Have CarPlay and Android Auto outstayed their welcome on car screens?

                NEW YORK: In the long-running battle between carmakers and smartphone platforms to dominate displays in cars, General Motors is planning to take a radical step: Future electric models will no longer support Apple's CarPlay or Google's Android Auto.

Instead, the US corporation with its brands like Cadillac, Chevrolet and Buick wants to rely on an in-house software platform said to bring its own navigation advantages by relying on vehicle data like battery level and temperature.

The move is primarily about making the operation of electric cars more efficient, GM explained in an announcement at the start of April. "The vehicle can know more than the phone does," a spokeswoman told technology blog The Verge.

CarPlay and Android Auto have been used by many to get nearly the same level of features from their phone onto their car's display. For this to work, the phone is connected wirelessly or by cable and takes over the screen of the infotainment system.

The two brought a welcome level of sophistication to car screens, as for a long time the in-house operating systems designed by manufacturers were cumbersome and lagging far behind smartphones.

Once first integrated about a decade ago, Android Auto and CarPlay offered a near-seamless continuation of the smartphone experience in the car. Emails, music playlists, messages and maps could then all be seen on the car's screen.

The software typically runs on the smartphones, not in the on-board computer, meaning your car's smarts and software speed is typically as good as your phone's.

Some industry experts have argued for years that it would be difficult for car companies to ever win the battle for the "human interface" in the long run because people generally want the same features and user experience as from their smartphone.

This has become a problem for car manufacturers, however, as they want to generate an ever larger part of their business with revenues from digital services.

But things have changed again with the advent of electric cars, and manufacturers have been given something of a trump card: for navigation, the range must be calculated correctly - and this can vary significantly depending on ambient temperature, tyre pressure and other factors.

In order to calculate a route including possibly necessary charging stops, the car therefore needs access to the battery level and other data from inside the vehicle.

It's telling that, so far, manufacturers have largely made no effort to make this essential vehicle data available to Google and Apple, as doing so would harm their potential to deliver superior in-car software.

In any case, Google is set to keep one foot in the car door with its Android operating system, and more and more carmakers are turning to a neutral version of Android as the basis for their own infotainment systems.

Manufacturers - like GM most recently - can also directly integrate Google services like Maps, Google Play and the voice assistant, without having to forfeit all control to a Google operating system.

Last year, Apple flexed even more ambition to dominate car screens with a new CarPlay version that can also take over the instrument cluster and even display the car's current speed. However, it is unclear whether manufacturers will use it.

At GM, the first model to focus on its own software will be the all-electric Chevrolet Blazer, which is to be launched in the US and Canada in the summer. With the new system, smartphones can be integrated via Bluetooth only for calls, dictating short messages and playing music.

One exception to all this is the electric car manufacturer Tesla, which has always relied only on its own software services.

At the same time, carmakers are expanding their software offerings. Volkswagen, for example, recently introduced an app store for all group brands.

Given the popularity of CarPlay and Android Auto, the major manufacturers have so far been reluctant to ban smartphone services. But GM's move shows that the switch to electric mobility leaves room for major manufacturers to retake the ceded territory of the car screen.


Honda rides the future in Ghost In The Shell

                LONDON: Honda has supported the production of the feature film Ghost In The Shell, produced by Dreamworks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and provided its highly-acclaimed large motorcycle model NM4 Vultus, whose futuristic style has been very popular, as the base model for the hero bike in the film.

Based on the internationally acclaimed Japanese manga, Ghost in the Shell is set in the near future and stars Scarlett Johansson as Major, the first of her kind, a human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. Beat Takeshi plays her boss, Aramaki.

The film is directed by Rupert Sanders.

The NM4 Vultus was developed under the keywords of 'Neo-futuristic' and 'Cool', and was launched in April 2014. The ideal fit between the concept and styling of the NM4 Vultus and the worldview of the film led to the provision of the vehicle for filming.

The vehicle in the film was based on design sketches provided by Honda, finessed by the film production team, and subsequently placed in the film as the hero bike ridden by the lead character. The vehicle helps to make the futuristic world depicted in the film more realistic.

The NM4 Vultus-based vehicle used in the film is scheduled to be showcased at “33rd Osaka Motorcycle Show 2017” (Saturday, March 18 – Monday, 20), and “44th Tokyo Motorcycle Show” (Friday, March 24 – Sunday, 26).


Aventador LP 750-4 SV makes Asian debut, five units for Malaysia

UPDATE: Malaysia is allocated five units of the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce, but Lamborghini KL is seeking to increase that quota. Four units have already had takers. The car is scheduled for Malaysian launch in October with an indicative price of RM3.5mil.

SHANGHAI: The Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce made its Asian debut at the Shanghai auto show.

Production of the car is limited to 600 units worldwide. Lamborghini said this car is the most  sports-oriented,  fastest  and most emotional  series  model  it has ever produced.

Like all SV models before it, the Aventador  Superveloce  continues  the  Lamborghini  tradition  of   raising the performance  bar.

The  car sheds 50kg  through  enhanced lightweight  engineering,  including  significant  use  of  carbon  fiber.  The  naturally aspirated  V12  engine’s  power  is  increased  to  750hp, resulting in  a power-to-weight-ratio of 2.03 kg/hp. The Superveloce accelerates from 0 to 100kph in 2.8 seconds and powers on to reach a top speed of more than 350kph.

Lamborghini president and CEO Stephan Winkelmann described the  Aventador LP 750-4 as "the most exclusive, pure and emotional car in our current model range."

The Aventador LP 700-4,  on which the Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce is based, comes in coupe and roadster variants.

Also on display in Shanghai are the Huracan and the Aventador LP 700-4 Pirelli Edition.

 Winkelmann introducing the SV in Shanghai.

This year marks Lamborghini’s 10-year anniversary of entering into the China market,  which  remains  one  of  the  most  important  markets  for Lamborghini.

CarSifu is now in Singapore to report on the launch of the Aventador Superveloce in the island republic tomorrow. You can count on the car coming to Malaysia after that though how many units will be allocated this side of the Tebrau strait remains to be seen.


Meet the new MINI Countryman Plugin Hybrid, priced at RM256K

                KUALA LUMPUR: With go-kart-like handling, now comes greater fuel savings as MINI Malaysia electrifies its path ahead with the Countryman Plug-in Hybrid (F60) that goes on sale at all authorised MINI dealerships nationwide from April 6 onwards.

At RM255,888 on-the-road with GST without insurance, the latest premium compact sport activity vehicle (SAV) is not only the first MINI plugin hybrid to grace Malaysian shores, but also the first one of its kind to be locally assembled outside the Netherlands.

“The second generation of the MINI Countryman was a tremendous success here when we introduced the vehicle in April last year," said MINI Malaysia head Kidd Yam.

Once new owners have chosen one of six colour options that includes Chili Red, British Racing Green, Thunder Grey and Light White while Melting Silver and Island Blue get a Black and a White Roof respectively, they will be covered by a four-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service .

Also included is a '5 Years Roadside Assistance' programme (1800-88- 8808) including a 24-Hour, 365-days- a-year Accident and Help on the Phone and On the Spot Hotline, Free Towing Services when needed (over 200KM from residential home), Replacement Vehicle, Seamless Mobility, Accommodation, Mobility Services Solutions and Repatriation services.

Additionally, the new plug-in hybrid variant of the Countryman is offered with a six-year or up to 100,000km battery warranty.

To differentiate its electric presence, it flaunts an “e” badge on the side scuttles and a yellow “S” in the model inscription on the rear as well as on the radiator grille and door sill finishers.

Additionally, it comes with an ALL4 exterior body kit that includes 19-inch MINI Yours Masterpiece wheels, as well as a charging port under a flap in the area of the left-hand side scuttle.

Inside, the cabin features a MINI Yours Walknappa Leather steering wheel along with hand-finished aluminium-coloured contrast stitching, 6.5-inch Touch Screen Display with navigation and multi-touch functionality.

There's now also an eDrive button which allows drivers three different electric drive modes that starts with standard AUTO eDrive that can be driven up to 80kph in electric mode and the SAV will automatically decide when to switch to engine or 'eBoost' where both motors are used.

In MAX eDrive, the car prioritises electric mode and allows to be driven up to 120kph with a range of up to 42km on a full charge before switching to engine power.

The SAVE BATTERY mode meanwhile comes into play when the battery charging status is low.

This mode enables the battery to be charged via the petrol engine or allows the charging status to be maintained at 90% and in this mode, the engine is mainly employed.

The latest Countryman utilises an eALL4 all-wheel drive system that takes on a combined output of 221hp and 385Nm with the 1.5-litre (1,499cc) turbocharged BMW (B37) tri-cylinder engine with 134hp at 4,400rpm and 220Nm of torque from 1,250Nm onwards powering the front wheels.

The rear wheels receive the electric motor’s 87hp / 165Nm and gets its juice from a 7.6kWh lithium-ion battery with a 67kW (short term) and 32kW (continuous) discharge rate that's placed ahead of the electric motor directly beneath the rear seat.

A six-speed automatic transmission has been employed to manage the 224hp and 385Nm of performance, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 6.8 seconds before reaching a top speed of 198kph. In terms of fuel economy, the new Countryman is able to consume just 2.1 litres per 100km

The New MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid can be charged at home by connecting it to a power socket via the Home Charging Cable for approximately five hours (230V), depending on the voltage of the household power grid.

Or, the vehicle can be charged at one of 270 public charging facilities in Malaysia for approximately three hours and 15 minutes (230V), depending on the voltage of the power grid of the public charging station.

“We are pleased to be able to introduce another premium vehicle to our Mobility of the Future portfolio here in the country. It is additionally special as it is the first for the MINI brand and will further demonstrate our expertise in working with the newest technologies for the premium automotive industry,” said BMW Group Malaysia head of corporate communications Sashi Ambi.

To reward new owners of the Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, the company will also introduce ChargeNow, offering bundled with the MINI Public Charging Cables as well as a one-Year free subscription of unlimited charging at all 270 ChargeEV stations.


