Electric scooter braking tips: Stand back and use the rear brake

                BERLIN: Whether it's your own or just a rental, riding and braking on an electric scooter can be tricky - but the following tips should make it safer and easier.

The best way to ride an e-scooter is to stand as far back as possible on the scooter with your knees slightly bent, according to Germany's ADAC car association.

That doesn't only keep your centre of balance further back and slightly lower down, it also makes it easier to balance and to react as needed. All these measures should help stop you from flying over the handlebar, if anything goes amiss.

Wuen it comes to braking, you need to pay attention to whether you're braking on the front or rear wheel. Brake too hard on the front wheel and you can send the scooter flying forwards. You can brake much harder on the rear wheel, and add the front brake as necessary.

If you're still new to scooting, it's best to practice braking in an area without much traffic and an even surface.

That's also a good opportunity to practice hand signals to indicate which way you plan to turn. That can sometimes be a wobbly business on the scooter, according to the experts at ADAC.

Their advice is to stand with your feet next to each other on the board, and only take a hand off the handlebars when you're signalling Ideally you'll also only be indicating when you're driving straight ahead and on even roads, as turning with one hand on a bumpy road is a risky business.

It might not be mandatory, but the experts also recommend wearing a helmet when you're riding an e-scooter, too.


Daimler Truck begins producing Mercedes-Benz branded trucks in China

                BERLIN: Daimler Truck has begun producing Mercedes-Benz branded trucks in China, with the first vehicles rolling off production lines at its joint plant with China's Foton Motor Co in Beijing today, the truck and bus maker said.

China is the world's biggest market for heavy trucks, with around 1.5 million units sold in 2021 - more than in the US, Japan and Europe combined, according to data from German car association VDA.

But the market is largely dominated by local companies including FAW's Jiefang, Dongfeng Motor and Sinotruk, which offer more price-competitive products.

Daimler Truck has so far only produced the joint venture's brand, Auman, in China, while selling Mercedes-Benz trucks imported from Germany at a higher price.

A company representative declined to disclose production targets. A document seen by Reuters in 2020 on plans for the revamp of the joint plant to begin heavy truck production said the target was to produce 50,000 Actros trucks a year.


EV onset leaves lubricant industry facing Kodak’s fate

                LONDON: The US$146 billion (RM606bil) lubricants industry is at risk of suffering the same fate as Kodak, thanks to the rise of electric vehicles.

From Volkswagen AG to Nissan Motor Co., carmakers are switching to battery-powered models that use fewer greases than combustion vehicles. With demand expected to decline from 2025, lubricant makers are wary of Eastman Kodak’s demise when it failed to grasp the potential of the digital camera in the 1970s.

For decades, lubricant makers have been preoccupied with squeezing more fuel efficiency from combustion engines and increasing the mileage between oil changes.

EVs present a new set of challenges to their piston counterparts that typically use 40 different oils. They need a grease that can cool and lubricate the motor, while also protecting the electronics on-board and being compatible with non-metal materials like plastics.

"I’m very conscious of the world changing,” said Dave Hall, a 30-year industry veteran who is overhauling BP Plc’s line-up of Castrol lubricants for the EV market. "I’d like to think we’re trying to address and prevent a Kodak moment and not just lock it away in a cupboard as maybe they did.”

With the current crop of electric cars in circulation, attention has largely been on battery performance and design, with lubricants an afterthought. Some EVs use standard greases found in combustion engines, according to Lutz Lindemann, chief technology officer at Fuchs Petrolub SE.

There are signs the pressure is already poised to affect companies. Demand for automotive lubricants, which reached about 20 million tons last year, is supposed to be flat for the "foreseeable future” due to the impact of EVs, the growing use of synthetic lubricants and economic pressures, according to research from energy consultant Kline & Company.

No cliff edge

Other oil majors, who are fighting the effects of the push to de-carbonise on multiple fronts, have also focused on creating new products.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the largest global supplier of finished lubricants, has developed a line of fluids engineered specifically for the high-tech powertrains of hybrids and EVs. Total SA launched two brands of lubricants for EVs last year, while Petronas announced its own EV brand this year.

Like Castrol, Fuchs has created a dedicated international team of managers and researchers solely focused on developing and marketing lubricants for EVs, Lindemann said. With carmakers desperate to extend the range, coming up with a new formula capable of a 1% gain in efficiency could boost driving range by 4 miles, BP’s Hall said.

Driven by penetration of EVs in China and Europe, sales volumes in the lubricants market could start to decline as early as 2025, according to Bank of Merrill Lynch analyst Jean-Baptiste Rolland.

He estimates battery electric vehicles require 50% to 70% less in greases than internal combustion engines.

"The bottom line is the volumes are not going to make up the loss that we’re going to see from the engine oil going away,” said George Morvey, industry manager for the energy practice at Kline.

Both Morvey and Fuchs’ Lindemann said the silver lining is the industry sees the disruption ahead, and has a long time to respond to it. There’ll be no cliff edge given the number of combustion vehicles in China alone is set to jump, to 350 million in 10 years’ time from 260 million now, Lindemann said.

Plus developing specialist high-performance lubricants for battery vehicles will result in more-profitable sales, he added.

Lindemann said the lubricants value in a BEV is "probably 90%” of a combustion car. "We just don’t really know for sure but it’s not a dramatic disaster for us,” he said. "There’ll be a significant decrease in volume but not value.”


Tesla to use iron-based batteries in Semi electric trucks and affordable electric car

Tesla says it will use LFP batteries for its 'short-range' Semi truck. — Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc said it plans to expand the use of cheaper, iron-based batteries to a version of its Semi heavy electric trucks and an affordable electric vehicle.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has championed on the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology dominated by Chinese suppliers, saying in March, "the vast majority of the heavy lifting for electrification will be iron-based cells."

But having Chinese suppliers build battery factories in the Unites States is a challenge because of the US-China political tensions.

The world's biggest electric carmaker said in its paper on "Master Plan Part 3"released on Wednesday that it will use LFP batteries for "short-range" heavy electric trucks, which it calls "Semi Light," without providing details such as a launching date.

Tesla last December started to deliver its Semi electric trucks with a longer, 804km driving range per charge and which use nickel-based batteries. Tesla has previously said it will also launch a 482km range version.

The automaker said its proposed small electric vehicles will use LFP batteries with capacity of 53 kilowatt-hours (kWh), versus 75 kWh for Model Y and Model 3.

Tesla said last month that it will cut assembly costs by half in future generations of cars, which will be built at its factories in Mexico and elsewhere.

Tesla said it will also use LFP batteries in its mid-sized vehicles, Model 3 and Model Y, without giving a timeline.

Currently, Tesla uses nickel-based batteries for most of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles sold in the United States.

Musk and other LFP advocates cited the abundance and cheaper prices of iron as a key factor outweighing the drawbacks that have held back the adoption of LFP cells globally. They are bigger and heavier, and generally hold less energy than nickel-based cells, giving them a shorter range.

LFP cells also tend to pose less of a fire risk than nickel-based cells.

Tesla currently sources LFP batteries from China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co, which does not have a factory in the United States.

Tesla's South Korean supplier, LG Energy Solution, said it plans to build LFP batteries at its proposed Arizona factory.


Russia risks speed up automakers' switch from palladium to platinum, WPIC says

Russian-made palladium. — Reuters

LONDON: Automakers are accelerating efforts to use less palladium and more platinum due to worries over palladium supply from Russia, the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) said today, predicting a large surplus in the platinum market this year.

Automakers were already shifting to platinum, which is cheaper than palladium, to save money, but a faster transition would increase platinum demand and could lift prices while having the opposite effect on palladium.

Russia accounts for around 25-30% of the world's supply of palladium and around 8-10% of its platinum.

There is no sign that Russian exports have been curtailed by sanctions on the country since it sent troops into Ukraine in February but with the war dragging on, more companies may boycott Russian metal and governments could impose restrictions.

"The substitution effort has gone up hugely," said Trevor Raymond, the WPIC's head of research. "The amount of savings an automaker can make are massive. What's been added on top of that is concerns about availability (of palladium)."

At around US$950 an ounce, platinum costs around half as much as palladium. Automakers use around 2.5-3 million ounces of platinum each year and around 8.5 million ounces of palladium.

In its latest quarterly report, the WPIC said the roughly 8 million ounce a year platinum market would be oversupplied by 627,000 ounces this year following a surplus of 1.13 million ounces in 2021.

In March, it forecast a surplus for 2022 of 652,000 ounces.

During the January-March quarter, platinum demand fell 26%year-on-year and supply fell 13%, leaving the market oversupplied by 167,000 ounces, the WPIC said.

It said that for the full year, supply would be 5% less than in 2021 and demand would be 2% greater, with auto industry demand rising 16% due to an increase in light duty vehicle production, higher loadings per vehicle to meet tighter emissions regulation and substitution from palladium.

The roughly 8 million ounce a year platinum market is set for a second year of oversupply in 2022, according to the World Platinum Investment Council.


Premium car firms count on new launches, EVs

                KUALA LUMPUR: Premium car companies are cautiously optimistic about the auto sector this year, on the back of new model launches and attractive sales tax incentives for electric vehicles (EVs).

BMW Group Malaysia managing director Hans de Visser believes that the government has the best interest of the nation in mind, especially with the challenges shaping the global economy currently.

“We too are impacted by these challenges but as a dynamic premium automaker in Malaysia, we continue to strive for opportunities in these challenging times to be more creative in serving our customers and fans better,” he told StarBiz.

De Visser added that this would include new product introductions to excite and spur the market, as well as unique and industry-leading ownership and experience programmes to better serve customers in the premium segment.

“Our commitment also goes beyond introducing premium vehicles and services to the market here, as we are also mobilising more initiatives in electromobility and upskilling of local talents.

“All of this will contribute to our shared responsibility in developing and driving the Malaysian automotive industry forward across the segments.”

