With electrification, Nissan's Gupta sees new spark for Renault tie-up

                YOKOHAMA: Nissan Motor Co will standardise and share electric-vehicle components with alliance partner Renault SA, the Japanese automaker's chief operating officer (COO) said, describing electrification as the partnership's new lynchpin.

The Franco-Japanese alliance, which also includes junior member Mitsubishi Motors Corp, was strained in the aftermath of the arrest and ouster of former chairman Carlos Ghosn.

Since then, the coronavirus pandemic has provided an impetus to rebuild the collaboration, and the companies have looked to standardise parts and platforms to cut costs.

Nissan has already been sharing common platforms, powertrains and components with Renault and Mitsubishi, but those efforts have "reached the maximum we should do," Ashwani Gupta, Nissan's COO, said on Friday.

"That's why we are shifting the gear of further synergies using electrification as the main pillar," he said.

The focus will be on sharing batteries, electric powertrains and electronic architecture, he said, adding that adopting a uniform standard across the alliance would "contribute significantly" to economies of scale.

Gupta said electrification would not pose a supply challenge because of Nissan's global sourcing of components. He said it had battery sourcing in China, Japan, Europe and the United States.

Together the alliance sold more than 7.8 million cars last year, down about 23% from 2019 as the companies were hit by the pandemic.

The push to share more of the work on electric vehicles (EVs) illustrates the scope of the challenge facing automakers everywhere, as the industry is being transformed by fast-moving technology.

Ford has a strategic alliance with Volkswagen AG, under which Ford will use its German partner's MEB electric vehicle platform to build some models.

Toyota Motor Corp has expanded ties with companies including Subaru Corp and Chinese battery and automaker BYD to jointly develop EVs, while Honda Motor Co and General Motors will introduce two jointly developed large-sized EV models using GM's Ultium batteries in 2024.

Battery hurdles

Nissan, one of the world's first car makers to embrace fully EVs with its LEAF model, will share the platform of its upcoming all-electric Ariya SUV with Renault.

Batteries are one of the costliest components of EVs, with raw materials accounting for the largest part of the cost.

Yet battery development has been one of the weaker points of the more than 20-year alliance, with both Nissan and Renault sourcing batteries separately.

Renault chief executive Luca de Meo said this month the two companies are in talks to collaborate more by using the same battery technology, and Gupta said on Friday they have agreed on the common specifications of batteries.

Gupta also said that while keeping the distinctiveness of each brand was important in the alliance, the automakers would share "to eliminate the duplication of resources".

Nissan, Japan's number three automaker by sales, has said it will electrify all new models in key markets by the early 2030s. It expects yearly sales of more than one million electrified vehicles by the end of fiscal 2023.


Phase two of Pan Borneo highway to start soon

                KUCHING: With the RM16bil phase one of Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak project reaching the tail end of completion, construction work is to start soon for the phase two project linking Limbang and Lawas via Brunei.

The 88km road project, also known as Northern Coastal Highway, has already been agreed to by the Brunei government, according to Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

He said the project will start this year.

Besides the phase two Pan Borneo Sarawak project, also to be accelerated in its construction is the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) of which the phase one is currently being implemented, said Awang Tengah while on his Chinese New Year’s visits with community leaders in Limbang last week.

SSLR phase one is a 77km stretch from Simpang Gelugus to Long Lopeng in Lawas. The RM1.13bil project was awarded to Samling Resources Sdn Bhd in 2021.

Kimlun Corporation Bhd, via subsidiary Kimplun Sdn Bhd, was appointed as the main contractor for the construction and maintenance work of the proposed road scheduled to be completed by 2026.

Currently, travellers between Gelugus and Long Lopeng have to rely on logging roads built by timber companies.

Phase two of Pan Borneo Highway, which connects Long Lopeng and Miri, will be implemented by various government agencies, including the Regional Corridor Development Authority and the Rural Development Ministry.

The 425km SSLR project, which will connect 14 major towns in Sarawak and Sabah from Miri, is originally targeted for completion in 2026.

Upon completion and open to traffic, the SSLR will save travellers time to commute between Sarawak and Sabah, without having to pass through Brunei and the immigration and customs checkpoints on the Sarawak-Brunei border.

The phase two of Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak and SSLR project are reported to cost the federal government a combined RM12bil.

The phase one Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak project, which involves 11 work packages, were awarded, among others, to several major Sarawak construction firms on a 70:30 joint venture with their counterparts from Peninsular Malaysia.

The project was originally slated for completion in 2021 but was extended to September 2022 following the termination of Lebuhraya Utara Sdn Bhd (LBU) as the project delivery partner in February 2020.

After LBU’s termination, the Sarawak Public Works Department took over as the project’s supervising officer.

The project has been further delayed due to disruptions caused by movement control order imposed by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, as well as labour shortage faced by the contractors.

Most of the work packages are expected to be completed and opened to traffic by later this year. Completed stretches from Kuching to Sibu have been opened to traffic on a staggered basis.

According to Awang Tengah, under planning now is a road to connect the entry point of the Sarawak-Indonesia border to Long Lopeng. Once built, the new road will be integrated to the SSLR.


SYM VF3i launched from RM7,988

                PENANG: SYM Malaysia has unveiled its VF3i and touts it to have the largest displacement for a moped in its category with a liquid-cooled 185cc single-cylinder motor and is offered in two variants for choice.

The new moped, which is covered by a two-year warranty, will be available from May onwards at authorised SYM dealers and pricing starts with the standard variant at RM7,988 (Red or Blue), while the Special Edition (Matte Black) costs RM8,288. Prices are without GST and other fees.

The 124kg moped gets a seven-litre fuel tank that feeds the EURO 3-compliant single-cylinder motor with a single overhead cam, managed by a six-speed manual transmission with a wet clutch, to provide 17.7hp at 8,500rpm for the rear wheel.

Grip comes from its 90/80 (front) and 120/70 (rear) tubeless tyres that have been fitted to 17-inch wheels that gives it a 150mm ground clearance while having a 1,290mm wheelbase.

The chassis is suspended by a pair of conventional front telescopic forks with 80mm of travel, while the rear uses a non-adjustable oil-damped mono shock-absorber with 32mm of travel.

Braking comes from a single front 250mm disc brake and rear 200mm disc at the back.

In terms of equipment, it comes with LEDs for its day-time running lights, signal lamps and rear brake light, while a LCD speedometer and analogue engine-speed combination instrument cluster stares back at the rider.


Car dents: It's probably best not to fix them yourself

                BERLIN: Car bodywork repair kits appear to offer owners a cheap way to fix minor damage to their vehicles. There are kits available on the internet for less than the price of a new tyre, and that's a tempting proposition when compared with the cost of taking your car to the repair shop.

But in a practical application of these products, testers have found they aren't up to the mark.

Among the shortcomings, according to testers at German car magazine Auto Bild, were the absence from the kits of hot-melt glue guns. On top of that, any glue sticks that were included, often don't fit into the most commonly available glue guns.

Although there was a sliding hammer for removing dents, there was no denting hammer for overstretched sheet metal parts. And only a spatula was supplied to remove the adhesive residue, which caused scratches to the paintwork (professionals use plastic remover).

If all the necessary additional expenses for the missing parts were included in the cost of a kit, a small repair at a specialist repair shop would probably come out cheaper.

Minor dents can often be repaired without replacing parts or repainting. But owners wishing to do that themselves should practice on old sheet metal body sections before trying it out on their actual car.

Fixes like this require a certain amount of manual skill, patience and a sense of proportion. If you pull too hard, for example, the metal sheet can overstretch outwards, so instead of a dent, you’ll end up with an unattractive bulge.


Volkswagen rolls out RM167K Golf R-Line

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has finally introduced the new Golf R-Line today, completing the new Golf family line-up in Malaysia.

You may recall that it started the rollout of the new Golf only last month. At that time, it didn't have the R-Line ready yet, which meant it had to swing with what it had, namely the Golf 1.4TSI in Sportline, GTI 2.0TSI and  R 2.0TSI forms.

The Golf R-Line is priced at RM166,990. The Golf R-Line is basically a Golf 1.4TSI which is - inspired with the bodykits and new wheels. But the R-Line comes with Active Info Display, while the Sportline doesn't.

The car is decked in the ‘R-Line’ styling package which includes the ‘R-Line’ front and rear bumper, rear spoiler, ‘R-Line’ badges on radiator grille and side panels, and 17” Singapore alloy wheels.

VPCM managing director Erik Winter said the R-Line’s arrival completes the Golf family line-up.

“Since the launch of the Golf family, we have received very positive response towards the variants – and now with today’s unveiling, the family is complete.

"The Golf is such an iconic model for Volkswagen, and has a strong following here and around the world, so it is no surprise that more than 34 million units have been sold worldwide since it its market introduction in 1974. To date, demand for the Golf remains an all-time high for us.”

Under the hood, the Golf R-Line’s 1.4TSI turbocharged engine is mated with a 7-speed dry clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG), to give 148hp and a torque of 250Nm between 1,500 and 3,500rpm.

It has a 12.3” Active Info Display and 8” screen Composition Media with App-Connect (which runs systems such as MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple Carplay). Other convenience features include LED headlights (with Dynamic Cornering Lights), 2-Zone Climatronic air conditioning system, rear-view camera, keyless entry, electronic parking brake and Driving Mode Selections with four different modes of Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual.

Equipped with 7 airbags, the Golf R-Line comes with an array of advanced safety features such as Maneuver Braking which automatically brakes the car when it senses objects up 10kph during parking. Also available is Automatic Post Collision Brake System where the brakes are automatically applied to prevent subsequent impact when the vehicle is involved in a collision.

The Golf R-Line also comes with Rest Assist and Proactive Occupant Protection System, which looks out for the driver and occupants in the vehicle while the Advanced Electronic Differential Lock (XDS) provides added grip during fast cornering.

The Golf R-Line is available in Tumeric Yellow, Atlantic Blue, Pure White, Deep Black, White Silver and Indium Grey.

It was unveiled at at the Malaysia Autoshow 2018.

 Winter with the Golf R-Line.


