VW to set up battery plants, expand charging points in e-car shift

                FRANKFURT: Volkswagen has announced it would set up six battery factories and significantly expand charging points in Europe, in a major ramp up of its drive into electric vehicles.

Chief executive Herbert Diess said the group is "planning to operate six gigafactories on our own and in collaboration with partners."

The plants, to be set up by 2030, will have a total capacity of 240 Gigawatt hours.

To this end, Volkswagen announced a deal to raise its stake in Swedish battery maker Northvolt, which is currently building a gigafactory in the Swedish city of Skelleftea.

VW previously owned 20 percent of Northvolt, but didn't disclose how big its new share would be.

It placed an order worth €14 billion (RM69bil) over the next 10 years from Northvolt while also acquiring from the Swedish battery maker its stake for a factory in Salzgitter, Germany, which would become one of the six upcoming plants announced by VW.

Charging stations will also be significantly expanded in coming years.

"We will multiply the number of fast charging points in Europe by a factor of five over the next four years," said Diess.

Cooperation deals have been agreed with Britain's BP, Spain's Iberdrola and Italy's Enel, VW said.
The charging stations set up in conjunction with partners are aimed at covering a third of European e-mobility demand by 2025.

READ MORE: China's Geely to add US$5bil battery plant in EV pushFrom pouch to prismatic batteries

Volkswagen plans to gradually switch from pouch-type Li-ion battery used in its electric vehicles to prismatic battery. It said the prismatic battery offers the best conditions for the transition to the solid state cell – the next quantum leap in battery technology, which it anticipates for the middle of the decade.

Among three types of batteries - prismatic, pouch and cylindrical - prismatic batteries had 49% share in the EV battery market in 2020, while pouch-type batteries had 28%, according to industry tracker SNE Research.

“One of the reasons that Volkswagen has chosen to switch could be to enhance electric vehicles’ safety, as prismatic batteries are generally considered to have lower energy density than pouch-type batteries, making them relatively safer,” said Han Sang-won, an analyst at Daishin Securities.

South Korea’s LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation have been manufacturing pouch-type batteries for Volkswagen, while CATL and Samsung SDI have supplied it with prismatic ones. Northvolt will make prismatic and cylindrical batteries.

“It really depends on how fast Volkswagen manages to switch to prismatic type batteries. Currently, there are not enough prismatic battery supplies, and it would take quite a while for Volkswagen to fully adopt them,” said Han.

Turning a page

Volkswagen group, which includes brands from Audi to Seat to Porsche, has ploughed more than €30 billion (RM147bil) into e-mobility in order to comply with stricter environmental rules in the EU.

Its eponymous flagship brand said in March that it was aiming for electric vehicles to account for 70 percent of its European sales by 2030.

The VW brand also said it would launch at least one new battery-powered model each year between now and 2030.

VW's all-electric ID.3 became the second best-selling car in Europe last December, and the brand has US e-mobility pioneer Tesla in its sights with its 2021 ID.4 SUV model.

Tesla has upped the pressure on major German carmakers such as Volkswagen in recent years with its plans to open a plant outside Berlin next July.

But Volkswagen's electric push was also accelerated by its "dieselgate" scandal, which rocked Germany's car industry and cost the company dearly in both cash and reputational harm.

Legal cases grind on over VW's admission in 2015 that it illegally fitted 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide with software to make them appear less polluting.

Former Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn is due to stand trial from April, accused of fraud in the diesel trickery.


Mitsubishi Triton pickups pull through Borneo Safari 2016

                KOTA KINABALU: The annual Borneo Safari in Sabah over the past 26 years has been widely acknowledged as one of the toughest off-road vehicle event in Malaysia.

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) entered a fifth-generation Triton during last year's event to prove to sceptics that the Triton, in as near stock condition as allowed by the event organisers, would be able to hold its own against other heavily modified vehicles at the starting line-up with the must-haves of a winch, snorkel, and a set of Extreme Terrain (XT) tyres.

Following its successful outing in 2015, MMM returned this year by fielding four new Tritons as corporate vehicles, including two units of the recently launched Triton 2.4 with a MIVEC Turbo Diesel Engine.

The Mitsubishi Tritons were driven by six members of the media as well as five Triton owners - including Malaysia motorsport athlete Leona Chin. All participants and vehicles from Team Mitsubishi Triton managed to navigate the 400km route through the jungle to the finish line without any vehicle parts changes throughout the journey.

“As the only female driver of Team Mitsubishi Triton, I was extremely proud to be entrusted by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, to champion the new Triton into the most gruelling off-road and 4x4 adventure! The new Triton managed to complete the Borneo Safari in one piece without any mechanical failure or breakdown. This itself is a testament to the strength, durability and endurance of the Mitsubishi Triton,” said Chin.

To put that achievement in its proper context, many other vehicles, including the highly upgraded ones, suffered from a large variety of mechanical issues and breakdowns, some of which necessitated going out back to town to purchase new parts and returning to the jungle to repair the vehicles.

“We are very proud of Team Mitsubishi Triton conquering the trails of Borneo Safari for the second consecutive year. We were told that this year’s Borneo Safari was the toughest since 2007 and it’s an achievement for the New Triton with MIVEC Turbo Diesel engine for being able to overcome this challenge,” said Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia CEO Tomoyuki Shinnishi.

The terrain and weather conspired to serve up a “perfect storm” of challenges that had everyone raving that this year had been the toughest, and hence, the best Borneo Safari yet.

Conditions were extremely arduous that the scout team reported back after having made just 1.7km of progress from the start line in half a day.

“There were frightening reports filtered through the radios – cars were overturning, descending slopes so steep and slippery that had to be lowered gingerly by a winch line from the vehicle behind, breakdowns and repairs,” said Triton Adventure owner Albert John Banico during the Safari.

“Though slipping and sliding, the Tritons took on each challenge and overcame each obstacle, one at a time. Co-drivers had to overcome gooey mud that was usually ankle-deep, and at times sucked in legs up to the knee,” he added.

Every participating Triton was outfitted with the compulsory equipment such as winch, protection bars, recovery points, extreme tyres, suspension and snorkel. The tyres for the Tritons were sponsored by Giti - a global tyre manufacturing company.

“As the days passed and time ran short, greater urgency pushed the convoy to keep going, even after sundown. Driving and winching and crossing rickety make-shift log bridges in the dark, with intermittent rain, with no end in sight,” said participating media Arvinda Kumar for Team Mitsubishi Triton.

He added, “There were also vehicles which were stuck on a narrow trail with no space on either side for setting up camp, everyone fell asleep where they sat in the cars as exhaustion overcame the discomfort of sitting upright while still muddy and grimy from the exertions of the previous day. Though the difficulties, this was a great experience and we are proud that the Triton managed to pass through this endurance test.”

After several gruelling 4x4 adventure days, all nine Tritons came out of the jungle in time for the Borneo Safari closing ceremony.

Though the Triton managed through with some scratches and battle scars, there were no mechanical issues and through it all, the Tritons and its drivers, prevailed in good spirits after having proven itself once more, to pass through the durability and endurance test.


Carsome makes strategic investment into Indonesia’s PT Universal Collection

                KUALA LUMPUR: Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, Carsome, has acquired an equity stake in PT Universal Collection (PT UC).

PT UC is an offline car and motorcycle auction service company based in Jakarta which transacted close to 30,000 vehicles in FY2020.

Outside of Jakarta, PT UC has branches in South Tangerang, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Malang.

It marks Carsome’s first investment in Southeast Asia in 2021.

Investment into PT UC allows Carsome to double its automotive transaction volumes in Indonesia and sets the company closer to its vision of building a regional, end-to-end integrated online used car ecosystem for dealers and consumers.

Carsome’s dealer partners will enjoy more inventory diversity and broader options through PT UC, one of Indonesia’s leading auction houses for automobiles.

It also allows Carsome to expand its network coverage and access to financial and leasing providers.

This will make Carsome the largest omnichannel integrated car e-commerce platform in the region, offering full-fledged services for both online and offline transactions with wider coverage.

PT UC’s suppliers, meanwhile, will have access to a wider demand pool through Carsome.

 Delly.

Carsome Indonesia Country Head Delly Nugraha, has also been appointed as President Director of PT Universal Collection.

Delly said the company was excited to invest into PT Universal Collection.

"This investment serves as a strategic move for Carsome to open up more opportunities and networks, and to significantly expand our operations in Indonesia, a key Southeast Asia market for Carsome.

"Through PT UC’s access to used car supplies in the market, Carsome’s dealer partners will enjoy more inventory diversity and broader options.

"PT UC’s suppliers, on the other hand, will be opened to a wider demand pool, broadening their accessibility in the used car market.”

Based on the Carsome Consumer Survey released in early 2021, interest among Indonesian consumers to buy or sell a used car remains high.

At least 64% of Indonesian consumers are interested in purchasing a used car between April and September 2021 period.

Moreover, Indonesian consumers are optimistic that their purchasing power will strengthen on the back of more disposable incomes.

The investment into PT UC proves timely as Carsome continues expanding into new areas within Indonesia to serve more dealers, consumers and ecosystem partners, strengthening its position as the leading used-car platform in Southeast Asia.

The company continues to see dynamic growth across its Southeast Asian markets, particularly with rising demand for used cars as more consumers opt for private car ownership amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Carsome continues to grow from strength to strength - as of April 2021, the company is tracking over 9,000 used car transactions per month, or over 100,000 on an annualized basis.

This puts Carsome's annualised revenue at around US$800mil (RM3.32bil) and on track to achieve US$1bil (RM4.15bil) revenue for the year.


Porsche to double investment in electric cars

                STUTTGART: German high-end sports car maker Porsche said Monday it would double investments in electrifying its entire range by 2022, as parent company Volkswagen reacts to environmental scandals and new challenges from abroad.