Going into 2023, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia chief executive officer and president Sagree Sardien said overall Malaysian automotive sales are expected to contract, owing to factors such as higher borrowing costs, rising vehicle prices due to the sales tax reintroduction and a slowing economy.

“Having said that, the outlook for EVs is promising with the road tax exemptions implemented since last year until end 2025.”

She noted that the Malaysian Automotive Association has projected the sales of EVs to be much higher this year compared to 2022, as many new models will be introduced in the market with sales tax incentives expected to boost EV sales.

“At Mercedes, we remain cautiously optimistic as we believe in the strength and resilience of the local economy.

“We are committed to the local market and will continue to drive interest and excitement with more vehicle introduction for both non-EVs and EVs.”

Going into 2023, both companies are excited about the new model launches they have lined up.

Sagree said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia plans to roll out close to 20 new luxury models across all of its sub-brands this year.

Meanwhile, de Visser said BMW Malaysia’s new models will focus on digitalisation, sportiness, luxury and “electrified mobility.”

“In the past months, we have introduced the new BMW 3 Series in three new variants, namely the BMW 320i, BMW 330i and the BMW 330e Plug-in Hybrid.

“We also announced all new EVs such as the BMW i7, while the BMW iX1 will be introduced in Malaysia in the coming months.”

Additionally, de Visser said the company plans to launch concept cars such as the BMW XM and the all-new BMW M2 to excite the premium performance coupe segment here in Malaysia.

Both companies said 2022 was a good year for the premium car segment.

Sagree said 2022 was an “exciting year” for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia with the introduction of several important models such as the Mercedes-EQ, Mercedes-Maybach and Mercedes-AMG.

“We currently have the most comprehensive EV portfolio in the market with the launch of five all-electric models from Mercedes-EQ just last year,” she said.

Meanwhile, de Visser said the group recorded over 14,400 vehicle deliveries across the BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad portfolios, cementing its position as the leader in the premium segment in Malaysia for the third year in a row.

“With over 31% of BMW and MINI deliveries in 2022 being electrified models, we are also well on track in our ambition for electrified mobility in the country, expanding not just in our product offerings but in infrastructure development as well.”


First drive: New Peugeot 508 struts out in Monaco

                We arrived during the height of summer at the Mediterranean coastline of Monaco where the days were long and the sun had chased away the clouds revealing a bare, blue azure sky.

The summer heat was nothing new for members of the Malaysian automotive media, the landscape however was not.

We called Monte Carlo home for the next couple of days and were surrounded by the lifestyles of the luxurious with its upscale casinos, exotic cars and yacht-lined harbour.

The heli-pad by the hotel we stayed was contanstly busy with helicopters taking-off and landing, ferrying passengers to-and-from the nearest airport in neighbouring Nice.

We were there at the behest of French marque Peugeot, which organised a drive event for its all-new Peugeot 508 sedan.

And when Peugeot said all-new, they meant it. It’s as if they reset the clock back to zero with the 508 design.

Gone was the conventional four-door sedan shape with boot-lid and in its place, a five-door fastback design.
It was, in Peugeot’s own words, a ‘radical’ move and a necessary one as sedan sales in Europe have taken a back seat next to the sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

Competition in the sedan segment is also fierce and Peugeot took the immediate steps for its sedan to remain relevant.

The new 508 really is a breath of fresh air to look at. It’s hard not to notice it on the street with its youthful vigour, sportiness and style.

 Monaco by night. - AFP

The car sits lower than before – less than 1.4m tall – with aerodynamic lines making for an attractive and sleek silhouette. The front fascia is attractive with its chrome-plated chequerboard grille.

While tucked underneath the curved and creased bonnet, the proud lion logo of Peugeot remains commanding.
Another distinctive characteristic of this car is the long fang-like daytime running lights (DRL) which starts from the full-LED headlamps to the bumper below.

Peugeot has also done an admirable job at the rear of the 508 with the claw-shaped LED taillights and the twin-exhaust pipes which is reminiscent of an American muscle-car.

The doors are frameless to give it that touch of sportiness and once inside, the French sense of style and design continues in the cabin which takes its i-Cockpit aesthetics to the next level.

If you are familiar with Peugeot’s current interior design, it still has the interesting shapes such as the squarish steering wheel which is more compact now and the gently angled gear lever.

There are some new touches with the 12.3-in high resolution head-up display unit; the 10-in wide HD capacitive touchscreen slim; the flat and long piano key-like chrome switches and the sharp-edged cascading dashboard.

The materials used are just as inviting and plush like one would find in higher end cars such as Nappa leather, Alcantara, satin chrome trim and wood finish.

It is also spacious with enough headroom and legroom with its wheelbase measuring at 2,793mm. Bootspace is also generous at 487 litres and with the rear seats folded, a whopping 1,537 litres.

The 508 also came equipped with technologically-advanced driving aids such as the Night Vision system, adaptive cruise control, lane positioning assist, lane keeping assist, active safety brake, active blindspot monitoring and full park assist among others.

The 508 we were handed for the drive was the top-of-the-range PureTech 225 GT which features a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It produces a maximum output of 225bhp at 5,500rpm and a maximum torque of 300Nm at just 2,500rpm.

It was a bright summer’s day during the drive and after getting through the narrow streets of Monte-Carlo, we hit the highway past Nice and onto a windy B-road where we encountered lush green rolling hills and snow peaked mountains at the Boréon Valley.

One could switch driving modes (there are four modes available- ECO/Sport/Comfort/Normal) or engage the paddle-shifters for a more spirited drive around the turns and bends

The steering is sharp and it handles very well around the corners so whether it was narrow city streets, open highways or the windy mountain road, the 508 proved to be quite an adaptable car.

Local Peugeot distributor Nasim is expected to bring the all-new 508 to our shores next year.

 Dinerss drinking wine at The Rock hill overlooking a Monaco street. - AFP Women walking towards luxury yachts at the Monaco harbour. - AFP


VW says patent suit by Taiwan's Acer is unfounded

                BERLIN: Volkswagen said allegations made against it by Acer were unfounded, after a magazine reported that the Taiwanese computer maker had sued the German carmaker for infringing on its mobile network patents.

German weekly WirtschaftsWoche had reported earlier today that Acer had filed a suit in the US state of Virginia, alleging that Volkswagen had only paid for licences for 2G and 3G patents, but had largely installed mobile phone chips with 4G technology in the past two years.

"We will examine the suit together with our suppliers and will then decide how to proceed," said Volkswagen.

"At first glance, we have indications that the allegations and accusations made in it are unfounded and we will defend our position," it added, while declining to provide further details.


EV batteries remain major challenge for insurers, says UK's Thatcham

                LONDON: A lack of data on electric vehicle (EV) batteries continues to challenge insurers who are forced to scrap EVs after mild accidents, potentially undermining EV adoption, Thatcham Research said today.

The British automotive risk intelligence company cited a "concerning lack of affordable or available repair solutions and post-accident diagnostics" in a report entitled "Impact of BEV Adoption on the Repair and Insurance Sectors" the UK Government's innovation agency Innovate UK funded to examine differences between EVs and fossil-fuel models.

Insurers have complained that many EVs have no way to repair or assess even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents, forcing them to write off cars with low mileage - leading to higher premiums and undercutting gains from going electric.

Batteries can make up half of an EV's cost and Thatcham found a replacement battery can cost more than the used price of the vehicle after only one year, making replacing them uneconomical.

Adrian Watson, Thatcham's head of engineering research, said in an ideal world insurers could make informed decisions about whether to repair EVs or write it off based on access to data on its state of health after an accident.

"The reality is that's not the situation we're in at the moment," he told Reuters. "The diagnostics we have do not enable you to really know what the status of the battery is."

In a statement Mike Hawes, CEO of British industry group the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the car industry is "keen to engage with insurers to understand their challenges and ensure vehicles involved in an accident are properly assessed – rather than being written off by default - and the majority repaired and returned safely to the road."

Only around 1.65% of cars on Britain's roads are electric, but Thatcham said EV-related insurance claims are already 25.5% more expensive than for fossil-fuel equivalents and take 14% longer to repair.

Due to their potential fire risk, damaged EVs awaiting repair must be stored outside at least 15 metres from other objects.

An outside facility for 100 fossil-fuel cars today would have space to safely quarantine just two EVs, Thatcham said.


BMW Malaysia and partners subsidise 150 units of infant car seats

                PETALING JAYA: BMW Malaysia aims to accelerate the adoption of child car seats through a subsidy programme as part of the BMW Safety 360° initiative.

In collaboration with Childline Foundation and Safe ‘n Sound, 150 units of infant carrier car seats will be made available at a subsidised price of RM100 each.

This is in line with the Malaysian Transport Ministry’s move to enforce the usage of child car seats starting January 2020.

To encourage the adoption of child car seat usage, drivers will not be penalised for the first six months of enforcement but will receive warnings to install the seats.

“With only 30% of drivers using child car seats for their children, it became more imperative for us as automakers to press on for child safety, regardless of the challenges we encounter in the fight for its education and accessibility," said BMW Group Malaysia managing director Harald Hoelzl.

"It is encouraging to see the Ministry of Transport take a definite step into making child car seats mandatory in the year to come, but at the same time, recognises that there are parents who may have limited access to them – therefore providing tax breaks and reduced excise fee for child car seats.

"In support of that, we are now bringing the subsidy programme online to make infant carrier car seats accessible to households with income less than RM 3,000 a month.”

The rear-facing infant carrier car seat, which retails at RM199, can be used from birth to 13kg and carries the ECE R44-04 certification.

Parents can register for the subsidised infant carrier car seat here from now until Dec 15, 2019. Parents eligible for the subsidy will be notified, after which a payment of RM100 must be made prior to the pick-up of the car seat.


Taiwan ministry says TSMC will prioritise auto chips if possible

                TAIPEI: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) will prioritise production of auto chips if it is able to further increase capacity, Taiwan’s Economics Ministry told Reuters, amid a global shortage that has hampered car production.

A ministry official said minister Wang Mei-hua spoke to senior company executives on Sunday about the issue.

