Citroën C3 Aircross SUV debuts at RM115,888

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Euro Motors has launched the Citroën C3 Aircross sport utility vehicle (SUV) priced at RM115,888 on-the-road without insurance.

The C3 Aircross comes with a five-year or 120,000km warranty, 24-hour Roadside Assistance and exclusive one-year access to SkyLounge by Naza at Subang Skypark.

The first 100 buyers of the C3 Aircross get a three-year free service deal from Naza Euro Motors, in conjunction with Citroën’s 100th Year anniversary.

Powered by 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol PureTech engine which is mated to a 6-speed auto transmission with Tiptronic, the C3 Aircross produces 112ps with a maximum torque of 205Nm from 1,500rpm.

It has a top speed of 200kph and is able to accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 10.4 seconds.

Its compact and high-set dimensions of 4.15m in length, 2.0m in width, and 1.64m in height coupled with its 2.6m long wheelbase makes it a well-proportioned SUV.

One highlight is its cargo volume - the 410-litre boot can be increased to a load volume of 520 litres when the rear seats are sledded to the front and boot floor lowered.

With the front passenger seat folded down, objects as long as 2.40m can be loaded.

The rear seats with reclining feature can be adjusted to slide separately up to 15cm and be split 60/40.

Features include keyless entry and push start, 17-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights with LED daytime-running lights, 3D Quartz Grey fabric seats, as well as a 7-inch touchscreen integrated with Citroën Connect Radio and compatible for use with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, MirrorLink, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB.

Adding to the interior's stylish look are red touches on the air vents and steering wheel, Corinthe Grey dashboard finishing and aviation-styled handbrake.

A rear sensor and reverse camera provide the driver with a 180-degree view of the car’s surroundings with top view, making parking manoeuvres a breeze.

The C3 Aircross has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and safety features include six airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), and two ISOFIX anchorages.

It is offered in two colour pack options: Orange and Black. The Black Colour Pack is offered with the Passion Red and Breathing Blue colour options which colours the side mirror caps, headlamp surroundings and roof bars black.

Meanwhile, the Orange Colour Pack adds hints of orange on the same parts as Black Colour Pack but extends to the rear quarter window and wheel caps.

Globally, the C3 Aircross has clinched six international awards including the Autobest ‘Best Buy Car of Europe’ 2018 and Argus 2018 Award’s ‘Best Urban SUV’ and ‘Car of the Year’, Carbuyer’s ‘Best Small SUV 2019’, Company Car Today CCT100 2019’s ‘Compact Crossover of the Year’ and ‘Best Small SUV’ at the 2019 Business Motoring Awards.

“Bringing together all of Citroën’s expertise in cabin space, modular design and comfort, this people-minded SUV stands out in the B-segment SUV with its unique body styling. This truly is the most spacious and versatile urban SUV that offers practicality, class-leading space and safety features distinctive to Citroën,” said Naza Euro Motors CEO Yasser Awan.

“This year, Citroën celebrates 100 years of a brand that is truly ‘people minded’ and has always been “Inspired by People” and their lifestyle. Citroën is proud of this DNA and will be celebrating a century of boldness, creativity and the French way of life that have shaped the Citroën brand today,” he added.

Citroën C3 Aircross

- 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine
- 112ps at 5,500rpm
- 205Nm at 1,500rpm
- 6 speed automotic with Tiptronic
- halogen headlights with LED DRLs
- 3D effect rear lights
- keyless entry and push start
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- 180-degree reverse camera with Top View
- 7-inch touchscreen
- infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, MirrorLink, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- two 12V sockets and one USB port
- Automatic air-conditioning
- Six airbags
- electronic stability programme (ESP)
- electronic brake distribution (EBD)
- emergency brake assist (EBA)
- two ISOFIX anchorages.

Citoren C3 Aircross price and specifications


Why are car tyres always black?

                BERLIN: For all the technical progress and changes made since the invention of the automobile, one thing seems to have always remained the same, even to this day: Car tyres are still black.

Why is that? And are they really always black?

Car tyres are usually black because soot is mixed in during the production process, explains TÜV, a German safety inspection agency.

The main component in tyres is, of course, rubber, which is soft and sticky when the tyres are being produced.

The addition of soot during vulcanization – the caking process to turn rubber into a solid substance – ensures that the tyre is made to the correct hardness, and also improves its abrasion resistance.

This process was developed by Charles Goodyear in 1839 and has remained the preferred method to this day.

While white-sided tires have also been produced over the years, and have proved popular with vintage car lovers, they also always have a black tread.

In any case, light-coloured tyres are unlikely to penetrate the market anytime soon because dirt from streets and roads would quickly make them look unsightly.

The production of coloured, or at least colour-printed, tyres is certainly technically possible these days, and they are sometimes seen in the tuning-car scene.

But there is still a lack of broad acceptance for the idea.


Woman wins BMW 318i after airport purchase

Tan with the BMW 318i during the prize-giving ceremony for the Eraman Shopping Extravaganza – Buy & Win Contest.
KUALA LUMPUR: Duty-free and travel retail brand Eraman, under Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, gave away a BMW 318i as the grand prize and other prizes worth over RM330,000 to 54 lucky winners of the Eraman Shopping Extravaganza – Buy & Win Contest.

Tan Ban Ning from Ipoh, who works in the Philippines, won the grand prize along with Bally Bag and Petron Fuel vouchers worth RM3,600 as a reward from her total purchase of RM451.89 at Swarovski Boutique, which is managed by Eraman, at Satellite Building, KLIA.

At the prize-giving ceremony, Tan said, “At first, I thought it was a scam. But after receiving the notification email from the organiser, I realised that this was the real deal.

“I wanted to buy a gift for my friend and stopped by the Swarovski boutique, not expecting to win anything.

“Now I am walking away with a luxury car and a year’s worth of fuel by Petron!” she said.

Present to give away the prizes were Malaysia Airports (Niaga) Sdn Bhd supply chain head Md Fadzwin Abdul Rahim, Sime Darby Auto Bavaria Sdn Bhd corporate and direct sales head Pravinderjeet Singh, Diageo customer marketing (Asia Pacific) head Sandra Tassily and Petron Malaysia Refining and Marketing Bhd marketing manager Danny Chen.

“The contest comprising three phases was launched with the aim of connecting with travellers and our loyal customers.

“ It was also to create a joyful experience and reward them by offering bigger and better prizes,” said Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali.

“The second phase of the Buy & Win Contest, which was from Nov 1 to Dec 31 2017, attracted more than 170,000 entries with participants from Malaysia, China and India, among other countries.

“The campaign helped to push Eraman to achieve a double-digit growth in December 2017 compared to 2016. A customer only needed to spend a minimum of RM350 in a single receipt to be eligible for the contest,” he added.

Other than the top three lucky winners, 50 consolation winners received Petron Fuel Vouchers worth RM450 each.

Diageo, owner of the Johnnie Walker brand, was the campaign’s platinum sponsor and offered exclusive discounts of up to 20% on its products.

Additionally, with each purchase, shoppers stood a chance to win a trip for two to the Johnnie Walker House in Seoul worth RM15,000.

Vu Tran Bach from Vietnam, who bought Johnnie Walker Double Black to enter the contest, was the lucky winner of the mega prize.

“Johnnie Walker is a popular and well-regarded brand in Vietnam, so naturally it was my first choice. This will also be my first trip to South Korea,” he said.

As the campaign’s silver sponsor, Petron Malaysia retail business head Faridah Ali said it was thrilled to be part of this partnership with a valued partner like Eraman.

“We will continue to actively engage with our customers by developing strategic partnerships with leading brands and reward our customers with the best experiences,” she added.

The third phase of the Buy & Win Contest will run from April to May and will be held at all Eraman participating outlets, except Express at KLIA and klia2 and food and beverage outlets.


SPAD looking at providing same platform for Uber, GrabCar and taxis

                PETALING JAYA: The public transport sector is set for a free-for-all with e-hailing services such as Uber and GrabCar, and regular taxi services competing on equal terms. The only questions is – how?

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar says Uber and GrabCar will be regulated soon so there will be a level playing field.

However, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Ting Lai says they will de-regulate taxis so they can compete on the same terms.

Speaking after launching a short video competition at Wisma MCA, Liow said SPAD had presented papers to his ministry and they were looking at providing the same platform for Uber, GrabCar and taxis.

“We are going to deregulate taxis, that means there will be fewer restrictions and regulations like the PSV (public service vehicle licence).

“As the Transport Minister, I will empower SPAD to deregulate the requirements for taxis and drivers.”

To a question about the Cabinet’s approval to regulate GrabCar and Uber, Liow said certain details still need to be looked at by SPAD.

Syed Hamid, when contacted, said while it was true that Uber and GrabCar would be regulated, SPAD would give a full press conference about the Cabinet decision in a few days.

He added that the Cabinet’s decision was part of the transformation programme for public transportation.

Syed Hamid said the regulation of the e-hailing apps would create a more level playing field for the taxis and e-hailing public transportation services.

“There will be new laws and rules to regulate every player,” he added.

An English daily had reported on Thursday that the Uber and GrabCar services are to be legalised soon.

The report said the decision was reached after SPAD chief executive officer Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah presented 11 initiatives at the Cabinet on Wednesday to overhaul the conventional taxi industry and expand transport services by legalising Uber and GrabCar services.

It reported that the Cabinet was also satisfied with the move to provide individual taxi permits to conventional taxi drivers who have good and clean track records.

There are around 77,000 registered taxi drivers in the country.

It further said that amendments to laws to legalise Uber and GrabCar are expected to be done at the Parliament meeting in November.

Leigh Wong, who is Uber’s head of communications (Singapore and Malaysia), said they had read reports about Cabinet giving its approval to SPAD to enact regulations for ride-sharing.

“We look forward to the full details from SPAD. We are excited about the prospects of ride-sharing for riders, drivers and Malaysia,” Wong said.

Grab Malaysia country head Jaygan Fu said the company was “pleased and welcomes” the Cabinet’s approval to regulate e-hailing services.

