UK risks car collapse as Jaguar Land Rover looks elsewhere for batteries

                LONDON: Almost a decade after playing home to Europe’s first mass-produced electric car, the UK is at risk of becoming a footnote in the global auto industry’s shift to battery-powered vehicles.

The UK lacks the cell and pack factories automakers will need to support their transition away from the internal combustion engine.

In what could be a fresh blow to British carmaking, the country’s top auto manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover, is in talks with Northvolt AB and SVolt Energy Technology Co. about supplying batteries for a range of EVs it may assemble in Slovakia, according to people familiar with the matter.

Unless battery investment picks up, carmakers may only accelerate their exodus from what was once the world’s second-biggest auto manufacturing base.

The last few years, the UK fell outside the top 15.

"It’s about to be too late to preserve the UK role as a major automotive producer,” said Andy Palmer, the former CEO of Aston Martin who also helped spearhead Nissan’s creation of the Leaf EV built in Sunderland, England.

"Unless there’s either a carrot or a stick to incentivize battery production in the UK, it’s only a matter of time before the automobile industry here becomes a niche industry that caters to brands such as Rolls-Royce and Bentley.”

As the move to electric vehicles redraws manufacturing maps, the UK is endangered by scarce supply of raw materials, expensive energy, meager government incentives and potential Brexit-related tariffs.

While the country has pumped hundreds of millions of pounds into battery-technology research, this has spurred minimal production.

To date, the UK has just one major plant in operation, owned by China’s Envision Group.

The manufacturer added production of longer-range packs for Nissan LEAF EVs last year and announced plans to expand, though not until 2024 at the earliest.

A spokesperson for Jaguar Land Rover, which produced more than 220,000 vehicles in the UK last year, said the manufacturer continues to explore all options for EV battery supply, and that no decisions have been made.

Representatives for Northvolt and SVolt declined to comment.

Electric vehicles pose a chicken-and-egg dilemma.

Carmakers are reluctant to build new factories or retool existing ones to make EVs without a battery facility onsite or nearby.

Battery manufacturers in turn are generally unwilling to invest billions of dollars to set up a plant without reliable customers within short range.

Britishvolt is among a handful of startups that have announced plans to build giant battery plants in the UK, but firm orders and manufacturer commitments are lacking.

That could be a persistent obstacle, given the industry is mostly home to lower-volume luxury and sports-car brands such as McLaren, Bentley, Aston Martin and Lotus.

While Nissan Motor Co., Stellantis NV and Volkswagen AG-owned Bentley have committed to making EVs in the UK, analysts have warned much more investment is needed to protect the industry’s position.

To preserve the current size of the car sector, the UK needs to increase battery capacity 45-fold to more than 90 gigawatt hours, the Green Finance Institute’s Coalition for the Decarbonisation of Road Transport said in a report this month.

"If a battery sector does not emerge in the UK, there is both the lost opportunity cost of the financial gains of batteries being captured elsewhere, and in turn a risk that the existing automotive industry in the UK could diminish through moving to co-locate with battery production,” the government-backed group said.

There have been some positive developments.

Britishvolt has broken ground on the UK’s first giant battery factory in northern England, with aims to produce 30 gigawatt-hours from the end of 2027 - enough cells for around 300,000 EV battery packs a year.

It’s secured preliminary partnerships with Aston Martin, which has slated its first fully electric model for 2025, as well as Lotus.

A public-private venture between the owners of Coventry’s airport and its city council in central England, called West Midlands Gigafactory, aims to open in 2025 and eventually supply 60 gigawatt-hours per year at full capacity. But it’s unclear whether it will succeed without the support of a major carmaker.

The window to attract battery makers is narrowing, with European governments lining up big support packages that have made them more attractive for investment.

EU countries have collectively pledged more than 6 billion euros in public spending to build up the industry, an investment they say will unlock another US$14 billion euros in private funds.

This month, VW said it was pushing ahead with plans for a 10 billion-euro EV battery and vehicle production hub at its SEAT brand plants in Martorell and Pamplona, Spain.

That followed an announcement from the alliance led by Stellantis and Mercedes-Benz Group AG that they’ll add a third battery manufacturing site, in Italy, on top of ones already planned for Germany and France.

The trade deal set up between the UK and the European Union in the wake of Brexit further complicates matters.

While initially a relief to carmakers because the industry avoided a no-deal disaster, the pact clouds the path forward.

By 2027, half of the parts content going into EVs and hybrids will need to be sourced locally - either from the EU or UK - to qualify for tariff-free trade.

JLR, which announced plans for Jaguar to ditch combustion engines completely by 2025, and for Land Rover to introduce electrified variants beginning a year earlier, hasn’t yet detailed its production plans.

The company has a contract-manufacturing arrangement with Magna Steyr for its sole fully electric model, the Jaguar I-Pace, which is made in Austria.

"It’s not, unfortunately, a level playing field,” said Mike Hawes, chief executive officer of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the UK’s car lobby.

"Governments intervene in Europe. They intervene in America. They intervene in in Asia. So the UK government has got to make sure that, at the very least, it creates the framework for UK manufacturing to be competitive.”


Robot lawyer fights parking tickets

                SAN FRANCISCO: Nothing sours a good mood faster than returning to your car only to see a parking ticket fluttering under your windshield wiper.

Maybe you didn't see the "no parking during street sweeping" sign. Maybe you didn't notice the colour of the curb. Or maybe you thought you'd be in and out of the store too quickly for the meter maid to notice.

Whatever the story, help is on the way. DoNotPay, an online service that uses a robot lawyer to help drivers fight parking tickets, is coming to San Francisco.

Founded by London native and Stanford University student Joshua Browder, DoNotPay asks the user a series of questions – such as whether there are visible parking signs at the scene – determines whether the user can appeal, and guides the user through the appeals process.

So far the service has gotten drivers out of more than 200,000 parking tickets, according to NPR, and has won fans all over the Internet. Its success rate reportedly is about 60%.

Affectionately referred to as the "Robin Hood of the Internet" on Twitter, Browder has his sights set on bigger things than parking tickets. He programmed an iPhone app for human rights non-profit Freedom House, created an app that helps educates lawyers in Africa on how to defend low-income clients and has helped clients resolve landlord tenant disputes and unexplained banking charges. NPR reports he is working on using his bot to help refugees apply for asylum.

Forbes recently recognised 20-year-old Browder as one of its "30 Under 30" entrepreneurs in the law and policy category. — The Mercury News/Tribune News Service


Repsol Honda Team's Day with Marquez and Pedrosa

                Marquez (right) helping a student put on some riding gear with Pedrosa looking on.

SEPANG: Repsol Honda Team MotoGP riders of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa hosted the ‘Repsol Honda Team’s Day’ event at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for 30 underprivileged students to promote road awareness and personal safety.

The event had the riders teach the importance of safety gear, proper licensing, training and speed to the students from schools within Sepang that included SMK Sg Rawang, SMK Seri Sepang, SMK Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, SMK Pantai Sepang Putra, SMK Sg Pelek and SMK Dengkil.

 Marquez with Pedrosa (right) giving some tips to the young rider.

Also, tips were given to the students on bike maintenance, riding posture, road signs, steering techniques, starting and stopping techniques as well as a slalom course.

Such initiatives by Repsol in Malaysia is part of its ongoing community outreach to help address the issue of traffic accidents in Malaysia.

 A young student tackling the slalom course.

This is part of the Spanish oil and gas company’s many local corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes for its safety awareness campaigns that have been organised annually since 2013.

Via early awareness, the company seeks to teach the importance of personal safety to the younger population with the aim of minimising the risk of road accidents.

 Marquez (left) and Pedrosa having a light moment during the event.

Since the inception of the company’s safety campaigns, 11,000 primary school children have been able to benefit from such awareness programmes in both Terengganu and Sabah.

“As a professional rider, safety is always my number one priority whether it’s on the track or on the road and this is a great initiative to raise awareness for everyone, especially to the younger generation,” said Marquez.

 Marquez striking a pose for the cameras.


Police probing Singaporean car club for holding up traffic on Second Penang Bridge

A screenshot of the video that went viral on social media.
PETALING JAYA: Police are investigating a Singaporean BMW car club for holding up traffic with their huge car convoy at the Second Penang Bridge on June 9.

Seberang Perak Selatan district acting police chief DSP Mohd Norazmi Abd Ghapar said the convoy of BMW cars were headed towards Batu Maung on Penang island and said that a police report had been lodged on the matter.

He said an investigation is under way as an offence of traffic obstruction had been committed under the Road Transport Rules 1959.

"We will not compromise with anyone who commits a traffic offence."

BMW Car Club Singapore has issued an apology for the incident and has pledged to cooperate fully with Malaysian authorities.

"We sincerely apologize and acknowledge a mistake that was made on our part and to reassure everyone of our unwavering commitment to cooperation with the local authorities," it said in a post on its Facebook page.


Boy gets FIFA’s official match ball carrier duties

                KUALA LUMPUR: As a result of his skills, technique and attitude, 11 year-old Ryan Hammad Zulrafhan will be representing Malaysia to be the official match ball carrier between Australia and Germany for the upcoming FIFA Confederation Cup in Russia.

As part of this Kia-exclusive sponsorship, winners of the Official Match Ball Carrier competition get to walk out onto the pitch, deliver the match ball to the official referee for kick-off.

The competition to select the winner on May 6 saw 300 participants nationwide showing their skills to win this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Kia’s “Carry your Dream” campaign was inspired by Slovakian league footballer Kristian Hirka, who served as a Kia Official Match Ball Carrier during its sponsorship of UEFA EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.

As a 13-year old boy, Kristian’s incredible experience of walking out unto the pitch as a Kia Official Match Ball Carrier in front of tens of thousands of fans inspired him to pursue a professional football career – an amazing feat he has achieved eight years later.


Locally-assembled Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid nearing launch

                SHAH ALAM: Preparations are being finalised for a milestone event – the launch of the first locally-assembled Toyota hybrid electric vehicle – in the near future.

This is the new Corolla Cross Hybrid which is now undergoing pre-production activities at ASSB, UMW Toyota Motor’s assembly plant in Bukit Raja, Selangor.

UMW Toyota Motor deputy chairman Akio Takeyama said bookings for the new Corolla Cross Hybrid had been good and the company was are happy to see that many Malaysians were keen to switch to Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology.