TSMC had told the ministry it will “optimise” the production process of chips to make it more efficient and prioritise auto chip production if it is able to further increase capacity, the ministry said.

TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, stated that current production capacity is full, but had assured the ministry that “if production can be increased by optimising production capacity, it will cooperate with the government to regard automotive chips as a primary application”.

TSMC, in a statement to Reuters, referred to comments from its chief executive officer C.C. Wei on an earnings call this month.

“Other than continuously maximising utilisation of our existing capacity, Dr Wei also confirmed in our investors’ conference that we are working with customers closely and moving some of their mature nodes to more advanced nodes, where we have better capacity to support them,” the company said.

Germany has asked Taiwan to persuade Taiwanese manufacturers to help ease a shortage of semiconductor chips in the auto sector which is hampering its fledgling economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The request was made in a letter from German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier to Wang.

The ministry said it would wait until it had received the letter before deciding on whether to contact TSMC again. Automakers around the world are shutting assembly lines due to problems in the delivery of semiconductors, which in some cases have been exacerbated by the former Trump administration’s actions against key Chinese chip factories.

Many carmakers affected

The shortage has affected Volkswagen, Ford Motor Co, Subaru Corp, Toyota Motor Corp, Nissan Motor Co Ltd, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and other car makers.

The ministry said it had received requests from both the United States and the European Union through “diplomatic channels” late last year, as well as from Germany and Japan this year.

It said that in the second quarter of last year auto companies cut orders to TSMC, which in turn shifted capacity to other clients, but in the second half of the year demand for auto chips returned.

“The Americans did express the expectation late last year,” the ministry said.

“At the moment, everyone is talking to each other through diplomatic channels, including TSMC. Everyone’s hands are tied with orders, but from the government’s perspective we will try to help as much as we can for our important allies.”

A senior official at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry told Reuters Japan’s auto manufacturers’ association and TSMC were already in touch, and the ministry has also reached out to Japan’s de facto embassy in Taipei to ask for their support in those talks.

The official added that it is mainly a private-sector exchange so the government is limited in what it can do.

In 2020, auto chips accounted only for 3% of TSMC’s sales, lagging smartphones’ 48% and 33% for high performance chips.

In the fourth quarter, sales for TSMC’s auto chips jumped 27% from the previous quarter, but still only accounted for 3% of overall sales in the quarter.

A senior Taiwan government official familiar with the issue told Reuters there’s not much they could do.

“They dropped their orders due to various reasons when demand was low amid the pandemic. But now they want to boost their production.”


Scratch-and-display coupons in PJ from 2018

                PETALING JAYA: Effective January 2018, motorists using public parking bays in Petaling Jaya will have to use the scratch-and-display coupons.

Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has made a final decision to remove all parking meters that had been the subject of constant complaints from motorists.

Most of the standalone meters at this moment have been cling-wrapped and are awaiting to be removed before end of December.

Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain said that since Petaling Jaya was a busy place, it needed effective street parking management.

“MBPJ has made the coupons available at convenience stores where 241 agents have been appointed.

“People can also get the coupons at MBPJ’s headquarters in Jalan Yong Shook Lin, MBPJ’s Kota Damansara branch counter and from the EZ-Pay mobile van,” he added.

Mohd Azizi said many women had told him that the coupon method was much safer as it did not require them to walk to the parking meter for the ticket and back to their car, thus exposing them to potential criminals lurking about.

Coupons are already on sale at convenience stores at 60 sen per hour. A booklet of 10 sheets costs RM6 while the the monthly pass is sold at RM100.

Mohd Azizi said even senior citizens found it more convenient too. “From January to April 2018, MBPJ will oversee the sale of the coupons.

“After April, the management of the coupon sales will be outsourced,” he said at the council’s full board meeting.

He disclosed that there were 18 proposals from companies interested to implement parking payments via mobile apps. “As of now, we have received 18 proposals from companies interested to operate the public parking areas using the mobile apps. At the moment, our Information Technology Department is reviewing the proposals,” he added.

Mohd Azizi said that once the mobile app was approved, it would become an option for those with smartphones. “Both methods offer safety to motorists as it eliminates the need to walk around the parking area searching for a parking meter,” he said.

MBPJ terminated the parking concessionaire Godell Parking Sdn Bhd in June this year after it was reported that over 50% of the 700 parking meters involving 21,000 parking bays in the city were faulty.


PSA Peugeot Citroen and Dongfeng to develop small-car platform

                SHANGHAI: PSA Peugeot Citroen and China's Dongfeng Motor Group will spend 200 million euros (US$216 million) to develop a technology platform for small cars that will help to give them more products to boost sales in southeast Asia and China.

The joint venture aims to sell 800,000 vehicles this year in China and 1.5 million vehicles by 2020, up from over 700,000 in 2014, Peugeot said on Sunday.

Ahead of the Shanghai autoshow that begins on Monday, Carlos Tavares, chairman of the French carmaker's managing board, said the joint venture's performance had been a big contributing factor to Peugeot Citroen's faster-than-expected turnaround.

The two sides plan to build a joint technology centre  in Shanghai dedicated to developing cars for Asian markets, Peugeot said.

"The new platform will enable PSA Peugeot Citroen and DFG to manufacture vehicles in their respective growth regions," it said, adding that using Dongfeng's supplier base would allow it to cut costs and compete regionally.

It said 60 percent of the expenditure would be committed by Peugeot, with the remaining 40 percent from Dongfeng.

Peugeot and Dongfeng's cooperation began about a year ago, when the French company announced in February last year a 3 billion euro tie-up with the Chinese carmaker.


Audi to add a new Q1 to range by 2020

                INGOLSTADT: When a manufacturer has a range of vehicles with an obvious scale based on numbers or letters in its name, such as BMW and Mercedes with their respective "Series" and "Class" nomenclatures, the temptation to fill in any gaps is irresistible.

And when talk turns to a range of SUVs in the current market, that temptation becomes an inevitability. So one of the most predictable moves imaginable for Audi would be to add a Q1 to its range of SUVs — which already includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7 — and now that appears to be in the works.

The Q1 is set to be the smallest model in Audi's SUV lineup, and the UK's Auto Express is reporting the new addition to the range will shortly receive the go ahead for production and is expected to go on sale before the end of 2020.

Audi's rivals Mercedes and BMW are only relatively recent converts to producing small, premium models at affordable prices, while Audi has had the A1 supermini in production for around eight years now. The A1 is one of the manufacturer's biggest-selling models in Europe with almost 100,000 units sold each year, so the only surprise about a Q1 SUV is that it's not in the range already.

Speaking to Auto Express about the potential for a Q1, Audi's sales and marketing boss Bram Schot said: "You cannot ignore the SUV trend; the question is how wide and how deep do we make the programme with SUVs? Depending on the business opportunities, we decide on the future product portfolio. But don't be surprised if in two or three years you do see the car, as we try to react fast to markets."

A new Q1 is unlikely to be based on the current A1 one though, as a new second-generation of that model is now already undergoing winter testing. The new A1 is expected to arrive towards the end of 2018, so it's almost certain the Q1 will share a large amount of the VW Group's MQB platform and other underpinnings of the new A1 when it finally comes to market. Reports that a Q1 was on the way have been circulating since as early as 2013 when Audi even went as far as publishing an artist's impression.

But now that the new-generation of the A1 is imminent, the Q1 should soon become a reality at last.

 VW's MQB Platform


Waze for Android Auto is here

                SAN FRANCISCO: Waze is now available for Android Auto.

You can now navigate with Waze via your vehicle's in-car display, touch screens, steering wheel buttons, and other console-mounted controls. All it takes is connecting your Android phone to the USB port in a car that supports Android Auto.

Not only will find the fastest routes and most up-to-date road alerts, you'll also be able to:

> Navigate to all your most frequented destinations as pre-programmed in your Waze app in one tap.
> Start any drive using voice command "OK, Google" to tell Waze your destination and get on the road even quicker.
> Receive visual and audio alerts to keep you informed of what's ahead and find the fastest routes. You'll also enjoy a larger map with bigger views of alerts, hazers and more.
> Access your personalised Waze experience from your phone on your car's bigger screen.
> Easily view your ETA Panel, which organises everything you need in one place so you can check alternate routes and adjust your sound settings.
> Help other Wazers on the road through a visual reporting menu.

Waze also announced how users can become an Android Auto Wazer.

Getting Started

1. Make sure you have the most updated Waze version installed on your phone.

2. Connect your phone via wire to your car USB port.

3. Select "Navigation App" from the footer of your screen and Waze will start if it's the last used navigation app. (If Waze was not the most recently used navigation app, tap the navigation Menu at the bottom left and select "Waze.")

4. To start a drive, go to "Menu" and select a "Favorite" location (i.e. "Home" or "Work") or search for an address via the keyboard.
To start a drive, go to "Menu" and select a "Favorite" location or search for and address via the keyboard.

Using Voice Commands

> Say "OK Google, drive to [address]," (or "Home" or "Work"). Waze will open and start navigation.

> On your steering wheel, press and hold the microphone button for a few seconds to activate the Android Auto microphone, and say your destination out loud.

> Or select the microphone icon on your screen display and, when the mic is open, use your voice to name your destination or search for a place.

The Waze app is available in 45 languages.


Slovakian firm InoBat claims to have built world’s first ‘intelligent’ EV battery

                LONDON: European EV battery producer InoBat Auto says its has produced the world’s first "intelligent" electric vehicle battery.

Speaking at the Oct 9-10 GLOBSEC Tatra Summit 2020 last Friday, InoBat CEO Marian Bocek said the battery was developed through a combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High Throughput (HTP) technology.

InoBat claimed its production method enables it to create better batteries more quickly and efficiently, while delivering an increase in operational range of almost 20%. Its battery is said to use reduced amounts of cobalt. It aims to boost energy density to a goal of 330 Wh/kg and 1,000 Wh/I by the end of 2023.

The company said it is developing a battery research centre and production line in Voderady, Slovakia, which would begin producing its first batch of batteries in 2021.