The announcement, he said, was a testament of the Government’s commitment to support and include innovative solutions to resolve the transportation woes in the country.

Fu added that GrabCar, formerly known as MyTeksi, looked forward to working closely and having dialogue with the authorities to understand the proposed amendments to the current regulations.


Carmakers eye twin-track product cycle to keep pace with technology

                GENEVA: Carmakers are devising new ways to keep pace with fast-moving trends and innovation in the consumer electronics that have become increasingly important to car buyers, executives at the Geneva motor show said.

The big challenge is how to introduce the latest technological wizardry as frequently as possible without interfering with the economics of selling cars: earning back the cash spent on expensive tooling, production and distribution.

The problem is neatly illustrated by the rapid release of ever more advanced mobile phones, compared with a turnaround of about seven years for new car models.

Narrowing that gap is crucial, given how mobile phones and cars have become increasingly integrated, not to mention the advances in computer software and processing power that will be key to making self-driving cars a commercial success.

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class, for example, can activate accident-avoidance braking systems far earlier than any other Mercedes model, thanks to a doubling of the performance of radars, the stereo camera and processing power.

Tesla, a loss-making producer of premium electric cars, has set the pace, adapting the strategy of improving its products as soon as is possible, using software updates and by making changes to the hardware.

Yet executives at the Geneva show say car product cycles will not tighten much below six years.

"I do not see a reduction in the product cycle for the car," said Klaus Froehlich, BMW board member responsible for research and development.

Volvo chief executive Hakan Samuelsson explained: "It's about how effectively you use capital. Shortening the product cycle too much means you won't earn back the money and you will not be profitable."

For example, the cost of a high-end stamping press for making body panels costs about €40mil (RM179.87mil). That investment needs to be recovered over many months and years, even for manufacturers of premium cars.

"We are very cautious about whether we should accelerate the life cycle of a vehicle. Seven years is an established time frame," said Daimler board member Thomas Weber, who is responsible for group research and Mercedes-Benz cars development.

"Time to market should be as short as possible, but even here many companies make mistakes. Making a product perfect takes time."

Mercedes, BMW and others are seeking to shorten the time it takes to develop a car and introduce interchangeable parts that can be updated in a "product refresh" while sticking to the seven-year product cycle.

A key reason to keep the seven-year cycle is to avoid introducing next-generation products before customers have had time to pay for existing cars.

Leasing contracts generally last 36 months, with monthly payments based on the assumed resale value of the vehicle. Introducing a new model too soon could hit resale values, potentially raising leasing rates for buyers of previous-generation vehicles.

Analysts BNP Paribas said that German carmakers' leasing contract volumes have doubled since 2007 to about €80bil (RM359.69bil) at the end of last year, with BMW’s leasing contracts representing more than half of its market capitalisation.

To help keep their products up to date, Mercedes and BMW are now focusing on shortening the software product cycle while keeping expensive components on the market for six to seven years.

“We see different potential for optimising hardware and software. Hardware, steel, the engine, the crank case, the transmission should have long life cycles, while software will be updated in a more dynamic, frequent manner. And processors are ordered with potential upgrades in mind during the life cycle of the vehicle," Daimler's Weber said.

Effectively, it's a case of wheels within wheels.

"We are moving away from a trend to build a brand new car from scratch every seven years. Carmakers are now working with modular systems, with some components in use over two generations of vehicle," said Wolfgang Bernhart, a partner at consultancy Roland Berger.

Philippe Klein, of Nissan's global product planning operation, said: "The name of the game is how can you refresh your product without having to reinvest everything. The industry is capital intensive; you need to amortise the investment over time."


Petronas SRT teases electric kick scooter

                SEPANG: Petronas Sepang Racing Team has announced a new partnership with leading urban kick scooter manufacturer Velocifero with a concept limited edition Mad Air electric kick scooter showcased at the 2021 DutchGP.

The announcement is the latest from the team as it develops an expansion of its off-track activities into electric two wheel vehicles. Prototype scooters will be used and showcased by the team across the remaining races in 2021.

The concept PSRT Velocifero Mad Air electric kick scooter merges style, performance and practicality in one single package.

It boasts a practical folding handlebar design for easy storage and transport, a punchy 350W electric motor and removable 36V 10.4Ah battery pack, novel digital display panel, as well as front motor and electric brakes and rear disk brakes.

Though rich in features, the Mad Air’s light 16kg weight makes it ideal for anyone to zip around in an urban setting. This limited edition special fashioned in the signature colours of the Petronas SRT racing livery.

Through the roll-out of the prototype scooters at races, the team will be evaluating a limited-edition production run for the future. Fans are encouraged to register their interest to own a special edition Petronas SRT Velocifero kick scooter.

Velocifero is based in Taizhou, Zhejiang.


Hyundai says it will build its first S.Korean EV factory

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Co said today it would build a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) factory in South Korea that will become its first automobile plant to open in the country in almost three decades.

Production is due to begin by 2025, the company's union said in a statement, relaying a pledge that the company had made in wage negotiations.

Hyundai Motor gave no further details in its statement.

In May, Hyundai Motor Group, which houses Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp, said it would invest 63 trillion won (RM213bil) in South Korea through to 2025.

Hyundai Motor's unionised workers in South Korea voted this month for a possible strike for the first time in four years over demands for higher wages. They were also angry at management prioritising investment outside the country.

Hyundai Motor, South Korea's largest automaker, last opened an automobile factory in South Korea in 1996.

But it said in May it would invest US$5.5 billion (RM24.4bil) to build full EV and battery manufacturing facilities in Georgia.

The EV facility in Georgia is scheduled to break ground in early 2023 and begin commercial production in the first half of 2025, according to Hyundai Motor.

"Sales of internal-combustion-engine vehicles are scheduled to be banned in certain markets so the new EV factory is vital to Hyundai Motor's survival," said Chang Moon-su, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities, a subsidiary of the automaker.


Japan's Cocoa Motors flags off worldwide sales of WALKCAR

                KUALA LUMPUR: A Japanese company today started worldwide sales of a vehicle users can carry with them in a bag, dubbed "WALKCAR".

The US$2,280 (RM9,576) vehicle looks more like an electric skateboard except for its squarish dimensions.

The company that created WALKCAR, Cocoa Motors Inc of Tokyo, said it has the same size as a 13-inch laptop computer and is a small and light "car in a bag" weighing only 2.9kg.

It is made up of a carbon fibre deck and aircraft-grade aluminium. The four sensors installed inside the standing surface lets a user control the basic maneuver based on him shifting his weight to accelerate, deaccelerate, and turn without using a handle or a remote controller.

The vehicle height is just 74mm above the ground. The flat and square standing surface allows a user to step off instantly in any direction safely. It can even roll up slopes of up to 10 degrees and has an automatic stopping function.

WALKCAR can reach a speed of up to 16kph and has a range of up to 7km. It takes an hour to fully charge up the 68Wh Li-ion battery.

Since the prototype was announced in 2016, Cocoa motors had received 7,800 pre-orders from 13 countries.


Evora GT430: Lotus unveils its most powerful road car ever

                LONDON: After successful launches into the global auto market of its Evora 400 and Evora Sport 410 models, British sports car manufacturer Lotus has unveiled what promises to be an almost instant classic in the shape of the Evora GT430.

Lotus has built itself quite a reputation as a manufacturer with serious expertise when it comes to the development of ultra-lightweight vehicle technology, and the Evora GT430 is the latest culmination of all that expertise.

Weighing in at a dry weight of just 1,258kg, the new model sets a new benchmark for the company as its most powerful road-going car to-date.

Lotus has paid particular attention to the hand-crafted carbon-fibre components used to deliver incredible weight-saving and a level of precision engineering and design unseen before. Coupled with 430hp and 250kg of downforce at a maximum speed of 306kph, the performance and handling of the new Lotus promises to be nothing short of breathtaking.

The engine producing that 430hp is a supercharged and charge-cooled 3.5-litre V-6, which will get the GT430 from a standing start to 100kph in just 3.7 seconds.

The looks, performance and provenance of the new Evora are enough to make it a future classis as it is, but the fact there are only going to be 60 of these hand-built cars produced at the company's factory in Norfolk, England pretty much guarantees it.

Although many cars of this type stick to the principles of weight reduction by excluding even basic comforts such as a radio or air conditioning, the Lotus can be specified with such practical options as a touch-screen infotainment system with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, navigation and a reversing camera.

The order book is open now with a starting price of £112,500 (RM627,000) in Britain, and from €151,000 (RM755,000) in mainland Europe.


VW Malaysia embraces digitalisation

Winter explains various facets of the digitalisation measures undertaken under his watch.
PETALING JAYA: Digitalisation is the mantra in a new age of making and selling cars. And that will continue to grow in importance in the coming years as car makers seek to cut costs, improve efficiencies and strive to be as competitive as they can be to carve out market share.

Digitalisation is defined as enabling or improving processes by leveraging digital technologies and digitised data.  It is the process of moving to a digital business.

It's a bold new world where car makers go beyond selling just a product but also digital services that support the car ownership experience as well. The pandemic has undoubtedly shaped and provided the impetus towards digitalisation.

StarCarSifu recently touched base with Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia managing director Erik Winter on what the company is doing in the digitalisation space.

Q: Update us on VW's eShowroom initiative a year after its launch. What has been the customer response and what are the key challenges in moving the eShowroom forward?

We launched the Volkswagen eShowroom on April 1, 2020 and the response has just grown exponentially. Malaysian customers are very receptive to the idea of buying a car online - a double-digit percentage of our total sales now comes through our eShowroom, and we believe this really is because with the eShowroom, you can book a Volkswagen any time of the day, and enjoy exclusive deals only offered online.

In terms of challenges, we would like to look at improving the eShowroom to do more. At the moment, it is a “booking” platform, and our dealers will need to process the necessary paperwork for the purchase.  However, we are constantly improving the user journey on our eShowroom, and you will be seeing updates coming soon to make the online experience a more holistic one.