“Toyota has been producing hybrid electric vehicles since the late 1990s and has constantly improved and advanced the technology so Malaysians will benefit from this long experience,” said Takeyama.

“We are aware that many customers are eager to receive their Corolla Cross Hybrid and we ask for your patience. There are many quality processes which ASSB must complete to ensure that the cars delivered are of the highest standard in every respect.

“And I would also add that once the car is delivered, the new owners will also be assured of an ownership experience of the highest standard,” Takeyama added.

The new Corolla Cross Hybrid has an estimated price starting from RM137,000 (without insurance) and comes with a 5-year/unlimited mileage factory warranty.

Additionally, for peace of mind, there is a separate 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty covering the hybrid battery pack, inverter and Power Management Control Unit.

Customers can also extend their warranty for a further two years to make it a total of 10 years, the first such warranty in the local industry.

Bookings can be made at any authorised Toyota dealer or UMW Toyota Motor branch showroom nationwide.

The company also announced that its Toyota and Lexus sales mirrored the Total Industry Volume (TIV) of November, which is expected to be less than the October TIV.

 Vios.

However, demand for the two brands remains strong and the difference was only 14 units compared to the total volume for October when the total number sold nationwide was 8,500 units.

The total sales volume for November is 8486 units consisted of 6,620 passenger cars and 1,866 commercial vehicles (including pick-ups).

For the period from January to November 2021, total sales for the Toyota and Lexus brands have reached 63,105 units, 26% higher than the same period in 2020 when a total of 50,074 units had been sold.

Among the passenger car models, the Vios continued to be the best-selling Toyota model, accounting for 33% of sales, while the Hilux continued to be the best-selling pick-up truck in Malaysia, a position it has held since 2005.

 Hilux.

UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said the continued market growth was a sign that the economy was steadily progressing towards recovery.

“During the final month of the year, we will have great deals and with our ‘Now Is The Time’ promotion, there are savings of up to RM5,500 on selected models.

“Additionally, the government’s exemption of sales tax is ongoing which means additional savings,” he said.


2017 CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards: The what and why - Part 3/3

                This is the concluding part of an article that began on Oct 9.

Reasons for cars that won at the 2017 CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards on Oct 5:

Best Design of the Year Lexus LC 500
The curvaceous exterior, 3D lights as well as its sculptured interior and seats give the LC 500 a striking styling like no other. Need we say more?

Business Ride of the Year BMW 740Le xDrive
The new 740Le, with its generous legroom and lavish interior is a joy to sit in, more so if your are at the rear seats. Get driven in this car and be the subject of envy.

Best Family Ride <RM100K Honda BR-V 1.5L V
Fits seven in a trendy crossover format that’s complemented by an interior that’s functional and a cut above. Think BR-V and you will think generous storage space with versatile seating arrangement -- plus 11 cup holders. An Asean NCAP 5-star safety rating helps secure its win.

Best Family Ride RM100K-RM200K (3 Seating Rows) Kia Grand Carnival 2.2 CRDI EX
The Kia Grand Carnival EX seats eight people and impresses with good safety features, business-class comfort, a plush ride, and two powered sliding-doors.
Its large interior is enhanced with flexible seating layout. Its third-row seats can fold flat to provide luggage room.

Hybrid Vehicle of the Year Hyundai Ioniq HEV Plus
While the Ioniq delivers exceptional fuel economy, the HEV Plus variant has additional features such as Lane Keeping Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking and wireless smartphone charging, which are usually found in vehicles of higher segments.

Hybrid Luxury Vehicle of the Year Mercedes-Benz C 350 e
The C 350 e offers a better mix of hybrid efficiency and performance with cabin refinements that’s synonymous with larger Mercedes-Benz models. Comfortable air suspension ride is a point in its favour.

Sporty Luxury Large-size Sedan of the Year Porsche Panamera
The Panamera is unquestionably quick with its performance oriented engine, it is also gifted with a plush interior, sophisticated technologies and an absolutely unique body styling to leave the competition in its wake.

Sporty Luxury Coupe of the Year Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe
The Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe carries a fantastic price tag that’s not very short of RM800,000. While this powerful masterpiece of German engineering performs like a racing stallion, it also offers upmarket interior for first-class travel.

Diesel Engine of the Year Mitsubishi 2.4L 4-cylinder MIVEC Turbo Diesel DI-D Common Rail VGT Intercooler
Outright power isn’t everything and while Mitsubishi’s turbo-diesel engine has enough of it, there’s also plenty of control to make it a highly versatile powerplant in the Triton VGT Adventure X that can provide a steady stream of power.

Petrol Engine of the Year Peugeot 1.2L 3-cylinder turbo PureTech
The 1.2-litre Peugeot PureTech 3-cylinder petrol engine has the power and performance of a 1.6-litre engine, but the fuel efficiency of a smaller engine. In the new Peugeot 208 PureTech, its fuel consumption is rated at 5 litres per 100km on the mixed driving cycle, which means the car can travel up to 1,000km with a 50-litre petrol tank.

Return to Part 1READ MORE:
Honda CR-V is 2017 ‘Car of the Year’
2017 CarSifu Editors’ Choice Awards in pictures


PLUS' critical services available throughout MCO

                KUALA LUMPUR: PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) said critical highway services would continue to be provided during the MCO (movement control order) period.

They include patrol unit PLUSRonda, toll-free PLUSLine 1800-88-0000 and public toilets.

PLUSRonda would be traversing the expressway on 24-hour loops to help any motorists in distress.

PLUS Malaysia managing director Datuk Azman Ismail urged customers who require to travel on urgent matters to plan their journey properly and ensure that their Touch ‘n Go card and e-Wallets are sufficiently reloaded to minimise disruptions and need for physical interactions at toll plazas.

Customers are also advised to adhere to the standard safety SOPs of wearing a face mask, registering on the MySejahtera app, checking temperatures at the designated points and keeping a safe distance of one-metre apart when lining up for food or using the highway facilities such as the Rest and Service Areas (R&Rs) and other public places during this period, he said.

According to Azman, there is also a pre-order function in the PLUS app, which enables food and beverages to be ordered from selected R&Rs for takeaways.

“All premises at R&Rs and lay-bys which are located under MCO states (Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Melaka and Johor) are still open from 6am to 8pm but limited for take-away F&B services only as the dining areas at our food courts at the R&Rs under MCO states are closed to deter the convergence of crowds,” he said.

The operating hours for R&Rs and lay-bys in states under the Conditional MCO (Perak, Negri Sembilan, Kedah and Terengganu), on the other hand, will be from 6am to midnight and dine-in is allowable with strict physical distancing and SOPs.

In addition, petrol stations along PLUS operated highways are still open and available 24-hours a day for customers, he added.

In a separate announcement, PLUS Malaysia said the emergency and left lanes between Bidor and Tapah, Perak at KM330.05 and KM328.95 (northbound) of the North-South Expressway will be temporarily closed to all vehicles for five days from 9am on Jan 18 until 12.30pm, Jan 22.

It said it was to allow for pavement maintenance work to be carried out smoothly. However, the right lane of the affected stretch is still passable for all vehicles.


Beijing Auto Show (2016): Chery Tiggo 7 debuts

                BEIJING: Chery Automobile premiered the Tiggo 7 sport utility vehicle (SUV) and an FV2030 brand vision concept car at the Beijing Auto Show 2016.

The Tiggo 7 has a high performance DDS sport control system, and can be ordered with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, 6-speed manual transmission or CVT or dual-clutch automatic transmission.

It has a Cloudrive2.0 smart cloud interconnection driving system, and an air-conditioner with a air purifying system.

Meanwhile, the Chery FV2030 concept car has a gullwing door, 3D holographic screen and smart pilotless technology.

Apart from cutting-edge technologies, the FV2030 concept car also represents Chery's latest product design ideas of FUN and Life in Motion.


Germany backs EU phaseout of new combustion engines by 2035

                BRUSSELS: Germany threw its weight behind a European Union proposal that only emissions-free new cars and vans can be sold from 2035 as the bloc moves forward in talks on an ambitious green overhaul at a time of an extraordinary energy crisis.

EU environment ministers discussed cars and other proposals to reduce emissions at their quarterly meeting here.

Talks on the draft law to ban internal combustion engines showed that some countries wanted to be more ambitious, with the Netherlands and Belgium calling for a phaseout target of 2030.

Discussions about the so-called Fit for 55 package, which aims to implement the EU’s goal of cutting greenhouse gases by at least 55% by 2030, have become particularly tough in recent months due to soaring energy costs aggravated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Member states are seeking to reach an agreement on proposals from cutting car emissions to imposing a carbon price on road transport and heating.

German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said the ruling coalition in Berlin supports the EU executive arm’s plan “in all its points.”

The three-party formation had previously avoided setting a hard target for banning polluting vehicles, saying instead that it backs the EU’s goal of only selling “carbon-neutral” new vehicles in Europe by 2035, while also pledging to support cars that can run on e-fuels.

“This ultimately means that combustion engines for cars and delivery vans will be phased out from 2035,” Lemke told reporters here before talks with EU counterparts.

The issue is particularly fraught in Germany, where the auto industry dominates and manufacturers have dragged their feet for years on electric vehicles.

The country didn’t join a pledge at the COP26 climate talks last year to only sell zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

France, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, is looking to reach a package deal on member states’ negotiating mandate for talks with Parliament before the summer.

Meanwhile, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany threw their weight in favour of a separate emissions trading system to cover road transport and buildings, while a group of countries including Poland and Slovakia warned against the costs such a mechanisms would introduce.

The latter is looking at proposing an alternative that would reduce the threshold for eligibility in the current carbon trading system, while introducing a carbon tax at national level for road transport.

“Ambitious sectoral standards are vital to reduce dependency on imports of fossil fuels for transport and buildings, and phasing out new vehicles with internal combustion engines as of 2030 is a key priority,” said Rob Jetten, Dutch minister for climate and energy.

“We have no time to waste.”


Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet comes standard with sun-reflecting leather

                STUTTGART: Get in, start the engine and drive off in a relaxed manner – even after the vehicle has been sitting in the blazing sun with the top down for a long time.

That's what Mercedes-Benz is pitching to prospects thinking of buying its new E-Class Cabriolet.