Didi Automotive takes over Triumph bike distributorship

                PETALING JAYA: Triumph Motorcycles has appointed Didi Automotive as its new distribution partner for the Malaysian market, effective from Jan 15 next year.

Previously, Motoradic Sdn Bhd and Fast Bikes Sdn Bhd were Exclusive Official Importer and the Exclusive Official Distributor of Triumph motorcycle brand in Malaysia.

Triumph and Didi Automotive will work together to manage the importation, sale, and distribution of Triumph Motorcycles as well as the ongoing development of the Triumph Brand within the Malaysian market.

New Triumph showroom facilities will be made available in Petaling Jaya and mainland Penang, providing customers with Triumph’s industry-leading brand experience along with state-of-the-art facilities, highly trained personnel, the highest level of Service, After Sales and Customer Care.


X70 SUV bookings power Proton into new year

                PETALING JAYA: Demand for the Proton X70 is strong, with over 15,000 bookings recorded so far.

Proton said it has delivered over 2,000 units to customers so far since its first SUV was launched on Dec 12 last year.

The X70 is based on the Geely Boyue and is available in four versions with prices ranging from RM100,000 to RM124,000.

“PROTON is very thankful for the support Malaysians have shown for the X70 and we are repaying their faith by trying to deliver units as quickly as we can," said Proton deputy chief executive officer Datuk Radzaif Mohamed today.

"This is the start to 2019 the company was looking for and we hope to keep the momentum going for our other activities throughout the year.”

Proton also announced that its vendors have signed agreements with foreign vendors that will see an initial investment of RM47mil into Malaysia.

The agreements, which were inked at the Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur today, will range from technical agreements and joint ventures to 100% foreign direct investments with foreign vendors investing in the Malaysian economy.

Apart from investments in facilities and technology, the collaborations are expected to create 450 new jobs in the automotive industry, ranging from assembly to design engineering that requires highly skilled workers.

The vendors will supply parts to Proton’s manufacturing facility in Tanjung Malim, which is currently undergoing expansion at a cost of RM1.2bil.


New BMW 330e iPerformance

                MUNICH: The all-new BMW 330e iPerformance adds another highly innovative variant to the BMW 3 Series line-up.

It has a plug-in hybrid drive, and a BMW TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder petrol engine.

Stand-out characteristics include its sporty power delivery, output of 180hp and peak torque of 292Nm.

The electric motor, developing 87hp with maximum peak torque of 250Nm, and the power electronics are derived directly from the BMW eDrive technology featured as standard in the BMW i3 and BMW i8 models.

The motor is powered by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 7.6 kWh (gross)/5.7 kWh (net).

The BMW 330e iPerformance consequently offers a system output of 248hp and peak torque of 420Nm.

Pure-electric driving is possible at speeds of up to 120kph, and with a range of around 23km.

The electric motor supplements the power from the combustion engine with 100Nm of torque and can deliver a brief extra boost– depending on the position of the accelerator – of up to 250Nm.

As a plug-in hybrid, the BMW 330e iPerformance can also be charged externally via the main power supply.

The empty lithium-ion high-voltage battery can be fully replenished in just two hours and 30 minutes using a BMW i Wallbox Level II 240V charger (charging power: 3.5 kW, can be installed at home or the workplace).

Alternatively, the BMW 330e iPerformance can also be charged from empty in 6-7 hours from a conventional domestic power socket (Level I 120V charger) using the standard charging cable supplied.

Like the BMW i8, BMW iPerformance models (BMW X5 xDrive40e, BMW 330e, BMW 740e xDrive) can – at the touch of a button in MAX eDRIVE mode – run on all electric power up to 120kph.


Stellantis seals batteries material deal with Element 25

                MILAN: Stellantis has signed a deal with Australian miner Element 25 for the supply of manganese sulphite for batteries for its electric vehicles (EVs), the two companies said today.

The agreement marks another step in efforts by Stellantis to secure long-term supplies of raw materials essential for electric vehicles as carmakers prepare for a surge in global demand for EVs in the transition towards cleaner motoring.

Stellantis, the world's third-largest carmaker by sales, has previously signed deals with GME Resources for supply of nickel and cobalt sulphate and with Vulcan Energy Resources and United States-based Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) for lithium hydroxide.

Based on the five-year binding agreement announced today, Element 25 will supply Stellantis with high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate to be used in battery packs.

Shipments, for a total of 45 kilotons, are expected to begin in 2026, with options to extend term and volumes.

No financial details for the deal were provided.

Element 25 will source the material from its Butcherbird project in Western Australia and plans to build a processing facility in the United States.

Stellantis, meanwhile, will make an equity investment in Element 25, the two companies added in a statement.

"Our commitment to a carbon net-zero future includes creation of a smart supply chain to ensure we meet our customers' desire for EVs," Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said.

Stellantis, formed through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot maker PSA, wants 100% of its European passenger car sales and 50% of its US passenger car and light-duty truck sales to be battery electric vehicles by 2030.


Renault will recycle car batteries into home energy systems

                PARIS: Renault, one of the first mainstream companies to move into the electric car market, is teaming up with a home energy start-up, Powervault, on a project that could make home solar power systems affordable and simultaneously give a new life to older electric car batteries.

Renault's old EV car batteries are going to be used in Powervault home energy storage units that will enable consumers with solar panels installed on their properties to harvest and store electricity generated through the panels for later use rather than drawing energy from the grid; or to take and store electricity from the grid at the most affordable, off-peak times.

Though still very much in the early adopter phase, home-energy storage systems have been getting mainstream media coverage in recent months thanks to premium companies like Tesla, and Mercedes parent Daimler moving into the segment with products.

And the problem is that many current systems come with a premium price tag thanks to the cost of the batteries needed. However, by using old EV car batteries, the prices for these systems can be cut by 30%. And it's why Joe Warren, Powervault's MD, called the collaboration "An important milestone on our journey towards achieving mainstream adoption of home energy storage."

Current generation batteries used in electric cars start to lose their ability to retain charge within eight-to-10 years, after which time they're no longer able to cope with the daily charging-recharging cycle.

However, they're still perfectly adequate static, long-term energy storage, and by finding another use for the cells, Renault won't have to physically recycle the battery.

"The second life use not only gives additional life to electric vehicle batteries before they are recycled, but also allows consumers to save money. It's a win-win-win: for EV owners, home-owners and the planet," said Renault programme director for EV batteries and infrastructures Nicolas Schottey.

The collaboration will officially get under way in July with 50 test units that will be offered to households in Britain that already have solar energy panels installed. This pilot scheme will test the capabilities of recycled batteries as well as consumer sentiment towards the technology.


Proton rolls out used car website

                PETALING JAYA: Proton has launched its used car website - Proton Certified Pre-Owned (PCPO) - offering a convenient way to shop for used cars.

The website allows customers to browse through current stocks available at 36 dealers nationwide as well as quickly trade-in their existing car for great deals on a brand new Proton model.

As Proton’s sales grew in 2019, it became apparent that processing customer trade-in cars efficiently was key to maintaining the growth rate.

To facilitate this, Proton established a Used Car Management (UCM) division, which was tasked to grow a network of dealers to sell used cars alongside new ones.

From an initial pilot project comprising just eight Proton outlets, there are now 36 that feature the PCPO programme.

All of them needed to meet several qualifying criteria, both financial and physical, and agree to perform the necessary steps to prepare their trade-in stock for sale.

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For instance, each car undergoes a comprehensive 201-point inspection and is given a new battery, fresh engine oil and an oil filter too.

Other requirements for PCPO cars include being less than seven years old with less than 130,000km covered at the time of trade-in. They must also not have any flood or major accident damage that may affect their structural integrity.

“Proton's PCPO is the next step for the company to build a holistic ecosystem. As we continue to offer new and improved products, we also want to attract those interested in buying a used car and offer a quick and easy way for customers to trade-in their current vehicles," said Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah.

"All our PCPO cars get an extended one-year warranty for the engine and transmission as well as a free service, redeemable up to six-months after the date of registration.”

Proton will also sell cars from other brands that have been traded-in via its PCPO website. In this instance, the vehicles do not receive an extended warranty from the company but will still be thoroughly inspected and repaired if necessary prior to being put up for sale.

“By offering high quality used cars, we hope to see a general lifting of prices for all our models, making it easier for customers to obtain competitive financing rates and raising trade-in values when they want to buy a new car,” said Roslan.


A rebranded Saab at the centre of China's green car push

                BEIJING: The Swedish automaker once known as Saab has emerged as part of China's push to make electric vehicles a mass-market alternative to petrol cars, after getting a US$12 billion order for EVs. Chinese-owned National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) — the company that acquired Saab's assets, though not its name - said it received an order for 250,000 EVs in December from a little known Chinese company. The size of the deal — and the sketchy information about the companies involved — prompted some initial scepticism in the industry over its feasibility.

Yet NEVS is one of a group of Chinese-funded start-ups that aim to capitalise on disruption in the auto industry as governments around the world create regulatory incentives for electric or hybrid vehicles. Beijing has created a range of incentives to both attract technology-oriented firms into the EV sector and get the public to buy them.

NEVS US$12 billion order for EV cars came from a Beijing-based start-up called Panda New Energy Co. Jiang Dalong, a 51-year-old Chinese-born businessman who acquired Saab in 2012, said the deal with Panda New Energy requires little upfront money from the start-up.

Panda said it plans to lease the cars for commercial fleets, such as taxis and courier services. Jiang owns 43 percent of NEVS, based in Trollhattan, Sweden, through his Beijing-based company, National Modern Energy Holdings.

 The NEVS electric car. - Reuters

The city of Tianjin has a 30-percent stake through Tianjin Binhai Hi-tech Industrial Development Area. The rest is owned by Beijing State Research Information Technology Co and Teamsun Technology Co, an information-technology company.

The Chinese-born, Swedish businessman sold his bio-power generation business in China to help fund and focus on NEVS.  Jiang said he sees a big opportunity for the technology given the enormous policy help Beijing has lined up for it.