Q: Could you elaborate on VW's latest foray into online service checks? How does it work?

During the first MCO in March 2020, the team had to adapt, and it was clear that we needed to digitalise our offerings to remain top-of-mind and relevant to the changing times. On the aftersales front, we launched our #SafeHands campaign, taking customers’ and employees’ health and safety into account.

Volkswagen owners can now service their cars without having to leave the safety and comfort of their homes. The service journey starts by owners booking their appointment online via the Volkswagen Cares app or website. Once booked, owners have the option to bring in their cars or have their cars collected and returned with our free pickup and delivery service.

At the service centre, a complimentary 5 Star Service check video recording is done and sent to owners via mobile. During the service, additional parts replacements will be sent to owners for approval where they can choose to accept or decline. Once the service and repairs are completed, an e-quotation is sent, and owners can make payment online.

I am pleased to say that our digital aftersales initiative has received very positive response and is very popular.  We see about 6 out of 10 owners opting for this.

Q: You have great success with selling selected models in small numbers through Lazada since 2017. Will this expand in scope?

Volkswagen has always been at the forefront of digitalisation here in Malaysia. The country’s digital penetration stands at more than 80%, and we recognised the need to be where our customers are, and that is in the digital sphere.

In 2017, we made our first venture into e-commerce by collaborating with Lazada to sell 12 limited edition units of the Beetle, and we sold out in under 20 minutes.

We repeated the feat the next year (again with Lazada) and sold 11 special edition Polo in under one minute. This was a first for an automotive brand in the country, and this has not been repeated since by any other automotive brands.

I believe that that there were several factors to this success. One was that we knew our customers and what they wanted. Another was because we offered a deal so exclusive online you could not get anywhere else, not even at our dealerships. This added to the “must-have” element for the cars. So, this is definitely something that we will happily repeat with the right product.

For our current model line-up, there is the Volkswagen eShowroom, parked within our website, where customers can visit to enjoy exclusive online deals. And to those looking at pre-owned Volkswagen vehicles, we also offer attractive deals on our Das WeltAuto website. Das WeltAuto is Volkswagen’s global used-car programme that offers customers certified used cars they can trust.

Each vehicle undergoes a stringent 133-point vehicle inspection check and is sold with 12-months roadside assistance and 1-year extended warranty.

Q:  Is VW Malaysia actively looking at tapping into the young user base of TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat? What about using YouTube and Facebook (generally where the more mature crowd are) to convert visits into sales?

With the number of social media users in the country rising every year, it goes without saying that social media plays a crucial role as avenues for our owners and followers to interact with us. Our current platforms are Facebook, Instagram and Youtube, and in the past one year we have seen a 21% growth in our number of followers.

The individual platforms are used to target different audiences, and we curate and create content with specific messages for our respective audiences. As an example, we use more video-based content on our Instagram page as users there are younger and more visual, while we use Facebook for content that is a mix of copy and visuals, with links to where our followers can find out information on various sales and aftersales topics. At the moment, Facebook is our main channel for prospecting and to collect leads.

I am also pleased to say that even on our social media channels, our strong relationship with our social media partners have provided us with the opportunity for several milestones in the industry. They include:

> The first automotive brand in the market to sell cars on Instagram
> The first automotive brand in the market to sell cars on Lazada
>  The first automotive brand in Malaysia to use IG Guides
>  In collaboration with multiple KOL's: We are the first automotive brand in the market to use "Live-With" for livestreams on Instagram
>  The first brand to pioneer Dynamic Ads on Facebook for retargeting

We are also constantly exploring new platforms to see what works for us. So who knows – you might even see Volkswagen Malaysia on TikTok very soon!

Q: Selling cars in 2021 and in the future is a multi-platform endeavour, beyond just having physical showrooms and dealerships. Do you see VW cutting down on dealerships across Malaysia as it expands its online sales channels?

There are currently 18 Volkswagen dealerships nationwide with both sales showrooms and authorised service centres, and with this figure, we have been able to meet the needs and demands of our owners around the country. It is about quality and not quantity, and because of this we continue to work with our dealer partners in strengthening and improving their level of sales and aftersales service for Volkswagen owners out there.

Our dealers play a key role in the overall ownership experience, and though our offerings are now digitalised, it only serves to emphasise the importance of the human element and personal touch that comes with face-to-face interaction.

The customer purchase journey is a combination of both digital and physical experiences.

Customers usually do their research online when deciding on their next car purchase. The consideration stage is where they will walk into showrooms and speak to our sales consultants, to see the cars up close as well as go on test drives. This is common especially when buying a big-ticket item such as a new car, and we feel for now here in Malaysia, no digital experience can replace this. The final stage before purchase can be done online where they can place a booking via the Volkswagen eShowroom.

To complement the above, there are pop-up showrooms. Pop-up stores are already trendy here in Malaysia, and this is something you will see from Volkswagen once the situation allows for us to.

Q:  Digitalisation of the supply chain in local car assembly can reap potential cost savings and efficiencies. What's the situation now for Volkswagen Malaysia in that department?

Any digitalisation exercise is done to improve process efficiency, and it is no different for our vendors.

While our local parts supply chain vendors have yet to fully digitalise their offerings, we are already doing what we can on our end. One example is the way the Volkswagen regional parts distribution hub at Tanjung Pelepas in Johor operates. The hub provides genuine parts and is a key contributor to the supply chain for 21 markets in Asia Pacific. Through digitalisation, the parts hub allows for parts order and delivery to be processed faster, is more convenient and efficient.

Another example is with our plant in Pekan, where all our models are assembled. From a supply chain perspective, the plant uses complex systems that maps out the demand and usage of various components. This gives them control of the parts, is cost-efficient, and helps to minimise wastage.

Q: Will digitalisation mean a reduction of workforce or redeployment/retraining workers in new fields of expertise?

Digitalisation has changed the automotive retail landscape, and this process was accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

For Volkswagen Malaysia, digitalisation does not mean a reduction of workforce.  On the contrary, everyone within the ecosystem has a role to play. It can be a matter of redirecting specific roles, learning new skillsets, and understanding what is needed in order to integrate and adapt with the times. Most importantly, support must be there to ensure success.

In the case of our dealer partners, the closure of showrooms during last year’s MCO forced them to evolve and shift their focus online. To support them, we provided training, the tools and the know-how to bring their business online, particularly through their social media channels. Our dealers are now digital-savvy and understand the importance of being present online. Livestream events on their social media channels where they conduct product walkthroughs, demonstrations and consultations on both sales and aftersales offerings are the norm now.

 The VW iD.4.Q: On the iD electric cars, will greater marketing effort be directed to offline channels to push sales of such cars rather than online at least in the first year of their arrival in Malaysia?

For the moment, we have no concrete plans to launch the iD family in Malaysia as this will require the strengthening of the overall infrastructure.  For example, a charging infrastructure and certain incentives for customers must be present. The market demand and volume also need to be taken into consideration.

We welcome the current discussions regarding the development of an e-mobility roadmap for Malaysia. Once we are ready to bring in electric vehicles, we foresee our physical dealerships and online eShowroom playing a role in how they are marketed and purchased. There will need to be a fine balance between on-ground and online marketing activations, and customers will need time to familiarise themselves with the vehicle, how it drives and its maintenance – so education is key here. Online sales through the eShowroom will still be relevant as the last step in the consumer journey before purchase.

Having said that, we believe that our customers’ expectations are growing increasingly consistent with the wider retail avenues and we plan to cater to them through all the various channels.


Nokian Tyres moves some production and stock out of Russia

                HELSINKI: Finland's Nokian Tyres is shifting production of some of its key product lines from Russia to Finland and the United States to prepare for possible further sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the company said today.

The business is one of many grappling with how to respond as Russian forces sweep across Ukraine, although most have tended to focus on closing or moving operations in Ukraine while taking a more wait-and-see approach to Russia.

While running its factory near Saint Petersburg at full capacity, Nokian has begun transporting tyres out of Russia to warehouses closer to its customers, said a spokesman.

She said not all products made in Russia could be made at Finnish or US plants and added no sanctions were currently affecting Nokian's Russian business.

The company also could not say whether the move would be temporary or permanent as the situation is evolving.

The tyre maker has been ramping up production in Finland and the United States to respond to increasing demand, but still produces about 80% of its annual capacity of 20 million tyres in Russia, where it employs around 1,600 people, the spokesman said.


Toyota deepens Japan partnerships with Subaru stake boost

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp will raise its stake in Subaru Corp to 20% from around 17%, the two Japanese automakers said today, as they leverage their scale to better compete in developing new vehicle technologies.

The investment comes a month after Toyota and another smaller Japanese automaker, Suzuki Motor Corp, said they would take small equity stakes in each other.

Such tie-ups highlight how automakers are scrambling to chase scale, manage costs and boost development required to develop self-driving cars, electric vehicles and new mobility services which are upending the global auto industry.

“In this once-in-a-century period of profound transformation, by strengthening their bonds and aligning their capabilities, Toyota and Subaru aim ... to make ever-better cars,” Toyota said in a statement.

Traditional car makers, especially smaller ones such as Subaru and Suzuki, are struggling to meet the fast pace of change in an industry which is shifting to a business model of providing transportation services from simply selling cars to drivers.

In a statement, Toyota, whose annual global vehicle sales are 10 times that of Subaru, said its investment would amount to up to 80 billion yen (RM3.1bil) based on Subaru’s stock market value. The smaller automaker will reciprocate by buying a stake in Toyota of equal value.

“The plan appears to be to ultimately make Subaru a fully owned subsidiary, to help create a ‘mega Toyota’. This is the first step towards that,” said Takeshi Miyao, managing director of consultancy Carnorama. “It’s all about building scale.”

Joining forces

Car makers around the world are joining forces to slash development and manufacturing costs of new technology. Ford Motor Co and Volkswagen have said they will spend billions of dollars to jointly develop electric and self-driving vehicles.