InoBat is also planning to build a €1 billion (RM4.9bil) 10GWh plant with the potential to supply batteries to 240,000 EVs in 2025.

The battery launch comes just days after former CEO Aston Martin Dr Andy Palmer joined InoBat as non-executive vice chairman.

InoBat said it is backed by a group of investors and technology companies. They include lead investor IPM Group as well as CEZ and Wildcat Discovery Technologies.

The summit was held at Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras in Štrbské Pleso, 300km north-east of the Slovakian capital Bratislava.


Budget car brand Dacia to stick with combustion engines beyond 2030

                BELGRADE: Renault's low-cost sub-brand Dacia aims to sell cars with internal combustion engines at least into the next decade, chief executive Denis Le Vot says.

"We want to be among the last to offer diesel and petrol engines," said Vot. "When the new Duster arrives at the end of the year, it will be with a hybrid battery at best, but not with pure e-drive."

Dacia's robust models appeal to budget-minded motorists and many are sold outside Europe in developing and emerging countries which have not yet set targets aimed at getting more electrics on the roads.

The Dacia executive said the company would pursue its own electric strategy and was not interested in "the arms race" for more range and faster charging times

"The whole world is aiming for 500km and 30 minutes, but that costs €40,000 (RM205,000) and more and it won't happen at Dacia," said the marque chief.

"We don't want the best e-cars, but the cheapest ones, and that's why we're consciously cutting back on these benchmarks," said Le Vot.

Executives have said Dacia will electrify as the technology becomes more affordable in order not to alienate Dacia’s price-conscious customer base.

The Dacia Spring is currently brand's only electrified model. The full-electric minicar is assembled in China and exported to Europe where it accounts for 12% of Dacia sales.


Tesla to start production in Germany in December, says mag

Tesla's German plant at Gruenheide near Berlin. — AFP
BERLIN: Tesla Inc. will launch its overdue German production operations in December, automobilwoche reported, estimating as many as 30,000 vehicles will be manufactured there in the first half of 2022.

Production was to have begun in July but was delayed because the company hadn’t received environmental clearance.

Local regulators are expected to grant the necessary permits within days, the magazine said, without reporting where it received its information.

Five units of Model Y have already been completed at the Gigafactory near here  though not on the production line.

In January, serial production will start with 1,000 cars per week and gradually increase, according to automobilwoche.


Volvo and Geely form powertrain JV called Aurobay

                GOTHENBURG: Volvo Cars and its parent company Geely Holding have agreed to create a joint venture under the name Aurobay for its powertrain operations, as the companies proceed with their earlier announced plans to merge these into a new, stand-alone business.

The new company will be a global supplier of complete powertrain solutions including next generation combustion engines, transmissions and hybrid solutions.

Aurobay will initially be jointly owned by Volvo Cars and Geely Holding and as part of the creation of Aurobay, Volvo Cars will transfer all assets in its wholly owned subsidiary Powertrain Engineering Sweden, including its Skövde, Sweden-based engine plant including the related R&D team, along with its engine plant in China and other relevant assets to the joint venture in coming months.

The creation of the stand-alone joint venture and the transfer of assets allows Volvo Cars to focus fully on the development of its new range of all-electric premium cars in coming years.

The company aims for 50 per cent of its global sales volume to consist of fully electric cars by 2025 while 50 per cent will be hybrids, with powertrains supplied by Aurobay. By 2030, it plans for every car it sells to be pure electric.

For Geely Holding, the new entity will benefit from the addition of a strong R&D team and technologically advanced and efficient combustion engines and hybrid powertrains for its portfolio of brands, creating a strong base for substantial operational, industrial and financial synergies.

The new stand-alone business also has the ambition to supply customers outside of the Geely Holding Group, and aims to be a leading player in the supply of high-quality, low emission, cost-efficient powertrains solutions.


Bentley's luxury car range to be fully electric by 2030

                LONDON: Bentley Motors’ model line-up will include only plug-in hybrids and electric cars by 2026 and will be fully electric by 2030, the British luxury carmaker said on Thursday, as the auto industry adapts to tighter emissions limits in Europe and China.

The 100-year-old company, owned by Germany's Volkswagen, said it would launch two plug-in hybrids next year as part of its "Beyond100" strategy to accelerate the development of electrified models.

Last week, Volkswagen announced a return to profit for the third quarter, thanks to surging demand for luxury cars.

“Within a decade, Bentley will transform from a 100-year-old luxury car company to a new, sustainable, wholly ethical role model for luxury,” Bentley chief executive officer Adrian Hallmark said in a statement.

In the summer, Bentley said it would cut up to 1,000 jobs, or nearly a quarter of its workforce, as the Crewe, northwest England-based company shifts towards an electric model line-up.

A draft document in September showed the European Commission wants to further tighten auto emissions limits, prompting a push-back from Germany’s car industry, Europe’s biggest.


Bigger and more refined Kia Optima unveiled

LAS VEGAS: The all-new Optima pushes the limits in the midsize sedan segment through significant improvements in refinement.

Conceived under the watch of Kia’s president and chief design officer, Peter Schreyer, the Optima maintains its athletic identity but rides on a chassis that is longer, wider and stiffer for improved ride and handling and a more spacious cabin.  It is available with three engine choices, including a new 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that’s mated to a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT).

Kia’s connectivity system, UVO2, comes standard with four additional eServices not previously available on Optima:  Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score3.  Additionally, Optima is Kia’s pilot vehicle for the introduction of AndroidTM4 Auto and Apple 5 CarPlay (late availability), which allow drivers to access a number of core functions from their smartphones.

Five trim levels are offered in the United States including a US-exclusive SXL.

Two powerplants carry over from the previous generation, the 2.4-litre GDI four-cylinder, available on the LX and EX models, and the 2.0-litre GDI turbo engine, available on the SXL and SX models.  While the engines have yet to receive EPA certification, the 2.4-litre produces 185 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 241Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.  The 2.0-litre turbo generates 245 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 353Nm of torque at 1,350 rpm.  Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with Sportmatic shifting while the SX and SXL trims add paddle shifters.  Both engines have been retuned for fuel economy and better performance and drivability with maximum torque now available at a lower RPM.

All new for the 2016 model is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine.  The 1.6-litre will be offered on the LX trim.  Pushing out 178 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a stout 264Nm of torque at just 1,500 rpm, the new engine mates to a seven-speed DCT, a first for the Kia brand.  The transmission optimises the engine’s responsiveness for a sporty feel without sacrificing fuel economy.

Improving ride and handling was a top priority for engineers.  Overall, the chassis is lighter and stiffer, resulting in improved steering response, high-speed stability and handling.  Moving the suspension points outward optimizes suspension geometry for a smoother ride over uneven pavement.  Where the previous Optima made due with dual bushing mounts, increased lateral stiffness was achieved with a four-bushing mount system for both sub-frames.

The increased stiffness pays dividends in improved steering response and tractability through corners.  More robust wheel bearings up front and the addition of larger dual lower control arms at the rear also help refine the all-new Optima’s ride and handling characteristics.  Available Rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) improves steering response with a higher gear ratio.

Like the outgoing model, the all-new Optima for North America will be built at Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia.  Pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch date.


These street lamps in Seoul allow you to connect to WiFi or charge your EV

                SEOUL: South Korea is taking another step towards becoming a smart city by implementing streetlights that meet new needs.

In South Korea, about 20 so-called smart street lamps have been installed in the city centre. They are designed to better manage traffic or to monitor certain places, or simply to help connect to a public wireless network. By the end of the year, the new models should be able to charge electric cars, as well as drones!

For the moment, 26 of these lamp posts have been installed. Each of these poles of course provides street lighting and traffic lights, but they are also more "intelligent" than regular street lamps, collecting a maximum of information. Other services such as public wireless access points (WiFi) and closed circuit video surveillance cameras are also integrated into the posts.

Over time, the idea is to customise each lamp post according to the needs of its location and neighbourhood. For example, the "Smart Poles" in Seoul Plaza, located just in front of City Hall, offer access to a public WiFi connection. The ones near Sungnyemun Gate have QR codes that can guide visitors to online cultural information.

The first poles equipped with charging solutions for cars and drones are expected before the end of the year. They are designed to be able to easily charge, remotely, the drones used by the municipal services, which serve to help authorities monitor what is happening in the city, such as parking enforcement, but also intervene in case of disasters, where emergency rescue is needed.

While the drone charging system appears to be a world first, the idea of using street furniture as charging points for electric cars is gaining ground in many places around the world. In Europe, the German startup ubitricity is already proposing a solution that consists of integrating such tech into an existing streetlight. This solution, which has already been used successfully in Great Britain, will soon be tested in France.

For the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the installation of this new generation of streetlights should help improve the urban landscape, but also the safety and well-being of Seoulites. In any case, they will help facilitate the transition to an increasingly connected and intelligent city.


Nissan bets on new driverless Skyline to heal image after Ghosn scandal

                TOKYO: Nissan Motor Co. unveiled a new version of its Skyline sports sedan, adding the carmaker’s most advanced autonomous driving technology, as well as design elements shared with models like the GT-R sports coupe.

The automobile, Nissan’s first major product debut in Japan since the arrest and ouster of former chairman Carlos Ghosn, will let drivers take their hands off the wheel on highways, and also offers connected services.

Nissan is facing enormous pressure to revive its business following a car inspection scandal, the exposure of poor corporate governance practices and a year when it earned its lowest operating profit in a decade.

Hiroto Saikawa, chief executive officer of the Yokohama-based automaker, is spending the equivalent of about US$440 million in the next three years to introduce more than 20 new products and refresh core models.

In the Skyline’s case, the refresh partly takes the form of a return to tradition.

A previous iteration of the car, released in 2013, was sold in the Japanese market with the Infiniti emblem, but some fans missed the classic Nissan hood ornament. That’s been restored on the new model.

In a separate move, Nissan decided earlier this year to move its Infiniti luxury car division back to Japan from Hong Kong, integrating it with global design, research and development and manufacturing functions.

