Government bans escooters, mopeds from public roads

                PUTRAJAYA: The use of certain micromobility vehicles on the roads is prohibited effective immediately, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The Transport Minister says the prohibition involves mopeds, personal mobility devices including electric scooters, devices with internal combustion engines or propelled by human power as well as personal mobility aids.

Dr Wee said the Road Traffic (Prohibition of Use of Certain Microbility Vehicles) Rules 2021 had been enforced since Dec 17 last year.

 Dr Wee.

“We want to enforce this because more and more micromobility vehicles are being used on the road of late.

“This can pose a danger not just to the users but also to other road users,” he told reporters today.

Dr Wee pointed out that authorities were not prohibiting the use of these vehicles in total.

“The public can use these devices. But they cannot use it on public roads where these vehicles will mix with other motor vehicles and put everyone at risk,” he explained.

The use of certain microbility vehicles are also not permitted on roads in residential areas, he added.

On the use of bicycles, Dr Wee said that although its use on roads is allowed, it would have to abide by regulations under the Road Transport Act and Road Traffic Rules.

Guidelines on safe use of bicycles have been issued by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), he said.

For electric bicycles, only those which meet Malaysia Standard MS2514: Electric Bicycles (electric pedal-assisted bicycles) specifications are allowed to be used on the road, he added.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia retains lead with record first-quarter sales

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) achieved its best first quarter (Q1) in Q1 2017, delivering 2,945 units to customers which translated into an 11% sales growth compared with a year earlier.

The wholesale distributor said in a statement that it maintained a leading market share of 2.3% in the premium passenger car segment.

“Being the pioneer and foremost innovator in the automotive business, our success is driven by our cutting-edge technology and commitment of placing customers at the centre of our activities. Our best practices have enabled us to immerse customers in a 360-degree Mercedes-Benz experience that encompasses both the best products and the best customer experience,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and CEO Dr Claus Weidner.

 The C-Class.

In Q1 2017, MBM’s locally produced limousines, comprising the Mercedes-Benz C-, E-, and S-Class, recorded a total of 1,820 units delivered to customers.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class topped the list with 1,083 units closely followed by the E-Class selling a total of 610 units. The compact vehicles comprising the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, B-Class, GLA and CLA Class recorded 434 units.

The joint venture between Daimler AG and Cycle & Carriage Bintang said the Mercedes-Benz C-Class topped the list with 1,083 units, followed by the E-Class with 610 units. The compact vehicles, comprising the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, B-Class, GLA and CLA Class, recorded 434 units.

A key contributor to the quarter’s healthy sales growth was the Mercedes-Benz SUV range, which recorded 594 units delivered to customers - a 247% jump compared to Q1 2016. Notably the Mercedes-Benz GLC marked a 306% growth, with 491 units sold.

Another growth segment in Q1 was the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars range. Recording 93 units sold, this range saw a 365% growth against Q1 2016.

MBM continued to ramp up after-sales capabilities in Q1 with greater customer-centric features at touch-points nationwide. MBM has 30 dedicated dealerships nationwide at present, the newest being the Mercedes-Benz Cycle & Carriage Bintang Cheras Autohaus and the newly enhanced Mercedes-Benz Mofaz Kota Baru and Mercedes-Benz Mofaz Kuala Terengganu Autohauses.


Dutchman ends 'world's longest electric car trip' in Australia

                SYDNEY: A Dutchman completed an epic 95,000km journey by electric car here on Sunday in a bid to prove the viability of such vehicles in tackling climate change.

Wiebe Wakker drove his retrofitted VW Golf station wagon nicknamed "The Blue Bandit" across 33 countries in what he said was the world's longest-ever journey by electric car.

The trip from the Netherlands to Australia took just over three years and was funded by public donations from around the world, including electricity to charge the Bandit, food and a place to sleep.

Wakker drove across a variety of countries and environments including Turkey, Iran, India, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia, with the route determined by the offers he received on his website.

"I wanted to change people's opinions and inspire people to start driving electric by showing the advantages of sustainable mobility," Wakker said.

"If one man can drive to the other side of the world in an electric car, then EVs (electric vehicles) should definitely be viable for daily use."

Wakker said before the car was modified, it would have used 6,785 litres of petrol to complete the journey.

The modified vehicle can travel 200km on a single charge, with Wakker saying he spent just US$300 (RM1,230) on electricity, much of it in the remote desert Outback of Australia.


BMW 520i: Achieve high comfort in base luxury

                If you are looking for the most affordable midsize luxury sedan from BMW, the 520i is it.

It’s for the executive moving on up in his career or for the man (or woman) seeking something bigger than the 3 Series to upgrade to. Include those moving away from the mainstream non-luxury brands who aspire for a premium experience from their rides. Better yet, if their company is paying for it.

There are still people who shy away from plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) as they don’t want the complexity of the machinery and the higher price tag that usually accompany them.

BMW swings to market demands. Besides the 520i, BMW also offers the 530e PHEV and 530i, both in M Sport trim, for some variety. All are locally assembled.

At RM328,800, the G30 520i takes over as the base variant from the 530e Sport plug-in hybrid, which has been upgraded with the sportier M Sport package, and costs RM10,000 more.

All three variants use a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine but it’s detuned in all but the top 530i.

While the pricier 5 Series touts performance, the starter 5 dwells on the luxury aspect to sell itself.

Outside
BMW’s notion of luxury is to “chrome up” the exterior. The shiny bits are evident around the grille, fog lights, air breathers and around the window frames.

The back also sees a chrome bar at the lower bumper that just about mark the distance between the two chrome exhaust tailpipe finishers.

The 520i, in its seventh generation, cuts a sporty and elegant figure with its short front overhang, long wheelbase and flowing roofline to the rear end. The exterior dimensions are only a tad larger than those of its predecessor.

The kidney grille, flanked by twin circular headlights, lends the front a more appealing appearance. The glass headlight covers link with the kidney grille, emphasising the car’s width.

The rear lights reach deep into the sides of the car, creating a visual connection between its flanks and rear end. LED bars enable a slim interpretation of the hallmark BMW “L” shape and underline the width of the new sedan. The 520i rolls on Luxury Line-specific 18-inch light alloy wheels, with 19-inch an option.

Inside

The cabin features typical German fare with a dark sober (some say sombre) theme that we have got used to seeing in BMWs. Sports seats and sports steering wheel have been covered in Dakota leather while the dashboard uses Sensatec - vinyl actually - for durability.

The cabin is accented by high gloss-black plastics and aluminium door sill finishers with front and rear illumination. Ambient lighting in six colours bestows a soft glow to the interior at night. Rear window shades are a nice touch.

However, you didn’t pay BMW enough to get gesture control, panoramic roof or rear auto windscreen blinds. Still those are features that most people can live without.

Sitting atop the dash is a 10.25-inch touchscreen for BMW’s Navigation System Professional. The driver faces a 12.3-inch multi-functional instrument display with black-panel technology.

No complaints about the seat configurations as they offer enough comfort and support in the right places especially on long journeys.

With a longer wheelbase than the previous generation, BMW has carved a bigger cabin so that means rear seat passengers have more leg room. The rear seats slant downwards towards the seatback, making for a bigger effort to get out of the car though. The sloping roofline results in headroom that should be fine for most adults.

Adding to the respectable list of amenities are BMW ConnectedDrive, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, automatic 4-zone climate control, auto-hold, passive cruise control with braking function, Parking Assistant and rear view camera.

On the safety front, the 520i gets seven airbags, dynamic stability control, dynamic traction control, cornering brake control, dynamic brake control and antilock braking system with brake assist.

Drive
For the largely mature crowd who buys into the 520i, the modest 184bhp and 290Nm of torque is good enough. It’s not of the same calibre as BMW’s inline six but the 4-potter in the 520i manages to stay refined and smooth.

The cabin is quiet at speeds attesting to a well-made interior and a pliant suspension that isolates most road irregularities.

A slight turbo lag is discernible in rapid overtaking before the 520i is shoved forward. The driver gets to switch between Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport modes that alter engine speeds and gear shifts.

The 8-speed auto box that relays power to the rear wheels is not as quick shifting as a Sport transmission but it’s all good for this 5, as you pay for what you get.

The car stays composed and responsive even when tossed into corners.

One quibble concerns the auto start/stop function that jerks the engine back to life; it’s not as subtle as we would like it to be.

Verdict
The 520i, on balance, offers a ride and performance that befits its entry-level stature, supported by a kit list that plays on the luxury theme.

Ownership of a 520i is backed by a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service, a 2-year tyre warranty for run-flat tyres, roadside assistance and accident hotline, as well as access to BMW White Card.
SPECIFICATIONSBMW 520i LuxuryEngine: 1,998 cc, turbocharged, direct injection, in-line 4-cylinder
Maximum power: 184hp from 5,000 to 6,500 rpm
Maximum torque: 290Nm of torque between 1,350 and 4,250 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
Acceleration (0-100kph): 7.8s
Top speed: 235kph
Fuel consumption (combined): 5.2 l/100km
Features: Adaptive LED headlamps with LED foglamps, LED taillamps, seven airbags, rear-view camera, Comfort Access, Parking Assistant, passive cruise control, quad zone climate control, 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel, black Dakota leather upholstery, powered front sport seats, 10.25-inch BMW Navigation System Professional touchscreen, 12 speakers, BMW ConnectedDrive, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, ambient lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels
Price(OTR without insurance): RM328,800


Apple poaches key Lamborghini executive to work on its electric car

                SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc has enlisted one of Lamborghini’s top car-development managers in a sign that it’s stepping up work on a self-driving electric vehicle, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

The company hired Luigi Taraborrelli, a 20-year veteran of the Italian carmaker, to help lead the design of Apple’s future vehicle, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter isn’t public. Taraborrelli was most recently Lamborghini’s head of chassis and vehicle dynamics.

The move is another signal that Apple is committed to producing a car following years of setbacks and upheaval.

