall announced on December 8, 2014.

“Honda is communicating with representatives of the drivers’ families in an effort to resolve their remaining concerns.”

Out of respect for the families, Honda did not provide any personal information about the victims.

Honda Malaysia has urge owners of Honda vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator product updates to get their vehicles repaired at authorised dealers as soon as possible.

Vehicle owners can check their vehicles’ product update status at www.honda.com.my or call their toll free number at 1-800-88-2020 or visit any Honda authorised dealer.


Ducati and Lenovo collab heralds a new limited-edition laptop

                KUALA LUMPUR: Next Bike Sdn Bhd, the official distributor for Ducati in Malaysia, announced a new partnership with its Ducati MotoGP and key technology partner, Lenovo Malaysia.

As a result, Lenovo Malaysia will provide three units of its limited-edition Lenovo Ducati 5 notebooks (each worth RM3,999) to the Ducati Malaysia flagship showroom at Petaling Jaya for the use of its patrons.

The laptop is currently available for pre-order on Lenovo's website and only 1,000 units will be made available globally.

For Ducatistis who visit the showroom, the laptop will be available or use while waiting for their bike(s) to be serviced at the Ducati social area.

The laptop uses Lenovo's 14-inch IdeaPad Slim series as its base with an all-metal construction that's about 3mm-slimmer against the IdeaPad Slim's plastic construction or 3.8mm-slimmer than one with a metal construction.

The limited-edition laptop, while sporting the same processor, does offer a larger and faster 1TB M.2 Solid State Drive (SSD) PCIe-NVMe.

Globally, the partnership between Ducati and Lenovo began in April 2018 which saw the introduction of the limited edition laptop with Windows 10 at CES 2020 - the world’s largest consumer electronics show in Las Vegas.

Additionally, the Lenovo brand is visible on Ducati racing bikes and on the uniforms of the MotoGP riders during both MotoGP and World SBK championships.

However, with the collaboration between Ducati and Lenovo, all Ducati customers and Desmo members are given special privilege to purchase the Lenovo Ducati Limited Edition notebook at a discounted price of RM3,519.

Additionally, Desmo members will be given early access to the Lenovo Merdeka Sale from Aug 10 to 31 to enjoy additional discounts of up to 48%.

Also, Ducati Malaysia will be launching its 2020 model line-up of highly anticipated Ducati and Scrambler models soon.

Ducatisti can look forward to greater rewards and cash rebates during the upcoming Ducati Red Weekend promo.

The Lenovo Ducati 5 Special Edition is powered by 10th-gen Intel Core i5 Processor which is enclosed within a 14-inch form factor with preloaded Windows 10.

Battery life rated by Lenovo is indicated at up to 12 hours with Rapid Charge and has been priced at RM3,999, inclusive of Microsoft Office Home and Student programme.

“Next Bike prioritises the needs of our customers and endeavours to provide top-notch services to Ducatisti in Malaysia. As both Ducati and Lenovo brands prioritise creativity, passion and technology in their daily operations, it is only fitting for Ducati Malaysia to partner with Lenovo Malaysia. We believe that this partnership will further enhance the customer experience at our flagship showroom in Petaling Jaya.” said Naza Corporation Holdings group chief executive officer (Automotive Group) Datuk Nik Hamdam Nik Hassan.

SPECIFICATIONS: Lenovo Ducati 5 (Part Number:  82ES000LMJ)