The Stuttgart car maker said the seats are wrapped in a sun-reflecting leather that's specially coated to heat up much less than untreated leather and remains up to 13 degrees Celsius cooler in direct sunlight.

For many Mercedes customers, this is one of the must-haves in the open-top four-seater E-Class, as are the AIRCAP wind deflector system and AIRSCARF neck-level heating feature.

The specially coated leather reflects the near-infrared waves of the sun and thus heats up noticeably less and more slowly than standard leather, which absorbs heat radiation.

Mercedes-Benz said this translates into a major gain in comfort, especially with dark seat covers. Even with the soft top closed, the interior heats up less thanks to the cool leather.

The special colour and pigmentation of the sun-reflecting surface are said to have no effect on the appearance and feel of the interior.


Mercedes-Benz to halve CO2 emissions by 2030

                BERLIN: Mercedes-Benz aims to halve its CO2 emissions by 2030, the carmaker said today, providing a half-way goal to its existing target of becoming CO2 neutral by 2039.

The company will also work towards covering 70% of the energy it needs for production with renewable energy by 2030, up from 45-50% at present, it said.

Around 15% of this energy should come from solar and wind plants on or linked to Mercedes-Benz' own sites, production chief Joerg Burzer said in a presentation.

The rest will be sourced through so-called Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), where power producers are paid to generate a certain amount of energy over a number of years at a set price.

The carmaker is in advanced discussions to buy additional wind energy through PPAs worth €1billion (RM4.6bil) by 2025, Burzer added.

For now, Mercedes-Benz still relies on gas as a back-up supply source.

"We obviously still need the gas," Burzer said. "We are working on minimising that."


Monument-filled, traffic-clogged Rome to ban diesel cars by 2024

                ROME: Rome, one of Europe’s most traffic-clogged cities and home to thousands of ancient outdoor monuments threatened by pollution, plans to ban diesel cars from the centre by 2024, its mayor said.

Virginia Raggi announced the decision on her Facebook page on Tuesday, saying: “If we want to intervene seriously, we have to have the courage to adopt strong measures”.

Her comments followed a court ruling in Germany that cities there can ban the most heavily polluting diesel cars from their streets.

About two-thirds of the 1.8 million new cars sold in Italy last year were diesel, according to industry figures.

Rome has no major industries, so nearly all of the air pollution in the Italian capital is caused by motor vehicles.

The city regularly tries to ban older, more polluting vehicles from roads on days when pollution reaches critical levels.

It has also tried to reduce pollution by allowing only cars whose number plates end in either odd or even numbers to circulate on alternate days.

But both regulations are widely flouted and lightly enforced by traffic police. To skirt the alternate days regulation, many families buy a used car with a different number plate.

Apart from health issues, pollution from combustion engines causes severe damage to Rome’s many ancient outdoor monuments.

According to a study last year by a branch of the culture ministry, 3,600 stone monuments and 60 bronze sculptures risk serious deterioration because of air pollution.

Ahead of celebrations marking the start of the new millennium in 2000, the darkened facade of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican was cleaned as part of a project that lasted several years.

But fresh signs of pollution-related stains are visible again.

Before the German court’s ruling on Tuesday, officials in highly industrialised Milan, in northern Italy, had already announced plans to make the city diesel free by 2030.


Audi goes OLED

                INGOLSTADT: Audi’s Matrix OLED lights will be presented at this year’s Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA – International Motor Show) in Frankfurt this September.

The Vorsprung durch Technik (Advancement through Technology) brand and its Matrix OLED lights are being touted by the company as the perfect synthesis of high-tech engineering and design.

The company is currently trying to implement OLED technology in production rear lights and will be shown for the first time in a concept car at the IAA.

In each Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) unit, two electrodes – of which at least one must be transparent – incorporate numerous thin layers of organic semiconductor materials.

A low direct current (DC) voltage – between three and four volts – activates the layers, each of which is less than one-thousandth of a millimetre thick, to light them and the colour is based on the molecular composition of the light source.

In contrast to point light sources – such as LEDs made of semiconductor crystals, OLEDs are flat light sources.

Their light attains a new level of homogeneity, and its dimming is continuously variable.

The lights do not cast any shadows and do not require any reflectors, light guides or similar optical components – and this makes the OLED units efficient and lightweight, while not requiring any cooling.

Progress in OLED technology is being made rapidly – thanks in part to Audi, and as soon as further increases in light density are realised, OLEDs will soon be able to generate turn signal and brake lights too.

The thin glass sheets that are used today to encase the organic material will be replaced by plastic films.

These new flexible substrate materials will lend themselves to three-dimensional forming, and this will open up entirely new creative spaces for designers.

The German automaker has already shown the potential of OLED technology in many models and demonstrators.

Special highlights are “OLED lighting” with transparent, multi-colored OLEDs in the silhouette of the car and “the swarm” with a three-dimensional OLED display.

Another benefit of OLEDs is that they can be subdivided into small segments that can be controlled at different brightness levels and colours.

Making transparent OLED units will be possible, allowing all to experience a new lighting scenario with extremely fast switchover times.

The illuminated sub-surfaces exhibit very precise boundaries with one another.

This is what distinguishes OLED technology at Audi, transforming it into the Audi Matrix OLED technology that supplements Audi Matrix LED and Matrix Laser technologies for headlights.


Hyundai Soapbox racer spotted undergoing testing

                FRANKFURT: A camouflaged version of Hyundai Motor's new Hyundai Soapbox has been spotted undergoing testing. In recent weeks, the company's first ever Soapbox has been fine-tuned for durability at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre.

A new video shows the model completing its last steps of quality assurance. Though the vehicle is camouflaged, its unmistakable angular design, joystick steering, and plywood platform point to the Hyundai Soapbox.

“Testing is an important part of any vehicle design process. We built the Hyundai Soapbox just like a regular car, so of course we couldn’t skip the testing,” said Thomas Bürkle, Head of Hyundai Europe Design Centre.

“It was also ideal to have a test driver who also fit with our target customer group.”

The test driver praised the Hyundai Soapbox’s ergonomic seating position and joystick steering, though he said the acceleration could be improved.

Hyundai Motor developed the Hyundai Soapbox ride as a way to promote quality time between people.

Parents are encouraged to build and drive the soapbox together with their kids, and groups of friends can build one together.

The engine-less vehicle is made from materials which are available at any DIY store, and the instructions to build it are freely available online.

As ongoing restrictions in Europe continue to limit the amount of free time activities available, Hyundai saw the soapbox racer as an opportunity to offer a fun project for people to do together.


Haval H9 SUV from China gets previewed at under RM200K (est)

                SEDRDANG: Go Auto Sales, the exclusive distributor of Haval SUV in Malaysia, previewed its new H9 model at the Malaysia Automotive Institute Autoshow 2018 happening in MAEPS, Serdang.

The company plans to officially launch the Chinese sport utility vehicle (SUV) towards the end of this year for less-than RM200,000. It will be available in two variants of Luxury and Ultra and can be had in five colour options of Alaskan White, Ebony, Sleek Silver, Kakadu and Bronze.

Under the hood, the seven-seater SUV promises a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection engine producing 160hp and 324Nm torque for the 4X4 all-wheel drive system.

The SUV will also come boasting of safety with its electronic stability programme from Bosch, hill descent and ascent control, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, tyre pressure monitoring system, intelligent adaptive front-lighting system and six airbags.

Although the H9 is due to arrive in CBU form, the company also announced that a locally-assembled version will be available towards the middle of 2019.

Also on display at the show is the H8 SUV and according to the company, it may consider introducing it to the local market if it manages to generate enough interest.

“We are looking forward to launch the Haval H9 model later this year. I must emphasise this new model is definitely part of our efforts to open the opportunity to Malaysians the options to own a SUV at a competitive price in this particular segment,” said Go Auto Group executive director Datuk SM Azli SM Nasimuddin Kamal

The company also just recently started its 'Reimagine Campaign' which offers new customers and current Haval owners savings of up to RM3,000 when purchasing a new Haval SUV.

Also, as part of the campaign, the HAVAL Rocks The Town will have a Haval SUV for a road cruiser visiting the public around the nation and will hold fun-filled activities and contests with prizes up for grabs to help create brand awareness.

The Company targets to sell 2,650 units this year after having sold a total of 4,500 units from 2014 to 2017.

HAVAL Malaysia plans to further expand its export market to include Myanmar and the Philippines from the current list of Cambodia, Brunei, Batam and Indonesia.


Cleveland CycleWerks Heist ride

                With retro styling gaining interest, the Heist is something to look forward to without breaking the bank.

Cleveland CycleWerks Malaysia is the exclusive distributor of the popular Cleveland CycleWerks (CCW) motorcycles from America.

The whole mantra behind CCW is to produce two-wheeled machines with a custom-inspired design that is visually irresistible, has a low capacity and to top it off – making it very affordable.

I had the opportunity to review one of CCW’s popular bikes, the Heist.

It’s an authentic bobber that’s built to bare-minimum and as naked as the Malaysian law will allow.

The whole design of the bike revolves around the idea of “less is better”. Bobbers are lower and lighter bikes that are usually “old-school” in style as compared to a chopper, which has longer forks and a modified frame.

The design of the Heist just oozes with the “bad-boy” image.

That image is further enhanced by the old school peanut tank and the sexy rear end.

The macho image of the bike is brought under the spotlight with blacked out styling throughout the machine, except for the alloy rims, stainless steel spokes, chromed valve cover and chromed headlamp.

The minute I sat on this 229cc four-stroke single-cylinder two wheeler, I had to go into the “bobber-mode”.

To my dislike the bike was a tad small for my six-foot frame.

This bike would have been ideal for those around 5ft 8in in height.
But according to my riding mates, I look cool on the bike.

The handle bars are positioned well, offering good control.

Meanwhile the foot controls are well-placed ensuring pleasant riding experience.

The indicator buttons are situated on each bar and easy to handle with my gloves on.

Heist saddle is wide enough, but would have preferred a thicker saddle; but I am not kicking a fuss.

The bike is light, weighing in at 125kg and it is easy to handle in town – even in traffic jams.

I took the Heist onto the Karak highway and the bike is able to provide smooth, quiet shifts with a pleasant engine sound.

The 229cc engine’s top-speed is about 115kph.

I was doing 110kph and did not feel any vibration from the belly, handle or on the side mirrors.