The Stuttgart-based firm said it would spend more than six billion euros (RM29bil) in developing hybrid and battery-powered cars over the coming five years.

Of the additional three billion euros (RM14.5bil) being put on the table, some 500 million euros (RM2.4bil) will go towards developing Porsche's flagship all-electric vehicle known as the Mission E, slated for release in late 2019.

 The Mission E cabin.

Porsche says the car will boast 600hp and a range of 500km, characteristics that would make it a competitor to US-based electric car champion Tesla.

Around one billion euros of the additional cash will go towards developing electric and hybrid versions of existing models, "several hundred million euros" will be spent on expansion of sites, and around 700 million euros in building up a network of fast charging stations for electric vehicles.

But Porsche is not turning its back on the traditional combustion engine completely, despite increasing suspicion of the technology in Europe since Volkswagen's 'dieselgate' emissions cheating scandal broke in 2015.

Its investments in electric cars are part of VW's group-wide drive to speed up introduction of battery-powered vehicles.

Porsche chief executive Oliver Blume told news agency DPA that, despite the increased costs of building electric vehicles, the luxury subsidiary would aim to uphold its operating margin of 15 percent over the long term.


New Mitsubishi Xpander debuts in Indonesia

                TOKYO: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation revealed on Monday the new Xpander MPV, featuring a refreshed design and improved eco-friendliness.

The facelifted model's pricing will be announced at the 28th GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show to be held from Nov 11. It will also be on display there.

The new Xpander will be produced at Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia (Bekasi, West Java) and will be rolled out in Indonesia and to other Asean markets in stages.

The MPV with an SUV styling boasts an upgraded design inside and out, while a new high-efficiency continuously variable transmission (CVT) is adopted to reduce fuel consumption. It previously used a four-speed automatic.

The Dynamic Shield face has been tweaked, while a horizontal bumper gives an impression of a low centre of gravity. New to the facelifted model is a three-dimensional skid plate.

T-shaped headlights are incorporated as a new generation headlight unit shape, and for the higher trim levels, LED lights are used.

The rear design gives the impression of a wide and stable appearance with a new generation light shape and a horizontally styled rear bumper.

For the rear combination lights, T-shaped tail lights with homogeneous lighting are new, while LED stop lights are added to the LED tail lights and back lights to improve visibility at night.

For the top variant called Xpander Cross, 17-inch wheels and tyres are standard.

The front overhang is extended by 75 mm and the rear overhang by 45 mm to create proportions with a high-class feel.

Additionally, by raising the vehicle height by 15mm to 20mm compared to the current model, it gains higher ground clearance of 220mm to 225mm, while also improving off-road performance.

Blade Silver Metallic is a new colour. Other available colours include Quartz White Pearl, Graphite Gray Metallic, Jet Black Mica, Red Metallic and Deep Bronze Metallic.

Apart from a high-efficiency CVT, the 7-seat Xpander now gets an external EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system for the engine to achieve low fuel consumption without sacrificing engine performance.

The MPV is powered by the same 1.5-litre 16-valve DOHC Mivec engine that makes 104hp and 141Nm of torque.

An electric parking brake is newly added on selected variants. In addition, the new brake auto hold function allows the vehicle to continue the stopped state even when the driver takes their foot off the brake pedal when waiting for a traffic light or stopping in traffic jams, thereby reducing the burden on the driver and enhancing comfort.

For the suspension, the rigidity of the front strut mounting part is improved, and the cylinder size of the rear shock absorber is expanded, while high-performance valves are newly adopted at both the front and rear to provide a smooth and comfortable ride.

For an even more comfortable interior, storage space is further enhanced for greater ease-of-use. The center console is redesigned with a large-capacity open tray to easily hold a smartphone, and an armrest4 that can store four 600 milliliter plastic bottles is newly added for convenience.

To enhance comfort in the rear seats, Type-A and Type-C USB charging outlets are installed on the back of the center console for models equipped with armrests, and cup holders are newly added to the armrest of the second row seats.

Since its debut in Indonesia in 2017, the Xpander has continued to expand its presence in the Asean region, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia and Africa.

In 2019, the Xpander Cross was added to the lineup as the top variant of the series, and the cumulative sales volume of the Xpander series has reached a total of 372,000 units as of October 2021.


BMW powers up new battery production in China

                MUNICH: BMW has begun production for BMW eDrive fifth-generation high-voltage battery and was developed from the ground up with pioneering new battery cell technology.

As such, the BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture has also expanded its battery factory at the Tiexi, China location known as the “High-Voltage Battery Centre”.

The more powerful batteries of the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology are used in the fully-electric iX3.

The High-Voltage Battery Centre was officially opened on Monday at a ceremony attended by high-level representatives of both the Chinese government and BBA. Representatives of the BMW Group attended the event virtually.

Milan Nedeljković, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production, said at the opening ceremony: “China is of high importance to the BMW Group, both as a market and as a location for production and innovation. Our investments underline our strong commitment to China and Shenyang over the long term.

"And the investments are ongoing: The Tiexi and Dadong plant extension projects are well on track. And we are preparing for future growth: With this new Battery Center, we more than double the capacity of our local battery production in China.”

BBA President Dr. Johann Wieland added: “The expansion of our High-Voltage Battery Centre is concrete proof of our commitment to continue investing in Shenyang, Liaoning and north-eastern China. It also shows our determination to take a leading role in sustainable mobility, as we launch our pure electric BMW iX3.”

China is the BMW Group’s largest single market and sets the tempo for e-mobility around the world. With five electrified models currently available, the BMW Group offers Chinese customers the widest range of options in the premium segment. There are already a total of 75,000 electrified BMW cars on China’s roads today.

Production of the iX3 will get under way at BBA Plant Dadong by the end of September.

The high-voltage batteries it requires will be supplied by the nearby new battery centre. The X3 is the first model available with highly efficient petrol and diesel engines incorporating 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, with a plug-in hybrid drive train, or as a pure electric model.


X70 continues to drive Proton’s recovery

                PETALING JAYA: The Proton X70 has continued to be the main catalyst in Proton Holdings Bhd’s rebound in the local car market ever since the much-admired vehicle was introduced about four years ago.

Being the first model produced after the merger with China-based Zhejiang Geely Holding Group through the acquisition of a 49.9% stake in Proton by Geely, the X70 sparked huge interest among car buyers across the country when it first came out and has continued to do so.

At a much more affordable price compared to other sports-utility vehicle (SUV) brands in the country, Proton deputy chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the X70 has brought confidence back to the Proton brand.

“The X70 was one of the models available in Geely and it matched the D-segment car at a reasonable price; for me, it is a bit unfortunate that people expect cheaper prices from Proton, but that has been the public perception since Proton started in 1985,” he told Bernama.

With the Proton X70 at its fourth launch anniversary today, Roslan said the national carmaker has been able to put up a price tag that is acceptable for customers in Malaysia.

“This model was among the bestselling in China at that time. The total number (of X70 units sold) was about 600,000 units from 2016-2018.

“When we brought our dealers to China for the X70 model, their confidence towards Proton returned as this was a rising model.”

The return of customers due to the X70 boosted Proton’s sales figures, which exceeded the 100,000 mark in 2019 compared to 64,744 units sold in the previous year.

Sales have continued on an upward trajectory since then, with Proton recording 109,716 vehicles in 2020, and 114,708 in 2021.


Carmakers forced by chip crisis to rethink just-in-time ordering

                SAN FRANCISCO: A century after automakers showed the world the value of assembly-line manufacturing, a shortage of semiconductors is teaching the industry a painful new lesson in what it takes to build a car.

For most of its history, the industry has relied on a distinct approach to buying car parts, procuring components from suppliers right at the moment they’re needed. It’s referred to as just-in-time manufacturing and is designed to streamline production and eliminate the costs of keeping warehouses stocked with parts waiting to be used.

But the shortcomings of that system were made starkly clear this year as the automakers confronted a dearth of the chips they need to build advanced functions into their vehicles, and found themselves near the bottom of chipmakers’ customer lists because of their just-in-time approach.

That shortage is threatening to cut $110 billion in sales from the industry, and forcing auto manufacturers to overhaul the way they get the electronic components that have become critical to contemporary car design.

“Customers need to change,” said Hassane El-Khoury, chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor Corp., which gets more than a third of its revenue from the automotive market. “That just-in-time mindset doesn’t work.”

Semiconductor makers are demanding guaranteed, long-term orders rather than the short-term flexibility the carmakers are used to. The chipmakers’ assertiveness, even under pressure from lawmakers, underscores the rebalancing of power from the companies whose logos are on the cars to those that provide the advanced technology that runs them.

As these components play a bigger role in everything from in-car entertainment to self-driving functions, chip manufacturers say they’re willing to invest in expanding production to head off a repeat of shortages that have forced the industry to mothball factories and furlough workers - if the carmakers give them orders that can’t be canceled and commit to long-term agreements.

“Why would I have invested a single dollar when my customer can cancel within 30 days and it takes me two years to build capacity?” ON Semiconductor’s El-Khoury said.

There are signs the industry is listening. Last week, Ford Motor Co. chief executive officer Jim Farley indicated a new willingness to reverse decades of outsourcing for parts.

“As the industry changes, we have to in-source now, just like we in-sourced powertrains in the ’20s and ’30s,” said Farley, who has shut down half his factories and seen his dealers’ lots emptying because of a dearth of chips.

Most components used by the auto industry are part of a discrete food chain, and carmakers are at the top, able to orchestrate their suppliers’ actions in a system that delivers them a set of components that can be put together quickly and cheaply into a finished vehicle.

Electronics makers, who’ve fared much better in the chip supply crunch, regard semiconductors as essential systems, and they work directly with chipmakers to secure products and often design their devices around the chips themselves.

Automakers can no longer “assume the dominance of an 800-pound gorilla” in negotiations with chip companies and battery makers, said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consultancy AlixParters.

