Your body might be unscathed after a car crash, but your mind?

                BERLIN: After a road accident, physical injuries tend to be immediately clear. The impact on mental health, however, can take weeks or months to manifest itself.

That's because even if the body emerges from a crash with little or no injuries, the mind can suffer from a profound feeling of a loss of control.

Among the most common responses to the stress of a crash are a feeling of emotional numbness, concentration problems, restlessness and general anxiety, mental health experts say.

If these complaints do not subside after a few days or weeks and restrict your everyday life, you should seek help from a psychotherapist.

Left unchecked, this trauma can develop into a full-blown driving phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. If they are not recognised and treated, the symptoms will also continue to worsen.

If you feel at all shaken up after an accident, listen to your feelings particularly carefully for the next few days and weeks and ask yourself:

1. Are my worries suddenly popping up to such a degree that I have trouble concentrating?

2. Do I constantly feel numbed to the world around me?

3. Am I having nightmares or reliving the accident in my mind over and over again?

4. Am I afraid to get behind the wheel again? Do I feel anxious in cars?

Remember that mental health issues sometimes won't manifest themselves until many weeks or even months after the accident. PTSD can develop either right after the disturbing event, or it can occur weeks, months or even years later, according to Britain's National Health Service.

It can sometimes also happen that the treatment of any physical injuries from the accident suppresses the psychological processing of the accident for the time being.


Smog-shrouded New Delhi pulls cars off roads

                NEW DELHI: More than a million private cars were banned from New Delhi’s roads on Friday, as authorities began trialling drastic new measures to cut smog in the world’s most polluted capital.

From January 1 only cars with odd-numbered licence plates will be allowed on the roads on odd-numbered dates and those with even-numbered plates on the other days, except on Sundays when the rule does not apply.

The restrictions will run until January 15 on a trial basis as part of a wider drive aimed at reducing pollution levels that also includes shutting some coal-fired power plants and vacuuming roads to reduce dust.

Early Friday as Delhi residents took the roads, volunteers and traffic police were seen fanning out across the central part of the city.

On one of the city’s main arterial roads, most cars trickling in bore odd-numbered license plates while scores of cyclists wore fluorescent gear, their faces covered.

“Traffic definitely looks thinner today than most days. But I don’t know if that’s because of the odd-even rule or because people partied too much last night,” 58-year-old Mohammad Shahid, a civil defence volunteer, told AFP while standing at one of Delhi’s busiest intersections.

Critics have warned the plan could fail in a city where traffic rules are already routinely flouted, with even the federal environment minister calling the move “crazy”.

Many believe Delhi residents will deploy the famed Indian skill of “jugaad“ - creating a cheap alternative solution - by forging number plates or buying second cars.
But traffic policemen Friday were happy and surprised to find Delhiites obeying the rules.

“I would have expected to catch at least dozens in the first half an hour but surprisingly most people are obeying,” Ankit Kumar, a senior traffic policeman, said.

“At least over here which is usually a pretty hectic intersection. This is a good sign. But let’s see what happens on Monday (when more commuters hit the roads),” he added.

One of the first violators of the new rule at the busy stretch was fined 2,000 rupees ($30) -- steep for the average Delhiite -- for driving a car with an even-numbered licence plate.

Police asked him to turn around and go back home.

The Delhi government says the car restrictions could be introduced on a more permanent basis if successful, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal promising that he and his ministers would car-pool.

“This plan will only be successful when it becomes a very big movement, when people will want to obey it from their heart,” he has said previously, urging Delhiites to cooperate.

“Don’t do it because Kejriwal says so, don’t do it because the government is forcing you. Do it because you feel it is important for your life, your health.”

But some have expressed scepticism about the scheme given the large number of exemptions, which range from motorcycles to women driving alone. Campaigners say motorbikes create up to 31 percent of total vehicular pollution.

Kejriwal’s government announced the measures early December, responding to public pressure to tackle pollution levels more than 10 times the World Health Organization’s safe limits.

A 2014 WHO survey of more than 1,600 cities ranked Delhi as the most polluted, partly because of the 8.5 million vehicles on its roads. Just under three million of these are private cars or vans, and another 1,400 are added every day.

The city has been shrouded in a toxic blanket of smog in recent weeks as winter sets in and cooler temperatures trap pollutants in the atmosphere, pushing harmful PM 2.5 levels sky-high.

These fine particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter are linked to higher rates of chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease after settling into lungs and passing into the bloodstream.

Delhi’s government has hired 3,000 private buses to provide shuttle services into the city from residential areas to cope with the extra ridership during the trial.

Schools have been ordered to remain closed until the trial ends so that their buses can be pressed into action.


China removes list of recommended auto battery suppliers

                BEIJING/SEOUL: China has scrapped its list of recommended battery suppliers, the industry ministry said today, a decision foreign companies said could open up the world’s biggest market for electric vehicle batteries.

China, the world’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) market, has seen increased investment from South Korean battery makers LG Chem Ltd and Samsung SDI Co Ltd amid expectations for a gradual change in policy.

The list, which did not include foreign firms when it was first published in 2015 to spur a domestic battery sector, was abolished on Friday as part of government management reforms, the ministry said on its website. It gave no further details.

Foreign makers complained the list discouraged competition and became linked to generous subsidies for recommended domestic companies such as Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and BYD Co Ltd.

“We are relieved that these lists are going away, but we cannot be certain if the Chinese government is committed to abolish subsidies until they actually remove all subsidy policies,” said an official at one foreign battery maker who declined to be named.

China has raised its standards for new energy vehicles (NEV) that qualify for subsidies and reduced the amount it is willing to provide to relevant companies, as it looks to wean the sector off government support.

Growth in NEV sales has slowed in recent months after growing rapidly in past years.


Alfa Romeo, Lancia to enjoy stronger investments under Stellantis, says Elkann

                MILAN: Former Fiat Chrysler premium car brands Alfa Romeo and Lancia will enjoy stronger investments under Stellantis, the new automaker formed from the merger with France’s PSA, Stellantis chairman John Elkann said in a TV interview.

With 14 brands under one roof, Stellantis is the world’s fourth largest carmaker. It was officially born in January, as Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and Peugeot maker completed their long awaited merger.

Asked about what role FCA’s hometown of Turin would play in Stellantis, Elkann told Italian State TV Rai that, as part of a bigger group, it would have greater opportunities.

“We’ve seen it clearly with some brands like Alfa Romeo and Lancia, on which we could not invest or give resources as much as we wanted in recent years,” said Elkann, who led FCA into the PSA merger as chairman of the Italian American automaker.

“In this new group there will be much greater opportunities than in the past for these two brands, which are based in Turin,” he said.

Stellantis is creating a pool with Alfa Romeo, Lancia and former PSA’s DS brand to cooperate on the premium market.


Nissan to showcase new LEAF at first Detroit tech show

                DETROIT: Nissan is bringing the all-new 2018 LEAF to the inaugural Technology in Motion (TIM Detroit) exhibition and conference here. The Sept 6-8 event will be one of the first opportunities to see the next-generation LEAF electric car following its global unveil.

TIM Detroit attendees will have the chance to hear about the LEAF from Chris Reed, vice president, research & development, Nissan Technical Center North America.

"The launch of the LEAF is the perfect kickoff for TIM Detroit," said KC Crain, president and chief operating officer, Crain Communications – a co-producer of TIM Detroit.

TIM Detroit attendees also will have the chance to explore Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company's blueprint for transforming how cars are driven, powered and integrated into people's lives, through an interactive display on the show floor.

With new technologies like ProPILOT Assist and e-Pedal, the new LEAF represents a key milestone in Nissan's ongoing commitment to bring accessible, advanced driver assistance technologies to mainstream vehicles.


New Peugeot 508 launched

 The new Peugeot 508 THP.

SHAH ALAM: The all-new Peugeot 508 sedan has been officially launched sporting fresh looks and is available in three variants the 508 turbo high pressure (THP) sedan, the 508 SW THP station wagon and 508 GT turbodiesel.

The estimated on-the-road price starts at RM175,000 for the THP; RM185,000 for the SW and RM205,000 for the GT.

The THP and SW THP comes with a 1.6 litre twin scroll turbo engine that produces 165PS and 240Nm of torque while the GT comes with a 2.2 turbodiesel HDI engine which outputs 206PS and 450Nm of torque.

All engines are mated to a six-speed auto adaptive gearbox featuring Tiptronic and Sport mode functionality.

The new 508 boasts an exterior design featuring a new vertically oriented front grille with the Peugeot lion right in the centre including a revamped, horizontal bonnet and redesigned bumpers.

Another eye-catching design element is the signature LED (light emitting diode) headlamps which gives the car an expressive apperance. There is also LED daytime running lights and LED fog lamp with cornering assist. The rear LED lights is just as impressive with its three ‘claws’ effect.

Inside, you will find a 7-inch HD multifunction touchscreen on the centre dash and controls for navigation, telephone, vehicle configuration, multimedia, driving aids, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and CD/MP3 player. It also comes with JBL HiFi 10 speakers with subwoofer, an Arkarmys 3D sound processor and Peugeot Jukebox.

Along with the elegantly designed two cluster instrument panel, the driver is also aided by the Head-Up Display screen which displays driving and navigation information in colour.

The 508 comes with intelligent keyless entry with push start, smart beam, automatic electric praking brake, automatic headlamp dipping, quad-zone automatic air conditioning, 8-way electric front seats with electric lumbar support, front and rear park assist and integrated reversing camera.

Safety-wise, the new 508 comes with six airbags, electronic stability program (ESP) featuring anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist (EBA), anti-skid regulation (ASR) and dynamic stability control (DSC).

Other features include hill start assist, one touch power windows with anti-pinch and the Blind Spot Information System (BLISS) among others. It’s no wonder the new 508 earned a full five-star EURO NCAP rating.