It was a fulfilling ride indeed, and this is mainly because of the engine’s counterbalance keeping the chassis stable.

The Heist has some of Honda’s DNA, as the engine is based on a unit built by the Japanese manufacturer back in the ‘70s.

So, engine reliability should not be an issue at all.

I agree that 110kph, is a no land-speed record.

But for a light bike, the torque delivery is smooth and very pleasing.

Power from the single-cylinder gives the needed power instantaneously to move from first to fifth gear without any hiccups.

The five-speed transmission and the cable-clutch is very smooth.

I only need to pull the clutch light, tap on the gear and off I went.

I was very impressed with the Heist’s ability to tackle both sharp and wide corners.

The torque was good enough for me to exit the corners.

I did not have any problems with ground clearance on this bike.

I must admit, the Heist is able to take corners much better than many other easy-riders or cruisers of bigger capacity. Bravo!

While going over a hump on the Bukit Jalil road at 60kph, I was nearly thrown of the saddle.

Only then I remembered that this is a rigid bike – meaning the shocks are under the saddle and is similar to the shocks under a bicycle seat, which has very little rebound damping.

I should have adjusted the rear tyre pressure so that it has a little bit more compliance to it.

I immediately adjusted the pressure and the Heist became a pleasant ride, even without a proper rear suspension.

 Meanwhile, the front forks felt decent, but definitely needs improvement to ensure a comfortable ride – especially if you are going to ride for more than 100km.

The front brakes consists of a hydraulic-type 290mm disc with dual piston callipers, while the rear is a smaller hydraulic 240mm disc with dual piston callipers.

Both brakes are more than sufficient to stop this machine at any speed.

I define the Heist as a blank canvas.

Like any other customised bike, there is always room to personalise.

After riding the bike for three days, there are three things that I will do to the bike; first – change the handle bars to the ape hanger handle-bars, get louder exhaust pipes and turn the black peanut tank to a brightly coloured one.

The Heist is a classic American bobber, built with loads of attitude and style.

When I have the extra cash, I will certainly buy this bobber, park it in my living room and stare at it every day.


Special edition Mercedes roadster to mark anniversary

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz celebrates the 60th anniversary of a memorable motor racing success with a special model of the SL Roadster.

Its name commemorates the unexpected victory of a 300 SL in the production sports cars class at the 1955 "Mille Miglia", one of the world's most challenging long-distance races.

What's more: the SL Special Edition "Mille Miglia 417" provides a special experience of the unique symbiosis of maximum comfort and motor racing spirit that traditionally characterises every SL.

The Special Edition adds a distinctive note, among other things, with red exterior highlights and fine materials in the exclusively appointed interior.

The Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster is more than an icon.

Legendary vehicles and their stories dominate the model history.

One of them is told by the SL that started the famous "Mille Miglia" in 1955 with race number 417 at 4:17am.

After 11 hours, 29 minutes and 21 seconds it had completed the race distance of 1597 kilometres on public roads from Brescia to Rome and back.

Driven by the American private driver John Fitch with assistance from his co-driver Kurt Gessl, it crossed the finish line to great acclaim in fifth place of the overall standings and as the winner of the production sports cars.

Performance, pronounced sportiness and innovative roadster comfort are hallmark fundamental features that also distinguish the Special Edition "Mille Miglia 417".

The 6-cylinder engine in the SL 400 with 333hp and the eight-cylinder in the SL 500 with 455hp enable top sporting performance.

As standard, ESP Curve Dynamic Assist, an adaptive adjustable damping system, and in particular the optionally available unique Active Body Control ABC deliver sporty lateral dynamics while offering outstanding comfort at the same time.

Red brake callipers gleam through the spokes of the black AMG Performance wheels, which sport subtle red surrounds and have diameters of 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear.

The SL Special Edition "Mille Miglia 417" is available as an SL 400 and as an SL 500 model, and can be ordered from April 7.


Weekender comfort with the Navara

Nissan NP300 Navara (double-cab V grade)Engine: 2,488cc in-line 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve, VGS Turbo Intercooler
Maximum power: 163ps at 3,600rpm
Maximum torque: 403Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic, manual mode
Features: Dual front airbags, child seat retainer (ISOFIX with tether), rear view camera, i-key and push-start ignition, ABS (anti-lock braking system), EBD (electronic brake force distribution), brake assist, VDC (vehicle dynamic control), traction control, ABLS (active brake limited slip), HDC (hill descent control), HSA (hill start assist)
Price: RM109,800 without insurance; three-year or 100,000km warranty - whichever comes first.

The Nissan NP300 Navara is another pick-up truck with passenger car-like comforts and at the same time, the robustness and brute power of a workhorse.

To recap, Nissan had designed the NP300 Navara to give the cabin refinement and premium features of a mid-sized Japanese sedan, in order cater to a growing pick-up truck buying segment who want passenger car-like comforts.

This included the NP300 Navara having a coil sprung multi-link rear for more comfort, instead of the traditional rear leaf springs on pick-ups.

This V grade edition is the second-most-expensive Nissan NP300 Navara pick-up.

It is the most highly equipped of the four NP300 Navara double-cab variants with the 163ps and 403Nm engines, tuned for better fuel economy.

While the top-of-the-line VL grade has the same engine, it is tuned with 190ps and 450Nm which wins it the crown of the most powerful 2.5-litre pick-up.

On this V grade edition, cabin kit and comforts include first-in-class rear air-conditioning vents, intelligent key with push-start ignition, and a five-inch touchscreen with radio, Bluetooth, USB connectivity, GPS navigation, rear view camera and six speakers.

There are also first-in-class Zero Gravity Inspired front seats that provide spinal support, and rear seats with improved seatback angle.

Nissan's Zero Gravity Inspired car seats are touted as reducing fatigue and providing the ideal posture to make long drives more pleasant.

This “fatigue-free” seat technology was jointly developed with Yamazaki Laboratory at Keio University, Tokyo.

We spent a few days in the urban suburbs of Klang and Petaling Jaya with the NP300 Navara, which we had checked out previously on a brief off-road drive in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

This time, as we did not go off-road, we did not have occasion to use the NP300 Navara's shift-on-the-fly 4WD system which allows switching   between 2WD and 4WD via a dial, at speeds of up to 100kph.

The pick-up's black-themed interior has a nice executive car-like ambience, and numerous storage spaces for items like cameras and water bottles.

Parking a huge and long pick-up in tight spots is always a struggle, which is why the rear view camera here is a welcomed blessing.

With regards to the driving, the 7-speed automatic gearbox is a smooth and responsive shifter.

Running on Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 tyres sized 255/70 R16, and thanks to the multi-link rear, the NP300 Navara handles well enough for a pick-up and can take road curves with more aplomb than one might expect for a long-ish 1.8-tonne vehicle with an empty rear deck.

The rack and pinion steering is well-weighted, and we found good road feedback.

You know you are still driving a workhorse, albeit one with a very comfortable cabin, but at the same time, there is a somewhat sport utility vehicle (SUV)-like quality to the drive.

Of course, this is in the context of a ladder frame pick-up truck engineered to withstand the rigours of a work site, as opposed to a monocoque chassis SUV meant for family comfort and good city road handling.

Our test drive unit also came with the Pro-Form Sportlid and Sportbar for Tango optional accessories (RM7,950 package price).

While the accessories can be bought as single items, the package deal offers better value for money.

The covered rear deck, thanks to the Pro-Form optional accessories, really came in handy when shopping at a hypermarket on a rainy day.

We could load lots of groceries into the rear deck, without having to worry about the items getting soaked.

In conclusion, the NP300 Navara double-cab V grade ticks all the boxes with regards to passenger car-like refinement, and still offers a nice combination of power, toughness and fuel economy for business operators.


Benelli TnT25 arriving soon

                SHAH ALAM: Benelli Keeway Motorcycle, the exclusive distributor of Benelli motorcycles in Malaysia, will be launching the much awaited Benelli TnT25 model by the end of this month.

The Benelli TnT25 is an entry-level naked sports bike, and the design is inspired by its elder sibling TnT 300.

Benelli TnT25 comes with multi-spoke alloy wheels, sculpted tank, split seat and side slung exhaust; making it look sporty.

The sporty bike is available in two colours of green and red.

Powering the TnT25 is a 249cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine mated to a six-speed gearbox.

This engine produces 28.16hp at 9,000rpm and 21.61Nm of peak torque at 7,000rpm.

TnT25 will be the first bike from the Italian bike maker to feature a single-cylinder engine.

The TnT25 is priced at RM12,990 (excluding GST).


Fiat Chrysler's US sales chief Reid Bigland who sued company quits

                DETROIT: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said on Wednesday its US sales chief, Reid Bigland (pic), is leaving the company to pursue other interests.

Bigland, who has been with Fiat Chrysler for 22 years, sued the company last year, claiming it withheld 90% of his 2018 compensation because he co-operated with a regulatory probe into its sales practices.

Over a five-year period from 2012 to 2016, Fiat Chrysler's US unit used a series of fraudulent moves to falsely report new vehicle sales and tout a "streak" of uninterrupted monthly year-over-year sales growth, when it had actually ended in September 2013.

In July 2016, the company revised more than five years of monthly US vehicle sales figures to reflect a new reporting method, amid an investigation by federal authorities including the US Justice Department.

Bigland’s departure comes amidst Fiat Chrysler’s talks with France’s Peugeot SA for a US$50 billion (RM208bil) merger that would create the world’s fourth-largest automaker.

Fiat Chrysler has plans to meet tighter emissions regulations in Europe with new hybrid petrol-electric versions of several Jeep models, with plans to shift eventually to more pure-electric models beyond 2025.

Bigland will leave the company on April 3, Fiat Chrysler said.


Feb 27-March 3: RON97 and RON95 petrol up five sen, diesel unchanged

                PETALING JAYA: The RON97 and RON95 fuel prices will increase by five sen from Feb 27 to March 3, says the Finance Ministry.

It said that the retail price for RON97 petrol will increase from RM2.30 per litre to RM2.35 per litre, while the price of RON95 petrol will also increase from RM2 per litre to RM2.05 per litre.

The price of diesel will remain unchanged at RM2.15 per litre.


CATL touts breakthrough in cold-weather EV charging

                SHANGHAI: Chinese battery maker CATL said today it has developed new materials for lithium-ion batteries that would sharply improve charging efficiency for electric vehicles, especially in extreme cold.