Pioneered by Toyota Motor Corp. in the 1960s, just-in-time is a system where components suppliers are required to turn up with whatever the carmakers want at the last possible moment in a process that pares costs to the very minimum.

That strategy has served the industry well, saving money and helping it organise a system for sourcing the 40,000 or so components that go into a modern vehicle, many of which can be made in a matter of days.

But semiconductors - the heart of sensors, engine management and battery controllers, infotainment and eventually systems that will pilot vehicles - are created in a process that takes months. And building and equipping a factory to produce them requires years.

Today’s cars contain an average of 1,400 semiconductors - and that puts the chipmakers at an advantage. Ford’s Farley said he’s now negotiating contracts directly with chipmakers - bypassing his traditional auto suppliers - while building up inventory of the precious pieces and even redesigning models to accommodate the semiconductor companies.

“We have learned a lot through this crisis that can be applied to many critical components,” Farley told analysts last month as he announced Ford would lose half its production in the second quarter and take a US$2.5 billion hit to earnings this year, citing a lack of chips.

“We’re also thinking about what this means for the world of batteries and silicon and all sorts of other components that are really mission critical for our company.”

Ford is not alone in seeking solutions that upend long-time industry practices. Automakers from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG to Tesla Inc. are looking for ways to get closer to the chipmaking process, which could include forming partnerships with semiconductor companies, bringing chipmaking in-house and even building their own foundries. Nothing is off the table.

“Cars are only going to get more technical and they’re going to need more chips,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president of vehicle forecasting at consultant AutoForecast Solutions.

“All of the vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible scenario for getting it solved for the long-term.”

But according to some chipmakers, the auto industry has embraced new technology but failed to understand those that supply it.

“There is a huge difference between manufacturing a car and manufacturing a chip,” said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductor NV, the biggest maker of auto chips. “We’ve been working for years closely with the auto OEMs directly when it comes to R&D and innovation - however, not at all for supply chain and volume forecasting.”

Sievers said the chip industry wants specific forecasts that stretch out in years and binding commitments to buy chips that last that long. The way automakers, referred to as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and semiconductor vendors work together needs to change, he said.

And the car companies have little choice but to do so. Consumers are increasingly choosing vehicles based on functions such as connectivity, entertainment and advanced automated safety features. The auto industry is steadily shifting away from gasoline to battery power. All of that requires more chips.

“It’s no longer this subsystem that no one cares about,” said Victor Peng, CEO of Xilinx Inc. a chipmaker whose products are uses in advanced driver-assistance systems. “The electronics is really going to shape the customer experience.”

The semiconductor industry has plenty of other orders to fill. In 2020 automakers bought almost US$40 billion worth of chips, little changed from the prior year, even amid the crash of the pandemic. By comparison, the computer industry bought 17% more chips than it did in 2019, for a total of US$160 billion. Phone makers, meantime, provided the chip industry with US$137 billion in revenue, a jump of 12%.

Earlier this year, automakers lobbied US lawmakers to intervene to help them with the shortage, arguing that chipmakers were unfairly prioritizing customers building less important consumer electronics over cars.

The automakers argue their industry creates more than 7 million jobs in America and is critical to national security. And they’ve found a sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden, who was supported by the United Auto Workers in the 2020 election, and is working to help the auto industry navigate the chip crisis.

Still, consumer electronics buys US$20 billion more chips a year than the auto industry, and Big Tech has plenty of clout in Washington, too.

Chipmakers are also in no hurry to add new factories to meet this year’s chip rush. Though 2020 was a good year and 2021 is shaping up to be even better, they don’t have to look back very far to be reminded of the difficulties of matching supply with short-term fluctuations in demand. In 2019 industry sales shrank 12% as customers slashed orders to work through stockpiles.

Many investors and analysts are already concerned that what now looks like insatiable demand is customers double-ordering: asking for twice the amount they need so they can at least get the number they want. In the past, such heavy ordering has proved to foreshadow industry gluts, with demand eventually easing and buyers tapping the brakes as they worked down accumulated inventory.

“We came out of 2018 guns blazing, everybody hoarded, and then 2019 was an awful year of demand because they already had chips,” said ON Semiconductor’s El Khoury. “Here we are today with people looking at us and asking, ‘why haven’t you invested?’”

The type of chip automakers want also works against them. Much of what they use - things such as sensors and power regulators - can be made on what’s called lagging nodes, or production technology that hasn’t been state-of-the-art for years. While that makes it cheaper, chipmakers are reluctant to expand capacity of technology that’s closer to being obsolete.

“The chips that the automotive industry uses are older than the ones you’d find in your cell phones or in your video games,” said AutoForecast Solutions’ Fiorani. “That makes them less of a priority to the companies that produce them.”

Fiorani said carmakers would be better served forming joint ventures with chipmakers to tap their expertise and lock down a dependable source of supply. But doing that would involve going around traditional suppliers such as Continental AG and Robert Bosch AG and turning back the clock to a more expensive time when companies like Ford had to deal with suppliers for raw materials.

Some auto suppliers are already taking steps to make sure they don’t get cut out. Parts supplier Robert Bosch is opening a new chip factory in Dresden that it says is the first of its kind dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors for automotive uses. Still, some automakers are already talking openly about cutting out those middlemen in order to keep up with the speed of change.

“We will be the one who has the commercial relationship with the chipmaker,” Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said at a mobility conference in Tel Aviv this month. “When we want a change and you have to talk to suppliers, it is too slow.”

Ford’s Farley said he’s consulted with tech companies and discovered how common it is in other industries to keep “buffer stock” and to buy directly from chip manufacturers.

“Even if the company still buys the components with chips on them from a supplier, they still negotiated a direct deal,” he told analysts, describing something that’s common practice for companies like Apple Inc. Ford learned that nine of its tier-one component suppliers rely on just one Renesas Electronics Corp. factory in Japan for chips, a plant that suffered a fire, he said.

Some automakers have made rapid progress in understanding their newer suppliers and are negotiating long-term deals. Others are sticking to the belief that they can dictate how their suppliers should act, according to ON Semiconductor’s El-Khoudry.

Learning from their current difficulties is the key to turning around the current crisis and avoiding the next, according to Xilinx’s Peng. Toyota, the inventor of just-in-time, said it expects to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability as soon as this year, helped by factories that continue to churn out vehicles because the company made the decision to accumulate stockpiles of chips.

“People have to think differently or they’re going to be left behind,” Peng said.


Audi SQ5 in Sepang Blue is millionth unit of model built

                INGOLSTADT: The one-millionth Audi Q5 drove off the production line at Audi’s main plant in Ingolstadt.

The jubilee car, an SQ5 in Sepang Blue, will be delivered to a family in Germany. The international success of the Audi Q5 began in 2008, when Audi launched this model in the segment of mid-range SUVs – the second Q-model from the brand with the Four Rings after the Audi Q7.

 Audi Q5.

Since then, the Audi Q5 has developed into a favourite with the customers and can be seen on the roads of more than 100 countries. Because Audi produces this top-seller also in China and India for the respective local markets, worldwide deliveries sum up to nearly 1.6 million vehicles.

“The Audi Q5 is a genuine guarantee of success for us. For that reason, I am very proud that we have created a worldwide crowd puller with this SUV model from the main plant in Ingolstadt. One million Audi Q5 cars – that is due to the outstanding performance of our production team. We achieved it with great effort and commitment,” stated Albert Mayer, Plant Director at the Audi site in Ingolstadt.

Peter Mosch, Chairman of the Group Works Council of AUDI AG: “On behalf of the Works Council, I would like to thank all the colleagues who put our Audi Q5 on the roads. Their skills make this SUV into an absolute bestseller.”

 Audi Q5.

The company handed over a total of 266,968 Audi Q5 cars to its customers worldwide last year, which is about eight percent more than in 2014 (247,446). The success of the Audi Q5 is steadily continuing, with a further increase in unit sales of 4.7 percent in the first half of this year. The Audi Q5 continues to be the bestselling premium SUV in its segment.

Audi employees in Ingolstadt build more than 650 automobiles of this model every day. In addition, the Audi Group produces this top-seller also in Changchun, China, and Aurangabad, India, for the respective local markets. Altogether, nearly 1.6 million of the Audi Q5 have been sold worldwide since the start of production in 2008. The SUV is especially popular in China, the United States and Germany.

Audi Ingolstadt is the lead plant and mentor for the new Audi plant in Mexico. The Audi Q5 will drive off the production line in San José Chiapa for the world market as of late September.

 Audi Q5.


Stay alert with a cup of java

                STUTTGART: In case you didn't know, today is International Coffee Day as declared by the International Coffee Organisation. And it ties in nicely with what Mercedes-Benz has to say about its drowsiness warning system ATTENTION ASSIST.

Mercedes-Benz also uses the wake-up effect of coffee: 10 years ago. This assistance system can recognise typical signs of fatigue and prompt drowsy drivers to take a break.

The intuitively recognisable symbol for this is a stylised coffee cup in the instrument cluster. ATTENTION ASSIST is now standard equipment in all Mercedes-Benz car model series. More than 14 million vehicles featuring it have already been delivered to customers.

"Take a break" could not be more simply and internationally understandably illustrated than with a coffee cup," says Klaus Frenzel, head of UX Design, who is responsible for the design of the user interfaces in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. "The friendly nature of this prompt is another positive aspect. After all, our vision is to provide a comprehensive experience in the car. We want drivers to feel completely at home. It is also important that the complex digital world is made as easy as possible to understand."

"Preventing stress-related accidents and improving driver fitness safety is one of the major thrusts in our safety development," says Dr Michael Hafner, head of Driving Technologies and Automated Driving. "Assistance systems like ATTENTION ASSIST, which support the driver, make their contribution to this."