“China is going to be the world’s biggest market for electric cars,” Jiang said in an interview in his office in Beijing. “China has no choice. They have to wean themselves from conventional gasoline combustion cars,” he added, describing the recent sharp uptick in air pollution levels in China's capital as “terrible" and "crazy”. "Big existing automakers are too big. They cannot stop producing conventional gasoline combustion cars. But we can ... switch to new energy cars.”

Beijing's new green car policy is based on the idea that a low entry barrier for electric car technology will allow late-comers to the automotive industry to close a competitive gap with global rivals who have a century's head-start in traditional combustion engines.

China, a major oil importer and blighted by air pollution, has offered generous incentives to the public to buy green cars and forced global automakers to share their EV technology.  The policy has helped spawn more than a half-dozen Chinese-funded EV startups in and outside China, whose financial backers includes Baidu , Alibaba , Xiaomi[XTC.UL] and Tencent , as well as LeTV , a streaming video and Internet television provider.

Start-up electric car venture Faraday Future, funded by Chinese Internet billionaire and LeTV founder Jia Yueting, on Monday previewed a technology-heavy concept race car. California-based Faraday hopes to develop it into a range of battery-powered vehicles that can challenge luxury rivals such as Tesla Motors Inc. in the growing market for electric cars.

Jiang said NEVS is exempt from China's regulations requiring a foreign automaker to have a local partner because it plans to produce only electric cars for sale in China.

Jiang said NEVS is building an EV factory in the northeast coastal metropolis of Tianjin. He said he expected to soon get an auto manufacturing license to start producing EVs for Panda New Energy.


NAZA Italia gets new company chairman

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Italia, a subsidiary of Naza Corporation Holdings, has announced the appointment of YTM Datuk Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Ibni Sultan Sallehuddin to its Board of Directors as the company’s Chairman.

“Tunku Shazuddin brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise that we firmly believe will add value, instil good corporate governance practices and provide effective leadership to steer Naza Italia towards achieving long-term success and deliver sustainable value to the Automotive Group,” said Naza Corporation Holdings group executive chairman and CEO SM Nasaruddin SM Nasimuddin.

His career portfolio encompasses valuable experience in the public and private sectors, having worked with local and international companies.

 New NAZA Italia chairman Shazuddin

It was in 2005 that he formed his own corporate agency which led to his appointment as the major shareholder for both Rethink Sdn Bhd and Reka 3 Sdn Bhd.

He also provides consultancy services to various state and government departments on acquisition of new technologies and funding for agricultural and tourism activities, in addition to providing insights and counsel as a valued Board Member for several companies.

Currently, Tunku Shazuddin serves as Director of Seri Libana Sdn Bhd and Executive Chairman of Berjaya Food Berhad.

Tunku Shazuddin graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University with a major in design and marketing.

“Tunku Shazuddin will be the key advisor on strategic direction to elevate Naza Italia as the official distributor of Ferrari and Maserati in Malaysia and continue to be a top dealer in Southeast Asia. The Naza Group extends its warmest welcome to Tunku Shazuddin to its Board of Directors,” he added.

Additionally, Groupe PSA, the joint venture partner of Naza Corporation Holdings also announced Laurence Noël as Chief Executive Officer of the Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) plant in Gurun, Kedah.

 New NAM CEO Noël

She will report to Carlos Gomes, Executive Vice President, China and Southeast Asia.

In her new position based in Kuala Lumpur, she will be tasked primarily with accelerating the Group’s development in Southeast Asia, as announced in the Group’s ‘Push to Pass’ plan in 2016.

Groupe PSA, a global automotive player and the second largest carmaker in Europe and Naza Corporation Holdings signed a share sale agreement and a joint venture agreement in February 2018.

This officially establishes a shared operation of the Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) plant in Gurun, Kedah, as the first manufacturing hub in ASEAN for Groupe PSA.


Fiat Chrysler to phase out diesel in Europe by 2021

Marchionne. — AFP
LONDON: The clock is ticking for diesel at Fiat Chrysler, at least in its passenger cars in Europe and other key regions, said CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Fiat Chrysler, owner of the Jeep and Maserati brands, plans to phase out diesel-powered engines in its passenger cars by 2021 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Marchionne told a meeting of investors and analysts in Balocco, northern Italy.

"We are planning to phase out diesel engines on all passenger vehicles by 2021" in the EMEA region, Marchionne said.

Nonetheless, "we will continue to offer diesel technology on our light commercial vehicle lineup across brands," he noted.

The heads of both the Jeep and the Maserati divisions — Michael Manley and Timothy Kunikis — said their units planned to phase out diesel and replace it with electric engines.

Marchionne also said his group would invest 9.0 billion euros (RM42bil) in its electric vehicle sector in the coming years.

Global electric car sales rose by 54 percent in 2017, according to the International Energy Agency.

While the market share of these vehicles is still quite low, policy shifts particularly in the European Union mean the transition away from diesel fuel is likely to pick up speed.

Carmaker Toyota, a pioneer in the hybrid vehicle sector, has also announced it will phase out its diesel models in Europe by the end of the year.

Jeep, whose first vehicles were used by the US military during World War II, is expected to account for 70 percent of Fiat Chrysler's profits this year, according to Morgan Stanley analysts.

Some 1.9 million Jeep sales are expected in 2018, a significant jump from last year's 1.4 million.

Maserati, whose Biturbo model was driven to fame by James Bond on "License to Kill", aims to produce 100,000 vehicles in 2022 — twice the number made in 2017, and a massive jump from the 6,000 manufactured in 2012.

From now on, Maserati vehicles will only be powered by hybrid or electric Ferrari engines.

Alfa Romeo aims to increase its sales figures by more than 50 percent by 2022, taking it from 170,000 expected this year to 400,000.

Meanwhile, Ram wants to cross the million-vehicle threshold, up from the 770,000 expected to be sold this year.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia aims to surpass 2017 sales, five more launches coming

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd is upbeat on its performance this year, aiming to outgrow its sales of 12,045 vehicles last year.

Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Mark Raine said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's sales have grown 15 per cent to 6,790 units for the first half of this year over the same period last year.

“We are confident we are on a good track, but the main indicator is that our customers are satisfied with our service and we are gaining market share, which is currently at 2.5 per cent,” he told reporters after Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's Mid-Year Media Briefing 2018.

So far this year, he said, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's locally-produced limousines, namely the Mercedes-Benz C-, E-, and S-Class, collectively recorded a total of 4,322 units sold, or 18 per cent higher over the first half of 2017.

Its range of premium compact cars comprising the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, B-Class, GLA-Class and CLA-Class recorded 20 per cent higher sales of 996 units.

Raine said the premium SUV range by Mercedes-Benz remained a growth driver recording 1,291 units sold, while the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars collection also recorded a notable achievement with 181 units sold.

For the second half of the year, he said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia plans more than five launches (one of which will be the new A-Class).

President/chief executive officer Dr Claus Weidner said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's efforts in improving customer service, together with its expanding locally-assembled products, innovative customer touchpoints and lifestyle experiences, have formed a conducive environment to achieve ever higher customer satisfaction.

“Care for the customer is of utmost importance, falling in line with our efforts to deliver nothing but the Best customer experience,” Weidner added.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's automotive financing arm, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MBSM), recently issued a RM3 billion corporate bond programme to diversify its funding sources in anticipation of further growth prospects in the local market.

MBSM managing director Mike Ponnaz said its first issuance of RM250 million of the bond programme in June this year had been taken up by local investors. “We expect to use up the RM3 billion in the next few years.

“At the moment, this bond programme is a first for the group, so we went with a route that we and our stakeholders are familiar with, given that our German stakeholders are guaranteeing the bond. Going forward, perhaps we will consider sukuk,” he added.


BMW M6 GT3 rolls out

                MUNICH: BMW’s new M6 GT3 for the GT racing scene has been given its first run at BMW’s test track in Dongolfing, Germany, and it is to compete in national and international series, as well as at iconic endurance races in 2016.

The car and its modified 4.4-litre V8 M turbocharged engine with a dry sump lubrication that generates over 500bhp for its less than 1,300kg heft, left the garage for the first time at 2pm (9pm- KUL) with Jörg Müller at the wheel.

Other features include aerodynamics optimised in BMW’s wind tunnel, a transaxle drive concept, a six-speed sequential racing transmission, and equipped with motorsports electronics and a FIA-approves safety cell.

Emphasis was placed particularly on efficiency, ease of maintenance and reliability by the engineers that would be crucial for a 24-hour endurance race.

“The engine really impressed me. It is powerful and has good torque, which is important for a car like this. I am confident that BMW Motorsport will provide its customers with a fantastic racing car, in the BMW M6 GT3,” said Müller.


Tata Communications ends F1 partnership

F1 cars in the heat of action at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month. — Reuters
LONDON: Tata Communications has ended a partnership with Formula One after eight years working together on the sport's digital transformation, the Indian-owned company said.

Formula One confirmed they were no longer official partners, without further comment.

Amit Sinha Roy, vice president of marketing, said the deal ended on Dec 31 and Tata wanted "to explore other platforms that will allow us to showcase the full power of our digital services to our key customers."

"Our eight-year F1 journey, spanning 150+ races, was all about driving innovation in the sport," he added in a statement to Reuters.

"As we had achieved what we set out to do, we feel it’s the right time for us to conclude this marketing partnership."

Roy said Tata, who had been the sport's official connectivity partner, remained committed to customer relationships with broadcasters such as Sky and Star Sports television.

They would also continue working "behind the scenes for now" with other F1 partners and customers.

Those included the Williams team and world champions Mercedes last season.

Formula One launched a television subscription streaming service in 2018, targeting an estimated 500 million fans worldwide as part of a digital transformation.

Tata had arrived in the sport under former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who was ousted by the sport's new owners Liberty Media in January 2017.


Volkswagen joins Socar car-sharing service with 50 Polos

A partnership is formed. Present at the Volkswagen-Socar event are (from left) Winter, Hicom Auto Sdn Bhd CEO Bojeng Bari and Foong.
PETALING JAYA: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia is supplying a fleet of 50 Polo 1.6 for the Socar car-sharing service in the Klang Valley.

