Limited MINI Urbanite and Amplified editions on sale

                PETALING JAYA: MINI Malaysia has introduced two of its newest limited MINI Hatch Editions – the MINI Urbanite and MINI Amplified.

The New MINI Urbanite Edition uses the MINI Cooper 5 Door platform while the MINI Amplified Edition takes the form of the MINI Cooper S 3 Door.

The MINI Urbanite Edition exudes an assertive street character having undergone a substantial restyling to accentuate its boldness. From the distinctive LED Headlight, the 16” Victory Spoke Rims with Piano Black light trims and grille to the racing stripes on the bonnet.

Inside you will find the John Cooper Works Colour Line in Glowing Red with Anthracite Headliner accentuating the sporty interior. Other features include the MINI Connected with Bluetooth and USB, a new Rear-View Camera system and a leather steering wheel.

It boasts an inline 3-cylinder engine which delivers 136hp and 220Nm of torque taking just 8.1 seconds to go from 0-100. It has a top speed of 207kph while only consuming an average of 5 litres per 100km of fuel.

The New MINI Urbanite Edition offers colours in mysterious Midnight Black with Red Racing Stripes, Blazing Red or Pepper White with Black Racing Stripes.

Meanwhile, the MINI Amplified Edition is fitted with a striking rear spoiler, a new Piano Black grille and matching headlight and taillight trim. There's also Racing Stripes and  17” John Cooper Works Track in Black Spoke.

The interior boasts a distinctive John Cooper Works Racing Seats with integrated headrests designed in Alcantara Leather with contrasting Red Dinamica as well as Black Chequered interior trims.

Also there are new and exclusive accents in Glowing Red as well as the John Cooper Works Perforated Leather Steering Wheel embroidery.

It also has the new Rear View Camera provides parking guidance lines and obstacle marking that detect and mark stationary objects.

The MINI Amplified Edition pushes out 211hp and 300Nm of torque thanks to the John Cooper Works Tuning Kit and the new John Cooper Works Valve Silence System.

The MINI Amplified Edition goes from 0 to 100 in 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 233kph.

It also features a new Track mode which can be activated via the John Cooper Works Bluetooth Remote Control.

The MINI Amplified Edition comes in Midnight Black with Red Racing Stripes, Chilli Red or Pepper White with Black Racing Stripes.

The limited-edition MINI Urbanite and MINI Amplified arrive with the MINI 4 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service.

The cars are priced at RM198,888 for MINI Urbanite Edition and RM248,888 for MINI Amplified Edition. Prices are on-the-road without insurance.

“This Chinese New Year, MINI is going bold and loud! We have curated two new cars for individuals with discerning preferences to ring in the festivities of the Year of the Dog.

"The MINI Urbanite Edition is the perfect embodiment of the youthful, fresh and innovative trendsetting style of the brand whereas the MINI Amplified Edition exemplifies the sporty verve and agile handling MINI is known for. All Red and Prosperous for the New Year!”  said managing director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia, Han Sang Yun.

For more information go to www.mini.my/urbn-ampd


Renault, Nissan chief engineers to meet, revive R&D projects, say sources

                PARIS: Renault’s engineering boss will meet his counterpart at Nissan in Japan this week, two sources close to Renault said, as the carmakers seek to revive projects crucial to an alliance left reeling by the Carlos Ghosn affair.

The Franco-Japanese alliance is wrestling with the fallout of the ouster and arrest of Ghosn, the architect of the partnership who now says it is at risk of collapse.

Analysts say that in order to turn investor sentiment around, the firms need to make good on cost-saving joint engineering projects that have slowed since Ghosn’s departure.

According to the two sources, Gilles Le Borgne, who was hired on Jan 6 from rival automaker PSA, will meet Nissan’s Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, the Nissan executive in charge of delivering the joint engineering projects.

Renault did not respond to a request for comment on Le Borgne’s meetings.

Renault-Nissan’s cost-saving alliance is vital to both companies as the car industry battles a slowdown and huge investments in cleaner vehicles and automated driving.

“The alliance has taken a hit, but the alliance engineering team is still there,” said a third source, who is close to the alliance. “You cannot, from one day to the next, stop something that’s been embedded so deeply.”

Japanese prosecutors arrested Ghosn — who was at the time the head of the carmakers’ alliance — in November 2018 and accused him of financial misconduct.

Ghosn slipped out of Japan and fled at the end of December to Lebanon. He says the charges were fabricated to force him out of an alliance in which the Japanese side no longer trusted its French partners.

Focus on joint projects

Renault chairman Jean-Dominique Senard has said both sides are determined to make the partnership succeed, with the joint projects a major focus.

Those projects will be on the agenda when the board of the alliance, which also includes Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi, holds a regular meeting in Japan on Jan 30.

One area of focus will be hybrid power systems, a field where, analysts say, the alliance has not effectively pooled its research and development efforts. Each of the three members of the alliance has developed their own systems.
“That’s been among the sources of the friction,” said the third source close to the alliance. “But now the three systems are there, we’ll need to use them in the most efficient way possible.”

Nissan will use the E-Tech hybrid system developed by Renault on its Juke small SUV, while Renault will use the Nissan-developed e-Power system on its Kadjar model, particularly in Asia, according to the same sources.

Mitsubishi is still using its own hybrid system on its best-selling Outlander.


You can now disable PayDirect on your Touch ‘n Go ewallet

                PETALING JAYA: Touch ‘n Go (TNG) has announced that users can now disable the PayDirect feature for its ewallet.

Users can do so by launching the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app, selecting the linked TNG Card, and then look for the three dotted lines on the top right corner.

Click on it to open a menu that will show Edit Name, PayDirect and Remove Card. Tap on the PayDirect tab and select the option to Disable.

TNG explains that enabling PayDirect allows for toll and parking payments to be automated and thus easily deducted from users’ ewallet balance.

When PayDirect is disabled, fares will be deducted directly from the linked TNG card. Disabling PayDirect may be useful for those who want to fully use the existing balance in their TNG card.

TNG advised users to wait for 15 minutes after enabling or disabling the PayDirect feature before using the TNG card at tolls.

PayDirect was first introduced in 2019 where users can link their TNG card to the ewallet app and use the money reloaded in the app for toll payments. It was meant to help reduce the hassle of topping up the balance in TNG card at physical touchpoints.

However, as not all toll systems support the PayDirect feature, users still needed to ensure sufficient balance in their card for payment.

TNG on its website said its PayDirect partners include Damansara-Puchong Expressway, New Pantai Expressway and Sprint Expressway. It added that PayDirect is available for “all open-system toll at Klang Valley, Penang and Johor”.

According to its FAQ, more than 70 parking sites have also been equipped with the PayDirect feature.

The company also announced that users can get their hands on limited edition enhanced TNG cards with designs of paintings by United Voices artists.

Available from now until Oct 5, the cards can only be bought at an exhibition in Nu Sentral Shopping Mall in KL for RM25 each.


Nepal's first locally made electric motorcycle woos petrol purists

                KATHMANDU: An early entrant in the petrol-to-electric race, Nepal has tens of thousands of electrified cars, buses and rickshaws on its roads but few motorcycles - the most popular form of transport in the Himalayan nation.

With the launch of its sleek e-motorcycles, startup Yatri Motorcycles believes it can convert Nepalis to electric vehicles that can clean up the country's toxic air, save money, reduce petrol imports and help to achieve its climate goals.

"We need to switch to electric vehicles," said Ashim Pandey, founder of Yatri, which means traveller.

"It is only a matter of time when battery technology surpasses the energy density hurdle to make internal combustion engines obsolete."

Across the world, manufacturers are competing to develop affordable, low-emission vehicles as a growing number of countries have announced plans to ban the sale of new fossil fuel-powered cars in a bid to combat global warming.

At risk from glacier melt and torrential monsoon rains, Nepal pledged in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change that 20% of its vehicles would be electric by 2020, but this is currently 1%, according to the Climate Action Tracker website.

Nepal is a small emitter of carbon globally, with 40% of the country under forest cover and most of its electricity coming from hydropower.

But emissions are rising, with a surge in petrol and diesel vehicle imports and fossil fuel consumption.

The government has set out ambitious plans to transition to e-vehicles through reduced taxes and customs duties on imports and the installation of more charging stations.

But implementation is slow, despite a pledge that e-vehicles will make up 90% of all private passenger vehicle sales by 2030.

The country currently has about 700 electric cars, 5,000 electric scooters, and 40,000 electric rickshaws, according to the Electric Vehicle Association of Nepal, a lobby group.

 The Project One is more affordable at around RM18,000.World-class

Yatri Motorcycles was set up in 2017 with the dream of designing, engineering and manufacturing world-class electric vehicles from the ground up in Nepal.

"We are looking into markets beyond the borders of Nepal," said Pandey.

"We have to start exporting cutting-edge technology and capital goods and not be limited to handicrafts and boutique items," he said, referring to Nepal's traditional exports.