The new 508 comes in five colours - Pearl White, Bourrasque Blue, Pine Brown, Artense Grey and Harla Grey.

It comes with a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage together with Nasim’s 24-hour Peugeot Assistance service, complimentary access to the Peugeot Lounge at Subang Airport and Peugeot Privilege membership.


Transport ministry sets up special website to provide current info

                PETALING JAYA: The Transport ministry has created a special website to provide the latest information on the agencies that come under its jurisdiction.

Transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said that since the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) on March 18, several issues on transportation had arisen.

The ministry will update the FAQs section at cccovid19.mot.gov.my on their operations throughout the MCO by categories – namely the land, rail, air and maritime sectors.

Dr Wee said it also features links to the official National Security Council website, which contains all other FAQs on the government's efforts to address the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We will do our best to disseminate the latest information to the public, ” Wee said in a Faceboook post today.

For more information, contact the ministry's  hotline at 1-800-88-7723.


Here are 10 family cars you need to consider

                Encapsulating a wide range brands, CarSifu brings you some of our favourite models that make a great family vehicle to own.

Honda HR-V
Take for instance Honda’s HR-V – the hottest compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) that’s sent many scrambling to the nearest dealership to become a proud owner of something that has a cute disposition - mainly attracting the lasses.

Out of three variants, it’s the range-topping HR-V V-spec that many tend to “gun” for, which comes with a 1.8-litre single-overhead cam engine producing 140bhp and 172Nm of torque.

Considering its compact size, budding families will find the cabin rather accommodating with enough comfort and conveniences dialled in from the versatile cargo space to the keyless entry with push-start button and the plethora of passive safety equipment.

Mazda CX-3
Also in the compact SUV segment is the Mazda’s CX-3 - a smaller sibling of the CX-5, which comes costing RM135,218 (OTR with insurance).

This upstart is setting its sights on those who seem to have been love-struck by the Honda HR-V.

The Japanese brand is not only known for it’s handling prowess, but also for its fuel-efficient SkyActiv technology and with a 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G engine producing 155bhp and 204Nm of torque.

With only 2,000 units being brought in from Japan under the first shipment, the CX-3 should be locally assembled given its demand.

Nissan X-Trail
On the larger front, the X-Trail is Nissan’s mid-sized SUV that promises efficiency, power and plenty of usable space for large families and what’s more – it’s capable of seating seven in total.

Inside the leather-clad interior, the Infiniti-like cabin provides that premium feel along with plenty of shoulder and headroom with 10 cup holders throughout the cabin and 510 litres of boot space that’s expandable to 1,520 litres with the second and third row seats folded down.

With traction in mind, the 2.5-litre all-wheel drive would be main choice, providing 168bhp and 233Nm of torque that’s managed via a continuously variable transmission for better fuel economy, but more importantly there’s plenty of passive safety equipment.

Mercedes-Benz GLA
Talking about premium brands, the GLA from Mercedes-Benz could provide a stylish option for well-heeled budding families, although the car uses the same platform as the A-Class hatchback, the GLA is one that’s got more interior space.

It may sit slightly more raised off the ground for a more commanding view, but it’s the overall physical dimensions that help provide more head and shoulder room inside along with a respectable 421 litres of boot space.

The GLA would feel compact and cosy, yet capable of seating a total of five quite comfortably and when reaching any particular destination – it’s always about arriving in style.

Hyundai Tucson
Standing toe-to-toe against Mazda’s CX-5, it’s a more affordable mid-sized SUV proposition from Korea and it’s all about providing what’s necessary and then including a little more.

The front-wheel drive Tucson with its leather upholstery does well to exude luxury while its re-tuned suspension provides a sportier feel.

When running-around in the city or cruising the highways, conveniences include a reverse camera, automatic headlights, auto cruise control and depending on variant there’s keyless entry and powered driver’s seat.

Toyota Camry Hybrid
As with most hybrids, performance can sometimes feel lacking and that’s where the Toyota Camry Hybrid has managed to quell such (albeit often) misconceptions about hybrid vehicles with its sportier drive that now goes hand-in-hand with that executive-feel.

With a 2.5-litre engine providing 158bhp and 213Nm of torque that’s supplemented by an electric motor providing 140bhp and 270Nm of torque – combined output stands at 203bhp.

Not only can the Camry Hybrid cruise and be abused, it’ll bring frugality to the fuel-economy table when in stop-go city traffic, while family members enjoy the comfortable leather-clad interior and the shopping/groceries in the 421-litre boot.

Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure
Just introduced a few months ago in four variants, the range-topping Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure priced at RM113,600 will have many realising its car-like comfort and handling qualities.

The aerodynamically-improved Triton uses a 2.5-litre turbo diesel with a variable geometry turbo that produces 175bhp and 400Nm of torque and is the first pickup truck to feature an all-independent suspension setup.

Additionally, it also features a number of luxury items such as automatic Xenon HID headlights, daytime running lights, automatic wipers, keyless entry with push-start button and paddles shifters to name a few.

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is no ordinary MPV as its space-age looks sets it apart from its people-carrier rivals.

The ultra-modern design continues inside but manages to be practical too as the rear seats slide back and forth. Also, the total boot space can be expanded from 537 litres to an enormous 1,709 litres by folding the seats.

Despite it size, the Grand C4 Picasso is both comfortable and fun to drive.

The MPV is available in two variants - the 2.0 Turbocharged BlueHDi diesel priced at RM189,888 and the 1.6 Turbocharged Petrol at RM179,888.

Land Rover Discovery Sport
This new offering is going to attract weathly families that have an adventure streak in them as the Discovery Sport is bold-looking and comes with a plush premium interior with a 5+2 seats.

It has all the makings of luxury, comfort and off-road capabilities. Not to mention, a massive loading space of up to 1,698 litres with all rear seats folded.

Some of the features that come standard with the Discovery Sport includes the eight-way powered front seats, configurable mood lighting, electric parking brake and cruise control.

All-terrain performance is a cinch with a wading depth of 600mm and its geared to handle almost any terrain with its Terrain Response Systems which has four settings: General, Grass/Gravel/Snow (for slippery conditions), Mud and Ruts, and Sand.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport features a 2.0L Si4 Petrol engine with a base price of RM399,000. A diesel variant can be ordered on request.

Perodua Myvi
This little wonder of a hatchback has been a bestseller in Malaysia for 10 years now and for good reasons. Affordability, realibility and practicality.

The 2015 line-up are the 1.5 SE, 1.5 Advance, 1.3 Standard, the 1.3 Premium X and the recently launched 1.3 Premium XS variants.

Standard on all variants include dual front airbags, a multi-info display with service info, a tissue holder at the back of the front passenger seat, an anti-theft hook for handbags, a retractable cup holder under the driver’s right air-con vent and a multi-purpose compartment.

The Myvi is also offered in manual and automatic transmissions and prices start from RM41,500.


VW's Audi to cut one in 10 jobs to fund shift to electric vehicles

                HAMBURG/MUNICH: Volkswagen’s luxury car unit Audi on Tuesday said it would cut one in 10 jobs, freeing up billions of euros to fund its shift towards electric vehicle production.

Carmakers are struggling with an auto industry downturn, particularly in key market China, and the need to increase investment in electric vehicles as several countries move to eventually ban conventional combustion engines.

Audi said it would cut up to 9,500 jobs, or 10.6% of its total staff by 2025, saving €6 billion (RM28bil), but also create up to 2,000 new positions in the areas of electric mobility and digitalisation.

“The company must become lean and fit for the future, which means that some job profiles will no longer be needed and new ones will be created,” Audi said in a statement.

The group said the cuts, which would also include management positions, would take place along the demographic curve through employee turnover and early retirement programs and help it reach a profit margin of 9-11%.

Rival Daimler as well as car suppliers Continental and Osram have also recently announced staff and cost cuts.

Audi agreed to extend an employment guarantee, which rules out forced layoffs for its workforce until the end of 2029, something which had been a sticking point in discussions between management and labour representatives.

“We have reached an important milestone: The jobs of our core workforce are secure,” said Peter Mosch, chairman of the general works council of Audi. “The extension of the employment guarantee is a great success in difficult times.”

The agreement between management and workers sees annual production capacity at Audi’s German plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm at 450,000 and 225,000 respectively.

Audi said a fund would be set up at the Neckarsulm site to fund the shift towards electric vehicles and would be worth €300 million (RM1.4bil) by 2025.

“In times of upheaval, we are making Audi more agile and more efficient,” Audi CEO Bram Schot said. “This will increase productivity and sustainably strengthen the competitiveness of our German plants.”


Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge to make regional debut

                BANGKOK: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars wants to enter the 38th Bangkok International Motor Show with a bang. And what better way than with its menacing and most powerful model - the 624bhp, 870Nm twin-turbocharged V12 Wraith Black Badge.

This marks the first time the Black Badge is coming to South-East Asia.

Rolls-Royce bespoke designer Victor Braun will also be present at the show to shed more light on the car and the company's bespoke services.

Rolls-Royce coined the Black Badge series in an attempt to attract a younger set of customers, declaring it as "a darker, more assertive, more confident and powerful, and more demanding alter ego" of the brand.

Earlier this month, Rolls-Royce showcased a Ghost at the Geneva Motor Show that was over the top, with a paintwork made of diamond dust.


MINI USA screens 'The Italian Job'

                NEW YORK: The film that put the MINI Cooper on the map was revisited as MINI USA hosted a virtual movie night in collaboration with Paramount Pictures of The Italian Job, a 2003 remake, to hundreds of MINI enthusiasts across the country.

The virtual screening of The Italian Job was held online on May 13. It was attended by more than 350 MINI owners who generated over 1,470 chat messages in the virtual screening platform.

