Volkswagen in Brazil debuts Nivus crossover, Euro version in pipeline

                SÃO PAULO: Volkswagen in Brazil presented its most recent model: the Nivus on Thursday in a virtual premiere from here.

This is the first time the Brazilian operations of Volkswagen is developing a vehicle for the international market.

The compact Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) features an ample vehicle interior and an elevated seating position. It is positioned between the Polo and the T-Cross.

The Nivus is a global model developed in South America, and is also intended for production and sale in other world markets.

The entry-level crossover would be launched first on the Brazilian market followed by Argentina later this year.

Other South American markets will follow in 2021. In the long term, the new model is expected to be sold outside Latin America as well. A European version will be produced at Volkswagen's Spanish plant in Pamplona in 2021.

The Nivus is powered by a 1.0-litre engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. It has the same wheelbase as the Polo but is noticeably longer.

This year, Volkswagen do Brasil is planning the brand’s largest product campaign in South America with a total of 20 new product launches.

The Nivus is developing a new segment in the Brazilian market with an innovative design that combines SUV elements and coupé lines.

It is amongst the largest models within the small vehicle segment with a luggage compartment capacity of 415 litres.

The vehicle is based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB) and will be built at the Anchieta plant using cutting-edge production processes.


Toyota beats VW to become world's No.1 car seller in 2020

                TOKYO: Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp overtook Germany’s Volkswagen in vehicle sales last year, regaining pole position as the world’s top selling automaker for the first time in five years as the pandemic demand slump hit its German rival harder.

Toyota said today its group-wide global sales fell 11.3% to 9.528 million vehicles in 2020. That compared with a 15.2 percent drop at Volkswagen to 9.305 million vehicles.

Automakers have suffered as coronavirus lockdowns have stopped people from visiting car showrooms and forced manufacturing plants to reduce or halt production.

Toyota, however, has weathered the pandemic better in part because its home market Japan, and the Asian region in general, have been less affected by the outbreak than Europe and the United States.

“Our focus is not on what our ranking may be, but on serving our customers” a Toyota spokeswoman said.

As demand for cars rebounds, particularly in China, Toyota, Volkswagen and other manufacturers are scrambling to tap growing demand for electric cars.

Toyota said that the ratio of electric vehicle it sold last year grew to 23% of total sales from 20% in 2019.


Volvo-owner Geely launches new car brand with compact SUV model

                BERLIN: Chinese automaker Geely, the owner of Volvo cars, showed off the first model of its new Lynk & Co brand in Germany today, a compact SUV aimed at taking on the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as well as ride-hailing service Uber, across the world.

The Lynk, made in China, will go on sale at home in 2017, followed by Europe and the United States in 2018, and marks one of the first attempts by a Chinese carmaker to create a global brand that makes use of European design and technology know-how.

Chinese companies have been snapping up cutting-edge German technology to push upmarket and gain a global footprint. This year alone, Chinese home appliances maker Midea has agreed to buy German robotics firm Kuka and Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP is taking over semiconductor equipment maker Aixtron.

Long seen as a cheap, no-frills brand in China and unheard of in Europe, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group purchased struggling Swedish carmaker Volvo from Ford in 2010 to help it leapfrog a decade of research and development.

While Volvo will continue to focus on premium vehicles, Lynk is an attempt to grab a slice of the mid market. It will initially take on foreign carmakers' joint ventures in China, but - as shown by the global launch in Berlin - it also aims to challenge the world's biggest automakers in their own markets.

At the launch of the '01' model at a former railway station in Berlin that now frequently hosts start-up conventions, Alain Visser, senior vice president at Lynk & Co, described the SUV as "our first smartphone on wheels."

It is targeting tech-savvy consumers that may have prioritised flexibility over car ownership in the past. "We are looking very much at millennial consumers all over the world who are very much concentrated around bigger cities," he said.

Each car will be permanently connected to the Internet and have a "share" button, enabling owners to rent out their car to other motorists via a smartphone app.

"That becomes a source of income, which some of the consumers may use, a bit like an Airbnb vehicle," said Visser, referring to the home rental company.

Lynk has more models in its line-up, which the carmaker plans to launch over the next 3-5 years, but Visser declined to give details on body styles or launch dates apart from the name of the next car: '02'.

Once the full line-up is launched, Lynk aims to sell more than 500,000 vehicles a year by 2021, he said.

Geely's design has been refined by British designer Peter Horbury, who headed up design at Volvo in the 1990s and oversaw it for Jaguar, Aston Martin and Ford's other brands from 2002.

In doing so, Geely is upping the competitive pressure on established global carmakers, which have long accused Chinese rivals of merely ripping off their designs.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), for example, has sued China's Jiangling Motor after it released the Landwind X7 SUV in 2014, a car that JLR says copies its Land Rover Evoque while costing around the third of a price.

The car will be a hybrid powered by a 1.5-litre three cylinder petrol engine combined with a lithium-ion battery and electric motor, and will be the first based on the Complex Modular Architecture platform developed by Geely and Volvo.

Mercedes-owner Daimler and BMW are also investing heavily in hybrid vehicles and will be watching closely to see how the '01' fares with European consumers.

Geely said the car would be priced competitively and said it would be fixed across all markets, but declined to give details. It plans to keep down costs by selling the car online only and limiting the number of configurations available.


First US customer gets keys to Lamborghini Centenario

                LOS ANGELES: For almost any of us, getting the keys to a brand new car is an exciting occasion we look forward to. Levels of excitement and anticipation can vary greatly though.

On a sliding scale, collecting a new minivan is probably towards the lower end of excitement levels, while something like a new luxury SUV is probably a lot higher up the scale. However, it's hard to imagine how most of us would feel if we were in the shoes of one US car buyer, who recently became the first customer in America to get his hands on a new Lamborghini Centenario.

The customer with the honour of picking up the first of these incredible cars to be delivered to an American buyer was in Newport Beach in California. The car in question is a black and blue hardtop version, which was custom built with a glossy carbon-fiber exterior and the same interior color scheme of leather and Alcantara. The manufacturer has promised all the Centenario's other US buyers will get their cars before the end of this year.

The Lamborghini Centenario is a special model produced by the legendary Italian supercar builder to celebrate the 100th birthday of its founder, Ferruccio Lamborghini. Effectively, the Centenario is basically a tricked-out Aventador, but it would be churlish to see that as any sort of criticism.

We first learned about how this US$1.9mil (RM8.2mil) supercar was to be produced to mark the 100th birthday of the industry leader last year, and it's hardly a surprise that's it's a limited edition of just 40 cars that are split between coupe and convertible versions. Naturally, every single one is already spoken for, and they probably have been for some time.

At the heart of the Lamborghini Centenario is a naturally aspirated V-12 engine producing a staggering 759hp, which propels the car to 100kph from a standing start in as little as 2.8 seconds and onwards to a top speed of some 350kph. Each one is individually specified and built to the personal tastes of the particular customer through Lamborghini's Ad Personam program.

Automobili Lamborghini America COO, Alessandro Farmeschi, says of the car, "When Ferruccio Lamborghini began realising his dream of creating the best supercars in the world, he wanted to reach a large audience through production, but he also wanted to keep the unique nature of limited-edition vehicles that clients are able to personalise to their own tastes and style."

That vision certainly appears to have been achieved with this particular US$1.9mil example.


Putting hydrogen motorcycles in the starting blocks

                TOKYO: The transition to green energy also concerns motorcycle manufacturers, who must also adapt and find alternatives to fossil fuels. Among the options open to them is hydrogen fuel.

And the first such models could be coming to the market in the next few years.

Kawasaki and Toyota have announced that they are working together to develop hydrogen engines for the Japanese manufacturer's future motorcycle models.

Indeed, Toyota is one of the pioneers of the field among car manufacturers, with its famous Mirai, unveiled in 2014.

More recently, the Japanese auto-maker has developed hydrogen versions of two popular models, the Corolla and the Yaris, although these are exclusively focused on racing for the time being.

Toyota now wants to put its expertise at the service of Kawasaki to develop hydrogen combustion engines directly derived from more conventional internal combustion engines.

Initial tests could involve the Ninja H2. In 2021, it was this motorcycle model that was used as an example for the development of this new technology, even if no prototype has yet been unveiled.

While the launch of a hydrogen-powered Kawasaki isn't on the agenda anytime soon, the idea is making headway in Japan.

After cars, trucks and even trains, the arrival on the market of the first hydrogen-powered motorcycle models is fast approaching. Honda and Suzuki, to name but two manufacturers, are also working in the field.

Note that some smaller-scale initiatives are also beginning to emerge. This is the case of the Segway-Ninebot manufacturer and its electric sports bike concept, powered by a removable hydrogen fuel cell system.

Called the Segway Apex H2, it could be released in 2023. In France, H2 Motronics is fine-tuning its hydrogen-powered sports bike project (code name H2K), which is capable of approaching the performance of a Moto3 bike on the track.


F1 tyre size a deal-breaker for Michelin

                LONDON: Michelin has no interest in supplying tyres to Formula One unless the sport agrees to make them bigger, a change   that motorsport head Pascal Couasnon feels will surely happen, eventually.

The French company and current suppliers Pirelli are the only bidders for the three-year contract from 2017, when rule changes could be introduced to make the cars quicker and harder to handle.

Michelin have stressed that their bid depends on a change of tyre specification from 13 inch to at least 18.
"If the sport decides to stay with 13 inch, we respect it but it would not make sense to us," Couasnon told Reuters during the season-ending London round of the new electric Formula E series.

"That's where we are going to wait for the next time (the contract is up for tender)," he added when asked what would be the response to no change.

Michelin supply 18-inch tyres to the world rally and endurance championships and Formula E.

The current FIA tender document opens the way for an increase in diameter "if the tyre manufacturer feels there may be advantages to the competitors by doing so." Couasnon said the transfer of technology was important for Michelin and F1 tyres needed to have a smaller sidewall and be more similar to those used by regular drivers as well as longer-lasting.