With his experience, Taraborrelli becomes one of the most senior managers on Apple’s EV team and brings some exotic-car panache to the effort.

The executive worked on Lamborghini models such as the Urus, Huracan and Aventador, in addition to more limited models like the Huracan Sterrato off-road vehicle and Asterion concept car.

He oversaw Lamborghini’s chassis development, as well as areas such as handling, suspensions, steering, brakes and rims, according to his LinkedIn profile.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the hire.

Earlier this year, Apple tapped a 31-year veteran of Ford Motor Co. to lead its vehicle-safety efforts. Last year, it hired Ulrich Kranz, the former chief of struggling electric-car maker Canoo Inc. and former leader of BMW’s electric-car business.

Before that, Apple enlisted former Tesla Inc. Autopilot chief Stuart Bowers to work on self-driving technology.

The Apple project includes hundreds of former engineers from Tesla and other car companies, including Rivian Automotive Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo, Volvo Car AB and Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

It also has former senior design executives on staff from Tesla, McLaren, Porsche and Aston Martin.

The company is aiming to introduce a car around 2025 with a design that lets riders face each other in a limousine-like interior, Bloomberg has reported.

Apple has grand ambitions to create a car without a steering wheel or pedals, relying instead on fully autonomous technology, though many team members and industry watchers doubt such a move is possible on its current schedule.

Even with the recent hires, the team has lost key talent, including the former head of the project, Doug Field, and artificial intelligence specialist Ian Goodfellow. Field had joined Apple in 2018 after leading vehicle programs at Tesla.

He left the iPhone maker to join Ford after about three years, a relatively short period for an Apple executive in charge of a major initiative.

The car project is currently run by Kevin Lynch, who also oversees the company’s Apple Watch and health software teams, and John Giannandrea, the company’s head of machine learning.

Apple has been working on an electric car since at least 2014, but the project has been plagued by turmoil, including leadership turnover, strategy changes and layoffs.

Apple and Lamborghini have some history together.

In 2020, the carmaker released an Apple-based augmented reality feature to help people preview the Huracan EVO RWD Spyder.

At the time, Apple’s head of marketing said the company “cares deeply” about Lamborghini.


Ferrari driver beat me up after fender bender, claims road rage victim

                KUALA LUMPUR: Police have opened investigations into an alleged altercation between two motorists following an accident here.

One of the motorists, Aqil Danish Azman, took to Twitter to give his side of the incident.

According to his police report, he was driving a red Proton X70 with a female friend along Jalan Sultan Ismail at around 12.40am on April 19.

He alleged that he stopped at a traffic light along the stretch and when it turned green, a Ferrari sports car in front of him started rolling backward.

He claimed he sounded his car horn but the vehicle in front continued moving backward until it hit his car.

The report also stated that the vehicle then sped off towards Kampung Baru while he gave chase.

He said the Ferrari then got stuck in traffic there and stopped along Jalan Raja Abdullah.

The complainant said he confronted the driver of the Ferrari but he denied being involved in an accident.

The man also claimed the Ferrari driver then threatened him, grabbed his mobile phone and flung it away before strangling and punching him until he fell to the ground.

The victim also alleged that the Ferrari driver continued to assault him as he laid on the ground.

He said the man also attacked his female companion and tried to snatch her phone as she sought to take photographs of the Ferrari as evidence.

Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Noor Dellhan Yahaya confirmed receiving the case.

"We received an order to investigate from the deputy public prosecutor and have classified the case as voluntarily causing hurt.

"Police are in the midst of taking further action," he said, adding that details of the suspect have been obtained to assist in the probe.


AMG Speedway in South Korea: World’s first racetrack with AMG branding

                SEOUL: The AMG Speedway in South Korea, an important Mercedes-AMG market, marks the beginning of a new era of the AMG community.

The track not only adopted the name, but also sports the hallmark corporate design of AMG.

The 4.3-kilometre circuit, some 38 kilometres from Gangnam, the trendy district of the capital Seoul, allows experiencing the brand's Driving Performance as intensively and exclusively as nowhere else in the region.

The AMG Lounge provides an inviting setting for community discussions and personal exchanges with AMG experts.

In addition, the sports car and performance brand will also use the AMG Speedway for the presentation of new models, dealer training, and other event formats.

Mercedes-AMG was born on the racetrack more than 50 years ago – for the first time anywhere in the world, a racetrack now bears the successful brand name.

"The AMG Speedway is the world's first racetrack bearing our name. This underlines the importance of South Korea as one of our main markets. The AMG Speedway is thus not only an important step in the further dynamic development of AMG in South Korea. It also stands for the strategic expansion of our face-to-face communication. Customers and fans can experience the essence of our brand here first hand”, says Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

The AMG Speedway is based on South Korea’s first permanent racetrack, which was inaugurated in 1995.

The circuit was extensively reconfigured and expanded in 2011 using the plans of renowned racetrack designer Hermann Tilke.

The circuit is now 4.3-kilometres long and winds its way through 17 turns and over a bridge on the grounds of the Everland Resort theme park on the outskirts of the capital Seoul.


Hyundai and Cisco to team up on Internet-connected car technology

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor said on Tuesday that it will partner with Cisco Systems to develop Internet-connected car technology, part of the automaker's push to develop "high-performing computers on wheels".

Auto and tech firms are increasingly forming alliances to expand services that hook cars up to Internet, particularly as the race to develop self-driving cars heats up.

Hyundai said vice chairman Chung Eui-sun met Cisco chief executive Chuck Robbins here and agreed to co-develop in-vehicle network technology for high-speed transfer of large amounts of data.

"The cooperation is part of Hyundai Motor's wider strategy to establish an industry-leading connected car platform through collaboration with leading technology partners," it said in a statement.

Other alliances include Toyota Motor Corp's expansion this month of a five-year-old partnership with Microsoft Corp to develop new Internet-connected vehicle services for owners and dealers.


Toyota introduces online map showing real-time traffic info and road closures in Japan

                TOKYO: Toyota is offering a free public service through an online map that informs motorists of any events on a planned route that could delay the trip.

Road closures, road sign icons, and more are also displayed in real-time. The constantly updated map is accessible from a desktop computer, a smartphone or other mobile devices.

Users can check data from the past 1, 3, 6, or 24 hours, and narrow searches down to include, for example, areas of heavy traffic, helpful in a variety of situations from daily route planning to disaster relief.

In the event of a natural disaster, the affected area(s) will be the focal point of the map. At other times, the map will default to the Kanto region.

Data is real-time, and based on T-Connect/G-Book telematics service information from communications module-equipped car navigation systems in Toyota-made vehicles.

The service comes as a wide swathe of northeastern Japan was rocked by an earthquake on Sunday.

Reuters reported that the 7.3 magnitude quake struck shortly before midnight Saturday and cracked walls, shattered windows and set off a landslide in Fukushima, the area closest to the epicentre.

More than 100 people were injured and trains halted.

The quake revived memories of the 2001 Fukushima quake that set off a tsunami nearly 10 years ago.


Fisker enters next phase of production for electric Ocean

                LOS ANGELES/MUNICH: Fisker Inc is starting the next phase of production as it accelerates its global launch of the electric Fisker Ocean SUV, and is planning to deliver to next customers across Europe and US markets starting in June.

As previously announced, Fisker expects to gradually ramp up production over the course of May and plans to build 1,400-1,700 vehicles by end of June, provided all partners deliver.

The company plans to increase production further during Q3 2023 to support the delivery roll-out in the rest of its global launch markets and support its 2023 volume forecast of 32,000-36,000 vehicles.

“Consistent with our brand’s commitment, we are going to give extra attention to detail on each vehicle ensuring a great customer experience, since these are built for our first volume deliveries and marketing purposes such as test drives,” said CEO Henrik Fisker.

“I am excited about our next customers’ deliveries coming up, and we will inform our first customers shortly on timing as we are finalising the schedule now.”

Included in the Ocean Ones to be produced in May are the first US-bound units for customer deliveries and marketing purposes, which are expected to start arriving in June.

Both the Ocean Extreme and One trims achieve a confirmed combined WLTP range of up to 707 km, which is the longest range of any battery electric SUV sold in Europe today.

Ocean Extreme and One trims are expected to receive EPA range and regulatory approval and CARB Executive Order later this month.


Avery Dennison rolls out its largest set of automotive window films in S-E Asia

                KUALA LUMPUR: Global materials science company Avery Dennison launched on Tuesday its largest collection of automotive window films across Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Avery Dennison said it has developed four series of automotive window films to give vehicles a custom appearance while improving comfort for passengers, protecting vehicle interiors, and blocking harmful UV rays and harsh glare.

At the top of the range is the Supreme Ceramic IR Series automotive window film. Its Supreme Nano-X IR technology is claimed to provide long-lasting colour stability and outstanding heat rejection of up to 95% infrared energy rejection.

In addition, the company said the films offer high optical clarity and improve vehicle aesthetics.

The second series is the Supreme Ceramic Series, which is a premium colour-stable, non-reflective film range made with Supreme Nano-X technology.

This metal-free series is available in four different light transmission levels ranging from Phantom Black, its darkest black-coloured tint, to Spring Azure, a cool, blue-coloured tint.

Meanwhile, the Advanced Cool Series is a high-performance metal-dye hybrid film available in light transmission levels.

This film protects against heat, glare and harmful UV radiation while offering vehicle owners the appeal of a Phantom Black colour. The film is optimised with metallised polyester and colour-stable dye to ensure low exterior reflectiveness.

For vehicle owners who require only high-quality shield against sunlight, Avery Dennison said it offers two grades of film, each with its own distinct advantages.

One is the Supreme Shield IR, an optically clear film with Supreme Nano-X IR technology that rejects the infrared heat and solar energy without any visual distortion, noticeable darkening, and reflectivity of  vehicle window.

The other is the Advanced Cool Shield, which promises high-performance, safety, and solar control hybrid film in Phantom Black colour.

Both these shields do double duty with safety laminate that keeps the shattered glass in place.