The evening event was hosted by Mike Peyton, Vice President, MINI of the Americas, who welcomed the group, shared trivia questions during the intermission, chatted with members of the community in real time during the movie, and closed out the night with a live Q&A session with owners.

“We know that our owners love to gather and enjoy each other’s company, something that is not possible right now due to social distancing,” said Mike Peyton, Vice President, MINI of the Americas. “It is important for MINI to bring our community together. It is what MINI is all about.”

The Italian Job is an American action thriller starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and a trio of red, white, and blue MINI Coopers.

32 MINIs were used in the making of the film, with the actors trained to do as many of the driving scenes as possible. In addition, three of the MINIs were specially converted to full battery electric drive to be used in filming the escape scenes in the underground tunnels of Los Angeles.


Sunscreen: Good for your skin, bad for your car's paint

                BERLIN: You wouldn't normally think to keep sunscreen off your car, but you'd be surprised what a stain it can leave if you get a drop on the bonnet.

Sun block will help protect your skin, but it will do the opposite to your car's outermost layer, and car magazines are full of reports of dealers seeing cars where the chemicals in sunscreen have eaten into the top coat of paint.

If left on the paint in the blaring sun, a speck of sunscreen can quickly turn into a nasty, light stain, which will look particularly bad if your car has a darker paint shade.

And it's not just a stray squirt of sunscreen that poses a threat. Open a door or put your hand on the bonnet after rubbing on some sun block and you might later notice that your fingerprints are impossible to remove.

What's more, any marks like these will likely take down the estimated value of your car.

If you leave it out long enough, the paint will even start to swell and wrinkle, something you definitely won't be able to fix by polishing.

That's why you're always better off wiping any sunscreen off your hands before going anywhere near your car.


Volkswagen to turn used Li-ion batteries into EV power banks

                WOLFSBURG: With Volkswagen Group aiming to build a million electric vehicles per year by 2025, the German carmaker is now looking at what to do with these batteries at the end of its lifespan.

The new generation of electric vehicles will bring a massive increase in the number of batteries on the road and this has brought some concerns about how lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries will be recycled after 10 or 15 years of use.

In the United States, 99% of all lead-acid automotive batteries are either shredded or melted down before reusing the raw materials.

Hence, the German carmaking giant is already working on how to develop a robust second life for these Li-ion batteries.

An automotive Li-ion battery is one of the most expensive parts in a car requiring rare metals - cobalt and manganese, coupled with a complex manufacturing process.

Thus, digging out those metals from discarded batteries may be a cheaper alternative than digging them out of the Earth while helping itself to reduce its carbon footprint.

To tackle the challenges, the company is now working towards two approaches - Portable rechargers and energy-efficient recycling.

An automotive lithium-ion battery that’s been used for over a decade may not be suitable for powering a vehicle anymore, but it could still have a sizable energy capacity.

In real terms, the 35.8kWh battery fitted in the upcoming e-Golf can store more energy than a typical American household uses in a day.

Additionally, an electric vehicle (EV) will need to be charged at some point in time - sometimes in a place where a plug point is absent.

This is why the company plans to produce a portable quick-charging station that can hold up to 360kWh of energy, which can charge up to four vehicles at a time, with a maximum quick-charge output of 100kW.

Akin to a power bank, the company's charger can be used until it has been depleted or connected to a power source to keep itself recharged while remaining compact enough to be deployed in 'hard-to-charge' locations.

The charger has been designed to use the same battery pack like the one in the MEB electric vehicle chassis so that once the battery reaches the end of their useful life, it gets a second one as a recharge station.

The first of the company's portable quick chargers is anticipated to be installed in Germany next year with full production to begin in 2020.

But at some point, such batteries will lose its ability to hold a charge, which is where the company's component plant in Salzgitter, Germany comes into play.

The plant will be the new home of the company's first centre for electric vehicle battery recycling.

In 2020, the centre plans to have an initial capacity to recycle roughly 1,200 tonnes of electric vehicle (EV) batteries per annum, which roughly equates to about 3,000 EVs.

With a special shredder, the battery's parts can be ground up, the liquid electrolyte cleaned off, and the components separated into “black powder.”

This contains the valuable raw materials of cobalt, lithium, manganese, and nickel – which, while requiring further physical separation, are then ready for reuse in new batteries.

In the long term, the company looks hopes to recycle about 97% of all raw materials in the battery packs.

Today, it’s roughly 53% and the plant in Salzgitter expects to raise it to a further 72% with the hopes that other private recycling plants will follow.


Dr M tests voice command feature in Proton concept car

                PETALING JAYA: Will voice commands be a part of Proton cars in the near future?

A YouTube video making the rounds shows Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad seated in the driver's seat of a Proton vehicle, while a young woman seated to his right uses voice commands to activate several functions.

Using only her voice, the woman opens and closes the driver side windows and its sunroof, which appears to impress Dr Mahathir.

The video was uploaded on YouTube by user Luffiq on Sunday (Aug 19) with the title "The 1st SUV Proton (sic) with voice control, tested by Tun Mahathir".

Sin Chew Daily reported that the woman in the video is Malaysian student Tan Shu Rin, who is in her second year at Shanghai's Fudan University.

The 21-year-old Johor lass, who is majoring in broadcasting, is an intern with Nuance Communications, an American-based technology development company.

The Chinese daily reported that Tan had practised activating the voice commands numerous times prior to Dr Mahathir's arrival.

He was in China for a five-day official trip between Aug 17 and Aug 21.

Malaysiakini reported that Dr Mahathir – who was previously critical of Chinese car manufacturer Geely's acquisition of a major stake in Proton – hoped that the strategic partnership would accelerate the process of improving the national car brand.

He said that when the first Proton car was produced, Geely had not been established yet.

"We sent six Proton cars here (to China), and we were very proud of our achievement.

"But … Geely has outstripped us in terms of quality and productivity … And I think Proton can benefit from working together with Geely," said Dr Mahathir.


How to get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to work in an older car

                BERLIN: There's no need to buy a brand-new car if you want to use smartphone apps like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or MirrorLink.

These systems can be made to function in older vehicles, thanks to after-market kits and gadgets. On more modern cars, entertainment set-ups can also be upgraded to include the handy features.

Apple's CarPlay, for instance, lets you connect an iPhone and use iOS apps on the dashboard display. You can use Apple Maps for navigation, access your iTunes library or send texts via voice command.

Android Auto can also do almost anything an Android phone can do on its own, but it too has been integrated into an automotive setting.

How do you go about putting CarPlay into your car? Well, it can get a little complicated, and unless you are a dab hand with car electrics, the work might be beyond your abilities. Fitting is best left to a certified shop.

First up, you require a standard radio slot to take the main head unit. A double DIN is usually needed so that the display system can tune in to the original hardware.

Some companies, like Germany's Volkswagen and BMW, make retrofitting easy, provided the car is not too long in the tooth. "Several Volkswagen models from 2016 can be retrofitted with no trouble," says Christian Buric, a spokesman for Germany's giant ADAC motoring club.

There are after-market systems for a wide range of cars from makers like Kenwood, Pionier, Sony, Alpine or Zenec.

In some cases, the upgrades mimic the original equipment and come with names like Navitainer, Naviceiver or Infotainer. More expensive versions will be able to control features like the air conditioning and heated seats. The ACV club recommends getting detailed advice from a supplier on just what functions will work on your car.

Another point to look for is whether functions that can be controlled from the multifunctional steering wheel, such as for infotainment and vehicle information, will still work with an after-market unit.

Naturally the smartphone itself needs to be compatible, and that might entail an update to the current operating system.

Apple says CarPlay will work from an iPhone 5 upwards.

If the compatibility is fine, drivers can enjoy a whole raft of new experiences besides just phone calls. On a road trip, the integrated maps, entertainment, and messaging features will show their value.

A microphone allows you to use voice commands and take phone calls without having to touch your phone or type on the touchscreen.

Apple's Siri voice assistant also gives you access to iTunes for music, podcasts and radio, as well as third-party apps like Spotify.

Cheap after-market solutions are best avoided, says the ACV expert.

"It's better to pay a bit more from a reputable supplier, since the device is bound to be compatible and the after-sales service will be better," says Buric.

Compatible after-market units start at around US$350 (RM1,428), rising to well over US$1,150 (RM4,700).

Don't forget that many of the apps require an internet connection, which will require more power and storage capacity, along with a stable connection.


Ford plans fully-electric SUV by 2020 thanks to Millennials

                LONDON: Ford has found that more than four out of five Millennials believe that the sport utility vehicle (SUV) has shed their gas-guzzling ways and one in four are willing to buy one.

This was the findings of the American car maker which conducted a survey on 5,000 people aged 17 to 34 who own a car or are intending to buy one in the next 12 months in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

To this, the company is will be introducing an all-new fully electric SUV, capable of an estimated range of at least 480km, allowing owners to drive from London to Paris on a single charge.

Last year, Ford introduced three new SUVs in Europe and the new zero-emission model will be one of five arriving by 2020.

According to the company, Ford’s SUV sales in the UK for the compact EcoSport, medium-size Kuga and full-size Edge – are up 320% over the last three years and grew 31% in 2016 compared to 2015 in Europe.

Industry SUV registrations were up 21% across Europe in 2016, accounting for more than one quarter of all the new vehicles registered.

Furthermore, data gathered by the company has shown that it’s not only younger drivers that are defying expectations with their vehicular choices.

In fact, the data shows that the average age of customers buying hot hatchbacks – high performance versions of small and medium sized cars, has increased by more than 10% between 2010 and 2016.

Last year, Ford's performance car sales such as the Fiesta ST, Focus ST and Focus RS and the Mustang grew by 60% for the second year in succession.