CATL's chief scientist Wu Kai told a forum here that the company, the world's largest battery supplier, had developed new electrolyte materials that could sharply improve the charging efficiency of current lithium-ion battery designs.

Wu did not detail how CATL had been able to achieve the improved battery performance he described.

He said the new electrolyte could deliver a 50% increase in efficiency in extreme cold at minus 20 degrees Celsius and 43% under more normal temperatures.

Winter weather conditions are a challenge for EVs since the cold slows reactions inside the electrolyte solution, needed to pass a charge between the battery's two electrodes. In cold conditions, the battery also has to do extra work to heat an EV, a further drag on range.

 CATL's advanced Qilin battery and (inset) Wu.

He said CATL would be able to mass produce a battery capable of delivering 400km of driving range with a 10-minute charge this year.

The company aims to shorten that charge time to five to seven minutes for the same driving range as its next target, he said.

Automakers and some suppliers have been racing to develop solid-state batteries that would offer greater power and increased driving range. Those batteries, currently in prototype, are expected to remain expensive for years.

Toyota said last month it had overcome an issue with the durability of solid-state batteries that would pave the way for production as soon as 2027.

It said it expected to be able to half the cost and weight of those batteries and deliver a charging time of 10 minutes or less.

Wu said he was sceptical that solid-state batteries were ready for mass production and of the cost reduction claims.

"What I am sure of is no one is capable of mass producing solid-state batteries in the industry currently," Wu said in response to a question.

"They claim to be able to halve the costs, which is very exciting and would be very disruptive, but I wonder what base they are comparing."


Traffic building up on highways to Klang Valley

                PETALING JAYA: Gridlocks are slowly building on major highways converging on the Klang Valley, with the situation expected to worsen as more motorists start their journey back after lunch.

The Star Radio Group’s traffic announcer Priscilla Patrick said the longest crawl (23km) was on the Karak Highway from Bentong and Bukit Tinggi until Genting Sempah.

Traffic was also building in the northern region in Prai, Taiping, Changkat Jering and Gopeng.

Patrick said the longest crawl (20km) along the North-South Highway was from Tapah, Bidor and Sungkai.

In the southern region, gridlocks were building along Pedas Linggi to Sembawang, she added.

"Traffic from other states into the Klang Valley is expected to be heavy until 8pm," said Patrick.

However, she pointed out that now was a good time for those travelling to destinations down south to start their journeys to places such such as Johor Baru.

Patrick said those making their way north may encounter a short crawl along the Pedas Linggi- Sembawag stretch.

Star Radio Group, in collaboration with the police air wing, will be bringing listeners eye-in-the-sky traffic reports for the exodus back Tuesday.

Patrick will be on board a police helicopter from 3pm.

She also urged motorists planning to return ahead on the reopening of schools tomorrow, after the Hari Raya holidays, to call the Star Radio Group hotline for personalised traffic updates.

"We have access to traffic conditions on all major roads and we can advise motorists on when to start their travel or on alternative routes to take to avoid jams," she said.

For traffic updates, follow the team at fb.startraffic.my or twitter@mytraffic, log on to www.startraffic.my or call 03-7725 1133.


Refreshed Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupes swing in, EQ Boost for C 200

                PETALING JAYA: The refreshed coupe variant of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was introduced today, a day after the facelifted sedan was launched in Malaysia.

Both the C 200 Coupé and C 300 Coupé come in AMG trim and are priced at RM346,888 and RM416,888 respectively.

In this round of changes, the C 200 Coupé is especially interesting. It receive a new generation of four-cylinder engines. With this new enhancement, the C 200 Coupé drops the 2.0-litre powerplant for a 1.5-litre mill that is supplemented by a 48V electric motor for increased output.

Pairing the motor to a traditional engine is what Mercedes-Benz refers to as EQ Boost, which creates the conditions for additional functions that help to reduce fuel consumption even further, while improving agility and occupant comfort.

When accelerating, EQ Boost can add 10kW/13hp to the 135kW/184hp engine, bridging the brief moment until the turbocharger has built up its full charge pressure. During deceleration, the starter/alternator recuperates kinetic energy and charges the battery.

The sporty design features are heightened with the AMG Line. For example, the AMG Line exterior includes the diamond radiator grille with pins in chrome plus an AMG-specific front apron with new geometry, sporty air intakes and its chromed trim element.

The sporty interior with its autonomous integral-look seats is characterised by further-enhanced perceived quality and flowing shapes and the facelift takes it into the digital era.

The centre console is characterised by an elegant flowing trim element - optionally with new materials: open-pore brown walnut or open-pore anthracite oak. Magma grey/black are available as new interior colours.

The KEYLESS-GO starting function is standard. The start/stop button comes in a new turbine-look design. The vehicle key also gets a new design.

Malaysian customers have a choice of three variants: black with high-gloss chrome surround, white with chrome surround or high-gloss white with matt chrome surround.

Both coupes feature a new display concept, which includes an optional, fully-digital instrument cluster with the three visually distinguishable styles "Classic", "Sport" and "Progressive".

The coupes have touch-sensitive controls in the steering wheel. They respond to swiping motions like the screen of a smartphone. They enable the driver to control the functions of the instrument cluster and of the entire infotainment system without having to take their hands off the steering wheel.

“The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class range is completed with the launch of the C 200 Coupé and C 300 Coupé. With its refined design, superior features and athletic character, the next generation C-Class Coupé is now even more dynamic and progressive, while retaining its high degree of luxury and sophistication,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia sales & marketing vice-president (passenger cars) Mark Raine.

Car loan from Mercedes-Benz Financial

If you intend to get a car loan from Mercedes-Benz Financial, it is having a promotion until Dec 31 on its Flex-C financing plan. During this period, all Flex-C financing contracts come with a free first-year tyre and rim insurance.

The Flex-C financing plan starts from RM2,688 (monthly instalment based on a 3-year tenure and downpayment of 22% for the C 200 Avantgarde Line) and there are a variety of packages to choose from.

The all-in-one financing plan offers financing, insurance and service packages. It promises lower monthly instalments, guaranteed future value of the car, flexible end-of-agreement options, and a range of insurance products and service packages.

For details, call 1-800-88-1133.

C 300 CoupeC 200 Coupe


Benelli VZ125i Special Edition introduced at RM5,838

                PENANG: MForce has released the latest variant of the Benelli VZ125i Special Edition (N1), which comes with new graphics and colours.

Priced at RM5,838, excluding registration and road tax, the VZ125i SE is offered in Yellow, Red Brown and Light Blue.

The front end is trimmed with LED headlights and completed with bright daytime running lights (DRLs) while the instrument panel is the digital-type that displays the speedometer, tachometer and fuel gauge.

Powering the scooter is a 124cc four-stroke, single-cylinder SOHC engine that delivers 8.4hp and 9.2Nm of torque mated to a CVT drive system.

The front telescopic-type suspension system and the rear Kayaba single shock absorber combination promises a smooth and comfortable ride.

The front disc brake delivers good stopping power and the scooter also comes with an anti-theft magnetic lock system.

Other features include a 4.9-litre fuel tank, underseat USB port, grocery hook and a small compartment to store items such as a phone or powerbank.

Also offered is a a two-year/20,000km (whichever comes first) manufacturer's warranty.


British company produces Tesla Model S estate car conversion

                LONDON: Elon Musk might be forgiven for thinking he must have got much of the design of his Tesla Model S wrong: all anyone ever wants to do with the revolutionary car is entirely redesign it.

The latest innovator to take up the challenge of redesigning the Model S is Qwest Norfolk, which appears to be a new British venture launched specifically for the purpose of turning the Model S saloon into an estate car.

Last week, Niels van Roij, a London-based Dutch car designer unveiled his latest vision of a Tesla Model S shooting brake, and yesterday it was reported that a stretch limousine version from a company called Big Limos had been put up for sale on eBay in the US.

The limousine is an unfinished project and the shooting brake won't be available to buy until March 2018, but the Qwest Norfolk creation is close to being finished.

Qwest claims the idea for its project came about in a pub, where a businessman complained to an engineer friend that his Model S didn't have room for his dogs in the back. Qwest explains, "The wish was that the Tesla had an Estate, a proper large estate, a shooting brake, that long lost vehicle format reserved for the annals of history, reminiscing over Volvos and Peugeots of the past long before SUVs and MPVs ruled the planet."

The conversion uses specially-designed carbon-fiber panels added to the Tesla's aluminium body so the conversion doesn't add too much extra weight to the car. Jim Router, Qwest's engineering director, confirmed they made Tesla aware of the project from the outset, and said "They're very content, as long as we don't mess with any of the electrics."

The team describes their creation as "the world's only and fastest electrically powered SportsWagon." It is unclear how many more, if any, will be built.


Final tribute for the Volkswagen Beetle

                NEW YORK: A year after officially announcing the end of its production, Volkswagen has produced a final tribute to the iconic Beetle.

Taking the celebration of life to the world stage, the “people’s car” will be honored in an animated short film titled “The Last Mile”, to debut during "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020" on ABC.

Produced with the Johannes Leonardo agency, the animated film details the story of a boy whose major life events—from childhood to elderly age—are shaped and influenced by the presence of a Volkswagen Beetle.

Fans of the classic bodied car may recognize details of past advertising campaigns as well as pop culture references such as cameos from Kevin Bacon’s character in Footloose and artist Andy Warhol.

A rendition of “Let it Be”, performed by the Pro Musica Youth Chorus serves as the soundtrack of the animation.

The film ends with a not-so-subtle wink and nod to Volkswagen’s electrified future.

“The Beetle is easily one of the most recognizable cars in the history of automobiles,” said Saad Chehab, senior vice president, VW brand marketing.

“Honoring it properly required a medium with just as much versatility and universal appeal as the car itself. While we chose the classic Beetle as the star of the animation, additional campaign components in Times Square honor the latter two generations of cars and their place and presence in American culture. We are proud of our past but our eye is on the future – hence our choice of New Year’s Eve to hint at our upcoming long-range EV and the 2020 Atlas Cross Sport.”

Complementing the film’s debut during New Year’s Eve festivities, Volkswagen will adorn New York City’s Times Square with a celebration of films, messages, and hints at its future brand design, including a more modern Volkswagen logo.