Currently, the laptop is available for pre-order on Lenovo's website at RM3,999 (including delivery) and will ship within two weeks from the time of this writing.
Processor: Intel Core i5-1035G1 Processor ( 1.00GHz 6MB )Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64Display Type: 14.0-inch FHD IPS AntiGlare LED Backlight 1920x1080 (300 nits)Memory: 8.0GB DDR4-3200MHz (soldered onboard)Storage: 1TB SSD PCIe NVMeWarranty: One-year Carry-inAC Adapter: 65WGraphics: Intel UHD GraphicsBattery: 3 Cell Li-PolymerBluetooth: Bluetooth Version 5.1Camera: 720P HD Camera (Privacy Shutter, bump camera) with wide-array MicrophoneFingerprint Reader: YesKeyboard: 6-row Backlit English (US)Pointing Device: ClickPadWireless: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 22560 2*2ax non-vProDimensions: 321.7mm x 211.8mm x 16.9mmWeight: Starting from 1.58kgColours: Ducati RedAudio: 2 x 2W front-facing speakers with Dolby AudioDigital Assistant: Windows CortanaPorts:
2 x USB 3.2 (Gen 1)USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1, with Power Delivery + DisplayPort)HDMISD card readerHeadphone / mic combo


Malaysian auto vendors meet Japanese counterparts

                NAGOYA: Malaysian auto vendors see great potential in partnering with their Japanese counterparts to tap the growing Asean Economic Community market.

Forty-four Japanese automotive vendors and trading companies attended a business matchmaking session with 25 Malaysian automotive vendors held in Tsu City, Mei Prefecture yesterday. Tsu is 62km south-west of here.

The event was hosted by Hyakugo Bank of Japan.

“With the launch of the Asean Economic Community, Southeast Asia is an attractive market for Japanese companies. For Malaysian companies, partnership with Japanese companies with the most advanced technology is said to be one of the important factor(s) in staying competitive,” said bank president Toshiyasu Ito.

The event was organised by the Malaysian Automotive Institute and assisted by the Malaysia Investment Development Authority, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation and Japan Trade Organisation.

The potential collaboration between these companies include strategic partnership and/ or technical assistance in the areas of plastic parts, metal parts, tools, electrical parts and after-market parts.

The event was also attended by Hyakugo Bank chairman Tsuyoshi Ueda, Perodua president and CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, Malaysian Automotive Institute chief operating officer Nizma Mohd Nazar and Malaysia Investment Development Authority director (Tokyo office) Zahirul Ishak.

“Today’s event is a testimony of the strong bilateral economic relationship between Malaysia and Japan.”

“It is intended among others as a platform for our vendors to identify suitable and potential joint ventures with Japanese automotive companies; as well as help to promote strategic alliances in various business areas, including technology collaboration, business expansion opportunity, export market penetration and knowledge sharing,” said Nizma.

He said that Japan has long been a close trading partner to Malaysia.

In terms of automotive product trade, Japan was Malaysia’s second largest trading partner, with two-way trade amounting to RM6.8 billion in 2015.

“Malaysia’s exports of automotive parts and components to Japan last year recorded an increase of 27 per cent to RM301.5 million from RM237.5 million in 2014. Look at Perodua, and that is a testament to what a Japan-Malaysia partnership can do,” said Nizma.

Aminar said that this event is rather historic moment for the Malaysian automotive industry in general and for Perodua in particular, as all the 25 Malaysian vendors participating are the best in their respective fields and are now on the verge or going regional, if not global.

“These 25 Perodua vendors were vetted based on their dedication towards improving quality, discipline and productivity while at the same time committed towards better cost management,” he said.

Aminar said that the business matching session is also a continuation of the “Look East” Policy, which began in 1981 as well as an opportunity to take advantage of the free trade agreement between Malaysia and Japan.

“I believe that there are a lot of areas where collaborations are possible whereby both parties can complement each other to take advantage of the potential growth in the Southeast Asia nations or Asean and beyond,” he said.

He further explained that aside from the economic potential growth in the Asean  region, Malaysia also has a lot of potential as the country’s economic growth is expected to grow between 4.5% and 4.7% in 2017.

“Malaysia is a Japanese-friendly country with over 30,000 Japanese citizens living and working there. There are also over 3,000 Japanese related companies operating in Malaysia and we believe that you will find that Malaysia the right place for you to set up your business,” added Aminar.