Friday’s deal cements Subaru’s place in Toyota’s expanding group of Japanese partners, which include Mazda Motor Corp and Yamaha Motor Co.

Rival Nissan Motor Co has an alliance with France’s Renault, although that has been shaken following the ouster of former chairman Carlos Ghosn, and with Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

Honda Motor Co has a tie-up with General Motors.

Subaru, which produces the Outback and Forester SUVs, is known for its horizontally placed boxer engines, along with its EyeSight autonomous driver assist and all-wheel-drive technologies.

In recent years, it has departed from selling cars as high-performance machines, marketing them instead as lifestyle products using an approach which has been successful in the United States, its biggest market.

The two automakers in June said they planned to jointly develop an electric sport-utility vehicle on a platform produced together, to share costs.

Toyota seems to be keen on investing in smaller, domestic automakers, rather than forging cross-border tie-ups like some of its rivals.

It has been building its holding in Subaru since first acquiring a 9.5% stake in the company, then called Fuji Heavy Industries, in 2005. Its current 17% stake makes Toyota the biggest shareholder.


Mercedes-Benz C 200 upgraded to AMG Line

                PETALING JAYA: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has announced the availability of a modified C-Class variant, the Mercedes-Benz C 200 with AMG Line priced at RM251, 587.39 (on-the-road without insurance including the tax-free incentive).

Mercedes-Benz C 200 AMG Line is equipped with the new 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that produces 204hp and 300Nm of torque. The C 200 AMG Line goes from 0 – 100kph in just 7.1 seconds and has an impressive top speed of 250kph.

The new C 200 AMG Line comes with the AMG Line exterior: the new diamond radiator grille integrated with the Mercedes star and pins in chrome, the AMG front apron with sporty air intake and chrome trim element and the AMG diffuser-look rear apron with insert in black.

Also new is the 18-inch AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels.

Inside, the C 200 AMG Line also comes with the AMG Line interior including the Artico leather upholstery, galvanised steering wheel gearshift paddles and AMG sports pedals.

Like its predecessor, safety features in the new C 200 includes the Active Brake Assist, Pre-Safe and Blind Spot Assist while the Active Brake Assist system contributes towards mitigating the consequences of an accident.

The new C 200 AMG Line is now equipped with Mercedes me connect to help Mercedes-Benz owners stay connected and in sync with their vehicles.

“As part of our continuous commitment to the local market, the C 200 is upgraded with AMG line together with a host of enhancement including an even more dynamic engine, sports suspension, state-of-the-art digital infotainment system and Mercedes me connect. This model will further cater to the individual requirements of our esteemed customers,” says Michael Jopp, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.


Tesla to add EV components recycling facilities at Shanghai plant

File pic of a lithium-ion car battery pack being stripped down for recycling. — Reuters
BEIJING: Tesla Inc plans to add facilities at its Shanghai factory to repair and reproduce key components such as electric motors and battery cells, a document submitted by Tesla to Shanghai authorities shows.

China, the world's biggest car market, sold over 1.3 million electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles last year. China's regulators are adding rules on recycling of key EV components to save materials and protect the environment.

The document also said Tesla will add manufacturing capacities for car structures and electric motor controllers. It did not put detailed figures of its manufacturing capacities.

Tesla, which is making electric Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, is expanding manufacturing capacity of EV components to localise the supply chain. It also added a factory to make EV chargers in Shanghai last year.

Tesla, which said on its website that materials in a Tesla car's battery are recoverable and recyclable, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tesla sold more than 35,000 locally-made vehicles last month in China and is exporting China-made cars to Europe.


Family clan members back Volkswagen CEO's electric strategy, says daily

                BERLIN: Wolfgang Porsche and Hans-Michel Piech, members of the family which controls German carmaker Volkswagen, fully support the shift towards electric cars being driven by chief executive Herbert Diess, they told the Bild newspaper.

Porsche and Piech both sit on the supervisory board of Volkswagen.

“There is no alternative today to the path that he and the VW management have taken. If we do not tackle this transformation now, the group will have a huge problem in the future,” Porsche told Bild.

Volkswagen is shifting from being a manufacturer of traditional vehicles to making self-driving and connected cars, as well as electric vehicles, a step, which requires cost cuts and efficiency gains, Diess said last month.

Piech said of Diess: “He has our support. He faces a daunting task. He needs strength, but also support from everyone in the group.”

Porsche added that Germany should consider scrapping subsidies for diesel vehicles and he also questioned whether all the technology experts that Volkswagen is looking for necessarily have to work at its headquarters in Wolfsburg.


RM20 rebate for Grab rides to PPV now open to all Selangor residents

                SHAH ALAM: The RM20 rebate for using e-hailing rides to vaccination centres (PPV) in Selangor is now open to everyone in the state who are eligible for vaccination, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

He said the rebate for the Grab e-hailing services would benefit almost 50,000 individuals statewide, with an allocation of RM1 million.

He said the initiative in partnership with Grab Malaysia was aimed at individuals aged 18 and above to travel to the vaccination centres for their inoculation appointments.

"Unlike what I announced on June 9 (through our Kita Selangor Package 2.0), that it is limited to those aged 50 and above, this rebate is now open to all Selangor citizens who are eligible to be vaccinated,” he said on his Facebook page today.

Amirudin said the transport rebate of RM10 for a one-way trip or RM20 for a round trip would be valid for rides to 40 selected PPV in the state between July 1 and Sept 30.

Applications for the rebate can be made via www.platselangor.com.


Porsche expands online sales to include customer-configured cars

                STUTTGART: Porsche customers will soon be able to design their own dream cars online using a new configurator.

The Porsche Car Configurator can also now be used to pre-order vehicles directly.

The new functions will initially be available in Germany and will be launched in Spain and Portugal in the coming weeks.

The new features include expanded views of the vehicle in even higher quality and with more backgrounds.

Almost all options are now visually represented in real time – from the different variants of the design packages to details such as decorative stitching. Users are also guided through the configuration process in a targeted manner.

“With the new functions, we have reached a milestone on the way to a highly attractive digital service for buying a Porsche,” said Porsche AG chief marketing officer Robert Ader.

“We have completely revamped the Porsche Car Configurator with the objective of enabling maximum customisation while making the configuration and buying experience as intuitive as possible. The result is a more inspiring, simple and compelling customer journey.”

Customers could already request and order in-stock new and used cars.

Thanks to the new functions, this will now include customer-configured vehicles as well, which can be pre-ordered from the desired dealer directly in the Car Configurator.

The sale is then finalised at the Porsche Centre. The process is part of the brand’s omnichannel approach, which is designed to allow customers to move seamlessly between digital and physical contact points.

Porsche launched online car sales in Germany in 2019 and has been steadily expanding the offering ever since.

Online vehicle searches are now available in 100 markets around the world, and cars can be ordered online in 32 of them.


Delphi names spin-off firms Aptiv, Delphi Technologies

                DETROIT: Delphi Automotive Plc said Aptiv PLC will be the name of the electronics company left after its automotive powertrain operations are spun off.

The powertrain business will be named Delphi Technologies, it said on Tuesday in a statement ahead of a meeting with investors today.

Aptiv will design and produce electronic systems, advanced safety technology integrate the hardware and software for self-driving cars, it said.

The electronic systems business generated about US$12 billion in revenue last year. They are predicted to grow at a faster pace than the powertrain operations as vehicles become increasingly electric-powered, software-controlled devices.

Chief executive Kevin Clark announced in May that the company would spin off its legacy powertrain business. Clark will become CEO of Aptiv.

Delphi Technologies includes businesses that generated about US$4.5 billion in revenue last year. Delphi executive Liam Butterworth will become the chief executive of Delphi Technologies.

The spinoff is expected to take place in March 2018, Delphi said.


Proton wants more businessmen to join 3S dealership scheme

                KUALA LUMPUR: Proton is calling interested businessmen to join the group's new 3S (sales, service and spare parts) dealership expansion programme.

The new programme is part of the company's nationwide plan to improve its after-sales services.

Interested parties should submit a completed application form, relevant company documents and supporting documents to Proton Edar's Network Planning & Development Division.

Applications are open until May 31, 2015.

Chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah said the 3S programme is part of the group's growth plans.

"Through our growth plans, our dealership network needs to be rationalised to maintain a healthy and profitable dealer network for Proton.

"With the programme, our current network of 413 outlets, comprising a mix of 3S centres, would be able to create a healthy network by focusing on key primary market areas," he said.

Abdul Harith said Proton is remodelling the infrastructure of its network over the next five years.


Mobile car service RessQ60min phone app now available

                SHAH ALAM: A phone app is now available for RessQ60min which offers 24-hour onsite normal and emergency car servicing for vehicle owners.

Download it now on the Google Play Store: bit.ly/RessQ60minAndroidApp

With mobile car service technicians, RessQ60min offers car assistance at home or the roadside with emergency breakdown services like battery change, flat tyre, jump start and towing.

For scheduled service such as engine oil service, brakepad and tyre change, it is focused on key cities like Klang Valley, Johor Bahru and Penang.

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RessQ60min sends car technicians to you 24/7


Stellantis secures lithium supply from California for EV batteries

                DETROIT: Stellantis NV has secured lithium essential for its electric vehicle production in North America from a project in California, as carmakers worldwide scramble to secure supply of the battery metal key to the electric vehicle revolution.

Controlled Thermal Resources Ltd (CTR) will supply the owner of Jeep and Peugeot with up to 25,000 metric tons per year of lithium hydroxide over the 10-year term of the agreement, Stellantis said.

CTR, which operates in California's Salton Sea, is also developing a geothermal lithium brine project to meet General Motors Co's lithium needs.

Lithium demand has soared of late as automakers boost production of electric vehicles that use lithium-ion batteries, driving a global supply shortage of the metal.

Stellantis, formed in 2021 through the merger between France's PSA and Fiat Chrysler (FCA), said in March it would have 75 battery electric vehicle (EV) models on the market and sell 5 million EVs a year by 2030.