Utilizing multiple billboards and digital spaces, the future of the brand’s Drive Bigger messaging and images of the 2020 Atlas Cross Sport will be on full display as the clock ticks down to the new year.

A social media campaign, focusing largely on fan-sourced content, will also play out on @VW social media channels.


                KUALA LUMPUR: Existing laws will be used to regulate Uber and GrabCar services, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow denied that new laws would be drawn up, saying the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) had held a discussion with Uber and GrabCar stakeholders and were studying which laws could be used to regulate the ridesharing apps' services.

"Basically, there is a need to regulate. If taxis fall within the purview of law, so should Uber and GrabCar," he told reporters after attending the ground-breaking ceremony at the Wong Low Shen See Chee How Temple's site in Seputeh Friday.

He pointed out that "anyone can be an Uber driver" at present, saying it was unfair to taxi operators.

"Just like taxis, we need to monitor the (Uber and GrabCar) drivers to protect the rights of passengers. There should be standard procedures in place on how to apply to be an Uber driver.

"We can't have them operating illegally on the roads," said Liow.


Older Honda Accord units recalled over faulty airbag issue — again

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has announced a recall of 9,998 units of Accord (2.0L from 2003 - 2007 Year Model) for a second replacement of the Takata driver front airbag inflator as a preventive measure.

Honda Malaysia said the affected Accords were the same ones involved in a previous Takata airbag inflator recall.

The second recall is necessary as a precautionary action, said Honda Malaysia, adding that no crashes or injuries related to the Accord airbag issue had been reported in Malaysia so far.

All current selling models are not affected.

Affected customers will receive notification letters from Honda Malaysia with the details of the product recall and stock availability.

The second replacement airbag inflator stock for the 9,998 units of Accord would be available in stages.

As at April 21, Honda Malaysia has completed more than 243,720 units of Takata driver front airbag inflator replacements, which translates to 92% completion ratio. The total number of Takata driver and passenger front airbag inflator replacements completed is at more than 527,480 units or 89% completion ratio.


Toyota Gazoo Racing festival back this weekend with safety measures in place

                SHAH ALAM: Now into its fourth successive season, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival’s opening round at the Sepang International Circuit this weekend will be closed to the public as it operates under the Sports Bubble and in adherence to strict measures to stamp out the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, viewers and racing fans nationwide will not miss out on any of the action and can tune in to the festival online via Toyota’s website and social media platforms.

UMW Toyota Motor president Ravindran K said the concept of the festival remained unchanged but only the manner in which it reaches out to the public in these extraordinary and challenging times.

"The Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival has primarily been about bringing motorsports to the masses and we will continue to do this,” he said.

While the on-ground atmosphere will be void of fans, Ravindran said the silver lining is that the opportunity to live stream the festival and entire race weekend would reach out to an even larger and wider audience, including racing fans outside of Malaysia, who won’t miss a beat tuning into the action from the comfort and safety of their homes.

“The people who have come to the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival over the past three seasons have done so for many different reasons.

"Some come for the racing, others for the chance to spend time with their favourite celebrities, and there are those who are there for the so many different on-ground activities and attractions.

"Moving forward, it is imperative we continue with this even if it means going online, as this is what has fundamentally made the festival unique and a huge success,” he said.

On track action come in the form of four classes of racing which includes the inaugural running of the Rookie Class that will see six new graduates of the Gazoo Racing Young Talent Development Programme stepping up from karting and simulator to making their debut in saloon car racing.

Meanwhile, the Promotional Class will field 10 local popular celebrities, three of whom are new faces while the Sporting Class is for amateur drivers; and the Super Sporting Class for elite and professional drivers.

Race fans can look forward to door-to-door battle that will include three qualifying sessions, six individual races, pit lane insights and interviews with racers.

A new live stream entertainment segment is introduced for the first time for the broadcast, called Toyota Gazoo Racing OFFTHEGRID.

It will be anchored by the 10 local celebrities who are also racing in the Vios Challenge!

They include actor Shukri Yahaya, actress Janna Nick, presenter Nabil Ahmad, and singers Wany Hasrita, Nabila Razali and Khai Bahar.

The three newcomers to Season 4 are actor Zizan Razak, singer/song writer Talitha Tan, television personality Ahirine Ahirudin.

All will be competing in the Promotional Class with the exception of beat boxer and two-time Promotional Class champion Shawn Lee who now moves up to take on the big boys in the Sporting Class for amateurs.

In a segment called Jom Duet Bersama Khai Bahar, Wany Hasrita and Nabila Razali, fans are invited to participate in an acting and singing duet challenge with the best submissions to be aired during the live stream.

Two of Malaysia’s leading comedians Nabil Ahmad and Zizak Razak will also join forces for Latah Positif and Berita Apani, giving viewers a quirky insight into the festival.

In Melodi Misteri, celebrities will take turns to sing out loud a song that only they can hear while wearing a racing helmet and fans will have to guess the song they are listening to.

Toyota’s six new young drivers (simulator racers Mika Hakimi, 17 and Naquib Azlan, 20; and karters Amer Harris, 17; Jwan Hii, 18; Putera Adam, 14; and Troy Eimann, 16) and Gazoo Racing Ambassador Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel will also go head to head in a battle to test their reaction times in a series of challenges off the circuit in Toyota Arena Bersama Rookies & Tengku Djan.

Fresh from completing their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, two rookies Amer Harris and Mika Hakimi will host Did You SPM?, where they will ask racers, mechanics and race officials random SPM questions in a test of wits.

Ending the live stream broadcast on Saturday and Sunday will be a live performance by the celebrities, something fans to the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival have always looked forward to.

All the action of Round 1 will be broadcast live on the UMW Toyota Motor and Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia website at https://toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/, and on the Toyota Malaysia and Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Facebook pages.

Broadcast times will be from 8.45am–12.10pm, and 2pm–6pm on Saturday, and from 10.45am–1pm, and 1.30pm-5.30pm on Sunday.

For details, log on to https://toyota.com.my/tgrmalaysia/.


Shell Fleet Solutions and DHL on emissions reduction move

                KUALA LUMPUR: Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd through its business mobility division, Shell Fleet Solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership to support DHL Express Malaysia’s sustainability journey in reducing emissions across their fleet operations.

DHL Express has signed up with Shell Fleet Solutions’ Accelerate to Zero (A2Z) programme which brings together Shell’s full range of consultancy services and innovative solutions in a tailored programme to help fleet customers chart their decarbonisation course to net-zero emissions.

As long-standing global partners, Shell and DHL established a strategic decarbonisation relationship in June last year.

Specific to the two companies’ activities in Malaysia, the two companies will leverage on their knowledge, expertise, and global infrastructure to support sustainable business growth through fleet decarbonisation and improving safety standards around electrification solutions.

The agreement further provides a framework to explore cooperation in other carbon-neutral initiatives.

 (From left) Lean, Neo and Shell Fleet Solutions Asia general manager Veethara Trakulboon at the signing event.

Shell Fleet Solutions Malaysia general manager Joanna Lean said its A2Z programme comes with resolutions which include innovative Shell Recharge Solutions, Shell Telematics and Shell Nature-based Solutions.

“We are happy to partner with DHL Express in Malaysia to contribute towards a more sustainable business growth,” said Lean.

In the area of commercial vehicle electrification, DHL Express has pioneered this journey in Malaysia with Shell Recharge Solutions.

This bespoke solution developed by Shell Recharge Solutions comprises both hardware and software management that utilises our end-to-end smart EV charging solution software, Shell SKY.

DHL Express’ fleet operations would now benefit from on-site charging infrastructure at their depots and warehouses, on-the-go payment services through the Shell Card and convenience retailing benefits when fast charging at Shell stations.

DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei managing director Julian Neo said that the company aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

“As a leading international express service provider, it is our responsibility to drive the sustainable transformation of our industry. Alternative drives and fuels as well as clean energy solutions are important areas to achieve this goal,” he said.

For more information on Shell’s Accelerate to Zero (A2Z) programme, visit https://www.shell.com/business-customers/shell-fleet-solutions/accelerate-to-zero-shell-fleet-solutions-consultancy.html


GMC's electric Hummer to be revealed this fall

                DETROIT: GMC announced on Wednesday that its all-electric super truck will debut later this fall and will begin production in fall 2021.

GMC teased a few more bits of information about the electric Hummer, saying its roof panels could be removed for an open-air drive. The vehicle's electric motors are capable of producing up to 1,000hp and over 15,000Nm of torque for a supercar sprint of 0-100kph in 3s.

The re-invented Hummer would use Ultium batteries, which GM said could be quickly charged up through "super fast charging" technology.

Details about the GMC Hummer EV’s on- and off-road capabilities would be revealed closer to its debut.

GMC's so-called BT1 electric truck/SUV programme is the centrepiece of a planned US$3 billion investment in the Detroit-Hamtramck plant to make electric trucks and vans, and part of a broader US$7.7 billion investment in GM’s US plants over the next four years, according to a proposed labour deal between the automaker and the United Auto Workers union.

Reuters quoted analysts as saying that the investment would move the automaker into a part of the EV market that is largely untested and where GM has a higher likelihood of turning a profit.

GM is copying Tesla's strategy by starting in the high end and then moving down the price ladder.

More information is available at www.gmc.com/HummerEV.


Fiat Chrysler withdraws merger offer for Renault, blames French politics

The collapse of merger talks leaves the two companies facing an array of issues. — Reuters

PARIS: Fiat Chrysler said it has abandoned its US$35 billion (RM146bil) merger offer for Renault, blaming French politics for scuttling what would have been a landmark deal to create the world’s third-biggest automaker.

A source close to the French carmaker’s board said Fiat Chrysler made the move after France sought to delay a decision on the deal in order to win the support of Nissan Motor Co, Renault’s Japanese alliance partner.

French government officials had pushed for Nissan to support the merger. Nissan had said it would abstain.

The French government, which owns a 15% stake in Renault, had also pushed Fiat Chrysler for guarantees that France would not lose jobs, and for a dividend to be paid to Renault shareholders, including the government, people familiar with the talks said. Fiat Chrysler’s original proposal offered no special dividend to Renault shareholders.

“It has become clear that the political conditions in France do not currently exist for such a combination to proceed successfully,” Fiat Chrysler said in a statement issued early today from London.