"We don't want a banal tyre. We want a tyre that is getting close (to road tyres) so then you can transfer," he added.

Whereas the Pirelli F1 compounds have been engineered to degrade and increase the strategy options, Couasnon said Michelin were not prepared to make a tyre that wore out quickly.

"It's not the message we want to give which is 'we're going to invest a lot of technology to make a tyre which doesn't last'," he said.


What to expect in the next Toyota Supra

                TOKYO: Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) is gearing up to roll out an enhanced Toyota Supra with upgraded driving performance and a manual transmission option for the RZ trim level, among other improvements.

It's expected to solicit customer interest this summer, followed by vehicle delivery in Japan in the fall.

Since its first generation in 1978, the Supra has earned legions of fans with its faithfully retained front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout powered by an in-line six-cylinder engine. The current Supra is also available with an in-line four-cylinder engine.

Underlying the latest enhancements is an evolved chassis for more-refined driving performance.

And a stick shift-driven by strong customer demand and expectations has been developed for the RZ trim level to complement the Supra's high-output engine.

TGR promises that the new Supra would have better handling and ride comfort through improved steering and suspension.

It would also feature Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) control and finely tuned shock absorber damping characteristics for improved roll balance and ride comfort.

Toyota engineers have also modified the stabiliser bushings for better initial steering response

To allow Supra drivers to push the sports car to its limits, chassis control systems (AVS, electric power steering, and Vehicle Stability Control) have been revised for improved overall steering feel and controllability.

The manual shifter gets a spherical knob that is easy to grip and operate from any direction to row through a newly developed six-speed gearbox for the RZ variant.

A system has been developed for optimal computer-controlled engine speed matched to the driver's clutch and shifting operations and for automatic throttle blipping when shifting to enable a smooth and sporty driving. In addition, the cabin will get piped-in engine noise like before to add to the aural sensation of driving a manual Supra.

Keeping unsprung weight down, are a newly designed 19-inch forged aluminum wheels that are 1.2 kg per wheel lighter per wheel.

As for exterior colour choices for all trim levels, there is Volcanic Ash Gray Metallic and Dawn Blue Metallic and the new matte Avalanche White Metallic colour for a limited quantity of the RZ. A newly available tan interior will be offered as an RZ trim-level manufacturer option.

Finally, the JBL Premium Sound System has been tweaked for improved sound quality.


Man accused of buying 39 Teslas via US$45mil scam with apparent false ties to Elon Musk

                LOS ANGELES: Authorities arrested a man Wednesday whom federal prosecutors accuse of running a US$45mil (RM198mil) scam that netted him 39 Teslas and allegedly included false claims that a billionaire electric car company founder — likely Tesla CEO Elon Musk — was involved in the investment scheme.

In a federal grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday, Neil Suresh Chandran, 50, is alleged to have defrauded more than 10,000 victims since June 2018 by claiming that at least one of his five cryptocurrency and virtual-reality companies “was about to be purchased by a consortium of wealthy buyers and thereby yield his investors extremely high returns.”

The indictment cites an alleged email from Chandran claiming an US$88,000 (RM388,080) investment would deliver a US$2 trillion (RM8.82 trillion) return.
 Chandran in a screengrab from a 2011 self-promotion clip on YouTube.

The alleged fraud seemingly involved claims about Musk, whom the indictment describes as “Billionaire 2” and “founder and CEO of an electric car company,” and also apparently about Amazon executive chairman and founder Jeff Bezos, described as “Billionaire 1” and the “founder and executive chairman of a large online retailing company.” The indictment makes clear that both billionaires 1 and 2 “had no involvement.”

The US government is seeking to have Chandran, arrested in Los Angeles, forfeit the Teslas along with five properties in California and Nevada, a Ferrari, a Rolls-Royce, and other high-value items including a diamond-crusted gold Swiss watch, as proceeds of crime.

Chandran did not immediately respond to email messages sent to three of the companies listed in the indictment. It was unclear whether he was represented by a lawyer.

The government is also seeking to obtain through forfeiture about US$36mil (RM158.8mil) held in 25 accounts at 12 different banks, two insurance firms and a stock brokerage.

The 39 Teslas include all models such Model Y compact SUVs, Model 3 sedans, Model S sedans and Model X SUVs. Also allegedly accumulated by Chandran, of Las Vegas, were 19 other cars, two pick-up trucks, three RVs and a wakeboarding boat.

“US Marshals and the FBI are seizing most of the assets pending resolution of the criminal case,” the US Department of Justice said in a press release.

The indictment alleges money laundering but does not make clear a mechanism by which it may have occurred. The money and goods came from investor funds misappropriated for other business ventures and the personal benefit of Chandran and others, the indictment claimed, though it did not specify any others who allegedly benefited.

Chandran is charged with three counts of wire fraud and two counts of transacting in criminally derived property. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each fraud count and up to 10 years for each illegal-transactions count. Because of federal sentencing guidelines and judges’ discretion, maximum sentences are rarely imposed. – The Mercury News/Tribune News Service


After dieselgate, Volkswagen loosens reins on empire

                WOLFSBURG: When Volkswagen boss Matthias Mueller vowed to reform the carmaker after its emissions scandal, decentralizing power from its Wolfsburg headquarters in Germany was a top priority.

That commitment is now being put to the test in one of the company's most important international projects: building a low-cost car for India.

Mueller said in March he was giving the job to the group's Czech brand Skoda, which is now leading partnership talks with India's Tata Motors.

Skoda has been authorised to take "incremental" decisions, while keeping Wolfsburg informed, a source at the brand said.

The move, the first major international project led by Skoda since Volkswagen (VW) took full control of it in 2000, is a sign of how the different divisions and regions within the 12-brand VW empire are gaining influence, the source added.

Mueller's nine-member management team has also started to hold regular meetings outside of its northern German home, with the first one abroad held in Shanghai in April.

Sharing out power is important because many people both inside and outside VW believe the company's traditional authoritarian management structure created the environment that led to engineers installing illegal software to cheat diesel emissions tests in millions of cars worldwide.

 Mueller. - Reuters

With staff focused on meeting targets set by remote bosses and too fearful to highlight problems, VW was plunged into the biggest business crisis in its 80-year history when the cheating was exposed in September 2015 - a crisis that has so far cost it more than US$25 billion in fines, compensation and vehicle refits.

Some VW investors say there were other causes of the crisis - in particular that the company was not open enough to outside scrutiny. They want it to appoint more independent directors to oversee executives, and hire more managers from outside the group, rather than filling top jobs with company veterans.

So far Mueller, who has been at VW for 40 years and became CEO a week after the emissions scandal erupted, has rejected calls to overhaul its supervisory and management boards.

VW has also not, as originally promised, published the report it commissioned from a US law firm into the emissions scandal, saying there are no written findings and it is unable to do so under the terms of a settlement with US authorities.

But Mueller's decentralisation drive may help to win over some investors - particularly if it boosts financial results.

Analysts say Wolfsburg's grip over the world's biggest carmaker has been responsible for some of its failings in key markets. These include the United States, where VW has struggled to adapt to local tastes, and also building a budget car for emerging markets, where Wolfsburg engineers steeped in technical excellence missed cost targets, VW sources have said.

VW's low-cost Lupo model was dropped from production after less than a decade due to weak demand worldwide, while a small car partnership with Suzuki Motor Corp collapsed.

Skoda, which built cheap runabouts during the Czech Republic's Communist era, is studying whether it can adapt a low-cost production platform developed by Tata Motors, the Skoda source said. The firms are also looking at potential joint development of components, he added.

A Tata Motors spokesman said the companies were "evaluating the potential cooperation," without elaborating.

If it can succeed, a budget car for India would tap into a lucrative part of one of the world's fastest growing auto markets, and would be a big boost in VW's battle for global industry leadership with Japan's Toyota.

But it's early days, and the project won't be easy. Rival General Motors has decided to stop selling cars altogether in India due to cut-throat competition.

There are also question marks over whether VW has entirely cast off its old centralising habits.

For example, when the company's factory in Tennessee had problems ramping up production of its new US SUV, the Atlas, Wolfsburg vetoed a contract extension for the head of the plant, according to one VW source. VW last month said only that he was returning to Germany after completing his assignment.

The biggest brake on Mueller's decentralisation drive may come from VW's home state of Lower Saxony and powerful labour unions, which together dominate the supervisory board that decides on plant closures, asset sales and executive posts.

Home to six VW plants with over 100,000 workers, Lower Saxony has the most to lose from a dispersal of power to VW's regions. Its leadership supports Mueller's reforms, but with reservations, saying employees should be involved and changes should not be implemented in a top-down way.

"A culture change can only succeed together with all participants," Lower Saxony prime minister Stephan Weil told Reuters.

Many of Mueller's reforms are aimed at engaging and empowering staff, while breaking down barriers with executives.

Some changes have been symbolic, such as selling VW's corporate Airbus jet or opening up the executive dining room at Wolfsburg to factory workers; others, more fundamental, such as empowering senior engineers to control budgets and deadlines, according to company sources.

Mueller is also reducing the number of the group's corporate committees by a third, and staff have noticed a difference.

"Before the crisis, top management was aloof," said an employee who has worked in administration at Wolfsburg for 15 years. "Now there is a refreshing sense of normality."

To encourage innovation and risk-taking, VW is considering raising the pay of its 20,000 managers worldwide, said group human resources boss Karlheinz Blessing.

Blessing himself is trying to lead the change in culture by shunning the executive car park and riding a bicycle on factory grounds.

"We encourage people to take responsibility," he said in an interview. "But that will take time. First there needs to be confidence that you won't be raked over the coals if you make a wrong decision."

There are hopes this more hands-off management style will also improve company performance.

Elmar-Marius Licharz, one of four new model-line chiefs at the VW brand, said designers and engineers working on the VW Golf 2019 model were about two months ahead of target, suggesting the pace of product development had picked up with fewer top managers intervening in the process.