The first batch of 21 Polo cars have been delivered with the remaining 29 due by mid-May.

Socar is a car-sharing startup that launched here just three months ago. It aims to give people the convenience of driving a car without the commitment of owning one. Socar is a so-called multiflex mobility provider that began in South Korea and Malaysia is its first overseas expansion.

With its mobile application, Socar is able to make car-sharing convenient by allowing members to book and unlock cars on its platform with just a few taps. All cars on the Socar platform are keyless and prices are inclusive of petrol and insurance.

For May, the Polo is priced from RM13.90 per hour, which is inclusive of petrol and comprehensive
insurance.

The RM77,646 Polo 1.6 hatchback comes with a 1.6-litre 104hp petrol engine and a maximum torque of 153Nm from 3,800rpm. It uses a 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic. Fuel consumption is rated at 6.3l/100km.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia managing director Erik Winter said the partnership with Socar "offers the public easy access to Volkswagen cars and have them enjoy its German-engineered capabilities."

The Socar app is available for download from the App Store and Google Play Store.

“The beauty of the car-sharing model is that as a member, you have several types of cars at your fingertips serving your different needs from a leisurely cruise out of the city to a trunk heavy trip to Ikea,” said Socar Malaysia CEO Leon Foong, who was previously Uber Malaysia general manager before the ride-hailing service pulled out of South-east Asia.

Foong said the current demographic of Socar users in Malaysia are in their mid-30s, who want to try new car models or are households that need to use a second or third car from time to time.

By the end of 2018, Socar Malaysia aims to grow its fleet to over a 1,000 cars. Other cars used in the fleet include MINI 3-door, Perodua Axia, Honda City and Honda HR-V. In South Korea, Socar has almost 9,000 cars now.


Proton deal will fast-track Geely’s presence

                PETALING JAYA: Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd’s interest in national car manufacturer Proton Holdings Bhd is seen as a move by the China-based automaker to fast-track and build its presence in South-East Asia.

However, the company will have its work cut out for it if it succeeds in the bid for Proton.

The biggest task at hand is to turn around Proton that has been suffering from declining sales, losing market share and is in dire need of a partner with the technical expertise to make it competitive.

CIMB Research, in a report yesterday, said that a company like Geely had the capability to revitalise Proton.

The report was issued after a StarBiz report yesterday, which said that Geely was leading a three-way race to be the technical partner for Proton, ahead of French carmakers PSA Group and Renault SA.

“Overall, we see this as a positive development towards Proton’s recovery as we expect the new potential partner to help Proton boost its manufacturing utilisation rate.

“Moreover, we expect the potential partner to provide support in terms of advanced technology, global reach and economies-of-scale.”

Geely, owner of Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars Corp and the London Taxi Company, had linked to a potential tie-up with British sports carmaker Lotus Cars Ltd - which is owned by Proton.

In November last year, the China auto company denied rumours that it was in talks to acquire a stake in Lotus.

However, it did confirm to have been in discussions with Lotus for a potential technological cooperation.

“It is possible that Geely may still be interested in pursuing this option, and a stake in Proton would give it more say when it comes to making decisions regarding Lotus,” said an analyst.

According to reports, citing chief executive Jean-Marc Gales, Lotus is on course to make a profit this year for the first time in its 68-year history.

It is said that Geely and PSA want 51% in Proton’s manufacturing plant in Tanjung Malim. Towards this end, the Government has given the green light for foreigners to own a majority stake in the assembly plant.

According to CIMB Research, the net book value of the plant was about RM501mil as of March 2016.

“We are not surprised by this, as the plant is considered a prized asset for Proton’s potential partner as it would provide immediate access to car production facilities, which is valuable to a partner that targets the growing South-East Asian market. “The Government has also reportedly given the approval for a foreign company to own a majority stake in the assembly plant,” it said.

The need to acquire a strategic partner was imposed on Proton as part of the conditions issued by the Government for its approval of an RM1.5bil soft loan to the national car company, in which a bulk of the money would be used to pay its vendors.

Last month, Proton chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali said the company would announce its tie-up with a foreign strategic partner as early as April.

Proton has been a drain on parent DRB-Hicom Bhd’s earnings.

The latter marked its fourth consecutive quarterly loss, reporting a net loss of RM267.55mil in its second quarter ended Sept 30, 2016, compared with a net profit of RM52.67mil in the previous corresponding period.

Proton sold 72,290 vehicles last year compared with 102,175 units in 2015.


6,432 Proton Perdanas recalled over airbag defect

                SUBANG JAYA: Proton announced a recall today on its Honda Accord-based Perdana for an airbag fix. A total of 6,432 units are involved in the recall.

Affected cars are those built from 2012 to the end of August 2018. Proton said it would inform all current-generation Perdana owners whose cars must be brought in for an inspection and fix.

The fix is free and would take an hour. Perdanas built after Aug 31, 2018 are free from the defect.

The Proton move was triggered by Honda's recent alert on the front passenger airbag inflator of the Accord.

The current Perdana is based on the eighth-generation Accord. The Accord selling in Malaysia now is in its ninth generation, with the 10th due to arrive here this year.


Musk calls Gates underwhelming after billionaire buys a Porsche

                NEW YORK: Bill Gates paid Tesla Inc. a compliment for coaxing the car industry to go electric. If he was expecting kind words in return from Elon musk, he apparently shouldn’t have spoken about challenges that still lie ahead — or about his new Porsche.

Gates, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft Corp., spoke with a YouTube influencer last week about the challenges of reducing emissions to slow climate change. He called the passenger-car industry "one of the most hopeful” sectors taking action in this regard.

"And certainly Tesla, if you had to name one company that’s helped drive that, it’s them,” Gates told YouTuber Marques Brownlee.

Then Gates discussed recently buying a Porsche Taycan. While he called the electric sports car "very, very cool,” he acknowledged its premium price — starting at US$103,800 (RM431,000) — and said consumers still have to overcome anxieties about EVs offering limited range and taking longer to recharge.

Petrol-powered cars travel longer between quick refuels at stations that outnumber charging points.

When a Tesla enthusiast posted about being disappointed in Gates’s decision to buy a Taycan instead of a Tesla and his comments about range anxiety, Musk replied: "My conversations with Gates have been underwhelming tbh.”

Musk, 48, is of course no stranger to tweeting dismissively about fellow billionaires.

The Tesla chief executive officer questioned Facebook Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s understanding of the risks of artificial intelligence in 2017. Last year, he called Jeff Bezos a copycat after the Amazon.com Inc. CEO embarked on an Internet-satellite project that could rival one that Musk’s closely held company SpaceX is pursuing.


Singapore proposes fines on Grab, Uber, says merger harms competition

File pic of a ComfortDelgro taxi passing Uber and Grab offices in Singapore in March. — Reuters
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s anti-trust body proposed fines on ride-hailing firms Grab and Uber, provisionally finding that their merger had reduced competition and suggesting remedies such as the sale of their car-leasing businesses.

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) also warned that it may require the companies to unwind the merger depending on whether the remedies are successful but added a reversal may not be feasible, citing Uber’s exit from the market after the deal.

Uber sold its Southeast Asian business to bigger regional rival Grab in March in exchange for a stake in the Singapore-based firm, following similar deals by the U.S. firm in China and Russia.

But the deal has invited regulatory scrutiny in the region, with the CCCS, in a rare move, launching a probe, days after the transaction was announced.

The commission said in a statement on Thursday it proposed the fines because Uber and Grab carried out the transaction despite having anticipated potential competition concerns, leading to lesser competition in the sector in Singapore.

This is the first time the commission would impose fines on a merger transaction. The CCCS said it will consider the companies’ representations before it finalizes the actual amount of the fines. Uber directed queries to Grab.

Grab said in a statement that it disagreed with the regulator’s finding which it said appeared to be based on a narrow definition of competition. “We will take all appropriate steps to appeal against this decision,” it said.

CCCS proposed remedial steps such as removing exclusivity obligations on drivers who use Grab’s ride-hailing platform as well as its exclusivity arrangements with taxi fleets. It also proposed that Grab maintain its pre-transaction pricing algorithm and driver commission rates until competition is revived in the market.

It said it could ask Uber to sell its Lion City Rentals car-leasing unit to any potential competitor who makes a reasonable offer and prevent its sale to Grab without the authority’s permission. CCCS also said remedial measures could include a sale by Grab of its leasing unit.

Public consultation

CCCS has invited public feedback on the proposed remedies.

It said it may require the parties to unwind the transaction unless the feedback confirms that any of the proposed remedies, or any further remedies, are sufficient to address the competition concerns, and are implementable in practice.

In its public consultation, the commission noted that an unwinding, including a reversal of Grab’s stake sales to Uber and the transfer of assets from Uber to Grab, may not be feasible as Uber’s exit may not be practically reversed.

“I don’t think unwinding (in a traditional sense) is going to happen, because I just don’t see a practical way for it to happen,” said Walter Theseira, an economics professor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

He cited difficulties in separating Grab and Uber’s drivers and customers, as well as dividing Singapore geographically.

Experts have previously said there was little the authorities can do to stop Uber from simply exiting the region.

Some analysts said unwinding could take different forms.

“It doesn’t have to be a total unwinding. But it could be an unwind in the sense for Grab to now sell off part of its business to another ride-hailing service provider,” said Gerald Singham, deputy managing partner at law firm Dentons Rodyk.

The CCCS said the firms completed the deal and began the transfer of the acquired assets immediately, despite their own view that the outcome would be irreversible, thus making it practically impossible to restore the status quo pre-merger.

Its investigations also revealed the parties had even provided for a mechanism to apportion eventual antitrust financial penalties.

Grab was the dominant player in Singapore’s ride-hailing market even before the Uber merger. It also competes with taxi businesses such as ComfortDelGro Corp Ltd.

Several new players, such as India’s Jugnoo and Singapore-based Ryde, have recently entered the ride-hailing market in the city-state. Indonesia’s dominant player Go-Jek has also said it would launch services in Singapore.