“All these new automotive window films have been road tested in hot weather conditions,” said Avery Dennison Asean technical marketing lead Siew-Bee Soo.

“We have also conducted installation tests to ensure that all the films are made with a scratch-resistance hard coat and high clarity adhesive for efficient installation with no smears or smudging and for  ease of maintenance.”

The entire collection of Avery Dennison automotive window films is available through authorised Avery Dennison Graphic Solutions distributors in South-East Asia.


Beijing Auto Show (2016): Mazda CX-4 crossover unleashed

HIROSHIMA: Mazda Motor Corporation has unveiled a new crossover SUV, the Mazda CX-4, at the Beijing Motor Show (Auto China 2016).

The latest edition to Mazda's new-generation lineup adopts Skyactiv Technology and Kodo—Soul of Motion design throughout and goes on sale in China in June.

The CX-4 was made to exceed existing categories and stereotypes. The dynamic design is unmistakably Kodo in form and the planted stance and sleek, coupe-like cabin combine to give the model an outstanding presence.

Customers will appreciate the exceptional functionality and user-friendliness, including the ease of entering and exiting the vehicle and the flexible cargo space.

With SUV-like ground clearance and Mazda's i-ACTIV AWD all-wheel drive system, the CX-4 is ready to take on a wide range of road conditions and offers a combination of outstanding environmental and safety performance (Sustainable Zoom-Zoom) and a Jinba-ittai driving feel with excellent handling thanks to its low center of gravity.

"The CX-4 is our fourth new-generation model in China," said Nobuhide Inamoto, Senior Managing Executive Officer overseeing operations in China.

"Demand for SUVs here is remarkably strong and we expect this model will play a big part in expanding the Mazda brand in this market. We will continue working to strengthen our brand in China, aiming to become a brand which enriches people's lives through cars."

The CX-4 is available in the front wheel drive 2.0L and i-Activ all wheel drive 2.5 L variants. The 2.oL variant is available with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions while the 2.5L only comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission.


Mazda to resume full factory ops worldwide in August

                LOS ANGELES: Starting in August, Mazda will return to normal factory operations, or pre-Covid-19 levels, amid increased sales and future forecast for product demand in the US.

In June, Mazda North American Operations achieved a sales increase of nearly 11 percent year-over-year. Most notably, the three-row CX-9 and MX-5 roadster volumes grew 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

Through the remainder of July, Mazda will end production adjustments implemented at plants in Japan, Mexico and Thailand caused by the pandemic.

Mazda has been monitoring inventory levels and modifying production since the end of March. Currently, almost all dealerships worldwide have resumed sale operations.

Globally, Mazda said it remains cautious and flexible regarding the risk posed by Covid-19 and would closely monitor trends and demand in each market where its vehicles are shipped.


Treat someone to a Xmas car, says AutoVolo

                LONDON: Instead of a Christmas card this year, why not treat someone you love to a Christmas car?

That's the idea "sleighing" its way from a British used car online portal AutoVolo, which is doing it in the hope of boosting its year-end sales.

AutoVolo has put together a list of its favourite 10 Christmas-themed car names, past and "present", and just like the man in the red suit, they’re dotted all over the world. They are:

Hyundai Santa Fe (South Korea)
Riley Elf (UK)
Mazda Carol (Japan)
Ford Festiva(l) (South Korea)
BMW Tree-Series (Germany)
Toyota Star-let (Japan)
Triumph (hark the) Herald (UK)
Lamborghini A(d)ventador (Italy)
Reliant Robin (UK)
Myrrh-cedes Benz (Germany)

“Joking aside, a car someone has always dreamed of makes the perfect gift for that really special someone in your life at Christmas,” said AutoVolo CEO Stefan Voloseniuc. “Whether it’s a son or a daughter starting out in their driving career and looking for their first set of wheels, or that dream sports car for the love of your life, you’ll find it on AutoVolo.”

AutoVolo said it has more than 250,000 cars (but, alas, no sleighs) from around 4,500 franchised and independent dealerships, along with private advertisers.


Toyota's new exhaust purifying catalyst reduces precious metal usage

                TOYOTA CITY: Toyota Motor Corp has announced the commercial availability of a new, smaller catalyst that uses 20% less precious metal in approximately 20% less volume, while maintaining the same exhaust gas purification performance.

The design is the world's first integrally-molded Flow Adjustable Design Cell (FLAD) substrate.

The new catalyst will gradually be installed in new vehicle models, starting from the Lexus LC 500h later this year.

Increased usage of catalytic precious metals to clean exhaust gas and reduce air pollution presents many issues, including increased costs and resource depletion.

Toyota and Denso Corp have developed this new FLAD substrate to improve the uniformity of exhaust gas flow.

The newly developed innovative design and manufacturing technologies have also allowed for the mass production of the world's first integrally molded catalyst.


Tesla ups Full Self Driving software price to US$12,000 in US, Musk says

                AUSTIN: Tesla Inc chief executive officer Elon Musk tweeted on Friday that the electric carmaker will raise the US price of its advanced driver assistant software dubbed "Full Self Driving" to US$12,000 (around RM51,000) on Jan 17.

The 20% price rise comes less than two years since Tesla raised Full Self-Driving (FSD) prices to US$10,000 (RM42,000) from US$8,000 (RM34,000) in 2020.

"Tesla FSD price rising to $12k on Jan 17. Just in the US." Musk tweeted.

Musk also added that the monthly subscription price will rise when FSD goes to wide release.

"FSD price will rise as we get closer to FSD production code release," he tweeted.

Tesla has been expanding the release of a test version of its upgraded FSD software, a system of driving-assistance features - like automatically changing lanes and making turns, but the features do not make the vehicles autonomous.


Land Rover Defender from James Bond movie to be auctioned

                LONDON: A rare opportunity to own a Land Rover Defender used in the James Bond film, Spectre, is set to star in Silverstone Auctions Live Online sale on May 23.

In 2015, the 24th James Bond film featured another world-class car chase, this time involving a Land Rover Defender.

Eon Productions commissioned 10 special 110 Defenders from Land Rover and with the help of Bowler Motorsport, specialist Land Rover modifiers, they converted them into the ultimate getaway cars.

Bowler Motorsport added huge 37-inch tyres, a heavy-duty roll-cage, stiffened up the suspension and among other things installed a hydraulic hand brake to spice up the action. The engine was also tuned to 180bhp.

There were two specifications of cars produced, one for the high-speed getaway road cars and the others for the snow scenes of which this is one of those.

Only seven of the ten specially produced cars now survive and this car is number 9, three were destroyed during filming, no surprise there!

Nick Whale, Silverstone Auctions Managing Director commented: “This is a very special opportunity for someone to own a piece of Bond film history. The rarity of these means they don’t come to market that often.”

“Anything from the Bond franchise attracts worldwide interest and this Land Rover is almost as it was from the day it left the film set. It will need registering if you wish to use it on the road and it comes with a file of correspondence including details of when and where the car was to be used in the film.”


Billionaire Li Shufu gears up for his next big move

                HANGZHOU: Chinese billionaire Li Shufu shook up the car industry with an eye-catching run of deals among traditional, European automakers that made his Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. a global force to be reckoned with.

Now he’s training his sights on Big Tech.

In the space of less than a month, Geely has forged major collaboration pacts with companies from search engine heavyweight Baidu Inc. to Apple Inc.’s Taiwanese manufacturing partner Foxconn Technology Group and Tencent Holdings Ltd.

Last Friday saw another, this time with electric-car upstart Faraday Future. The pair signed an agreement to cooperate on technology and engineering support.

It may seem a bit haphazard but there’s logic behind Li’s dealings.

Conventional automakers like Geely, one of China’s biggest manufacturers, are under threat. With governments around the world pledging to ban the sale of new gasoline vehicles within decades, they must adapt. Embracing greener technology is a must, as is gaining a better footing in the new areas of intelligent and connected mobility.

"Geely’s moves are intelligent,” said Bill Russo, the founder and chief executive officer of advisory firm automobility. "Geely is no longer just an OEM, they’re a solutions provider,” he said, referring to the commonly used term for companies that just manufacture something.

Li has long championed partnerships and consolidation as a way for automakers to pool resources for initiatives like self-driving cars and electrification.

He’s successfully built a global carmaking empire over the past three decades, becoming Daimler AG’s largest shareholder and snapping up Volvo in 2010, as well as amassing stakes in European legacy brands such as Lotus and lower-end players like Malaysia’s Proton.

One of the expressions Li likes to describe his vision for Geely is the "vertical and horizontal alliance,” a reference to a political idiom used during the Warring States period of China’s history.

It recommends collaboration among companies in the same supply chain as well as partnering with businesses that also operate as competitors.

"In an era of great change, the reason we are able to advance is the innovative power of self-subversion, the willpower to ride the wind and the waves and the fighting power to move forward courageously,” Li said in a New Year letter posted on the company’s WeChat account.

This is the "fusion power of vertical and horizontal integration.”

As part of its cooperation agreements, Geely will collaborate with Foxconn, Baidu and Faraday Future on its open-source platform to help build electric cars. With Tencent, it will jointly develop smart-driving cockpits, autonomous technology and other science to help digitize all aspects of car production.

Russo sees Foxconn as an electronics manufacturing supplier to Geely, while Baidu can help Geely with the critical integration skills needed to make smart, connected devices. The pact with Tencent creates a layer on top that runs the applications-based services the vehicles are using.

"It’s smart to think about yourself as a company and the kind of company you want to become,” he said.

Geely isn’t the only car company restyling itself in this way.

As the auto industry weans itself off fossil fuel and embraces more environmentally-friendly technologies, how it makes money is changing.

More profit will come from creating and supplying the "brains” behind cars than from beating out a metal shell in which that nerve centre can reside.

The margins in that business have been shrinking for years, eaten away by rising competition and advances in factory automation.