Gentari teams up with Lotus

Ezan (left) and Shah Yang at the signing of the MoU in Kuala Lumpur today.
KUALA LUMPUR: Clean energy solutions provider Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari) via its wholly-owned subsidiary Gentari Green Mobility Sdn Bhd, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lotus Cars Malaysia to explore collaborations in green mobility infrastructure deployment.

The MoU signing, held during the launch of the Lotus Eletre here today, saw Gentari represented by its chief green mobility officer, Shah Yang Razalli, while Lotus Cars Malaysia – the sole franchise holder of Lotus vehicles in Malaysia - was represented by its general manager, Tengku Ezan Ley.

Covering a period of two years, the MoU will see Gentari partnering with Lotus to explore joint work in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at Lotus' facilities as well as public areas, including EV charging packages for Lotus EV owners.

Other potential forms of co-operation include the introduction of Zero Emission Vehicle Fleet solutions in Malaysia, renewable energy deployment at Lotus facilities and a digital platform with the boutique carmaker.

READ MORE:  Gentari rolls out S-E Asia’s first 350kW public EV charger

"We are working with like-minded partners across all segments of transportation in driving towards sustainable mobility. Today, we are partnering with Lotus Cars Malaysia to make it easier for drivers of its high-performance cars to also reduce their carbon footprint with every kilometre travelled," said Shah Yang.

Ezan said the partnership with Gentari would enable the company to better support its EV customers starting with the all - electric Eletre.

"Enhancing connectivity to Gentari’s fast-growing EV charging network,will help increase convenience for our customers so they can effectively plan their trips and reduce range anxiety."

Since its introduction in June 2022, Gentari has made rapid progress in expanding its green mobility network.

Currently, Gentari through its affiliated entities, has deployed more than 150 charging points across 35 locations in Malaysia and over 160 charging points in India.

With a mission to be Asia Pacific’s preferred green mobility solutions provider, Gentari aims to capture 10% market share (circa 25,000 charging points based on current estimates) across key markets in Asia Pacific by 2030.

In the mid-term, Gentari aims to install 9,000 public charging points by 2026, with an anchored presence in Malaysia and India.


CarSifu at 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show

The Project One hypercar.
FRANKFURT: CarSifu has arrived in Germany today for the 67th Frankfurt Motor Show.

We will be covering Mercedes-Benz's launch of several models and concepts, with the highlight being its Project One hypercar, created to celebrate 50 years of AMG.

The trade fair visit will end with a drive of the AMG GT series of cars to and at the Bilster Berg Drive Resort in  Bad Driburg, 270km north of here.

Mercedes-Benz is exhibiting around 100 vehicles at the Frankfurt show, among them several world premières of concept cars.

While there are more details known of the various models to be showcased, Mercedes-Benz is keeping a tight lid on Project One until the press reveal on Sept 11.

The Project One with Formula 1 hybrid drive technology is a near-series study of a hypercar and points the way to AMG's "Future of Driving Performance."

What is known is that it uses a high revving turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 4 electric motors, resulting in a top speed of over 350kph. The engine itself is capable of making over 1,000hp.

In recent weeks, Mercedes-Benz has teased and released details on the electric smart showcar and compact electric EQ concept, the all-new X-Class pick-up truck and the GLC F‑CELL concept. More traditional debuts will include the updated S-Class Coupé and S‑Class Cabriolet in standard and AMG versions.

Notable absentees at the 2017 show are Tesla, Nissan, Peugeot, Fiat, Volvo, Jeep, Mitsubishi and Infiniti.

German Association of the Automotive Industry president Matthias Wissmann said 1,000 exhibitors from 39 countries will be at the show, setting a new record: 363 innovations including 228 world premieres. The number of European premieres has more than doubled with a focus on digitisation, urban mobility and electric mobility, he said, adding that IT and technology firms will also be present.

The Frankfurt show opens to the public from Sept 16-24, with Sept 12-13 being press days and the following two days for trade visitors.


Hyundai considers adding SUVs, pickup to US factory, says paper

Tucson.
SEOUL: South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co is considering building its Tucson and Kona sport utility vehicles and its pickup truck at its sole US factory to reverse a sales slump, Seoul Economic Daily reported today.

Hyundai aims to produce the Tucson and the pickup at its US plant in Alabama in 2021, the report said, citing anonymous industry officials. The plant currently builds Sonata and Elantra sedans and Santa Fe SUVs.

Hyundai said it had made no decision about the future of SUV production in the United States.

 Kona.

“We are always considering the possibilities of all products in individual markets,” it said in a statement.

To boost SUV production, Hyundai would increase the production capacity of the US factory to 450,000 vehicles a year, from the current 380,000 vehicles, the report said. Hyundai Motor denied it had any plan to expand US capacity.

The company is grappling with slumping sales of its mainstay sedans such as the Sonata as low oil prices drive demand for petrol-guzzling SUVs and trucks.

Hyundai posted the biggest sales fall among US carmakers in October, dropping 15 percent in a market that slipped 1.2 percent.

 Sonata.

Hyundai Motor senior executive Michael J. O‘Brien previously said it planned to launch a pickup truck in the United States, while people familiar with the matter said the model was expected to be produced in late 2020 and was likely to be built in Alabama.

O‘Brien also said the “number one issue” was how to increase production, particularly of the Tucson, which was “short of supply.”

He also said the smaller Kona SUV, which will be launched in the United States early next year, will come from South Korea, “at least initially.”


7 popular 2.0-litre SUVs duke it out on specs: Which one is right for you?

The Mazda CX-5.
It's hard to choose from the exciting range of  SUVs (sport utility vehicles) in the market nowadays.

Carsifu takes a closer look at seven rivals within the 2.0-litre petrol SUV segment.

They are the new Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 (GLS grade), Nissan X-Trail, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester (P high-grade), Hyundai Tucson (Elegance grade) and Kia Sportage (GT grade).

Regarding price tags, the Forester (P high-grade) is the most costly at RM161,908; followed by the CX-5 (GLS grade) at RM148,605; the CR-V at RM142,400; the Outlander at RM139,888; the Sportage GT at RM141,888 with insurance; the X-Trail at RM137,000; and the Tucson (Elegance grade) at RM126,888.

 2018 Mazda CX-5.Powertrain and drive systems

Here, the Mazda CX-5 is the most powerful with 162hp/210Nm on tap and also, the most fuel economical with petrol consumption rated at 6.8 litres per 100km, thanks to Mazda's SkyActiv technologies.

The CX-5 also has fuel-saving i-Stop Idling technology which shuts down the engine when the car is stationary on congested roads or at traffic lights.

Both the CX-5 and the Nissan X-Trail use direct injection fuel systems which are higher cost, but provide better fuel economy and performance while the rest have electronic/multi-point fuel injection systems.

Regarding fuel consumption, the X-Trail claims the runner-up spot with 7.1 litres per 100km; followed by the CR-V and Outlander (both 7.3 litres); the two Korean SUVs (both 7.8 litres) and finally, the Forester (7.9 litres).

 Mazda's SkyActiv engine.

Also, among these SUVs, only Mazda and the two Korean marques are sticking with the torque-converter type automatic transmissions which can provide a sporty driving feel, while the rest are using the fuel-efficient but less exciting CVT (continuously variable transmission).

Another point worth noting is that the Outlander has 4WD (four-wheel drive) and the Forester has AWD (all-wheel drive) for better control on poor road conditions, while the rest have two-wheel drive systems.

 4WD (four-wheel drive) system on the Outlander.Seating and luggage

Those who want to carry more people should look closely at the Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander, which are seven-seaters.

In terms of cargo space with rear seats down, the Outlander leads with 1,608 litres; followed by the Forester (1,524 litres); the X-Trail (1,520 litres); the Tucson (1,478 litres); Sportage GT (1,455 litres); the CX-5 (1,342 litres) and CR-V (1,084 litres).

 The Outlander leads with 1,608 litres of rear cargo space.

However, it's a different scenario with all seats up (or the third row down for the seven-seaters) as the X-Trail trumps here with 550 litres of cargo space; followed by the CR-V (522 litres); the Tucson (488 litres); the Sportage GT (466 litres) and the CX-5 (442 litres).

Cargo space data for the Outlander (third row down) and Forester (seats up) were not available.

 Mitsubishi Outlander.

Regarding ground clearance, the Forester (P high-grade) is the champion here at 220mm, followed by the X-Trail (210mm); the CR-V (198mm); the Outlander (190mm); the CX-5 (185mm); and the two Korean SUVs (both 172mm).

Now, although we don't think owners of these SUVs are likely to take them off-road, some motorists may like their cars to sit higher from the ground, especially as some urban roads are known to experience bad floods during a sudden heavy downpour.

In this sort of tricky situation, the SUVs you want to be in are the Forester, X-Trail, CR-V and the Outlander.

Comfort features

This is where the Tucson (Elegance grade), being the lowest priced at RM126,888 - also has the least exciting package.

It has leather seats, a DVD/MP3/USB/CD touchscreen infotainment system, a reverse camera, and manual air-conditioning.

There are no powered seats, no rear air-conditioning vents, no push-start ignition, no automatic headlamps, and not even powered wing mirrors.

As for the rest of the pack, it's a tough fight and we are hard-pressed to pick a winner.

Standard features on the other SUVs include automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, keyless entry and push-start ignition.

Now, both the Outlander and X-Trail offer fabric seats, while the rest have leather upholstery.

Like the Tucson (Elegance grade), the Outlander doesn't have powered seats or rear air-conditioning vents.

 Nissan X-Trail.

An interesting technology here in the CX-5 is Mazda's G-Vectoring Control (GVC) which provides improved cornering control.

According to Mazda, the benefits of GVC are more precise steering, improved handling, better passenger comfort, and less fatigue for the driver.

Safety features

Here, the CX-5 is the most outstanding as it has Adaptive Front Lighting (AFS), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Smart City Brake Support (front only).

 Subaru Forester.

AFS headlights are designed to help you see around corners at night. As the driver turns into a corner, the headlights pivot up to 15 degrees in the direction of the turn, improving visibility and allowing driver to spot potential hazards and dangers ahead.

Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) helps detect and alert when objects are in your left and right blind spots by activating a door mirror mounted warning light on the relevant side of the vehicle. If you then indicate prior to turning, the warning lights flashes with an audible alert bleep.

Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) will alert driver when it detects vehicles approaching from either side during reverse operation.

Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) monitors the vehicle in front or rear to access the likelihood of a collision. If a high risk is detected it issues visual and audio warnings, and primes the brakes for a faster response. If the driver doesn’t brake, SCBS brakes automatically.

 Kia Sportage.

Meanwhile, we have noted previously that we really like the X-Trail's Around View Monitor which uses a four-camera system and makes it so much easier to park a big car like the X-Trail effortlessly, without worrying about knocking into something.

When parking the X-Trail, the centre display screen gives you both a rear and 360-degree bird's-eye view of the vehicle's surroundings.

 The X-Trail's Around View Monitor which uses a four-camera system.Browse the comparison chart (click this link to expand chart)CarSifu Says: Mazda CX-5 the most attractive

The latest entry in this 2.0-litre petrol SUV segment is the Mazda CX-5, and we think that it's also the most attractive in terms of design, technologies, powertrain and overall packaging.

However, as noted earlier, the CX-5 is a tad pricey, and is not the best when it comes to cargo space.

The Honda CR-V is another outstanding SUV, and has ample cargo space with the seats up, although it has the least amount of cargo room with all seats down.

Except for the Tucson (Elegance grade), the rest of the pack also make for compelling propositions in terms of packaging, design and price.

 2017 Hyundai Tucson.

Do note that automakers are offering great deals; so those interested in buying an SUV would do well to head directly to the car showrooms to find out more about the promotions.

You would likely be very tempted by some of the amazing deals out there.

Also, do check out the after-sales package this impacts the cost of ownership. Here, the X-Trail shines with a 7-year unlimited mileage warranty.

The Mazda CX-5 (GLS grade) also has an attractive 3-year or 60,000km (whichever is first) free maintenance package.

Honda Malaysia also offers a notable free labour service up to 5 times in 5 years or 100,000km (whichever is first).

The Forester (P high-grade) also has a 5-year free labour service package.


Kah Classic Auto dishing up Mitsubishi deals

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mitsubishi car dealer Kah Classic Auto Sdn Bhd is running a year end sale promotion for the entire range of new Mitsubishi models.

It promises attractive deals for the fuel-efficient Mitsubishi Mirage and Attrage, the sporty Lancer, the premium Pajero as well as the highly acclaimed ASX sports utility vehicle from as low as RM99,791.87 and the all-new Triton from RM65,603.64.

For value-conscious buyers, the company also has limited units of pre-registered Triton VGT in manual and automatic transmissions.

Kah Classic Auto, a subsidiary of Oriental Holdings Bhd, joined the Mitsubishi family in October last year and operates three outlets along Jalan Ipoh, Bangsar and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman here.

It is an exhibitor at the Asean Auto Show at Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre.


Hyundai Motor unveils sweeping executive reshuffle

Euisun Chung is pushing for the sweeping executive reshuffle in preparation for a generational change.
SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Group shook up its executive ranks on Tuesday and appointed its first foreign head of research and development, raising expectations of a smooth transition of power at the family-run business empire.

The reshuffle, first reported by Reuters on Tuesday and confirmed by Hyundai today, is part of preparations for generational change in the executive ranks at South Korea’s second-largest family-owned business empire.

Group president Albert Biermann, a German former BMW executive, was named head of research and development, replacing longtime executives Yang Woong-chul and Kwon Moon-sik. The move was seen as a significant step to bring in fresh ideas at the Korean-dominated group.

In all, 17 top executives were re-assigned across the group including at Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp — which together form the fifth-biggest automaker in the world.

The move follows the promotion of Euisun Chung in September to Hyundai Motor’s executive vice chairman, moving him closer to succeeding his 80-year-old father, Mong-Koo Chung, as group chairman.

 Biermann and Schemera.

It comes as Hyundai Motor Co battles to reverse falling profits as a result of US recall costs and weak sales in the US and Chinese markets.

Hyundai Motor Co shares jumped as much as 9 percent to their highest level since Oct 10, while shares in affiliates like Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Wia and Hyundai Glovis also rallied.

While the announcement by Hyundai on Tuesday of a major investment in fuel cell production also lifted sentiment, analysts said most of the share price rise could be attributed to the leadership changes.

In particular, it signalled that the junior Chung was making progress with his plans to restructure the sprawling group after a previous plan was scrapped due to opposition from US hedge fund Elliott.

“The reshuffle signals that the junior Chung is tightening his grip on the conglomerate, a move which raises investors’ hopes for change,” said Kim Joon-sung, an analyst at Meritz Securities.

Giving way

In a sign that chairman Chung’s grip may be weakening, one of his closest lieutenants, Hyundai Motor Co vice chairman Kim Yong-hwan, was re-assigned away from the core automaker and named vice chairman of steelmaking affiliate Hyundai Steel.

A person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday that the reshuffle was “part of a generational change (the junior) Chung is pushing for.”

Hyundai Motor Co chief innovation officer Youngcho Chi was promoted to president, as the automaker tries to catch up with its rivals in future technologies such as car-sharing.

Biermann, a former BMW performance vehicle development official, is one of several foreign executives that heir apparent Chung, 48, has brought into the traditionally Korean-dominated group.

In October, Thomas Schemera, also a former BMW executive, was appointed to lead product planning for autonomous cars, connected and electrified vehicles, while Luc Donckerwolke, a former Bentley design chief, was appointed to oversee design at Hyundai and Kia.

The group has previously appointed new senior executives at its overseas operations, including China and the United States.


VW boss sees Joe Biden being more in sync with electric car strategy

Biden smiling during an appearance in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday. — Reuters
WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen AG’s boss waded carefully into the fraught matter of US presidential politics, saying the automaker may be more compatible with a Joe Biden administration while talking up the company’s dealings with Donald Trump.

"A Democratic program probably would be more aligned with our worldwide strategy, which is really to fight climate change, to become electric,” Herbert Diess, the chief executive officer of the world’s largest carmaker, said during a Bloomberg News virtual event.

That said, VW established "really a trustful relationship with the Trump administration and government,” Diess said today.

"We did a lot also to contribute to build America.”

Diess, 62, weighed in with Biden on the brink of securing enough votes to take over the White House from Trump, who has been highly critical of the car industry’s contribution to America’s trade imbalance with Germany.

VW’s plans to build the world’s biggest electric-vehicle lineup include producing batteries and ID.4 crossovers at its expanding production complex in Tennessee.

"At the end, this is a decision America has to take,” Diess said. "We only can watch and we have to adapt.”


BMW financing unit pledges donation to hasten adoption of child safety seats

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia will donate RM100 to the BMW Safety 360° subsidy programme for every contract funded through its online financing platform – BMW Engage.

By spending only 15 minutes to submit their applications through BMW Engage, customers can indirectly contribute to this good cause via BMW Group Financial Services.

BMW Engage is said to be the first-of-its-kind online financing platform introduced by BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia to provide customers the flexibility to apply and get pre-approval for their financing from the comfort of their home.

“Although the government has postponed the enforcement of the use of child restraint system (CRS) until the end of the year, we hope parents recognise the need for CRS to keep their children safe while on the road – no matter how short the driving distance," said BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia managing director Tobias Eismann.

"However, we recognise that advocating for child safety seats is a shared responsibility, and with BMW Safety 360° and its respective partners, we are also taking ownership to ensure more child safety seats are accessible to those in the B40 income group.”

As part of the BMW Safety 360° initiative, the subsidy programme was first introduced in December 2019 with Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation where 150 units of infant carrier car seats were made available at a subsidised price of RM100 each.

The initiative attracted over 25,000 registrations from parents in the B40 income group.

The second phase of the subsidy programme focused on equipping the remaining registrants from the first phase with a range of snskidz child safety seats for newborns to children of up to 36kg.

The programme was further supported by Shopee as the Exclusive E-Commerce Partner, alongside baby and children goods brands - KU.KU Duckbill and Otomo, educational toys and games distributor - Mideer, food storage sealing solutions provider - Ankou, and car performance parts and accessories provider – Kakimotor.

Each of the snskidz child safety seats are made available with a RM50 subsidy, on top of a discounted price from Safe ‘n Sound that is exclusive for recipients of the subsidy programme.

Recipients of the subsidy programme will receive a unique Shopee voucher worth RM113 which can be applied upon checkout at this dedicated microsite.


Locally assembled Volvo S60 T8 PHEV launched, priced at RM296K

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Volvo S60 T8 is now available as a locally assembled model (CKD) and priced the same as the fully imported unit (CBU) that was introduced last October.

The price parity is because the fully imported model was launched at the CKD price at that time.

Like the CBU unit, the S60 T8 CKD will only come in a single trim – the T8 R-Design and retails at RM295,888 (on-the-road, without insurance, inclusive of excise duty and sales tax).

It is available for viewing at all authorised Volvo dealers nationwide from today.

Identical to its CBU variant, the S60 T8 CKD is powered by the award-winning T8 Twin Engine e-AWD plug-in hybrid and can deliver a total output of 407hp and 640Nm of torque.

Its electric motor outputs 87hp and 240Nm of torque while its Drive-E petrol engine, equipped with supercharger and turbocharger technology, produces 320hp and 400Nm of torque. This translates into a 0-100kph run in 4.4 seconds.

“Being a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the S60 T8 CKD not only helps to minimise exhaust emissions, but also offers exhilarating acceleration and performance. In a sense, it is a vehicle that lets you recharge by giving you control over amazing performance, whilst helping the world recharge via a cleaner environment,” said Volvo Car Malaysia managing director Nalin Jain.

Owners can enjoy the open roads in contoured seats that are made with Charcoal Fine Nappa Leather with Open Grid Textile upholstery and a tailored dashboard.