China defies Elon Musk’s warnings and pushes ahead with hydrogen

                BEIJING: Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk has spent years mocking the idea of using hydrogen fuel cells rather than electric batteries to power next-generation green vehicles.

“Fuel cells = fool sells,” the boss of the world’s top electric-car maker tweeted in June.

China, the world’s biggest market for electric vehicles, isn’t so quick to dismiss the alternative to batteries.

Officials are promoting the development of hydrogen-powered cars, trucks and buses, with Beijing offering to reward cities that achieve adoption targets.

In a 15-year plan for new-energy vehicles released on Nov 2, China’s State Council said the country will focus on building the fuel-cell supply chain and developing hydrogen-powered trucks and buses. President Xi Jinping in September set a 2030 deadline for China to begin reducing carbon emissions.

“Hydrogen is expected to play a much more important role to drastically decrease the country’s greenhouse gas emissions,” Kevin Jianjun Tu, a non-resident fellow at the French think tank Ifri, wrote in a report published in October.

Hydrogen's yet to catch fire

Worldwide there were few fuel-cell vehicles by the start of 2020

China is targeting to have 1 million fuel-cell vehicles in operation by 2030, according to an energy savings vehicle development plan drafted by authorities, despite only 2,700 such cars selling in the country last year.

The nation’s renewed interest in hydrogen could put it further ahead of the US in next-generation autos even as president-elect Joe Biden tries to promote clean-car development.

In theory, fuel cells are an ideal alternative to the internal combustion engine, since their chemical reactions of hydrogen and oxygen emit no carbon. Powering vehicles with hydrogen can be expensive, though, and most of China’s supply comes from burning fossil fuels. The difficulties of storing and transporting hydrogen add to the cost.

Trucks and buses

As the supply of hydrogen generated by solar and wind power grows, the economics may improve. One utility is spending more than US$3 billion on a wind and solar farm in Inner Mongolia that would produce as much as 500,000 tons of hydrogen a year, with operations expected to begin in 2021.

State-owned oil refiner Sinopec said Oct 29 it’s investing in hydrogen production, transportation and fuel cells and is building hydrogen vehicle refueling stations.

The new infrastructure will likely support hydrogen-powered trucks and buses, with lithium-ion batteries remaining dominant for cars.

Hydrogen makes sense for commercial vehicles since a fuel-cell automobile can go for longer on a single tank of hydrogen versus a battery-powered one on a single charge of electricity, according to Wang Chaoyun, the chairman of Anhui Mingtian Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., a startup that develops fuel-cell stacks and other inner workings for hydrogen vehicles.

Filling up the hydrogen tank also is much faster than recharging an EV battery.

China’s annual sales of fuel-cell vehicles will rise 10-fold over the next five years to 50,000 units before hitting half a million by 2035, says Wang, who predicts China will become the No. 1 market within three years.

Shanghai-based SAIC Motor Corp. said in September that it plans to launch 10 hydrogen vehicles by 2025.

Beijing SinoHytec Co., which develops hydrogen-fuel-cell engines, raised about 1.4 billion yuan (US$213 million) in an initial public offering in August and is one of five Chinese companies that in June teamed up with Toyota Motor Corp. to develop fuel-cell systems for commercial vehicles.

The Japanese automaker sees the market dominated by hydrogen-powered trucks and buses rather than cars, said Chisato Yoshifuji, a project manager at Toyota. “China is concentrating on commercial vehicles and that aligns with Toyota’s thinking,” she said. “It’s a huge trend supported by the government.”

Beer delivery

Other foreign-backed companies see opportunities in hydrogen trucks, too. Hyundai Motor Co. on Nov. 5 announced agreements with five Chinese partners to promote the development of hydrogen fuel-cell commercial vehicles.

“Hyundai believes China has a massive potential for hydrogen powered commercial vehicles,” said In Cheol Lee, Hyundai’s executive vice president and head of commercial vehicle division. Hyundai and its regional partners aim to supply some 4,000 fuel cell electric commercial vehicles in China by 2025.

The Asian subsidiary of beverage giant Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, meanwhile, added four hydrogen fuel-cell trucks to its fleet, the company announced Sept 28. It plans to deliver beer using the trucks, making China the first nation where the company has deployed such vehicles for beer shipments.

“Pure electric vehicles and fuel cell-powered automobiles are equally important in our new energy vehicle development strategy and will coexist in the long run,” Wan Gang, who is a vice chairman of China’s national advisory body for policy making and often called the father of the country’s electric-car movement, said in January.

Many sceptics do share Musk’s misgivings. Fuel cells are less efficient than batteries and the cost of building supporting infrastructure like refueling stations is much higher, according to a report published this month by IDTechEx, a research firm from Cambridge, England. Fuel-cell vehicles will “continue to be a commercial failure for the next two decades,” it said.

And for now, Chinese leaders may be keeping their options open as they wait to see how the technology develops.

“The limited details in this plan suggest, at the national level, policy makers are still deliberating over the role of hydrogen in China’s energy economy and the country’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2060,” BloombergNEF analysts Siyi Mi and Jinghong Lyu wrote in a report published Nov 13, with reference to China’s 15-year plan for new-energy vehicles.

ReFire, a Shanghai startup that manufactures fuel-cell engines, is one company that’s nonetheless preparing for a surge in demand. It makes about 1,000 engines a year for Chinese producers of trucks and buses and expects annual capacity to soar to 20,000 as early as 2024. The competitiveness gap with EVs will shrink as hydrogen gains acceptance, Chief Executive Officer Robin Lin said.

“There’s a great chance for a dramatic drop in hydrogen prices,” he said. “As long as hydrogen power is cheap enough, it’ll be a natural choice.”


Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and PHEV facelifted for Chicago

                CHICAGO: There's a lot going on with Hyundai at the moment, so it's a pretty exciting time for the brand. At the Feb 10-19 Chicago Auto Show the focus is on the refreshed 2018 Sonata Hybrid and PHEV, which are looking to breathe a little new life into the somewhat under-appreciated Sonata family.

Along the same lines as the rest of the lineup, the front and rear fascias are where the most obvious updates have occurred. The grille has been paid particular attention during the refresh, and is now more shapely and modern than its predecessor.

The fog light recesses have been altered so they're now a little more aggressive than they were, and they nicely complement the headlights that are new LED units. Some new wheel designs have also been brought in to complete the exterior changes.

The enhancements are not purely reserved for the exterior either. In the cabin there's a new steering wheel with a nicely revised instrument cluster sitting behind it.

The infotainment system has also been upgraded, which is something automakers now have to do on an increasingly regular basis to keep up with the latest technological developments. The navigation gets a new overhead perspective, and there's also now a Qi charging pad if navigation is specified when the vehicle is ordered.

Safety features enjoy a particularly strong focus this time around too, with the likes of blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change assist all now becoming part of standard equipment. Although not standard, automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist are now added as options for both of these models.

There's no change to the powertrains, so those from last year remain in situ. The refreshed Sonata Hybrid will be landing in US dealerships anytime now, but PHEV versions will become available from the second quarter of this year.


SST rates, tax-exempt items to be known in two days, says Customs D-G

                PETALING JAYA: The proposed rates for the Sales and Services Tax (SST) and the full list of tax-exempt items are expected to be confirmed in the next two days.

Customs Department director-general Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy (pic) said the list is in the midst of being finalised.

"I do not expect there to be major changes to the proposed list," he said, referring to the list currently published on the Customs website.

He told reporters this at the launch of Ops Bimbing SST on Monday (Aug 27), which is an initiative to help businesses switch to the SST regime.

He added, however, some 5,000 companies have yet to register under SST. He urged these companies to do so by this week. "All you need is 10 minutes to register," he said.

The SST, which is replacing the Goods and Services Tax (GST), is coming into force on Sept 1.


Millennium Welt Kuala Lumpur North BMW 4S centre opens

                KUALA LUMPUR: Millennium Welt, a dealership representative of the BMW brand in Malaysia has opened its first dealership in the Klang Valley with its Kuala Lumpur North outlet.

Located at Lot 50009, off Jalan Kuching, the 4S (Sales, Services, Spare Parts and Systems) dealership offers a large built-up space of over 35,600 sq ft, capable of displaying up to five new BMW vehicles as well as 10 BMW Premium Selection vehicles.

The space will also feature 20 service bays including five fast lanes, along with three RATC (reception at the car) service bays.

These enables the 4S centre to cater for up to 60 vehicle service appointments daily.

With a manpower of 90 dedicated staff members, including five certified high voltage technicians, to deliver services to BMW and BMW Premium Selection customers, Millennium Welt Kuala Lumpur North can also aid its customers to register and renew their vehicle insurance, trade-in used vehicles, as well as engage BMW Financial Services.

Millennium Welt Kuala Lumpur North is also equipped with 192 units of 96kWp solar PV panels, capable of generating over 123,700kWh.

By using micro-inverters to convert direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) on rooftops safely and efficiently, Millennium Welt will save up to RM4,900 a month on energy, and reduce up to 86 tonnes of carbon emission annually.

Electric vehicle (EV) owners visiting the place will also be able to utilise AC/DC charging for their EVs at the customer parking area.

BMW Group Malaysia managing director Hans de Visser said Millennium Welt Kuala Lumpur North dealership is a welcome addition to the company's extensive network of dealerships in the Klang Valley.

“The northern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur is developing rapidly with a projection of contributing over 500 vehicles for the premium segment in the next couple of years.

“We are also especially pleased that Millennium Welt is embodying the same commitment to sustainable mobility, incorporating responsible alternatives to energy generation and providing greater access to charging infrastructure in such a high-traffic urban location.

“Their progressive approach to sustainability will go a long way in instilling confidence for an electric future in the years to come, inspiring many along the way.”

Millennium Welt managing director Bryan Wong added: “Having been an authorised BMW dealer for over nine years now, we are proud to welcome our first and most energy-efficient dealership in Kuala Lumpur.