Police vow no let-up in blitz against illegal racers

                KUALA LUMPUR: To ensure the safety of all road users, the police will continue their crackdown against illegal racers nationwide, says Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani.

Stressing that operations against illegal racers are not seasonal, the nation’s top cop said they were conducted by the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) on a weekly basis, especially during weekends.

“Such enforcement operations are led by the respective state and district JSPT chiefs with the goal of nabbing the wrongdoers and ensuring the safety of all road users,” he told The Star yesterday.

The operations were conducted after the JSPT identified the hotspots for such races, he said.

“Information on the races are obtained through intelligence gathering and from the public as well,” he added.

One of the main challenges faced by the police was the higher risk posed by the illegal racers, Acryl Sani said.

“They are becoming more brazen not only when carrying out their stunts, but also when they are trying to escape the authorities.

“In turn, they are endangering not only themselves but the enforcement personnel and other road users as well.

“Despite the danger, the police are committed to safeguarding the safety of the public,” he said.

Recently, the Transport Ministry proposed amendments to Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987, which would lead to stiffer penalties for illegal racers.

Action would also be taken against spectators and parents who allow their children under the age of 18 to join illegal racing activities.

On the proposed amendments, Acryl Sani said the police fully supported laws that would be used to effectively curb illegal racing.

“We welcome efforts to amend and improve existing laws aimed at curbing illegal racing,” he said.

“We hope that the amendments proposed by the Transport Ministry will have a positive impact during implementation. We need a holistic legislative approach to seriously curb illegal racing,” Acryl Sani added.

Illegal racing, which mainly involved underaged riders, not only affected the racers but also their parents and other road users, he said.

Under the proposed amendments, the racers could face a minimum fine of RM5,000 and jail time too. The current minimum fine is RM300.

Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak said that under the proposed amendments, workshop operators who provided motorcycle modification services for illegal racing purposes would also be punished.

He said the amendments would likely be tabled in the first Dewan Rakyat meeting next year.


Heavier penalties soon for reckless driving and DUI offences, says Loke

                PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has agreed to introduce stiffer punishment for offences related to reckless driving and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke (pic) said the Road Transport Act would be reviewed and amended to increase the existing penalties for such offences.

"This matter received serious attention in today's (Jan 29) Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet agreed in principle for the Transport Minister to review and amend the existing provisions and tighten laws concerning driving under the influence and reckless driving.

"We will be having discussions with stakeholders including the police and the Attorney General's Chambers to seek their views on enforcement and laws," said Loke at a press conference at his ministry here on Wednesday.

Loke said the amendments could be tabled in Parliament as early as the second sitting in June or July this year.

Among the provisions to be reviewed includes the prescribed limit of alcohol content in the driver's blood.

Loke said the current law permits up to 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

"However, the international limit set by WHO (World Health Organisation) is 50mg in 100ml of blood ... we feel this needs to be reviewed," said Loke.

At present, those found driving intoxicated beyond the permissible amount can be jailed up to ten years and fined up to RM20,000.

Loke said Section 41 of the Road Transport Act concerning reckless and dangerous driving which causes fatal accidents, would also be reviewed.

"We need to re-look existing provisions and ensure those who are found guilty of reckless driving will receive more appropriate punishment," he said.

Currently, those who are found guilty for reckless driving and causes death can be jailed up to 10 years and fined a maximum of RM20,000.

They will also be banned from driving for at least three years.

While drafting the amendments, Loke said the ministry would also be boosting its campaign against drunk driving.

"We have instructed the Road Safety Department to enhance the "Don't Drink and Drive" campaign. Although this campaign has been around for a while, it needs to be brought back to remind people not to drive while intoxicated," said Loke.


Multimodal expands fleet with 10 more Volvo FM440 trucks

                SHAH ALAM: Following a historic 2019 sales performance, Volvo Trucks has delivered an additional 10 units of its Volvo FM440 truck to Multimodal Freight Sdn Bhd.