“SUV sales are rising faster than any other type of vehicle in Europe, and eco-conscious Millennials are a driving force behind growing SUV demand,” said Ford of Europe vice president (Marketing, Sales & Service) Roelant de Waard.


Covid-19 will change how we create cars, say top designers

Wagener.
NEW YORK: Gorden Wagener has spent a good amount of his coronavirus quarantine thinking about waffles.

Daimler’s head of design, who created such iconic cars as the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and Vision Mercedes concepts, wanted to bake bread during his pandemic free time, but soon found the bread maker he wanted was out of stock.

So he ordered a waffle iron from Williams-Sonoma instead, and the German and Germany-based designer has been perfecting his at-home recipe for the delightfully dimpled grid of syrup holders ever since.

That’s how he landed on the idea for a glove-box waffle catapult.

When I heard he’d become a waffle master, I asked whether he could do deliveries. “The car is easily smart enough to launch a waffle accurately—you could write smart messages on the waffle and then throw it!” Wagener suggested on a recent phone call. A paperboy tossing waffles instead of the morning news, he would do it from the new GLE Coupe.

Wagener, of course, spends the bulk of his workdays thinking about things rather more serious than breakfast, but the time at home has spurred him to think outside the traditional box in a lot of ways. While the pandemic is tanking global markets and has pushed the automotive industry to a standstill, Wagener has been exploring what Covid-19 means for the future of design.

“The pandemic will change our perception of how we experience safety and luxury in the future,” Wagener says, predicting that the two will become much more intimately intertwined. “This can be a challenging but an exciting time.”

The new normal for safety

Across the car world, designers remain among the relative few in the industry who can continue their daily work uninterrupted, more or less.

While factory stalls everywhere from Volkswagen AG to General Motors Co. sent thousands of line workers home, the men and women who work to outline your car’s roof or orchestrate the feel of the lambswool carpets beneath your feet can gather virtually to push projects forward.

Conversations among their lot have long centred around the notions of safety and luxury—how they intersect and how they’re evolving.

What’s different already during the time of coronavirus—nearly 50 days since most factories in Italy closed, and Day 38 of self-isolation for this journalist—is that new ideas about safety inside cars have emerged.

“The future more than ever will be about the freedom of going places safely—and these cars will be more than ever about their interior,” Felix Kilbertus, the head of exterior design for Rolls-Royce, said on a Zoom call on April 21.

“An interior has always been a safe space—people will do all kinds of things in their car they won’t do on their own front lawn,” like hold business meetings, apply makeup, and, uh, pursue romance.

“The idea of the interior as a grand sanctuary has become very relevant,” he explained. “I believe it is a transformation that this current situation accelerates.”

“People want to feel protected, and now with the pandemic, even more so,” agreed Adam Hatton, the creative director for exterior design at Jaguar Land Rover, speaking by phone the same week.

“We are working on the idea of Jaguars being a big, beautiful sanctuary—like a spa. It’s even more relevant now than ever.”

Indeed, where safety concerns in luxury automobiles have typically centred around, first, protection from collision and, in countries like Mexico, Russia, and Brazil, protection from attack, robbery, or kidnapping, now safety concerns include a medical element both mental and physical.

“The most important thing for a long time has been to know that you and your family are safe,” Wagener says. “The important question now is how to protect your health.”

Now more than ever

The idea that a vehicle can be a protective cocoon from harsh elements has always excited, of course, dating back to the coach-built Packards and Continentals and Rolls-Royces of the previous turn of the century and, before that, to the gilded and decadent confines of horse-drawn coaches. The concept of car-as-spa these days means calming mood and ambient lighting, state-of-the-art sound systems, massaging seats, warm and plush trims—all of which already exist in cars from the BMW M850i to the Porsche Cayenne Coupe to the Mercedes AMG CLA 45.

What’s more, in parts of Asia notorious for pollution, Volvo, Hyundai, and Nissan have long incorporated air quality monitors and filters into their cars. (Volvo, the Swedish brand owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, has often made in-car air quality a selling point.)

In 2010, Infiniti equipped its M line with a plasma cluster ion generator called “Forest Air,” which it said could sterilise pathogens while a sensor blocked polluted air and particulate matter from the cabin.

In 2014, a joint venture of Peugeot-Citroen and Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobile even installed air conditioning systems in Elysée model cars that could filter out 90% of pollutants; the cars come with a negative-ion generator that kills mold and bacteria, as well as dissolves harmful gases in the air.

In the US, vehicles such as the Mercedes GLE AMG and Volvo’s XC90 and S60 include built-in air purifiers and/or fragrance disseminators set in the glove compartment.

Tesla offers a HEPA filtration system in the Model S and Model X with the claimed capability to reduce pollution levels in the vehicle to “undetectable” levels.

Rolls-Royce and Bentley offer high-end air filtration systems throughout their lineup to help remove particulates and pollen. Such systems work through the car’s ventilation and climate systems to scent and cleanse the cabin; some brands even offer a layer of active charcoal inside the car that can remove odors and ground-level ozone.

But the notion that a modern car should totally purify any significant amount of air outside the car is relatively new.

“We are working towards the idea that the car could actually take bad things out of the air, almost clean the air,” Wagener said. “It’s an opportunity to address the sustainability issue that we have already been considering.”

Judging from past history at Mercedes and its competitors, the system would be similar to existing processes that work to remove airborne allergens like car fumes—but would also work on a broader level than just the car itself, effectively and significantly cleaning the air immediately surrounding the exterior of the vehicle.

Mercedes has been exploring such options for decades: In 1989, the Mercedes Benz SL roadster was the first serial production model to come with a standard cabin air filter. By 2017, Mercedes was the first car manufacturer to achieve the asthma- and allergy-friendly certification for its interior cabin air filters from Allergy Standards Ltd. and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

Mental health as primary concern

Along with physical health concerns like clean air, coronavirus has prompted designers to consider more closely the idea of mental and emotional health as it relates to your vehicle.

Again, this idea has been out in the ether for a bit. Models such as the GLE Coupe already offer “energising comfort” settings that run through light mindfulness exercises to help promote circulation, breathing, and inner calm.

Their 10-or-so-minute routines encourage deep breathing, meditation, and gentle stretching. Meanwhile, six-figure luxury vehicles like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Bentley Bentayga already offer nearly instant Wi-Fi and audio settings, and recording-studio levels of quiet to help consumers feel safe, protected, and in-touch—all technologies that help busy and anxious consumers remain sane.

But mental health during and after the psychic trauma of an historic pandemic will mean a whole new level of concern. Future drivers will expect total efficiency and total isolation—for their own safety, says Alister Whelan, the creative director for interior design at Jaguar Land Rover.

“My young designers keep reminding me that safety isn’t always about size—people will want privacy,” Whelan says.

That means unremarkable, discreet, and even forgettable exteriors (like, say, the indecipherable and ubiquitous Tesla Model S), which are all the better for staying under the radar. It also means superior alarm and security systems that can detect potential nefarious movement even before it happens. (The market for armoured vehicles, by the way, has recently reached sky-high proportions.)

It could even mean an invisibility cloak. If that sounds far-fetched, it’s not.

Mercedes was experimenting with one made from LEDs and a camera back in 2012; Toyota patented a cloaking device in 2017 as a way to help drivers see through those pesky A-pillars that can hamper visibility. (Toyota at the time said the device would use mirrors to bend visible light around the A-pillars to allow the driver to “see” through them. This would give drivers a wider view of the road and their surroundings.)

This time, though, the application could be way more serious. It could hide the car from governmental officials or thugs, during security breaches on public roads, or help avoid an outright attack.

The folks at Rolls-Royce talk like they’re already working on it.

“The word ‘invisibility cloak’ comes to mind, certainly,” Kilbertus says. “It’s a car that could move so quietly, so discreetly, that it would go undetected from outside threat.”

Even, one would suspect, the threat of incoming waffles. — HANNAH ELLIOTT


Three-row family-friendly mud-plugger: Jeep's new Grand Cherokee

                DETROIT: Jeep is freshening up its top dog and has unveiled a brand new version of the Grand Cherokee, set to begin tackling dirt roads in several countries in the course of 2021.

While US buyers are already getting started with a new XL version with a wheelbase stretched to over 3 metres and three rows of seats, exports to Europe and elsewhere will only begin with the short Grand Cherokee, which will only offer five seats, the makers say.

The Grand Cherokee, which appropriates the name of an indigenous people in the US, is built on an all-new platform with independent suspension, adaptive dampers, three different all-wheel-drive systems and an air suspension that can be used to vary ground clearance.

This should significantly improve the off-road characteristics compared to the predecessor. In addition, the US maker is upgrading the assistance and equipment.

For example, in addition to the digital cockpit, they are installing electronic mirrors and a camera that looks after the children in the rear.

They also want to improve on the levels of luxury and are promising, among other things, walnut wood interiors and handmade quilted leather in the Summit Reserve top version.

Under the bonnet, a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine with 290hp is available in the US market, as well as a V8 engine that produces 357hp from 5.7 litres of displacement. For European buyers, Jeep says it's also planning an electric model.


No interstate travel allowed except for four reasons, police permission still needed

                PUTRAJAYA: The government has reminded the public that interstate travel during the conditional movement control order (MCO) is not allowed, except for four reasons.

Those who are facing emergency, attending to death in the family, for work and also couples living apart are allowed to travel interstate with police permission, says Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He also said that 134 compounds were issued on Sunday (May 31) on those who attempted interstate travel.

He said Perak recorded the highest number of offenders at 40, followed by 29 in Selangor and 23 in Penang.

“This is just compounds issued at interstate roadblocks," he said at a press conference here on Monday (June 1).

Police conducted 147 roadblocks at state borders and had checked 147,327 vehicles on May 31.