Pandey, who moved to The Netherlands to train as an aerospace engineer in 2010 and designed hydrogen-powered race cars when he was a student at the Delft University of Technology, has an ambitious 10-year plan.

He kicked off in 2019 with Project Zero, a top-end motorcycle with a digital dashboard, in-built 4G connectivity, a keyless start, a range of 240km and a maximum speed of 140kph that recharges in two hours.

It easily outclasses most two-wheelers on the market, which are made in China and India and have a lower range and speed but costs almost 2,000,000 Nepalese rupees (RM71,304) - almost seven times that of a petrol motorcycle.

In April, Yatri launched a more affordable model, Project One, for 500,000 rupees (about RM18,000) and received 50 orders within a week.

"The initial price will come down once we start producing them on a larger scale," Pandey said. "We are well on track to meeting our 200 unit sales milestones for 2021."

Motorcycles are key to the switch to e-vehicles because they make up 80% of Nepal's registered vehicles, government data shows, providing commuters with an affordable alternative to Nepal's crowded, often chaotic, public buses.

But e-motorcycles alone cannot decarbonise Nepal's transport. The country's top three emitters are trucks at 29%, cars and vans at 26% and buses at 19%, with two-wheelers trailing behind at 8%, according to 2011 government figures.

With this in mind, Yatri's ultimate goal is to launch e-vans and e-buses for fleet operators by the end of the decade.

"To solve the problem of modern cities, you need to address the problem of space," he said.

"A safe, comfortable and pleasing public transportation system that is appealing to use is what will solve the problem of modern urban mobility."

Charging stations

Nepal has a long history of experimenting with e-vehicles, from trolleybuses brought by China in the 1970s to three-wheeled minibuses, known as Safa Tempos, which were introduced in the 1990s by the United States Agency for International Development.

But the electric buses folded due to mismanagement and the Safa Tempos have been edged out by diesel vehicles because of their inefficient batteries.

The government is seeking to reintroduce electric vehicles by buying 300 electric buses.

One of the most urgent challenges in boosting e-vehicle sales is to provide more charging stations, said Manish Pandey, a popular YouTuber who travels the country by motorcycle.

Six months ago, the 23-year-old planned to film himself making a long-distance trip using an e-scooter but ended up cancelling.

"There were no charging stations on the route and the range of electric vehicles is too low, so I couldn't complete the journey," he said.

"With the present availability of charging stations, I would definitely not choose to ride an electric motorcycle."

He also pointed to the high cost of the vehicles as a major obstacle to convincing ordinary motorcyclists to go green.

"In a poor country like Nepal, with people having poor environmental awareness, almost every customer sees the price first, rather than whether the technology is environmentally friendly," he said.


Nissan unveils twin-motor all-wheel-control

                LAS VEGAS: Nissan is elevating the performance capability of electric vehicles with its new twin-motor all-wheel-control technology called e-4ORCE.

The technology provides instant torque to all four wheels to deliver balanced, predictable power and handling on par with many premium sports cars.

The “e” represents Nissan’s technologies enabled by a 100% electric motor drive system. “4ORCE,” pronounced “force,” evokes physical power and energy with “4” standing for the all-wheel control driving capability.

“The e-4ORCE twin-motor all-wheel control technology offers precise handling and stability, which gives drivers greater confidence and even more excitement than ever before,” said Takao Asami, Nissan’s senior vice president of research and advanced engineering.

“This technology enables excellent cornering performance and traction on slippery surfaces and comfortable ride for all passengers.”

The technology was born from lessons learned in the development of the Nissan GT-R's ATTESA E-TS torque split system and the Nissan Patrol's intelligent 4X4 system.

Engineers developed the e-4ORCE technology to specifically manage electric vehicle power output and braking performance to be smooth and stable.

Unparalleled ride comfort is the result of the e-4ORCE technology’s ability to minimize vehicle pitch and dive.

This is accomplished by employing regenerative braking from both front and rear motors, making city stop-and-go traffic less jostling.

Similarly, on rough, bumpy roads and when accelerating, motor control is optimized to maintain ride comfort by minimizing irregular movement.

e-4ORCE increases driver confidence by faithfully tracing the driver's intended line thanks to ultra-high-precision motor and brake control. With the confidence to handle such a variety of road surfaces, even for novice drivers on slippery surfaces, driving becomes more enjoyable.

Nissan will be displaying its zero-emission crossover Ariya Concept — which features e-4ORCE — at its CES booth but the company is also showcasing the technology on a twin-motor, all-wheel-drive technology test car in Las Vegas during CES.


Up to 80% discount on some traffic police summonses from Dec 9-12

                KUALA LUMPUR: The police will be offering discounts of up to 80% on selected traffic summons payments from Dec 9-12, says Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Comm Datuk Mat Kasim Karim.

He said that the discounts are being offered in conjunction with the 100 days "Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia" that will be launched by the Prime Minister.

"Summonses can be paid at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) PDRM counter, traffic summonses payment counters at district and state police headquarters and through the MyBayar Saman portal throughout the four days,” said Mat Kasim.

"Discounts are not offered for summonses pertaining to accidents, overtaking on double lines, using the emergency lane, running red lights, overtaking dangerously, non-compoundable offences, offences under trial, heavy vehicle offences and modification of vehicle exhausts," he said in a statement today.

Comm Mat Kasim said individuals or companies can register through the official police portal or the MyBayar Saman portal or download the application.

"We urge the public to adhere to Covid-19 SOPs when making the payments at various counters," he said, adding that the police would prefer that the people pay online.


Which car accessories are useful - and which can you do without?

                BERLIN: Whether it was nodding dogs or crocheted cases for tissue boxes on the rear shelf, the 1980s and 1990s saw plenty of decorative items making their way into people’s cars.

But there are also plenty of useful accessories on sale at hardware stores and workshops, especially when it comes to making life easier for drivers in cold weather or slippery conditions.

Windscreen coverings can be helpful in extreme weather, says Ulrich Koester from a leading German auto industry association. An accessory like this can make for an easier start to a morning commute.

These coverings are held in place between the two front doors and under the windscreen wipers, helping keep the car protected from frost or extreme heat.

By contrast, says Koester, "dangling CDs from the rear-view mirror is senseless." These mirror ornaments are said to counteract speed cameras, but Koester sees this as pure fantasy. The CDs could also become quite dangerous by reflecting light into the eyes of oncoming drivers.

The ADAC, Germany’s largest automobile club, also advises against dangling air freshener trees, which can be distracting and can contain allergens.

A better accessory is an air freshener placed in front of the car’s air conditioning vents. Some manufacturers even offer integrated diffusers with different fragrances for the air conditioning.

Whereas padded leather gloves or furry steering wheel covers used to make for warm fingers on a hard, cold steering wheel, some modern cars offer a heated steering wheel at the push of a button. Experts also advise against using separate heated coverings for steering wheels or seats, as these can loosen and slip off.

Unlike cars from decades past, modern models don’t tend to have the once-popular auxiliary high beams or fog lamps.

The full-size lamps at the front can turn everyday cars into rally race cars - at least visually. On today's vehicle fronts, though, there’s hardly any room for them, especially with more focus on drag coefficient and pedestrian safety.

Large speakers on the rear shelf or in the door compartments are also becoming increasingly rare in modern vehicles. The range of high-quality audio systems is so great in many small cars that retrofitting for even more volume usually doesn’t pay off.

And with the wide range of on-board electronics and smartphone connectivity available, modern cockpits already offer plenty of vehicle information through digital displays, thus making auxiliary dashboard accessories increasingly obsolete.

The Bluetooth hands-free systems with voice control built in to most new cars can also make phone calls easier and safer.

But drivers should ditch the tissue boxes, nodding dogs and bobbleheads, says the ADAC. Now as ever, these objects can turn into dangerous projectiles in the event of an accident.


Lotus 3-Eleven is outright visceral

                LONDON: Lotus announced the arrival of the more potent 3-Eleven that's available in two forms of road (925kg- dry) and race (890kg - dry) versions,

While being powered by a revised 3.5-litre V6 aluminium engine fitted with an Edelbrock supercharger, a six-speed manual gearbox with sports ratios manages its 410hp at 7,000rpm and 410Nm of torque at 3,000rpm.

The race version uses a six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shifters instead, with a larger 70 litres (+30 litres) fuel tank and bumps its performance figures up to 460hp at 7,000rpm and 525Nm of torque at 3,500rpm.

The heightened performance cuts its 0-100kph sprint time down to 3.0 seconds (-0.4 seconds) and raises its top speed to 290kph (+10kph), allowing it to lap the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife in under seven minutes.

The two-seater open-cockpit 3-Eleven uses bonded lightweight extruded aluminium for its chassis before getting slapped with carbon fibre body panels as well as a set of aerodynamically optimised front splitter, rear diffuser and wing. It also gets equipped with LEDs for the daytime running lights and rear light clusters.

A set of Öhlins adjustable dampers (race version) are used for the fully independent double wishbone suspension with front and rear anti-roll bars and braking power comes from a set of Red AP Racing four-piston callipers for the servo-assisted two-piece grooved disc brakes.