In 2009, Mercedes-Benz presented the drowsiness warning system as a world first and introduced it as standard in the E and S-Class. It is now standard equipment in all the brand's passenger cars. It is therefore on board much sooner that legally prescribed: from 2022, all new cars in the EU must have such as a system.

In Germany, over-tiredness is the cause of around 0.7 percent of all accidents with personal injuries, and of around 1.2 percent of all accidents with fatalities, according to 2018 figures from the German Statistical Office.

To date, Mercedes-Benz has delivered more than 14 million vehicles equipped with ATTENTION ASSIST to customers, and in the German In-Depth Accident Study accident database, no accident by a Mercedes-Benz model with over-tiredness as the cause has been recorded in Germany since the introduction of the system as standard.

Whether with milk and sugar, black, whether brewed or espresso, from a large pot or in a tiny cup, coffee has fans all over the world. And the Germans love it too.

While Finns are the most voracious coffee drinkers in the world at 12.5kg per year, German consumption is modest; they drink around 164 litres of coffee each per year or 5.5kg per capita per year.


Proton to gain as Volvo, Geely to merge combustion engine ops

                FRANKFURT: Volvo Cars will merge its engine development and manufacturing assets with those of parent Geely, creating a division to supply in-house brands Proton, Lotus, LEVC and Lynk, and also potential rivals with next-generation combustion and hybrid engines.

It marks the latest example of consolidation in the engine manufacturing sector as tighter emissions rules hike development costs at a time when the expansion of electric cars calls into question the long-term demand for gas guzzlers.

Rival Volkswagen, which is in the midst of ramping up mass production of electric cars, has already warned its in-house suppliers to create structures to consolidate combustion engine assets.

Volvo currently builds 600,000 combustion engines, a number that rises to about 2 million when combined with Geely’s assets, allowing for savings on components and development costs, said Volvo chief executive Hakan Samuelsson.

That will allow the Gothenburg, Sweden-based brand to more sharply focus its resources on building and developing a range of entirely electrified premium cars.

“As a general business, combustion engines is most probably not growing. It is important to consolidate and seek synergies. It is another step transforming our company in the direction of electrification,” Samuelsson said in a phone interview.

In the medium term, Volvo will drop diesel engines altogether in favour of focusing on hybrid and electric powertrains, requiring further investments in fuel injection, turbo charging and brake recovery technologies.

Combining its operations with those of Chinese partner Geely will help achieve cost savings, Samuelsson said.

“On a component level, I see considerable cost savings. Most important is the development side. The engineers will get the resources to take the next step to develop top-notch hybrid engines,” Samuelsson said.

Geely in August reported a 40% drop in net profit, citing a sharp slowdown in demand for cars, while Volvo has rejigged its global production plans in an effort to reduce the impact of tariffs.

Geely bought Volvo Cars in 2010 from Ford Motor Co, allowing the Swedish brand to operate on an arms-length basis. But in recent years, it has deepened cooperation between the two brands.

Volvo already supplies engines to some Geely-branded vehicles, sharing technology through Geely’s Lynk brand. Both companies share and develop common vehicle platforms.

Global tariffs, accelerated by a trade war between China and the United States, as well as higher investment requirements for electric and autonomous vehicles, are forcing carmakers to seek new ways to cut and share costs.

Volvo in 2018 postponed plans to seek a separate stock market listing for the Swedish carmaker, blaming trade tensions.

The tightening of emissions requirements in both Europe and China is strengthening the industrial logic for combining Volvo’s and Geely’s operations, the Swedish executive said.

“The emissions requirements are getting tougher everywhere. China is catching up very rapidly. The days when China had outdated technology are gone,” Samuelsson said.

The new combustion engines business will combine 3,000 employees from Volvo Cars with 5,000 employees from Geely’s combustion engine operations, and include research, development, procurement, manufacturing, IT and finance functions, Volvo said.

The creation of the stand-alone business will result in no job losses, Volvo said.

The new stand-alone supplier could also equip outside rivals struggling to keep up with more stringent regulation.

“It can be an interesting alternative to third-party customers,” Samuelsson said.


Toyota says it will start making up for lost production in December

                TOKYO: Toyota, the world's top-selling automaker, said TOday it would begin making up for production lost from supply shortages in December, with factories at home in Japan returning to normal for the first time in seven months.

Toyota said it plans to produce about 800,000 vehicles globally in December, up from about 760,000 a year earlier, and keep its plan of producing 9 million vehicles worldwide during the financial year ending on March 31.

Reuters first reported the plan last month.


2017 Tokyo Motor Show: Concept gets external airbags to fend off dents

                TOKYO: A concept car equipped with external airbags to protect against fender benders is raising eyebrows at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The body panels of the Flesby II ultra-compact vehicle are covered by a soft, next-generation rubber that can absorb the impact of a collision.

“We put airbags, which are mainly employed inside the car, on its exterior, such as its hood or fender, to protect the entire body,” Takashi Ishikawa, managing officer of Toyoda Gosei Co, said on Wednesday.

Toyoda Gosei, a manufacturer of rubber and plastic automotive parts and LEDs, came up with the idea for the concept car in 2013.

The company said on its website the rubber is able to move with electric power and change the shape of the car body.

LED lights projected onto the rubber also allow the driver to communicate with pedestrians and other vehicles, the company said.

“In the event of contact with a pedestrian, the soft body serves a safety function in absorbing the impact,” the company said.


Over-the-top encounter for 240 participants at Ducati Riding Experience

                SEPANG: Some 240 riders across Asia Pacific rode to their hearts' content during the recently concluded Ducati Riding Experience (DRE) Racetrack Academy at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

This year's turnout was also the largest DRE participation to date.

Since 2003, DRE has been the go-to platform for motorcycle enthusiasts aiming to enhance their riding skills.

Over 28,000 riders worldwide have chosen Ducati for its high-level instruction, prestigious locations, the latest Ducati range, and an atmosphere filled with excitement and enjoyment.

DRE offers a diverse range of courses tailored to meet riders' needs, including Rookie, Road, Enduro, and the ultimate thrill of the Racetrack Academy.

The Racetrack Academy featured a team of 18 international instructors, including former MotoGP and WorldSBK riders as well as national champions.

Among them are Dario Marchetti, Karel Abraham, Carlos Serrano, and WorldSBK legend Chaz Davies.

Participants were granted the opportunity to ride high-performance motorcycles from the Panigale family, honing their skills and mastering racetrack techniques under expert guidance.

This marked the return of DRE to Sepang after the successful 2018 event, which coincided with the Asia launching and press test of the Panigale V4.

The enthusiasm of participants and their eagerness to experience the renowned circuit made this DRE event an outstanding success.

Ducati remains committed to providing motorcyclists with an extraordinary riding experience, combining Italian craftsmanship and advanced engineering.


Harley makes acting CEO permanent after well-received debut

Zeitz says he would focus on expanding US ridership, profitable bikes and electric motorcycles. — AFP
MILWAUKEE: Harley-Davidson Inc.’s acting chief executive officer will take over the job permanently after winning over investors and analysts with a plan to narrow the motorcycle maker’s ambitions to focus on its strengths.

Jochen Zeitz, a board member and former CEO of sporting-goods maker Puma SE, took over the top job in February following the departure of Matt Levatich, who stepped down after overseeing a five-year stretch of falling US sales. Zeitz, 57, will also remain chairman of the board.

“Over the next few months, we will rewire the business and define a new five-year strategic plan later this year,” Zeitz said in a statement Thursday.

“I will then oversee the implementation of these changes and reignite Harley-Davidson as one of the most revered and iconic brands in the world.”

Harley shares surged last week after Zeitz said he would dial back his predecessor’s turnaround plan to focus on expanding US ridership, on profitable bikes such as the Adventure Touring and Streetfighter models, and on electric motorcycles.

The strategy echoes the demands an activist investor, Impala Asset Management, made earlier this year.


Honda Malaysia shows Mugen kitted CR-V and Jazz; also BR-V SE

                KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia is displaying Mugen kitted editions of the CR-V and Jazz at the Malaysia Autoshow 2019 held at MAEPS, Serdang.

The Jazz Mugen has a bodykit that includes a Front aero bumper, LED front fog lights, Sport front grille and Tailgate garnish.

Also on display is a Honda BR-V Special Edition (SE) which has new exterior additions such as a tailgate spoiler, running board and side step garnish for a sportier look.

The three Mugen kitted cars are in a new Passion Red Pearl colour.

Honda BR-V Spercial Edition

Honda Jazz Mugen

Honda CR-V Mugen


Bentley's new Mulsanne stretches the definition of luxury

 The EWB (also below).

LONDON: As well as a serious external facelift and suspension improvements, Bentley is adding 250mm of rear seat passenger legroom to the latest generation of its flagship limousine, due to make its global debut in Geneva on March 1.

The Mulsanne is meant to marry Bentley's two greatest attributes — luxury and performance — in one meticulous handcrafted package.

However, as clients get more discerning and competition within the highest echelons of the automotive world heats up, Bentley is taking very swift action to ensure that even with the launch of the Mercedes-Maybach, its car can still more than stand out.

"The Mulsanne is the epitome of Bentley's DNA — exquisite, individual and powerful. It defines luxury in the automotive world and offers a uniquely Bentley blend of luxury and performance," said Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors.

Therefore, the solution is to stretch the Mulsanne into a three-model range.

 Mulsanne Speed.

The Mulsanne Speed is for those that want to drive quickly but in complete comfort. Its 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 engine offers a 0-100kph time of 4.9 seconds and a remarkable top speed of 190mph (305kph).

The "standard" Mulsanne leans further towards comfort. It boasts a state-of-the-art rear-seat entertainment system and thanks to new tires, the cabin is 4dBA quieter than that of the existing model.