For all Mueller's reforms within VW, however, corporate governance experts say there has not been enough progress in opening up the company to outside scrutiny.

The executive hired for a newly created management board position for integrity and legal affairs quit in January after only a year in the job, with VW citing unspecified differences with management. A new appointment has been made.

That compares with GM which, after its own scandal over safety defects, appointed a vice president for vehicle safety and publicly stated that if there were any obstacles to solving a safety issue the executive "has the authority to clear them."


BMW, Daimler, telcos in push to get EU adopt connected car standard

                BRUSSELS: BMW, Daimler , Deutsche Telekom and Ericsson have urged the European Commission to back a technology for connected cars they believe would help to speed up the rollout of 5G mobile networks across the bloc.

The call comes as the EU executive prepares to draw up rules to apply to cars connected to the internet, a market expected to be worth billions of euros and which will generate new revenue streams for telecoms operators and equipment makers.

A technology named C-V2X, which enables cars to communicate via cellular networks to other connected devices, is a better option than a rival wifi-based technology known as ITS-G5, the companies said. They argue that C-V2X would allow EU carmakers to better compete in a global market.

ITS-G5 on the other hand would lock carmakers into a technology ”which, despite its name, has no relationship to 5G technology and certainly no evolutionary path towards compatibility with 5G”, they said in a letter to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and other commissioners seen by Reuters.

“This places Europe at an economic disadvantage compared with other regions of the world including China and the United States, where C-V2X is emerging as a strong technology candidate for C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems),” the companies said.

Signatories to the letter include Ford, Huawei , Intel, Qualcomm, Nokia, SAIC Motor, Samsung, Savari, PSA Groupe , Telefonica and Vodafone.

The Commission, which plans to propose legislation on the issue by the end of the year and which wants to use 5G to boost cross-border trade, confirmed receipt of the letter.


E-hailing drivers can opt for e-PSV licence course, says Loke

                KUALA LUMPUR: E-hailing drivers can opt to sit for the e-PSV (Public Service Vehicle) licence course instead of spending up to six hours doing it at driving institutes before sitting for the one-hour test, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

"E-hailing operators can conduct e-PSV courses as long as they follow the ministry's module," he said, adding that operators had the option to offer the course for free.

He said this in response to complaints from the Grab Drivers Malaysia Association that driving schools could not accommodate the high number of drivers who wanted to sit for the course.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the association also complained of the high cost of sitting for the PSV test, as well as its high failure rate.

However, Loke is determined to keep to it.

In November last year, Loke said all e-hailing drivers must register for PSV licence similar to taxi drivers from January this year.

Loke said drivers were given until July 12 this year to complete their PSV licence and course.

"After July 12, we will start enforcing the new regulations as all e-hailing drivers must have PSV registration and licence, insurance and vehicles which are more than three years old will be required to undergo inspection," he said.


Chery aims new SUV range at Euro market

                SHANGHAI: Chery has released design sketches of the first model of its all-new model line for global markets, ahead of its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Sept 12.

The first images of the compact SUV reveal the design direction for Chery’s new nameplate. And while they will wear a Chery badge, they incorporate a new evolution of the Chinese brand’s ‘Life In Motion’ design philosophy.

“The world premiere of our new compact SUV marks the start of our approach to European sales with a new model line," said Ray Bierzynski, Executive Vice President of Chery R&D Center Shanghai.

"Launching within a few years, all models in the line-up will feature characteristic styling, user-focused technology, electrified powertrains and advanced safety features.”

The distinctive form of the compact SUV flows from Chery’s progressive ‘Life in Motion’ design philosophy, developed by chief designer, James Hope. This evolution of Chery’s brand style is aimed at attracting the young urbanites to the brand.

Many of the feature lines are inspired by nature and incorporate "hydrodynamic surfacing" characteristics, which convey the pure, aesthetic quality of running water. The muscular and purposeful stance exudes confidence, with a sense of stability assured by the wide track and large, stylish wheels.

The progressive styling is also reflected in the car’s unique brand face. It features a sharp chrome horizontal brand bar, which is complemented by further chrome trim adorning the front bumper, side skirts and window surrounds. Full LED headlamps and a neat rear light cluster design complete the car’s dynamic aesthetic.

Chery plans to start sales of passenger cars in Europe within the next few years led by the all-new model line for global markets, which will focus on SUV and crossover models. Chery is evaluating the sales opportunity in key markets including retail and fleet channels, and is planning new design and R&D facilities in Europe that will accelerate the brand’s plans for global expansion.

Chery is the most successful exporter of vehicles in China. It has sold over 1.2 million units overseas since it was founded in 1997 – more than any other Chinese carmaker – and it is also the first Chinese manufacturer to pass total sales of more than six million vehicles. It has held the status of China’s leading vehicle exporter for 14 consecutive years.

 The concept Chery SUV launched at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show.


McLaren 720S made of Lego goes on display

                LOS ANGELES: Fans of McLaren Automotive and LEGO® now have the opportunity to see the full-size Lego McLaren 720S on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles until Aug 19, as part of an interactive exhibit.

The 1:1 scale model was completed with help by museum visitors, who placed the final orange bricks on the Lego McLaren 720S on June 2.

The model is made of more than 280,000 Lego bricks to weigh in at 1,451kg compared to the road-going 720S at 1,283kg.

In order to produce an accurate representation of the second-generation of McLaren Super Series, McLaren Automotive worked closely with the only UK certified LEGO professional builders by providing extensive vehicle CAD data.

The model was built up around a steel frame, with a team of six working at one time for over 2,000 hours to build the car by hand.

In comparison, a real-world production 720S takes around 12 working days in the McLaren Production Centre to assemble.

Also featured on the LEGO 720S build is the all-new Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres used in its road-going equivalent, complete with silver ‘Pirelli Colour Edition’ graphics.

Lego and McLaren fans will be able to customise their own mini Lego Speed Champions McLaren on an interactive iPad app next to the car.

The customisation app will offer the choice to add racing stripes, flames, chequered flags, license plates, backgrounds, and also add their name with an option to print a custom sticker of the car they have designed.

The Petersen’s Discovery Center located near the full scale car will host daily access to race ramps and build tables for museum attendees who want to build their own Lego Speed Champions race cars.

The McLaren 720S is available to order pre-assembled with a starting price of US$284,745 (RM1,132,000).

Smaller fans of the brand might be more interested in the 75880 Lego Speed Champions McLaren 720S miniature set, available in the Petersen Store for a fraction of the price.


Russian gamer takes home a Mercedes-Benz over Dota 2 victory

Berezin posing with the CLA.
STUTTGART/HAMBURG: Russian gamer Alexei "Solo" Berezin was rewarded with a Mercedes-Benz of his choice for winning Dota 2.

He is the captain of Team Virtus.pro which won the online multi-player game in the ESL One Hamburg grand finals. The five-member team walked away with US$1mil (RM4.2mil) in prize money and 750 Pro Circuit points, elevating them to the top of the Pro Circuit leaderboards. They beat Team Secret 2-0.

For leading his team to victory, Berezin was rewarded by fans and judges with the Mercedes-Benz MVP (Most Valuable Player) award, which automatically grants him the Mercedes car worth 50,000 euros (RM247,000). The awards event was attended by 10,000 spectators.

 Team Virtus.Pro emerged victorius.

"It is simply incredible. Prize money is now an integral component in eSports, but to win a Mercedes-Benz? I would not even have dared to dream of it a week ago. I am totally happy", says 27-year-old Berezin about the results of the vote in which thousands of fans took part. The Mercedes-Benz ststaement did not say what model Berezin chose.

The Mercedes-Benz MVP is one of the largest non-cash prizes in the history of eSports and was one of the highlights of the tournament. Besides the official shuttle service for players and officials, Mercedes-Benz provided each team an individually branded team car in the run-up to the tournament.

ESL, previously known as Electronic Sports League, is an eSports company which organises contests worldwide. ESL is the world's largest eSports company, and the oldest professional eSports organisation that is still operational.


Suspect who scattered nails on road was on drugs and had mental health issues, say police

                IPOH: The motorist who allegedly scattered nails on a road near Batu Gajah was under the influence of drugs and was not in cahoots with tow truck drivers, says the Perak police chief.

Asked for an update on the 45-year-old suspect's motives, Comm Datuk Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the man was also found to have mental health issues.

Police arrested him near Changkat Larang in Lahat at about 3am on Saturday.

"He is not a mechanic nor had he conspired with tow truck drivers (to cause road users to have flat tyres and need assistance)," he told reporters when met at the state police contingent headquarters here today.

"We believe the matter has been settled with the arrest but we will need one more day to complete the investigation paper before proceeding with the next course of action," he added.

A 24-sec video clip of the incident went viral on social media on Friday.

The man is believed to have scattered the nails near a traffic light junction on Jalan Ipoh-Lumut.

Police also received a report from a road user who claimed that his car tyre was punctured after driving on that stretch.


Toyota plant in Thailand to increase solar energy usage

                BANGKOK: Toyota Motor Thailand's (TMT) Ban Pho plant has an ambitious target of increasing renewable energy (RE) usage from its current 10%, to 30% by 2025.

The Ban Pho plant produces the Hilux and Fortuner and has a annual production capacity of 220,000 units.

During a recent media visit to the plant, located about 60km from central Bangkok, press writers were told RE was generated from solar rooftop panels as well as a solar farm area measuring 280,000 sq metres.

Toyota Motor Thailand's (TMT) Environmental Report 2018 had noted that its three plants' (Samrong, Ban Pho, and Gateway) solar panels can generate 3,640 Mwh per year.

The Ban Pho Plant, together with Toyota Motor Corp (TMC)'s Tsutsumi Plant in Japan, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS) in the United States, Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd., and Toyota Motor Manufacturing France S.A.S. (TMMF), is a model plant for sustainable plant activities.

The plant has achieved zero landfill waste since starting operations in 2007 and was the first overseas TMC plant to introduce a cogeneration system and solar panels, which enable it to cut its CO2 emissions by 9,000 tons annually.