The past few months have seen a smattering of similar announcements, from Hyundai Motor Co. confirming and then backing away from a statement saying it’s in talks with Apple Inc. to Foxconn signing a manufacturing deal with embattled Chinese electric-vehicle startup Byton Ltd.


Counter services for Transport Ministry agencies resume from July 1

A JPJ customer being attended to in this file pic. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: In-person counter services will resume on July 1 for agencies under the Transport Ministry, including the Road Transport Department (JPJ), Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), Puspakom, Marine Department, as well as the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board in Sabah and Sarawak.

In a statement on minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong's Facebook page, over-the-counter services will be only for services that cannot be conducted online and physical attendance is by appointment only, with counter staff limited to 50% of normal capacities.

JPJ counter services for all commercial and private transactions and services are available nationwide from July 1, except for services available online through mySIKAP or JPJ's service partners.

"There are 38 JPJ services available online through mySIKAP but 11 JPJ services must be registered in person (one-time registration) at JPJ counters with thumbprint biometry in order to proceed with online mySIKAP transactions," it said.

This includes reprinting LKM applications for change of ownership (new owners), applications for change of ownership (registered owners), extraction of vehicle information packs, vehicle ownership certificate (VOC) inquiries and vehicle information pack (VIP) inquiries.

Services such as buying vehicle registration numbers, detailed vehicle ownership information, applications for re-stamping of chassis numbers or engine numbers as well as changes to email addresses, telephone numbers, or addresses must be done in person.

For Apad, all counter services are open via scheduled appointment only except for matters related to Drivers Card (Kad Pemandu) and appointments can be made through Apad's website from Wednesday (June 30), 4pm.

"For Lesen Perubahan Sementara (LPS) applications, requests can be made by directly emailing lps@apad.gov.my

"Within the National Recovery Plan (NRP) period, operators and businesses are not bound to the requirement of submitting the renewal application at least 90 days prior to the expiry date," said the announcement.

Meanwhile for Puspakom, it said that it will operate as normal with 50% of full counter staff capacity and all services are allowed only via appointment done through its website, customer service careline, email or Facebook.

For the Marine Department, services such as seafarers' document reviews, ship certificate reviews, crew change arrangements and purchase of seafarer's training books are available over the counter from July 1 via appointment only.

Collection of seafarers' documents, ship certificates or permits as well as payment transactions that cannot be conducted online will also be available over the counter at Marine Department offices nationwide.

Sabah Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board will offer services like new applications or additional commercial vehicle licenses, applications to Change of Terms in Commercial Vehicle Approval Offer Letters (STK) and renewals of commercial vehicle licenses at its physical premises by appointment only.

Customers can also book appointments to access over-the-counter services such as applications to Change of Terms in commercial vehicle license, printing of commercial vehicle licenses, applications to surrender commercial vehicle licenses as well as driver's card application and collection.

Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board is also accepting scheduled appointments for over-the-counter services such as new applications or additional commercial vehicle licenses, applications to Change of Terms in Commercial Vehicle Approval Offer Letter (STK) and renewal of commercial vehicle licenses.

Customers can also contact its hotline, Facebook or email to book appointments for services like applications to Change of Terms in commercial vehicle license, printing of commercial vehicle license and applications to surrender commercial vehicle license.

"As always, the ministry strongly urges all Malaysians to practise self-compliance to standard operating procedures (SOPs) at all offices, stations and terminals, including using hand sanitisers, wearing face masks, maintaining physical distancing of more than a metre wherever required, and checking in with MySejahtera where required," it said.


BMW explores further hydrogen mobility with iX5 Hydrogen

                MUNICH: BMW has announced that a small series of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, based on the X5,would be used for demonstration and testing purposes from the end of next year.

This comes two years after the company unveiled the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT concept car.

You may recall BMW exploring hydrogen propulsion back in 2005 when it adapted the 7 Series to run on it. One hundred of the fuel cell 7 Series were made. The technology advanced further in 2015 when BMW's joint project with Toyota resulted in a fuel cell 5 Series GT.

Eventually, it led to BMW introducing a new hydrogen-powered concept in 2019 called BMW i Hydrogen Next that was the precursor to the iX5 Hydrogen.

With the iX5 Hydrogen, individual exterior and interior design elements highlight the car’s ties to the BMW i brand, as well as its specific drive technology.

The inner edging of the BMW kidney grille, the inserts in the 22- inch aerodynamic wheels and the attachments in the outer portion of the rear apron are all in BMW i Blue.

The entry sills and cover trim for the instrument panel also sport a “hydrogen fuel cell” badge.

The mesh inserts covering the cooling air openings at the front of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, as well as the rear apron and its diffuser element, also have their own unique design.

The ornamental grilles covering the BMW kidney grille, the lower and two outer air inlets and the body elements for the lower rear end trim all come from the BMW Group’s Additive Manufacturing Campus, which uses 3D printing to produce prototype and standard parts.

Additive manufacturing enables fast and highly flexible production of components – some of which have geometric shapes that cannot be realised with conventional production methods.

The iX5 Hydrogen’s aerodynamic wheels come with sustainably produced tyres made of natural rubber and rayon.

The raw materials for this are extracted in compliance with the standards of the independent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) organisation.

BMW says the group is the first automotive manufacturer worldwide to use Pirelli tyres made exclusively from certified natural rubber and the wood-based material rayon in its production vehicles.

The iX5 Hydrogen combines fuel cell technology with a fifth-generation BMW eDrive.

The drive system uses hydrogen as fuel by converting it into electricity in a fuel cell – delivering an electrical output of up to 170hp, with water vapour as the only emission.

This drive power also enables it to maintain consistently high speeds over longer distances. The electric motor was developed from the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology also used in the BMW iX.

In coasting overrun and braking phases, it serves as a generator, feeding energy into a power battery. The energy stored in this power battery is also used for particularly sporty driving manoeuvres – delivering a system output of 374hp.

The hydrogen needed to supply the fuel cell is stored in two 700-bar tanks made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), which together hold almost six kilograms of hydrogen.

Filling up the hydrogen tanks fully is said to take not more than four minutes.

“With its high-performance fuel cell and optimised power battery, the iX5 Hydrogen’s drive system is unique in the world,” said Juergen Guldner, head of BMW Group Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology and Vehicle Projects.

With the right conditions, hydrogen fuel cell technology has the potential to become a further pillar in the BMW Group’s drive train portfolio for local CO2-free mobility.

The BMW i brand, which is geared towards locally emission-free mobility, could in the future also offer vehicles with hydrogen fuel cell drive trains, in addition to battery-electric models such as the i3, iX3, iX and i4.

Provided the hydrogen is produced using renewable energy and the necessary infrastructure is available, this technology is likely to complement the BMW Group’s electrified drive train portfolio – and, in particular, meet the needs of customers who do not have their own access to electric charging infrastructure, frequently drive long distances or desire a high degree of flexibility.

The company will present the iX5 Hydrogen at the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich.

Currently still in series development, the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) with hydrogen fuel cell drive train will be one of several vehicles visitors can experience as they are driven along the Blue Lane connecting the main exhibition grounds with other exhibition venues in the city centre.


Hyundai, Kia replace two overseas execs after Q1 sales falter

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors have replaced two senior overseas executives, the parent group said after the South Korean automakers posted lacklustre first-quarter global sales.

The change came as the companies, which together rank fifth in global sales, are expected to report weak first-quarter earnings later this month as they boosted incentives in the key US market to revive sluggish demand for sedans and battle Japanese rivals backed by a weaker yen.

Hyundai Motor replaced its overseas division chief Im Tak-uk, while Kia Motors replaced its US vice chairman Ahn Byung-mo, the companies said in a statement on Wednesday.

The outgoing executives will serve as advisors, the group said.

"The latest reshuffle aims at beefing up the overseas sales competitiveness of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors," the group said in a statement.

The overseas sales of Hyundai and Kia fell about 4 percent each in the first quarter.

Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo, son of the family-run conglomerate's late founder, is known for abruptly replacing executives and sometimes rehiring them.

"Hyundai has failed to forecast the rise of truck demand and instead focused on sedans. This has led to higher inventory and incentives," said Ko Tae-bong, a senior analyst at Hi Investment & Securities.

"It is Hyundai's culture that someone takes responsibility," he said.

Chang Won-shin, a Hyundai overseas sales executive, will take over from Im while Kia's US manufacturing operations will be overseen by Shin Hyun-jong. Its US sales unit will be headed by Shon Jang-won, who is currently in charge of Kia's Europe sales.


Ferrari's upcoming hybrid supercar slated to make debut at the end of May

                MARANELLO: The second and possibly most exciting launch by Ferrari out of the five scheduled to take place this year has been confirmed by the company CEO to take place at the end of this month.

During a recent quarterly earnings call, Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri confirmed that the hybrid supercar — about which rumors have been circulating since February — will make its grand debut later this month, as reported by CNET's Roadshow.

This supercar will be the second model by Ferrari to launch this year; the F8 Tributo made its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, two will likely debut in September (probably at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany), and the final model will likely make its appearance during the final quarter of the year.

According to Camilleri, "it will be a top-of-the-line hybrid with supercar performance and a true beauty." In fact, he stated that over half of the lineup with be offered with a hybrid trim option by 2022.

While other luxury automotive manufacturers like Aston Martin and Pininfarina are jumping into the electric vehicle revolution with both feet by developing fully battery electric super- and hypercars, Ferrari is merely "studying it" according to company CTO Michael Hugo. Vehicle sound and weight — two of Ferrari's most defining features — are greatly altered by converting cars to electric, so it's likely we won't be seeing an all-electric Ferrari until 2022 or later.

The company has been stingy on the hybrid's specs — almost nothing has been revealed about what to expect. We'll have to wait until the end of the month for full details.


A swing with the Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe

                Here it is. The most accessible AMG-tuned Mercedes-Benz - the C 43 Coupe - well, second most accessible after the four-door variant.

This C 43 is the little brother to the more potent C 63 / C 63 S, and it puts its cross-hairs on enthusiasts seeking performance from something that bears the "three-pointed star" and isn’t going to break the bank ... much.