However, it's the new EWB model that takes the Mulsanne's appeal to new lengths. Bentley has stretched the body by 250mm so that it can fit two first-class-airline style fully reclining seats in the rear — complete with a rear roof section glass sunroof. The car can be specified with foldaway tables for those moments when productivity is a necessity.

"The three distinct handcrafted models now available each offer customers something different. The Mulsanne, with its understated elegance and sporting purpose, remains the consummate luxury limousine; the Mulsanne Speed is the pinnacle of luxury and performance thanks to its immense power, torque and refinement; and now the Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase — with its extraordinary airline-style seats and rear-passenger bias — becomes the new benchmark in automotive comfort," Dürheimer said.

However, when the car is unveiled next week, there are suggestions that it will actually be a four- rather than three-model range. Bentley is said to be working on an even longer-wheelbase version of the Mulsanne for carrying six in comfort and that each car will be a 100% bespoke creation.


Big budget local film 'The Catcher' set for 2022 production

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Catcher, a Malaysian-made film set to feature some 500 supercars, is poised to be the highest-invested movie ever in Malaysian history.

The script for the film is set to be finalised and casting will soon begin as well. Production is scheduled for 2022 and will be completed in 2023.

The Catcher is a collaboration among Labuan Overseas Holding, Robotz Car Club and producer Hundred Years Popcorn Production.

The film aims to boost the tourism industry in Malaysia that's been hit hard during the pandemic.

"We shall use the distinctive attributes of a certain brand and its historical business value to develop Intellectual Properties (IPs) with high-value accreditation, based on racing car performance brands that can be spun-off into brand-licensed hotels, auto city, petrol stations and theme parks, among others,” said Hundred Years Popcorn Production founder Ong Peng Chu.

With a budget of over RM50mil, The Catcher is set to showcase the lifestyle and culture of car modification aficionados in Malaysia.

The film follows the story of a talented young village boy who works hard to defeat opponents from all around the world with heavily modified performance supercars.

"Supercars are loved by everyone, from any stature or background," said Robotz Car Club founder Jeffrey Teoh.

"As supercar junkies, each of us at Robotz has always been inspired by Vin Diesel’s successful Fast & Furious movie franchise, we hope to emulate the brilliance these movies hold."


Nissan Maxima heads for world debut in NY

                FRANKLIN (Tennessee): Nissan today announced that the 2016 Maxima, the brand's flagship product and signature "4-Door Sports Car," will make its world debut at the New York International Auto Show in April.

Today's Maxima announcement kicks off an expected record-breaking number of world and North American debuts at the New York show.  Last year's show featured 63 vehicle launches from the world's automakers.

The next-generation Maxima sports sedan made a cameo appearance at the end of its "With Dad" Super Bowl XLIX commercial on Sunday.

Styling features include many of Nissan's new aerodynamic design elements, including the V-motion front end and unique "floating" roof, that first appeared on the 2015 Murano crossover, also a world debut at last year's New York show.

The show runs from April 3 - 12.


Sime Darby Auto Connexion partners SpareXHub to offer big savings on genuine Ford aged spare parts

                KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, has partnered with e-commerce platform SpareXHub to offer great savings from 64% on selected genuine Ford aged spare parts from now until March 31.

With Genuine Ford Parts, customers can be certain of the highest standards of quality, fit and finish as the parts are specifically designed for Ford vehicles to ensure superior performance.

SDAC managing director Turse Zuhair said the company was constantly looking for ways to deliver value-add and convenience to its customers.

“In line with our ongoing efforts to digitalise the retail experience, this partnership with SpareXHub provides a convenient platform for customers to easily purchase genuine Ford aged spare parts from the comfort of their homes, while enjoying more savings.

“They can also be assured that they can maintain their vehicles with the manufacturer’s recommended genuine parts even after the warranty period has expired,” he added.

For more information on available products and pricing and to enjoy savings from this grand sale, visit www.sparexhub.com or follow SpareXHub’s Facebook page.

For more information about SDAC and Ford, follow the Ford Malaysia Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube channel or visit www.sdacford.com.my.


Nissan Navara now also available in 'Earth Brown' colour

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Nissan Navara is now available in an additional exterior colour of "Earth Brown".

The new colour is available for the 2.5L V and VL grades only, which are priced at RM109,800 and RM120,800 (OTR including GST) respectively.

The new body colour is on top of five existing colours: Solid White (Single Cab only), Savanna Orange, Brilliant White, Tungsten Silver and Diamond Black.

The 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine in the V grade produces 163PS and 414Nm of torque, while the powerplant in the VL grade is boosted to make 190PS and 450Nm of torque. The Navara is assembled in Thailand.

All six variants get an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system with shift-on-the-fly for 2H, 4H and 4L. The V and VL grades are only available with a 7-speed automatic transmission.

Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd announced the new colour today in conjunction with its road safety campaign and nationwide test-drive carnival.

For more details, go to Nissan Malaysia website at www.nissan.com.my.


Ford sees permanent shift towards more online vehicle sales after virus crisis over

LaNeve says around 93% of Ford’s 3,100 US dealers are doing some or all aspects of sales online and that remote delivery has become the norm during the current health crisis.
DETROIT: Ford Motor Co’s US sales chief said today the automaker believes some level of government stimulus will be needed for consumers once the coronavirus pandemic recedes and that the crisis will spur a permanent shift towards more online vehicle sales in America.

“It’s hard to determine how long and what the lingering effects of this will be,” Mark LaNeve said after the company reported lower quarterly sales as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“But certainly we believe that some level of government stimulus post crisis to help customers and the auto industry to recover would be appropriate.”

The No. 2 US automaker posted a 12.5% fall in US auto sales for the first quarter.

Government orders for businesses to shutter and consumers to remain at home in the face of the coronavirus pandemic stalled demand across the auto industry.

Economists say the stay-at-home measures have pushed the economy into recession. The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits last week shot to a record high of 6.65 million.

During the Great Recession, the US government rolled out a “cash-for-clunkers” programme, which offered consumers rebates of up to US$4,500 to trade in older gas guzzlers.

Ford is currently “thinking over ideas” for government stimulus for consumers that it will discuss with its government affairs team, LaNeve said.

He said around 93% of Ford’s 3,100 US dealers are doing some or all aspects of sales online, from virtual tours to financing and home delivery, as the pandemic has shuttered showrooms in a growing number of states.

“Good dealers have been doing remote delivery for the last 20 years, but it was maybe one a week,” he said. “Now they’re doing almost every delivery that way.”

Ford is beefing up its existing online tools to support virtual sales through its dealers, and LaNeve said the coronavirus crisis will push more sales to the internet in the long term.

“This has just turbo charged the adoption of those processes by both customers and the dealers,” LaNeve said. “To be honest, I think a big chunk of that stays with us even when we’re through the crisis.”

Ford’s passenger car sales fell 36%, while sports utility vehicle sales dropped 11% in the first quarter.

The company did not provide monthly sales figures, but estimated that industrywide US new-vehicle sales fell 39% in March. LaNeve said Ford’s sales decline was lower than that.


Orders roll in for electric version of iconic Isetta 'bubble car'

                HANOVER: The iconic Isetta bubble car built by BMW around 60 years ago is one of the cutest cars on the planet. Now, a new electric version is nearly a carbon copy of the original - and it promises to be both desirable and much greener.

The Microlino, with its characteristic same-side hinged front door and slide-away steering column, is a classic example of a revived automotive concept from the past.

The Isetta is the brainchild of engineer Oliver Ouboter, who presented the new microcar at a recent trade fair in Hanover, Germany.

Orders for the two-seater have been coming thick and fast since it was first shown by Swiss scooter maker Micro Mobility Systems at the Geneva Car Show in 2016.

"We have around 2,900 reservations for the car and expect that number to reach 5,000 by the end of the year," says Oubuter, who initially came up with the Microlino idea with his father as a publicity stunt.

The modern version has an electric motor instead of the tiny 200 cubic centimetre motorcycle petrol engine which powered the original Isetta, built from 1955 to 1962.

The retro bubble car was on display as a footnote at the high-tech Hanover exhibition, alongside a fleet of lovingly restored 1950s VW minibuses used for ferrying visitors.

It was a signal that the past can be a spur for progress. Some critics accuse Germany's medium-sized companies, which form the backbone of the country's industrial power base, of being slow to embrace modern networked technology.

The modern version of the Isetta is an example of something old that can be transformed into something new, and interest in Hanover was certainly lively.

"This is really great. Can I order one now?" asked potential customer Guido Roesler. He plans to use the electric bubble car for hunting trips, a throwback to his student days when he once whizzed around Munich in a used Isetta.

The electric Isetta is designed as a hands-on, easy-to-use runabout whose batteries can be replenished at any roadside charging station.

The prototype weighs just 400kg - less than half the kerb weight of an equivalent town car with a combustion engine. Many of the lightweight parts were made in China using 3D printing technology.

The Microlino is due to go into production next year at the Tazzari electric vehicle factory in Italy. It will come with carbon-fibre bodywork and a motor turning out 24hp.

The Isetta and similar vehicles ushered in a new era of mobility in the 1950s and Oubuoter hopes his creation will do the same.

Limited range could however prove to be a bugbear. The Isetta will run for around 100km before its batteries need a shot of power from the mains - only a bit further than the average electric pedelec bicycle.