In addition, wastewater is recycled at the plant and water-borne metallic-paint is used in vehicle body paint lines.

Also, an eco forest covering an area of 96,000 sq metres at the plant is inhabited by more than 300 species of living organisms, according to an internal company survey.


2016 Paris Motor Show:  Audi gets aggressive with the new Q5

                PARIS: Audi's second generation mid-sized SUV, revealed at the Paris Motor Show on Thursday, gets stronger external styling, more interior space and greater off-road ability.

Developed to stand out against the latest offerings from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and now Jaguar, the new Q5 looks very much like the SUV that can.

Unlike many of its competitors, Audi can claim to have vast all-wheel-drive expertise thanks to its Quattro system and the rallying trophies in its display cases, and with the new model it has taken subtle design steps to highlight the car's capabilities when heading away from perfectly surfaced roads. Its lines are more angular and less swollen and it gets the same front grille treatment seen on the new A4 and A5 models.

READ MORE:
Audi opens Mexico plant to make Q5 SUV

As well as the Quattro system, the car has a new multi-link suspension set-up and for the first time can be specified with self-levelling air suspension. This means it will be able to shrug off bumpy roads, be better at fording streams, perform equally well as a load lugger as the quintessential school run car; and, as is increasingly the trend in the premium SUV space, is a car that can handle towing a caravan, horsebox or sailboat.

Inside, it's an Audi and therefore has a well-appointed and well-considered cabin with intelligent use of the best natural and man-made materials. Buyers will be able to go with a traditional console with an infotainment system or opt for the company's virtual cockpit set-up that dumps a traditional instrument binnacle for a multi-purpose, multi-display screen.

As for powerplants it will share four-cylinder and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with the new A4 and A5 models and, like its lower riding siblings, will also be getting sportier versions in the coming months.

During the reveal, Audi also confirmed that plug-in hybrid versions will also be coming to market within the near future.


Touch ’n Go to release mobile app

                KUALA LUMPUR: Consumers will soon be able to go cash-free at their local grocery stores and even pasar malam via a mobile application rolled out by Touch ’n Go (TnG) Sdn Bhd.

Its chief executive officer Syahrunizam Samsudin said the electronic system company was exploring the possibility of allowing payment via the mobile application at small convenience stores and pasar malam.

“Consumers can use the mobile application and transfer money to the merchants directly via our own platform. It will be a totally new platform as you can make payment via the mobile app if you forget to bring your wallet,” he said at the launch of the new Touch ’n Go customer service hub at Nu Sentral yesterday.

The new hub, which operates from 10am to 10pm daily has customer service ambassadors who will help customers on a one-to-one basis and is equipped with a self-service kiosk for credit reload.

Syahrunizam said the company was supportive of the Government’s vision of creating a cashless society and at the same time wanted to showcase that the company was at the forefront of the digital payment platform.

“We are looking at making e-payments below RM50 for the purchase of items like mineral water or newspapers. These are the things that we want to capture,” he said.

 The Time Traveller watch.

He said the company was at the stage of testing the mobile application system which was expected to be available in the first quarter of next year.

He also noted that Touch ’n Go, that has links with more than 123 merchants, would continue to expand its list of partners, especially at the community level. “Among them are The Loaf, Baskin-Robbins and recently NZ Curry House, but we are always looking for smaller shops where they can accept Touch ’n Go,” said Syahrunizam.

He said there were about 16.2 million active cardholders, with more than eight million people using the cards daily with around RM5mil in daily transactions.

In June, Touch ’n Go introduced its Time Traveller e-payment watch featuring built-in contactless payment without the Touch 'N Go card. The RM239 Time Traveller works as a normal analogue watch but also includes a sensor in the bezel and a slot for a Touch 'N Go chip that can be loaded up with RM10 to RM1,500 of value.

While this is a relatively novel way to pay for products and services, it has also drawn ire. Mobile tech news site soyacincau.com described the chunky Time Traveller wearable as an impractical way at deploying cashless payments either at toll booths or stores. Other than the cost of reloads, a user also has to pay over RM200 for a watch he or she may not find attractive or need, it said. It also said Touch 'N Go should have taken styling cues from other players who have designed sleek and discreet wrist bands. It suggested other ways to go cashless such as using a contactless payment sticker attached to a smartphone or working with smartphone makers to use the device's onboard NFC receivers.


Casio to release EDIFICE model with Honda Racing

                TOKYO: Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced today the release of the ECB-S100HR Honda Racing Championship White Edition, the latest collaboration with Honda Racing in the EDIFICE line of high-performance metal chronographs based on the brand concept of "Speed and Intelligence."

The collaboration between Honda Racing and EDIFICE has evolved since 2018 from a shared dedication to leveraging high-tech capabilities in their global pursuits.

The ECB-S100HR pays tribute to Honda's history and achievements in F1 by drawing its design inspiration from the Honda RA271.

Back in 1964, the RA271 was the first entry by a Japanese automaker in an F1 race, with its white body and red rising sun.

This body colour, dubbed "Championship White," became a symbol of Honda's racing spirit.

The outer ring of the dial on the ECB-S100HR is finished with Championship White paint, while the inset dial and buttons are accented with red.

The periphery of the glass features a printed pattern that evokes a checkered flag, a nod to Honda's many victories. The leather band features a two-tone colour scheme, with the outer side rendered in white and the underside in red.

The ECB-S100HR offers a comfortable fit on the wrist with its slim, mid-size case and useful features including the Tough Solar power system, which converts light to power the watch, as well as Bluetooth connectivity and a high-luminosity double LED light.

The watch pairs with a smartphone using a dedicated app, to automatically adjust to the correct time and enable the user to select from any of over 300 cities for the world time.

The ECB-S100HR comes with a Time & Place function that records the current date/time and position on a map within the app by just pressing a button on the watch, allowing users to check where they were and when. The inset dial indicator at the 9 o'clock position counts down to the alarm or target time, starting from 30 minutes in advance.


Mercedes and Nvidia to develop future automated driving software

                STUTTGART: German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz together with the inventor of the graphics processing unit Nvidia have entered into collaborative works to create an in-vehicle computing system and artificial intelligence (AI) computing infrastructure by 2024.

By then, the new software will be rolled out across the German carmaker's fleet of next-generation vehicles which will give them upgradeable automated driving functions.

The companies plan to develop the most "sophisticated and advanced" computing architecture ever deployed in a vehicle.

The new software-defined architecture will be built on Nvidia's Drive platform and will be included as standard across Mercedes-Benz’ next-generation fleet.

A primary feature will be the ability to automate driving of regular routes from address to address with future safety and convenience applications.

Customers will be able to purchase and add capabilities, software applications and subscription services through over-the-air software updates during the life of the car.

The platform is a computer system-on-chip (SoC) known as Orin and is based on the recently announced Nvidia Ampere supercomputing architecture that includes a full system software stack designed for automated driving AI applications.

The two companies will jointly develop the AI and automated vehicle applications that include SAE Level 2 and 3 levels, as well as automated parking functions (up to Level 4).

The new system’s capabilities will be fully based on safety with the future ability for every car to be updated over-the-air to in order to enable new automated driving functions along with convenience and other added safety features.

Utilising Nvidia's Drive infrastructure solutions, it will enable both companies to employ the use of data-driven development and deep neural network development to handle the requirements of the regions and operational domains once the cars are available.


Child seats to be made compulsory by 2020, says Loke

                KUALA LUMPUR: Child car seats will be made compulsory for all private cars by 2020, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke (pic).

Before then, he said, the ministry will conduct awareness programmes throughout 2019 to educate the public on the importance of these seats.

"Our plan is to launch advocacy and awareness programmes by early next year before we can implement the mandatory requirement (child seat) to the drivers,” Loke said.

He added that the initial plan was to impose the mandatory requirement for child seats this year, but this was postponed to 2020 following discussions with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS).

“The industry is not really ready yet, (there are) not enough suppliers, not enough stock, and we also want to make the cost more affordable (to buyers)," Loke said at a press conference after chairing the 59th annual general meeting of the Road Safety Council here Tuesday (Oct 30).

He said the ministry would propose to the Finance Ministry not to impose the Sales and Services Tax (SST) on the child seats so that they are affordable to the public.

"Hopefully, the MOF will accept our proposal and if there is any positive announcement, we hope it will be announced this Friday," he said.


Chip shortage will persist for ‘couple of years’, says Intel CEO

An employee soldering a component onto a printed circuit board at CSI Electronic Manufacturing Services Ltd in Witham, UK. — Bloomberg
NEW YORK: The global semiconductor shortage roiling a wide range of industries likely won’t be resolved for a few more years, according to Intel Corp.’s new chief executive officer Pat Gelsinger.

The company is reworking some of its factories to increase production and address the chip shortage in the auto industry, he said in an interview with CBS News, based on snippets from its "60 Minutes” program that will be aired later Sunday. It may take at least several months for the strain on supply to even begin easing, he added.

"We have a couple of years until we catch up to this surging demand across every aspect of the business,” Gelsinger said.

Demand for semiconductors was boosted in 2020 as consumers scooped up home gadgets during the pandemic. But meeting that increase has been hard, thanks to shuttered plants, among other factors. Companies worldwide say they expect supply-chain constraints due to logistics backlogs and the chip shortage to continue for much of 2021.

The global crunch has catapulted semiconductor firms into the limelight and to the top of political agendas. The Biden administration last month told companies vying with each other for semiconductors that he has bipartisan support for government funding to address the shortages.

Gelsinger said US dominance in the industry had dwindled so much that only 12% of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing is done in the country today, from 37% a quarter of a century ago. Intel is the only manufacturer of high-end, cutting edge chips, he told CBS.

"And anybody who looks at supply chain says, ‘That’s a problem,’” he said. "This is a big, critical industry and we want more of it on American soil: the jobs that we want in America, the control of our long-term technology future.”