Adding to the ambience is an immersive 14-speaker system powered by Harman Kardon that is linked to a Sensus Connect infotainment system. Volvo Cars’ Sensus Connect infotainment system is fully compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keeping drivers connected at all times. The intuitive control is a tablet-style touch screen interface that combines car functions, navigation and in-car entertainment apps.

The Volvo S60 T8 CKD is underpinned by Volvo Cars’ own Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, safety technology and infotainment system, which is also used in the top-of-the-line 90 Series cars, the XC60.

The Volvo S60 T8 CKD offers City Safety with Autobrake technology, which assists the driver in avoiding potential collisions and is the only system in the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and large animals.

In a world-first for the mid-size sedan segment, City Safety now also engages auto braking to mitigate oncoming collisions.

The Pilot Assist system – which supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130km/h – has been upgraded with improved cornering performance.

The Volvo S60 T8 CKD also includes Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and other steering assistance systems. The Cross Traffic Alert further enhances safety for people inside and outside the car designed to detect traffic crossing behind the car when reversing.

READ MORE:Volvo S60 T8 R Design arrives: RM296K, AWD plug-in hybrid with 407hp


Apple seeks to dismiss lawsuit filed by electric battery maker

                SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc asked a US court on Tuesday to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed by battery maker A123 systems over engineers hired by Apple, saying A123's claims were too speculative to proceed, according to a court filing.

Apple is exploring how to make an electric car and has been hiring engineers with deep expertise in automobile systems.

Around June 2014 Apple began aggressively poaching A123 engineers tasked with leading some of the company's most critical projects, A123's lawsuit said.

Last week Apple asked for an extension to respond to the lawsuit because the two companies were exploring a settlement.

The latest filing did not provide any update on those talks.

An A123 spokesman declined to comment, and an Apple representative was not immediately available.

A123 sued Apple and five former A123 employees in February, alleging breach of contract and several other claims.

In its motion to dismiss on Tuesday, Apple said A123 did not present enough concrete evidence to move forward in court.

"Apple hiring five A123 employees, without more, does not indicate improper means or motive to support a claim for tortious interference or 'raiding,'" the company said in its filing.

A123 Systems is a pioneering industrial lithium-ion battery maker, which was backed by a $249 million US government grant.

It filed for bankruptcy in 2012 and has been selling off assets.

Lithium-ion is a battery technology that can be used in applications from computers to airplanes, but A123 specializes in big batteries that can be used in big machines, including cars. A123 did not say what specifically the engineers worked on.

In its filing on Tuesday, Apple said nothing in A123's complaint suggests that the engineers are working on a product that would compete with A123.


BMW i7 joins star-studded cast in 'The Calm'

                MUNICH/CANNES: The latest BMW Films production will celebrate its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in France.

The short film “The Calm” will offer audiences an enthralling dose of Hollywood action on board the new BMW i7 M70 xDrive.

The fully electric range-topping model from the Bavarian premium carmaker will host the most spectacular scenes in the film, which has Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy series) and Uma Thurman (Kill Bill series) in the leading roles.

The premiere of “The Calm” sees BMW writing the next chapter in the history of BMW Films productions.

With Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) taking executive producer credits and Sam Hargrave (Marvel Cinematic Universe) in the director’s chair, the seven-minute-long film also boasts the behind-the-camera star quality with which fans of BMW Films will be familiar. But that’s not all: the soundtrack for “The Calm” is the work of film score composer Hans Zimmer, whose trophy cabinet includes two Academy Awards.

In “The Calm”, Pom Klementieff and Uma Thurman play a pair of secret agents who have been summoned separately to a meet point in Cannes.

But first, the duo have to fight off some mysterious adversaries. Klementieff narrowly escapes a hijacking after an action-packed tussle in the rear of the i7 M70 xDrive.

And later she discovers that Thurman has had a similar altercation (off-screen) in her hotel room, getting the better of two villains. The two protagonists duly come together in the Hotel Martinez to piece together the story behind their secret mission, which also has the audience gripped by suspense.

This is a world premiere with a twist: Not only was “The Calm” filmed in a i7 (among other locations), it will also be shown for the first time exclusively in the rear of the all-electric luxury sedan on May 17.

Providing the requisite cinematic experience is the BMW Theatre Screen. This 31.3.inch panoramic display, which extends down from the headliner and spreads out horizontally across almost the full width of the interior, teams up with the integrated Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System with 36 speakers.

As an Official Partner of the film festival, BMW is also laying on a shuttle service of more than 200 electrified vehicles for the event.

“The Calm” is the latest instalment in the long history of BMW Films productions.

For example, “The Hire” – a series of short films acclaimed by fans and critics alike – marked its place as a maverick in the digital film space before social media platforms existed. It was released exclusively online at BMWfilms.com and generated over 100 million views in the days before the proliferation of high-speed internet and YouTube.

Movie fans will be able to enjoy the full-length version of “The Calm” on the BMW YouTube channel from May 17. Shown below is a teaser.


June 10-16: RON97 petrol price up 2 sen to RM2.65

                PETALING JAYA: Here we go again. It's time to track the fuel prices for the following week.

The RON97 petrol retail price is up 2 sen to RM2.65 per litre for the week of June 10-16.

RON95 petrol  and diesel retail prices remain unchanged at RM2.05 per litre and RM2.15 for the period.

The weekly retail pricing of petroleum products using the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) formula, the retail prices of petroleum products from 10 June 2021 to 16 June 2021 are fixed as follows:

The weekly fuel pricing mechanism was reintroduced on Jan 5, 2019, under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism.


Fiat, Ferrari boards to meet on Marchionne succession: report

Marchionne. - AFP
MILAN: The boards of carmakers Fiat Chrysler and Ferrari will meet separately today to discuss succession plans for Sergio Marchionne, who is chief executive of both carmakers and has been on medical leave, Automotive News said.

The report, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, also said Louis Carey Camilleri, a Ferrari board member and former chairman of Philip Morris International, would be named Ferrari’s chief executive.
 Camilleri is rumoured to be the next CEO.
John Elkann, the scion of Italy’s Agnelli family which controls both Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and Ferrari, would be named chairman at Ferrari, it added. Marchionne currently serves as both CEO and chairman of the sportscar maker.

It was unclear if the board of FCA would also choose a successor today.

Financial director Richard Palmer, head of European business Alfredo Altavilla and Jeep brand boss Mike Manley are often cited as possible candidates for Marchionne’s replacement at FCA, sources close to the company have told Reuters.

FCA and Ferrari declined to comment on the report.

Marchionne, widely credited with rescuing Fiat and Chrysler from bankruptcy since he took the wheel of the Italian carmaker in 2004, was due to step down at FCA and hand over to a yet-to-be-named internal successor in April next year.

But the 66-year-old recently underwent shoulder surgery and has been in recovery. He has not made a public appearance since June 26, fuelling speculation about his health.

On Friday, FCA denied a report by website Lettera43 which said Elkann, the FCA chairman, had summoned top executives for a meeting today to discuss the distribution of Marchionne’s powers at FCA.

The board of trucks and tractor CNH Industrial, another company controlled by the Agnellis and where Marchionne is chairman, is also expected to meet Saturday to name a replacement for the Italo-Canadian executive, Bloomberg said.

CNH could not immediately be reached for comment.


New Citroën Ami One Concept: An ultra-compact EV accessible to all

                PARIS: Citroën has presented its vision of urban mobility for all with its new Ami One Concept, which will be on display at the March 7-17 Geneva Motor Show.

Citroën is marking its centenary year with a fully electric and connected ultra-compact concept echoing the brand's "Inspired By You" baseline. It is billed as a solution for new customer behavior as well as a response to the challenge of energy transition in the city.

Accessible without a driving license from age 16, the Ami One Concept has been designed as much to be purchased by individual users as for creating carsharing fleets. Via an accompanying application — which can be voice controlled — the driver can, at any time, manage the car's settings (power use, charge status, etc.) as well as access a portal of services (geolocation, parking space search, charging station access, etc.) via "Free2Move Services."

This ultra-compact two-seater vehicle is 2.50 metres long and has been conceived as an alternative to public transport and to other currently popular electric individual means of transport (bike, scooter, kick scooter). In terms of performance, Ami One Concept promises a top speed of 45kph and a 100km range.

Alongside this mobility solution, Citroën has developed a whole range of lifestyle products sharing the identity of its concept, such as a windbreaker, a portable Bluetooth speaker, a smartphone case, etc. These items will be available via the brand's e-store.


Hino Malaysia delivers two electric buses to Mara

                KUALA LUMPUR: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) on Thursday received the first two electric buses in the world produced by Hino Motors.

These buses will undergo trial on selected routes in Langkawi island for two years in support of Malaysia's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in transportation.

Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd managing director Atsushi Uchiyama handed the keys of the vehicles to Mara chief director Datuk Seri Azhar Bin Abdul Manaf.

Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said aside from promoting sustainable transportation, the pioneering project also reduced carbon emissions on the island.

This initiative is a continuation and commitment of both parties after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last March.

 The Poncho comes with a ramp to assist wheelchair users.

The Poncho zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) will start operating in September to test its suitability for Malaysia’s weather and road conditions.

The bus, which can accommodate 11 seats and up to 32 passengers, is user-friendly due to its small and low size, making it easy for passengers to board and exit.

Equipped with safety features and zero-emission features, the bus will significantly reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and contribute to a cleaner and greener environment.


KLIMS'18: Proton X70 revealed in full glory

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton gave the X70, its first-ever SUV, its public debut during the media day of the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS).

Although this won’t be the first time the Proton X70 is shown to the public, all previous instances were closed-door preview events for invited guests only. Today will be the first time it will be displayed in a public environment like KLIMS and for many visitors, this will be their first opportunity to take a closer look at both the inside and outside of Proton’s newest model.

The X70 will be launched on Dec 12 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Its pricing would be announced then. Proton announced last week that the SUV had received a 5-star rating in the Asean NCAP vehicle assessment test, which was followed by the recent confirmation of the vehicle as an Energy-Efficient Vehicle (EEV) vehicle by the JPJ.

KLIMS'18 will see five units of the X70 on display. Proton has also prepared special areas to give visitors a hands-on experience of the technology and equipment fitted to its newest model.