The move was a reversal of Ghosn’s strategy to position Infiniti closer to China to tap into the market’s growth, which enjoyed limited success.

Ghosn, arrested in November in Tokyo on allegations of financial misconduct, is free on bail as he prepares for a trial that will probably start next year. The former chairman of the alliance between Nissan, Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., has denied all charges against him.

The hybrid version of the new Skyline, available in two- and four-wheel drive versions, will include Nissan’s latest version of ProPilot as a standard feature. The autonomous technology offers lane-changing and driver monitoring functions. A mobile connection will let an operator contact occupants, as well as offer updated maps and in-car Wi-Fi.

In an attempt to capture some of the magic of the GT-R, which was spawned from earlier versions of the Skyline, the new sedan has a front grille that resembles the front of Nissan’s iconic sports car. Additionally, the petrol-only Skyline features Nissan’s 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine, with a tuned version capable of 400hp.

Although the Skyline is one of Nissan’s flagship models, the automaker expects to sell only about 200 of the new vehicles per month, given waning demand for mid-sized sedans. The cars will sell for between about US$45,000 and US$52,000 (5.5 million yen to 6.3 million yen), depending on the variant.

Outside of Japan, the Skyline is sold as the Infiniti Q50 and competes with sedans by Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and BMW AG.


In a jam: how traffic slows urban economies

                LONDON: Spiralling traffic and poor urban planning could rob developing countries of opportunities and jam economic progress in fast-growing cities, a study published on Thursday found.

As more people flock to cities, congested roads, expensive commutes and a lack of reliable transport options are disrupting urban economies and affecting quality of life, said a report by the World Resources Institute, a global research organisation.

“Cities need to shift from a primary focus on moving traffic faster and accommodating more vehicles to prioritising access for all,” said Anjali Mahendra, the report’s co-author.

“This demands much stronger integration between transport planning agencies and land developers.”

The report found 56% of people in Mexico City were under-served in terms of their ability to reach job locations, against 42% of residents in Johannesburg.

“Everyone is affected by it (traffic) in some way,” said Alina Rocha Menocal, a senior research fellow at the Overseas Development Institute, a global think tank.

“We all confront this challenge of having to get somewhere and being stranded,” she said. “Whether you’re in a comfortable car or on the back of a bus.”

Gridlock

Traffic is a “chronic” problem in many developing cities, said Menocal, with economic growth often prioritised above planning and the fallout most heavily felt by poor communities.

With urban areas set to suck in 55% of the planet’s population - a figure the United Nations says will rise to 68% by 2050 - cities are seeking new ways to cope with modern-day pressures, from rising migration to creaking infrastructure.

On Thursday, ministers responsible for transport from 60 countries were set to launch a declaration at the International Transport Forum promoting connectivity and social inclusion.

“Safe, secure, economically efficient, and well connected transport plays an important role in facilitating individual mobility and trade flows, both of which are essential for the sustainable development of regions,” the declaration said.

But according to Menocal, a new mindset is just as vital to improve congestion and the quality of life in cities.

“In Mexico city, car ownership is an extremely valued asset because it also has class connotations,” she said, while politicians must equally shun the “quick wins” of building a new road and instead focus on improving underlying traffic systems.

Nearly 1 billion people lack adequate road networks, which hinders their access to basic services and can deepen social inequities, according to the United Nations.


China said to be in talks with automakers on EV subsidy extension

                SHANGHAI: China is in talks with automakers about extending costly subsidies for electric vehicles (EV) that were set to expire in 2022, aiming to keep a key market growing as the broader economy slows, three people familiar with the matter said.

The move by policymakers comes as the world's second-biggest economy has slowed sharply - and auto sales along with it - after cities led by Shanghai imposed tight Covid-19 lockdowns from March. The curbs have shut stores, disrupted supply chains and slashed spending, including on new homes.

Government departments including the Ministry of Information and Industrial Technology (MIIT) are considering a continuation of subsidies to EV buyers in 2023, said the people, who declined to be named as the discussions were private.

China's expensive incentive programme has been credited with creating the world's largest EV market.

Since the subsidies began in 2009, some 100 billion yuan (RM65bil) has been handed out to buyers including commercial fleet operators up to end-2021, according to an estimate by Shi Ji, an auto analyst with China Merchants Bank International.

The full terms of the 2023 extension, including the amount of the subsidies and which vehicles would qualify for them, have not been finalised, the people with knowledge of the matter said.

One specific measure under review would roll back a planned purchase tax increase for qualified electric and partly electric vehicles, two people briefed on the discussions told Reuters.

For this year, there is no purchase tax for such vehicles, but the government had planned to raise the tax to 10% of the purchase price in 2023. Instead, the rate would be raised to just 5%, they said.

Subsidies have been available for cars made by all automakers including non-Chinese players like EV giant Tesla, which has a factory in Shanghai and is the only foreign automaker with a top-selling EV.

The MIIT and Ministry of Finance didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

The EV subsidy scheme was originally scheduled to be phased out by the end of 2020, but Beijing extended it for two years to spur demand in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

The government also cut the amount of subsidies per vehicle over the years as demand surged and manufacturing costs fell. For example, the subsidy for a plug-in hybrid with a range of more than 300km was cut by about 20% to the equivalent of about US$1,900.

EVs for US$4,000

The programme of incentives for buying what China calls new-energy vehicles (NEV) has stoked purchases of cars with longer driving range in particular, as it has raised the threshold on vehicles qualifying for the subsidies over the years.

In the highly developed China EV market, smaller battery-powered city cars, most of which don't qualify for subsidies, make up 40% of EV sales, according to auto consultancy JATO, and cost on average just under US$4,000. That compares with more than US$26,000 in the United States for equivalent models.

Subsidies are now targeted at bigger models, with a driving range of more than 300km per charge and priced under 300,000 yuan.

China's NEV sales increased 45% year-on-year in April to 299,000, according to data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), while across the whole auto sector some 1.18 million vehicles were sold. But that jump was at a much slower pace than growth in previous month, when sales more than doubled from a year earlier.

The association has forecast production and demand to begin to catch up in coming weeks after the April trough, triggered when dozens of cities in China were in full or partial Covid lockdown.

CAAM has urged the government to consider additional help for the industry. Overall April vehicle sales were down almost 48% from a year earlier, data from the industry group showed.

Some local governments, including Guangdong and Chongqing, had also rolled out stimulus measures to subsidise consumers who exchange their old combustion engine vehicles for new EVs in April.

In what would be a separate move, state-owned newspaper China Securities Journal reported on Tuesday that officials would introduce subsidies from June to encourage more rural buyers to purchase cars including NEVs, with payouts of up to 5,000 yuan per vehicle.

Shanghai's municipal government is also considering how it can kickstart spending after a drastic wipeout of vehicle sales in China's commercial and financial hub in April.

According to the Shanghai Automobile Sales Trade Association, not a single new car was sold in the city of 25 million people during last month's stringent lockdown


BMW unveils M3 CS ahead of its LA Auto Show debut

                MUNICH: BMW's latest limited edition CS model promises power, exclusivity and room for the kids to come along for the ride.

The BMW M3 CS, which can best be described as the recently launched M4 CS's slightly more sensible twin brother, offers all of the same limited edition spills and automotive thrills as the M4, but throws two extra doors into the mix so that it's even easier to share the driving fun with the rest of the family.

Set to make its official debut at the LA Auto Show, the M3 CS is powered by the same 3-litre TwinPower turbo found under the bulging hood of the stock M3, but it's been tweaked to deliver 460hp instead of 450hp. It will cover the 0-100kph dash in just 3.9 seconds and can keep going to an electronically limited top speed of 280kph. This too is an improvement on the standard M3, which is reined in at 250kph.

Standard equipment includes a seven-speed double clutch transmission complete with its own oil cooler that allows the car to be driven like a pure automatic, say around town, or as a manual when the road ahead looks exciting. But even with all of this focus on fun, the final cog in that gearbox is "long", meaning that you can pop it into seventh at low revs and maintain a smooth cruising speed and optimum fuel consumption on long-distance highway journeys.

As for how the car rides and handles, many of the suspension components are formed from lightweight but strong aluminum to minimize unsprung weight. There are separate settings for road and track use, but the driver can fine-tune everything from steering weight to the stiffness or softness of damping to suit their personal style or the demands of the terrain ahead.

The cabin offers a mix of materials reflective of its premium standing and of its sporting prowess. Seats and door panels are finished in two-tone leather and Alcantara, while the car also gets BMW's top specification infotainment and a Harman Kardon sound system.

While the exterior gets a unique front apron design, a specially designed trunk lip spoiler and a host of panels formed from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) to minimise weight and help lower the center of gravity.

Just 1,200 examples of the M3 CS are planned when it goes into production in March. Order books open in January and the LA Auto Show will open its doors to the public this year from Dec 1.


Hyundai Kona may get the N treatment

The Kona.
SEOUL: When an automaker launches a performance sub-brand to produce sportier and higher-performance versions of its regular models there's inevitably lots of speculation about which models will be chosen to be given the treatment.

The first model in Hyundai's new N sub-brand is the i30 N, so it's about time another Hyundai model was brought into the N fold. And it seems the relatively recently introduced Kona crossover could be one of the next models to be overhauled by the N division.

If a Kona N does get the go ahead from the bosses at Hyundai it's expected to boast an impressive 247hp, courtesy of the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine to be borrowed from the i30 N. Unfortunately though, the hotter 271 bhp Performance-Pack version of this engine is not expected to make its way under the hood of the Kona.

 The i30 N.

The company's man in charge of the N sub-brand, Albert Biermann, has told the UK's Auto Express he's instructed engineers to begin work on a prototype with the hope it will help obtain approval from the Hyundai hierarchy to be put into production. And it was Biermann who gave the game away about the i30's engine being used.