“We are supporting the low-carbon mobility and electrification ambitions of the BMW Group worldwide which is the main reason we are investing in ensuring that we significantly reduce our carbon footprint where possible.

“With the support of our strong customer base, we have also set ambitious targets for Millennium Welt to deliver 2,400 vehicles across the BMW, MINI, MINI Next, BMW Motorrad and BMW Premium Selection brands this year across all our network touch-points,” Wong said.

From now until May 31, customers who service their BMW vehicles at Millennium Welt Kuala Lumpur North will receive a complimentary service voucher worth RM100, while stocks last.

Millennium Welt Kuala Lumpur North is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm daily Monday to Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sunday.

For details, visit https://www.bmw-millenniumwelt.com.my/


Lamborghini works with Supreme on 2020 spring-summer collection

                ROME: Supercar builder Automobili Lamborghini has teamed up with New York-based skateboarding brand Supreme to reveal their latest capsule collection for 2020.

The group worn by the NYC skater - Tyshawn Jones - consists of a Hooded Work Jacket, S/S Shirt, Hockey Jersey, Coverall, T-Shirt, Skateboard and Beanie, featured in the most iconic Lamborghini colours.

“Lamborghini recognises a spirit and dynamism in Supreme that resonates with its own brand,” said Automobili Lamborghini chief marketing and communication officer Katia Bassi.

“This collection combines the essence of Lamborghini super sports design and performance with iconic streetwear.”


Experiencing Continental's latest flagship SC6 tyres

                Grip. It’s what all drivers depend on to help make a vehicle an effective mode of transportation, or more excitingly - a go-fast ride, and when it comes to Continental’s new flagship SportContact 6 (SC6) tyres...grip will not be found lacking.

We travelled to what was once the ‘1st British Corps Ammunition Depot Pombsen’, located within a small town of Bad Driburg, Germany just over 100km away from Continental’s headquarters in Hanover.

Back in the day, the depot was used to mainly help supply ammunition to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Rhine Army during their efforts in the 1982 Falkland war and the first war against Iraq in 1990.

After 20 years, the British closed the depot in 1993 and subsequently returned the land to the Federal Republic of Germany, who then sold it back to the original owner who sold it to the British in the first place.

So what were we doing there? To test tyres of course, because that ammunition depot has been transformed into what’s known today as the Bilster Berg Drive Resort.

The resort officially opened its doors in 2012, after six years of planning and a year of construction to create a beautiful scenic 4.2km circuit that was designed by well-renowned F1 circuit architect Hermann Tilke who received inputs from legendary German rally driver Walter Röhrl.

While nestled within the confines of lush green surroundings, the resort has been adapted to its natural topography with 44 crests and ditches that adds to the challenge and excitement for drivers.

And it was also here that the new SC6 was launched with its treads rolling towards the high performance segment.

According to the German tyre maker, the new tyre provides 14% better steering precision, 4% better overall grip (11% better dry handling and 2% better wet grip) and is now 7% more durable and comfortable than its predecessor – the Continental ContiSportContact 5P.

Such improvements are attributable to its revised “Black Chili” compound that has higher levels of adhesion and capable enough to mould itself on to uneven road surfaces at a nanoscopic level.

The tyre is currently available in 41 dimensions from 19 to 23-inch wheels, widths from 225 to 335 and profiles from 25 to 40 series – all of which are capable of reaching speeds of up to 350kph.

The tyremaker makes use of its latest Aralon 350 synthetic material, which is a mix of Nylon and Aramid found just beneath the tyre’s treads as a jointless hybrid adaptive cap ply - helping to improve the tyre’s performance in situations such as braking, handling and directional stability.

There are three separate tread designs found on the tyre located on the inner, centre and outer sections that work together to help support each other by distributing lateral-forces when cornering hard.

We were chauffeured to an area dubbed ‘Maximum Performance’ to test out the tyres and we were presented with a trio of venerable all-wheel-drive options (all in left-hand drive guise) of a Mercedes A 45 AMG, an Audi RS3 and a Volkswagen Golf R – all fitted with the latest SC6.

The track was slightly damp for our quick spin and our first stint started in the Golf R, followed by the RS 3 and the A 45 AMG.

The one thing we found noticeably consistent during each drive was that the more we pushed the tyre’s grip levels, the more it did not want to relinquish it - but of course nothing defies the laws of physics, and just like everything there’s always a limit.

The SC6 simply wants to keep gripping at any given instance and if a driver were to proverbially “turn up the heat”, the Black Chilli compound would simply soak it all up and keep on gripping.

The thing that amazed us the most was how the tyre relinquish its grip. It’s a gradual experience that’s telegraphed to the driver so that the senses can tell the driver to take corrective measures - they were nothing short of be being communicative and consistent throughout.

As the ambient temperature began to drop, so did the cloud’s load of precipitation, upon the track and just when this happened, we were presented with a fleet of Porsche Cayman S that were equipped with the latest SC6, and two other fleets shod with the company’s developmental prototypes – the EVO1 and EVO2.

With 319bhp on tap and taking 4.9 seconds to complete a 0-100kph sprint, we found ourselves at the next station dubbed Maximum Grip, which was essentially a braking test in the wet that required us to get up to about 95kph before jamming on the brakes to come to a complete stop within a designated patch of very wet tarmac.

But, with such a heavy rainfall, and the added creative plumbing that was designed to drench the track for the test, it now seemed a little overkill to say the least.

With poor visibility and higher chances of aquaplaning, it was hard to gauge the speed limits which saw some of us over shooting the speed limit and for some...the stopping area too.

It was particularly hard to bring the EVO1 prototype tyre to a complete stop within the area due to the lack of silica in its compound, which meant that its dry performance was great, but unfortunately, it was almost completely useless in the wet, but the EVO2 tyres were able to best the SC6’s stopping distance.

The next test section would be out on the open track, and lets just say the EVO1’s performance in such wet conditions would have been lethal if used out in the real world. The lap overly stress-filled since it was hard to read this tyre’s traction levels, which bobbed between traction and aquaplaning in a blink of an eye during slight directional changes. Coffee please.

Although the EVO2 prototype managed to out-performed the SC6 in the previous brake test, the track experience with it had all the drivers turning into a nervous wreck, which had nothing to do with the coffee we had. The EVO2 was simply too reactive to steering inputs when out in the wet, which was an obvious case of too much silica in the compound.

Thankfully, the Continental SC6 didn’t inherit anything negative from either prototypes after much fine-tuning and emerged sophisticated, refined and communicative as a product and is nothing short of being confidence-inspiring, which allows drivers to push their cars to the limit and still have a good amount of control.

Although we’ve had some on-tack experience locally with the the SC6’s predecessor, the 5P, but it just wouldn’t be fair to make a comparison between the two having experienced the new tyres in much cooler conditions.

But, we do think that the new tyres do hold much promise in performance to hold up against our days of blistering heat and torrential rain with its already communicative compound that deems it dependable and an ultimately fun product to be rolling on. It’s just a pity that these tyres aren’t available for smaller wheels - fingers crossed for the future on this one.


VW CEO Diess still has backing of Porsche, Piech families

                FRANKFURT: The Porsche and Piech families, which control Volkswagen's largest shareholder Porsche SE, continue to support the carmaker's CEO Herbert Diess, a spokesman for Porsche SE said today.

"The families continue to back Mr Diess. There has been no change in their position," the spokesman said.

The comments come after Diess' relationship with German labour representatives hit a new low this week with disagreement over how radical the overhaul at Europe's top carmaker must be in its quest for electric vehicle dominance.


EU court adviser advocates broader definition of vehicle defeat devices

                BRUSSELS: Technologies used by Volkswagen to rig vehicle emissions tests should be considered illegal, an adviser to the EU’s top court said, advocating a broad definition that lawyers said could open the group to more legal challenges.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has been asked to rule in a French prosecution against the carmaker for allegedly deceiving buyers of diesel vehicles, specifically on whether an “upstream” technology could be considered a defeat device.

Volkswagen had argued in favour of a restrictive interpretation, limiting the scope of that concept to technologies and strategies operating only “downstream” - concerning the emissions after the gases’ production.

Advocate General Eleanor Sharpston said that a defeat device should be interpreted as being any device which can influence both upstream and downstream vehicle emissions during tests.

Use of defeat devices to help a vehicle pass approval tests is illegal under EU law.

The opinion, if followed by Europe’s top court, could raise the possibility of more car owners taking legal action against Volkswagen and other firms, according to lawyers representing car owners.

They said it broadened the interpretation of what constitutes an illegal “defeat device”.

Contacted by Reuters, Volkswagen said it did not expect the opinion and potential ruling to affect legal proceedings. These centred on whether car owners had suffered financial damage rather than a legal assessment regarding technology.

“This question no longer plays a role in ongoing proceedings,” the company said.

The French case concerned an exhaust gas recirculation (ERG) valve, which can redirect some exhaust gases back into the air supply for the engine, to reduce final NOx emissions.

The ERG was adjusted in tests using a device to allow emissions to remain below the regulatory ceiling, but according to an expert’s report the device would in normal conditions lead to the partial deactivation of the ERG and higher NOx emissions.

The court typically rules within two to four months of an adviser’s opinion. Judges follow them in the majority of cases, but are not bound to do so.

Volkswagen announced recalls of almost 950,000 vehicles in France following the “dieselgate” scandal in which it admitted in 2015 to using illegal software to cheat US diesel engine tests.

The scandal has cost Volkswagen more than US$30 billion (RM129bil) in vehicle refits, fines and provisions.


Nissan to appoint CEO Ghosn as Mitsubishi Motors chairman, say sources

                TOKYO: Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn will chair Mitsubishi Motors Corp after Japan's second-biggest automaker by sales buys control of its smaller peer, two people with knowledge of the matter said today.

Ghosn, nicknamed "le cost killer", will oversee an automaker expecting an operating loss of 28 billion yen (RM1.1bil) in the year to March. Behind the loss are provisions to cover any quality-related issues that arise while Mitsubishi recovers from a mileage-cheating scandal that sent its shares spiralling.