The company has also said it expects a shortage of EV batteries to hit the auto industry in 2024-2025 as manufacturers try to ramp up EV sales while building new battery factories.

"Ensuring we have a robust, competitive, and low-carbon lithium supply from various partners around the world will enable us to meet our aggressive electric vehicle production plans in a responsible manner," said chief executive Carlos Tavares in a statement.

CTR will produce battery grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate along with geothermal energy in Imperial County, California, with a resource production capacity in excess of 300,000 metric tons per year.


Volvo to unveil customised streaming service for driverless cars

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo will reveal at  the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) intelligent streaming service that will ensure drivers and passengers get the most out of their time travelling in an driverless Volvo.

Autonomous drive will bring a paradigm shift to mobile net demands. Volvo and Ericsson believe that this shift will result in an increased need for consistent and high-bandwidth coverage outside densely populated areas such as city centres and suburbs.

Using Ericsson’s network and cloud expertise, Volvo’ aim is to deliver a high-quality, interruption-free experience in its cars while on the move. By predicting your route and looking ahead at network conditions, content can be tailored to the duration of each trip and intelligently buffered to deliver a high-quality and uninterrupted viewing experience.

“Our research shows that almost 70 per cent of all mobile data traffic will be from video in the coming years. This requires an innovative connectivity, cloud and analytics solution that is not only capable of serving multiple moving vehicles across a highway, but also has the capacity to provide the high-quality, uninterrupted video service today’s consumer is accustomed to,” said Claes Herlitz, Head of Automotive Services at Ericsson.

By learning the most common routes and times of travel, and understanding media preferences, future Volvo cars will be able to provide one-click navigation and a customised preference-based list of potential media – allowing customers to choose routes and select content tailored to the amount of autonomous time that is available during their commute.

“If you want to watch the latest episode of your favourite series, the car will know how long the journey needs to take and can optimise the route and driving control accordingly. With autonomous drive it is no longer just a question of getting from A to B quickly – it’s about the experience you wish to have in the car, how you wish to spend the time you are saving. With our future autonomous drive technology we will provide people with the freedom to choose the way they would like to commute and the content they would like to experience,” said Anders Tylman, General Manager Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center at Volvo Car Group.

CES 2016 runs from Jan 6-9 in Las Vegas.


MACC remands car maker's GM in graft probe

                PUTRAJAYA: A general manager of a car manufacturing company has been remanded for six days as graft investigators probe allegations that he accepted bribes amounting to several hundred thousand ringgit.

The suspect’s remand order took effect from today after magistrate Shah Wira Abdul Halim allowed an application by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that was submitted in court.

According to sources, the man is being investigated for allegedly receiving money from a used car dealer.

It is learnt that the “reward” was because he had used his position to help the used car dealer to obtain cars from the suspect’s company.

The cars were believed to have been sold at below market price and without following the proper procedure.

Sources said that initial investigation revealed that this activity started in 2019 and that the unapproved sales process had caused losses amounting to millions of ringgit through the sale of about 1,000 units of cars that had been sold at below market price.

It is learnt the cars involved were pre-production cars that were meant to be used at the plant for the purposes of testing and quality control before the model is actually manufactured for the market.


Mercedes-Benz goes Jurassic

 The GLE Coupe.

STUTTGART: This summer, an entire fleet of Mercedes-Benz vehicles will share the spotlight when the long-awaited next installment of the Jurassic Park series, Jurassic World, arrives in theaters.

Alongside the iconic G-Class, Unimog, Sprinter models and the all-new GLE Coupé will play a leading role in the epic action-adventure.

Mercedes-Benz will accompany the release of the film with a comprehensive co-promotional package that includes a television commercial, print and online advertising, dedicated microsites and social-media activities.

Additionally, a custom key visual was developed in which the all-new GLE Coupé is seen eye-to-eye with the film’s fearsome Indominus rex.

“In 1997 the Mercedes-Benz M-Class made its first official appearance in the Hollywood Blockbuster ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’. Today, 18 years later, another Mercedes-Benz car will debut in a significant role in the latest installment of the groundbreaking Jurassic Park series named Jurassic World: the new GLE Coupé” said vice president marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars Dr Jens Thiemer.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with a multitude of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and will promote the film and our cars with many exciting global marketing activities.”

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG Coupé makes its film debut as the official car of Jurassic World operations manager Claire, played by Bryce Dallas Howard. When Claire must confront a crisis well beyond what she can handle alone, she takes the new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé (showcasing its off-road capabilities) and joins behavioral researcher Owen (Chris Pratt) on a mission in the lush jungle of Isla Nublar.

In addition we see Owen piloting the G-Class, the patriarch of all Mercedes-Benz SUVs. The film also features the Unimog, cast as a dinosaur ambulance, as well as a G 63 AMG 6x6 and various Sprinter models.

“The fleet of Mercedes Benz vehicles fit perfectly into Jurassic World. They are classy, sophisticated, and sexy — exactly what would exist in a modern international theme park”, says producer Frank Marshall.


Hummer H1 back from the dead

File pic of Lutz (left), then General Motors North America chairman, talking to journalists about the 2006 Hummer H3 (back) at the vehicle's world debut in October 2004. - AFP
DETROIT: If you've been ruing the day the legendary Hummer H1 went out of production back in 2006 and you wish you could still buy one new, your wish appears to be coming true.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, albeit a very big and heavy one, the Hummer H1 is back, it's brand new, and it's coming straight out of Detroit too. There are just two problems though; it's not able to be called the Hummer H1 and it's not going to be sold in America where it's built.

Although Hummer as a retail brand was killed off by GM in 2010, its contract manufacturer for the vehicle, AM General, has continued to build military versions now referred to as the HMMWV (High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle) for US and foreign armed forces. Hummer is still a GM trademark, so when AM General started offering the vehicle for sale to individuals in kit form in 2013, it started being known as the C-Series.

Now the kits are being pre-built in America by a company called VLF Automotive, which Bob Lutz, the 85-year-old industry wizard responsible for the Volt and Viper, is involved with. The finished vehicles are then being exported by a company made up of Humvee enthusiasts and entrepreneurs based out of Saint Clair, Michigan, near here called Humvee Export.

The finished trucks are now being sold to importers overseas who are distributing them in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and now China.

Ironically, Humvee Export won't be selling the built trucks in the US as they don't come under what's known as Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act.

This Act exempts kit-car builders from having to crash test and gain EPA certification for licensed replica vehicles, but only for designs last in production at least 25 years ago.

As the Hummer was offered for sale there as recently as 2006, the C-Series kits don't qualify for the exemption, so it wouldn't be financially viable to get them certified for sale in the US.

The company expects to sell around 100 C-Series units into China by the end of this year, with prices expected to be over US$150,000 (RM653,000). They will be available with a number of engine options, including 6.5-litre V-8 diesels of varying power ratings and GM's current LS3 6.2-litre V-8 petrol.


Even Tesla can’t overcome Australian hostility to electric cars

                SYDNEY: Tesla Inc. and the electric-car industry generally thrive in the world’s richest nations. Not so in Australia, where even tractors outsell EVs two to one.

More than four decades after Mel Gibson’s super-charged Ford Falcon roared across the country in Mad Max, the car-loving nation is defying a global shift to electrification.

Battery-powered vehicles made up just 0.7% of Australia’s new car sales in 2020, while in the UK and European Union, the figure soared to more than 10%.

The resistance is drawing the ire of global automakers, which are delaying or skipping vehicle releases in Australia to supply markets that offer EV subsidies and have more aggressive emissions targets.

Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest automaker, likens Australia’s EV policies to those of a "third-world country.”

 Fossil fuels and EVs have served as political tools for Morrison. — AFP

In Australia — where Tesla chair Robyn Denholm is based — efforts to de-carbonise road transport are among the worst in the Group of 20 nations, according to BloombergNEF.

Australia’s ranking behind developing countries like Indonesia and Turkey reflects an ideological battle between a conservative government stifling electric-vehicle growth and a global car industry committed to technological upheaval.

Australia is a "uniquely hostile market” for EV makers, according to Behyad Jafari, chief executive officer of the Sydney-based Electric Vehicle Council.

National policies make its citizens look like "a bunch of gas-guzzlers,” said Jafari, who wants subsidies for EV buyers like those in the UK and Europe.

Transport accounts for 18% of emissions in Australia, one of the world’s biggest per-capita polluters.

Last year’s wildfires in Australia that burnt through an area about the size of the UK and destroyed at least 3,000 homes highlighted the nation’s susceptibility to climate change.

Yet a 2020 Technology Investment Roadmap from Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government assigned a lukewarm "watching brief” on battery, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars.

More recently, the government’s Future Fuels Strategy discussion paper in February said new technologies were a chance to cut emissions, but dismissed subsidies as poor value for money.

That risks leaving Australia with the dregs of global EV production and a charging network struggling for investment.

"The government appears to be at best indifferent, at worst opposed, to zero-emission vehicles,” Volkswagen said in a statement. Australian regulation is "in some respects comparable to that of a third-world country.”

VW’s electric ID.3 hatchback, released in Europe last year, and the ID.4 crossover, probably won’t land in Australia until 2023 at the earliest, according to the company, which aims to be the global EV market leader by 2025.

Some Nissan Motor Co. EVs are also skipping Australia. In a statement, the Japanese company blamed "the lack of consistent and cohesive national targets and supporting policies.”

Without subsidies, price has become a major obstacle to uptake.

Greg Caleo, the Sydney-based head of marketing agency Blue Hat Green, said he’d love an EV —partly to set an example to his daughters — but can’t bring himself to spend almost A$80,000 on one.

So he’s sticking to his eight-year-old Mercedes. "I’ll drive it into the ground,” Caleo said.

At the end of last year, there were about 50 EV models on the Australian market, though only a handful cost less than their comparable fuel-powered models, government data show.

 A Tesla service centre in Sydney. — Bloomberg

Teslas start at A$66,900 for a Model 3 and stretched to A$189,990 for a high-end Model S. In the US, a Model 3 goes for US$38,490, while it costs 249,900 yuan (US$38,000) in China.