While the police did not slap anyone with a compound for Hari Raya visits last Sunday, a total of 356 individuals were compounded for committing various offences under the conditional MCO.

To a question, Ismail Sabri said the government has yet to decide if there will still be roadblocks after June 9, where the conditional MCO is expected to end.

“We have not decided on this because we don’t know if the conditional MCO will end, or will be extended after June 9, ” he said.

On May 31, the task force to check on compliance of standard operating procedure (SOP) during the conditional MCO had inspected 69,507 premises nationwide.


Mitsubishi Motors mileage scandal widens, US regulator seeks information

                TOKYO: Mitsubishi Motors Corp's fuel economy scandal broadened today as US auto safety authorities said they were seeking information and after reports that the automaker submitted misleading data on at least one more model than disclosed and likely several more.

Japan's sixth-largest automaker admitted this week it had overstated the fuel efficiency of 625,000 cars, wiping off around 40 percent of its market value, or $3.2 billion over three days, and prompting a raid by Japanese authorities on one of its facilities.

Adding to fears that the scandal will lead to ballooning compensation and fines, top Japanese government officials said Mitsubishi could be responsible for reimbursing consumers and the government if investigations find the vehicles were not as fuel-efficient as claimed.

"This is a serious problem that could lead to the loss of trust in our country's auto industry," Transport Minister Keiichi Ishii told a news conference on Friday.

He said he wanted Mitsubishi to look at the possibility of buying back the cars in question.

The government would also ask the automaker to pay for any subsidies granted to consumers if data shows its cars do not meet necessary fuel economy standards, Jiji news agency quoted Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi as saying.

Domestic media reported that Mitsubishi had submitted misleading mileage data on its i-MiEV electric car, which is also sold overseas. Previously disclosed models are marketed specifically for the Japanese market and Mitsubishi has admitted to manipulating their fuel economy readings.

The Sankei newspaper also said the automaker is also suspected of using non-Japanese test methodology on its RVR, Outlander, Pajero and Minicab MiEV models.

Mitsubishi had said there may be more models that violate Japanese regulations. A spokesman said on Friday the company was still looking into those models.

An official at the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told Reuters the regulator had asked Mitsubishi Motors for information on vehicles sold in the United States.
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He declined to comment on which models it had requested information on, or whether it had requested data from other automakers.

Japan's Transport Ministry has ordered Mitsubishi to submit a full report on its test data within a week, and for other Japanese automakers to also submit fuel economy test data by May 18.


Volvo to introduce improved child seats

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo Cars, the first car maker to actively test child seats in crash tests as far back as the early 1960s, is launching a range of three new child seats with a focus on design, comfort and convenience.

Volvo Cars’ new generation of child seats is made with a more breathable and comfortable upholstery comprised of 80% wool textile which makes the seats smoother to the touch, highly durable, and better-performing in both hot and cold climates. The seats also have a slimmer design, aimed to increase legroom and overall comfort.

The new seats are designed to suit the needs of children of different ages and sizes:

> Infant seat – rearward-facing (up to 13 kg or nine months)
>  Child seat – rearward-facing for children from nine months up to six years (at least three to four years old, as recommended by Volvo)
> Booster seat – forward-facing for children that have outgrown the rearward-facing seat (from three to 10 years old)

The new seats, developed with one of the world’s leading child seat makers, Britax-Römer, and tested at Volvo Cars Safety Centre here, will be available from the beginning of June in selected markets.

Teaching adults how to install and operate a child seat is one thing, getting the child to stay in the seat is another entirely – especially when the child gets older.

“Our focus is on ensuring that young children travel in the safest manner possible, depending upon their size and age," said Dr Lotta Jakobsson of Volvo Cars Safety Centre.

"This means rearward-facing up to the age of at least three or four years, and after that with child seats or booster cushions until the child is up to 140 cm in height. The safety benefits are unquestionable, yet many parents unwittingly allow their children to sit forward-facing too early. One of the many reasons quoted for this is comfort – the child complains that there is not enough legroom, or is too warm due to the upholstery.”


Riversimple's Rasa hydrogen-fuelled car breaks cover

LONDON: Here's the hydrogen-powered car that CarSifu told you about earlier this week.

The Rasa is a road-legal engineering prototype of the first two-seater hydrogen powered road car built by British start-up Riversimple.

The Rasa is a unique lightweight two-seater car with a range of up to 483km on 1.5kg of hydrogen. It’s designed from the ground up to run on hydrogen and has a completely different architecture to conventional cars.

It has an estimated fuel economy equivalent to 250mpg (940ml/100km), and a top speed of 97kph.  At around 40g CO2/km, the Riversimple car has the lowest carbon emissions for any vehicle 'well-to-wheel', and water is the only output.

Riversimple said it has the lowest carbon emissions for any vehicle "well-to-wheel", and water is the only output.  Public beta trial of 20 vehicles with prospective customers is proposed for later this year, with sales starting in 2018.

Supported by a £2m (RM12mil) grant from the Welsh government in 2015, every aspect of the Rasa has been tailor-made and interrogated for lightness, strength, affordability and safety, to produce a vehicle that will maximise hydrogen as a fuel source and minimise pollution.

Riversimple will offer the car to motorists through its unique “sale of service” model. For a fixed monthly fee and mileage allowance, similar in expenditure to leasing and running a new family-sized hatchback, the company will cover all repair, maintenance, insurance and fuel expenses.  Customers will never actually buy the car and experience the burden of depreciation; they will simply exchange or return it at the end of the ownership period.

The Rasa has been engineered by a team from renowned carmakers, Formula 1 teams and aerospace engineering companies.  Its elegant and clean lines have been styled by Chris Reitz, one of Europe’s leading car designers.  With a total kerb weight of 580kg (nearly half of a small car), it features a carbon composite chassis and only 18 moving parts in the entire powertrain.  Riversimple said it will adopt an open-source approach to its technology and componentry to encourage the proliferation of its technology and economies of scale within the sector.

When the vehicle is in motion, hydrogen passes through the small 8.5kW fuel cell (the size currently used in forklift trucks, equivalent to 11hp), where it combines with oxygen to form water and electricity to drive the motors positioned in each of the four wheels. More than 50% of the kinetic energy produced under braking is recovered and turned into electricity to boost acceleration via a bank of super-capacitors.

"The Rasa gives us the opportunity to introduce customers to a more convenient concept of motoring, a lightness of ownership that neither places a burden on the pockets of motorists or the surrounding environment," said Riversimple Movement Ltd founder Hugo Spowers.

"The car is simple, light and fun in every respect.”

Based in Llandrindod Wells in Wales, 315km north-west of here,  Riversimple was founded in 2001 as  OScar Automotive by the Oxford and Cranfield University graduate, and automotive engineer, Hugo Spowers. Its goal was to “pursue, systematically, the elimination of the environmental impact of personal transport.”

Collaborating with the Morgan Motor Company on their first hydrogen fuel cell car (“the LIFECar”) in 2008, Riversimple’s small “Hyrban” technology demonstrator was launched the following year.  The arrival of the company’s Rasa engineering prototype in 2016, sees Riversimple take a hydrogen-powered commuter car from the laboratory to the road in eight years.


Carmakers in ‘India’s Detroit’ allowed to operate as workers protest Covid-19 risk

The Ford plant outside Chennai. — Reuters
CHENNAI: Carmakers in the Indian automobile hub of Chennai will be allowed to keep operating, the state government said on Saturday, amid protests by workers who fear catching Covid-19 in one of the country’s hardest-hit states.

Tamil Nadu’s government on Friday extended a near-total lockdown as coronavirus infections and deaths rise in the southern state, where average cases are running at more than 30,000 a day, official figures show.

But a government order issued on Saturday said so-called continuous process industries, which include auto factories, would be allowed to function in accordance with measures such as social distancing to stem the virus's spread.

It also urged vehicle manufacturers to start vaccinating all their employees within a month.

Tamil Nadu authorities have ramped up vaccination in recent days, and companies including carmakers have organised vaccination drives.

Hundreds of workers in and around Chennai - often dubbed India's Detroit - have fallen ill with Covid-19 and dozens have died, labour unions say.

Plants run by Ford Motor Co and Hyundai Motor Co near here were shut last week after workers protested over unsafe working conditions.

Renault-Nissan shut its manufacturing unit after workers threatened to boycott work, saying social distancing norms were being flouted, while Eicher Motors-owned Royal Enfield shut its three units over safety concerns.

Union sources at Hyundai, Ford and Renault-Nissan said they were continuing to talk with the companies.

"We're scared about working. The company is citing government orders and asking us to report for work. The government needs to think about the welfare of workers," a senior union leader at Hyundai said.

Tamil Nadu's government also gave permission for units near here with export orders, such as construction and mining equipment maker Caterpillar Inc and Taiwan electronics manufacturer Foxconn, to operate their plants with 50% worker capacity.

Global carmakers operating here have said they will prioritise worker safety and adherence to social-distancing protocols.

“Health and safety of our societies, partners and employees is our topmost priority,” Biju Balendran, managing director at Renault-Nissan India, said in a statement last week.


Electric Nation finishes world's largest EV smart charging trial

                LONDON: Electric Nation, which is the largest smart charging trial in the world, has completed the process of collecting charging information from almost 700 trial participants over a period of 18 months, with data from more than 140,000 charging transactions.

The Electric Nation trial took place in the WPD network areas in the Midlands, South West and South Wales.

The trial recruited 673 plug-in EV drivers who represented a cross-section of plug-in vehicle types, with over 40 different makes and models of EVs taking part, including plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles, and a selection of battery sizes.

Initial findings show that on average, vehicles are plugged in for over 12 hours, but they are rarely charging for the full time.

Other conclusions from the project suggest that the average charging event starts with the battery already more than 50% full and EV owners only charge their EVs three times a week.