The two automakers have not decided who will be president of Mitsubishi, said one person with direct knowledge of the matter and another briefed on it. Both declined to be identified ahead of formal announcements.

Ghosn, who is also CEO of Nissan alliance partner Renault SA, has asked Mitsubishi Motors chairman and president Osamu Masuko to remain president when Nissan takes over, said the Nikkei newspaper, which first reported Ghosn's appointment.

Ghosn earned his nickname after ordering plant closures when restructuring Renault. He later steered Nissan to profitability.

 Ghosn.

"This is a man who patched up Renault in the 1990s, and he did a lot for Nissan in the 2000s, so I'm sure he looks at Mitsubishi Motors as a new challenge," said CLSA analyst Christopher Richter.

"He's a turnaround artist. This is what he does best," said Richter. Ghosn at the helm of Mitsubishi Motors' board would "remove an enormous burden from the Mitsubishi group companies," he said.

The appointment "should be good (for Mitsubishi Motors)," said Yasuhito Hirota, Executive Vice President at shareholder Mitsubishi Corp. "He is likely to be better than anybody else," he said, declining to elaborate.

Nissan in May said it would buy 34 percent of Mitsubishi Motors for around 237 billion yen (RM9.6bil) after Mitsubishi admitted to falsifying the mileage of four minivehicle models, including two made for Nissan. In August, it was found to have overstated the mileage of eight more models.

Mitsubishi Motors blamed poor communication, lax governance and internal pressure.

Nissan is set to finalise its purchase by the end of 2016, after which the shareholding of Mitsubishi group companies - trading house Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd - will be diluted to 17 percent from around 34 percent before the deal was announced.

Nissan has said it will not sell its stake to a non-group company without Mitsubishi Motors' consent for 10 years.

Mitsubishi Motors will decide executive appointments after a December shareholder meeting, the Nikkei reported.


The need for a tiered subsidy system

                PETALING JAYA: Efforts to rebrand the fuel subsidy are still proceeding, especially after the recent announcement that the government is testing the mechanism for targeted subsidy which comes in the form of e-wallets.

Notwithstanding, the effectiveness of the proposed mechanism remains a questions especially from the aspect of government’s fiscal position and the risk of inflation.

The trade-off between subsidy and inflation

Malaysia’s headline inflation increased 3.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) in June, largely attributed to the significant surge in the prices of food (+6.1% y-o-y) and transport (+5.4% y-o-y).

Nevertheless, the implementation of fixed petrol prices has limited the impact of increasing oil price on Consumer Price Index (CPI).

In the past, CPI rose in line with the surge in oil price when domestic retail pump prices were floated. However, this is not the case now, due to the large amount of subsidy given to pump prices and food items.

According to the Finance Ministry, the total subsidy for 2022 is expected to hit RM77.3bil – the highest subsidy in history ever borne by any government – from the initial budget allocation of RM31bil.

Of this, RM37bil of the subsidies are to be expended for petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas, a stark increase from RM11bil spent in 2021.

As a net exporter, although the government is expected to collect additional revenue from the rising energy and commodity prices, it also needs to spend considerable sum in the form of fuel subsidy.

A study by the central bank shows that for every one ringgit, 53 sen of the subsidy is benefited by the top 20% (T20) of households.

Assuming the fuel subsidy to be RM40bil, approximately RM20bil of it will be going to the pocket of T20 and this limits the subsidy to the B40 and M40 household groups.

As such, this is definitely the area to be targeted for any reduction and rationalisation in subsidies.

At the moment, price rises are mainly in fuel and food, and are controlled by price controls and subsidies, which is keeping the general inflation low.

Removing subsidies will raise petrol prices and cause a general rise in prices across any category in the CPI dependent on fuel. It is a recipe for hyperinflation and need massive interest rate hikes to control it.

Targeted subsidy should be tiered

With questions and uncertainties abound, a tiered price system could be a viable solution in which subsidies would apply for low volume of fuel consumption and removed for higher consumption.

For instance, the current price cap of RM2.05 per litre for RON95 could be applied for petrol consumption below 50 litres per month and the actual market price could be applied for those who consume above the threshold.

It can also be tiered further – purchases between 51 and 100 litres or between 101 and 200 litres could be charged higher prices in stages whereas purchases above this threshold would be charged at full market prices without subsidies.

In this regards, businesses would be phased out from the subsidies.

This, in fact, can be applied for diesel but at a slightly higher level for any commercially registered vehicles used for transporting goods such as rigid lorries, articulated lorries, panels vans and other vehicles.

Need to incorporate the use of MyKad

One way of implementing the system is by adopting an improved instrument to distribute petrol subsidy points (corresponds to the tiered consumption level) via the eligible recipients’ MyKad. Ideally, this should come with an automatic renewal at the end of every month.

This way easily targets the low household income group by going through an improved database, one that has updated information extracted from the Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat and the Road Transport Department.

With this system, misconduct is mitigated as no one would lend their MyKad to another person unless they are willing to lose their subsidy points.

In order for petrol station staffs to verify recipients’ identities when approached to redeem subsidy points, petrol stations should install a MyKad reader integrated with software designed to accommodate such redemptions.

If not by the MyKad-petrol system, the tiered price system can also be introduced almost immediately by simple changes at the point-of-sale of the petrol pumps. The subsidy would only be available at low volumes at the point-of-sale, and so it is not open to a grey market in traded discount vouchers.

Such mechanism would be targeted at low-volume consumers who are mainly from the low-income groups.

For the government, one obvious advantage of implementing tiered price system is that it will reduce the overall subsidy bill because a large bulk of petrol consumption will no longer be subsidised. This definitely provides some fiscal relief and paves way for channelling the fund to other necessities.

In broader economic terms, tiered price system is less distortionary in terms of market prices and has fewer negative implications on petrol suppliers. Most importantly, it is less inflationary compared with removing the blanket subsidy altogether.

Tweaking in the long run

Malaysia used to have one of the largest fuel subsidy bill in the world. Fundamentally, fuel subsidy is not sustainable in the long run as the economic impacts are severe. This includes market distortions, smuggling, fiscal burden, poverty and income inequality.

The RM2.05 per litre retail price of RON95 in Malaysia is relatively low compared to oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, where it is RM2.59 per litre, and also when compared to neighbouring countries such as Indonesia at RM3.74, Thailand at RM5.63 and Singapore at RM9.16 per litre.

The significant price differential is also due to the imposition of fuel taxes by the respective governments. This is to reduce fuel consumption and encourage people to switch to more affordable public transportation.

In Malaysia, the taxation is only set for RON97, of which price is determined by managed float price setting mechanism.

While thinking of a targeted subsidy for vulnerable groups, the government may also consider imposing fuel tax for the people from higher income bracket, given that the consumption rate is higher among high-income individuals compared to those who are earning less.

To put it simply, the “tiered subsidy for the needy, tax for the rich” approach should be thought-through in order to save the government from ballooning fiscal deficit as well as to channel the additional revenue for other purposes. — Manokaran Mottain

> This article by Manokaran Mottain first appeared in StarBiz. The writer has served the industry as an economist for more than 30 years and is currently the director of Rising Success Consultancy Sdn Bhd. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.


Aspiring British car maker names its V12 car Squalo

                LONDON: GTO Engineering of Britain has confirmed that Squalo will be the production name for its new car and has revealed the final exterior design updates and a first production-ready look of the new 4.0-litre quad-cam engine.

Squalo, meaning shark in Italian, has been chosen for GTO Engineering’s all-new car due to its shark-like look, instincts and speed. The team, who were previously using the codename Moderna for its all-new, sub-1,000kg, V12-powered car, has been working behind the scenes on updated surfaces and production-ready engine alongside a completely bespoke wheel and tyre package.

Now gaining momentum and pace as it works towards the production-ready car, GTO Engineering and its design team has signed off on the all-important exterior aesthetics including the door handles, wing mirrors, as well as working on a bespoke alloy wheel, which will be available in 18”. The tyres, which will be produced by a leading manufacturer in conjunction with GTO Engineering are also in development.

The GTO Engineering Squalo will stick to the same principles since the car was announced: sub-1,000kg, with a manual gearbox, inspired by the Sixties sports cars of old but with modern engineering principles and materials.

The Squalo will be powered by a bespoke V12 engine, in keeping with GTO Engineering’s ethos, and both engine and the complete car will be built completely by the firm from the ground up at its base near here.

The engine has been announced as a quad-cam V12, but following the last update in February it has had significant aesthetics and light weighting engineering upgrades including the surround of the carbs removed to ensure you can see the open trumpets when the bonnet is opened. More news on the engine’s capacity, official bhp figures as well as a target weight for the engine will revealed next month.

“There’s been an outpour of admiration for what we’re doing here and we realise a little bit of scepticism whether we’re actually making this: a V12-powered, sub-tonne sports car with a Sixties feel but modern reliability, enjoyment and manufacturing quality," said GTO Engineering managing director and founder Mark Lyon.

"We’re here to hopefully set the record straight to say yes, it’s happening and we’re sticking to our original ethos for the car as well as timing promises for production. We are also delighted to have early adopters and customer orders received already, and we thank them for the trust in our vision and business,”

“It’s often the small parts of a car that take the longest time. We’re now at a stage where the design models are being created here in the UK and soon we will announce our technical partners working with us on the exterior manufacturing and interiors, as well as wheels and tyres. In all my years working in the [automotive] industry, I’ve never been as excited about the creativity of manufacturing and design as I am now.”

This update follows the initial renderings and intentions for the new vehicle, which was initially announced in November 2020. Since then, the team continues to grow with in-house and external consultants collaborating together, all working on the same goal to create one of the most exciting enthusiast cars of the decade, with the first customer deliveries in 2023.

GTO Engineering specialises in Ferrari servicing, repair restoration, engine-building, parts, event support and acquisition.

Established in the early 1980s by Lyon as a specialist sub-contractor working for some of the most prestigious Ferrari dealers and specialists, GTO Engineering now has an extensive team of specialists in Twyford, UK and Los Angeles, USA.