Even Nissan’s little LEAF hatchbacks cost A$50,000 in Australia. That’s as much as A$16,000 more than the base models of Australia’s top-selling vehicles, the rugged Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

While EV sales in Australia may pick up when they cost the same as traditional cars, demand is still projected to be slow. EVs will account for only 18% of new cars in Australia in 2030, though the figure will reach 64% in 2040, BloombergNEF said last year.

Fossil fuels and EVs have served as political tools for Morrison, who has become increasingly isolated internationally for refusing to commit to a net-zero target.

In 2017, he brandished a first-sized lump of coal in parliament. "Don’t be scared, it won’t hurt you,” he told the Labor opposition. "It’s coal.”

On the campaign trail two years later, Morrison warned EVs couldn’t tow trailers and boats. Electric cars, Morrison said, would "end the weekend.”

He went on to claim an unexpected election victory.

With little policy certainty and so few EVs on the roads, Australian owners are left with comparatively few places to power up beyond the heavily populated eastern seaboard.

Tasmania and the vast Northern Territory, home to Darwin and Alice Springs, have only a few dozen charging stations in total, the Electric Vehicle Council said in its annual report last year.

"The lack of policy is the catalyst that causes all the other issues,” said Jafari, the council’s CEO.


Decision on Covid-threatened Australia F1 'in coming weeks'

Construction around the temporary Albert Park circuit in Melbourne is yet to start and tickets are not currently on sale. — AFP
MELBOURNE: A final call on staging the Australian Grand Prix will be made in the "coming weeks", organisers said today following reports it could be postponed over strict travel restrictions and the emergence of a new strain of Covid-19.

Website autosport.com said the Melbourne-based race, which is due to kick off the new season on March 21, would likely be pushed back to later in the year, with Bahrain poised to open the 2021 calendar on March 28.

It pointed to Australia's tough coronavirus restrictions, which require international travellers to quarantine for two weeks, as posing significant logistical and financial obstacles.

Many of Formula One's teams are also based in England where cases are surging, spurred by a more infectious new variant, further complicating matters.

Australian organisers said they were working through the issues.

"The Australian Grand Prix Corporation continues to work closely with the Victorian (state) government and Formula 1 on conditions and arrangements relating to the staging of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne in 2021," they said in a brief statement.

"Further detail will be provided upon finalisation of arrangements with all parties in the coming weeks."

Construction around the temporary Albert Park circuit is yet to start and tickets are not currently on sale.

The Australian race, the traditional season curtain-raiser, was called off last year just hours before the first practice session after a McLaren team member tested positive, with drivers scambling to leave the country.

The pandemic threw the season into chaos and racing only started in Austria in July, with the Melbourne event not rescheduled.

Despite concern about the fate of this year's race, hundreds of the world's top tennis players are set to arrive in Melbourne from Jan 15 for 14 days' quarantine before the Australian Open.

After months of wrangling, authorities allowed them to train for five hours a day in a bio-secure bubble, shuttled between designated hotels and Melbourne Park, where the tournament is held.

Australia has fared much better than many other nations in dealing with the virus following swift action to close its borders to the world and carry out widespread testing.
Life had been returning to relative normality around the country before a new cluster emerged in Sydney last month.

It has since spread to neighbouring Victoria, forcing the closure of some state borders.


Wisconsin and Georgia teens getting their driver's licences without driving test

                MADISON: Like in Georgia, Wisconsin is now waiving the need for teens to take a driving test in order to obtain their driver's licence.

As of May 11, Wisconsin teens could get their driver's licence without having to take the previously obligatory driving test.

More specifically, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is allowing drivers under 18, who check off a series of requirements, to have their road test waived so they can get a probationary licence.

Such training requirements include having completed a driver's ed course, Behind the Wheel training and 30 hours of supervised driving; they must also have a permit and an adult sponsor who both accepts responsibility for the teen driver and can vouch for their ability to drive safely.

Teens who previously took a test and failed it must wait until DMVs open — scheduled for May 26 — to take the formal test. In general, however, 98 percent of students aged 16 or 17 pass their road test on the first or second try.

Back in mid-April, the state of Georgia passed a similar order and, since then, nearly 20,000 teens have gotten their driver's licence without having taken a driving test.


Banker's ex-girlfriend takes revenge by dumping his Mercedes into swimming pool

A car and a swimming pool don't mix. — Image source: NY Post
NASSAU: If you are going to break up with your girlfriend, take back your car keys from her first. Guy Gentile didn't and found his expensive car underwater.

The banker dumped his girlfriend, so his girlfriend dumped his US$55,000 (RM233,000) Mercedes-Benz S400 hybrid in his swimming pool.

Gentile, 41, said it took over four hours for a tow truck to fish his luxury car out of the pool. He has since lodged a police report against his ex, who is 24-year-old Russian model Kristina Kuchma.

 Gentile with his waterlogged Mercedes bieng pulled out of the swimming pool. — Image source: NY Post

In an interview with Bahamian news site Tribune242.com, Gentile admitted he was partly to blame for the incident.

“I must accept some responsibility, if a woman is not crazy, she doesn’t love you,” he said. “And I must have driven her crazy for her to have driven my car into the pool,” said Gentile, who runs a securities firm here. Gentile, an American, isn't new to the media spotlight, having being linked to an alleged securities fraud that took place between 2007 and 2009.

The New York Post reported that Gentile decided to end his relationship with Kuchma after she asked him for US$50,000 (RM212,000) to start a marketing business.

 The lovey-dovey couple before they parted ways. — Image source: Tribune242.com


Upcoming BMW 5 Series to feature improved safety levels - VIDEO

                MUNICH: The seventh-generation of the 5 Series is coming in early 2017 as BMW is gearing up to start production of the car at its Dingolfing plant by the end of this year.

Contract assembler Magna Steyr will share the production load at its plant in in Graz, Austria, next year though the bulk of 5 Series production remains at Dingolfing, located 86km north-east of here.

BMW has been whetting the appetite with some teaser announcements of late to suggest that the new 5 Series will be much smarter than the outgoing model. It first said last month that the car will come along with a “Remote View 3D” smartphone app for the owner to keep tabs on the vehicle.

Now, BMW is revealing that the 5 Series will also have heightened safety, featuring the Steering and Lane Control Assistant taken from the 7 Series. The semi-autonomous driving system works at speeds up to 210kph.

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Intersections are often where accidents happen and to avert such incidents, the 5 Series will have a the deployment of a Crossroads Warning system as portrayed in the video.

The BMW 5 Series has been the market leader in the premium upper-class segment for years, with more than 347,000 units sold in 2015.

“Dingolfing will remain our competence centre for production of upper-class BMW series,”said Oliver Zipse, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production. In addition to manufacturing all 7 Series and 6 Series models, the site will continue to produce all variants of the new 5 Series and also serve as the lead plant for the 5 Series’ international production network.

“The high level of flexibility within our global production network and reliable cooperation with our partner, Magna Steyr, will enable us to respond swiftly to the strong customer demand we anticipate for the world’s most successful business limousine,” said Zipse.

The 5 Series Sedan is the second BMW model to be produced by Magna Steyr; the first was the X3, which was manufactured by Magna Steyr between 2003 and 2010. Magna Steyr currently also builds the MINI Countryman and the MINI Paceman.

 The outgoing F10 5 Series.


Europe's diesel decay set to accelerate in VW cheating fallout

                LONDON: Diesel engines are set to lose their dominance in Europe as Volkswagen AG’s emissions cheating raises doubts about the technology’s advantages.

Demand for diesel cars is likely to plunge to some 30 percent of the region’s total auto sales by 2020 from about half currently, hampering manufacturers’ profit growth while speeding up a push to develop battery-powered models, analysts including Jose Asumendi at JPMorgan Chase & Co. said Monday in a report.

German carmakers will probably experience an average 5 percent earnings reduction as they promote less profitable hybrid models to meet European Union emissions regulations and as prices drop for used diesel vehicles coming off lease, the analysts said.

Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG and Volkswagen AG’s Audi division, along with French rival PSA Group, are in the best position to win customers as they bring out longer-range electric vehicles starting next year.

Diesel cars’ popularity in Europe has been waning as Volkswagen’s emissions-test manipulation scandal, which emerged in late 2015, compounded concerns that pollutants from the fuel are outweighing the benefits of its lower CO2 emissions.

Mercedes outlined plans last week to accelerate a rollout of battery-powered cars by 2022, saying combustion engines would continue to be refined only for a transitional period.

“Diesel’s share in Europe has been declining for years because of stricter emissions regulation making the technology more expensive,” and potential restrictions on the models in cities such as Munich will probably damp sales further, Thomas Schlick, an automotive consultant at Roland Berger, said by phone.

“The longer-term implications for a drop in combustion-engine demand are significant for the industry as by our calculations about one-third of jobs in the auto industry are related to drive-train technology.”

Most parts suppliers generate less than 5 percent of revenue purely from diesel systems, JPMorgan’s Asumendi said in the report. As the auto industry adopts hybrid and electric powering, investors will probably lose interest in component makers that focus on combustion-engine systems.


This is the new 600hp BMW M5

                MUNICH: BMW has finally taken the wraps off its new M5, which for the first time features an M xDrive all-wheel drive system.

This change of tack sees the M5 exploring new dynamic dimensions and offering greater everyday practicality in all driving conditions.

The G30 M5 version builds on the tradition of a concept – the luxurious four-door business sedan with a taste for the race track – first glimpsed in 1984 with the original M5.

According to BMW, the new M xDrive developed by BMW M GmbH is "the most emotionally engaging all-wheel-drive system yet". It works with a central transfer case with multi-plate clutch and distributes drive fully variably between the front and rear axle, as required. Another ingredient in the car’s supreme traction in all road and weather conditions is the Active M Differential at the rear axle, which also works fully variably and has a locking effect between 0 and 100%.