Analysis suggests that there is likely to be sufficient flexibility to manage charging away from peak electricity demand periods.


Sime Darby Motors launches new BYD aftersales service packages

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Motors has upped the ante on its after-sales service offerings for BYD’s electric vehicles (EVs).

Sime Darby Motors as a distributor is now offering the Service Standard Package and Service Plus Package.

The Service Standard Package is available for a three, six and eight-year period or upon reaching 60,000km, 120,000km or 160,000km respectively, with a price range from RM1,688 to RM4,888.

It includes reducer oil service, air conditioning filter replacement, brake fluid service, drive motor coolant service and air conditioning system refrigerant service.

Meanwhile, the Service Plus Package is available for a six-year period or 120,00km, or eight-year period of 160,000km, with a price range from RM7,888 to RM12,888.

Additional services include windscreen washer fluid replacement, wiper blades replacement (front and rear), remote control battery replacement, 12V battery replacement, brake pads replacement (front and rear) and brake disc replacement (front and rear).

In a statement, Sime Darby Motors said its extensive end-to-end after-sales services includes state-of-the-art service centres, body and paint services, as well as parts distribution centre.

Sime Darby Motors operates three authorised body and paint centres in Penang, Klang Valley-Bukit Jelutong, and Johor Bahru, offering dedicated care for minor and major body repairs, supported by advanced mechanical and painting bays.

These three body and paint centres are insurance panel authorised to provide BYD owners with body repair services.

BYD's digital initiatives range from service diagnostics by technicians to convenient service centre location finding via the BYD mobile app.

By leveraging a digital tracking system, the parts distribution centre ensures optimal stock availability and timely delivery to BYD locations nationwide.

Jeffrey Gan, managing director of Sime Darby Motors retail and distribution Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Macau, said, “After-sales service is a core component of our value chain. Sime Darby Motors has the highest standard of body and paint centers that are approved by insurance panel, strategically located in Penang, Klang Valley and Johor Bahru.”

BYD showrooms, service centres and customer care:BYD Ara Damansara (3S) – Sime Darby Beyond Auto
Address: Block 1, Sime Darby Motors City, 6, Jalan PJU 1A/7, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Business Hours: Monday – Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 AM
Sundays & Public Holidays: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

BYD Service Center Ara Damansara – Sime Darby Beyond Auto
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
Service appointment contact: 03-7623 8838

BYD Kuala Lumpur @ TREC (1S) – Sime Darby Beyond Auto
Address: E-G-16, E-G-17, E-1-15 & E-1-16 Electric Boulevard, TREC, 438, Jln Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Business Hours: Monday – Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:30 AM
Sundays & Public Holidays: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

BYD Gurney Plaza Penang (1S) – Sime Darby Beyond Auto
Address: 170-G-40, Plaza Gurney, Gurney Dr, 10250 George Town, Penang
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
BYD Service Center Penang – Sime Darby Beyond Auto
Address: 191A, Jalan Sungai Pinang, Sungai Pinang, 10510 George Town, Pulau Pinang.
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
Service appointment contact: 04-2020 388

BYD Service Center Johor Bahru (2S)- Sime Darby Beyond Auto
Address: No. 197-199, Jalan Skudai Kiri, Batu 4 ½, 81200, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
Service Appointment Contact: +60 19-300 5949

BYD Mid Valley Southkey Johor Bahru (1S) - Sime Darby Beyond Auto
Address: G-018A, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Business Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

BYD Sisma Auto (3S) - Glenmarie
Address: 19, Jalan Perintis U1/52, Section U1 Temasya, 40150
Shah Alam, Selangor
Contact: 03-5569 2260
Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Website: https://byd.sismaauto.com/

BYD Millenium Autobeyond (3S) - Cheras
Address: No 691, Batu 5, Jln Cheras, Taman Mutiara Barat, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-9133 7228
Business Hours: Monday - Saturday: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

BYD Lee Motors(i) Sdn Bhd – Sg Petani
Address:  No. 53-55, Jalan Ncity 1/3, N-city, Sungai Petani, Daerah Kuala Muda, Kedah Darul Aman.
Contact: 03-5569 2260
Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

BYD Customer Care Helpdesk – General Inquiry
Contact: 1300-38-1888
Email Address: byd-customercare@simedarby.com
Operation Hour: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Website: https://byd.simedarbymotors.my/


Audit highways to check accidents, expert tells Govt

                KUALA TERENGGANU: It is high time that the Government started looking into having professional independent bodies to audit the Malaysian highways, which have seen many fatalities, said road expert Dr Muhammad Marizwan Abdul Manan.

He said the audit should cover Lebuhraya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2), where there had been 85 deaths and 1,991 accidents since it opened in 2011.

Dr Muhammad questioned why there hadn’t been any audit by independent bodies despite the high fatal accidents on highways.

READ ALSO:Sweden aims for zero deaths

Statistics show that 70% are single accidents (accidents without involving other vehicles) and about 30% are due to faulty roads.

“But do the highways have features or barriers that could save lives?

“It’s a basic thing. Everything should and must be audited. If audits can be done in departments, why can’t they be done on our Malaysian highways?” asked the senior researcher with Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros).

He noted that with the lives of the toll-paying public at stake, it was highly important and necessary to have independent parties carrying out frequent audits on the highways.

Dr Muhammad, who was involved in the designing of the LPT2 some 10 years ago, said highway designers would never compromise on safety but he questioned if the contractors had fully complied with the design or if the construction was done to specifications.

“Many will tell us that the highways are built according to international designs. I agree with that.

“But were the design specifications followed through during the construction? Independent auditors will be able to tell us that,” he said.

He pointed out that certain stretches of highways were bumpy and created “water ponds” when there was heavy rain.

Meanwhile, Gerakan Anak Terengganu Insaf (Ganti) president Wan Mohd Faizul Wan Abas said they had observed that the LPT2 highway, from the Gemuruh to the Kijal exit, had weaknesses.

Among them were the bumpy road surface due to unequal settlement, lack of lights at most of the stretch, short acceleration and deceleration lanes from an exit that abruptly joins the highway.


265 PLUSRonda patrol teams on duty during Hari Raya Haji

                KUALA LUMPUR: PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) will mobilise 265 PLUSRonda patrol teams for a higher patrolling frequency during the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration, primarily at critical stretches along the highway.

Its CEO, Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi, said PLUS would also activate the contra flow and open up emergency lanes at critical stretches as additional lanes with the assistance of the police.

"Highway users are advised to abide by the instructions given through the signages placed at the contra flow and the opening of the emergency lane designated locations.

"PLUS will also suspend all roadworks and lane closures on the highway from July 8 to July 12 to facilitate smoother traffic flow,” he said in a statement.

The statement also said that during the Aidiladha celebrations, all public facilities such as surau and toilets at rest and service areas (R&R) will be available to users 24 hours a day.

Road users are also encouraged to download the PLUS App to better plan their journey as it also offers live CCTV feeds of critical locations along the highway and a toll fare calculator.

The app can be downloaded for free on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.


Out-of-control Lamborghini Gallardo causes KL pile-up

The accident caused a 3km traffic jam. — All pix by KL traffic police
KUALA LUMPUR: A Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera driver lost control of his supercar and caused a multi-vehicle collision on Jalan Tun Razak here today.

City Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Asst Comm Sarifudin Mohd Salleh said the incident occurred at around 8.40am.

"Investigations revealed the 42-year-old driver of the supercar was headed from KLIA towards the Bulatan Pahang roundabout when he encountered a traffic jam.

"He failed to control his vehicle and rammed into another car, causing it to overturn, before hitting several other vehicles," he said in a statement today.

The overturned car was a Proton Perdana, while other cars involved in the accident were a Suzuki Swift, Mazda2, Nissan Serena and Ford Ranger.

ACP Sarifudin said all motorists involved suffered light injuries and were taken to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for treatment.

"We conducted an alcohol and urine test on the supercar driver, which came back negative," he said, adding that the case was classified as careless and inconsiderate driving under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Those with information on the case can contact the Tun H.S. Lee traffic police station at 03-2071 9999 or the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department hotline at 03-2026 0267/0269.


Daimler, Volvo seek huge cuts in hydrogen fuel cell costs by 2027

                STUTTGART: Daimler Trucks and Volvo AB said on Thursday they aim jointly to cut the costs of hydrogen fuel cells by a factor of five or six by 2027 as they seek to make the zero-emission technology commercially viable for long-haul trucking.

But even if cellcentric, the fuel-cell joint venture the two companies formed in March, brings down costs by that much, Martin Daum, head of Daimler AG's truck unit, said he doesn't see hydrogen-fuelled trucks reaching cost parity with diesel models for at least 15 years.

The German and Swedish makers of large freight-hauling trucks said Germany-based cellcentric would start producing hydrogen fuel cells in Europe in 2025, and called for EU policies to help build out fuelling infrastructure and provide subsidies and tax breaks to help make hydrogen trucks affordable for customers who want zero-emission models.

"We can't save the planet if we're bankrupt," said Daum. "We need to cover our costs and our investments and they (our customers) need to cover their costs and their investments."

"Ultimately, it's the job of the politicians to balance it out because otherwise our customers can't run it," he added.

Aside from the joint venture, the two companies remain competitors. Both hope to test fuel-cell trucks in about three years and start mass producing trucks in the second half of this decade.

"It's important for us to put a stick in the ground now, be transparent about the time schedule... and hope others will do their part," Volvo CEO Martin Lundstedt said.

The European Union has been pushing tighter emission standards, fuelling a boom in zero-emission electric cars. read more

But batteries in electric vehicles are very heavy and hydrogen fuel cells are seen as a better zero-emission solution for long-haul freight. Fuel cells produce electricity from hydrogen, emitting only water.