For instance, a full scale half-cut model has been prepared to show critical areas where the body has been reinforced to make it safer in an accident. Display panels housing the touchscreen from the interior of the X70 have also been prepared to demonstrate its usability and allow visitors to try the voice command system.

To add more excitement to its product display, Proton will give KLIMS visitors a chance to experience the advanced driver assist systems offered on the X70 without having to go for a test drive.

A Virtual Reality (VR) area will simulate how systems like the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) work in real life, giving a preview of the sensations a driver will feel when they are activated.

“The Proton X70 is finally ready to meet the Malaysian public and we think the best platform to use is KLIMS, Malaysia’s premier motor show," said Proton Edar CEO Abdul Rashid Musa.

"Visitors will be given full access to our show cars and we encourage everyone to explore the various design, technology, safety and performance aspects of Proton’s first SUV by spending some time at our interactive areas. At the same time, we would also like to confirm the cars at KLIMS are in the same specification customers will receive so what you see at the show is what buyers will get.”


myTukar on a rapid physical expansion

                JOHOR BAHRU: Malaysia’s fastest growing digital used car platform myTukar is rapidly pursuing a physical expansion across the country with the launch of its latest Plentong centre here.

myTukar is hosting a three-day automotive fair from today to Sunday at the new centre in conjunction with its opening.

Some 2,000 vistors are expected to attend and the 184,618 sq ft space has special features which include an inspection centre and after sales services.

Lim Tayar, Guard My Ride and Nippon will also be participating in the fair and customers will have access to over 1,000 pre-owned vehicles.

As part of myTukar’s parent company, CARRO’s latest sports sponsorship, the Auto Fair’s customers stand to win an all-expense paid trip to watch the Bangkok Century Cup, between Liverpool and Manchester United.

myTukar Auto Fair 2022 customers could also obtain on-the-spot trade in value for their vehicles, same-day loan approval and car collection.

Participating banking institutions at the event include Maybank, CIMB Bank, Public Bank, RHB Bank, Hong Leong Bank, and myTukar’s financial service provider, Genie Financial Services.

myTukar CEO Derrick Eng said the Plentong outlet was set up to address a very unique demand from Johor customersns.

“Also for a state which is very big on football, we’re opening up opportunities for customers to win an exclusive experience to watch the showdown between Liverpool and Manchester United live in Bangkok.

“While we are still focused on growing online, it is vital that we provide our customers with an ecosystem to buy and sell their vehicles with the utmost fairness.

He also said myTukar was disrupting an unregulated market.

“We strongly believe that used car buyers deserve transparency and the best in every transaction, and we go the extra mile by ensuring all cars by myTukar will be entitled to 12 months’ extended warranty,” he said.

He added that to better experience how myTukar’s robust ecosystem works, visitors could attend the autofair and enjoy access to a wide array of exclusive offers such as 1.88% low interest rate, free vouchers worth up to RM1,000, 10 pairs of all-expense paid trip to watch the football match between Liverpool and Manchester, and lucky draw giveaway items worth RM12,000 such as an iPhone, iPad and many more.

The used car platform also plans to launch another six new showrooms from Penang to Melaka and Seremban.

Since its inception in 2018, myTukar has evolved in four years into an online marketplace that offers a comprehensive range of services for all aspects of car ownership, with over 4,000 sellers.

The brand's digital platform enables users to conveniently buy or sell their vehicles, from the comfort of their own homes.

Aside from connecting buyers and sellers nationwide, myTukar also provides a host of after sales services from insurance to servicing, and more.

To find out more information on myTukar and their latest ventures, visit https://mytukar.com/.


Britain to hold trials on 'Wi-Fi' roads under £150mil highway strategy

                LONDON: If the plan takes off, British motorists could travel on a connected corridor or "Wi-Fi" road that could see cars and infrastructure wirelessly connected, with drivers receiving news of advanced road closures or congestion warnings.

Highways England (akin to the Malaysian Highway Authority) had last week published its strategy which sets out for the first time its wide-ranging plan to ensure it is keeping pace with advances in technology, bringing benefits to road users across the country as well as unlocking economic growth.

The strategy, which involves a £150mil (RM832mil) investment, also includes trialling radar technology on motorways and in tunnels to improve the way breakdowns are detected.

The strategy builds on the announcement by Chancellor George Osborne in March that driverless cars would be tested on motorways by the end of 2017.

Highways England said the Wi-Fi road trials would take place on the A2/M2 between London and Kent.

The on-road technology would wirelessly transmit the latest journey information directly to specially adapted vehicles which, depending on the circumstances, could suggest changing lanes or taking an alternative route.

There would also be trials of driverless car technology on motorways whereby real world data would be collected on performance and potential impact on capacity and operations.


VW sets end-November deadline for scandal whistleblowers

                BERLIN: Volkswagen has set a deadline at the end of November for its whistleblower program designed to encourage workers to disclose information about the carmaker's two emissions scandals in a move to speed up investigations.

Europe's largest carmaker has been making slow progress in finding out who had knowledge of the rigging of diesel emissions tests two months after the manipulations became public in the United States, and last week also admitted to cheating on carbon dioxide emissions certifications.

Under the whistleblower program, approved by VW's top management, workers who get in touch with internal investigators no later than Nov 30 will be exempt from dismissals and damage claims, according to a letter from VW brand chief Herbert Diess to staff seen by Reuters on Thursday.

"We are counting on your cooperation and knowledge as our company’s employees to get to the bottom of the diesel and CO2 issue," Diess was quoted as saying in the document. "In this process, every single day counts."

His comments confirmed an earlier report by Sueddeutsche Zeitung jointly with German broadcasters NDR and WDR.

VW has said it hired advisory firm Deloitte and US law firm Jones Day to investigate under what circumstances the company installed software into diesel cars that changed engine settings to reduce emissions whenever the vehicle was put through tests.

VW is eager to show federal prosecutors in Detroit and Washington that it is fully cooperating with the criminal investigation into the company’s admitted use of "defeat devices" in 482,000 US diesel vehicles.

US attorney Preet Bharara in New York in September cited General Motors Co's (GM.N) cooperation as a factor in the government's decision to impose a US$900 million fine for the delayed ignition switch recall linked to 124 deaths and 275 injuries.

By contrast, Bharara's office imposed a fine of US$1.2 billion in March 2014 for Toyota Motor Corp's  delayed recall over sudden acceleration problems which were linked to only about a half-dozen deaths.

In another development, former Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn has stepped down as chairman of luxury brand Audi amid the emissions scandal investigation.

Winterkorn quit his post at Audi on Wednesday, a spokesman at the Ingolstadt-based carmaker said on Thursday, after resigning as chief executive of family-owned Porsche SE, VW's majority stakeholder, last month.

The 68-year-old Winterkorn was forced to resign as VW group chief executive by the carmaker's influential labour leaders and the state of Lower Saxony, VW's No. 2 shareholder, on Sept 23, five days after the company's rigging of diesel emissions tests became public in the United States.

VW has been rocked by revelations that its diesel cars were equipped with a software capable of cheating emissions rules, affecting 11 million vehicles worldwide including Audi models.

The scandal took on a new dimension last week when Wolfsburg-based VW admitted it also manipulated carbon dioxide emissions levels of 800,000 cars, adding this could cost it another 2 billion euros (US$2.15 billion) besides the 6.7 billion it has set aside to cover costs related to the diesel-emissions fiasco.


Cycle & Carriage customers feted at Johor Baru dealership

                JOHOR BARU: Cycle & Carriage recently gave some Mercedes-Benz owners the Mercedes-Benz Star Experience, which it described as an immersive lifestyle and educational event.

It was held at the Cycle & Carriage Johor Baru autohaus (dealership), which is the only Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Certified Body & Paint Centre in the southern region.

 Customers getting a technical briefing.

Cycle & Carriage general manager (aftersales head) S.V. Balasubramanian said the session was the company's way to show appreciation to its customers and explain the premium services offered to their Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

The event kicked off with the visitors taking a look into the Mercedes future and the brand’s innovation efforts.

 Balasubramanian welcoming the guests.

They were  led through an electric vehicle presentation and Mercedes Me Connect demonstration, which showcased how Mercedes-Benz owners can access and control their vehicles remotely with a smartphone.

The visitors also went on a workshop tour to view the latest services and repair technology, with special focus on the Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid and Mercedes-EQ vehicles.

 A Mercedes Me Connect demonstration.

Diving deeper into Cycle & Carriage’s brand strength in premium services, customers also witnessed a body repair demonstration and the importance of using genuine parts.

To create digital awareness and stir up a desire to buy electric vehicles, Cycle & Carriage product experts also gave the visitors an in-car tour of the EQS 450+.

 Checking out the EQS.

They were also exposed to the Mercedes Me service, enabling them to gain a better understanding of the digital experience on the road.

To round off the session, customers were treated to a 3-course lunch and various lifestyle pop-up booth activities. The activities included an interactive golf simulator, hair styling by Toyako Image Maker Styling, Inside Scoop ice cream for customers and a coffee brewing workshop.

 Meal time. Getting a new hairdo.

Some customers also bought items at a 20% discount from the extensive display of Mercedes-Benz merchandise.

For details, visit https://www.ccb.mercedes-benz.com.my/ or https://www.facebook.com/cyclecarriagemy to stay up-to-date on Cycle & Carriage happenings.


Front-wheel, rear-wheel, four-wheel: Which drive is for you?

                HAMBURG: When it comes to powering your car, the decision can often be difficult, even though there are only three options. Front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive all have their pros and cons and are suitable for different terrains and different drivers.

"There's no perfect choice," says Andreas Zygan, the head of development at Mercedes-Benz.

"If you frequently drive in a region with lots of snow and steep inclines, four-wheel drive is probably the best option, but on more level terrain a two-wheel drive is enough."

Hans-Joachim Kirchvogel from a German automobile association, however, recommends front-wheel drive for driving in winter, because it is better to pull a vehicle under such conditions than to push it, which is what rear-wheel drive does.