The character of M xDrive can be adjusted as desired. The driver has five different configurations to choose from based on combinations of the DSC modes (DSC on, MDM, DSC off) and M xDrive modes (4WD, 4WD Sport, 2WD). In the basic setting with DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) activated and 4WD, the system permits slight slip through the rear wheels when accelerating out of corners – and therefore plays its part in giving the new M5 its sporting agility. In M Dynamic mode (MDM, 4WD Sport) M xDrive allows easily controlled drifts.

The three M xDrive modes with DSC switched off have been conceived to sate the appetites of keen drivers and primarily for use on the track. Here, the driver can choose from three configurations up to and including pure rear-wheel drive (2WD). This mode allows the expert driver to pick their own drift angle and treats them to driving dynamics in their purest form.

Providing ample power for the new M5 is a 4.4-litre V8 bi-turbo engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology. The M engineers have carried out significant revisions to the outgoing F10 model’s power unit. For example, newly developed turbochargers, ultra-efficient indirect charge air cooling and increased fuel injection pressure together help to raise output and, above all, torque. The engine develops 600 hp at 5,600 – 6,700 rpm, while a monumental 750 Nm of torque is placed at the driver’s disposal from as low down as 1,800 rpm and remains there until 5,600 rpm. The outgoing M5 had 560hp and 680Nm of torque. Last year, BMW made 200 M5 “Competition Edition” that boosted performance to 600hp and 700Nm of torque.

A map-controlled, fully variable oil pump ensures oil is supplied as and when the new M5 needs it, even on the track. The car boasts impressive performance figures: 0 to 100kph in just 3.4 seconds, 0 to 200kph in 11.1 seconds. Top speed, meanwhile, is an electronically limited 250kph, but the optional M Driver’s Package can keep the fun coming to 305kph.

Combined fuel consumption is rated at 10.5 l/100 km, with CO2 emissions at 241 g/km (figures are provisional, based on the EU test cycle and may vary depending on the tyre format specified).

The M5 channels engine power through a specially tuned eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. In D mode it provides all the comfort and convenience of fully automatic gear changes, but can then also switch to sequential manual shifts. The driver can do this using either the compact selector lever on the centre console or the steering wheel-mounted paddles. Drivelogic allows the driver to adjust the transmission’s characteristics to their personal preferences. For track use, the eight-speed M Steptronic unit serves up lightning-fast shift times, helping to give the  M5 its exceptional agility and dynamic flair.

READ MORE:
BMW debuts G30 M5 in 'Need for Speed Payback' videogame
CarSifu drove F10 BMW M5 in Seville, 2011
Outgoing BMW M5 and Z4 sold in Malaysia from 2012

The suspension is likewise designed to deliver both maximum traction for everyday use and supreme dynamic performance on the track. Like the engine, transmission and M xDrive system, it has been tuned by experts and racing drivers at venues including the world’s most exacting test facility – the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit. Sophisticated stiffening elements in the front and rear structures ensure the body structure is extremely rigid and therefore that the car provides instantaneous feedback, in particular when the driver is pushing hard on the road or track.

The driver can also choose from Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus modes for the Variable Damper Control (VDC) system – which has M-specific tuning – and the M Servotronic steering. And the engine’s characteristics can also be configured to the driver’s tastes via the Efficient, Sport and Sport Plus modes. The two M1 and M2 buttons on the M leather steering wheel can be used to store two set-ups combining the driver’s preference of engine, transmission, suspension and M xDrive modes, the DSC mode and Head-Up-Display settings. The driver can then activate their preferred set-up by pressing the relevant button.

The  M5 includes revisions to its bodywork over the regular 5 Series to satisfy its challenging dynamic brief. The M engineers have redesigned the broader front side panels and front bumper trim to include larger apertures for the air feeding the cooling systems and brakes. Also new is the rear diffuser. The exhaust system’s quartet of tailpipes are a visual pointer to the power generated by the M5 and also lay on a suitably sporting soundtrack for the job in hand, courtesy of their flap control system. The driver can use a button to adjust the engine sound as desired.

The bonnet, which also has an M-specific design, is made from aluminium and boasts eye-catching sculpture lines. These extend into the extremely lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof – a standard feature of the new M5. The weight savings contributed by the CFRP roof and other components such as the exhaust system help to ensure the new M5 with M xDrive all-wheel drive is lighter than its predecessor.

The new M5 is fitted as standard with M compound brakes, which are lighter than conventional grey cast iron items and therefore also bring down the car’s weight. With blue-painted six-piston fixed callipers at the front and single-piston floating callipers at the rear, plus perforated, inner-vented brake discs all round, the M compound brakes have the speed-shedding power to befit the car’s dynamic potency. The optional M carbon ceramic brakes, which can be identified by callipers painted in a gold colour and shave another 23 kilograms off the M5’s weight, can withstand even greater punishment.

The new M5 comes as standard with polished 19-inch light-alloy wheels (front: 9.5 x 19, rear: 10.5 x 19) in Orbit Grey and M-specific tyres (front: 275/40 R 19, rear: 285/40 R 19). 20-inch items can be specified as an option (front: 275/35 R 20 tyres on 9.5 x 20 rims, rear: 285/35 R 20 tyres on 10.5 x 20 rims). Standard specification for the M5 also features Merino leather and M seats with electric adjustment. The options list includes newly developed M multifunction seats, which stand out with their bucket-seat-style construction and even better lateral support.

The M5 can be ordered from September, priced at €117,900 (RM597,000), and deliveries will begin in spring 2018. Scheduled for launch on the same sales start date as the standard M5 is the M5 First Edition. This special-edition version – limited to a run of 400 examples worldwide – has BMW Individual Frozen Dark Red Metallic paintwork, is exclusively appointed and costs an extra €19,500 (RM99,000) over the standard model.

The outgoing M5 was already priced at nearly RM900,000 at its Malaysian launch in 2012. So we can expect the new one to cost even more once it arrives on local shores in late 2018 or the following year.

BMW M5 Highlights - LinkThe_new_BMW_M5_Highlights.pdfBMW M5 Specifications - LinkThe_new_BMW_M5_Specifications.pdf


US vehicle fleet sets new record for fuel efficiency in 2018, says EPA

                WASHINGTON: The US vehicle fleet hit a record for fuel efficiency in 2018 averaging 25.1 mpg (9.37 l/100km) in real-world driving as it rose 0.2 mpg, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said.

The fleet is also preliminarily anticipated to jump to 25.5 mpg for the 2019 model year.

The EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are working to finalise rules to rollback Obama-era requirements through the 2026 model year. Officials hope to finalise the new rules by April 1 but are still working to address remaining issues.

The report also showed Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV bought a significant number of vehicle emissions credits, while Tesla Inc, Honda Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp sold credits. Daimler AG, Volkswagen AG and BMW AG also bought credits.

Among the 13 largest automakers, only VW and Hyundai Motor Co saw average fuel economy fall in 2018, as they sold more SUVs and fewer cars.

Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign, said automakers were far short of the 1 mpg improvement they were supposed to meet in 2018. “The rules should be strengthened to cut pollution and save consumers money at the pump,” Becker said.

EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler cited the small annual increases as evidence the Obama era requirements are “unfeasible.”

A group representing nearly all major automakers said the report “demonstrates the market challenges that exist” and noted most automakers needed to rely on credits to comply with 2018 requirements.

The Trump administration proposed in August 2018 freezing fuel efficiency standards at 2020 levels through 2026, erasing the increases enacted in 2012.

The draft proposal would boost the stringency of US vehicle emission standards by 1.5% annually from the 2021 through 2026 model years, Senator Tom Carper said in January.

Carper said the draft would result in a 40.5 mpg (5.8 l/100km) fleet average by 2030. The administration’s 2018 proposal would have resulted in an average fuel efficiency of 37 mpg (6.36 l/100km) by 2026, compared with 46.7 mpg (5.04 l/100km) under the Obama rules.

The administration argues the rollbacks are necessary for economic and safety reasons, but California and environmentalists reject that, saying consumers would spend hundreds of billions more in fuel costs.

An EPA science advisory board analysis released on Monday found “significant weaknesses in the scientific analysis of the proposed” rollback, adding it leads to “implausible results regarding the overall size of the vehicle fleet” by predicting hiking prices will cause the vehicle fleet to “grow substantially when it would usually be expected to shrink.”

The EPA said that when finalised the “analysis backing the final rulemaking will be publicly available” and the administration will respond to all comments.


BYD to launch new premium electric car brand in 2023

                SHANGHAI: Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD said today that it would launch a new premium brand in the first quarter of 2023.

BYD said vehicles produced under the new brand will be priced above 1 million yuan (RM654,000), without further elaboration.

Having ditched gasoline vehicles from its product mix this year, BYD has, more than any other automaker, been able to capitalise on a range of incentives for electric cars offered by the Chinese central government as well as local governments.

The automaker, which produces both pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars, has topped electric vehicle sales in the world's biggest auto market, with sales more than tripled in the first 10 months to hit 1.4 million, according to company filings.


Ultra-compact cars all the rage in China

                PARIS: In Europe, Citroen's Ami, released in France in 2020, sparked curious looks and headlines for its miniature size, its gadget-like appearance as well as its small price. However in China, this type of ultra-compact city car is already well represented by several models.

The latest example is Avatr's Lumin Corn.

Chinese brand Avatr, which belongs to the Changan group, recently unveiled the Lumin Corn, exclusively available for the Chinese market for the time being.

This brand, created by Changan and the result of a collaboration with CALT and Huawei, is launching a model of micro-city car, measuring around 3 metres long and retailing at affordable prices, a type of car becoming increasingly common in China.

Lumin Corn is going up against the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, the Chery QQ Ice Cream and the Dongfeng Fengguang Mini EV.

The Lumin Corn is 3.27 metres long, which is much longer than Citroen's Ami with its 2 metres, 41cm.

Another fundamental difference is that it can accommodate up to four people (packed tightly). But in appearance, the two models are very similar, both featuring a sleek yet rounded design. Inside, the Lumin Corn offers two connected screens.