This coupe is not as potent as its higher-end AMG brethren's - in fact it's actually 'entry-level', and it's got 'gobs' of usable performance that most average drivers will need acclimatising to before they graduate up to higher performance levels.

After having lived with it for almost a week, I had to hand back the car with a heavy heart and a touch of relief that I’d actually survived a week without on-road mishaps.

You see, the C 43 is capable of going from docile to menacing in a blink of the eye, thanks to that punchy 2,996cc twin-turbo V6 providing the 367hp at 5,500rpm and 520Nm of torque from 2,000rpm onwards, while a nine-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission dictates power-delivery to the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system.

Depending on a person’s driving experience, this 1,690kg (kerb) car can be quite a handful to deal with. For those more experienced, they will relish in the fun-factor from a car that’s able to take them from 0 to 100kph in 4.7 and onwards to an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.

Exterior

With such performance, the coupe naturally needs to look the part with some added accessories that will try to thumb down the C-Class’ already elegant curves and creases located along its lower and upper flanks.

Also, a body kit has been added and comprises a slightly different front bumper, AMG-badged diamond grille with chrome pins, black wing-mirror caps, side-skirts, rear bumper with integrated faux diffusers, quad pipes for the AMG performance exhaust system and a boot spoiler.

To add a little more mystery to the coupe’s looks is the inclusion of the Night Package, which means gloss black accents have been added to the front splitter, window trim, rear diffuser and tailpipe finishers.

Performance

The coupe’s 3.0-litre V6 cranks out 362hp from 5,500 to 6,000 rpm and 520Nm of torque from 2,000 to 4,200rpm,

Turbo lag is almost non-existent. Although it’s not as potent as its V8 brethren, it still has the means to snap the human body into the seat and hold you there as you floor the throttle for a 0-100kph sprint in 4.7 seconds. Top speed is rated at 250kph.

The coupe will putter along quietly in city traffic. Other than the coupe’s styling, there’s little indication of added performance when the car is idling. But dial it to Sport+ mode and the exhaust starts to sound a little noisier.

The already-stiff suspension stiffens-up even more for a rather harsh ride. The steering feel also gets heftier and the engine more rev-happy.

Cars like these are meant to be driven spiritedly. So forget about fuel economy, because this coupe is all about rolling out the power to meet the driver's whims and fancies.

Interior

The cabin is crafted to look sporty in keeping with the car's mission in life but it's still underlined by a cockpit layout that is recognisable as indicated in the lower end of the C-Class scale.

It features a combination of smooth Artico faux leather with red stitchings and grippy Dinamica microfibre complemented by a meaty flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle-shifters.

The blacked-out cabin’s stiff seats help relay road vibes to the driver.

The seats at the rear will take two adults but it won't be quite as comfortable as in a regular C-Class sedan.

Practicality

A coupe at this performance level shouldn’t have much practicality to begin with, but Mercedes-Benz has done a good enough job to inject some space into the car.

The driver and front passenger will have no problem getting in and out of the car but rear passengers will have some difficulty doing the same.

The boot isn’t too large either but there’s enough depth to keep a few pieces of luggage.

Ride & handling

It has to be said. In any selected driving mode, the coupe isn't going to be a comfortable experience.

The suspension is too harsh for my liking. Set to Comfort mode and you will notice how hard it works to smoothen out the edges of potholes and uneven surfaces.

While dealing with the g-force under heavy acceleration, new owners of this coupe can easily get drunk on its level of performance - much like consuming half a bottle of gin within a split-second. It's addictive.

Enter Sport or Sport+ mode and things get even wilder. The suspension and steering stiffens up, the throttle gets overly excited to get the engine revving and the gear changes become direct and crude towards red-line - rather unbecoming of a luxury car, but it is after all a performance tuned one at that.

This is the point where the money matters because in all honesty, it's a what most track-experienced drivers who have enough 'coin' to seek out this sort of car.

In the dry, the front end feels scalpel-like with plenty of grip to make the rear-end seem so subservient to it, while its wet performance makes it seem a little edgy and nervous about putting down all its 'twist' onto the road.

Be wary when getting into the tight confines of parking facilities. The C 43 just doesn't have enough steering angle usually accorded by front or rear-wheel driven vehicles and will be a challenge when space is limited.

Safety

- Seven airbags
- Anti-lock braking system
- Electronic brake-force distribution
- Electronic stability programme
- Collision prevention assist plus
- Hill Start Assist

Equipment

- Front automatic adaptive LED Projectors with High Beam Assist
- Rear LED light cluster
- LED daytime running lights
- 19-inch wheels (front: 225/40) (rear:255/35)
- Cross drilled front brakes
- AMG ride control (adaptive dampers)
- Power-adjustable from sports seats
- Rear air vents
- Ambient Lights (3 colours)
- COMAND Online with Touchpad
- 8.4-inch display
- 13-speaker 590-watt Burmester surround sound system
- Auto start/stop
- Cruise control
- Paddle shifters
- Keyless entry with push-start button
- Automatic wipers
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Automatic parking
- Reverse camera with 360-degree view
- Powered tailgate with handsfree operation
- Electric parking brake
- Full Leather Dinamica microfibre with Artico leather
Reliability
Mercedes-Benz offers a two-year manufacturer warranty and a two-year in-country extended warranty, a mirror image to the manufacturer warranty with unlimited mileage coverage.

The comprehensive coverage keeps cost of ownership under control. You only need to pay for cost of the vehicle maintenance as well as wear and tear items. Such costs vary as vehicle maintenance, wear and tear items charges are subject to individual driving behaviour.

Price

At RM548,888 (including GST without insurance), the coupe costs RM49,000-more than the four-door at RM499,888 and, like all Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG vehicles, they come with a four-year unlimited-mileage warranty (2 years Malaysia + 2 years Germany).
Summary

The C 43 isn't meant for the faint-of-hearts even though it is less powerful than the C 63. It could still be a challenge for less experienced drivers to deal with, but at least they won't scare themselves away from learning its road-going limits.

As fun as it can be, having this as an everyday car is liveable, but not preferable in my books.

After all, it is a performance car that requires more concentration than usual and the hardened suspension can add more stress to the business of driving.

But then again, tapping that throttle and leaving an imprint in the seat can be a form of stress-relief - so long as the owner is capable of handling it.

In short, it is important for those less experienced to graduate from the C 43 before even thinking about heading towards the C 63.

Assuming I could afford the C 43 it in the first place, I could see myself indulging in it over the weekends - as a sort of "reward" for surviving the week.

This way I'll never tire of it and it'll always remain the powerful "wheeled" love of my life.
READ MORE::
CarSifu drove the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S, too


Ford Mustang Mach-E gets over-the-air updates

                DETROIT: Owners of the all-new all-electric Mustang Mach-E won’t need to worry about keeping up with the Joneses, thanks to over-the-air updates that work to continuously improve the SUV over the vehicle’s life without leaving home.

And unlike some vehicles that require owners to wait while a software update takes place, Ford has developed a way to allow secure updates to download in the background, and in some cases, be completed in under two minutes.

“The beauty of the Mustang Mach-E is that what our customers experience on day one is just the beginning – it will evolve to add even more features and capabilities over time,” said John Vangelov, connected services manager, Ford Motor Company.

“Our clever over-the-air updates also minimize downtime through incredibly fast activation and ensure your Mustang Mach-E is always getting better, even when you’re asleep.”

These improvements go well beyond SYNC updates. Nearly all Mustang Mach-E computer modules can be updated wirelessly, meaning Ford can provide performance enhancements and entirely new features that might not exist when customers first take delivery of their vehicles.

Mustang Mach-E is just the start when it comes to this technology. In 2020, Ford will begin equipping most redesigned vehicles in the US with advanced over-the-air update capability for quick and easy wireless upgrades that can help enhance quality, capability and improve the ownership experience over time while reducing dealer trips.


Toyota, tech firms explore blockchain for driverless cars

                NEW YORK: Toyota Research Institute, a wholly owned unit of Toyota Motor North America, said it has teamed up with MIT Media lab and five other companies to explore blockchain technology for the development of driverless cars.

The project would enable businesses and consumers to securely share data on testing and driving as well as the sharing and usage of such cars to help set insurance rates, Toyota said in a statement.

The database would use blockchain, a public online ledger of transactions that first became well known as the software underpinning bitcoin, the first digital currency.

The growing use of computing power in vehicles is paving the way for self-driving cars, creating new rivalries and business opportunities for technology companies and automakers.

"Hundreds of billions of miles of human driving data may be needed to develop safe and reliable autonomous vehicles," said Chris Ballinger, Toyota Research Institute's director of mobility services and chief financial officer.

"Blockchains and distributed ledgers may enable pooling data from vehicle owners, fleet managers, and manufacturers to shorten the time for reaching this goal."

Aside from MIT Media Lab, which is part of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, partners in the project include Berlin-based Bigchain DB, which is building the database. Oaken Innovations, based in Dallas and Toronto, is developing an application for car-sharing and payments, and Israeli startup Commuterz is creating car-pooling software.

Toyota is also using blockchain to lower car insurance rates. By allowing a vehicle's sensors to collect driving data and store in a blockchain, car owners may be eligible for lower insurance costs by giving their insurance companies increased transparency to reduce fraud.


The car Hannah Elliott is most looking forward to driving in 2019. Psst! It's German

                NEW YORK: The year 2018 was very good for the car industry. According to Cox Automotive, US auto sales are expected to total 17.2 million units in this year, which is more than last year and the fourth year in a row to beat 17 million, finishing above the firm’s earlier forecasts.

But I am already looking forward to what I can get my hands on in 2019.

For starters, there’s the convertible version of the Bentley Continental GT, which was one of my favourite cars from 2018, as well as the convertible version of the McLaren 720S, which got a rather mixed review from me. I’m hoping the open-air version is more exciting —or improved, technology-wise (hey, it could happen!) —than the coupe.