But all-wheel-drive vehicles offer the best traction in bad weather and therefore the most safety as well. But they cost and consume slightly more than cars with two-wheel drive.

If you drive mainly in the city, a front-wheel drive is advisable as it consumes less and is also more affordable. It produces the power where it is most needed: in the front.

When driving with a trailer, you're better off using rear or four-wheel drive, because the trailer puts more weight on the rear axle and increases the traction. All-wheel-drive cars are suitable for drivers who have to transport heavy loads and are often driving on bad roads.

Drivers with a sporty style are probably best advised with front-wheel drive.

When taking a curve too quickly, a car with front-wheel drive will push itself forward over the front wheels — in other words understeering. A rear-wheel drive tends to oversteer in such a situation, which is especially a risk on slippery streets.

However, due to modern ESP control, you probably won't notice the difference when driving, according to driving safety instructor Reinhard Buchsdruecker. Nevertheless, front-wheel drive is easier to manage in such situations.

The choice of drive also depends on the kind of horsepower you are looking for. A high-power engine is more compatible with 4-wheel or rear-wheel drive, while front-wheel drive is often used because the engine is built in crosswise and allows for the use of a compact, light and affordable engine. It also allows for more interior room for occupants.


Toyota develops foot-operated sanitizer stand

                TOYOTA CITY: Toyota announced the release of the Shodoku Taishi, a foot-operated sanitizer stand that will be available through Toyota dealers nationwide in Japan, starting Dec 1, 2020.

The foot-operated sanitizer stand was first produced in early April under the initiative of employees at Toyota plants.

The stand has been put into use at healthcare institutions and some dealers, as well as large commercial facilities and local government offices in Aichi Prefecture, and various opinions were received from customers regarding  its effectiveness, sanitation, and weight.

The stand was modified so that parts can be removed for cleaning, easy use for people in wheelchairs and its weight reduced from 6kg to 3.2kg (including the mat).

Utilizing the technology and know-how it has cultivated in car manufacturing, Toyota has produced about 30 versions of prototypes and has made thorough improvements in preparation for its commercialization.

The development team insisted on creating a product that is easy for anyone to use and is good quality at an affordable price, and named the high-quality but inexpensive sanitizer stand the "Shodoku Taishi" (sanitizer ambassador).

Monthly production of 2,000 to 2,500 units commenced at the Kamigo Parts Center, and sales through Toyota vehicle dealers and Toyota Rent-a-Lease dealers in Japan.


Toyota 2S centre opens in Sungai Penchala, KL

                KUALA LUMPUR:  A Toyota dealer in Sungai Penchala here has upgraded its premises into a 2S (service and spare parts) centre

The 2,100 square-foot site opened its doors in early October and is operated by Crestmax Auto (Services) Sdn Bhd, said Toyota distributor UMW Toyota Motor.

With eight service bays at the rear of the building, the front of the new centre offers a lounge with refreshments and free Wi-fi for waiting customers.

The centre has a sales outlet located in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, to provide access to the Japanese brand in the surrounding areas of Damansara Perdana, Kota Damansara and Bandar Utama.

For more information, log on to www.toyota.com.my.


Perodua commited to continue parts supply for previous Myvi model

                TANJUNG MALIM: Perodua has opened a new parts production line dedicated to the second-generation Myvi.

Operated by Perodua vendor IQM Sdn Bhd at its Proton City, Tanjung Malim facility, the line produces body components including hoods, doors, fenders, quarter panels and roofs.

“For our customers’ safety, convenience and peace-of-mind, we will continue to produce high-quality and affordable parts for Perodua vehicles,” Perodua Auto Corporation Sdn Bhd president Takahashi Masanori said at the Myvi Service Parts Line official opening last Friday.

“We elected to outsource parts production for the second-generation Myvi because our manufacturing plants are already at peak capacity. Being already a manufacturer of Viva parts since production of the model ended in 2014, IQM was a natural choice for this project,” he said.

Besides the second-generation Myvi and the Viva, original parts for the first-generation Myvi, the Kelisa and even the Kancil continue to be produced by vendors in Malaysia to this day.

“There remain a great many users of the second-generation Myvi, of which over 519,000 were produced from May 2011 to October 2017,” said Takahashi.

For now, the Myvi Service Parts Line at IQM Tanjung Malim produces only body components owing to their high demand.

Engine parts for the second-generation Myvi continue to be produced on a one-shot basis at PMSB in Rawang, while other parts are produced by various vendors.

A supplier of metal stamping, body assembly parts and brake tube components to Perodua, IQM began manufacturing service parts for the Perodua Viva in 2014, as production of the model ended.

Viva parts are still being produced today at IQM’s Tanjung Malim facility.

“IQM Sdn Bhd has been a vendor of Perodua’s since 2002," said IQM executive director Aidil Azlan Mohd Fitri.


Looking good, Skoda Fabia

                PRAGUE: Skoda is revealing further details of the new Fabia and gives a first impression of the interior of the fourth generation in an official design sketch.

Based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Transverse Toolkit MQB-A0, the new Fabia is longer and wider than its predecessor.

The interior of the popular small car offers even more room, an enhanced sense of spaciousness and fresh colours.

Technologies from higher vehicle classes have also been incorporated.

The Czech car maker is systematically refining the interior concept already implemented in the current Octavia by introducing new details in the Fabia.

READ MORE: Exterior sketches of new Skoda Fabia

The symmetrically designed instrument panel with its central, free-standing display and a coloured horizontal decorative trim accentuates the width of the interior, and the character line beneath the display mirrors the Skoda grille.

Large round air outlets on the right and left create new accents, as do the coloured elements in the centre console and door handles along with the newly designed chrome door openers. One of the design sketches also reveals prominent Fabia lettering on the side of the instrument panel.

The large, free-standing display dominates the aesthetic of the new Fabia’s interior. The touchscreen enables the modern infotainment systems as well as many other vehicle functions to be controlled with ease.

The design sketch also shows the customisable virtual cockpit, which is a key feature of larger Skoda models and is now making its debut as an option for the Fabia.

The new Fabia will be celebrating its world premiere at the beginning of May.


RHB Investment Bank customers win Mazda cars

                KUALA LUMPUR: Mazda Malaysia in collaboration with RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHB) presented two lucky winners of the “Trade & Win 3.0 2018/19 Campaign”, with prizes worth more than RM200,000.

Tan Poh Cheok from Kuala Lumpur walked away with a new Mazda2 Skyactiv and Jang Peir Boon from Kuala Lumpur won the Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv.

Throughout the campaign, 232 winners received vouchers for electrical consumables, and attractive rewards points such as AirAsia BIG Points and holiday products.

The campaign which ran from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2019, was targeted at RHB Investment Bank’s customers.

The response to the campaign was overwhelming, with more than 20 million entries received over the last 12 months.

The big winners of the RHB Trade & Win 3.0 2018 campaign posing proudly with the Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv and Mazda2 Skyactiv.

 From left: Shigeo Murayama (Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd branch sales operations general manager Shigeo Murayama), Moses Yap (Head, Retail Premier Broking), Eddy Tan (Head, Group Retail Equities & Futures), Francis Ng (Head, Malaysia Retail Broking), Tan Poh Cheok (Grand Prize Winner Mazda 2 Hatchback Skyactiv); Tan’s son, Jang’s wife, Jang Peir Boon (Grand Prize Winner Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv), Dphany Goh (Head, REF Business Development & Marketing), Robert Huray (Chief Executive Officer of RHB Investment Bank Berhad), Ch’ng Kien Hong (Regional Director of Central & East Coast and East Malaysia).


Apple's electric car could debut as soon as 2025

                SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc is pushing to launch its electric car as early as 2025 and refocusing the project around full self-driving capabilities, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The iPhone maker's shares rose nearly 3% to hit a new record following the report.

Apple's ideal car would have no steering wheel and pedals, with interiors designed around hands-off driving, the report said.

The company's automotive efforts, known as Project Titan, have proceeded unevenly since 2014 when it first started to design a vehicle from scratch.

Demand for electric vehicles has surged as countries and customers turn more environment conscious, propelling the market value of companies such as Tesla and Rivian far above traditional carmakers around for decades longer.

"It's a matter of when, not if," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said, adding that chances of Apple unveiling its own standalone car by 2025 as 60% to 65%.

The Bloomberg report said some people working on the project were sceptical about the timeline even with recent progress, which includes the car's underlying self-driving system, processor chips and advanced sensors.

Apple declined to comment on the report.

Reuters had reported in December that Apple was targeting 2024 to produce a passenger vehicle that could include its own breakthrough battery technology. read more

Meanwhile, The Information, citing a memo, reported that Apple was preparing to bring back employees to offices starting Feb 1 and will let staff work for up to four weeks remotely each year.


Driving with children: The risk of turning round to look at them

                BERLIN: Anyone who's even driven a car with children in the back seat will know: Keeping your eyes ahead at all times is not easy. What are the kids doing back there? Do you need to intervene?

But come tantrum or spillage, lapsing in this particular bit of driver discipline can come at a higher price than you might think.

Not only is it dangerous, but turning around and looking away from the road can be considered gross negligence, depending on your country's legal system - and even a minor crash can cost you a fortune if your insurer argues you were responsible.

Let the recent story of one backwards-glancing driver in Germany be a lesson. The man was driving a rental car in stop-and-go traffic on the highway with his son in the back seat.

After changing lanes, he turned around to look at his son and, in doing so, overlooked a motorcycle braking in front of him.

This single momentary glance led to him to being partially liable for damages equivalent to more than US$10,000 (RM44,000), a Frankfurt court ruled in February.

If the financial risk isn't big enough, the safety incentive should be enough reason to avoid this dangerous manoeuvre, especially in slow-moving traffic, when you have to constantly watch the car ahead of you.

If you, like this man, feel tempted to turn around, perhaps it's time you invested in a baby car mirror. Widely available online, these dash mirrors give you a permanent view of what's going on in the rear.


New Renault Mégane R.S. 300 Trophy on sale, gets 300hp and up to 420Nm

                PARIS: Renault Sport has today announced the sale of the new Mégane R.S. 300 Trophy, which now has an increase in power to 300hp making it the most powerful Renault Sport production car ever.