Several configurations are set to be available, with 30 or 35 kW and 12.9 or 17.6 kWh batteries, for ranges of 150km an 210km respectively.

An even more powerful pack should be offered at a later date. In any configuration, its top speed will not exceed 100 km/h. While the price has not yet been announced, it should be less than about the equivalent of US$5,300.

This type of car, however, has little chance of being exported in other regions' markets as standards and norms are different.


Waze just got a 'lot' better

                SAN FRANCISCO: Popular navigation app Waze is teaming up with INRIX to take the stress out of finding a parking lot a lot closer to your final destination.

It doesn't matter how good the active safety and assistance features are on current cars if you can't take advantage of them. A host of 2016 model-year vehicles can park themselves in a parallel or perpendicular space while simultaneously keeping an electronic eye out for on-coming traffic.

However, if you can't find a parking space in the first place, the systems are redundant. And according to the latest Frost and Sullivan data, the average driver is currently wasting 55 hours a year looking for a parking space and that equates to a staggering US$600 million in lost time and burned fuel in the US and Europe.

Waze already offers a list of parking lots sourced from its user community but by partnering with INRIX the app will now have a comprehensive list of facilities throughout Europe and North America.

"Driving from point A to B is only part of the journey," said Alex Israel, vice president and general manager of parking at INRIX. "The addition of INRIX Parking enhances Wazers' end-to-end driving experience."

INRIX is one of the world leaders in connecting cars and is leveraging that information for insights on everything from congestion to parking. Its technology is appearing as standard in a host of carmakers' ranges, from BMW to Volvo. This initial coming together will only provide Waze users with navigation to car parks closest to their destination, but INRIX also has dynamic solutions that offer real-time information about pricing and use - i.e., how many spaces are available at a facility - plus algorithms that can calculate which on-street parking areas are the most and least likely to be in use.

"Driving around looking for spots impacts arrival times and adds unneeded frustration and stress to the entire driving experience," said Flavia Sasaki Siqueira, Head of Business Development for Waze. "Combining INRIX parking information with our own parking database expands reach and accuracy of the 'where to park' feature."


Audi A3 has best seats, J.D. Power study shows

                LOS ANGELES: The Audi A3 has the best seats, according to a J.D. Power 2017 Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study conducted on cars sold in the United States.

The study reported that A3 owners expressed 0.0 problems per 100 cars sold with the seats, supplied by Magna International.

Second place went to another Volkswagen-owned model, the Porsche Cayenne. Its seats, supplied by Adient, only received 0.8 problems per 100 vehicles.

Lear Corp supplied seats for the BMW X4, which was in third place with only 2.0 problems per 100 vehicles.

 The A3 sedan.

The J.D. Power study named the Porsche Cayman as having the best seats, produced by Lear Corp. as it had 1.3 problems per 100 vehicles.

Awards are presented to the seating system supplier. New-vehicle owners are asked to rate the quality of their vehicle’s seats and seat belts with respect to whether they have experienced defects or design problems in the first 90 days of ownership.

The study presented seven segment awards based on the J.D. Power vehicle segment designations: mass market compact car; mass market compact SUV/MPV; mass market midsize/large car; mass market midsize/large SUV; mass market truck/van; luxury car; and luxury SUV.

The 2017 Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study is based on responses from more than 77,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2017 model-year cars and light trucks registered in November-December 2016 and January-February 2017. The study was fielded from February through May.


Driverless parking at Mercedes-Benz Museum

                STUTTGART: Leave your vehicle to park itself. Daimler and Bosch have teamed up to realise driverless parking (Automated Valet Parking) in the multi-storey car park at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

Cars now proceed without a driver to their assigned parking space in response to a command issued by smartphone, without any need for the driver to supervise the manoeuvre. Automated valet parking marks an important milestone on the way to autonomous driving.

The pilot solution at the multi-storey car park of the Mercedes-Benz Museum represents the world's first infrastructure-supported solution for an automated drive-up and parking service in real-life dual operating mode.

From the beginning of 2018, visitors to the museum's multi-storey car park will be able to experience the convenient service at first hand and avoid spending time parking their cars.

"Parking will be an automated process in the future. By applying an intelligent multi-storey car park infrastructure and networking it with vehicles, we have managed to realise driverless parking substantially earlier than planned," said Gerhard Steiger, Director of the Chassis Systems Control unit at Bosch.

Anyone can reserve a car using a smartphone app. The vehicle rolls into the pick-up area autonomously to start the journey.

The return procedure is equally convenient: the customer parks the vehicle in the car park's drop-off area and hands it back by smartphone app. After being registered by the intelligent system installed at the multi-storey car park, the car is started and guided to an assigned parking space.

Driverless parking is made possible by an intelligent multi-storey car park infrastructure from Bosch in conjunction with the vehicle technology from Mercedes-Benz.

Sensors installed in the car park monitor the driving corridor and its surroundings and steer the vehicle. The technology on board the car performs safe driving manoeuvres in response to the commands from the car park infrastructure and stops the vehicle in good time when necessary.

The sensors for the multi-storey car park infrastructure and the communications technology come from Bosch. Daimler is providing the private museum car park and pilot vehicles, defining the interface between infrastructure and vehicle together with Bosch and adapting the sensor technology and software in the vehicles accordingly.

The premiere on 24 July 2017 is to be followed by an extensive trial and commissioning phase. The project has been overseen from the outset by local authorities – Stuttgart regional council and the federal state transport ministry – and by appraisers from the TÜV Rheinland technical inspection authority with the aim of assessing the safe operation of the vehicle and car park technology.

Before the driverless customer service goes into operation at the beginning of 2018 – as the first such application worldwide – final approval will be required from the licensing authority.

Everything will then be in place to enable automated valet parking to be made available to everyone at the Mercedes-Benz Museum's multi-storey car park from the beginning of 2018.


Bentley to roll out one electric car annually for five years from 2025

                LONDON: Bentley unveiled plans on Tuesday to build a new electric model annually for five years from 2025 after its annual profit skyrocketed, as the British firm builds on parent Volkswagen's push to broaden electric offerings.

Crewe, England-based Bentley posted a profit of 389 million euros for 2021, compared with a profit of 20 million euros in the previous year, after deliveries jumped 31% to 14,659 cars on strong demand for new hybrid models.

Carmakers globally are doubling down on efforts to shift to electric models as calls for more environment-friendly machines grow. Bentley parent Volkswagen - Europe's biggest carmaker - is ramping up investments in power infrastructure to take on Tesla.

Bentley itself is targeting to be end-to-end carbon-neutral by 2030, having invested 3 billion euros at its Crewe factory over a period of 10 years to aid this transition.

"Increasing demand for our hybridised models, supported by (3 billion euros) of sustainable investment in our Crewe factory, will ensure we remain the benchmark manufacturer in sustainable luxury mobility," said Jan-Henrik Lafrentz, member of the board for Finance and IT at Bentley.


GoCar launches GOLADIES campaign for ladies to adopt digital car maintenance solution

                PETALING JAYA: GoCar Malaysia has launched GOLADIES campaign that offers free GoCar Garage trials with upgrade options to encourage more women drivers to experience the benefits of its one-stop digital car service and maintenance solution.

Available via the GoCar App, the seamless end-to-end platform with its transparent pricing structures can help enable women to confidently take control of all their car care needs without having to worry about hidden charges or surprise costs.

Through the campaign, the first 300 women customers to apply the relevant promo codes via the GoCar mobile app will receive a free or upgradable pit-stop oil change service.

GoCar Garage uses only premium Total or Shell branded oils.

The respective promo codes are as follows.

> PITSTOP1 for Mineral Oil service package, totally free (normal price RM98)
> PITSTOP2 for Semi-Synthetic Oil service package for only RM30 (normal price RM128)
> PITSTOP3 for Fully-Synthetic Oil service package for only RM100 (normal price RM198)

They can also enjoy having their car serviced without needing to take time off work or leave their homes, as GoCar is offering free GoValet door-to-door delivery for the campaign.

Other benefits include free two-hour use of a GoCar vehicle, free car wash and sanitisation and a free 31-point vehicle inspection to help ensure their car is in tip-top condition.

The one-time-only promo codes must be used between Oct 21 and Nov 30 but customers will have until Dec 31 to redeem their service appointments.

The GOLADIES campaign is available only for the Klang Valley. Vehicles will be serviced at the GoCar Garage Hub in Petaling Jaya.

Car servicing at your fingertips; no hidden charges, no surprises

GoCar Malaysia CEO Wong Hoe Mun said GoCar Garage is the latest offering in its increasing focus on mobility-as-a-service to harness technology to improve customer experiences.

“We understand that car servicing is generally not an enjoyable experience and the prospect of unexpected costs can be unsettling.

“For women, there also tends to be greater concerns about being overcharged or taken advantage of, which is why our GoCar Garage solution is ideal for
them.

“With our seamless end-to-end platform, they can complete the entire car servicing process with just their mobile phones.

“Furthermore, they can be assured of OEM-level service excellence as our technicians are trained to work on any make and model of passenger vehicle.”

“More importantly, we are the only third-party car service centre to provide upfront quotations for pre-approval so they can rest assured of full transparency in our pricing,” Wong added.

Through the GoCar mobile app, customers can easily schedule and confirm their service appointments, select or request required services, make payments and arrange for door-to-door delivery, anytime and from anywhere.

In addition to the 45-minute oil change, other services include battery inspection and replacement, tyre services, air conditioning repair and maintenance, brake repair and maintenance, engine cooling system and replacement, electrical diagnosis as well as body and paint repairs.

The mobile app tracks all requested services and generates quotations to mitigate any possibilities of unapproved mark-ups. Furthermore, these cost breakdowns will only be generated if the technicians think a procedure is required after inspection.

Work will only begin after customers give their confirmation and approval.

To find out more about GoCar Garage, schedule a free vehicle inspection or make a service booking, download the GoCar mobile app or visit https://hi.gocar.my/blog/goladies-freecarservice/.