Specifications: Bentley Continental GT First Edition

Mulliner Driving SpecifIcation with Black and Polished Edge Alloy Wheel
22" Five Open-Spoke Alloy Wheel - Black with Polished Edge
Diamond Quilted Seats, Doors and Rear Quarter inserts
Embroidered Bentley Emblems
lndented Hide Headlining
Jewel Fuel 8: Oil Filler Caps
Sports Pedals

City Specification
Auto~Dimrning Door Mirrors
City Assist
Hands-Free Boot Opening
Pedestrian Warning
Reversing Traffic Warning
Top View Camera

Touring Specmcation
Adaptive Cruise Control
Bentley Safeguard Plus
Head-Up Display
Night Vision

Mood Lighting Specification
illuminated Bentley Sill and Derivative Treadplata (Colour Controlled)
Interior Mood nghting

First Edition Spetmcation
Bentley Rotating Display
City Specification
Contrast Stitching
Contrast Stitching to Diamond in Diamond Quilted Areas
Deep Pile Overrnats - Front
First Edition Embroidered Emblems
First Edition Exterior Badge
First Edition Fascia Badge
Front Seat Comfort Specification
LED Welcome Home Lamps by Mulliner
Mood Lighting Specification
Mulliner Driving Specification with Black and Polished Edge Wheel
Touring Specification
Welcorne Lighting
Paint
Extended Range - Solid and Metallic

Exterior
Bright Chromed Lower Bumper Matrix Style Grille
Heated Windshield

Veneers & Technical Finishes
Dual Finish - Liquid Amber over Grand Black
Diamond Knurling

Steering Wheel & Drive Controls
Heated, Duo-tone, 3 Spoke, Hide-trimmed Steering Wheel

Mats & Rugs
Contrast Binding to Carpet Overmats

Audio & Communication
TV Tuner – RoW
Naim for Bentley

Convenience
Battery Charger

RELATED:Bentley Continental GT First Edition rolls in, priced from RM2.15mil


Trump expected to announce vehicle emissions rules review

File pic of Trump. - Reuters
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is expected to announce a restart of a review of vehicle fuel efficiency rules sought by the auto industry at an event on Wednesday with the chief executives of US automakers, according to two sources briefed on the matter.

Trump is expected to visit Ypsilanti, Michigan, a Detroit suburb, to tout his administration's decision to revive a review of the feasibility of the 2022 through 2025 vehicle emissions rules, after the Obama administration moved in its final days to lock in the rules.

In addition to the chief executives of General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, officials from Japanese and German automakers are also expected to attend. A White House official confirmed Trump plans to visit Michigan, but did not immediately confirm details.

Automakers have been pushing the Trump administration for months to reverse the Obama administration decision. The Environmental Protection Agency had until April 2018 to decide whether the standards were feasible under a "midterm review," but moved up its decision to a week before President Barack Obama left office in January.

Automakers argue the Obama era vehicle emissions rules, which would raise the fleet average fuel efficiency to more than 50 mpg by 2025 from 27.5 mpg in 2010, will impose significant costs and are out of step with consumer preferences. They argue they need more flexibility to meet the rules amid low gas prices.

Environmentalists, who favour the standards, say they will reduce fuel costs and greenhouse gases and have vowed to sue if the Trump administration weakens them.

Trade groups representing automakers, including GM, Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp, have asked the EPA to withdraw the determination finalising the rules, which stem from a 2011 deal the industry reached with the US government.

The Obama administration said in 2011 the changes would boost fuel efficiency to a fleetwide average of 54.5 mpg, save motorists US$1.7 trillion in fuel costs over the life of the vehicles and cost the auto industry about US$200 billion over 13 years.

In July, the EPA estimated the fleet would average only 50.8-52.6 mpg in 2025 under the rules because Americans were buying more SUVs and trucks and fewer cars.


US safety regulators open probe into new Jeep Cherokees after fire

                DETROIT: US safety regulators said on Friday they have opened an investigation into an estimated 50,415 newer Jeep Cherokee SUVs, a key model for the profitability of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, after receiving complaints of engine compartment fires.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it opened the preliminary evaluation into the 2015-model SUVs after a consumer from the San Diego area filed a complaint that their Jeep was "engulfed in flames approximately 20 feet high within seconds of parking the vehicle."

There were no injuries reported.

The vehicle was bought on Jan 2 and the fire occurred two days later after the SUV had been driven less than 160km, according to the complaint filed by the consumer.

In another complaint filed on Jan 5, the owner of a 2015 Cherokee noticed smoke under the hood while driving the newly purchased vehicle at 60 miles per hour.

In addition, NHTSA said it has identified field report data as part of the Early Warning Reporting program related to the alleged defect, so it opened the investigation to assess cause, scope and frequency of the alleged defect.

"We are aware of this incident and our investigators are cooperating fully with NHTSA's preliminary evaluation," Fiat Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne said.

A preliminary investigation is the first step in a process that can lead to a recall if regulators determine that a manufacturer needs to address a safety issue.

The Cherokee, a new version of which was launched in 2013, is a critical part of Fiat Chrysler's plan to boost profits globally by leveraging its Jeep brand.

NHTSA and Fiat Chrysler have disagreed before about fire risks in older Jeep SUVs. In November, the safety agency urged the automaker to speed up efforts to fix 1.56 million Jeep SUVs at risk of gas tank fires in a rear-end collision.

Fiat Chrysler, which had initially resisted the recall, stepped up its efforts, but has long maintained the SUVs were no more susceptible to fires after crashes than vehicles made by other automakers.

Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne said this week at the Detroit auto show that the auto industry has become more sensitive about recalls and if the trend continued the higher cost of recalls would be passed on to consumers.


BMW to make electric MINI in Britain after all

                MUNICH: BMW said Tuesday it will build a future all-electric version of its MINI in Britain, easing fears that it might move production away after Brexit.

Electric drivetrains will be built at two plants in Bavaria "before being integrated into the car at Plant Oxford, which is the main production location for the MINI 3 -door model," the group said in a statement.

BMW chief executive Harald Krueger had issued what sounded like a veiled warning at the Munich-based firm's annual general meeting in May.

Brussels and London should show "pragmatism" in Brexit talks to avoid pitfalls that could harm industry, he said.

BMW had other production facilities on the continent that could take on MINI production, he added.

The car industry encapsulates many of the challenges Britain must address as it seeks to disentangle itself from 40 years of EU membership and strike a new trade deal before the March 2019 cutoff date.

As well as the potential for high tariffs on finished cars crossing a future British-EU border, leaving the EU could also disrupt supply chains that see components crossing borders many times for different production processes before being built into vehicles.

Investment in Britain's automobile sector fell in 2016 to less than £1.7 billion (RM9.5bil) from £2.5 billion (RM14bil) in previous years.


Brawn warns F1 circus to avoid Covid-19 complacency

Hamilton raising a fist on the podium after the Formula One Styrian Grand Prix race on July 12 in Spielberg. — AFP
SPIELBERG (Austria): Formula One boss Ross Brawn on Sunday warned the travelling Formula One circus to avoid any complacency despite reporting zero positive results after more than 8,000 tests for coronavirus.

Speaking shortly before the weekend's Styrian Grand Prix, the second race of the season, Brawn said it was important for all involved in the F1 'bubble' to remain vigilant and obey all of the protocols.

On Friday, F1 confirmed there had been no positive results from 4,566 tests carried out during the past week.

"Touch wood, we've been OK so far, but we can't get complacent," added Brawn, F1's motorsport managing director. "What a massive effort and compliments to everyone."

A cumulative total of 8,598 tests have been carried out in the last fortnight, all negative.

"My wife was quite concerned about me coming here," said Brawn. "I told her that this should be the safest place for me to be and that was the objective."

Under the ruling protocol, teams are required to wear masks, maintain social distancing as much as possible and avoid inter-team contact.

The news media are not allowed in the paddock to speak to teams or drivers and everyone has to be tested every five days.

Brawn said the sport had created a 'biosphere', but warned a positive result was likely at some time.

"Motor racing is very good at logistics," he said. "It's very good at organising itself - plan A, B and C is our bread and butter. It's what we do all the time.

"The concept of the biosphere, the big bubble, is that every team is split into small bubbles - that means we will get a positive at some stage, but we hope we can control it and minimise the risk."

He added he and the sport's top management were aware F1 was the first major global sport to return to action with, for the first time in history, two back-to-back season-opening events at the same venue.

"We've had a terrific response in terms of TV coverage," he said. "Our numbers are very high, especially social media and the digital side.

"We had very strong numbers last weekend and everyone is keen to go racing as long as we can offer a safe environment for everyone to do it.

"But we must make sure that F1, as an international sport, moving around the world, does not become a sport that takes Covid-19 into a country."

At Sunday's Styrian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton secured his first win of the season and the 85th of his career with a perfectly-judged victory from pole position.

Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who won the curtain-raising race, finished 13.7 seconds adrift in second to deliver a solid Mercedes one-two, their first in Austria since 2015.

Hamilton, a six-time world champion, bounced back from a disappointing season-opening Austrian Grand Prix on the same Red Bull Ring circuit a week earlier with a consummate display. He is also now within six wins of Michael Schumacher's record.


This Danish cargo bike wants to replace SUVs

                COPENHAGEN: Cargo bikes generally don't tempt buyers away from four-wheeled SUVs, but one Danish firm appears to be closer than ever with chunky trike called the Mate SUV.

The makers say the high-tech three-wheeler is a stylish and planet-friendly alternative for those tired of struggling through city traffic and searching for an elusive parking spot.

The Mate has a frame made from 90% recycled aluminium and supports pedal power with a 250W mid-drive motor. It can manage a top speed of 25kph and has a range of 100km.

Calling their bike the "world's first real alternative" to automobiles, designers say it offers both "the convenience of a car" and "agility of a bike."

The front cargo area offers modular options, including a tub, roof and seats. Mate said the bike can carry two children, an adult or weekly shopping, including several drink crates.

The makers say 60% of all car trips are under 8km anyway and claim that owning a Mate is cooler and more fun than piloting a regular SUV. "The Mate SUV has been designed as the perfect alternative to the car, allowing you to easily navigate the city and avoid traffic.

"Whether travelling with your children on the daily school run, your partner, or a friend, the Mate can be relied on for your everyday needs", claims the website.