Also as standard fitment, it uses 18-inch (front) and 19-inch (rear) gloss black forged wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport (Road) or Michelin Cup 2 (Race) tyres measuring 225/40 (front) and 275/35 (rear).

Inside, it gets fitted with a full-colour TFT display with driver selection modes for road/track, engine start-stop button, page toggle switch, adjustable traction control, lightweight driver’s footrest, lightweight sport seats (Road) or FIA-approved competition seat (Race).


Nissan to debut Gripz Concept crossover

                PETALING JAYA: Here’s a short heads-up on a lazy, hazy Sunday.

Nissan will be displaying its Gripz Concept crossover in a global premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Inspiration for the Nissan Gripz Concept came from the legendary 240Z desert racers as well as the sleek two-wheel world of road cycling.

The design explores a new sporty direction for a crossover concept and was conceived to create an innovative new driving sensation.

That’s the only info so far from Nissan, which will spill out the entire details at the launch.


Tesla with 'no driver' in deadly Texas crash, says report

What's left of the Model S after it crashed and burnt. — Scott J. Engle via Reuters
NEW YORK: Two men were killed in a crash in Texas while riding in a Tesla car that police said almost certainly had no one behind the wheel, US media reported Sunday.

The car was moving at high speed late Saturday north of Houston when it slammed into a tree and burst into flames, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting Harris County constable Mark Herman.

"Our preliminary investigation is determining -- but it's not complete yet -- that there was no one at the wheel of that vehicle," he said. "We're almost 99.9 percent sure."

When police arrived, one of the two victims was sitting in the front passenger seat and the other in the rear seat of the 2019 Model S.

Herman said police had not yet determined whether the driver-side airbag had deployed and whether the car's driver assistance system was engaged at the time of the crash.

AFP was not able to reach the local police for comment.

On its website, Tesla warns that the driver assistance systems it offers do not make their vehicles fully autonomous and that active driver supervision is still necessary.

But videos regularly show moving Teslas with drivers asleep or without their hands on the wheel for extended periods of time.


Refreshed Nissan Tiida hatch targeted at Chinese youth goes on sale

                BEIJING: Nissan has launched the all-new Tiida in China through its local joint venture, Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company (DFL-PV). The third-generation Tiida just had its global debut at Auto China 2016 in April.

With price starting from RMB 99,900 (RM63,000), the compact hatchback is the second new product of DFL-PV in 2016 and another embodiment of its “Young Nissan” strategy. The first Tiida was introduced in China in 2005, when it opened up a new segment – the compact hatchback – in the market. Accumulative sales of Tiida in China to date have exceeded a million units.

The Tiida is expected to continue building on its success and attain segment leadership in China. Featuring dynamic styling in the V-Motion grille, unique boomerang LED headlights, a streamlined body and sporty aluminum wheels, the exterior design of the all-new Tiida speaks to the aesthetic of the young generation in China. Thanks to its best-in-class 2,700mm wheelbase, Tiida offers impressive cockpit space and class-leading 681mm rear knee room, providing comfort for both drivers and passengers.

The Tiida is equipped with class-leading safety technology such as Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Cross Traffic Alert (CTA). It also delivers a segment-leading infotainment system with 7-inch audio display, and convenience through various kinds of media connection to the vehicle.

The Tiida also boasts class-leading 5.3L/100km fuel efficiency through its advanced 1.6L HR16DE engine, Intelligent Start and Stop system and improved Xtronic CVT. Aided by the new D-Step shift logic technology, Electric Power Steering (EPS), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), advanced damping system and high-performance suspension, the all-new Tiida promises pleasant and agile driving experience.

Chinese basketball star and former NBA player Yi Jianlian, product ambassador for Tiida, attended the launch event. In line with the target segment for Tiida, the event included a photo booth and social media engagement.


Rain screws up driver-assistance technology, says AAA study

                AUSTIN: The performance of advanced driver-assistance technology used to help vehicles automatically brake and stay in lanes is significantly reduced by moderate and heavy rain, a study by the American Automobile Association showed on Thursday.

Researchers at AAA, a federation of North American motor clubs, found that vehicles' auto emergency braking systems, in several instances during simulated rainfall, no longer recognised stopped vehicles ahead and that vehicles' lane-keeping systems performed considerably worse.

That could lead to dangerous situations if drivers rely too heavily on the systems, whose performance is typically evaluated in ideal conditions, the researchers said.

"The reality is people aren't always driving around in perfect, sunny weather, so we must expand testing and take into consideration things people actually contend with in their day-to-day driving," Greg Brannon, AAA's director of automotive engineering and industry relations, said in a statement.

Advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, are becoming more common in newer vehicles. They do not offer autonomous driving, but can automate limited driving tasks.

Auto emergency braking is increasingly provided as a standard feature in new cars and has shown to significantly reduce rear-end crashes in tests by insurance groups.

In the AAA study, no test car crashed into a stopped vehicle under ideal conditions. But during simulated rainfall, 17% of test runs resulted in crashes at speeds of 40kph, increasing to 33% at speeds of 56kph.

The pavement during the rain tests was dry and researchers noted wet roads could result in even higher crash rates.

Vehicles equipped with lane-keeping technology crossed lane markers 37% of the time during ideal conditions in the AAA test, but that rate jumped to 69% once rain was added.

The group tested a 2020 Buick Enclave Avenir, a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, a 2020 Toyota RAV4 and a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan.


Singapore Motorshow 2020:  Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S EyeSight

                SINGAPORE: Motor Image, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in Singapore, is currently showcasing its new Impreza in the form of the 2.0i-S EyeSight at the Singapore Motorshow (2020).

The updated Impreza has been enhanced with revisions to its exterior and now includes LED headlights and new physical qualities that include the front upper and lower grille, bumper, blacked-out tail lamps (for five-door hatchback).

Also included are the newly designed 17-inch wheels to match its new Magnetite Grey paint job which replaces Dark Grey.

Inside, the new Impreza sports new stitching above the Multi-function Display and a new gloss black air-conditioning panel.

Also included in the list of upgrades is a new Front View Monitor, speed-sensitive door locks (activates at 20kph), check rear seat reminder and a reverse mirror dip function when backing up.

The Impreza also receives the Japanese carmaker's SI-DRIVE management system with Sport mode and Intelligent mode as well as a retuned suspension system to go along with its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated Boxer engine, stiff Subaru Global Platform and EyeSight driver assist technology to further bolster safety levels.

Visitors to the Singapore Motor Show (2020), held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre from now until Jan 12, can take part in giveaways at the Subaru booth.

By liking the ‘ILOVESUBARU’ Facebook page or by following the official Subaru Asia Instagram account (@subaruasia), visitors can redeem a Subaru file.

Those who take photos with the Forester GT Edition and Viziv Adrenaline concept and post them on Facebook or Instagram (with #ILOVESUBARU) get to redeem a Subaru highlighter.

Also, a pair of Russ Swift Show tickets can be redeemed with every purchase of SGD$50 worth of Subaru merchandise.


Vettel wins F1 Malaysian Grand Prix

                SEPANG: Sebastian Vettel put Ferrari back on the winning trail after delivering a surprise triumph at the Petronas Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit.

It was a brilliant strategy by the four-time world champion. He opted to stay on the track when the safety car emerged on lap four. Both Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg – pitted. It proved to be the wrong call for Mercedes as neither Hamilton nor Rosberg had the pace to catch and pass Vettel in the final stint.

The German clocked 1’41:05.793 over the 310.408km race to give Ferrari their first win since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton was 8.569 seconds adrift in second place while Rosberg finished third in 1’41:18.103.

With four wins in Sepang, Vettel is now the most successful driver in Malaysian GP history. He and compatriot Michael Schumacher and Spain’s Fernando Alonso, who retired half-way through the race in his McLaren car, were on three wins each.

Hamilton, however, retained the world championship lead on 43 points. Vettel is three points adrift in second while Rosberg is third with 33 points.

A jubilant Vettel, who pumped his fists in joy as he crossed the finish line, was left speechless for a brief moment as the impact of his 40th victory sank in.

“It has been a while since I’ve been on the top step. My first time with Scuderia Ferrari, I’m speechless.

“Obviously it was a big change over the winter, it’s really a great atmosphere in the team.

“I’m very happy, very proud of today, we beat them fair and square. It is a special day – that is why I am emotional,” said the 27-year-old, who also spoke of his joy of watching boyhood hero Schumacher during his days at Ferrari.

Vettel left Red Bull to join Ferrari after a trying season last year.

“Last year was not a good year for me. It was a great car but I struggled to extract performance from it. This car suits me very well.

“It was a big change last year but the team welcomed me from the very first day. When the gate opened at Maranello, it was like a dream come true.

“The last time I was there I watched Schumacher over the fence and now I’m driving that red car,” said Vettel.

Hamilton was gracious in defeat and admitted Ferrari were too quick.

“Huge congratulations to Ferrari and Sebastian. They had some very good pace today. I gave it everything I could.