The two truck makers called for the construction of around 300 hydrogen refuelling stations suitable for heavy-duty vehicles in Europe by 2025 and about 1,000 stations by 2030.

During a video conference with the two firms, European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean said the commission would this summer propose a revised alternative fuels directive.

She said this "will include binding requirements for rolling out hydrogen fueling infrastructure ... and financial support will be available where needed."

Automaker Stellantis said this year it would begin deliveries in Europe of its first medium-sized vans powered by hydrogen fuel cells by the end of 2021.

Stellantis said at the time that Germany had 90 hydrogen stations and France had 25 - a tiny fraction of the thousands of petrol stations available for fossil-fuel vehicles today.


National Electric Vehicle Sweden wants in on 'in-wheel electric motor tech', acquires Protean Electric

                STOCKHOLM: National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), a subsidiary of Evergrande Health, has acquired the leading developer of in-wheel motor technology, Protean Electric.

NEVS is a Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer committed to shaping mobility to become more sustainable and smarter, designing and producing premium transportation solutions and electric vehicles.

“Protean Electric is an exciting company with very competitive technologies. I am sure this acquisition will lead to many benefits for both NEVS and Protean Electric,” said NEVS CEO Stefan Tilk.

In January 2019 Evergrande Health acquired a (51%) controlling stake in NEVS. In combining NEVS, Protean Electric and a number of other leading companies within the automotive area, Evergrande has formed a highly competent “New Energy Vehicle” group.

The acquisition is part of Evergrande’s strategy to become a major player in the global electric vehicle (EV) industry and paves the way for NEVS to deploy Protean Electric’s in-wheel electric drive technology - ProteanDrive, into its future products.

Protean Electric is an automotive technology innovator and world-leading developer of in-wheel motors (IWMs) and future propulsion solutions.

Founded in 2008, Protean Electric has devoted over a million engineering man-hours to develop and validate its ProteanDrive in-wheel motor technology.

The business has over 160 patents globally across electric motor and power electronics design, control and manufacturability, with another 150 patents pending.

ProteanDrive motors are subjected to industry-leading test criteria to ensure they meet existing automotive standards.

Compared to conventional electrified powertrains, the highly-integrated ProteanDrive in-wheel motors offer improved powertrain efficiency and greater flexibility in vehicle design.

The patented high-torque density ProteanDrive technology combines a direct drive electric motor and power electronics which can be utilised on a range of platforms, including passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, urban mobility vehicles and autonomous pods.

Protean Electric will continue to operate as an independent business under the Evergrande umbrella, developing future powertrain and mobility solutions to meet the needs of the market.

Formally, Protean Holdings will now be merged into Virtue Surge, a subsidiary of NEVS.

The acquisition will provide additional resources and business opportunities for Protean Electric, giving the company access to an even broader pool of skills, knowledge and experience, as well as a sizeable customer in NEVS.

“This exciting new agreement will enable Protean Electric to fulfil its global potential more rapidly. This acquisition will aid Protean Electric in establishing a strategic advantage in the new energy and mobility markets and bring in new expertise. We look forward to working closely with the Evergrande and NEVS teams to deploy our technologies,” said Protean Electric CEO KY Chan.


Germany's Wiesmann sells out of first run of Thunderball electric sportster

                BERLIN: German boutique sports car manufacturer Wiesmann reports that the first run of its ground-breaking Thunderball electric sports car has sold out.

Prices start from €300,000 (RM1.4mil), with the first customer deliveries due in 2024. The exact number of the retro-styled cars being made has not been disclosed and the figure is likely to be in double rather than treble figures.

The news marks another milestone in the remarkable comeback of Wiesmann, which was was closed in 2014 after running out of money to pay its debts. The company was later bought out by current CEO Roheen Berry.

Featuring a classic two-seat, rear-wheel drive layout and lightweight carbon fibre construction, the Thunderball has twin electric motors. They provide 500kW (680hp) and 1,100 Nm of torque to deliver mid-bending 0-100kph acceleration of just 2.9 seconds.

"We are all extremely proud that Project Thunderball – the car which heralds the return of the storied Wiesmann brand – should resonate so strongly with driving enthusiasts from around the world", said Berry in a statement.

The Thunderball shares its name with one of the most successful James Bond films ever made, although it is worth pointing out that fictional agent 007 never drove a Wiesmann. His regular "company" car is still an Aston Martin.


Jaguar Land Rover CEO Bollore to quit, says Tata Motors

Bollore's resignation is effective Dec 31. Inset is Mardell.
BENGALURU: Tata Motors-owned luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover said today chief executive officer Thierry Bollore would resign for personal reasons after more than two years in the role.

Adrian Mardell will take over as CEO on an interim basis, JLR said. A 32-year JLR veteran, Mardell is currently a member of the company's executive board.

JLR hired former Renault boss Bollore as CEO in 2020, mandating him with the task of returning Britain's biggest carmaker to profit after it took a big hit from the Covid-19 pandemic. His resignation is effective Dec 31, JLR said.

Under Bollore's watch, JLR has doubled down on its electrification strategy, with a plan to make all Jaguar cars fully electric by 2025 and offer battery variants of its Land Rover vehicles.

Bollore has also helped steer the business through a chip shortage that hammered the global auto industry.

JLR said earlier this month its second-quarter loss before tax narrowed to £173 million (RM931mil), while revenue rose 36% from a year earlier.

It also expects positive profit margins and cashflow in the second half of 2023. The division's performance is key to India's Tata Motors as it contributes nearly 60% to the group's revenue from operations.


Audi expands car sharing service to HK

                HONG KONG: Audi At Home is a new service introduced for the first time in Asia that wants to eradicate every negative aspect of premium car ownership from refuelling to parking and beyond.

As cities get ever more overcrowded and technology continues to innovate every aspect of our daily lives, the definition of personal mobility is also quickly evolving even for carmakers operating at the premium end of the market.

For example, owning a Rolls-Royce is symbolic with the ultimate of luxury lifestyles. But there's nothing comfortable or exclusive about being stuck in a traffic jam while behind its wheel or being two hours late for an appointment because there's nowhere to park.

And that's where services such as Audi at Home are increasingly playing a role. Instead of owning a car, those that join up to the service will be able to take one, the right one, only when they need it. If it's a short, inner-city trip then they can take something like a hybrid A3, but if they're heading away for the weekend, perhaps a sporty convertible, or something large and luxurious enough for the whole family might be more suitable.

"Audi at Home reflects the premium standard of our mobility services, which we are introducing into an increasing number of major cities," said Audi's head of sales and marketing Dietmar Voggenreiter. "Hong Kong is the perfect location for this service. The city is a very attractive secondary residence and needs smart urban solutions."

By opting for Audi at Home rather than buying a particular Audi outright, users won't have to worry about refuelling, parking, insurance or even mileage.

Initially, the service will be exclusive to one premium apartment complex, the "Dragons Range" where a fleet of Audis big and small will be available at all times for either off-the-cuff or pre-booked borrowing, but Audi then intends to identify other premium complexes throughout the city to establish further fleets.

And while a new concept to Asia, Audi At Home is already established in San Francisco and Miami where it went live in November 2015.


Tesla won’t have a presence at next week’s auto show in Shanghai

The 2021 Auto Shanghai.

SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc. won’t have a presence at next week’s Shanghai auto show, despite a slew of other international carmakers planning on attending and unveiling new models.

China’s major automobile show kicks off on April 18 for media and opens to the general public on April 20.

While the event was cancelled last year due to China’s Covid restrictions, Tesla received unwanted publicity at the show in 2021, when a Model 3 owner climbed atop a display vehicle and yelled that her father, who was driving at the time, almost died because her Tesla’s brakes failed.

The protest was captured on video and went viral in China. Tesla eventually made a public apology after facing criticism from local authorities and state-run media, without acknowledging any defect.

A Shanghai-based Tesla representative confirmed the company would not attend this year’s show but said there’s no particular reason for that.

Elon Musk’s electric-car maker has been cutting prices in China and around the world, after tweaks throughout the first quarter yielded only an incremental sales gain.

In China, Tesla triggered a price war that could reshape the world’s biggest car market, with hefty discounts threatening to drive some automakers out of business.

The show comes at a time when China’s EV market is becoming increasingly cutthroat.

Models from new companies like Nio Inc., Xpeng Inc. and Li Auto Inc. have flooded the market, adding to existing offerings from more established players like Tesla and China’s BYD Co., which is now the world’s second-largest maker of electric cars.

Tesla had a presence at the Guangzhou auto show in December last year. The Austin, Texas-headquartered carmaker has an EV factory on the outskirts of Shanghai that produced almost 711,000 cars last year, or 52% of its worldwide output.

Earlier this month, it said it will build a new battery factory in Shanghai to make its Megapack large-scale energy-storage unit.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year and the plant will start production in the second quarter of 2024.


Latest Nissan X-Trail introduced

                KUALA LUMPUR: The new Nissan X-Trail is launched in Malaysia today with two variants offered.

The 2.5L 4WD version is priced at RM165,800 (OTR with insurance), while the 2.0L 2WD variant is going for RM142,800.

Bookings for the latest model opened last month and Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor said deliveries to customers will start this month.

The third-generation X-Trail made its world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, and was launched in Japan in January 2014. Thailand started selling the X-Trail last November ahead of the Malaysian launch today.

Unlike the last generation, the current X-Trail has evolved into a 5+2 seater, meaning it can technically seat seven occupants but the last-row seats for two passengers are small.

The new Nissan X-Trail features ground-breaking advanced chassis control technology that have been adopted as world-firsts to ensure smooth, stress-free driving experience.

Its Active Ride Control system moderates pitching motion experienced by drivers on bumpy roads, while the Active Engine Brake system assists drivers to reduce speed when cornering or stopping.