“We would like to thank Multimodal for their steadfast support and trust given to the Volvo brand. We make it our responsibility to ensure that our products and services are providing the best outcome and return on investment," said Volvo Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Mitch Peden.

An official handover ceremony was held recently at the Volvo Trucks Port Klang dealership where a limited edition truck scale model was presented to Multimodal to mark the occasion.

 Volvo Trucks managing director Peden (left) receiving the Volvo Gold Service Agreement signed by Multimodal CEO Hasdey.

The new trucks are the company's first delivery to a key customer for 2020 which adds on to an additional 40 units delivered in 2019.

During the handover, Multimodal also signed up for Volvo’s Gold Service Agreement for of all its 50 trucks, which covers preventive maintenance and repairs.

“We have been using Volvo Trucks for over 20 years now and the Volvo Gold Service Agreement assures me that our trucks are in the good hands of the experts, who can help to ensure the best possible truck uptime,” said Multimodal Freight CEO Mohd Hasdey Bin Yaakob.

As part of this service agreement, Multimodal now enjoys the added feature of Volvo Uptime Promise which was newly introduced last year.

This unique benefit will provide monetary compensation to Volvo Trucks’ Gold Service Agreement customers if one of their trucks experiences more than 12 hours of down-time.

With great product features and benefits such as Volvo Uptime Promise, high productivity, lower fuel costs and driver training, we know that we can help our customers make a difference to their business bottom line,” added Peden.

Multimodal is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) and was established in 1989 as a forwarding company to handle KTMB’s locomotive or rolling stock import shipments as well as to serve railway cargo customers who require forwarding services.

The company then grew and obtained its haulage licence in 1991 and by 1995, it became a customer of Volvo Trucks after buying 30 units of the Volvo FL10 model to support its business.

Over the years, it continues to add more Volvo trucks to its fleet and is today a key customer of the Swedish truck manufacturer.

At current, Multimodal owns a total of 200 trucks - all bearing the Volvo logo.


Rand McNally brings OverDryve to market

                CHICAGO: Rand McNally has revealed OverDryve, a connected-car device that brings advanced luxury-car features to mainstream automobiles, at the Chicago Auto Show.

OverDryve is an elegant dashboard tablet that provides a combination of entertainment, information, navigation, and safety features. It makes an ordinary drive more engaging, enjoyable and safe – all for less than US$400.

“The vast majority of the 250 million US cars and light trucks on the road today don’t have sophisticated electronics – features such as voice recognition and control, hands-free texting and forward collision detection, just to name a few,” said Stephen Fletcher, CEO of Rand McNally. “OverDryve upgrades ordinary vehicles by providing an advanced connected-car experience for a fraction of the cost of a high-end luxury car.”

OverDryve comes with a clever, easy to install magnetic mount, making attaching and removing the device a snap. Keeping safety at the forefront, some OverDryve™ features are disabled while the device is on the mount and in driver mode. Off the mount – for passengers in the car or after the drive – OverDryve™ is a fully loaded entertainment tablet that can be used to watch movies, access social media, and check email.

Celebrating its 160th anniversary this year, Rand McNally has undergone a quiet transformation into a technology company in recent years. A major player in the commercial transportation markets – for 80 years – the company has leveraged its fast-growing telematics and fleet management expertise along with its award-winning commercial navigation to create an advanced, connected-car device that is affordable and can be used in any car or truck.

Designed with drivers in mind, OverDryve provides simple and intuitive access to: a voice-controlled smart assistant; hands-free calling and texting; music from drivers’ favourite sources; audible news, weather, traffic and sports; forward collision warnings; a dash camera and available high-resolution wireless backup camera; customisable gauge clusters and vehicle information; available tyre pressure monitoring; trip planning and navigation; an FM radio; wired and wireless connectivity to in-dash radios; and available roadside assistance and accident notification

OverDryve is due in stores later this spring and is expected to retail at US$399. Rand McNally is displaying the product at the Chicago Auto Show, Feb 13-21.