“We knew coming into this weekend that Ferrari had made a step but didn’t know how big. They were too quick today,” said the reigning world champion.

The next race is the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 12.


Porsche win Le Mans after last lap Toyota agony

                LE MANS: Porsche won the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race for the second year in a row on Sunday after Toyota had a first victory snatched from their grasp by a last lap power failure.

Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima had been on course to take the chequered flag when sudden drama unfolded as he reported a problem with five minutes remaining. He then slowed before coming to a halt.

That allowed Porsche to blast past and claim their 18th victory, with the German manufacturer's number two 919 hybrid car shared by Switzerland's Neel Jani, Frenchman Roland Dumas and Germany's Marc Lieb.

"What can I say? First of all I feel sorry for the boys down in the other garage," said Lieb. "They deserved this, they were giving us a hard time as well. This race should have had two winners, it was really unbelievable."

The 84th edition of the race was watched by a crowd of 263,500 spectators.

Toyota would have been only the second Japanese manufacturer to win the greatest prize in sportscar racing, after Mazda in 1991, but instead finished as runners-up for the fifth time.

Nakajima had shared the stricken number five Toyota TS050 hybrid car with Britain's Anthony Davidson and Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi.

"I literally have no words," said Davidson on Twitter, reporting that Nakajima had said he was ready to cry as he crossed the line.

The Toyota pit crew beat him to that as well, the heartbreak evident across the garage.

Instead it was the number six Toyota that took second place for Japan's Kamui Kobayashi, France's Stephane Sarrazin and Britain's Mike Conway.

Audi finished third with their number eight car.

Porsche and stablemates Audi had each entered only two cars instead of three in the main LMP1 category for cost-cutting reasons in the wake of parent company Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal.

The number one Porsche hit problems shortly before midnight and ceased to be a contender.

Last year's race was won by Germany's Nico Hulkenberg, New Zealander Earl Bamber and Britain's Nick Tandy but none of them were driving in the main LMP1 category this time.

Hulkenberg was competing in Sunday's European Formula One Grand Prix in Baku for Force India.

Porsche, who returned to Le Mans with a works team in 2014 for the first time in 16 years, are the most successful manufacturer.

The race also marked a winning return by Ford in the GTE Pro category.


Toyota to use advanced self-driving tech in commercial vehicles first

                TOKYO: Toyota plans to first deploy advanced self-driving features in commercial vehicles before adding them to cars meant for personal use, a senior official at the Japanese auto major said today.

It will be easier to apply self-driving technology that does not require constant and direct human-monitoring to taxis and vehicles Toyota is developing, including on-demand ride services, mobile shops and ambulatory hospitals, said James Kuffner, chief of Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development (TRI-AD).

The operators of these vehicles could control when and where they are deployed and oversee their maintenance, he told reporters at the opening of its new offices here.

“It will take more time to achieve ‘Level 4’ for a personally-owned vehicle,” Kuffner said, referring to the automation level at which vehicles can drive themselves under limited conditions.

“Level 4 is really what we’re striving for to first appear in mobility as a service,” he added.

Toyota is set to release its first so-called ‘Level 2’ autonomous car capable of driving itself on the highway, as part of its strategy to develop self-driving cars over the next few decades.

Toyota and its suppliers, including Denso Corp, which also invests in TRI-AD, is adopting a longer view towards cars with self-driving technology and artificial intelligence (AI) than many competitors that already market vehicles capable of autonomous highway driving.

Many of Toyota’s rivals, however, have pared development targets after fatal accidents in Tesla Inc cars have shown the complexity of autonomous technology even as they need to clear high regulation hurdles.

On a separate note, Toyota said it expects its global vehicle sales to stay at record highs in 2020, even as demand shows signs of slowing in China and the United States, the world’s top car markets.

The Japanese automaker said it planned to sell a record 10.77 million vehicles next year, including cars sold under the Toyota, Lexus and Daihatsu brands along with Hino trucks, a touch higher than its plans to sell 10.72 million units for the year ending December.

Competition to sell more vehicles is tight among the world’s biggest automakers as they try to boost sales to achieve economies of scale and reduce costs at a time when they are investing heavily to develop next-generation technologies including self-driving vehicles and electric cars.

Germany’s Volkswagen has been the top-selling automaker for the past five years, delivering 10.83 million vehicles including its MAN and Scania heavy trucks in 2018.


New functions coming to MBUX

                STUTTGART: Weather report, horoscope or puzzles: with the keyword "Hey Mercedes", passengers in a Mercedes-Benz now have access to four new entertainment options via the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system.

From April of this year, a new form of address will gradually be introduced in new vehicles in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Poland, Taiwan/China and Hong Kong/China.

In these countries and regions, MBUX will soon be addressing the customer in the familiar form of the language rather than the more formal one.

It is hoped that this will help reinforce the emotional tie between the customer and their Mercedes with MBUX as a personal assistant.

Skiers gain a particular benefit: "Hey Mercedes, what's the snow like in Samnaun?" With immediate effect Mercedes-Benz is integrating an option into the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system which makes it possible to have the weather report for specific regions read out - in virtually any language.

This also includes the snow report for popular skiing areas such as Samnaun. The report will show and read out details of the depth of snow up on the mountain and down in the valley, as well as provide details about how many lifts are available and how many of them are currently operating.

"Hey Mercedes, give me a horoscope for Aquarius!": In addition, with immediate effect, MBUX can look into the stars for the driver, ensuring that they can keep their eyes on the road. The option to request a personal horoscope (only available in German and British English) has now also been added.

For the horoscope, the date of birth or star sign of the driver will be requested via speech dialogue and the relevant daily horoscope read out.

City, country, river: As well as offering such astrological services, MBUX can now act as quizmaster to entertain passengers with a fascinating geo-quiz about capital cities of the world. It all helps to make the journey in a Mercedes-Benz even more enjoyable.

These services complement the already comprehensive range of entertainment and assistance functions available from MBUX during any journey.

The further strengths of MBUX, in addition to the user-friendly voice assistant, include intuitive touchscreen control of the media display and a navigation display that uses augmented reality technology during active navigation: a video image of the vehicle's surroundings is enhanced with useful navigation information.


Pakatan's proposed petrol subsidy programme shelved

                KUALA LUMPUR: The targeted fuel subsidy programme proposed by the previous Pakatan Harapan government has been shelved.

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said the government decided not to carry out the programme after taking into account the difference in petrol prices between the peninsula and East Malaysia.

He said a meeting was held between his ministry and the Finance Ministry and the decision was made during the discussion on July 9.

"We had a meeting to discuss the direction of the petrol subsidy programme (PSP), and we decided not to continue with it.

"The Finance Ministry will prepare a memorandum to the Cabinet to finalise the government's stance on PSP," he said in reply to Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PAS-Setiu) who asked for the new date on the implementation of the PSP.

Rosol said the government also wanted to avoid any misunderstanding with those in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan as the PSP would only be applicable to those residing in the peninsula.

He also said under PSP those categorised in the M40 group would only enjoy the subsidised petrol price when they refuel at the petrol stations as they would be given a petrol subsidy card.

"This can also lead to some doubts among the rakyat on the transparency in awarding this subsidy," he said.

The PSP was mooted by the previous Pakatan-led administration.

The PSP was supposed to be implemented in Peninsular Malaysia, which would see RON95 and diesel retail prices being gradually floated according to market prices.

The government had allocated RM2.4bil for the PSP, targeting eight million people to benefit from the programme.

However, the programme never kicked off.


Lower excise duty for 2WD, 4WD vehicles not exceeding 1,500cc

The Honda BR-V is a 1.5-litre crossover.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has agreed to streamline the excise duty rate for two- and four-wheel drive vehicles with engine capacity of not more than 1,500cc to 60% effective immediately.

In a press statement today, the Customs Department said the decision to reduce the excise duty from 65% to 60% was made after taking into account the high demand for completely built-up vehicles currently.

“During the temporary transition period, the amendments that will be gazetted and take effect from April 13, 2017, the move to give excise duty exemption of more than 60% will be given for all vehicles involved,” said Customs director-general Datuk Indera Subromaniam Tholasy.

“Through this move, the price of vehicles to purchasers must be maintained and vehicle manufacturers cannot raise the prices based on the increase in excise duty rate which have been gazetted through the Excise Duty Order 2017 on March 31, 2017,” he said.

Prior to this, the Customs Department in the Federal Government Gazette stated that the excise duty for multi purpose vehicle, sports utility and van with the capacity of 1.5 litres and below have been increased from 60% to 65% effective April 1.


The death of the car show?

                PARIS/FRANKFURT: Frankfurt’s vast auto show, which opens next week, is already getting attention of the wrong kind - for its impressive list of no-shows.

Besides the glaring absence of Tesla and its electric Model 3, the roster of big names staying away has grown this year to include such venerable brands as Nissan, Peugeot, Fiat, Volvo, Jeep, Mitsubishi and Infiniti.

The uncertain fortunes of the traditional car show mirror those of an industry in flux, its incumbents threatened by emissions regulation, tech giants and the sharing economy.