I’m also eager to try the next-generation Porsche 911, the 992. As the next-generation continuation of a 54-year-old icon, it has a lot to prove, and a lot to lose, if Porsche doesn’t get it right.

But one car stands out above all the rest as the single most essential vehicle I must drive in 2019: the Porsche Taycan.

A lot is riding on this otherwise humble four-door sedan. For starters, this is Porsche’s first move into general-production electrified cars (the 918 Spyder hybrid doesn’t count). And it’ll play a crucial role in the Volkswagen AG lineup as VW executes a plan to become more agile while it faces major shifts in the auto industry.

The strategy centres around streamlining operations in order to goose profits by billions of dollars over eight years—all while VW makes expensive-to-manufacture electric cars such as the Taycan, without passing along the additional costs to consumers.

It’s also the brand’s first direct challenge to Tesla, which has dominated the luxury electric market since the Model S debuted. From a product standpoint, the Taycan promises some exceptional capabilities. Porsche executives say it will have a range of 400km, after charging in fewer than 20 minutes. It is expected to have a total system output of more than 600hp and accelerate to 100kph in less than 3.5 seconds.

In theory, it will hit at a time when potential Tesla consumers are less patient with poor build quality, endless wait times, and the latest antics from Tesla founder Elon Musk. It will also need to fend off other contenders on this front, including Volvo’s Polestar line, BMW’s Vision iNext vehicles, and Jaguar’s excellent I Pace SUV.

Taycan won’t be the only Volkswagen Group-mounted attack: Porsche is investing more than €6 billion (RM28.4bil) through 2022 on electric mobility; by 2025, it says, half of the vehicles Porsche produces, such as an electric version of the Macan, will be all-electric or hybrid. (Even the upcoming 992 has room for a hybrid powertrain.) Audi, too, will be sharing the same electric powertrain and 60 percent of the Taycan components in its forthcoming GT. But as the first, it’s the most important.

Along with spending all that cash, Porsche has joined with such competitors as Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG, and Ford Motor Co. to develop fast-charging infrastructures in Europe. They’re using racing such as Formula E as a testing bed to develop technology they use in those races for electric cars they can sell to consumers. Five years ago, I’d never have expected to see either happen. It all shows how much the automakers need this to work.

Yet this blockbuster car is no sure thing. The few times I was in Stuttgart in 2018, the factory in which the Taycan will be made was under construction.

The biggest challenge Porsche faces might be from its own loyalists. Read through any mention on social media about Porsche’s forthcoming electric endeavor, and you’ll have to wade through haters, trolls, and brand purists who decry the vehicle as lame, neutered, ugly, and a host of other things unprintable here.

These hardcore gearheads say an electric Porsche is no Porsche. It needs to be aspirated with air or water or something, they say, and the engine needs to rumble and crackle and pop, too. But if it looks like a Porsche and drives well, I don’t think the wider population will care one bit.

And having seen it most recently in Mexico City, I can vouch for its relative good looks. (Though I’d like to see it in slate gray, with different wheels.)

One thing is for sure: This will be the most important single vehicle Porsche has launched. And you’ll probably see the Taycan coming before you hear it. In the meantime, I need to drive that car! — HANNAH ELLIOTT


New BMW 7 Series basks in latest Mission: Impossible limelight

                NEW YORK: Car makers just love tie-ins with pop culture devices. An example are movies which are replete with alliances with car makers. The Transporter with Audi, Jurassic World with Mercedes-Benz and James Bond with Aston Martin.

The theme continues with the Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, which has teamed up with BMW to showcase a number of its models that includes the fifth generation BMW M3 (F80) and the BMW Motorrad S 1000 RR (K46) in part of the high-octane stunt scenes that dominate the show.

The film which was just released at the end of July showcased the high-adrenaline action that only Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his Impossible Mission Force (IMF) team can deliver.

BMW is the sole worldwide automotive partner of this installment of the action film from Paramount Pictures and Skydance. This is the second time BMW has lent its technological support to the franchise; it had previously partnered with Paramount on 2011’s “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”

Also featured in the film is the new 7 Series which BMW says sets new standards in lightweight design, driving dynamics, comfort, intelligent connectivity and intuitive operation. Based on innovations and technology transferred from BMW i, the 7 Series’ Carbon Core technology increases the strength and rigidity of the passenger cell while also reducing vehicle weight, allowing for a 86kg weight reduction in comparison to its predecessor.

The sixth-generation flagship also boasts the world’s first Gesture Control. Pre-selected hand movements in the vicinity of the center console allow the driver to adjust the audio volume control and accept or reject incoming phone calls, among other functions.

“We were thrilled to again have the support of BMW during the making of the film,” said LeeAnne Stables, President of Worldwide Marketing Partnerships for Paramount Pictures. “The vehicles performed magnificently under very difficult circumstances, and we know audiences will be amazed by the action driving stunts seen in the film.”

In addition to providing production support to the filmmaking team, BMW of North America will launch a series of “Mission to Drive” marketing initiatives around the film including television, radio and digital advertising. The automaker was the exclusive sponsor of the world premiere of the film in Vienna, Austria.

The latest Mission Impssible adventure sees IMF disbanded with Ethan out in the cold and his team facing off against a network of highly skilled special agents, the Syndicate. These operatives are hellbent on creating a new world order through an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with disavowed British agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who may or may not be a member of this rogue nation, as the group faces its most impossible mission yet. Others in the cast include Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris and Alec Baldwin.


Why are other automakers chasing Tesla's 'Gigacasting'?

                SINGAPORE: Toyota Motor said this week it will adopt a technology Tesla pioneered known as "Gigacasting" as part of a strategy by the Japanese automaker to improve the performance – and lower the cost – of future electric vehicles (EVs).

Toyota is not alone in following Tesla's breakthrough.

Here's a look at Gigacasting and how the innovation is forcing automakers to scramble to match Tesla:

What is gigacasting?

The Giga Press is an aluminium die-casting machine adopted by Tesla at its factories in the US, China and Germany. The house-sized machines are able to produce aluminium parts far bigger than anything used before in auto manufacturing.

The "giga" in the name is a nod to Tesla's convention of calling its plants "Gigafactories". Other automakers have taken to calling them "megapresses", which also can refer to smaller but still massive machines.

In operation, the press takes in a shot of molten aluminium of 80kg or more into a mould where it is formed into a part, released and then quickly cooled.

Tesla has developed an aluminium alloy that also allows it to skip the heat treating traditionally used to increase the strength of the cast part.

What's the payoff?

Typically more than a hundred individually stamped metal parts have been welded together to make a car body.

Fewer parts, lower costs and a simplified production line have contributed to Tesla's industry-leading profitability, analysts have said.

For Tesla, the use of a single component in the rear of the Model Y - its best-selling model - allowed it to cut related costs by 40%, the company has said.

In the Model 3, by using a single piece from the front and rear of the vehicle, Tesla was able to remove 600 robots from assembly, Elon Musk has said.

It can also cut a vehicle's weight – an important consideration for EVs where the battery pack alone can weigh more than 700 kg. And it has the potential to reduce waste and greenhouse emissions from a plant.

Toyota said it expected that using aluminium die-casting would eliminate dozens of sheet metal parts from assembly and reduce waste.

Who makes these machines?

Tesla sources its presses from Italy-based IDRA, which has been a unit of China's LK Industries since 2008.

Competitors of IDRA and LK include Buhler Group in Europe, Ube (4208.T) and Shibaura Machine (6104.T) in Japan, and Yizumi (300415.SZ) and Haitian (1882.HK) in China.

The global aluminium die-casting market was worth almost $73 billion last year and is projected to top $126 billion by 2032, showed an AlixPartners analysis.

Who's chasing it?

In addition to Toyota, General Motors (GM.N), Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and affiliates of China's Geely – Volvo Cars, Polestar and Zeekr - are using the technology or planning for it.

Zeekr has started using massive aluminium die casts for a multi-purpose van it makes for sale in China and has said it will introduce the technology for other models.

Volvo said last year it would invest more than $900 million to upgrade its plant near Gothenburg, Sweden, to include megapress technology.

What's the catch?

Cost is one.

Tesla records most of its sales with just two models: the Model 3 and Model Y. High sales volume on just two platforms make it easier to justify the investment in new production technology. Other EV startups also have that advantage.

For legacy automakers with more complicated product lineups and factory machinery that is already amortized, the decision to invest tens of millions of dollars in new casting technology can be a harder call, analysts have said.

Cars with body sections cast into single pieces could also be harder or more expensive to repair after an accident. That could add to the cost of operation for EVs.

Already insurance companies are writing off EVs with low mileage if they have damaged batteries because there is often no way to repair even slightly damaged battery packs.


VW unveils design study GEN.TRAVEL

                PARIS: Volkswagen is set to present an innovative design study that will redefine the long-distance mobility of the future on Sept 24.

The all-electric powered Innovation Experience Vehicle (IEV) is a real prototype that drives autonomously (Level 5) and gives a realistic outlook for the mobility of the coming decade.

The car’s modular interior concept makes it a flexible, sustainable Mobility-as-a-Service alternative to short-haul flights.

As a research vehicle, the purpose of the Gen.Travel is to test the concept and new functionalities for customer response. Based on the study results, individual features may later be transferred to series vehicles.

With GEN.TRAVEL, the Volkswagen Group has developed an iconic, innovation-packed study that constitutes a completely new vehicle category in the premium portfolio between sedan and MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle).

GEN.TRAVEL is expected to offer door-to-door travel with zero emissions.

The GEN.TRAVEL has a unique, modular interior concept that can be customized for each journey and booked as a Mobility-as-a-Service offering. Depending on the configuration, up to four people can be transported in the concept vehicle.

For business trips, the conference setup with four comfortable seats and a large table in the middle of the interior provides relaxed surroundings. Dynamic lighting creates a pleasant working environment and avoids the danger of kinetosis (motion sickness).

A configuration in the overnight-setup allows the conversion of two seats into two beds that can be folded out to a full-flat position.