Mate says the bike comes with hydraulic brakes and 4G connectivity for live location tracking and anti-theft protection. Owners can check battery range and manage route planning via a smartphone and there is a remote alarm feature.

With a price tag of €6,499 (RM31,000), this is an essential piece of kit along with a massive chain lock if the Mate is left unattended for more than a few minutes.

The Mate SUV is expected to go on sale in September but those interested can reserve one by the end of this month for €49 (RM231). This leads to a discount and the chance to help with final development.


Toyota WOW roadshow is back

PETALING JAYA: UMW Toyota Motor is making its second lap of the Toyota WOW Road Tour  themed ‘WOW is Back 2 Excite’, which begins on Oct 10 in Penang and ends in Sabah on Nov 15.

At the Toyota WOW Road Tour, customers who purchase any Toyota vehicle will get a RM500 eService voucher and stand a chance to win a Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Toyota owners can also have their cars inspected for free with a 38-point check.

The WOW Road Tour also promises series of fun-filled activities including a Toyota car showcase, Toyota Drift Taxi Ride experience with Precision 86, Vios Drift and Urban Off-Roader, as well as a full range on-ground test drive.

For others, there will be daily lucky draws comprising of 40 prizes of shopping vouchers worth RM200 each up for grabs at the road show.

The activities are not only catered to the grownups, but also to children as home-born icons Upin & Ipin will make an appearance in all road tour locations – except Setia City Convention Centre – to greet the customers.

The children will be able to unleash their imagination and creativity at the Kids Fun Zone with activities such as junior mini rides, a colouring sanctuary for kids of all ages to spend fun colouring time together on a shared project, as well as a Lego blocks building sanctuary.

Spending quality time with each other will take a more refined connotation, as UMW Toyota will prepare a food truck feast, consisting of some of the best food in town.

The journey does not end there as enthusiastic customers will be delighted with merchandise and shopping gallery, TRD Sportivo merchandise and Toyota Careplus items for sale.

The M7 merchandise, however, will only be sold at the Johor Bahru Road Tour.

The Toyota WOW Road Tour will be at Juru Auto City, Penang, 11am-11pm on Oct 10 and 11; RTC-TEMAN, Kota Baru, Kelantan, 10am-10pm on Oct 23 and 24; Linear Park, Johor Baru, 10am-10pm on Oct 24 and 25; Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam, 10am-10pm on Nov 7 and 8; Padungan Community Hall, Kuching, Sarawak 10am-8pm on Nov 7 and 8, and Sabah Trade Centre, Kota Kinabalu, 10am-8pm on Nov 14 and 15.


Land Rover takes wraps off 2019 Range Rover SV Coupe

                GENEVA: Range Rover, the world's premier luxury off-roader, was the first of its kind to give us a supercharged model, and then, when the ultra-luxurious 518hp Autobiography wasn't enough, Land Rover raised the bar for luxury SUVs again with the 577hp SVAutobiography Dynamic.

But now the British luxury SUV manufacturer is taking things even further by unveiling the Range Rover SV Coupe at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

It's important to point out though, that when the company describes this new flagship model as the "world's first full-size luxury SUV Coupe," it means straight from the factory. Specialised aftermarket coachbuilders have been lobbing the rear doors off Range Rovers for years now, but this is the first time they have come direct from Land Rover since the first Range Rover stopped appearing in its original two-door format.

Although the SV Coupe is a much sportier-looking model than the SVAutobiography Dynamic, the underpinnings remain unchanged. There's nothing wrong at all with that though as it means there's 557hp and 700Nm of torque to play with. In this case, that translates to a 0 to 100kph time of just 5.0 seconds and a top speed that's now upped to an impressive 265kph. Although that's just 0.1 seconds faster to 100kph and a 56kph higher top speed than the SVAutobiography Dynamic, it still makes the SV Coupe the fastest Range Rover ever.

As for the more important aesthetic matters, the designers have done more than just take away the rear doors here as every single panel other than the hood and rear tailgate have benefited from some sort of cosmetic surgery. The power-close doors have now been fitted with frameless windows, and the grille and side vents have been redesigned in materials such as Brunel Metallic mesh and Noble Chrome with Satin Indus Silver metal surrounds.

Even though most of the images so far have shown the SV Coupe in white, it's also available in Constellation, Parallax, Liquesence, Obsidian, Ethereal, Flux, Valloire, and Desire.

The SV Coupe launches with a starting price of £240,000 (RM1.3mil), but it's possible for any or all of the eventual 999 owners to add up to £100,000 (RM540,000) of bespoke extras. So, a new Range Rover SV Coupe could end up costing as much as £340,000 (RM1.8mil).


90 Lexus ES to be recalled to fix braking issue

                SHAH ALAM: Lexus Malaysia is recalling the ES as part of a Toyota global recall to fix a braking flaw.

The recall is for models which are equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking system (ABS), Traction Control System (TRC), and Vehicle Stability Control System (VSC), all of which are controlled by the brake actuator.

Some brake actuators may have been assembled with a pump containing an O-ring that is damaged in such a way that the brake fluid pressure may not be properly controlled during ABS, TRC, and VSC activation. This could cause a loss of vehicle stability control and increase the risk of an accident.

The ES models affected are those manufactured from September 2015 to February 2016. According to Toyota, around 90 units were imported by Lexus Malaysia and these will be recalled.

While the global recall also covers the RX model, Lexus Malaysia said the RX sold locally are free from the defect. All other models are unaffected.

Lexus Malaysia will bear all costs related to inspection and any rectifications to be made. It will notify ES owners directly.

For more details, call Lexus support line at at 1800-8-53987.


Honda airbag design wins top US safety award

Heitkamp (inset) with the airbag he helped create.
YOKOHAMA: Honda's groundbreaking front passenger airbag design has won US recognition.

Honda's safety engineer, Eric Heitkamp, today received the highest honour bestowed by the US Department of Transportation for his work in leading the creation of the innovative airbag that is designed to decrease the chance of serious brain injury in a collision.

The new passenger front airbag technology is now standard equipment in the Acura MDX, Acura TLX and Honda Pilot. It debuted in the 2021 Acura TLX.

The new airbag technology aims to better manage lateral collision forces that can cause an occupant's head to rotate severely at high velocity and slide off a conventional airbag, increasing the chance of serious injury.

Honda's new front passenger airbag technology is designed to better manage lateral collision forces that can cause an occupant's head to rotate severely at high velocity and slide off a conventional airbag, increasing the chance of serious injury. Heitkamp led development of the new airbag using new research measuring brain injuries in vehicle collisions, including a landmark study of brain injuries led by scientists at the US Department of Transportation.

Rather than the single inflatable chamber of conventional front passenger airbag systems, the new airbag operates something like a baseball catcher's mitt, with an uninflated panel first catching and decelerating the occupant's head with less force, while also directing it inward between two inflated chambers to cradle and protect the head.

Specifically, the new passenger front airbag uses four major components: three inflated compartments consisting of a centre chamber and two outward-projecting side chambers that create a wide base across the dash and the uninflated “sail panel" that stretches between the two side chambers.

Heitkamp accepted the US award at the 2023 Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) conference here.

The conference is the most-prominent international safety technical event and is held every two years, hosted by an ESV member country selected by the participating international safety regulatory agencies. The global pandemic necessitated a one-year delay of the latest conference, originally set for 2022.

ESV attendees include members of Governments, automobile manufacturers, technology companies, suppliers, academia – including safety researchers, students, safety advocates and other motor vehicle safety professionals, medical, insurance, legal and policy professionals, consumers, and media.


Daimler, BMW to limit co-operation to affordable electric car in China, says paper

                FRANKFURT: Daimler and BMW are looking to limit their planned co-operation to jointly produce an affordable electric car in China, German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Wednesday.

Daimler and BMW declined to comment.

Last month, news reports said that BMW and Daimler are in talks to co-operate in developing vehicle platforms for electric cars in a step that could save each carmaker at least 7 billion euros (RM32bil).

Both companies have acknowledged co-operation talks, which include sharing engineering costs for driverless cars, but BMW and Daimler have repeatedly declined to comment on whether their cooperation could include entire vehicle platforms.

According to Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Daimler and BMW are now planning a joint electric car in the price range between 27,500 and 32,500 euros (RM127,000 to RM150,000), a price segment that offers the opportunity to open up a mass market for electric cars.

It is still unclear whether the project will actually be carried out and the two companies will launch a joint venture and share the capacity of a new plant in China, which could produce one million electric cars over a period of seven years, the paper said.

The plan has been met with criticism from some managers at BMW and Daimler, both of which also have co-operation plans with local Chinese partners, the paper said, adding that BMW is concerned that its brand could be diluted by a deal with Daimler.


Calling all uni graduates for the Audi Global Graduate Program

                SINGAPORE: Audi is calling on university graduates who want to kickstart their career in the automotive industry to apply for the new Audi Global Graduate Program from Dec 4.

Participants in the Audi Global Graduate Program will receive comprehensive training in their target work area by passing through a total of five stations over a period of 18 months.

Audi is looking looking for open-minded and curious people who take a positive and optimistic approach to change and enjoy flourishing in an international and diverse team.

Topics such as living progress and the future of mobility should not be alien concepts to applicants.

The areas of employment are in five strategic vocational fields: product and technology – IT, processes, and digitalization – validation and compliance – market and finance – human resources and organization.

In addition to stations at the sites in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, the program also includes a stay abroad and an individual “stopover” at another brand within the Volkswagen Group.

The application phase in December will be followed by interviews in January and an Assessment Center from February to March. The program will begin in April 2021.

Interested parties can visit the program website for information on all the details and apply until the middle of December.


Transport Ministry says it has achieved target to reduce death index

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry's target of reducing the death index due to road accidents yearly through the Malaysia Road Safety Plan 2014-2020 has been achieved.