 At the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

“Car shows need a new approach,” said Patrick Koller, chief executive of Faurecia, a parts supplier with 19 billion euros (RM80bil) in global sales. “Otherwise they will disappear.”

Frankfurt and Paris host two of the world’s biggest shows in alternate years, punctuated by the Detroit show in January and other events in China, Japan, the US and Switzerland.

But many of the traditional gatherings have seen visitor numbers fall since the turn of this century, when most new cars were still unveiled under their lights, framed by show girls.

The decline may be accelerating. Paris attendance was down 14 percent last year - with fear of attacks also weighing on tourism - and January’s Detroit show drew 9,000 fewer visitors.

The sense of upheaval is acute in Germany, as Frankfurt prepares for its first car show opening since the Volkswagen emissions scandal blew up. Days before the event, Chancellor Angela Merkel was urging local officials not to ban diesels, as her re-election campaign drew opposition fire over perceived government cosiness with the industry.

But diesel scandals are just one of the problems challenging automakers and the legendary largesse of their trade shows.

The emergence of tech as the main battleground for the connected, autonomous cars of the future has drawn exhibitors to competing events such as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Footfall is becoming less important anyhow. Thanks to social media, Daimler reckons its Mercedes-Benz innovations reach the same global audience of 1 billion whether unveiled in Frankfurt or at CES - a trade-only show closed to the public, with less than a fifth of the German event’s attendance numbers.

“Daimler’s media strategy has changed with the rising significance of tech,” spokesman Bettina Fetzer said.

Although Mercedes will be out in force on Frankfurt’s 200,000-square meter show floor, it is “getting more complex” to decide how and where to showcase new products, Fetzer said.

To counter the drift, show organisers and exhibitors are rethinking formats and scrambling to associate with events and brands outside the staid universe of the combustion engine.

Next week’s show will debut a New Mobility World forum with Google and Facebook as partners, while Mercedes hosts a conference under the banner of South by Southwest, the eclectic cultural gathering held in Texas. Rival BMW’s programme includes TED Talks-branded presentations.

Anxious not to be outdone, Paris show managers travelled to Las Vegas in January to discuss collaboration with CES, but came away empty-handed. “There are no discussions at this time for event expansion into Europe,” a CES spokesman said.

“These are attempts to stay relevant in the public domain,” said analyst Arndt Ellinghorst of Evercore ISI, a brokerage.

“The way people consume products and brands is changing,” he said. “The days when it was enough to lure consumers to shows with half-dressed girls on car bonnets are long gone.”

The modernisation efforts have not prevented Tesla, Nissan or another half-dozen brands from quitting the car-show circuit.

For several years, Tesla attended the main European shows before opting out of both Geneva and Frankfurt this year - just as the North American launch of its US$35,000 Model 3 makes waves.

“We look for events where automobiles might be less expected,” a Tesla spokesman said, citing golf and boat shows as well as a European summer road trip with pop-up Tesla displays along the route. “We can reach a lot of people that way.”

Nissan’s decision to skip Frankfurt followed a “full review at global level of our event and show strategy to facilitate maximum brand visibility”, the company said.

Reports of the car show’s inevitable demise have been exaggerated, however.

As networking events up to CEO level they remain unmatched, while suppliers and new entrants are already filling gaps left by the patchier presence of some carmakers.

German industrial group Thyssenkrupp is returning after a decade’s absence. “If the sector is going to change so dramatically we want to be there and show what we can do,” said Karsten Kroos, head of the company’s auto parts division.

Others skipping this show will be back. Instead of turning up every year, many carmakers simply want to opt in when they have something to announce.

“A car show is a marketing tool like any other, so it has to provide a return on investment,” Peugeot brand chief Jean-Philippe Imparato told Reuters earlier this year. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t be in Frankfurt again before too long.”


Perodua expects leaking oil filter issue to be resolved by mid-2023

                SERDANG: Perodua expects the leaking oil filter issue related to its vendor will be resolved by the middle of this year.

President and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the problem affects nearly 40,000 vehicles including Perodua Aruz and models using the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform such as the Alza and Ativa.

"The existing vendor must make improvements within a certain period of time which we are currently monitoring.

"Based on the data that we have collected, the warranty claims rate has declined since February. This means the problem has ceased following the oil filter replacement,” he told reporters at the Malaysia Autoshow 2023 here today after unveiling perodua’s first electric vehicle concept car.

Zainal Abidin said the automaker is also considering several other vendors as an alternative measure to solve the problem.

"We have discussed with a few suppliers from all over the world that can make the DNGA-model oil filter,” he said.

He explained that filters from cars produced by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are not affected by the issue as they meet all the standards based on production requirements.

Zainal Abidin said the issue only involves the aftermarket dealing with suppliers apart from the OEMs.


Hyundai second in JD Power study

                WASHINGTON: Hyundai finished in second place for this year’s J.D. Power 2015 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study with merely two points away from its closest competitor in the midsize car segment.

While the Hyundai Sonata finished in second place – from last year’s first, it was found that the other models from the Korean carmaker managed to increase their scores this year, which included the Elantra, Genesis, Santa Fe, Tucson and Veloster.

The study has been around for the last 20 years and examines owners’ assessments of the design, layout and performance of their new vehicle after 90 days of ownership.

The ownership experience is segregated into eight categories of vehicle performance and design, such as engine and transmission; ride, handling and braking; comfort and convenience; seats; cockpit and instrument panel; heating, ventilation and cooling; sound system; as well as styling and exterior.

The second-place Hyundai Sonata managed to garner 817 points this year, just two points shy of category-winner Mazda6 with 819 points, while the Nissan Altima (Teana) came in third place.

The Korean carmaker has been ranked second overall among the non-premium automakers and fourth among all brands in the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS).

The Hyundai Tucson was awarded for the highest initial quality in the small SUV segment and the Hyundai Accent earned the highest IQS honour in the small car segment for the second year in a row.

“Finishing among the top two non-premium brands in this year’s J.D. Power APEAL Study shows Hyundai takes design, technology, features and performance seriously across the entire line-up,” said Hyundai Motor America vice president, corporate and product planning Mike O’Brien.

“Having the best-selling Sonata ranking among the top two in its class is a tremendous achievement and we are committed to delivering the highest customer experience possible to our owners,” he added.


Goodyear launches the Wrangler TripleMax Tyre for SUVs

                SUBANG JAYA: Designed for mid-size SUVs, the new Goodyear Wrangler TripleMax tyre delivers shorter wet braking performance and more driving fun.

The Wrangler TripleMax tyre has an improved version of Goodyear's proprietary Hydrogrip technology, along with its innovative tread design, optimised carcass and high grip compound.

Goodyear’s Hydrogrip technology provides an innovative new tread compound, maximising control via a larger surface area contact patch, which translates to more rubber contact on the road.

It improves braking ability by way of biting edges with large block elements.

The tyres also have a wide face and optimised cavity, and concentrates pressure distribution on key block elements during braking.

This gives the tyres better grip and a shorter braking distance on wet roads.

To protect the rim and tyre against road hazards, the Wrangler TripleMax has a rim flange protector, which provides more material on the sidewall.

 (Second from left) Goodyear ASEAN managing director Andy Cooper, Goodyear Malaysia Bhd managing director Ben Hoge, and Goodyear Innovation Centre (Luxembourg) construction development engineer Ronnie Dhaeze with the new Wrangler TripleMax tyre for mid-size SUVs.

“Goodyear is known for creating a culture of safety innovations that stay ahead of the competition. The unpredictable weather and road conditions in Malaysia calls for a tyre that delivers on all fronts and the new Wrangler TripleMax delivers Goodyear’s continued brand promise for safer and more enjoyable rides for drivers and their families,” said Goodyear Malaysia managing director Ben Hoge.

In Malaysia, the Wrangler TripleMax is offered in 16, 17 and 18-inch rim sizes, and retails from RM443.72 to RM675.22 inclusive of GST.


1,200hp Drako GTE supercar revealed

                SAN FRANCISCO: Silicon Valley-based startup Drako Motors unveiled last week its first production model, a limited production electric supercar called the Drako GTE.

According to the company, the four-passenger sedan is the result of "nearly a decade of design, engineering and track development." Its all-electric quad motor powertrain puts out 1,200hp and 8,800Nm of combined wheel torque, allowing it to reach a top speed of 331kph.

The exterior is sculpted with contours spanning the grille to the rear, highlighting the vehicle's fluid and aerodynamic design.

Quattro Manettino, Drako's powertrain control system, has been tuned to offer the driver upmost control of elements like torque vectoring, slip control, power distribution, and regenerative braking. Owners can further optimise their driving experience by selecting one of six road surface conditions: race, track, dry, rain, snow, or ice.

Even though the supercar has been designed with track-like performance in mind, the Drako GTE also accommodates family travelling. Not only does the car offer space for four people, but also luggage for each.