Renault, in a separate statement, said its board was “unable to take a decision due to the request expressed by the representatives of the French state to postpone the vote to a later meeting.”

The collapse of merger talks leaves the two companies facing an array of issues, starting with the dismay of investors who bid up shares in both companies after Fiat Chrysler proposed a merger of equals just over a week ago. Shares of Nissan and Renault alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp fell in early trading in Tokyo on Thursday.

Fiat Chrysler had proposed that its shareholders receive a 2.5 billion euro special dividend as part of the merger, had it been completed.

Next steps unclear

The two companies told investors a merger would cut operating costs and investments by 5 billion euros or more a year. Fiat Chrysler stood to gain access to Renault’s superior electric drive technology to meet mandates for zero-emission cars.

Renault would have had a share of the Italian-American company’s lucrative Jeep sport utility vehicle and RAM pickup truck franchises.

It is not clear what the two companies will do next to tackle the costs of far-reaching technological and regulatory changes. Fiat Chrysler had held inconclusive talks with France’s PSA Group, which also has the French government as a shareholder.

Fiat Chrysler said it “will continue to deliver on its commitments through the implementation of its independent strategy.”

The sudden end to the merger talks came after midnight in Paris, after Fiat Chrysler and French government officials had reached a tentative agreement that cleared the way for Renault’s board to consider moving forward, people familiar with the situation said.

Renault’s previous alliance and cross-shareholding with Japanese automaker Nissan had loomed all along as a potential snag.

Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa met last week with Renault chief executive Jean-Dominique Senard, and said he did not see “any particular negative aspect” to the proposed Fiat Chrysler-Renault merger.

But people familiar with the situation said last week Nissan executives felt blindsided by the merger proposal. A Nissan spokesman had no immediate comment.

Nissan had indicated that a full merger between Renault and Fiat Chrysler would significantly alter the structure of Nissan’s cross-shareholding alliance with Renault and require a fundamental review of their relationship.

French push for control

The failure of the proposal to combine Fiat Chrysler and Renault is the latest blow to the French automaker, already reeling from the fall of its longtime CEO Carlos Ghosn, who is awaiting trial in Japan on charges of financial misconduct as chairman of Nissan.

Ghosn has denied the charges and said he is the victim of treachery by Nissan underlings who opposed his plans to merge Nissan and Renault.

Fiat Chrysler’s decision to walk away is a defeat for Senard, former head of tyre maker Michelin. He invested heavily in the proposal to merge with Fiat Chrysler, and travelled to Japan last week to make the case personally to executives of Nissan and third alliance partner Mitsubishi that a merged Renault-Fiat Chrysler could work closely with them as well.

As Renault board members met in Paris Wednesday evening, it appeared that Senard, Fiat Chrysler chairman John Elkann and representatives of the French government led by finance minister Bruno Le Maire had ironed out most of their differences.

The French government had pushed for more control over the company going forward, according to people familiar with the situation, while Fiat Chrysler’s controlling shareholder, representing descendants of Gianni Agnelli, had sought to defend the valuation assigned to their company and the potential cost savings.

Nissan had signalled that its representatives would abstain. But during the meeting, French government representatives sought to persuade Nissan to endorse the deal. The meeting was held up three times for consultations, people familiar with the events said.

Nissan abstains

Fiat Chrysler had also become increasingly aware of the pitfalls of pursuing a Renault merger without its larger alliance partner’s buy-in.

“Nissan needs to be in the loop,” an FCA source said shortly before the deal fell apart.

When it came to a vote, the Nissan representatives abstained, the leftist CGT union voted against, and all other directors voted for it. When it was the French state representatives’ turn to vote, they insisted that the vote be postponed, people familiar with the events said.

France’s lead representative on the board, Martin Vial, said finance minister Le Maire would hold talks with his Japanese counterparts over the weekend and in Tokyo on Monday, after the G20 summit, and a vote could then take place on Tuesday.

Senard requested that Fiat Chrysler grant a delay. Instead, Fiat Chrysler quickly rejected the request, a person familiar with the events said.

On the French side, Fiat Chrysler was seen as being in too great a hurry to lock down the deal. French officials, however, signalled they saw no need to rush.


Fuel prices up 4 sen

PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices are up across the board for the first week of November, with an increase of four sen per litre for petrol and diesel.

RON95 will be priced at RM2.24 per litre, while RON97 will retail at RM2.54 per litre.

Meanwhile, diesel will go up by 4 sen as well to RM2.17 per litre from RM2.13.

The new prices were announced on RTM1 on Wednesday (Nov 1) evening and will be in effect from 12.01am on Nov 2 to Nov 8.


Public lauds govt move to drop mask mandate in public transportation and health facilities

                KUALA LUMPUR: The decision to not to make the use of face masks in health facilities and on public transportation compulsory any more from July 5 shows that the government is ready to enter the Covid-19 endemic phase.

Malaysians welcomed the government's new ruling to ease standard operating procedures (SOP) as announced by Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa today.

Diploma student R. Arese Nesi, 21, said the relaxation on face mask use on public transport is definitely encouraging as it indirectly shows that the Covid-19 situation in the country is recovering.

"If the situation is not good, surely the government would not relax the ruling. I feel very good because I do not need to wear it (face mask) when riding the LRT or MRT as it is always crowded and wearing a face mask makes it difficult," the second-year student majoring in communications at a local university said today.

Malaysia has been in the transition to the endemic phase since April 1, 2022.

Meanwhile, Lisa Licson, 25, who teaches at an international school, said the public need not worry about being issued a compound notice or a fine if they fail to comply with the regulations and stipulated SOP when in health facilities.

"The announcement that it is no longer necessary to wear a face mask is a good thing. I think the importance of wearing a face mask depends on each individual," she said.

Muhammad Said Abdullah, 29, said he was happy but remained worried that Covid-19 could return aggressively in future.

"As a Grab driver, I always tell my passengers to mask up and would give them a face mask if they did not have one. Now, I will not need to do this anymore," he said.

However, he said he would continue taking precautions by using a face mask if he has the flu, a cough or a fever to avoid spreading the infection to passengers.

Digital social media executive Nik Nur Najla Nik Zaid, 24, had a different opinion and felt public transport users cannot avoid being exposed to the risk of contracting Covid-19 when it is crowded.

"The LRTs are congested every time you travel to and from work – and we are not sure of the health of other passengers. So it depends on the individuals... if they are afraid or care for themselves, then they should use face masks even though it is not compulsory," she said.


Shell and BonusLink announce 1st winner of BMW X3

                KUALA LUMPUR: Neeraj Kumar N Krishna Kumar from Penang was announced the first grand prize winner of the Menangi 3 BMW X3 contest by Shell and BonusLink at a special celebration for winners, held at Shell Bukit Jalil TPM, today.

The proud winner of a BMW X3 xDrive30i Luxury had participated in the Menangi 3 BMW X3 contest.

To participate in this contest, BonusLink Members are required to swipe their BonusLink Card at Shell and purchase any of the following products: Shell fuels, Shell Lubricants, or any products sold within Shell SELECT premises, except tobacco products, E-Pay products and Touch ’N Go purchases.

For every spend of RM40, cumulative within the same day, BonusLink Members will receive one contest entry for a chance to win a BMW X3, or 300 Shell Vouchers worth RM 300 each.

The contest runs from 23 September to 24 November 2019, and winners of the contest will also be awarded with Extra 30,000 BonusLink Points if they swipe at Shell and another BonusLink Partner during the contest period.

Shairan Huzani Husain, managing director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd said, “We‘re proud to organise this campaign with BonusLink to reward our loyal customers who have supported Shell throughout the years. Globally Shell is BMW Motorsport’s Premium Technology Partner, and we are proud to work with BMW Group Malaysia to offer three units of BMW X3 xDrive30i Luxury as the grand prize. Through this campaign, we hope to make life’s journeys better by giving Malaysians a chance to own a vehicle that gives them a comfortable and safe driving experience, thereby allowing them to go well on their journeys.”

Melvin Ooi, CEO of BonusKad Loyalty Sdn Bhd said, “This is indeed an exciting campaign that we’ve organized with Shell. Our Members are the backbone of the company and we are fully committed to continuously enhance the BonusLink journey by extending rewards and benefits that are meaningful to our Members. We also believe in the thrill of enjoyable experiences, one a campaign like ‘Menangi 3 BMW X3’ contest delivers. Winning a luxury car like the BMW X3 is a dream and I am glad to report that we have received an overwhelming number of responses thus far. I hope to see more and more Members continue to swipe their BonusLink Card at Shell for a chance to win the remaining two BMW X3 cars. Also, Members stand to win a share of 9 Million BonusLink Points when they swipe at Shell and another BonusLink Partner during the contest period.”

Neeraj Kumar said, “When I first received the call from BonusLink, I could not believe that I had won the BMW X3! I have been fueling at Shell since I had my first car, but I never expected to win such a big prize just by swiping my BonusLink Card at Shell. I am thankful to both Shell and BonusLink for rewarding me and my family.”

During the contest period, BonusLink will be organising roadshows in cities across Malaysia to promote the contest: the first roadshow kicked off in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching on 5 October and 8 October 2019 respectively.

This will be followed roadshows in Ipoh (19 October 2019), Kuantan (26 October 2019), and Johor Bahru (1 November 2019) where there will be exciting activities and prizes for the whole family.

For more information about Menangi 3 BMW X3 contest, the list of winners, and locations of BonusLink roadshows, please visit www.shell.com.my/menangbmw


Hyundai and Kia raided over suspected defeat devices in Germany

                BERLIN/SEOUL: German authorities have raided Hyunda and Kia over allegations that they put over 210,000 diesel vehicles with suspected illegal defeat devices onto the road, the Frankfurt state prosecutor's office said on Tuesday.

The announcement sent shares of the two South Korean automakers down more than 6% today, as investors fear it may lead to an expansion of the investigation and punitive damages.

Defeat devices are mechanisms or software that can change vehicle emissions levels, leading to disputes over whether manufacturers use them to mask the true pollution levels of their vehicles.

Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to using software to cheat US emissions tests on some diesel engines.

The engine software that Hyundai and Kia used is thought to have come from parts companies Bosch, and Delphi, which today is owned by the Borgwarner group, according to a statement by the prosecutor's office.