Since the Squalo is a bespoke build and entirely new vehicle built from the ground up by the team at GTO Engineering at its UK HQ and available in global markets, the sales team directs all enquiries to Ferrari@gtoengineering.com or call +44 (0) 118 940 1101.


Q Motorsport becomes Audi factory team

                SINGAPORE: Audi will compete in the Dakar Rally for the first time with a hybrid electric prototype entry in 2022.

The race in the world’s toughest cross-country rally will be carried out in co-operation with the newly-founded Q Motorsport GmbH based in Trebur, Germany.

Audi was active in rallying in the 1980s, helping to make all-wheel drive become a mainstream feature in modern vehicles.

The Dakar prototype is expected to use Audi's Turbo Fuel Stratified Injection engine to charge the battery via a highly-efficient energy converter.

Q Motorsport GmbH is a family business founded by Sven Quandt and his two sons Thomas and Tobias Quandt. As a driver, Sven Quandt ahd won the T1 Marathon Cup in 1998.

In the same year, his team GECO Raid celebrated a 1-2-3 victory in the T1 classification of the Paris–Dakar Rally.

From November 2002 to the end of 2004, Quandt was the head of motorsport at Mitsubishi Motors. At the same time, he began to build up the X-raid Team, which celebrated five victories in the Dakar Rally and won the FIA World Cup for cross-country rallies eleven times.

“With Q Motorsport, we want to break new ground in cross-country motorsport independently of and parallel to X-raid,” says Sven.

“The world is changing and Dakar must also prove that it can be sustainable and continue to point the way forward. This is exactly what Q Motorsport wants to demonstrate together with Audi.”

Audi will also return to Le Mans where it dominated less than 10 years ago.


Touch ‘n Go bags two tech awards

                KUALA LUMPUR: Touch 'n Go Sdn Bhd received double recognition at the recent Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards 2023.

The company was awarded for its RFID fueling solution in the Fintech - Financial Technology category, whilst its second award was for its latest development in Near-Field Communication (NFC) reload capabilities in the E-Wallet - Financial Technology category.

In a statement, the company said Touch ‘n Go RFID was launched in 2018 with the objective of providing a more seamless and convenient way of making toll payments.

There are more than 2.2 million active RFID users currently.

Also, the combination of the RFID and eWallet infrastructure has enabled the company to quickly expand towards payment for fuels.

“We were fortunate to have found in Shell Malaysia, a partner who shared our ambition of providing users with a cashless, contactless driving experience. Together, we launched Touch ‘n Go RFID fueling in August 2022 to enable seamless, contactless fuel payments at selected Shell stations,” said Touch ‘n Go CEO, Praba Sangarajoo.

The seamless process means that Touch ‘n Go RFID users would not need to engage with a point-of-sale system or require any interaction with an app on their mobile phones to make payments for fuel.

First time users will need to link their Touch ‘n Go eWallet account to their RFID tag.

Upon successful activation, they simply need to park their vehicle at the designated RFID fueling bays at any RFID-enabled Shell station.

An additional layer of verification in the form of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) works together with the RFID as a second source of verification and validation to ensure the correct vehicle is present and the correct eWallet is charged.

Within seconds of vehicle detection, the direct charge mechanism auto-debits the users’ eWallet and the users can begin refueling their vehicle.

Any unutilised charges are refunded to their eWallet immediately.

At present, this seamless cashless fueling experience has been activated across 180 Shell stations nationwide with the number expected to increase to 300 stations by the end of 2023.

Meanwhile, the enhanced Touch ‘n Go card with NFC reload capabilities was launched in 2022.

The NFC reload function via the Touch ‘n Go eWallet allows direct reloading to the enhanced Touch ‘n Go card using an NFC-enabled mobile phone.

Users can reload their cards within seconds anytime, anywhere and no longer need to go to petrol stations, self-service kiosks or convenience stores to reload their cards.

The RFID fueling solution garnered more than 70,000 users in a span of five months since its launch.

Touch ‘n Go also launched charms with NFC reload capabilities, which enable users to carry the charms on keychains, bags, mobile phones and lanyards, infusing an element of personalization to daily travel.

The enhanced Touch ‘n Go card and NFC charm are recognised as the only NFC-capable card and charm in Malaysia that enable reloading directly from an e-wallet via NFC technology.

“This award win motivates us to continue our efforts in developing more revolutionary and differentiated products and services. A case in point would be how we are expanding the Touch ‘n Go RFID use case beyond tolling and fueling, and exploring new verticals such as payments for parking, drive-thrus and EV charging. Touch ‘n Go’s RFID capabilities are also ready for the future development of toll payments on Malaysian highways,” said Praba.

The Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards recognises exceptional companies who are riding the disruption wave and are leading the technological revolution and digital journeys of their respective industries to boost Malaysia’s fast-growing economy.

This is the second consecutive year that the Touch ‘n Go Group is recognised at the Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards.

The group received awards for Fintech – Payments, and Fintech - Financial Services in 2022.


Fook Loi Corp (Sabah) opens its fourth Proton outlet

                TAWAU: Fook Loi Corp (Sabah) Sdn Bhd has officially opened its new Proton 3S outlet in Tawau.

The event was jointly officiated by Edmund Lim Meng Thong, Proton head of sales and Datuk Anthony Chu Nyuk Loi, the chairman of Fook Loi Corp (Sabah).

This newly opened outlet is the fourth by Fook Loi.

Aside from Tawau, they have three other centres across Sabah - in Kota Kinabalu, Lahad Datu as well as Sandakan, all of which were opened in the span of less than 15 months.

The newly launched outlet offers sales, service and spare parts availability for its customers.

The centre consists of 10 bays and 4 service hoists and can accommodate up to 5 display cars in the showroom.

Amenities such as a kids’ corner, a coffee bar, laptop charging ports and free Wi-Fi are part of the amenities provided for customers’ comfort.

According to Thomas Chiu Kui Yin, group executive director of Fook Loi Corp (Sabah), “Our business is going from strength to strength, and investing and staying invested in the Proton brand has been a good business decision from the start”.

To-date, Proton has the largest number of 3S & 4S centres nationwide with a total of 120.

“Our goal has always been about providing the best sales and service to our customers, and we can only achieve this if we have sufficient outlets with well-trained sales and service staff. The new and upgraded centres have proven to attract people to take more notice of the brand. This is evident as our sales have soared past 100,000 units, with over 56% growth over 2018. These are tremendous results and we humbly thank our dealers and sales force for delivering their best efforts”, said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.


Germany wants ICE cars to live on via synthetic fuels

                PARIS: Automaking powerhouse Germany is opposed to a ban on internal combustion engines (ICE) from 2035 provided they work on synthetic fuels, the country's transport minister said Monday.

The European Commission proposed last year a ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from the middle of next decade, but the debate is far from over.

"We want to allow combustion engines after 2035 only if they can be refuelled exclusively by synthetic fuels," Volker Wissing said on the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU transport ministers outside here.

"There must be a technical solution to guarantee that they can't be refuelled with fossil fuels," he added.

Synthetic fuels, which could be used by current cars with little or no modification, might be able to considerably lower emissions depending on how they are produced.

The meeting of transport ministers looked at innovation to decarbonise road transport among other issues.

Wissing backed the position of the French EU presidency that hybrid vehicles can be useful to reduce carbon emissions.

"Today we don't have enough EVs (electric vehicles), we need to scale up their availability," Wissing said.

"So it's better that people use hybrid technology as an intermediary solution," he added.

At the latest UN climate meeting last year, more than two dozen countries and car companies pledged to work on ensuring that by 2040 only zero emission vehicles are sold.

But major carmaking nations including China, the United States, Japan, France and Germany did not sign up.

Germany, in particular, criticised the fact that synthetic fuels were left out.
Wissing also advised against relying upon one technology, and said government policies should pick winners.

"We can't only bank on electric mobility or hydrogen for the future," Wissing said Monday.

"We need to remain technology-agnostic."

Airlines are counting on the emergence of sustainable or synthetic fuels to reduce their carbon emissions.

The development of carbon-neutral synthetic fuels would allow the continued use of current combustion engine technology for both aircraft and cars.


Stunt driver drives Subaru WRX STI down bobsled run

                ST MORITZ: It has never been done, so it should be done. That’s probably what stunt driver Mark Higgins was thinking.

This two-minute clip showed him careening down the infamous Olympic bobsled run in Switzerland, and at one point he nearly flipped the car over at a hairpin bend.

The all-wheel drive WRX STI has a 2.5-litre engine producing 300 PS which allows it to sprint from 0-100kph in 5.2s. Top speed is 255kph.

Higgins is a rally driver and used to work as a stunt double for Daniel Craig in some of the most arduous James Bond driving scenes.


Hyundai's wearable robot VEX wins for innovation

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Group’s latest exoskeleton wearable robot, Vest Exoskeleton (VEX), has won the Product Design category (Innovative Product field) at the Red Dot Design Awards, the prestigious international design competition, now in its 60th year.

VEX was designed to prevent injuries while advancing the field of robotics, earning praise from the Red Dot Design Awards’ panel of judges.

The compact design is achieved without the need for a battery. VEX, which wears like a backpack, uses a polycentric axis to provide a maximum force of 5.5 kgf— an impressive achievement given it weighs only 2.8kg.

VEX is designed for production-line workers who need to work with their hands above their heads, usually on the underside of vehicles on the assembly line.

Hyundai Motor Group ran pilot programmes in its US plants, receiving positive feedback from the workers as it reduced fatigue in their arms and shoulders while boosting productivity and safety.

In addition to VEX, Hyundai is working on another lightweight wearable robot, Chairless Exoskeleton (CEX). With CEX, workers can easily maintain a sitting position without a stool or chair.

Hyundai also unveiled Medical Exoskeleton, MEX. Building on these wearable robots, Hyundai Motor Group plans to develop additional ones that will enhance productivity and work safety as well as support rehabilitation of injured patients.

The company is considering implementing VEX in plants around the world. Hyundai Rotem will be in charge of the commercial production, expected to cost as much as 30 percent less than existing products.