Though the company does not offer 0 to 60 mph acceleration specs or the estimated range, the top speed is likely outshined by Tesla's upcoming electric Roadster, a model which can sprint to 60 mph in just 1.9 seconds. The Drako will need to have an impressive range, as the Tesla iteration is predicted to reach 620 mph on a single charge for over $1 million less.

Only 25 units of the model are expected to be produced worldwide with a starting price of US$1.25 million (RM5.2mil). The company is currently accepting orders and deposits. Customer deliveries are slated for 2020.


Sime Darby Motors signs agreement to distribute BYD electric vehicles

                PETALING JAYA: Leading local automotive player, Sime Darby Motors (SDM) Malaysia, today inked a distribution agreement with China's electric car maker BYD.

This will mark the entry of BYD’s electric vehicles (EV) for the Malaysian passenger car market, with SDM as the distributor.

 (From left) Liu, Zhao, Gan and Basham showing the distribution agreement documents .

At an agreement signing at Sime Darby Motors City here, SDM Malaysia was represented by its managing director of retail and distribution, Jeffrey Gan, while BYD was represented by Eagle Zhao, managing director of BYD Malaysia Sdn Bhd and PT BYD Motor Indonesia.

Also present were SDM managing director Andrew Basham and

BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division general manager Liu Xueliang.

The agreement will see SDM distributing BYD’s ATTO 3 and new e6 models. No timeframe was announced.

The agreement follows a similar arrangement by Proton to distribute the smart electric cars in Malaysia by Q4 2023.

 ATTO 3.

Basham said the distribution agreement was in line with the group's commitment to encourage EV adoption among Malaysians.

“We are pleased to welcome BYD to our stable of world-class brands, enabling us to continue growing our EV pipeline of models. BYD is the world’s leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles and this partnership will bring BYD’s expertise to the Malaysian market through a wide range of EV models.

“Our collaboration with BYD is one of the steps Sime Darby Motors is taking towards our aim of becoming a leader in EV. This is also aligned with the Malaysian government’s push towards low carbon mobility,” he said.

 e6.

Liu said Malaysia is a key market for BYD's expansion as there are vast opportunities for the EV ecosystem to grow and evolve.

“Given its proven track record and well-established presence in the automotive sector in the Asia Pacific region, we look forward to partnering with Sime Darby Motors to serve Malaysia’s growing EV demand,” he said.


From Tokyo to Guam: Sony controls vehicle 2,500km away via 5G

                TOKYO: It can only be described as an amazing feat and a sign of things to come. Sony Corporation and NTT Docomo, INC. jointly announced today that they have succeeded in remotely controlling Sony's Sociable Cart entertainment vehicle carrying passengers in Guam from a base in Tokyo, over 2,500km away, via a 5G network.

Video of the vehicle's perimeter was captured with Sony image sensors and sent in real time to a Sony office here where the vehicle was driven remotely while the operator watched a monitor, taking advantage of 5G's low latency, large capacity and extra-high-speed connectivity.

The test used a 5G network provided by Docomo Pacific, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Docomo.

READ MORE: Are 'connected' cars safe?

The vehicle's image sensors, which exceed human vision, are mounted on its front, rear and sides, enabling high-resolution video of the vehicle's entire perimeter to be viewed by the remote operator and also passengers watching an on-board monitor.

The use of these ultra-high-sensitivity sensors together with high-resolution monitors allows the operator to view surroundings clearly, including at night even without using headlights.

In the emerging age of autonomous mobility, remote operation and monitoring are becoming increasingly important.

The cross-border operation of vehicles is expected to enable global mobility services that benefit from personnel working in various time zones.


Three contra-flow lanes in KL from July 3 to ease peak-hour traffic

                PUTRAJAYA: Contra-flow lanes will be implemented in Kuala Lumpur from July 3 to ease traffic congestion, says Anthony Loke.

The lanes would be applied at three specific locations, the Transport Minister told a press conference after a traffic congestion technical committee meeting here today.

One will be from the Sungai Besi Toll Plaza to the Besraya intersection, over a distance of 2.4km.

It will be open to all private vehicles except motorcycles.

The existing contra-flow lane southbound from Jalan Maharajalela to Taman Connaught will also be extended to evening peak hours over a 4km stretch.

A contra-flow lane will also be created from Ampang Point to Jalan Tun Razak.

"It will be for 3km. This lane, however, can only be used by public transport such as buses," he said, adding that action will be taken against private vehicles that use this lane.

The timeframe until implementation is to let the stakeholders involved make preparations, Loke added.

He said the lanes would be activated during peak hours from 6am to 9am and from 5pm to 7pm.

"Guidelines will be drawn up by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) to ensure these measures can be carried out efficiently.

"Other measures will continue to be studied collectively before being implemented," he said.

He said no structural changes would be involved in the contra-flow lanes.

"(The lanes will be marked by) cones placed along the route. Miros guidelines also potentially ensure a reduced risk of accidents in these lanes," he added.

Loke acknowledged that these measures were a short-term fix, adding that there were at least six million cars moving around within the Kuala Lumpur area on a daily basis, not including its surrounding areas such as Petaling Jaya.

"During peak hours from 6am to 9am, 2.2 million cars traverse the city and this is the reality.

"In the long term, we hope to change attitudes while also improving public transport systems and encouraging its use," he said.


Traffic congestion reported at major highways

                KUALA LUMPUR: Slow-moving, heavy traffic has been reported at major highways as at 5pm today.

According to a Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) spokesman, heavy traffic has been reported in the southbound direction from the Port Dickson Interchange to the Senawang R&R area; Ayer Keroh R&R to Ayer Keroh, Yong Peng rest stop to South Yong Peng, Ayer Hitam to Simpang Reggam and Sedenak to Kulai.

"Slow and heavy traffic has also been reported on the northbound route from Kulai to Kulai rest stop, Sedenak to Ayer Hitam, Bukit Gambir to Tangkak, Ayer Keroh to Simpang Ampat, Pedas Linggi to Pedas Linggi, Senawang R&R to Persimpangan Port Dickson and Bandar Ainsdale to Seremban R&R," the spokesman said when contacted by Bernama.

Meanwhile, LLM tweeted that similar traffic conditions were reported on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak expressway from Kuala Lumpur to Karak Intersection to Bentong Toll till Lentang and Bukit Tinggi to Genting Sempah.

Those who wish to obtain the latest traffic information can contact the Plusline toll-free line at 1-800 88 0000 and its Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/plustrafik or the LLM line at 1-800 88 7752 or its Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/llmtrafik.


Setel fuel app offers cashback sweetener

                KUALA LUMPUR: To coax Setel users to link their petrol credit cards to the Setel app, Setel Ventures Sdn Bhd is introducing a casbback of up to 10% through the fuel purchasing app.

Setel can only be used at Petronas stations.

The new feature is applicable with immediate effect on fuel cashback credit cards issued by Ambank, CIMB, Citi, Hong Leong Bank, RHB Bank and UOB. More cards will be added in future.

Setel crossed the one million users’ mark just a month after its nationwide expansion in February, making it one of the fastest-growing mobile applications in Malaysia.

According to Setel Ventures CEO Iskandar Ezzahuddin, daily usage of the app in February showed an increase of 85% from the previous month.

Setel’s fuel payment process helps minimise physical touchpoints at the station and is said to smoothen the refuelling experience.

“Customers who currently benefit from fuel cashback with their credit cards have been asking to get on Setel. They can now enjoy the seamless experience without losing the existing privileges," said Iskandar.

The app is available for free via the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

For more information on the cashback terms and the list of qualifying credit cards, visit the Setel website.


Range Rover SVAutobiography takes luxury to new heights

                LONDON: Land Rover will unveil the Range Rover SVAutobiography at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, adding even more luxury, design sophistication and performance to an enhanced line-up.

Speaking ahead of the exclusive model’s world premiere in New York, Land Rover’s Design Director and Chief Creative Officer Gerry McGovern stated: “With the SVAutobiography we have taken the opportunity to optimise the Range Rover’s luxury execution and precision while delivering beautiful detailing that considerably enhances the customer’s experience of our flagship vehicle.”

Exclusively crafted at Special Vehicle Operations’ (SVO) Technical Centre in the UK, SVAutobiography features unique exterior design enhancements, an exclusive premium leather interior with unique trim finishes and the option of a 550PS 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine for the first time.

As a result, the SVAutobiography is the most luxurious and powerful series-production Range Rover in the model’s successful 45-year history.

For the first time on Range Rover, customers of the 2016 Model Year SVAutobiography are able to specify a unique Duo-tone body colour option.

The combination of Santorini Black upper body and nine colour choices for the lower body create true distinction and individualism.

The 2016 Model Year vehicle is distinguished with new Range Rover bonnet lettering and the tailgate is adorned with the new SVAutobiography badging.

The unique front grille is finished in distinctive Graphite Atlas and polished chrome, further promoting its visual differentiation.

New to Range Rover for 2016 Model Year, the SVAutobiography offers the option of a sliding loadspace floor.

Made from beautifully crafted aluminium and a choice of veneer options, the floor extends rearwards to optimise practicality and ease of use for loading and unloading.