He added that his company won’t be "anywhere near as focused” on its share repurchase program as it’s been up to now.

The supply constraints are hitting a wide array of industries, with tech firms and automakers alike flagging production cuts and lost revenue from the fallout.

It has forced the entire auto industry to cut output, with Ford announcing the shortage will likely reduce production by 1.1 million vehicles this year. Jaguar Land Rover automotive Plc, Volvo Group and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. recently joined the growing list of manufacturers idling factories. Apple Inc. warned supply constraints are crimping sales of iPads and Macs.

Meanwhile, Mark Liu, chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., told CBS his company, having heard about shortages at the end of last year, tried to "squeeze” out as many chips as possible for car companies.

"Today, we think we are two months ahead, that we can catch up (to) the minimum requirement of our customers — by the end of June,” he said.

The supply shortage may only be alleviated by the end of the year or early 2022, CBS said.

"There’s a time lag,” Liu said. "In car chips particularly, the supply chain is long and complex.”

Liu also sought to ease concerns that US companies are relying on Asian suppliers, which account for 75% of manufacturing, according to CBS.

"This is not about Asia or not Asia, because a shortage will happen no matter where the production is located,” he said. "Because it’s due to the Covid-19.”


Ford Mustang Mach-E introduced with 1,400hp of pure electric muscle

                LONDON: Ford has effectively demonstrated that plenty of fun can be had without using a drop of fuel with its one-off creation - the Mustang Mach-E 1400.

Following closely in the footsteps of the 1,400hp all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400, this one-off Mustang Mach-E has seven electric motors to power all four wheels.

Developed in collaboration with RTR and built off a Mustang Mach-E GT body-in-white, the prototype targets 1,400hp worth of performance.

The Mustang Mach-E 1400 is the result of 10,000 hours of collaboration by Ford Performance and RTR aimed at bridging the gap between what an electric vehicle can do and what customers tend to believe it can do.

To keep it planted to the ground its been added with a front splitter, dive planes and a massive rear wing.

Out of the seven motors used, three have been attached to the front differential and four have been located on the rear in pancake style, with a single driveshaft connecting them to the differentials.

The chassis and powertrain are set up to allow the team to investigate different layouts and their effects on energy consumption and performance, including rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.

Drift and track setups have completely different front end configurations like control arms and steering changes to allow for extreme steering angles in drifting.

Power delivery can be split evenly between front and rear, or completely to one or the other and downforce has been targeted to reach more than 1,000kg when travelling at 257kph.

The 56.8kWh battery is made up of nickel manganese cobalt pouch cells for ultra-high performance and high discharge rate.

The battery system is designed to be cooled during charging using a dielectric coolant, decreasing the time needed between runs.

An electronic brake booster is integrated to allow series regenerative braking combined with ABS and stability control to optimise the braking system.

The Mustang Mach-E 1400 features Brembo brakes, just like the Mustang GT4 race car, and a hydraulic handbrake system designed for drifting that integrates with the powertrain controls to enable the ability to shut off power to the rear motors.

The Mustang Mach-E 1400 is set to debut at a NASCAR race soon to serve as a testbed for new materials.

The hood is made of organic composite fibres, a lightweight alternative to carbon fibre that comprises the rest of the vehicle.

Ford is investing more than USD$11.5bil in electric vehicles worldwide, with the first global vehicle, Mustang Mach-E, currently available for order.


Daimler to slash 15,000 jobs as cost cuts intensify, says paper

                FRANKFURT: German luxury carmaker Daimler is intensifying existing cost-cutting measures and plans to cut up to 15,000 jobs, Handelsblatt newspaper reported, citing company sources.

The group in had said in November that it would cut at least 10,000 jobs and reduce staff costs by around €1.4 billion (RM6.4bil) by the end of 2022, a number Handelsblatt said would be significantly exceeded.

The group plans to announce the expanded savings at its annual news conference on Tuesday, the paper said, adding that chief executive Ola Kaellenius would also reduce investments in loss-making projects that are not part of the core business.

A Daimler spokesman declined to comment.


BMW to convert personal garages into inductive EV charging stations

                NEW YORK: Last year, BMW launched the Induction Charging Pilot Programme in Germany, where volunteers' garages are converted into inductive charging stations for the 530e iPerformance.

The company announced last Friday that it would expand this project to the United States.

The project is available for 200 qualifying California homeowners who can both lease the 530e sedan for the 36-month time period and whose homes are appropriately placed on their local electrical grid.

For those approved to participate in the programme, the company will send certified Qmerit installers to the members' homes to set up the GroundPad Module. All costs related to the installation, maintenance, and removal of the pad will be covered by BMW.

The GroundPad pulls energy from a main power supply and transmits it to the CarPad on the underside of the 530e which simply rests on above it.

According to BMW, once the vehicle is parked in place, charging will automatically begin without any prompts from the driver.

Energy is transferred from the magnetic field-inducing GroundPad to the CarPad to the battery via an electric current. Charging power measures in at 3.2kW, allowing the sedan's battery to reach full charge in about 3.5 hours.

The technology is essentially a car-sized version of the technology used to charge smartphones wirelessly on a charging pad.

This project is a method for BMW to move closer to its goal of "an infrastructure that will make charging the battery of an electrified vehicle even simpler than refuelling a car with a conventional engine."


First Honda Civic e:HEV RS owner feted

Chin posing with his new car alongside Yoshimura (right) and Honda Malaysia president and chief operating officer Sarly Adle Sarkum.
KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia today held a ceremony at a dealership here to honour the first owner of the Civic e:HEV RS.

As a token of appreciation from Honda Malaysia, Chin Kok Fung received Honda Accessories and Official Honda Merchandise worth RM4,000 at MH Prestige Auto Sdn Bhd.

This is the first time the Civic has been introduced with a 2.0L e:HEV powertrain.

Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Hironobu Yoshimura said the company has delivered over 180 units of the Civic e:HEV RS to date.

Chin said he is an avid fan of performance cars.

"When Honda introduced a 2.0L e:HEV powertrain, I was immediately impressed with the technology and performance it offers. I am looking forward to experience the thrill of owning this exciting e:HEV technology and to test the car’s potential.”

The Civic hybrid was launched in Malaysia on Nov 15. Read about CarSifu's first drive impressions of the car at the Sepang track.


Sarawak JPJ to intensify patrols at 52 accident hotspots

                KUCHING: The Sarawak Road Transport Department (JPJ) will step up patrols at 52 accident-prone locations throughout the state in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebration.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the Op Bersepadu JPJ patrols were aimed at increasing compliance with traffic regulations to promote safe driving.

"This is aimed at increasing the 'perception of being caught' rate to improve compliance with safe driving rules through a reduction in repeat traffic offences," he said.

He said this at a press conference here today on the road safety campaign in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfiti 2023.

He said there would be intensified road traffic enforcement, especially in the Kota Samarahan area, throughout the festive season.

Recently, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said JPJ would be conducting the Op Bersepadu from yesterday until April 27 in conjunction with Aidilfitri.

He said 231 locations throughout the country had been identified as accident hotspots where there would be increased monitoring by the authorities.


CX-5 is Mazda's top European seller

                LEVERKUSEN: Mazda closed out a solid year as one of Europe's fastest-growing carmakers, increasing unit sales in 2014 by 19% year-on-year to 175,028 and its European market share to 1.3%.

The Japanese company also chalked up its eighth-consecutive quarter of growth, up 8.7% for the three months ending in December.1

"That is our second year in a row with growth of almost 20 per cent in Europe. We're seeing strong demand from loyal Mazda customers as well as newcomers to the brand, who have identified Mazda's cars as being a great choice from both an emotional and rational perspective," says Mazda Motor Europe's Vice President Sales Martijn ten Brink.

"In other words, they're great to drive, economical to operate and competitively priced - especially when you consider the generous specifications and high resale values."

All Mazda's new-generation models sold well. The Mazda3 spearheaded growth as 2014 sales rose 82% year-on-year to almost 50,000. And at just under 58,000 units, the Mazda CX-5 was the company's top European seller.

As for the individual markets, Portugal, Poland and Spain led the way, up 79%, 77% and 71% respectively for the year. Mazda also managed impressive growth in its two biggest volume markets: German sales increased by 17% to 52,491, and the UK recorded a 21% rise to 37,7843.

Mazda is confident that it can maintain its growth course in 2015, which will see the launch of three all-new models starting with the Mazda2, which goes on sale in the high-volume B segment in March.

The Mazda CX-3 will then join the rapidly growing city SUV class in early summer, followed by the eagerly anticipated fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 in the Autumn.

The 2015 Mazda CX-5 and 2015 Mazda6 also arrive at dealers this year.


MAA maintains car sales forecast for 2020 at 470,000 units

                PETALING JAYA: Passenger car sales, which enjoyed a strong growth in recent months, may be affected by movement control orders (MCO) in the final quarter.

“Car sales numbers might be affected by the MCOs amid the rising Covid-19 cases. The end of the loan repayment moratorium at end-September will also affect consumer sentiment,” said Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad.

Aishah told StarBiz that while MAA was maintaining its total industry volume (TIV) forecast at 470,000 units for 2020, it felt cautious consumers’ sentiment would continue to impact car sales.

A Maybank Investment Bank report, meanwhile, said the automotive sector outlook continues to look positive due to new car launches, attractive discounts and sales tax incentives that might be extended into 2021.

In June, the government announced a full sales tax exemption for locally assembled cars, and halved the sales tax for imported cars to 5% (from 10%) from June 15 to Dec 31.

The research unit said market talks suggest that the sales tax incentives may be extended by another three to six months, to spur car sales.

The report also noted Perodua and Proton continue to enjoy strong month-on-month vehicle sales growth in September.

Perodua registered 25,035 units sales in September (11% jump month-on-month), its highest ever monthly sales in its 26-year history, which took its sales in the first nine months (9M20) to 145,012 units (19% drop year-on-year).

Proton reported a 5% month-on-month sales growth to 11,935 units.