Authorities searched the business premises at eight properties in Germany and Luxembourg in an operation co-ordinated by the European Union agency Eurojust.

A spokesman for Hyundai Motor Group in Seoul, representing Kia and Hyundai, confirmed the raids and said the company was working with the authorities.

Kim Joon-sung, an analyst at Meritz Securities in Seoul, said the investigation could be expanded or lead to punitive damages.

But he added no issues were found when all Hyundai and Kia diesel models sold in Europe were investigated in the mid-2010s for potential manipulation of emissions.


Auto Shanghai 2019: Battery electric Toyota C-HR

                SHANGHAI: Toyota premiered its C-HR and IZOA battery electric vehicles (BEVs) at Auto Shanghai 2019.

They will be the first Toyota BEVs to launch in China, with sales slated to start from 2020.

The Izoa is actually a C-HR variant produced by Tianjin FAW Toyota.

Toyota plans to roll out more than ten BEV models globally during the first half of the 2020s.

As for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), Toyota executive vice president Moritaka Yoshida stated, "Since 2017, Toyota has been conducting demonstration tests with the Mirai in China. We are considering the local introduction of other fuel cell vehicles such as the FC Coaster."

 Battery electric Toyota C-HR Battery electric Toyota C-HR Battery electric IZOA Battery electric IZOA


Ford to drop Mondeo sedan production in Europe come 2022

                DETROIT: Ford Motor said on Thursday it expects to phase out production of its Mondeo sedan in Europe in early 2022, as the US auto maker shifts its focus to electric and sport utility vehicles.

The company also reaffirmed all its passenger vehicles in Europe will be fully electric or plug-in hybrids by mid-2026 and all-electric by 2030.

The move comes as Ford is investing heavily in developing connected electric vehicles, with plans to spend US$22 billion in electrification through 2025.

Ford also said it will build its 2.5-litre Duratec hybrid engine, which powers its Kuga plug-in hybrid and other models, at its Valencia engine plant in Spain from late 2022.

The Duratec hybrid engine is currently built at Ford’s Chihuahua engine plant in Mexico.


China tech giants bet US$19bil on global electric car frenzy

                SHANGHAI: China is shaping up to be the first real test of Big Tech’s ambitions in the world of carmaking, with giants from Huawei Technologies Co. to Baidu Inc. plowing almost US$19 billion (RM78bil) into electric and self-driving vehicle ventures widely seen as the future of transport.

While Apple Inc. has long had plans for its own car and Alphabet Inc. has Waymo, its autonomous driving unit, the size — and speed — of the move by China’s tech titans puts them at the vanguard of that broader push. The lure is an industry that’s becoming increasingly high tech as it pivots away from the combustion engine, with sensors and operating systems making cars more like computers, and the prospect of autonomy re-envisioning how people use will them.

As the world’s biggest market for new-energy cars, China is a key battlefield.

Established automakers like Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co. are already slogging it out with local upstarts such as market darling Nio Inc. and Xpeng Inc.

Over the past three months, Huawei, smartphone giant Xiaomi Corp., Baidu -- which runs China’s top search engine and a mapping app -- and even Apple’s Taiwanese manufacturing partner Foxconn have joined the fray, forging tie-ups and unveiling their own carmaking plans.

Nowhere was that more on display than at last month’s Shanghai Auto Show, which has become one of the world’s premier events for showcasing the hottest new trends in the automotive sector.

Visitors queued for hours to access the pavilions of Huawei and Baidu, thronging their displays and snapping pictures of sensor systems, high-tech dashboards and model vehicles. But despite the intense interest, the era of the new car is a hyper-competitive one in China, and tech giants have a lot to prove.

“There’s a big element of faith in the tech companies’ bets,” said Stephen Dyer, managing director of consultancy AlixPartners in Shanghai and a former Ford Motor Co. executive.

“This is a matter of creating something new that doesn’t exist now. That’s where the element of faith comes into play.”

Huawei has been at the fore, recently announcing plans to invest US$1 billion in EVs and its own self-driving technology, which it claims has “already surpassed” electric car pioneer Tesla Inc. in some aspects.

The Shenzhen-based company, better known for its mobile-phone networks and being the subject of crippling US sanctions, has unveiled its first car developed with BAIC BluePark Mew Energy Technology Co.

The mid-sized Arcfox S sedan uses HI, or Huawei Inside, an intelligent automotive software package that enables it to run on autonomous driving mode in city areas for more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) without human intervention. Delivery is slated to start in the fourth quarter.

Huawei’s auto show display attracted larger crowds than nearby China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group Ltd., an EV upstart that took one of the biggest stands to showcase nine models despite the fact it hasn’t sold a car under its own brand.

As well as the Arcfox S sedan, a Seres SF5 coupe equipped with Huawei Inside was on display, along with Huawei’s HiFin Intelligent Antenna Solution, a new generation in-vehicle communication system plus 4D-imaging radar that’s used to monitor roads and traffic.

One of the biggest challenges for new entrants to the automotive sector is how capital and resource intensive it is to make cars. How tech companies negotiate that will be key, and potentially provide opportunities for established players in the sector, with Huawei repeatedly saying its plan is not to produce its own vehicles.

Rather, it’s partnering with three Chinese automakers - BAIC Motor Corp., Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. - to make self-driving cars that will carry its name as a sub-brand.

Guangzhou Auto will jointly build a “truly unmanned car” that will be produced in 2024, president Feng Xingya said last month. The carmaker will also cooperate with Huawei on big data, smart cockpits, and hardware and electronic chips, Feng said.

“China adds 30 million cars each year and the number is growing,” Huawei deputy chairman Eric Xu said in April. “Even if we don’t tap the market outside of China, if we can earn an average 10,000 yuan (RM6,394) from each car sold in China, that’s already a very big business.”

Apple appears to be considering a similar route, talking at one point with carmakers including Hyundai Motor Co. before discussions fizzled.

Unlike China’s tech giants, Apple is keeping its plans largely secret. The company lost a key manager overseeing its self-driving car program in February and it’s unclear what impact that may have had on Apple’s progress on delivering a commercially viable car.

The rise of smart vehicles and autonomous driving throws up a raft of possibilities for tech companies, not least access to data such as real-time insight into popular destinations and the routes taken to get there.

On top of that, for some there’s the opportunity to charge for tech add-ons and system improvements, essentially treating the vehicle like a piece of computer hardware that constantly gets its software updated.

“They will definitely focus on being intelligent,” said Yale Zhang, managing director of Shanghai-based consultancy Autoforesight Co.

“Making a good electrified car is a ‘pass,’ while making a good intelligent car will make an ‘A-grade.’ That’s what these tech giants are good at. Their main revenue will not be from selling the car but finding other ways to earn post-sale, such as over-the-air system upgrades or software subscriptions.”

Baidu - which started investing in robo-taxi technology as early as 2013 and funded Chinese EV startup WM Motors - now plans to spend US$7.7 billion over the next five years developing smart-car technology via its newly established unit Jidu Auto.

The division aims to launch its first model in three years, followed by new releases every 12 to 18 months, Chief Executive Officer Xia Yiping said.

“The core value of cars in the future will be how intelligent they are,” Xia said, echoing a familiar refrain. “The earlier a company plans, the more control of self-developed technologies it gains, the more advanced technology it has, the more power it will own in the market.”

Jidu has a core team of about 100 staff members, and will expand to as many as 3,000 by the end of next year, including up to 500 software engineers, he said.

The first batch of cars will be based on Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co.’s pure EV manufacturing structure, while Jidu will collaborate with Baidu’s autonomous-driving unit Apollo, with a special focus on smart cars and the mass production of autonomous driving features. The unit will embark on its next fundraising round soon, with further investment expected from Baidu and external investors.

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has also announced plans to invest about US$10 billion over the next decade to manufacture electric cars, though hasn’t disclosed much detail or given a timeframe for deliveries. Billionaire co-founder Lei Jun in March announced his intention to lead a new standalone division and spearhead the drive into EVs, in what he called his final major startup endeavor.

“We have deep pockets for this project,” Lei, who is also Xiaomi’s chief executive officer, said when unveiling the plan. “I’m fully aware of the risks of the car-making industry. I’m also aware the project will take at least three-to-five years with tens of billions of investment.”

While China’s tech giants may be late to the game and entering unfamiliar territory, that could play to their advantage, said Dyer of AlixPartners.

“This isn’t an industry where you have to be the first-mover to win,” he said. “In fact, in the auto industry, the first mover typically never wins. It’s always the follower who wins. Because when you are the first mover, you’re the one paying to learn through all the mistakes.”

Electric and hybrids now account for about one-fifth of new car sales on average in the six biggest Chinese cities, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.

In some hubs, like Shanghai, that figure is even higher. Around 31% of cars sold in China’s financial heart run on alternative energy, up from 6% in 2016, Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the car trade body wrote in a note over the weekend. In Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Tianjin, EV penetration rates are 16%, 13%, 25%, 21% and 12% respectively, higher than 8% nationwide.

Consumers in developed cities on China’s east coast have embraced EVs faster than their inland neighbours thanks to local government policies, like easier access to license plates. But Cui warned with rising traffic jams and higher overall EV penetration, that favourable treatment may not last.


Millennium Welt Kuantan is latest BMW dealership

                KUANTAN: BMW Group Malaysia has expanded to Kuantan with a 4S dealership that would serve Pahang and the rest of the east coast.

Occupying over 28,000 square feet of built-up space, the Millennium Welt Kuantan dealership has a staff strength of over 20 people and is able to display up to six vehicles in its showroom.

 Millennium Group principal Bryan Wong (left) and Han at the opening of Millennium Welt Kuantan.

The concept and architecture of the dealership reflects the latest furniture and identity of the BMW brand and meets the brand’s international-class standards. The dealership houses the sales and service advisor’s workstation, the Isetta Café and customer lounge as well as a handover lounge and discussion area. Millennium Welt also operates BMW dealerships in Seremban and Batu Pahat.

“Pahang and the east coast is a developing market for us. The area contributes over 150 vehicles to the premium segment and has a potential to grow by over 20% over the next few years,” said BMW Group Malaysia managing director & CEO Han Sang Yun on Friday, adding that Millennium Welt was well placed to meet the demand.

The dealership is located at Lot 32, Jalan Teluk Sisek, 25000 Kuantan. For more information, call 09-516 1666 or visit www.bmw.com.my.