Additionally, the Active Trace Control system – a ‘Nissan-first’ – automatically applies small amounts of braking to the individual wheels to reduce understeer and help the driver maintain control around corners.

The range-topping 2.5L 4WD variant is powered by the QR25DE-k2 engine with Twin CVTC, providing maximum power output of 171ps at 6,000rpm and 233Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.

The 2.0L 2WD variant comes with the MR20DD engine with direct injection and Twin CVTC, capable of 144ps at 6,000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 4,400rpm.

Both variants come with Nissan’s next-generation Xtronic CVT with 7-speed manual mode, and ECO mode system for better fuel efficiency.

The 2.5L variant is also equipped with an ALL MODE INTELLIGENT 4×4 System (4×4-i), offering a choice between two-wheel drive, Auto Mode or Lock Mode for permanent four-wheel drive.

Other features include the ‘ZeroGravity Inspired’ seats that helps reduce fatigue, and a first-in-class 360-degree Around View Monitor for parking convenience.

Five colours are available; Tungsten Silver, Titanium Olive, Diamond Black, Graphite Blue and Brilliant White.


Fisker's electric Tesla Model Y rival will don a solar roof

                LOS ANGELES: Fisker's latest teaser for the EV brand's upcoming SUV reveals a section of the model's full-length solar roof.

Henrik Fisker, CEO of the Tesla-competing EV company Fisker posted yet another image of the company's upcoming electric SUV showing off a feature currently absent from Elon Musk's entire vehicle portfolio: a full-length solar roof.

Various sides of the crossover, which has the potential to adequately compete with the Tesla's Model Y, have been depicted in teasers since May.

Fisker himself promised that the 2021 Fisker SUV will be unveiled at the end of this year, though at the rate sneak peeks are being published, there may be no more surprises left by the time of the unveiling.

Thus far, we've seen a sketch of the front end in four different colours, a photograph revealing just a hint of the interior and its wide central display, and an image of the top half of the SUV from the side showing off the blinker light which has been placed on the D-pillar.

On Tuesday, Fisker published an image of the top half of the rear end, as well.

The reveal is expected to take place in December of this year, and Fisker has promised that it will sell for under US$40,000 when it hits the market in 2021.


Shift to EVs means huge 'reskilling' job for Europe, says report

                LONDON: The shift to electric vehicles will force huge changes in the auto industry and require EU backing for "reskilling" programmes to help workers prepare for a zero-emission future, according to a report published today.

The Platform for Electromobility, an industry group, said a report by the Boston Consulting Group showed by 2030 European auto industry employment will drop by less than 1% from 5.7 million people today amid the transition to electric vehicles.

But jobs at manufacturers and traditional suppliers focused on combustion engines will drop 20% and 42% respectively - between them shedding a cumulative 500,000 positions. At the same time, employment at suppliers focused on zero-emission technology will rise by 300,000 workers, representing a 10% increase, the study said.

The European Commission has proposed an effective ban on new gasoline and diesel cars from 2035.

Automakers have warned that jobs at conventional combustion engine plants will be particularly at risk and have called on the European Union to help mitigate the impact the shift to electric will have on those manufacturing workers.

Platform for Electromobility said the study predicts huge job increases for energy production related to the auto industry, and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

The group said the EU, governments and companies should focus on investing in education, training, 'upskilling' and "reskilling" of workers to "ensure no one is left behind" as the industry makes the transition to electric vehicles.

"The auto industry is so strategic for Europe across the board involving an awful lot of people that reside everywhere, so it's important that the EU work with member states on accompanying policy," Platform for Electromobility chair Arne Richters told Reuters.

"Reskilling and making that a strategic priority is a crucial point."

The group represents a number of organisations and companies including carmakers Tesla Inc, Renault and Nissan, charging company ChargePoint, and US conglomerate 3M.


Audi dropping out of DTM to focus on Formula E

                INGOLSTADT: Audi will withdraw from the German Touring Car series (DTM) at the end of the year and focus its motorsport activities on all-electric Formula E and customer racing, the carmaker announced on Monday.

The Volkswagen-owned premium brand said in a statement the re-alignment was also due to the economic challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Audi has been in Formula E since 2014, and active in DTM for 20 years.

Chairman Markus Duesmann said Formula E offered "a very attractive platform" for a marque aiming to generate about 40% of its sales with electric cars and plug-in-hybrids by 2025.

The move leaves the DTM, whose series is on hold due to the pandemic, with BMW as its sole manufacturer on the grid next year and facing an uncertain future.

Mercedes, also now competing in Formula E, departed at the end of 2018 while Aston Martin left after last season.

DTM boss Gerhard Berger said the future now depended on how partners and sponsors reacted.

"While we respect the board’s position, the short-term nature of this announcement presents (organisers) ITR, our partner BMW and our teams with a number of specific challenges," added the Austrian.

"Given our common association, and the particular difficulties we all face during the Covid-19 pandemic, we would have hoped for a more united approach."

The all-female W Series made its debut on the DTM's support race programme last year and is scheduled to link up with it again this season.


Singer restoration service now open to Malaysian Porsche 911 owners

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian and Singaporean Porsche 911 enthusiasts are now able to tap into the restoration services of US-based Singer Vehicle Design, thanks to Historic Motoring Ventures.

As the territorial partner for Singer, Historic Motoring Ventures helps customers in locating a donor Porsche 911, specifying the unique creation, and liaising with Singer’s designers and craftsmen in California throughout the restoration process.READ MORE:Singer goes to Amelia Island

Each restoration takes over 4,000 hours to complete. Singer takes a customer’s existing Porsche 911 and performs restorative work, combined with cutting–edge updates to enhance the car's performance, aesthetics and modern day use-ability, while preserving the essence and magic of the original. The goal is to blend tradition with modernity to re-create bespoke, one-of-a-kind  air-cooled Porsche 911s.

With an 8-10 month restoration cycle, vehicles have been commissioned by Porsche owners in Mexico, Hong Kong, Indonesia, France, Russia, Canada, England, Germany, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, South Korea, Norway and Britain.

Singer was founded in 2009 by Rob Dickinson, a former sports car designer who became a rock musician, and is now also known as a master restorer of air-cooled Porsches.

Historic Motoring Ventures is a Kuala Lumpur company that organises, manages, hosts and promotes historic and exotic motoring activities in Asia. It has organised car shows and events such as Malaysia International Vintage & Classic Car Concours and Rally Klasika.


Actor Patrick Dempsey picked to plug Porsche sunglasses

                STUTTGART: To kick off the new year, Porsche Design is teaming up with Hollywood star and motor sport enthusiast Patrick Dempsey. As of January, the passionate race car driver will be the face of Porsche Design Eyewear.

Porsche Design said Dempsey was chosen for "his likable and authentic personality." It helps that Dempsey is also an avid Porsche driver and co-owns a Porsche customer racing team.

The Hollywood star and the lifestyle brand happens to share the same initials – PD.

The 2021 Porsche Design Eyewear image campaign, featuring the actor, will highlight four models of the brand’s sunglasses and prescription glasses. Kicking off the campaign, and now available in stores, are the new Porsche Design P’8688 A Liquid Titanium glasses with VISION DRIVE lens technology.

According to Porsche Design, the P’8688 sunglasses feature a polarized filter and UV400 protection, and a contrast-enhancer that absorbs blue light better than conventional lenses. This feature increases overall colour perception, contrast and glare protection. The frame is made of ultra-light titanium.

“Porsche has always held a special place in my life. Whether as a race car driver or co-owner of a racing team, the brand radiates a special passion for me and the feeling to strive for top performance, which I always felt connected to," said Dempsey.

"I am very happy to be part of the lifestyle world of Porsche Design outside of motor sport and to represent Porsche Design Eyewear as a brand ambassador in 2021.”


Longer wait to enter Singapore due to security checks for missing radioactive device

                JOHOR BARU: Motorists heading into Singapore will have to wait much longer than usual at the Causeway and Second Link after the island republic increases its security checks following the disappearance of a radioactive dispersal device (RDD) in Malaysia earlier this month.

Frequent travellers are experiencing tighter security checks by the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) than normal when they enter the city-state.

Singapore has reportedly stepped up inspection at its checkpoints after the device containing the radioactive isotope Iridium-192 was reported missing in Malaysia on Aug 10.

Channel NewsAsia said ICA had been monitoring the case, and quoted a spokesman assuring the public that its checkpoints had the capability to detect radioactive threats.

Singaporean cabby Haniff Mahbob, 65, who drives across the Johor Straits daily, said it now takes longer for inspection by ICA.

“They not only check the boot of every car that enters the bay but the spare tyre compartment as well,” he said when met here yesterday.

Another taxi driver, a Malaysian who only wanted to be known as Ng, said the stringent checks by the ICA had caused traffic heading into Singapore to be considerably slower.

“Vehicles entering Singapore are being monitored more closely in the past two weeks.

“Sometimes, handheld devices are also used to check vehicles and travellers at the Singapore checkpoint,” he said.

Cafe supervisor Aqilah Khairrah Abd Khalid, 23, said bus passengers too are subject to tighter inspection by ICA.

“There are more Singapore Immigration officers being stationed at the Woodlands checkpoint now. They use handheld scanners on our bags and check us thoroughly,” she said.

The 23kg RDD went missing from the back of a pick-up truck as it was being transported from Seremban to Shah Alam.


Michelin to cut French headcount by net amount of around 300 posts

                PARIS: Tyre maker Michelin is planning to scrap 614 jobs next year, a company spokesman said today, adding that the bulk of the cuts will be made at the company's French headquarter in Clermont-Ferrand.

The cuts will be part of a larger plan aimed at increasing efficiency announced in January, the spokesman said. She added that at the same time, 322 new roles will be created in France next year.

French news agency AFP first reported about the cuts, citing an internal document sent to labour unions.