An innovative passenger restraint system ensures maximum safety even in a lying position. The GEN.TRAVEL lighting system influences melatonin production to help passengers fall asleep and wake up naturally.

For family trips, the GEN.TRAVEL with front seats can be configured to entertain the children using augmented reality (AR). The interior is light, with a natural design. All HMI (human-machine interface) elements are produced using sustainable materials, combined with recycled or natural materials.

The futuristic exterior of the GEN.TRAVEL is divided into two parts: The transparent, glass cabin is incorporated into the lower section, which houses all the technical features.

The edge of the window is at waist level, making it very low so as to maximise the view of the outside. At the same time, when passengers are lying down flat in the car, they do not experience any external influences. The wing doors of the GEN.TRAVEL facilitate better entry and exit.

For maximum comfort, the GEN.TRAVEL has the active suspension eABC (electric Active Body Control) that calculates vertical and lateral movements such as acceleration, braking, or cornering ahead of time, and optimises the driving style and trajectory accordingly.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and platooning – fully autonomous driving in convoys – are used to further increase the range for long-distance journeys.


Daimler, Geely in talks to expand cooperation into a 'bigger dimension'

                STUTTGART: Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche on Wednesday said the carmaker is in talks about deepening its cooperation with China’s Geely, even as German politicians draw up measures to protect German industry from foreign rivals.

In October last year Daimler said it was setting up a ride-hailing joint venture in China with Geely after the Chinese company bought a 9.69 percent stake in Daimler and demanded an alliance, catching German managers off guard.

“We are in talks about other topics which have a bigger dimension,” Zetsche told journalists about the Chinese talks, declining to elaborate further.

Germany’s government on Tuesday said it could buy stakes in domestic companies, including carmakers, as a way to shield them from unwanted prevent foreign takeovers, presenting a marked shift in industrial strategy.

“Countries that pursue industrial policies tend not to be competitive, we did not ask for these measures,” Zetsche told journalists in Stuttgart, where Daimler was hosting its annual press conference.


Tesla sued by Norway car owners as speed not insane enough

                OSLO: Tesla Motors Inc. customers in Norway are seeking money back from the US electric-car maker, saying their models marketed with an “insane mode” of acceleration didn’t go fast enough.

Some 126 owners of the Tesla Model S sedan’s P85D performance version are seeking unspecified reimbursements after the model only reached 469hp instead of a pledged 700 hp, said Kaspar N. Thommessen, an attorney at Wikborg Rein law firm representing the plaintiffs.

The car “has too low horsepower,” the lawyer said Wednesday in an e-mailed response to questions. “And of course, it affects the car’s performance, according to the consumers.”

Tesla rejected the claims. The car meets requirements “according to the measurement method required by the authorities,” said Even Sandvold Roland, a spokesman for the automaker. Oslo District Court said it has scheduled hearings in the case for mid-December.

Norway is one of the biggest markets for the Model S, in part because of state subsidies to encourage electric-car purchases. Tesla no longer sells the P85D variant there, while the successor P90D costs 801,000 kroner (RM497,000). The earlier model was known for its “insane mode” acceleration option after it came out two years ago.

Norway’s Consumer Disputes Commission ruled in June that five P85D buyers who complained of inadequate acceleration should be reimbursed as much as 50,000 kroner (RM31,000) apiece. Tesla’s own tests and independent checks showed the P85D can accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 3.1 to 3.3 seconds. That indicates the performance figures “have always been accurate,” Sandvold Roland said in an e-mail.

Dagens Naeringsliv newspaper reported on the lawsuit earlier Wednesday.

In a related development, Tesla said Wednesday that it had fixed a software vulnerability in its luxury electric Model S sedan after a Chinese security team hacked a car’s systems and remotely controlled it.

The newest hacking case of remote manipulation of a car served to underscore the potential dangers of vehicles that are heavily connected via wireless technologies. ”Tesla has already deployed an over-the-air software update that addresses the potential security issues” of the hack, the company said in a statement.

Keen Security Lab, a unit of Chinese internet giant Tencent, announced on Monday that after a months-long effort it had discovered “multiple security vulnerabilities” in the Model S and had been able to remotely control a car in both parking and driving mode. Keen posted a video showing its ability to manipulate an unmodified Tesla remotely.

Keen said that after the hack it informed Tesla Motors and the two companies were cooperating on the issue.


Mforce Bike Holdings wins franchise to sell QJ Motor bikes

                GEORGE TOWN: Mforce Bike Holdings Sdn Bhd has been appointed the sole distributor of China-based QJ Motor in Malaysia.

Qianjiang Motorcycle, formed in 1985, produces various types of motorcycles, including Benelli, Keeway and QJ Motor brands that have been exported worldwide.

With the entry of the QJ Motor brand into the Malaysian motorcycle market, it will provide more options to motorcycle enthusiasts in the country as its products include a wide range of motorcycles from 100cc to 1,300cc such as the SRT800, SRK600 and QJ Race 250.

Mforce Bike Holdings operation general manager Asri Ahmad said Mforce is currently conducting endurance tests on a selection of QJ Motor models to ensure they meet quality specifications.

Mforce will start selling QJ Motor brand motorcycles in the second quarter of 2022.


Honda applies to patent and trademark CR-Z moniker in US alone

                WASHINGTON: It seems that Honda has applied to trademark its CR-Z moniker, but only in the US thus far.

Although the application is in the works, the Japanese carmaker's paperwork doesn't seem to have been vetted as yet - a process by the United States Patent and Trademark Office that could take months.

The application has begun raising question marks as to what is being planned as Honda axes the Fit, Civic Coupe and Accord (MT) from the US market.

The CR-Z originally debuted at the 2010 North American International Auto Show and subsequently went on sale that very year which took on much of the CR-X's design cues.

It used a 1.5-litre hybrid assisted engine producing 122hp and 174Nm of torque and was followed by a more powerful 130hp /190Nm engine and electric motor combination in 2013.


Govt move to allow automotive plant activities lauded

                KUALA LUMPUR: Kenanga Research has lauded the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s move to reinstate automotive manufacturing in the approved list of services in economic sectors allowed to operate during the second Movement Control Order (MCO 2.0), starting Jan 16.

In a note yesterday, it said the decision was a positive development for the automotive industry, supported by the extension of the Sales and Services Tax-exempted sales up to June 30 to clear the backlogged orders.

Based on the recently released data for 2020’s full-year total industry volume (TIV), Perodua sold 220,154 units, Toyota sold 59,320 units and Proton sold 109,716 units — all higher than their initial target numbers.

"Thus, we tweak 2020 TIV target higher to 515,000 units (-17 per cent year-on-year) from 500,000 units previously, and expecting a stronger recovery in 2021 with TIV target of 585,000 units (+14 per cent year-on-year),” said Kenanga Research, maintaining its "overweight” call for the industry.

Vehicle production and component manufacturing were included in the initial directive on MCO 2.0 issued on Jan 12, but an update to the document less than 24 hours thereafter saw them being omitted, with a specific footnote mentioning that automotive assembly and manufacturing activities were no longer included in the permitted list.

Now, in another U-turn, the ministry has given the green light for all automotive assembly plants covering vehicle and component manufacturing to continue operations, adding it to the list of essential services.


Toyota to offer cars in India on lease, subscription

                NEW DELHI: Toyota Motor Corp will offer its cars in India on leases or shorter-term subscriptions, hoping to tap growing demand for private transport as travellers cut down on communal journeys in the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Japanese automaker said today it would offer leasing plans to corporate and retail customers of three to five years across its portfolio of cars - including the Glanza hatchback, Yaris sedan and Fortuner sport-utility vehicle - for as little as 21,000 rupees (RM1,175) a month.

Naveen Soni, senior vice president, sales and service at the carmaker’s India unit, said the need for safe transport was growing and leasing or subscription models offered a more cost-effective solution than buying a car.

So far, leasing and subscription services in India have largely focussed on the higher end of the auto market and therefore make up a fraction of the overall numbers, said Soni.

“The lower end of the market is where the bulk is,” he said, adding that was where Toyota would also focus.

Toyota’s competitors in India, such as Maruti Suzuki (MRTI.NS) and Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS), have formed partnerships to offer similar services, as carmakers look to boost revenues amid the pandemic.

Toyota’s India unit has formed a separate team to drive the business and it will partner with its Japanese parent’s global mobility services brand, KINTO, as well as ALD Automotive and SMAS Auto Leasing.


EU fines BMW and Volkswagen Group US$1bil over emissions cleaning

Vestager.

BRUSSELS: The European Commission said today three German carmakers breached EU antitrust rules by restricting competition in emission cleaning for new passenger diesel cars, fining BMW and Volkswagen Group a total of €875 million (RM4.3bil or US$1bil).

The EU executive said the trio had colluded on technical development in the area of nitrogen oxide cleaning, but Daimler was not fined because it revealed the existence of the cartel.

"The five car manufacturers Daimler, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche possessed the technology to reduce harmful emissions beyond what was legally required under EU emission standards. But they avoided to compete on using this technology's full potential to clean better than what is required by law," said EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager.

"So today's decision is about how legitimate technical cooperation went wrong. And we do not tolerate it when companies collude."

Volkswagen said it was considering whether to take legal action against the fine, saying the penalty over technical talks about emissions technology with other carmakers set a questionable precedent.

"The commission is entering new judicial territory, because it is treating technical cooperation for the first time as an antitrust violation," the German carmaker said after being fined €502 million (RM2.5bil).

"Furthermore it is imposing fines, although the content of the talks was never implemented and no customers suffered any harm as a result," Volkswagen added in a statement.

BMW agreed to the settlement proposed by the European Commission, paying a €373 million (RM1.8bil) fine, saying it had been cleared of suspicion of using illegal "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests.

"This underlines that there has never been any allegation of unlawful manipulation of emission control systems by the BMW Group," the company said in a statement.