Biermann told Auto Express, "I've told them [the engineers] to build the car and we'll see what happens with getting it approved. It has to be the i30 N powertrain, really. Of course, we can give Kona different specifications on suspension and steering, although there are some common components we can use in that area as well, because it'll be front-wheel drive, like the i30 N. But we already know that it has to be that car's engine and gearbox for the Kona N, yes."

 The Kona (also below).

But before a Kona N becomes a possibility, the next two full-spec N models will be the Veloster N, which is to be sold in South Korea and the United States, and the i30 N Fastback. The i30 N isn't offered for sale in the US as the i30 is sold there as the Elantra GT.

However, if the Kona N does go into production it could be the first N model to be offered globally.


GM prioritises faster EV launches ahead of fatter profits

                DETROIT: General Motors Co on Tuesday said it will spend more than the US$35 billion previously planned through 2025 to speed up launches of new electric vehicles, and noted that investments in technology will take priority over richer profits next year.

GM said it expects 2022 operating profit of US$13 billion to US$15 billion, in line with a record 2021 operating profit of US$14.3 billion, even though vehicle production is expected to increase as semiconductor supplies improve and pricing power remains strong.

"What we're doing here is essentially redeploying some of the upside earnings from the additional volume into acceleration and taking a longer-term view than just trying to maximize short-term profit," GM chief financial officer Paul Jacobson said during a conference call.

GM plans annual capital spending of US$9 billion to US$10 billion this year and for the next several years, Jacobson said. GM is not paying a dividend.

Chief executive officer Mary Barra said GM is "accelerating within the '20 to '25 timeframe from the US$35 billion, but there's also some investments that we're pulling in" that were planned later in the decade.

Barra said GM will announce the site for a fourth electric vehicle battery plant by the end of June, and will invest in a third electric truck assembly plant. The company has 110,000 reservations for the electric version of its Silverado pickup, Barra said.

Barra did not give a new figure for total EV investments through 2025. GM said in its quarterly report it expects to spend US$1.5 billion more this year to speed software development and accelerate its EV portfolio.

GM's share price has fallen from its recent highs as rival Ford Motor Co increased investments in its own electric vehicle programs, particularly the electric Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck.

By contrast, GM has until now taken a more conservative approach, planning more EV launches and capacity for the latter years of the decade.

Now, Barra and other GM executives are turning up the volume on their argument that GM has a better long-term plan, and is ready to move faster in response to growing demand for electric vehicles.

Barra said offering more affordable electric vehicles is key to the company's plans. GM will launch a US$30,000 electric Chevrolet Equinox next year and is working on another, lower priced electric vehicle.

By contrast, Tesla Inc chief executive officer Elon Musk last week said the electric vehicle market leader is not working on a US$25,000 electric vehicle he once promised.

During the fourth quarter, GM built almost no electric vehicles in North America because of a battery recall that shut down production of Chevrolet Bolt EVs.

This year and next, Barra said GM plans to deliver 400,000 EVs in North America, and plans 20 electric models in North America and 30 globally by 2025. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas asked Barra during a call Tuesday if that meant GM will have a lot of low volume electric vehicles.

"We think several of those models are going to be over 100,000 units (annually) or more than that," Barra said.

GM's 2022 profit outlook also reflects challenges from rising costs. GM said it expected US$2.5 billion in additional logistics and commodities costs this year, and US$1 billion less in profits from its financing unit. GM's added production in 2022 also will include more lower-margin vehicles, Jacobson said.

GM also will increase spending and hire 500 more staff at its Cruise robo-taxi unit, which earlier Tuesday said it will receive another US$1.35 billion in investment from Softbank Group Corp (9984.T) in anticipation of launching commercial ride services. read more

For 2021, GM reported operating profit of US$14.3 billion and net income of US$10 billion. It expects 2022 net income of US$9.4 billion to US$10.8 billion, if there are "no significant new economic or supply chain challenges."


Vauxhall vows to become an all-electric car brand from 2028

                LONDON: British car brand Vauxhall has announced that it will become an all-electric car brand from 2028 onwards.

The announcement was made at a March conference on EVs by owner Stellantis at which the car giant announced a 30 billion-euro investment plan into electric vehicles.

The British brand of Germany's Opel, both of which are owned by Stellantis, will stop making combustion-engined vehicles and focus entirely on battery electric cars and light commercials.

"As of 2028, Vauxhall will only offer fully electric cars and vans in the UK. The future of the automotive industry is electric – and Vauxhall will lead that in this country," said Vauxhall managing direcor Paul Willcox

"We are on a journey to reinvent Vauxhall and heading towards a net zero CO2 future – CO2 is the new currency in our industry."

Stellantis will launch four dedicated electric car platforms for use among its 14 car brands.

The company also confirmed Opel will revive the Manta name mid-decade following the positive public reception to the Manta GSe ElektroMOD restomod concept shown last year.

Vauxhall/Opel was a part of General Motors until it was acquired by PSA in 2017. In January 2021, PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merged to form Stellantis.


Are you getting emo over C-HR crossover interior? Toyota sure wants you to - VIDEOS

BRUSSELS: Toyota today offered a glimpse into the interior of the all-new C-HR crossover.

Emotional appeal is a term used liberally by Toyota to describe the new cabin. It said the C-HR's interior design was based on a strong foundation designed with "Emotional Surfaces" and "Innovative Details". Apparently, this is a very important model for Toyota as it will signal how the interior of future Toyota cars will look like.

A new departure for Toyota, the interior styling represents a new "Sensual Tech" design concept combining high-tech functionality with a sensual and fashionable style. It embodies a driver-focused area within an airy, expansive cabin space.

The warm, welcoming ambience of an airy, expansive cabin space was created by the seamless layered architecture of the instrument panel that continues through to the door trim with a stylish ornamentation and a piano black panel. It offers a contrast between sensual surfacing and crisp lines to deliver a fresh, yet comfortable environment.

The driver oriented area incorporates innovative details and intuitive, approachable high technology. All operating switchgear, and an 8" display audio touch-screen featuring a redesigned and improved HMI (Human Machine Interface) with Toyota’s Multi-Media ’16 navigation platform and enhanced connected services are slightly oriented towards the driver.

In conjunction with the asymmetrical centre console design, this brings all controls within easy reach of the driver, whilst still allowing front passenger access to the relevant switchgear.

Because the touch-screen stands proud of the instrument panel rather than being enclosed by it, the upper dashboard is considerably lower in depth, further helping driver visibility.

A unique new two-tiered front seat design combines a slender, sporting upper section with a more strongly bolstered and supportive lower area, these differences emphasised through the use of differing tones, textures and patterns within the upholstery.

First unveiled as a concept car at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the C-HR (Coupé High-Rider) has morphed into a production model that will be launched in Europe later this year. First deliveries to customers are expected before the end of the year. Positioned between the Auris TS and the RAV4, the C-HR targets upwards of 100,000 annual European sales.

"The European Sensory Quality (SQ) team has already worked on various facelifts of existing models, but this is the first time that we were tasked with an entirely new model, so a lot depends on the success of the C-HR. The designers at ED2 did such a good job, we had to ensure that their concept made it to production with the right finishing," said Toyota European SQ senior engineer Mehmet Fatih Kale.

"We worked on every visual detail and challenged standards to create seamless interior harmony. In the end, we believe this to be the best interior SQ yet seen in a Toyota."

The C-HR interior represents the earliest involvement yet of Toyota's European SQ team in the design process.

There are three main surface finishes – leather-like for all background surfaces, a smooth Nappa grain for all touching surfaces and technical grain for all functional elements such as switchgear.

Decorative elements are finished in high quality piano black and satin silver trim, and the clear blue instrument and switchgear illumination has been carefully fine-tuned to ensure consistency of hue, even on adjacent reflective surfaces of differing colours.

This outstanding new interior design will be available in a choice of three colour schemes: Dark Grey, Black/Blue and Black/Brown.

The C-HR may be equipped with a tailor-made JBL premium audio system comprising an 8-channel, 576 Watt stereo amplifier and 9-speakers, including two newly patented acoustic JBL wave guides, known as horn tweeters in a move to deliver crisp, clear sound.

Working closely with the headquarters design team to maintain the original interior styling concept, the SQ team have focused painstakingly on component quality, and the consistency of grain, texture, shape, colour and illumination in every element, even the stitch groove radii of the seats.

Reinforcing the link between interior and exterior design, many switches use a similar shape, reflecting the diamond motif of the exterior body shell. The same diamond theme is also visible in the door trim pattern, the headliner, the JBL speaker grilles and tweeter shape, and even the needles of the driver's analogue instrument dials.

Measuring 4360mm long, 1795mm wide, 1555mm high (Hybrid) and with a 2640mm wheelbase, the production vehicle is largely similar to the concept car’s exterior.

Featuring a diamond architectural theme with wheel arches projecting prominently at all four corners to emphasise the new crossover’s strength and rigidity, the C-HR modulated structure combines a powerful lower body and raised ground clearance with the slim and sleek cabin profile of a coupe.

Viewed from any angle, the C-HR's combination of facetted gemstone-like shapes with fluid surfaces and elegantly integrated detailing create a delicate balance of precision and sensuality.

The slender upper grille flows from the Toyota badge into the sleek, aggressive wing extremities of the headlamp clusters and wraps fully around the front corners of the vehicle.

The movement of the blacked out rocker panel towards the front and rear wheels, along with the shoulder axis that runs through to the front and rear, emphasise the fast-looking, 'lift-up' feel of the thin body.

The C-HR's coupe-like styling is further enhanced by disguised rear door handles integrated within the C pillar and, essential to the representation of speed within the design, the powerful projection of the sweeping roofline into a large, highly aerodynamic, skeletal frame rear spoiler.

To the rear, the strongly tapered cabin integrates a top-hinged tailgate giving access to the loadspace. This contrasts with the pronounced flaring of the wheel arches, which give the new crossover a wide and powerful stance.

Prominent rear light clusters may also be equipped with LED lamp technology to give the rear view of the C-HR an expressive visual signature.

The C-HR is based on the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) and offers a fresh take on the increasingly commoditised crossover segment.