Deliveries start from February.

The new model features a variety of advanced technology that enhances its performance and brings a new look to the top end of the Mégane R.S. range.

Pricing for the Mégane R.S. 300 Trophy starts from £31,810 OTR (RM168,000) for the six-speed manual gearbox model. Equipped with the six-speed automatic EDC (efficient dual-clutch) gearbox, the Mégane R.S. 300 Trophy is £33,510 OTR (RM177,000).

The Mégane R.S. 300 Trophy celebrates 15 years of the Renault Mégane R.S. line and builds on the advanced technology in the Mégane R.S. 280. This includes the 4CONTROL four-wheel steering system, which brings high speed stability as well as enhanced cornering agility, and the hydraulic bump stop shock absorbers that increase tyre contact with the road surface.

The technology is developed further in the Mégane R.S. 300 Trophy with the power output of the new 1.8-litre engine increased to 300hp and torque increased to 420Nm.

On the outside, the Mégane R.S. 300 Trophy is differentiated from the Mégane R.S. thanks to its lightweight 19-inch ‘Jerez’ alloy wheels and the Trophy stripes on the F1-inspired front spoiler.

The Mégane R.S. 300 Trophy is available in the iconic Liquid Yellow. This body colour, with its vibrant finish and unique reflective effects, highlights the sculpted yet elegant profile of the car. The full range of Mégane R.S. body colours is also available.

Other notable features of the car are:

> Turbocharger fitted with ceramic ball bearing system, reducing friction
> Rear exhaust silencer fitted with mechanical valve, allowing engine noise adjustment
> Cup chassis is standard (optional on Mégane R.S. 280)
> Cup chassis includes Torsen mechanical limited slip differential, 25 per cent firmer shock absorbers,
> 30 per cent tighter springs, 10 per cent stiffer anti-roll bars
> Fitted with bi-material 355mm brake discs and Brembo calipers
> Unique 19-inch ‘Jerez’ alloy wheels, which reduce weight by 2kg per corner compared to R.S. 280
> Optional Recaro seats with Alcantara covering are 20mm lower


Fines for parking at disabled lots

                GEORGE TOWN: About 25 inconsiderate drivers who had parked their cars at lots for the disabled on mainland Penang were shocked to find their cars covered in cloth when they returned.

Some of them quickly removed the cloth while others claimed they meant to park there for just a short while. Their excuses were to no avail as all the errant motorists were fined.

This was the scene outside Sunway Carnival Mall in Seberang Jaya and outside the OCBC Bank in Jalan Song Ban Kheng in Bukit Mertajam during a one-hour joint exercise between the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) and DreamcityNow, a non-governmental organisation.

The exercise was to introduce a month-long project themed ‘Park With Heart Campaign’, which began on Sept 30.

MPSP president Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the campaign was to educate the public not to take up parking spots meant for the disabled.

DreamcityNow chairman Jeffrey Lim said between 12 and 15 car owners were slapped with summonses by the MPSP in the joint exercise.

Maimunah said the council would look into a proposal by councillor Dr Tiun Ling Ta that the minimum fine of RM30 be raised to RM100 as punishment for errant drivers who take up parking lots meant for the handicapped.

Dr Tiun, who is also a disabled person, said the current minimum fine was "too little".

He said the MPSP should emulate their counterpart Penang Island City Council (MBPP) which increased the fine for the offence to RM100 in recent months.

Dr Tiun proposed this in his speech during a full council meeting at the MPSP headquarters in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam, recently.

He said there were 53,000 registered disabled people in the state.

He added that there were 49 parking lots for the disabled on the mainland with 313 car stickers being issued by the council.

Maimumah said the current minimum fine was RM30 if paid within 14 days, RM40 if settled between the 14th and 28th day and RM50 after 28 days.

“We can also slap the offenders with a maximum fine of RM300,” she said during a press conference after chairing the full council meeting.

She added that the council would still be issuing compounds during the campaign period.

“We want to see if there are any changes from the public on this cause.

“We will then decide on the next course of action,” she said.


Traditional car assembly may soon vanish, says Audi

                INGOLSTADT (Germany): Audi predicts that production-line car assembly may soon vanish, which would amount to the biggest shake-up in the way cars are put together since Henry Ford came up with the mass production method for his Model T more than 100 years ago.

Ford's idea was revolutionary when production lines were installed at his Detroit plant in 1913 but the industry has moved on since.

Many modern cars are not turned out as all standard models, but come with an increasingly diverse specification. The cars are ordered by customers who can configure their vehicles at the dealer or via the Internet.

Carmakers say it is impossible to cater for all the variants using rigid, sequential assembly lines. The change has also been prompted by pure electric versions of models, which need to be assembled alongside those with petrol or diesel motors.

Ford's vision enables 90 million or so passenger vehicles to be turned out annually in plants around the world.
Now Audi executive Hubert Waltl at the headquarters of the Volkswagen-owned company in Ingolstadt wants to go beyond this with a modular approach.

Audi envisages automatically guided robot vehicles which navigate around a factory, ferrying cars in various stages of assembly to work-stations for the next construction stage.

"Production line assembly made sense 100 years ago since back then the products being turned out were identical to each other," said Waltl. "Today's customers want the exact opposite of that. Each Audi is designed to be as unique as a tailor-made suit," said the industry guru.

Intense competition in the car sector has prompted carmakers to offer a complex programme of models, engines and bodywork variants. At the top of the car ranges, no one vehicle resembles another in terms of detail and trim. BMW says there are theoretically 10 million variations of its upmarket BMW 7 saloon to buy.

Audi's Waltl says the switch to modular assembly should increase productivity by around 20 per cent without putting up costs. "We wouldn't do it if it was more expensive."

Modular assembly using individual work areas staffed by key staff has already replaced conveyer belts at the Neckarsulm factory which turns out the R8 sports car. The new working practices will be tried out at the firm's engine factory in the Hungarian town of Gyor.

"This shows that the idea is no longer a pipe dream to be realized at some distant time in the future," said Waltl.

Audi envisages a factory with some 200 work-stations, served by robot transporters. These choose the quickest way to their destination, rather like customers out shopping who switch lines in the supermarket when confronted with queues of varying lengths.

"The transporters deliver to the work-stations where the workload is lightest," said engineer Fabian Rusitschka who works as an innovation manager at Audi.This utilizes slack capacity.

A key change is that not every vehicle has to go through the same stages of assembly. "If a customer in Africa has not ordered heated seats for his vehicle, the transporter carrying it will skip that particular work-station," saidRusitschka.

Rubber door surrounds for a two-door car can be fitted faster than for a four-door vehicle, "so the vehicle passes through a work-station more quickly," said the engineer. "At the end of the day you have made more cars."

Industry expert Christoph Stuermer, who works for consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers, points out that a modular system eliminates the need to leave an assembly line idle during retooling for model variants. The system is "truly elegant," he said.

Audi, which belongs to the world's largest carmaker, Volkswagen, is believed to be a pioneer in reinventing car assembly.

Rivals BMW and Daimler have no current plans and Stuermer said he was not aware of any other companies pursuing similar ideas.

Working at the production line in a car factory used to be a byword for drudgery and repetitive work. Waltl says autonomous assembly makes the job more interesting and reduces the stress for workers of having to keep up with rapid production sequences.

In many VW plants, the operation time allocated to a worker to carry out a specific task is limited to 60 seconds. This leads to repetitive strain injuries and other work-related ailments.

A work-station system would allow older and even mildly handicapped employees to keep up with their colleagues, instead of their slowing down the production line.

"Work psychologists are in no doubt that such changes would lead to an improvement in employee health," said Rusitschka.


Japan developing 'mirrorless' cars

                TOKYO: Japanese automobile and parts manufacturers are developing mirrorless vehicles that use cameras and monitors instead of traditional rearview and side mirrors.

In June, the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry lifted a ban on designing and manufacturing mirrorless vehicles. Actual sales are expected to start around 2018, but hurdles regarding safety and other areas still need to be cleared.

In a mirrorless car, cameras replace the side mirrors mounted near the left and right doors, and the driver uses monitors inside the car to make safety checks. The rearview mirror is replaced with a monitor, which shows images taken by a camera mounted on the back of the vehicle.

The transport ministry revised safety criteria and other standards for road transport vehicles to allow mirrorless cars to drive on public roads, aligning Japan with new vehicle safety criteria adopted by the United Nations. The absence of side mirrors will likely reduce air resistance, which could improve fuel efficiency. Also, areas obstructed by the side mirrors would become visible, reducing blind spots. At night and during bad weather, image processing software could help increase visibility.

Major domestic and foreign auto parts makers have taken the lead in developing the necessary technology. The French firm Valeo S.A. is moving forward on developments made using an experimental vehicle in Japan, and plans to start mass producing parts for mirrorless cars in 2018.

Shizuoka-based Murakami Corp., a leading manufacturer of rearview mirrors, has also developed a system of cameras and monitors. The company aims to start mass production in fiscal 2018, and is currently trying to sell its system to key domestic automakers.

Manufacturers such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. have already revealed prototype cars, and are discussing their designs and other plans with parts makers and others to put the ideas into practical use. The main issue is how to improve precision for safety purposes. Even a small time lag between camera and monitor could lead to serious accidents.

Steps also need to be taken so that drivers accustomed to side mirrors do not get flustered. "We can't just replace the mirrors with cameras. We need to find ways to support safe driving," said Shoji Akiyama, a director at Valeo Japan Co.

For example, one automaker is considering a function that would allow a vehicle to accelerate if the car behind it looked like it was about to cause a rear-end collision.

Equipping vehicles with cameras and monitors would increase the sales price of a regular car by at least 100,000 yen (RM4,000), an employee of a major automaker said. Hence, striking the right balance between safety and price is another issue automakers need to tackle. — The Japan News/Asia News Network


Tesla starts taking Model 3 orders in China

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc has started taking orders for its Model 3 sedan in China for a deposit of 8,000 yuan (around RM4,900), according to the electric carmaker's China website www.tesla.cn/model3/reserve.