On a cumulative basis, Proton has surpassed last year’s sales since August, with reported vehicle sales of 73,607 units for 9M20 (5% jump year-on-year; 9M19: 69,920 units).

The Maybank Investment Bank report also pointed that having sold 37,339 units in 9M20, Toyota has raised its 2020 sales target by 17%, from 45,000 to 53,000 units, with Vios, Yaris and Hilux models being popular models.

Meanwhile, Perodua is maintaining its 210,000 units estimate for the year.

While it will delay the launch of its much anticipated B-segment SUV crossover (D55L) to 2021, it is aggressively pushing for its Myvi 1.5L H-variant with over RM1,000 rebates to prospective buyers.

Proton launched its X-50 sport utility vehicle (SUV) this month. Bookings for the X-50 have been very impressive, surpassing over 20,000 units to-date since its soft launch on Sept 16, without a price tag.

Meanwhile, Honda has rolled out its fifth generation City model (ahead of Proton’s X-50), which is available in four variants and is competitively priced at RM74,000 to RM87,000.

The Naza Group is apparently planning to give up its Kia and Peugeot distributorships in Malaysia, and Bermaz Auto Bhd (BAuto) is touted to be the front liner in taking over the brands, with Berjaya Group and Sime Darby Group also showing interest in the deal.


Mercedes-Benz revs up in e-car race with Tesla

                LONDON: Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler plans to invest more than €40 billion (RM199bil) by 2030 to be ready to take on Tesla in an all-electric car market, but warned the shift in technology would lead to job cuts.

Outlining its strategy for an electric future, the inventor of the modern motor car said on Thursday it would, with partners, build eight battery plants as it ramps up electric vehicle (EV) production.

From 2025, all new vehicle platforms will only make EVs, the German luxury automaker added.

"We really want to go for it ... and be dominantly, if not all electric, by the end of the decade," said chief executive Ola Källenius, adding that spending on traditional combustion-engine technology would be "close to zero" by 2025.

However, Daimler - to be renamed Mercedes-Benz as part of plans to spin off its trucks division later this year - stopped short of giving a hard deadline for ending sales of fossil-fuel cars.

Some carmakers like Geely-owned Volvo Cars have committed to going all electric by 2030, while General Motors Co says it aspires to be fully electric by 2035, as they all try to close the gap to industry leader Tesla.

"We need to move the debate away from when you build the last combustion engine because it's not relevant," Källenius said. "The question is how quickly can you scale up to being close to 100% electric and that's what we're focusing on."

Daimler shares rose as much as 2.5% after the news, which comes just over a week after the European Union proposed an effective ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 as part of a broad package of measures to combat global warming.

Ahead of the EU's announcement, carmakers had announced a series of major investments in EVs. Earlier this month, Stellantis said it would invest more than 30 billion euros by 2025 on electrifying its line-up.

Tough decisions

At Mercedes-Benz, the shift will see an 80% drop in investments into combustion engines and plug-in hybrid technologies between 2019 and 2026, which the group said would have a direct impact on jobs.

EVs have fewer components and so require fewer workers than combustion engine vehicles.

"A transformation of our workforce will involve tough decisions. Yes, overall we must and will reduce our personal costs," Mercedes-Benz management board member and head of human resources Sabine Kohleisen said.

Daimler said that as of 2025, it expects electric and hybrid electric cars will make up 50% of sales - with all-electric cars expected to account for most of that - earlier than its previous forecast that this would happen by 2030.

The carmaker will unveil three electric platforms - one to cover its range of passenger cars and SUVs, one for vans and one for high-performance vehicles - that will be launched in 2025.

Daimler is also acquiring British firm YASA Limited to help develop high-performance electric motors.

The company said it would build out 200 gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery cell capacity. Four of its new battery plants will be in Europe and one in the United States.

Daimler said it would announce new European partners for its battery production plans soon.

The EU has been pushing hard to build out battery capacity to counter China's dominance of battery production.

Rival Volkswagen AG plans to build half a dozen battery cell plants in Europe.

Daimler said that as part of its electrification strategy it would build a battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Germany, which would start operations in 2023.


US seeks information from Tesla on in-car camera in Autopilot probe

                WASHINGTON: US auto safety regulators on Thursday asked Tesla Inc to answer questions about its in-car camera intended to monitor driver awareness as part of a probe into 830,000 Tesla vehicles that employ the carmaker's advanced driver assistance system called Autopilot.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is assessing the performance of Autopilot after earlier identifying a dozen crashes in which Tesla vehicles struck stopped emergency vehicles.

In June, it upgraded its probe to an engineering analysis - a required step before it could potentially demand a recall.

NHTSA's nine-page letter demands Tesla answer questions by Oct. 12 about "the role that the Cabin Camera plays in the enforcement of driver engagement/attentiveness."

According to Tesla, the cabin camera - a camera located above the rear view mirror - can determine driver inattentiveness and provide audible alerts to remind the driver to keep their eyes on the road when Autopilot is engaged.

NHTSA said it was seeking information on the cabin camera's "impact on driver engagement alert types and timing" as well as "recoverable data elements pointing to its influence."

The agency said it wanted an explanation for "design decisions" on driver engagement enforcement, "including the evidence that justifies the period of time that the driver is permitted to have their hands off the steering wheel before receiving a warning."

The regulator is reviewing whether Tesla vehicles adequately ensure drivers are paying attention. The agency said in June evidence suggested drivers in most crashes under review had complied with Tesla's alert strategy, raising questions about its effectiveness.

Tesla, which has disbanded its press office, did not respond to a request for comment.

Consumer Reports said when it evaluated Tesla's driver attention monitoring camera in late 2021 "we found that it wasn't adequate to ensure that the driver was fully paying attention when the driver was using Autopilot and Full Self Driving (FSD) features."

The magazine said it "could block the in-cabin camera, and the car wouldn't issue a warning, slow down the car, or shut off the systems."

In June, Consumer Reports said the company had installed an over-the-air update that issued a warning when the camera is covered while FSD is engaged, but not with Autopilot.

Autopilot is intended to enable cars to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within their lane, while FSD enables vehicles to obey traffic signals and make lane changes.

In addition to the defect probe, NHTSA has opened 38 special investigations since 2016 of crashes involving Tesla vehicles and where Autopilot or other advanced systems were suspected of being used. A total of 19 deaths have been reported in those Tesla-related investigations.

Separately, California's state transportation has accused Tesla of falsely advertising the features as providing autonomous vehicle control.

Tesla said in notices filed with the state that were released Thursday that it is seeking a hearing on the complaints and intends to present a defense. read more

California's Department of Motor Vehicles is seeking remedies that could include suspending Tesla's licence to sell vehicles in the state and requiring the company provide restitution to drivers.


Cullinan sounds familiar. Yes, Rolls-Royce SUV to be called that

                LONDON: The Rolls-Royce SUV will be known as Cullinan after all, taking its name from the project name assigned to the SUV three years ago.

Cullinan is the second Rolls-Royce to sit atop the company’s recently announced all-new aluminium spaceframe, shared with the new Phantom. It will make its world debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show and go on sale this summer at around £300,000 (RM1.6mil).

Rolls-Royce will however show off the Cullinan much earlier to select customers it thinks will snap up the SUV (like oil sheikhs, rulers, car collectors, self-made entrepreneurs and any other individuals for whom money do grow on trees.) As part of its rigorous testing, the Cullinan prototype has been seen running around the Nurburgring circuit in a last attempt to polish its performance credentials.

Like Lamborghini, Bentley and soon Ferarri, Rolls-Royce is jumping on the SUV bandwagon to cash in on the worldwide buying interest in such high-riding vehicles.

The new Rolls-Royce is named after the Cullinan Diamond, mined from South Africa’s Magaliesberg Mountains in 1905. At 3,106 carats, it remains the largest diamond ever discovered. Cleaved into nine stones, cut and polished, the two largest portions of the Cullinan are attached to the British Imperial Crown and Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross.

As usual, the Rolls-Royce press release was replete with marketing puff. Boiled down to its essence, its CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said: “The name Cullinan has been hiding in plain sight since we revealed it as the project name some years ago.” The statement also avoided labelling the Cullinan an SUV but instead called it rather oddly a "high-sided car."


Helix develops its most powerful electric motor for new hypercar

                LONDON: Globally renowned for the industry-leading power density of its electric motors, UK-based Helix has produced its most powerful pure battery electric vehicle (BEV) motor called X-Division SPX177.

Weighing only 28kg and capable of delivering 650kW of continuous power, the SPX177 was developed for a hypercar motor project known internally as REB.

Describing the project, Derek Jordanou-Bailey, chief engineer at Helix, says: “It uses the ‘top end’ in materials and reaches back into our motorsport heritage. For REB, the focus was on ultimate performance. In those terms, it is like an F1 or Formula E unit."

Jordanou-Bailey confirms a single motor delivering 650kW continuous will be installed in the unidentified hypercar.

Thinking back to the origins of the REB project and how it resulted in a product that was ultimately tested and shipped to the customer, Jordanou-Bailey recalls: “The customer told us what peak power they wanted and demanded a very high steady-state output. Right now, it is tricky to deliver sufficient energy to maintain that level of output, but in time it is likely to be possible and the customer wanted to ensure their flagship model was ready for that.

“We needed an architecture that minimises losses and the heat generated, especially at high-speed, and that meant quite a change in the way the motor was wound, since minimising resistance losses results in a very low inductance machine. The switching in the inverter can generate lots of noise and harmonics and this is more challenging with a low inductance motor. The software team did a great job developing a new way of controlling the phase currents in the motor.”

Helix is supporting the customer’s integration of the power unit into the vehicle.

“Then there’ll be liaison with their software team, but since the motor and inverter are already paired, we expect it to largely be plug and play,” Jordanou-Bailey concludes.


Meet the new Lexus NX 300 from RM330K

                PETALING JAYA: What was the Lexus NX 200t is now the NX 300 - a facelifted version of the outgoing model that still maintains the use of a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and comes in four variants, including a hybrid.