"With the C-HR, we are trying to introduce a new value into the C crossover market, and that newness comes from SUV robustness and strength. But we're not trying to make an SUV that's dynamic, rather, a dynamic vehicle with SUV-like properties," said C-HR chief designer Kazuhiko Isawa.

The Toyota C-HR is equipped with an engine-range that is designed to deliver engaging driving behaviour.

Fitted with the latest-generation hybrid power plant, the C-HR generates CO2 emissions as low as 85 g/km – a figure unrivalled within its segment – and returns combined fuel consumption of only 3.7 l/100 km.

Delivering 90 kW/122 DIN hp, this new hybrid powertrain is more efficient, lighter than the previous system, but also offers sharper performance. Detailed design changes to the engine have resulted in a thermal efficiency of 40% – a world-beating performance for a petrol unit.

Other hybrid system components have been made lighter and smaller, and have been repositioned for optimum packaging, further contributing to the car’s low centre of gravity.

The C-HR is also available with a new 1.2 litre turbo engine, which debuted in the Auris. Delivering 85 kW/116 DIN hp and 185 Nm of torque, this unit generates CO2 emission from 128 g/km and returns combined fuel consumption of from 5.7 l/100 km. It may be mated to either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a Continuously Variable Transmission. CVT equipped versions are available with either front- or all-wheel drive.

And for some markets (Ukraine and Caucasus), a 2-litre 150 DIN hp/110 kW, 193 Nm CVT-only model will be available.


VW all out to boost Passat sales this weekend

The Passat Elegance.
KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen dealerships nationwide will be hosting a Passat Elegance weekend sales event this weekend.

It will be held from 11am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

This Passat Elegance sales event will take place at all authorised showrooms nationwide, and online on the respective social media channels of all Volkswagen dealerships. The respective dealerships will be making full use of their social media channels to share detailed introduction and walkthroughs of various models to customers.

Customers can also send in their questions and interact with the sales personnel via Facebook Live.

Customers who place a booking on the Passat Elegance during the event will get an additional RM2,000 rebate on top of ongoing rebates, giving them a total of RM4,000 in savings. This additional rebate is applicable to the full Passat range that consists of the Passat Elegance, Passat UNITED and the soon-to-be-launched Passat R-Line.

The Passat Elegance features a redesign of the exterior and interior, improved connectivity and updated lighting signatures. It comes with a new 2.0TSI turbocharged engine paired and a new and improved 7-speed wet clutch direct shift gearbox (DSG) that produces an output of 187hp and 320Nm of torque. It is priced at RM181,856 with the sales tax exemption until Dec 31.

The Passat UNITED is fitted with accessories worth RM12,000 which includes two unique Volkswagen Original Accessories - dynamic wheel hub caps with a self-levelling logo that stays upright while the car is in motion; and LED door lights that projects the Volkswagen logo when the front doors are opened.

It also comes with aluminium sports pedals and side scuff plates, new 19” Verona alloy wheels, VW Tint, UNITED emblem and a HELIX 300W Soundbar. The Passat UNITED is priced at RM193,856.64 until Dec 31.

For those interested in the other models, Volkswagen is offering an additional RM1,000 rebate on top of ongoing promotions for the Vento, Golf R-Line, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace R-Line and Highline and Arteon R-Line.

Go to the local Volkswagen site for more details.


Mitsubishi comes to you for test drives; showrooms and service centres open

                PETALING JAYA: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia, has resumed operations for all authorized MMM showrooms and service centres and launched its first-ever Test Drive 2U online service, allowing customers looking to test drive a Mitsubishi car to do so from the comfort of their homes.

To register for interest in MMM’s Test Drive 2U online service, customers will need to visit this website and follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Browse through Mitsubishi variants and select the Test Drive 2U button.
Step 2: Enter the preferred test-drive location.
Step 3: Select the nearest dealer available as well as the preferred Mitsubishi test-drive models
Step 4: Fill up a quick form to indicate personal details and choose a test-drive date and time.
Step 5: Select the mode of communication with Mitsubishi’s sales consultants via What’s App, Phone Call or allow an authorized sales consultant to contact the customer instead.

Customers who book a Mitsubishi test-drive via Test Drive 2U online service may rest assured with these protocols:

- Vehicle and car key will be thoroughly sanitized before and after the test drive.

- Sales consultant will use hand sanitizer and face mask, while customers are strongly encouraged to do the same.

- Test drive is limited to one customer at a time.

- Sales consultant will be seated at the rear seat

“The Test Drive 2U online service ensures that we are still able to provide a worry-free experience for customers who wish to test-drive a Mitsubishi model from home during this conditional movement control order. Customers may browse through their preferred Mitsubishi model, interact with our authorized sales consultant, and book a test-drive delivery in a manner that is responsible and safe for all,” said Chief Executive Officer of MMM, Tomoyuki Shinnishi.


Toyota wants its self-driving cars to decide when to get a wash

                DALLAS: Toyota is looking far into the future when an autonomous car can one day sense that it needs cleaning up and heads to the car wash by itself.

That's the vision embedded in a patent submission by Toyota that was reveiled by the United States Patent and Trademark Office recently.

The patent comes with diagrams that show the logic behind the plan. The smart system will inform how long the wash is expected to take and include that into the journey.

It can even postpone it if passengers are in a hurry to get to a destination.

Toyota has been working on autonomous technology in cars with partners and has also invested in promising start-ups in the field.

Its self-driving e-Palette car will be deployed for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 that were postponed until July next year.

Toyota-backed Pony.ai is also testing autonomous cars in multiple cities across the US and China.

Automated driving is a natural next step in Toyota’s growth as a mobility company. It expands upon traditional automotive capabilities to help people get to where they want and need to be.

And it offers the potential to eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries, reshape cities, reduce emissions and achieve ubiquitous mobility.

According to the World Bank, there are about 1.25 million worldwide traffic fatalities annually and far more traffic injuries. Automated driving technology could drastically reduce this number by helping to prevent crashes caused by human error.


Local taxi company expects to roll out 100 electric taxis by July or August

Shamsubahrin.
KUALA LUMPUR: Local taxi company Big Blue Taxi Facilities is expected to use the first batch of 100 electric-powered taxis beginning this July or August, says its founder and adviser Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail.

He said the electric vehicles were supposed to be launched in May but the timeframe had to be extended to comply with several processes before approval by the relevant authority.

"There are several technical factors such as obtaining Vehicle Type Approval (VTA), therefore we have to co-ordinate between taxi creators, manufacturers and the government and this takes time.

"We are also in the process of signing a contract with local companies on the installation process of the electric powered-cabs, and if it is successful, we are expecting our first production of 5,000 units,” he told reporters after attending a breaking-of-fast with Big Blue taxi drivers here Sunday (May 26).

The counters would be located at public places including hotels, tourists areas, and KL International Airport (KLIA).

Meanwhile, Shamsubahrin said former Peugeot Citroen India director Shashikant Vaidyanathan will replace him as Big Blue’s chief executive officer, effective June 1, he said, but he added he would still remain an advisor to the company.


Lamborghini Urus S with more power debuts

                BOLOGNA: Lamborghini has announced a more powerful Urus called Urus S.

Prices for EU start at €195,538 (RM887,000) without tax.

The Urus S, basically a refreshed version of the base Urus, delivers increased power combined with luxurious versatility and presence to confirm its status as the ultimate lifestyle Lamborghini Super SUV, alongside the new Urus Performante for those seeking maximum sports performance.

“The Urus has proven its appeal for those seeking the decisive combination of the sportiest SUV and a Lamborghini to drive every day: the Urus S sits perfectly alongside the new Urus Performante, for those choosing the purest sublimation of performance, luxury and versatility,” said Stephan Winkelmann, chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.

“The Urus’ commercial success, with more than 20,000 vehicles produced, is testament to its credentials as the first and enduring Super SUV: the Urus S elevates that reputation.”

The twin-turbo V8 engine with increased power to 657hp (+16hp) matches that of the Urus S’ Performante stablemate, delivering an improved weight-to-power ratio of 3.3 kg/hp.

Acceleration is improved, with the Urus S propelling from 0-100 kph in 3.5 seconds (0.1 second quicker than the old Urus) and 0-200 kph in 12.5 seconds.

With a top speed of 305kph, the Urus S brakes from 100kph back to zero in just 33.7m. Its twin-turbo engine delivers 850Nm of maximum torque already at 2,300 rpm up to a maximum 6,000 rpm. A retuned exhaust system ensures a more distinct sound at start-up and a sharper note in each drive mode.

The Urus’ chassis with adaptive air suspension ensures super sports driving enjoyment but smooth handling on road surfaces in STRADA, SPORT, CORSA and EGO drive modes, with immediately-available torque response and body balancing according to the particular requirements of its off-road drive selectors: TERRA, NEVE and SABBIA.

With the same powertrain calibration as the Urus Performante, the Urus S delivers optimum responsiveness and performance when required, alongside luxurious everyday driving pleasure from the Urus’ finely-tuned chassis settings. With formidable versatility in its driving personalities over any road in any condition, the Urus S is the ultimate lifestyle Super SUV.

The Urus S introduces specific and sophisticated design enhancements advocating its sporty but luxury lifestyle persona, distinguishing the Super SUV’s presence in every environment. A significant increase in options in terms of colours, trim, wheels, style packages and special details allows customisation across the spectrum, from understated style to maximum sportiness.

A new front bumper design adopts more refined lines and incorporates a new matt black-painted stainless steel skidplate as standard, complemented by the black lines of the front grille.

Five further style configuration options combine body color, shiny black, and carbon fiber components in shiny and matt finish, allowing markedly individual configurations for the Urus S. A new lightweight carbon fibre painted bonnet comes with matt black air vents, with optional finishes to the vents in gloss black, body colour or carbon fiber in shiny or matt finish. An optional visible carbon fibre roof lends an athletic elegance to the new Urus S.