Chief executive officer Elon Musk said, “Probably some deliveries in March, but April is more certain”, after a Twitter user asked when the deliveries in China would begin.

Tesla declined to comment.

The company has been banking on its Model 3 sedan, the performance of which is seen crucial to the carmaker’s future.

China is the largest market for electric vehicles and most forecasters predict that its sales in the country will speed up rapidly as government regulation drives toward a goal of 100-percent electric vehicles by 2030.

Tesla had signed a deal with Shanghai authorities in July to build its first factory outside the United States, which would cost around US$2 billion to construct and would double the size of its global manufacturing.

The Shanghai Gigafactory, based in eastern China, aims to manufacture Model 3 and Model Y cars, with annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles, according to a filing.

Tesla is also developing plans to start producing about 3,000 Model 3s per week in Shanghai in the initial phase of its Gigafactory 3 to reduce the impact of tariffs.


Thailand now second biggest market for electrified Porsche Cayenne in the world

                BANGKOK: Thailand has become the “second biggest” market after Norway when it comes to Porsche’s electrified Cayenne models.

Last year, 70% of the 1,500 Porsche vehicles sold in Thailand were hybrid-powered Cayenne SUVs, a huge jump from the 670 Porsche vehicles sold here in 2020.

Asked to comment on how Porsche, once regarded as a high-end supercar manufacturer with a handful number of sales in Thailand each year, rocketed to become a household name, Peter Rohwer, managing director of Porsche Thailand, attributed the success to modern technology.

“In the past Porsches might have been expensive sports cars to buy, but today new technology such as hybrids and EVs has helped to bring the prices down (due to special tax breaks),” he said, adding that offering engine sizes of no larger than three litres also help in minimising retail prices.

Rohwer said Thailand is Porsche’s largest market in South-East Asia and is the “second best market in the world for electrified Porsche Cayenne vehicles, which is a big achievement.”

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic or the semi-conductor crisis, Porsche has been enjoying increased sales globally. Last year it delivered 301,915 vehicles worldwide, an increase of 11 per cent, while sales in Asia-Pacific markets surged by a record 51 per cent, with strong sales coming from the Taycan EV.

Earlier this year the company also started CKD assembly of the Cayenne in Malaysia, which has helped to lower retail pricing by up to 30 % in Malaysia.

Rohwer says that Porsche is seriously looking at the South-East Asian countries, which promise a large customer base as well as investment opportunities, particularly in resources needed for manufacturing EV batteries.

According to Rohwer, who has been working in Thailand for 28 years, today Porsche customers in Thailand are getting younger, with as much as 35 per cent of buyers being female.

“In the past, the average age of Porsche buyers was 55 years old but today it has dropped to 42, which means that there are a lot more customers out there,” he said. “Entrepreneurs are becoming younger and they like a strong image when it comes to the cars they drive.”

That explains a large number of visitors to the Porsche booth at the ongoing Thailand International Motor Expo. A total of 11 Porsche models are being displayed and sold at the event, which goes on until December 12 at Challenger IMPACT Muangthong Thani.

But in fact, first-time Porsche buyers need not even go for new cars, Rohwer said.

“Used Porsches are also available for 2-3 million Baht, such as the Macan or Cayenne,” he said. “The 718 is the entry model and if you can afford a used one, it will be your entry into the Porsche world.”

AAS Autoservice Co. Ltd offers 15 years Porsche factory pre-owned warranty.

Rohwer says the typical Porsche customer doesn’t have just one, but two to three Porsches.

“They love cars, love driving,” he said. “And we sell dreams, dreams that come true. Good dreams.” - The Nation Thailand/ANN


UKM duo develop hydrogen-powered SUV and buggy

                KUALA LUMPUR: Two researchers from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) have developed hydrogen hybrid vehicles that run on hydrogen fuel cells and emit zero carbon emissions.

Professor Dr Siti Kartom Kamarudin and Associate Professor Dr Mohd Shahbudin Mastar from the UKM Fuel Cell Institute led the research and development of the UKM FCH2HC, a mini version of a hybrid SUV, and the UKM-FCH2B, a buggy.

The hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were developed in collaboration with industry partners by modifying electric vehicles.

According to Siti Kartom, the UKM-FCH2B is unique as the battery has been replaced with a fuel cell system as an electrical power source to improve the buggy's operational efficiency, as well as a 3000W stationary power generator for electrical appliances.

"Meanwhile, the UKM-FCH2HC is a hybrid vehicle that combines a fuel cell and a battery in a 0.5 ratio, with each power source capable of providing a capacity of up to 10kW, allowing the vehicle to travel further.

"The fuel cell system is equipped with humidifiers and water coolers as supporting units to ensure optimal system performance at all times," she said.

Siti Kartom explained that a fuel cell generates electricity through electrochemical reactions between hydrogen and oxygen in the surrounding environment.

"During the reaction, hydrogen and oxygen combine to produce electrical energy and harmless water vapour as a byproduct, making hydrogen safe because it does not contaminate or harm the surrounding environment, unlike liquefied petroleum gas.

The project began 15 years ago with research to develop high-quality catalysts and membranes. Only in the last three years have the team been able to bring together all of the fundamental components needed to develop the vehicle's system.

For now, the SUV and buggy would be used on campus, with speed limited to 60kph.

Siti Kartom said they are working on a second generation of the vehicles with increased capacity.

Mohd Shabuddin said the vehicles generate electricity via a fuel cell rather than relying solely on a battery.

The quick charging time of a fuel cell car is a significant advantage, he said.

Fully electric vehicles may take up to eight hours to charge completely, compared with fuel cell vehicles that can take less than three minutes depending on the pressure.

He added that one of the biggest hurdles in developing fuel cell vehicles is their high cost.

But mass production would lower the cost of production and make fuel cell vehicles affordable, he said.

"The 12th Malaysia Plan includes hydrogen as one of the government's renewable energy initiatives to develop hydrogen-powered vehicles, which I believe is a good start for the future of this technology," he said.

UKM Fuel Cell Institute has also been appointed as the Head of the Research Excellence Consortium Programme in the Transportation and Mobility category by the Ministry of Higher Education.

The launching symbolises the support and commitment of UKM towards Malaysia's Low Carbon Mobility Development Plan 2021-2030 to reduce greenhouse gas up to 45 percent by 2030 and to be listed as a carbon-neutral country by 2050.


Nvidia launches new system for autonomous driving

                SAN FRANCISCO: Chip giant Nvidia Corp on Tuesday unveiled its new computing platform called DRIVE Thor that would centralise autonomous and assisted driving as well as other digital functions including in-car entertainment.

Nvidia, a big player in the gaming chip and artificial intelligence (AI) market, has been making a big push in the automotive business, a key growth segment for the company.

Danny Shapiro, head of Nvidia's automotive business, said DRIVE Thor would be able to replace numerous chips and cables in the car and bring down the overall system cost, although he did not give specific numbers on savings.

"You can imagine a tremendous savings in terms of cost, in terms of reduced cabling, in terms of reduced weight, in terms of reduced energy consumption overall," Shapiro said during a briefing session.

Some automakers have begun work on designing their own chips to gain more control and cut costs.

General Motor's autonomous driving unit Cruise last week said it had developed its own chips to be deployed by 2025. It currently uses Nvidia chips. read more

The first customer Nvidia announced for DRIVE Thor is China's Geely-owned ZEEKR.

Shapiro said its current computer system called DRIVE Orin will be used in Chinese car company XPeng's new smart SUV and Chinese autonomous driving startup QCraft.

But this comes amid worries about whether Chinese customers would be able to continue to access Nvidia technology with a recent U.S. ban on exports of two top Nvidia computing chips for data centers to China. read more

"There's a lot of companies doing great work, doing things that will benefit mankind and we want to support them," Shapiro said.

"In the cases where we do have product for the data center that has some export restrictions, we're working with those Chinese customers to come up with a suitable alternative product."


2019 Thailand Motor Expo: Turbocharged Honda City and Nissan Almera are popular hits

                BANGKOK: The 12-day 36th Thailand International Motor Expo 2019 has ended, and passenger cars took a 45.5% share of the sales (compared to 38.9% last year) - split into 29.2% sedans, 12.6% hatchbacks and 3.7% others.

The top 5 were Honda City, Nissan Almera, Honda Civic, Mazda 2, and Toyota Yaris.

SUVs accounted for 33.4% share – slightly less than last year (34.3%).

The top 5 were Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, MG ZS, MG HS, Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner.

Pickup trucks took 14.5% share – a slight drop from last year (17.2%).

The top 5 were Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Revo, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, and Nissan Navara.

Luxury car sales totalled 4,181 units.

The 5 brands drawing the most interest were BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Porsche and Audi.

Motorcycles from 26 makers had total sales of 7,251 units, slightly less than the projected target.

The top 5 motorcycle brands were Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Harley-Davidson and GPX.

Meanwhile, the sales of cars from 34 marques totalled 37,489 units, 15.2% less than last year.

The top 6 car brands were Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mazda, MG and Nissan.

The average price of cars sold at the Motor Expo was 1,251,743 Baht (RM171,720) and the average price of motorcycles sold was 265,860 Baht (RM36,472).

A total of 1.5 million visitors crowded the event, spending over 50 billion baht (RM6.86 billion).

The motor expo’s chairman Kwanchai Paphatphong said, "Car and motorcycle sales at the Motor Expo totalled 44,740 units – 16.2% lower than last year due to many reasons: external factors - economic downturn and trade war along with domestic factors - the increase of land tax and the new motorcycle tax based on carbon dioxide emissions which will begin on January 1st, 2020: resulting in cautious consumer spending. Even so, the number of visitors met the set target.”

ALSO READ:

2019 Thailand Motor Expo: Honda City Turbo RS and Modulo

2019 Thailand Motor Expo: Honda Civic hatchback updated

2019 Thailand Motor Expo: Mazda2 updated

2019 Thailand Motor Expo: Classy ladies

2019 Thailand Motor Expo: 2020 Nissan Almera 1.0-litre turbo