In terms of performance and technical specifications, it's pretty much status quo from the NX 200t and starts with the entry-level NX 300 Urban at RM311,900.

The model range continues with the NX 300 Premium at RM329,800 (RM11,000 less than the NX 200t), NX 300 F Sport at RM387,900 and the range-topping NX 300h at RM397,800. All prices are without insurance for Peninsular Malaysia private registration.

All Lexus vehicles come with a five-year with unlimited mileage factory warranty and the NX 300h comes with an eight-year battery assurance programme for the hybrid battery pack.

There are seven colour choices of Amber Crystal Shine (not available for F Sport), Red Mica Crystal Shine, Sparkling Meteor Metallic, Sonic Quartz, Platinum Silver Metallic, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake, Heat Blue Contrast Layering (for F Sport only) and Lava Orange Crystal Shine (for F Sport only).

The only physical changes the NX 300 gets is to its exterior, which includes a new grille, front and rear bumper, LC 500-inspired tri-beam LED headlights, 18-inch wheels and baffle-type exhaust tips.

Other changes include improvements to its suspension tuning with a new set of shock absorbers, which the company touts to have helped enhanced ride and handling thanks to a re-tune of the springs, stabiliser bars and bushings for improved turn-in response and steady-state cornering.

To recap, the 1,998cc turbocharged engine has a power output of 235hp from 4,800 to 5,600rpm and 350Nm of torque from 1,650 to 4,000rpm and is managed by a six-speed automatic transmission that comes with Super Electronic Control Transmission with AI-Shift before transmitting the twist to the standard all-wheel-drive system.

This gives the NX 300 range the ability to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 7.1 seconds before reaching a top speed of 200kph.

The NX 300h hybrid variant uses a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre (2,494cc) Atkinson Cycle engine, mated to an Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission, to handle 153hp at 5,700rpm and 210Nm from 4,200 to 4,400rpm.

The combined system output is rated at 197hp - allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 9.2 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 180kph.

In terms of standard equipment, the list includes 18-inch wheels with 225/60 series tyres, Electronic Power Steering system, automatic tri-beam LED projector headlights with automatic levelling function, front fog lamps with cornering function, powered tailgate and a panoramic roof.

Inside, the cabin features leather and silver film accents, paddle-shifters, three drive modes (Eco, Normal and Sport), keyless entry with push-start button, cruise control, dual-zone climate controls, electric parking brake, front remote touch controller with touch pad and eight-way powered front passenger and driver seats wrapped in Nuluxe leather.

Information and entertainment is handled by an eight-speaker Lexus Premium Audio system with an eight-channel Class-D amplifier, 8.0-inch display with reverse camera, Miracast, Bluetooth connectivity, USB port, radio and MP3 playback.

Standard safety features include eight airbags, anti-lock braking system, brake assist, vehicle stability control, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution, hill-start assist and ISOFIX child seat anchor points.

Setting the NX 300 Premium apart is its moon roof, leather and wood cabin trim and smooth leather upholstery, while adding power-folding 60:40 rear seats, electro-chromic rear view mirror, blind spot monitoring system and rear cross traffic alert.

As for the F-Sport variant, although it doesn't have the power folding rear seat function, it does have its own sports suspension, lower and wider 235/55 series tyres for the 18-inch wheels and F Sport leather and film interior trim, Adaptive Variable Suspension.

It also comes with Custom and Sport S+ driving modes, panoramic roof, 10-way powered driver's seat, panoramic camera view and a 14-speaker Mark levinson 7.1 Premium surround sound system with 10.3-inch display, a 12-channel Class D amplifier, USB port, radio, Miracast and Bluetooth connectivity.

Much like the Premium variant, the NX 300h mirrors its goodies, except it uses leather and wood for its cabin trim, adds Electric Vehicle (EV) mode to the standard list of driving modes and also adds on the panoramic view function.


Toyota focuses on wearable tech that enables the disabled

                TOKYO: The world's biggest car company wants to harness the potential of wearable technology in order to give the visually impaired more freedom and greater personal mobility.

The wearable item in question, dubbed "Project BLAID", won't be a wristband but a shoulder mounted device that carries all of the sensors and technology needed to help "fill in the gaps left by canes, dogs and basic GPD devices", in Toyota's words.

It will use cameras to monitor the space around the user and help him or her come to understand their surroundings via spoken descriptions or vibrations. Toyota plans to equip the device so that it can help a person navigate indoor spaces such as shopping malls, but also in the hopes that it will eventually lead to spatial mapping in general as well as facial recognition.

"We want to extend the freedom of mobility for all, no matter their circumstance, location or ability," said Simon Nagata, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Toyota Motor North America. The project is part of a larger US$10bil investment in AI.


You can now start using Penang smart parking app

                GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Smart Parking System (PSP) app can now be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said following the launch of the PSP on Sunday that the first 10,000 users would be entitled to RM5 worth of free credits.

"This is to encourage the public to utilise e-wallet technologies such as Boost, Touch 'n Go and Grab Pay as we are heading towards a smart state.

"It may take one to two years for people to get used to the system.

"Like all new initiatives, anything new would require behavioural change and a change in mindset for people to embrace and adopt the new system.

"We hope with the implementation of this system, people can slowly shift towards using smart parking," he said at the launch of the PSP system at China Street.

Earlier, it was reported that the installation of the PSP system, which manages and operates all 36,000 smart parking spaces, would be completed by August 2020.

The system directs drivers to a vacant parking lot in real time and if parking in the area is full, the system will suggest the nearest alternatives in that area.


MINI John Cooper Works GP hot hatch design-wise

                MUNICH: The 3-door MINI John Cooper Works GP follows on from the likewise limited-edition John Cooper Works GP small series of 2013 and 2006.

It is inspired by the brand’s motor racing achievements and is limited to  3,000 units worldwide.

The flat front section with its wide track, large front apron, flared wheel arches and a rear wing visible even from the front harks of  dynamic performance.

The use of lightweight materials such as carbon fibre optimises the power-to-weight ratio, while the axle load distribution promises the go-kart feeling.

The rear section echoes the distinctive front and side design. The roof spoiler is not only a statement in sporty styling but a practical element to create the right amount of ownforce.

The interior  combines sporty flair with colour accentuations.

The dark colour and material concept creates a reduced, sporty basic mood, with high-quality coloured details at selected points. In the driver area, the new free-standing digital instrument cluster on the steering column puts the relevant information in the driver's field of vision as required by the situation at hand.

The latest production techniques such as 3D printing round off the special interior experience. A striking highlight from the driver's perspective are the aluminium shift paddles on the sports steering wheel – made using 3D printers.

The large "GP” lettering in the rear panel is achieved by the use of different grains and gives the interior a fresh spin. Behind the front seats, a red cross-brace generates a racing atmosphere.

The hot hatch is propelled by a 2.0-litre turbocharged mill that makes 302hp and 450Nm of torque, available from a lowly 1,750rpm. This is a 74-hp boost over the standard JCW. The car goes from zero to 100kph in 5.1 seconds and peaks at 265kph.

The MINI John Cooper Works GP is already on sale in Thailand, which has been allocated 30 units, priced at 4.2 million baht (RM573,000) apiece.


Electric car charging is the newest workplace perk

                LONDON: Comfortable seating. Free coffee. A place to plug in? Companies looking to attract talent are increasingly considering EV chargers at the office.

Competition for teachers in the UK can be fierce, and one high school thinks it has something that gives it an edge: electric vehicle plugs.

The Judd School, in Kent, southern England, last year received a £2,100 (RM11,234) government grant for six EV chargers installed by Electric Car Chargers UK. For the EV drivers on staff, the new stations have been a welcome addition.

“It changes people’s perception of us, that we are a forward-thinking school and we take the environment seriously,” says Hilary Goldsmith, the school’s business manager. “(And) we can promote ourselves as actively reducing our carbon footprint.”

While electric vehicle adoption is reaching a tipping point, one of the biggest obstacles for would-be converts to EVs is lingering anxiety about running out of power far from a working plug.

With employers facing a tight labour market, charging at the office is one potential answer to both problems.

Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder of UK charging data company Zap-Map, says alongside comfortable seating and clean toilets, EV charging is becoming something of a basic need.

“You’ve got a tick list,” Shufflebotham says. “You’d say ‘I provide a loo, I provide a cafe, and I provide charging points.’”

British property consultancy Knight Frank is already seeing interest trickle up to its commercial clients.

Landlords are keen to “future-proof” their office buildings, and new tenants often say that having a certain number of chargers is a non-negotiable condition to take over a lease, says Robert Blake, a senior consultant in the company’s energy, sustainability and natural resources team.

“It is in a large part driven by tenant demand at the moment,” he says.

Cars at the office can be left plugged in all day, meaning they can use slower chargers that lessen the need for expensive upgrades to the electrical grid.

These kinds of “destination chargers” — installed at places where drivers hang around for a significant period of time — also reduce demand for expensive ultra-rapid boosts en route.

Most workplace chargers are likely to charge at 7 to 22 kilowatts, which bring a car battery to full over several hours, compared to the 50 to 350 kw at the rapid and ultra-rapid chargers more common at rest stops and gas stations.

Done right, workplace charging can also help make up for gaps in available street charging, particularly relevant for drivers in urban settings who may not be able to plug in easily at home.

In the UK, over a quarter of drivers don’t have a driveway or garage. In the US, an estimated 44% of vehicles don’t have a dedicated off-street parking space.

For charging equipment company ChargePoint, a big boost is coming from partnerships with fleet companies such as ALD Automotive, a French provider of company cars that offers its customers EVs and ChargePoint chargers.

Across Europe, around 60% of new cars are registered through corporations, and companies like ChargePoint can smooth the transition to an electric fleet by also providing the chargers.

“The demand from our customers in the workplace space is where our big growth is coming from,” says Tanya Sinclair, senior director of policy for Europe at ChargePoint.