The all-aluminium 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine, used to power the high performance Range Rover Sport SVR, has been re-tuned for the SVAutobiography.

The potent engine produces an outstanding 550PS and 680Nm of torque, noticeable increases of 40PS and 55Nm respectively, compared with existing V8 supercharged Range Rover derivatives.

With maximum torque available at 3,500rpm and a smooth and sophisticated ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, the SVAutobiography provides a breath-taking blend of performance, in-gear flexibility and refinement.

Alongside the V8 supercharged engine, SVAutobiography customers can choose from the SDV6 Hybrid and SDV8 powertrain  derivatives with increases in efficiency and performance for the 2016 Model Year.


Controversial app turns smartphone into speed camera

                LONDON: Speedcam Anywhere is a British mobile application that lets users measure, with great accuracy, the speed of any car, just by filming it for a few seconds.

Currently only available in the UK, it is, not surprisingly, proving somewhat controversial.

With this application, anyone can turn their smartphone into a mobile speed camera.

The app’s founder, identified as Sam (not his real name), was reported by The Guardian as saying that he hoped widespread use of the app would alert police to speeding hotspots and encourage them to take more action to prevent dangerous driving. “I think this is a step in the bigger journey of how we make our roads safer and more accessible for everybody."

To find out the speed of a car, all a user has to do is point the phone camera at the vehicle and film it for a few seconds (in a stationary position, without following it). The film will then be analysed, and the vehicle's speed calculated to an accuracy of about 3kph.

Note that the application works on the basis of credits. For £14.99 (RM83), the user is entitled to analyse no less than 1,000 videos.

Each video is uploaded to the publisher's servers and analysed by algorithms.

The result is a complete and precise report sent by email.

This report indicates the precise location where the action was filmed, as well as the speed of the vehicle, compared to the authorised speed.

This report also specifies the air quality and the noise pollution level of the area, as well as the latest road accident statistics.

While the application is able to identify the make, model and year of the vehicle, it does not record the licence plate number and therefore does not provide any information about the owner of the car.

This application has been designed for use in urban areas, where pedestrians are particularly at risk from speeding vehicles. It is recommended to use the application while standing at the side of the road. In no case should it be used from a moving vehicle.

The publisher specified that in Britain, it is authorised to take pictures of private property and people in public spaces, with the notable exception of minors.

However, the law varies from country to country, which explains why, for the moment, Speedcam Anywhere is only available in the UK, on Google Play (Android) only.


Ultra fast 5G network to usher in autonomous vehicles

                SEOUL: As mobile data networks offer high speed connectivity, autonomous vehicles fully connected to their surroundings are expected to become a reality in the near future.

While other technologies will be required for the commercialisation of self-driving cars, South Korean carrier SK Telecom zeroed in on how next-generation 5G networks will serve as a foundation for these futuristic vehicles in a live demonstration here Tuesday.

At the 240,000 square-meter BMW Driving Range in Incheon, SKT unveiled the T5, an experimental connected car running on a 5G trial network deployed by SKT and Ericsson. Two T5 units were built by installing 5G terminals inside two BMW vehicles - the new X5 and X7.

5G, which is geared for full commercialization in 2020, is an ultra-fast data network offering up to 200 times faster transmission speeds than the existing 4G Long-Term Evolution networks. 5G has extremely low latency or delays caused when transmitting large amounts of data.

This ultra-fast network is considered an integral part of enabling stable and continuous communication between a car and any entity that may affect it, including other cars, road sensors and pedestrians. Achieving this constant connectivity is a prerequisite to developing safe and reliable autonomous cars.

During the Tuesday demonstration, two T5 vehicles travelled on the road while communicating in real-time with each other. When the vehicle in front suddenly braked at a blind corner, it sent a video via 5G to the nearby vehicle, which was immediately informed of the incident.

In addition, adrone flying overhead consistently provided streaming footage of a birds eye view of the roads to offer the driver a more wholesome picture of the road situation, potential accidents and blockades.

Such features can help prevent accidents and improve road safety, because drivers can be informed of what lies ahead beyond their own view, said rapper-turned-racer Kim Jin-pyo, who ran the test drive on behalf of SKT.

According to SKTs chief technology officer Choi Jin-sung, the Tuesday demonstration marked the worlds first field case in which a 5G trial network was applied to a connected car traveling on the road to offer a glimpse of 5Gs real-life future applications.

If 5G is the next-generation network platform, connected cars are the services that function within that platform, Choi said. 5G is going to lead us to technologies that have never been seen before.In terms of transportation, connected cars would obtain unlimited data on their surroundings via 5G, making driving, parking and general car navigation more convenient and eventually autonomous.

The time spent driving would be filled by other tasks, Choi said.Looking ahead, 5G networks are likely to be commercialized worldwide in 2020.

However, this does not necessarily suggest that self-driving cars will also become available by then as well, said Martin Woehrle, BMW Group Koreas senior director and head of R&D Center Korea.

The timetable of autonomous driving is independent of 5G development, said Woehrle, pointing out that while 5G is a core part of autonomous vehicles, there are still many steps left in merging a stable 5G network to a moving vehicle.

For instance, beams and antennas in the cars must be designed in a way so that we can use 5G in automobiles traveling at 250 kph. Once we get reliable signals, we can move forward, he said. - The Korea Herald/ANN


Haval H9 preview unit on display in Shah Alam

                SHAH ALAM: Go Auto Sales, the exclusive distributor of Haval cars in Malaysia, has brought in the seven-seater H9 sport utility vehicle (SUV) for customer viewing at its showroom in Shah Alam.

Haval is known as China's biggest SUV brand, driven by high demand for its H6 which competes against the likes of the Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V.

The H9 has a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine with direct injection and dual VVT that produces 241hp at 5,500rpm and 350Nm of torque at 1,800 to 4,500rpm.

This is mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission and it comes with Intelligent four-wheel drive system with Auto, 4L, Sport, Sand, Mud, and Snow drive modes that can be selected via a rotary dial shifter.

The H9 is quite a large beast as it measures 4,856mm (length) and 1,926mm (width) and 1,900mm (height) with a 2,800mm wheelbase.

In  comparison, the seven-seater Toyota Fortuner has a smaller footprint as it measures 4,795mm (length), 1,855mm (width) and 1,835mm (height) with a 2,745mm wheelbase.

The right-hand unit on display in Shah Alam has Australian market specifications, and the interior looks premium with dark leather upholstery, powered front and third row seats, an eight-inch touchscreen display, and a powered panoramic sunroof.

Features include automatic rain-sensing wipers, paddle shifters for gear changes, auto stop-start function, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill Descent Control, Hill-start Assist Control, Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS), Auto Hold and electronic parking brake, brake assist, automatic xenon headlamps and LED daytime running lights, and LED rear lamps.

It has 265/60 R18 tyres and gets a front double-wishbone suspension with a rear multi-link, as well as all-round disc brakes.

A notable design feature is the large swing-out rear tail-gate (like the Ford Ecosport) which is not commonly used by automakers.

Fuel consumption is rated at 10.9 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

Prices of the H9 are not available as the car has not been officially launched.

At a preview of the H9 earlier last year, Go Auto Sales had stated the H9 would retail at less than RM200,000 and would be available in Luxury and Ultra variants.

Imported units would be delivered in Malaysia initially, with a locally assembled H9 model due to be available in mid-2019.


Drink-drivers will pay stiffer penalties

                KUALA LUMPUR: Stiffer penalties await those who cause death due to recklessness or driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in the newly-passed Road Transport (Amendment) Bill 2020.

The Bill was passed in the Dewan Rakyat with a simple voice vote.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the amendments to the Bill were done comprehensively to tackle the problem.

He emphasised that the law was not meant to deprive people of their right to consume alcohol.

“It doesn’t matter to me if you want to drink all you want and even swim in a pool of alcohol, but it becomes my concern when you drive after doing so, ” he said in his ministerial reply on the Bill today.

Dr Wee said the government was not only using legislation to address the issue but also the three E-elements of education, engineering of road conditions and enforcement.

“We cannot only use one of the elements or neglect all of them. When there is awareness and enforcement is done, then people will be more afraid to get behind the wheel after drinking, ” he said.

Dr Wee denied that the increase in penalties was aimed to boost government revenue, adding that the punishment was meant to deter reckless driving or driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

He said discussions were being held with e-hailing companies to display stickers on their vehicles to encourage those under the influence of alcohol to use their service instead of driving themselves.

Some lawmakers, while debating the Bill, also called for increased allocations for enforcement agencies to acquire more equipment to test drunk drivers.

Dr Wee agreed to this proposal and hoped that the relevant ministries, such as Home and Finance, would consider increasing the allocation for this.

Among the amendments to the Bill include those charged with causing death due to dangerous or reckless driving can face up to 10 years imprisonment and fined up to RM50,000 if convicted.

The Bill proposed that those charged under Section 41 for dangerous or reckless driving causing death could face between five and 10 years as well as a fine of not less than RM20,000 and not more than RM50,000.