Magic Earth Navigation & Maps app can spot driving errors using your phone's camera

                BERLIN: If your car doesn't have a built-in navigation system, then you'll likely be using a smartphone app like Google Maps on your phone to help you navigate. This usually does the job - but what if your mapping app could also watch your driving for mistakes?

This is where Magic Earth Navigation & Maps, available free of charge, sets itself apart from the likes of Apple Maps and Google Maps with its suite of driver assistance features.

Those features can be activated when your smartphone is clipped into a cradle in landscape mode and the camera has a clear view of the road ahead of your car.

The app will then warn you if you accidentally leave your lane, if the distance to the car in front of you becomes dangerously short or if it spots pedestrians crossing the road ahead of you.

There's even a dash-cam function to record your driving in case of accidents, potentially giving you evidence you were not at fault if you are accused of causing a crash.

For display and route planning with real-time traffic information, the app uses map material based on the Open Street Map project. 3D and satellite views are also available.

For tricky lane changes and complicated turns, the app can also put the live feed from the smartphone camera onto the display and use arrows to show you where to go.

Thanks to offline maps in 233 countries and regions, you’re not dependent on having mobile Internet connection (Google Maps also offers this option).

Turn-by-turn navigation is not only available for cars but can also be switched on for cycling, pedestrians, and public transport.

The app also supports Apple CarPlay, but not yet Android auto. Those who use the app in CarPlay mode see the navigation map on the display of the car entertainment system.

For those who don’t like to give away their data, Magic Earth Navigation & Maps promises to be tracking-free and would not store any personal data of its users. There are no ads in the app either.

What there is, however, is a wealth of potentially interesting places along with associated Wikipedia entries for further information.

Weather conditions can also be seen, and the app can show you the temperature at any given location and how the weather there is expected to develop in the next 14 days.

And last but not least, parking spaces, petrol stations, charging stations and restaurants along the route can be selected to be shown.


Kia teases tech-infused concept SUV, shows off DRIVE WISE at CES 2016

                LOS ANGELES: Kia Motors America will reveal a new concept car at the 2016 North American International Auto Show.

Conceived at the automaker’s California design studio, the concept promises plenty of advanced technology – including state-of-the-art health-and-wellness technology – and takes Kia’s design language in a new direction, suggesting styling of a possible future premium large SUV in the brand’s lineup.

Kia hasn't revealed anything about its powertrain or how the interior would look like but more details will be forthcoming, come Jan 11.

 The Soul EV being tested in Nevada.

Like a number of other car makers, Kia is now also at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 in Las Vegas, which opens today ahead of the Detroit show next week.

Kia is showcasing a DRIVE WISE for autonomous driving technologies. It has recently announced plans to make partially-autonomous cars by 2020, and aims to bring its first fully-autonomous vehicle to market by 2030. It has recently been licensed by Nevada to test autonomous Kia Soul EV on public roads in the US state.

Engineered to improve safety for all road users, DRIVE WISE will enable Kia to introduce intelligent safety technologies to its future model range, helping to eliminate potential dangers – and, for many, the boredom – of driving, while changing the ways in which owners interact with their vehicles.

The more advanced technologies under development by Kia provide the driver with greater levels of assistance, anticipating and reacting to changing road conditions and potential hazards to improve safety for all road users. By helping to eliminate many of the inherent dangers, stresses and hassles of driving on today’s congested roads, DRIVE WISE will enable owners to focus more on the pleasure of driving.

The DRIVE WISE technologies on display at CES 2016 include Highway Autonomous Driving, Urban Autonomous Driving, Preceding Vehicle Following, Emergency Stop System, Traffic Jam Assist and a new Autonomous Parking & Out function.


US to propose standards for government funded EV charging projects

                WASHINGTON: The US Transportation Department (USDOT) is on Thursday proposing minimum standards and requirements for electric vehicle (EV) charging projects funded under a US$5 billion government program.

"Everyone should be able to count on fast charging, fair pricing and easy-to-use payment," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.

Deploying a nationwide network of fast, reliable EV charging stations is critical to the Biden administration's efforts to prod more Americans to switch to electric vehicles even as efforts to win substantial additional funding for EVs in Congress have stalled.

By 2030, Biden wants 50% of all new vehicles sold to be electric or plug-in hybrid electric models and 500,000 new EV charging stations. He has not endorsed phasing out new gasoline-powered vehicle sales by 2030.

The standards aim to ensure the government-funded EV charging network "is user-friendly, reliable, and accessible to all Americans, and interoperable between different charging companies, with similar payment systems, pricing information, charging speeds, and more," USDOT said.

The new proposed rule from the Federal Highway Administration would ensure EV owners could use charging stations nationwide that would have "similar payment systems, pricing information (and) charging speeds."

"Everybody should be able to find a working charging station when and where they need it - without worrying about paying more or getting worse service because of where they live," Buttigieg said.

"You shouldn't have to sort through a half dozen apps on your phone just to be able to pay at a charging station."

The rules would ensure EV stations built nationwide can communicate and operate on the same software platforms.

The rules would require funded EV charging stations to have at least four ports capable of simultaneously fast charging four EVs and bar charging stations from requiring drivers to have a membership to use them.

EV chargers would need to be working 97% of the time and set data standards that third-party apps can provide real-time charging status information.

Proposed rules will set certification standards for workers installing, operating, and maintaining EV chargers.


Mercedes posts rise in Q1 sales boosted by EVs, premium cars

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz Group sales rose moderately in the first quarter of the year, boosted by electric vehicles (EV) and premium cars, the German carmaker said today.

Worldwide sales increased 3% to 503,500 vehicles, with Europe posting the strongest growth at 8%.

The firm saw the biggest sales plunge in the rest of the world that includes all of the regions except Europe, Asia and North America.

The number dropped by almost a quarter there, impacted by a decision by the company to halt export and production in Russia in March last year.

EVs were the main growth driver in the quarter, with sales almost doubling to 51,600 units.

The top-end segment - which includes models such as AMG, Maybach and G-class - also demonstrated solid growth of 18%, reaching 91,800 for the period.

Britta Seeger, a Mercedes board member, said both segments posted strong results "despite ongoing supply chain disruptions, economic headwinds and geopolitical uncertainties".

Sales in the Mercedes-Benz Vans division grew 12% in the quarter, reaching 98,900 - its best first-quarter result ever.

Earlier on Wednesday, Swedish peer Volvo reported record first-quarter profits in a sign the company had begun to overcome bottlenecks and inflation that hampered the industry.


Tesla’s Model 3 is the only EV doing real volume in the US

                DETROIT: If automakers learned anything from 2019, it’s that the have and have-nots of the US electric-vehicle market are Tesla Inc.’s Model 3 — and everything else.

The Model 3 sold in serious volume, with website InsideEVs.com estimating almost 160,000 sales for the year. Other automakers investing billions to roll out electric models have serious catching up to do.

After the Model 3, one has to scroll far down the sales rankings to find Tesla’s Model S and X and offerings from General Motors Co. and Nissan Motor Co. And 2019 was a year to forget for the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan LEAF with deliveries dropping 8.9% and 16%, respectively.

And what of those pricey European models that are supposed to challenge Elon Musk? Porsche is just starting to sell the much-hyped Taycan and handed over the first 130 units in December. Audi sold 746 of its all-electric e-tron crossovers and tallied just 5,369 units for the year. Jaguar was even further behind, delivering 2,594 I-Pace SUVs.

To give Musk a more-serious run for his money, automakers are probably going to need models with longer range before plugging in and charging. Even then, the controversial chief executive officer may still have a leg up by building an allure around the company.

"Perhaps Tesla’s best asset is its brand,” Joe Spak, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a report Friday. "Many consumers are evangelical about their vehicles.”


Detroit Three automakers reinstate mask mandate at some facilities

                DETROIT: General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler parent Stellantis NV said on Sunday they are reinstating a requirement that employees wear masks in south-eastern Michigan where there are high levels of COVID-19.

The Detroit Three automakers said in early March they would allow auto workers to stop wearing masks at workplaces where US health officials said it was safe to do so.

That month, the automakers said they would adopt revised guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allowing workers at US facilities to not wear masks regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, if those facilities were not in high-risk counties.

The masking guidelines issued in February shifted from a focus on the rate of Covid-19 transmission to monitoring local hospitalisations, hospital capacity and infection rates.

Six counties in southeastern Michigan - including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw - are again listed by the CDC as having high Covid-19 levels. The CDC recommends wearing masks indoors in public settings in those counties.

Ford said it was temporarily reinstating a face mask requirement at all of its plants located in areas deemed high-risk by the CDC.

Stellantis said that starting on Monday, "company-issued face masks will again be required for employees, contractors and visitors at all Stellantis facilities" in those Michigan counties. The company added, "it is expected that the requirement will be in place for the next two weeks."

GM said it "will be implementing COVID protection measures at our facilities in Oakland, Wayne, Livingston and Macomb counties given the CDC has now listed them as high risk."

The United Auto Workers union said Sunday if "a facility is located in high-risk counties as identified by the CDC, they will require masking and physical distancing."

GM and Ford both have their headquarters in Wayne County, while Stellantis' North American headquarters is in Oakland County, while all three have numerous factories in southeastern Michigan.

The CDC says 4.25% of US counties are currently listed as having high levels of Covid-19.


New Hyundai i20 N teased

                LONDON: Hyundai Motor has revealed a first teaser of the new i20 N, a racetrack-capable hot hatch based on the all-new i20 and inspired by the i20 WRC rally car.

The i20 N’s design features a dynamic overall look based on Hyundai’s new Sensuous Sportiness design identity.

The front has a larger air intake for the turbo engine and brake cooling. The wheels are bespoke 18-inch with a grey matte finish and N-branded brake callipers.

A distinctive rear spoiler enhances its aerodynamic performance for fun to drive on any road and in all weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the i20 N’s Performance Blue livery, which is exclusive to Hyundai N models, and Phantom Black roof for an optional two-tone style, as well as red exterior accents .

More details will be revealed soon.