Workplace charging doesn’t necessarily mean it’s free; that much is up to the company or landlord.

The current payback period for EV chargers is around four to seven years, says Blake at Knight Frank, and even landlords that make tenants pay for charging aren’t turning a profit, though that may change as EV adoption picks up.

For employees, completely free charging was more common a few years ago, before rising electricity costs prompted more companies to at least cover their costs.

But paying to plug in at work can still be a perk: Employers can often offer a cheaper electricity rate than the market cost because they buy in bulk and in advance.

For those employers that do offer workplace charging, some adjustment may be required.

The French utility company EDF, which has Pod Point stations at its UK offices, circulated an etiquette guide for workers to iron out faux pas such as charger-hogging.

EV drivers were encouraged to buddy up for lunchtime switchovers, and those driving gasoline-powered cars were reminded not to park in the charger spots.

“It’s just general bits of advice, really: Be aware of your surroundings, be cooperative, and if someone challenges you for blocking the bay for the day, don’t respond angrily, accept the challenge and see if you can amend your behaviour,” says Paul Limbrick, the UK fleet transport manager for EDF, which acquired a majority stake in Pod Point in 2020.

Today, workplace charging is part perk, part future-proofing.

Companies are already facing increasingly stringent environmental reporting requirements.

Many large corporations must now account for “Scope 1” emissions, which include those from company-owned vehicles.

Employee commuting falls under “Scope 3” — emissions from assets that aren’t owned by the business but part of its wider footprint.

While these emissions are currently not required to be reported, proposals from regulators such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission would change that. If enacted, companies may have to think harder about how their workers get to the office.

And beyond regulation, there are reputational concerns. At the Exeter headquarters of Britain’s Met Office, a government agency focused on weather, the staff of climate scientists and meteorologists have high expectations for their employer’s attention to clean energy.

Six years ago the office installed its first electric car charging station. Today, it has 22 of them.

“We’re one of the major contributors to climate change research,” says Paul Chavasse, who leads internal net zero policies for the Met Office.

“It’s very difficult to go out there and say, ‘The climate is changing, we need to reduce CO2 emissions,’ and not do anything on it ourselves.”


Diesel-powered BMW X5 and X6 get mild hybrid tech

                MUNICH: From May 2020, the new BMW X5 xDrive40d and X6 xDrive40d will boast a newly developed straight six-cylinder diesel engine with a 48-volt starter generator.

The new 3-litre straight six-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo diesel engine develops a maximum torque of 700Nm becoming available between 1,750 and 2,250rpm, and a maximum power output of 340hp at 4,400rpm. .

Power is transferred via an 8-speed Steptronic transmission and BMW xDrive four-wheel technology.

The new diesel engine is assisted by the 48-volt starter generator of the mild hybrid system, which results in additional electric output of 8kW/11hp that enhances dynamics when starting and accelerating.

The starter generator obtains energy from the 48-volt battery, which also supplies all electric driving functions with power via the 12-volt vehicle electrical system.

It is charged by recuperation during acceleration and braking phases.

Moreover, the powerful generator provides for spontaneous and low-vibration starting and re-starting of the combustion engine when using the Auto Start Stop and “sailing” functions.

As a result, it can not only disconnect the engine during the sailing phases, but also switch it off entirely.

The sailing function is now no longer only available in the ECO-PRO mode, but also in the COMFORT mode.


Charge EVs during day, not night, to save grid, says US study

                LOS ANGELES: To successfully ramp up reliance on electric vehicles over the next decade without overtaxing the power grids, more drivers will need to charge their cars during the day, a US study has found.

The US state of California, which was the focus of the research, needs to drastically increase and improve public and workplace charging infrastructure that supports daytime charging, which can better use solar energy, according to the study from Stanford University, published in September in the scientific journal Nature Energy.

Increased charging availability will also make electric vehicle ownership more accessible, the study found.

“If we focus a lot of attention on building out a big public charging network wherever people are during the day — at work, in public places … that will be a big win for the grid,” said Siobhan Powell, the lead researcher on the study.

The study, part of Stanford’s Bits & Watts Initiative, which integrates researchers with leaders of the energy industry, used modeling to forecast EV charging demands in 2035 across 11 western states, including California.

Projecting that EV use and renewable energy reliance will increase over the next 13 years, the team found that improvements in public charging infrastructure — reducing dependence on nighttime power-ups — could ensure that plug-in vehicles have the least effect on the power grid.

EV owners are likely to be in high income brackets and to charge their batteries at home overnight — often taking advantage of incentives offered by power companies to do so. If those charging habits persist as EV use greatly expands, peak electricity demand could be increased by up to 25%, the researchers found.

Although a shift to more daytime charging is not expected to stem the increase in demand, it would move the peak to when California has historically had excess capacity on the grid, thanks to solar power.

This shift could also help the West prepare for high stress on its electricity system during heat waves, which continue to push the grid to its limits.

By 2035, the year California has committed to ending the sale of new fossil-fuel-burning vehicles, increased capacity will make daytime solar energy cheaper, according to Ram Rajagopal, co-author of the study and an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and electrical engineering at Stanford.

“Workplace charging, in particular, happens to line up really well with solar generation,” added Powell.

Scaling up stations that support daytime charging would “improve the impacts of EV charging, support equitable widespread adoption, reduce emissions, support renewable integration and smooth the transition to a decarbonized future,” the study found.

“Building out a lot of public daytime charging will be beneficial for the grid but also can help bring charging access to more people,” Powell said.

She admits that the state needs “millions more” charging stations to reach its goal of 5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2030 — almost five times the current amount. But she’s hopeful that the research can help shape policy about how and where the stations are implemented.

The findings do not mean people should stop charging EVs at home and overnight if that works best for them, Powell said, because the priority should be encouraging the use of lower- or zero-emission vehicles.

But she would like to see the study influence policymakers or companies that build charging stations. That way, “it can be the convenient choice for people to charge at that time when it’s better for the grid,” Powell said.

Rajagopal, who is director of the Stanford Sustainable Systems Labs, said it could help to have people start to get into the habit of charging during the day.

“If we get people used to the right behaviour now, then when that transition completes, we will already be doing the right thing,” he said. - tca


Nov 18-24: Fuel prices unchanged

                PETALING JAYA: Fuel prices will remain unchanged from Nov 18-24, says the Finance Ministry.

In a statement today, it said the retail price for RON97 and RON95 petrol would remain at RM3.08 and RM2.05 per litre respectively.

The price of diesel remains unchanged at RM2.15 per litre.


Renault Malaysia offers extended warranties and savings on batteries and tyres

                KUALA LUMPUR: TC Euro Cars has kicked off  the "Renault Relax" campaign, whereby customers can save 10% on tyres and 25% on batteries.

The Renault tyre deal is valid for Captur and Fluence owners.

Customers who pay a "lock-in" fee of RM100 from April 15 to May 15 can secure the promotional price of RM345 per tyre for 25% savings.

Customers can get this tyre offer by booking and making payment online via the Renault E-Store at www.renault.com.my.

Redemption for the deal can be made anytime from May 15 to Aug 31.

The lock-in fee will be deducted from the total invoice at the point of redemption.

The promotion applies only to ContiEco Contact 5 205/55 R17 tyre. There is limited stock and the tyres are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

During the campaign period from May  15 to Aug 31,  all Renault customers will receive free tyre balancing for two tyres and above.

TC Euro Cars  is also offering a 10% discount on Atlas BX batteries until June 30.

During the movement control order (MCO) period, Renault's Rencare team will continue to support customers who need emergency assistance. The team is reachable at 1800-88-8663 (24 hours, 7 days).

For Renault customers who had to defer their vehicle servicing due to the MCO, TC Euro Cars  has also announced:

> Additional time for service until May 28 for all Renault vehicles that were due for periodic servicing between March 18  to April  28. All service appointments will have a 30-day extension to catch-up on their service intervals.

> 30-day extension until May 28 for all warranties that expire during the MCO period

> Extension of operation hours for Renault service centres are as follows:

A full list of authorised Renault service centres can be found at https://www.renault.com.my/showroom-service-centres.

For added convenience, customers can ask for door-to-door delivery within the Klang Valley, within a radius of 30km from the service centre.

This delivery service, previously available only to new and subscription customers, is now being offered free-of-charge for pick-up and return of serviced vehicles, during the MCO and post MCO period.

Customers can now also schedule their service appointments online by registering for a Renault E-Store account via www.renault.com.my.

Customers who wish to book a service appointment can do so via the Renault E-Store concierge service feature or call 1800-18-8663 (Mon – Sun, 8am – 8pm).


Infiniti announces impending arrival of QX55 SUV

                LOS ANGELES: Infiniti launched its all-new QX55 sports utility vehicle via a one-of-a-kind streaming concert experience.

The QX55 - the successor to the FX, comes with 20-inch wheels as standard and a signature double-arch grille complemented by a stunning, origami-inspired mesh pattern.

All that gets flanked by standard LED headlights that mimic the human eye while the rear features "piano key" taillights with 45 separate LEDs in a single housing.

The brand's logo on the tailgate houses the power liftgate release.

Inside, the cabin features a dual-screen, InTouch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility, and multiple USB inputs for Android Auto compatibility and charging.

The upper 8.0-inch and lower 7.0-inch high-resolution screens inform the driver and entertain passengers with an available Bose audio system delivered through up to 16 speakers.

Leatherette, leather, or semi-aniline leather appointments for the seats adorn the QX55's spacious interior, and its sliding second-row seats provide flexible cargo capacity or increased legroom, depending on need.

Under the hood lies a Variable Compression turbocharged engine producing 268hp and 380nm of torque.

Power is managed by a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with manual shift mode for the standard Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system.

A Drive Mode Selector gives the driver with four programmable settings - Standard, Eco, Sport and Personal.

Three variants are offered - Luxe, Essential and Sensory, and will be arriving in the US and Canada in early 2021 with other markets to follow.