Based on the final results of the report, all programmes, initiatives and intervention measures implemented by the ministry have contributed to the reduction in the rate of road deaths at 4.8 per cent per annum between 2016 (7,152 deaths) and 2019 (6,167 deaths).

"The target of lowering the death index is also achieved from 3.4 in 2010 to 1.97 in 2019 (target 2.0).

"The achievement and success of road safety plan is the result of cooperation and support from various government agencies, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and people from all walks of life," the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

It said the measures carried out would continue and be improved upon in the next road safety plan from 2021-30.

The ministry said the new plan was expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2021.

Based on police statistics from 2010 to 2019, more than 500,000 cases of road accidents on average are reported and these involved almost 7,000 deaths each year.

"Every road accident will involve huge costs to the country including medical costs, infrastructure repair costs, increased business costs and costs due to loss of productivity," the ministry said.

"The biggest cost is loss of life which will have a negative social impact on the next-of-kin or family of the victim."

The ministry said the road safety plan was created in line with global efforts to address road safety issues under the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.

The main objective of the current road safety plan was to reduce the death rate due to road accidents by up to 50 per cent by 2020, compared to the estimated number of deaths if no intervention measures were carried out.

The current road safety plan aimed to reduce the death index for every 10,000 vehicles to 2.0 in 2020 compared to 3.4 in 2010.

Based on the analysis of accident data in situations where no intervention measures were implemented, deaths due to road accidents in the country were expected to increase by 56 per cent from 6,872 deaths in 2010 to 10,716 deaths in 2020.

The current road safety plan contained five key focus areas such as road safety management, safer road users and post-accident management.

All these areas contained a variety of initiatives, programmes and intervention measures that had been designed to increase awareness and compliance with the law, thereby contributing to increased levels of road safety.

-- BERNAMA


Cyberjaya eatery adapts with drive-in dining

A waiter serving a customer outside Padi House restaurant for 'dine in car' service in Cyberjaya on Feb 4. — Reuters
CYBERJAYA: Diners in Malaysia can now enjoy restaurant meals from the safety and comfort of their vehicles after an eatery started a drive-in service for people eager to eat out during a coronavirus lockdown.

Malaysia is in its fourth week of nationwide restrictions imposed as it grapples with a surge in coronavirus infections that has pushed the cumulative total to more than 230,000 cases, with more than 800 deaths.

In Cyberjaya, customers drive into the parking lot of Padi House restaurant and order from laminated menus through the vehicle windows.

Each set meal comes on a customised tray that fits in the narrow space between driver seat and steering wheel.

"I work at the bank so its not a suitable environment for me to eat. I prefer to go out and sometimes we need a change in scenery so that I can enjoy my food, even in a car," said Nor Shekin Nor Razali, who had lunch with a colleague on Thursday.

READ MORE: Other restaurants join dine-in-car service

The restaurant has closed its dine-in service and, like most eateries in Malaysia, had been offering takeaways only.

Owner Leow Kim Ngan said the inspiration came from airline meals after business dropped 80% due to the pandemic.

"It's very challenging, we have to think of a new way to find more income," said Leow.

Malaysia is currently at its peak of infections, averaging more than 4,600 new cases per day.

Infection numbers have been climbing steadily since the end of September. A second nationwide lockdown, which bans social activities and inter-state travel, is due to end on Feb 18


It's a good thing Europe's autonomous car testing is slow

                MUNICH: Europe’s slower and more regulated testing of autonomous vehicles may reduce the likelihood of the kind of accidents seen this week in the US, industry experts said.

Executives at carmakers on Tuesday also advised the industry take its time to get the technology right, after an Uber Technologies Inc. autonomous vehicle fatally collided with a woman in Tempe, Arizona on Sunday.

“The US is in no way reckless when it comes to autonomous driving tests -- but in Europe and especially in Germany, rules are a notch stricter when it comes to putting cars on actual public streets,” said Harald Proff, an autonomous driving expert at Deloitte. “That sometimes means things aren’t moving as fast, but all this is meant to avoid exactly those tragic accidents.”

European countries have been hesitant to allow private companies to test commercial automated vehicles on their streets. Cars with similar capabilities to those used on public roads by Uber have been deployed in Europe, but projects are typically confined to private streets, or restricted to very low speeds.

Uber’s accident has echoes of Tesla Inc.’s fatal crash in 2016, when one of its models, driving on a function called Autopilot, hit the trailer of a truck after it didn’t notice the vehicle against a brightly lit sky.

BMW AG chief executive officer Harald Krueger — unveiling an autonomous partnership a day after US investigators started probing Tesla’s accident — repeatedly noted “safety comes first” at the time, adding that technologies weren’t yet ready for general production. BMW is currently testing more than 40 vehicles in Europe, the US, Israel and China, and it’s planning to sell an electric car for autonomous driving on the German Autobahn in 2021.

At a press conference Tuesday, Volkswagen AG CEO Matthias Mueller encouraged the industry to wait for investigations into the collision to conclude before speculating on future repercussions.

”Autonomous driving presents an unbelievable change,” he said. “It will take many years before we see a car with level 5 autonomous-driving functions on the roads. Just look at how difficult the change from combustion-engine cars to electric cars is.”

In Berlin, a project due to begin next month is a far cry from what’s happening in the US: Four autonomous buses will ferry doctors and staff across the private grounds of the city’s Charite hospital -- along pre-defined routes, away from public streets, and at maximum speeds of 20kph.

Britain has also remained cautious but has allowed public testing. The nation’s biggest car manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc, began piloting driverless cars on public roads last year, and the government has said it would invest 200 million pounds (RM1.1bil) in researching and testing necessary infrastructure in order to become a “leader” in the industry.

In France, legislation has adapted over the past two years to allow for more experimentation in autonomous driving, including on open roads, yet rules are still very strict. Projects are limited to small geographic areas, and self-driving vehicles are usually only allowed to drive at higher speeds in areas where there aren’t any pedestrians, such as on highways.

They also require for a certified human to be on-board at all times to take over in the event of a malfunction, but this isn’t a guarantee to prevent accidents; the Uber vehicle involved in the fatal crash was operating in autonomous mode under the supervision of a human safety driver, according to the Tempe Police Department.

“The question of regulation or free experimentation of autonomous vehicles is part of a broader cultural debate in Europe,” researchers at industry group La Fabrique wrote in a report in December. “Europe is more inclined to protect citizens from unknown or potentially dangerous technologies, rather than race for innovation and progress.”


Tesla's next generation smaller car to operate mostly autonomously, says Musk

                AUSTIN: Tesla chief executive Elon Musk on Tuesday said that the next generation small car the company is working on would operate mostly in autonomous mode, similar to a promise he made in 2020.

On Tuesday, he said there was a clear path to delivering a car that cost half as much to build as Tesla's Model 3 sedan, but he offered no details about timing or models.

At the 2020 event, Musk said he was "confident" that Tesla Inc would make a small, compelling US$25,000 (RM113,000) electric car that was fully autonomous, within about three years.


Motorcycle lane on Shah Alam Expressway to be closed in stages for maintenance work

                SHAH ALAM: The motorcycle lane on the Shah Alam Expressway (LSA) will be closed in stages from today until Jan 30 for road maintenance work.

Kesas Sdn Bhd, in a statement, said the temporary closure will be carried out in stages at several locations along the LSA from 10am to 4pm.

"This is for carrying out road surface repair work on the motorcycle lane to improve the safety and comfort of motorcycle users," he said.

The closure involves the area from the Bukit Rimau interchange to Kebun interchange (Jan 16-18); and from the Kebun intersection to Bandar Puteri interchange (Jan 19).

It also involves from the Pandamaran interchange to Bandar Puteri interchange (Jan 26); Bandar Puteri interchange to Kebun interchange (Jan 27); Kebun intersection to Bukit Rimau intersection (Jan 28) and from the Hicom intersection to Seafield interchange (Jan 30).

Motorcyclists are advised to ride with caution and follow the signposts.


After Tesla deal, Shanghai to speed up cancellation of foreign ownership limits

A woman sitting in a Tesla Model 3 car during a media preview at the Auto China 2018 motor show in Beijing in April. — Reuters
SHANGHAI: Shanghai will accelerate efforts to cancel restrictions on foreign investment in the auto manufacturing sector, a government official said today, a day after Tesla said it would build a wholly owned auto plant in the city.

Earlier this year, China said it would scrap foreign ownership caps for companies making fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2018 and all automotive ventures by 2022. The announcement marked a major policy shift in the world’s top car market that has capped foreign ownership in the sector at 50 percent for over two decades.

Huang Ou, deputy director of the Shanghai Commission of Economy and Information Technology, told reporters at a press conference that the city government was engaged in preparations to support the Tesla project, set to be Shanghai’s biggest foreign-invested project.

“The next step is for the city government to do the support work to allow the project to go into operation as quickly as possible,” he said.

“In line with state plans, we will speed up the cancellation of foreign ownership restrictions in the car manufacturing sector,” he said.

Huang declined to comment, however, on the size of the project or when the construction of a plant with capacity to produce 500,000 Tesla battery electric cars a year - large by auto industry standards - would start.

Tesla Inc chief executive officer Elon Musk landed a deal on Tuesday to build a new and wholly owned auto plant here, the company’s first factory outside the United States. It would double the size of the electric car maker’s global manufacturing.

The deal was announced as Tesla raised prices on US-made vehicles it sells in China to offset the cost of tariffs imposed by the Chinese government on US imports in retaliation for US President Donald Trump’s heavier duties on Chinese goods.

An auto assembly plant half the size of the envisioned Tesla Shanghai plant would normally cost US$1 billion to build, according to automotive industry officials and experts.

The Shanghai government said in a statement on Tuesday it welcomed Tesla’s move to invest not only in a new factory in the city but in research and development.

Chinese magazine Caijing, citing sources close to the project, reported on Tuesday that the plant’s exact location had not been decided and construction would start early next year.