New rear bumper styling affords the Urus S a more streamlined and elegant appearance. A matt black-painted lower part features a new twin-pipe exhaust design in brushed steel as standard, with optional matt or shiny black, or Ad Personam option in bright chrome.

New rim options are offered alongside the standard 21” wheel, including 22” Nath rims with titanium matt and diamond polish finish, while 23” Taigete wheels can be selected in bronze and diamond polish alternatives.

The interior of the Urus S is presented with a fully-revised colour and trim offer.

Both the new Bi-colour Sportivo, and a new Bi-colour Sophisticated option feature the new Urus Performante stitching pattern.

The Bi-colour Sportivo delivers a more discreet and stylish use of the complementary colour; the Sophisticated black leather trim comes with new contrast colour options in conjunction with refined new Blu Leandro and Verde Aura alongside tan, cream and brown.

Providing optimum opportunities for owners to specify their Urus S according to their lifestyle, the new colour and trim options underline the high-performance credentials of the Urus S while delivering understated and timeless luxury.

Connectivity in the Urus S includes connected navigation, security features and several in-car control services. Services such as Remote Park via the Lamborghini Unica App can also be managed via smartphone integration, with the enhancement of smartwatch controls including the virtual car key function.


Vauxhall launches new Vivaro taxi kebabi

                LONDON: For many years now, after a good night out, it’s almost been mandatory to get your taxi driver to stop off at the local kebab house for a quick doner. Now, thanks to Vauxhall’s ingenious new Taxi Kebabi, having your kebab and getting home are no longer a problem.

Based upon the 9-seat Combi model, this class-defining Vivaro features two gas-fired spit rotisserie grills, salad bowls integrated into the arm rests, chilli dispensers and of course a tasty selection of sauces.

Taxi driver Justin Trafik said: "The vinyl seats and floor covering will prove a real boon for the occasional spillage.”

Trafik’s colleague Jason Donervan was in perfect harmony: "With Vivaro's class-leading whole life costs, this incredible vehicle offers us hard-pushed drivers another valuable revenue stream that could ultimately see taxi fares being slashed."

On a more sombre note, Pieter Bred, the UK spokesman for Britain’s High Street Kebab Association, said: “Without making a meal of this, the Vauxhall Taxi Kebabi could spell the end for high street kebab houses.”

Vauxhall spokesperson April Fulls had the final word: “With the launch of the Vivaro Taxi Kebabi, we really believe we’ve given our customers something to sink their teeth into.”

READER NOTE: Today being what it is, you simply can't believe everything you read - online or otherwise.


Johor Causeway finally reopens after 20 months

                SINGAPORE: One of the busiest border crossings in the world, the Johor-Singapore Causeway, was officially reopened with the launch of the Vaccinated Travel Lane via land crossing (VTL-Land) today.

It was jointly launched by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong at the Woodlands checkpoint.

The 97-year old Causeway, which is also known as Tambak Johor, was closed to 400,000-odd travellers daily since mid-March 2020 to curb the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus.

Ismail Sabri made a momentous journey by crossing the 1km bridge entering the republic from Johor Baru Monday morning before he and his delegation were welcomed by Lee, who was accompanied by his four Cabinet ministers.

Ismail Sabri is accompanied by Senior Minister and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali; Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah; Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong; and Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, as well as other senior officials.

Lee, meanwhile, was accompanied by Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean; Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan; Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong; as well as Minister for Transport and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations, S Iswaran.

In announcing the VTL-Land scheme on Nov 24, Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Office said that the initial stage will be limited to only bus transportation with a daily quota not exceeding 1,500 travellers.

Other modes of land transportation will be included in stages with the daily quota of travellers to be increased on weekly basis.

The initiative aims to facilitate quarantine-free, seamless cross-border movement integrating health protocol, security, and immigration clearance.

The Singapore-bound designated VTL-Land bus services will use Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal as the boarding and disembarkation point in Malaysia, whereas Queen Street Terminal is the boarding and disembarkation point in Singapore.

Travellers allowed to take part in this scheme are Malaysia and Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents as well as holders of Malaysia and Singapore Long-term Pass.

The launch of the VTL-Land also coincides with the VTL-Air.

The VTL-Air between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport was announced on Nov 8.

Malaysia and Singapore have achieved more than 95% rate of the vaccinated adult population and this has offered opportunities for both countries to reopen the land border in a gradual, safe, systematic, and sustainable manner.


Beam rides in with Election Week promo

                KUALA LUMPUR: E-scooter operator Beam is doing its bit for democracy by offering discounts to Malaysians on their e-scooter rides across the Klang Valley.

The promotion starts today and ends on Nov 20.

Malaysians can easily hop on and off a Beam e-scooter to enjoy a 15% discount on all rides, and an extra RM1.50 off on top of that when ending trips at polling station parking spots. Polling day falls on Nov 19.

Malaysians can easily hop on and off a Beam e-scooter to enjoy a 15% discount on all rides, and an extra RM1.50 off on top of that when ending trips at polling station parking spots.

As the #BeamToVote promotion lasts through to Nov 20, Malaysians will also be able to complete their first and last-mile journeys to and from public transit hubs around the Klang Valley, on their journeys to and from their constituencies.

“Voting is an important part of our democratic process, and it empowers the voices of us ordinary Malaysians," said Beam Mobility Malaysia general manager Justin Tiew.

"With higher turnouts expected in the 15th General Elections, Beam is doing our part in helping Klang Valley residents not only perform their civic duties on polling day, but also to help Malaysians working in the Klang Valley start and complete their journeys to public transport nodes on
their journeys back home.”

Look for the closest Beam e-scooter near you by downloading the app via the Apple Store or Google Play Store.


Mazda CX-8 teased: To be assembled in Kulim; circa RM200K

                SHAH ALAM: Bermaz Auto recently displayed two units of the Mazda CX-8 sport utility vehicle (SUV) during a media function at its headquarters in Glenmarie.

One was a 2.5-litre petrol powered SkyActiv-G engined unit (two-wheel drive) and another was a 2.2-litre turbodiesel SkyActiv-D engined (all-wheel drive) unit fueled by Euro 5 grade diesel.

A specifications list was also displayed, and the CX-8 can come in four variants (main differences are petrol or diesel powertrains, fabric or leather upholstery, and six and seven-seat layouts).

The diesel-powered unit on display was a six-seater, with its second row fitted with two captain seats and a centre console armrest.

The CX-8 units displayed were imported from Japan, and their equipment list will differ from the CX-8 that will be assembled in Kulim, Kedah later this year.

The locally assembled CX-8, which is expected to be launched in the second half of 2019, is likely to be priced in the RM200,000 region.

To recap, the CX-8 with a 2.5-litre petrol engine with direct injection makes 192hp at 6,000 rpm and 257Nm of torque at 3,250rpm.

The 2.2-litre turbodiesel CX-8 shares the same powerful powertrain with the Mazda6 diesel sedan, and makes a 188hp at 4,500rpm and 450Nm of torque at 2,000rpm.

Standard equipment on the CX-8, based on the preliminary specifications list, include EPAS (electronic power assisted steering), 19 inch wheels, automatic LED headlights with self-levelling, LED front fog lights, LED rear combination tail lights, rain sensing wipers, engine start-stop button, electronic parking brake, three zone climate control, a 10-way powered driver's seat with 2-position memory function, MZD Connect Infotainment with Voice Command, Bose audio system, Mazda i-Stop idling, and Mazda G-Vectoring Control.

Standard safety features are six airbags, DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), Emergency Brake Assist, Traction Control and Hill Launch Assist.

Mazda CX-8 SkyActiv-G 2WD (petrol)

- Engine is 2.5L DOHC, direct injection, 16-Valve 4 Cylinder with VVT
- 192hp at 6,000 rpm
- 257Nm at 3,250rpm
- 72 litre petrol tank
Mazda CX-8 SkyActiv-D AWD (diesel)

- Engine is 2.2L DOHC, direct injection, 16 valve 4 cylinder, turbodiesel
- 188hp at 4,500rpm
- 450Nm at 2,000rpm
- Euro 5 diesel
Standard features

- All round disc brakes
- MacPherson struts
- Multi link
- EPAS electronic power assisted steering
- 19 inch wheels
- Length is 4,900mm
- Width is 1,840mm
- Height is 1,730mm
- Wheelbase is 2,930mm
- LED Front headlights
- Auto headlights on/off and levelling
- Daytime running lights
- LED front fog lights
- LED rear combination tail lights
- Rain sensing wipers
- Engine start stop button
- Electronic parking brake
- Three zone climate control
- 10-way powered driver's seat with 2-position memory function
- 7 seater or 6 seats with Captain seats
- MZD Connect Infotainment with Voice Command
- Bose audio system
- Mazda i-Stop idling technology
- Mazda G-Vectoring Control technology
- 6 airbags
- ABS (anti-lock braking system)
- DSC (Dynamic Stability Control)
- EBD (Electronic brakeforce distribution)
- EBA (Emergency Brake Assist)
- Traction Control
- Hill Launch Assist


Proton registers positive first quarter in 2019

                PETALING JAYA: The first quarter of 2019 ended with more record-setting numbers for Proton as registrations for March totalled 6,145 units representing a market share of 11%, an improvement of 2.6% compared to the same month in 2018.

March saw positive growth for the automotive industry as the estimated Total Industry Volume (TIV) grew by 11.8% year on year.

Proton, however, outpaced the market again with a 46.1% increase in registrations, equivalent to a growth rate nearly four times higher than the industry as a whole.

For the first three months of 2019, the cumulative figure is 43.5% or more than six times the TIV number of 6.7%.

The overall results position Proton ahead of all rival brands for the month and first quarter of 2019.

“The numbers posted by Proton in 2019 is the direct result of hard work put in at every level of Proton.

"These achievements are possible due to the growth in the number of 3S/4S outlets, an increase in product quality, refocusing on customer service and improvements in many other areas.

"With the forthcoming launch of our updated models later this year, Proton is confident its investment in the business will continue to benefit sales growth,” said Proton CEO Dr Li Chun rong.