They will also have their driving licence suspended for five years if convicted.

Currently, Section 41 of the Act states that those guilty of the offence face between two and 10 years of jail and a fine between RM5,000 and RM20,000.

Meanwhile, the Bill also proposed that those who are charged with dangerous or reckless driving can also have their driving licence suspended for a period of five years, an increase of three years compared to the two years currently.

It also proposed that those charged under Section 43 for careless and inconsiderate driving also face a fine of between RM5,000 and RM10,000, as well as be liableto a jail term of not more than 12 months for the first offence.

The Bill also proposed that anyone who drives a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, liquor or drug to an extent of being incapable of having proper control over the vehicle, or has alcohol content exceeding the limit can, and cause the death of anyone can be jailed between 10 and 15 years, and fined between RM50,000 and RM100,000.

Those convicted under this section will also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 10 years from the date of conviction.

Those who drive a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, liquor or drugs and to an extent of being incapable of having proper control over the vehicle, or has alcohol content exceeding the limit, and cause injury to anyone will also be prosecuted under the amendment.

They shall be liable to a jail term of between seven and 10 years and a fine of between RM30,000 and RM50,000.

The Bill also seeks to amend Section 45 G to lower the prescribed limit of alcohol content allowed in an individual to be lowered to 22mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath; 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood; or 67mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine.

Currently, the prescribed limit of alcohol content allowed in an individual is 35mg of alcohol in 100ml of alcohol; 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood; or 107mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine.


2018 Geneva Motor Show: Renault EZ-GO ‘robo-vehicle' concept breaks cover

GENEVA: Renault unveiled its new urban mobility concept, EZ-GO, in a world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, Switzerland, which opens to the public March 8, 2018.

Renault bills this fully electric concept as a "robo-vehicle," specially designed for public or private transportation in urban environments.

It is, in fact, a kind of car-sharing system that's both connected and autonomous, designed to simplify urban transportation with a stress-free system.

Renault EZ-GO has level-four autonomous driving capability, which means the vehicle is able to manage its distance from the vehicle in front, stay in lane, change lanes and turn all by itself at a junction. Note that the vehicle's speed is limited to 50kph.

The concept is presented both as a vehicle and a service which, connected to city infrastructure and using intelligent sensors, could play a key role in keeping traffic fluid in the smart cities of the future. It could, in fact, provide an alternative to individual cars and public transport.

EZ-GO is the first model in a series of concept cars that Renault will reveal over the course of 2018 (including at the next Paris Motor Show) as the firm continues to develop its mobility services.

Renault's stand at the Geneva Motor Show also showcases the 2018 version of the ZOE, with a new more powerful R110 motor, as well as the new Renault Talisman S-Edition, a relatively sporty version of the family sedan that gets the new 1.8 TCe 225 petrol engine with 225hp and 300Nm torque.


French national rail backs futuristic Hyperloop

                LAS VEGAS: Hyperloop One startup, intent on zipping people along at near-supersonic speeds in pressurized tubes, announced Tuesday that the French national rail company had joined its growing list of backers.

Hyperloop One said that it raised US$80 million in fresh funding from an array of investors, including GE Ventures and France’s SNCF.

“The overwhelming response we’ve had already confirms what we’ve always known, that Hyperloop One is at the forefront of a movement to solve one of the planet’s most pressing problems,” Hyperloop One co-founder Shervin Pishevar said.

“The brightest minds are coming together at the right time to eliminate the distances and borders that separate economies and cultures.”

Pishevar and Brogan BamBrogan founded Hyperloop One, originally named Hyperloop Technologies, in 2013 to make real Elon Musk’s well-researched vision of a lightning-fast transport system with the potential to transform how people live.

Musk outlined his futuristic idea in a paper released in 2013, challenging innovators to bring the dream to life.
Hyperloop One, one of the startups that picked up the gauntlet Musk threw down, plans a demonstration Wednesday in the desert outside Las Vegas to show what it has accomplished so far.

BamBrogan also promised a “full-scaled, full-speed” demo by the end of the year. “It’s not just a faster train; it is an absolute on-demand experience,” he said during a presentation here late Tuesday. “It leaves when you get there and goes directly to your destination.”

He went on to playfully describe Hyperloop as having such a controlled environment that it would be “elevator smooth” as well as “pet friendly, kid friendly, grandma friendly.”

Hyperloop One is so confident in the speed at which the project is moving that it announced a global challenge in which businesses, governments, citizens, academics and others can submit proposals for where the systems should be built.

“Just like an Olympics bidding process, we want to understand the great ideas in the world and then extract the best one,” Hyperloop One chief executive Rob Lloyd said. “So after we had our Kitty Hawk moment, we can start to transform the world.”

Late last year, Lloyd said in an online post that the team was working towards a “Kitty Hawk” moment in 2016. The Wright brothers made history with the first successful powered airplane flight just outside the North Carolina town of Kitty Hawk in 1903.

The post came with word of an agreement to use an industrial park in the city of North Las Vegas to conduct a Propulsion Open Air Test of the blazingly fast rail system.

Lloyd described it at the time as a very important step on the way to realizing Hyperloop One’s full potential.
“Our‘Kitty Hawk’ moment refers to our first full system, full scale, full speed test,” he said.

“This will be over two miles of tube with a controlled environment and inside that tube we will levitate a pod and accelerate it to over 1,125kph."

Hyperloop One boasted of a growing network of collaborators interested in seeing the technology succeed and using it to revolutionise the way people and cargo get around. Lloyd envisioned a day when factories could crank out goods on demand to have them quickly transported to far-off locations, then perhaps even delivered in autonomous vehicles.

He was also looking forward to a time when painfully congested commuter traffic would be little more than a story from a time gone by. “I think this is going to change human behaviour,” AECOM multi-national engineering firm new ventures vice president Andrew Liu said while taking part in an onstage exchange between some of those lending expertise to Hyperloop One.

“I believe it will do to the physical world what the Internet did to the digital world... My son may never know what a long-distance relationship is because 300 or 400 miles will be a 20-minute commute.”


Continental picks a lifer as CEO to reverse profit erosion

                FRANKFURT: Continental AG picked a company lifer who runs its automotive business to become chief executive officer and lead the parts supplier through one of the industry’s most wrenching restructurings.

Nikolai Setzer, 49, will succeed Elmar Degenhart at Europe’s second-largest car-parts maker effective Dec 1, the Hanover, Germany-based manufacturer said in a statement. Degenhart, 61, announced his resignation last month, citing health issues.

Setzer headed Continental’s auto business after previously leading its high-margin tyre division. He joined the tyre-development operations in 1997 after studying mechanical engineering and economies in Germany and France.

 Setzer (left) will take over from Degenhart starting Dec 1.

He’ll have no time to waste putting his experience running the company’s two key divisions to work. Continental is in the midst of a cost-cutting drive affecting as many as 30,000 jobs after the Covid-19 pandemic triggered the most dramatic industry slump in decades.

The manufacturer has widened cutbacks this year and on Wednesday provided a muted outlook for 2020, forecasting profitability to shrink for the fourth time in five years. Investors are concerned Continental hasn’t been nimble enough to keep up with the industry’s tectonic shift towards electric and self-driving vehicles.

“Setzer needs to show that he can drive change despite being part of the management team that is criticised for the current problems,” Jefferies analyst Sascha Gommel said. “Investors are asking themselves what Conti will look like in 5 or 10 years and the company has not been successful in sharing their vision.”


One-millionth Mazda MX-5 set to go on 18-stop US tour

                LOS ANGELES: The one-millionth Mazda MX-5 is going to the United States on an 18-stop tour that begins at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the Monterey Motorsports Reunion from Aug 18-21.

The car will travel the country, ending at the same venue Oct 1-2 for Miatas (aka MX-5) at Mazda Raceway. Along the way, thousands of loyal MX-5 owners and influential people in MX-5’s early history and development—as well as those helping write the next chapter in the MX-5’s destiny—will be involved in the tour.

Since the announcement of the production of the one-millionth Mazda MX-5 Miata this past April, Mazda has been taking the vehicle on a worldwide appreciation tour to thank fans and owners for their loyalty toward making the MX-5 the best-selling roadster of all time, as well as the torchbearer of "pure driving joy".

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The MX-5 is the 2016 World Car of the Year and also picked up the World Car Design of the Year award.

For the duration of the Millionth Miata Celebration Tour, the one-millionth car—a right-hand-drive Japanese-specification soft top equipped with a 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-G engine—will be traveling with the progenitor of the line, the 15th Miata ever built. A Classic Red 1990 model that made its world debut at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show, this 27-year-old classic is owned by Mazda North American Operations and is part of the company’s Heritage Collection.

At each tour stop, the first 240 owners and fans will have the opportunity to sign the one-millionth MX-5, and around 400 attendees will receive a commemorative “Millionth Miata Celebration Tour” T-shirt at each tour stop. Among the cities the millionth MX-5 will travel to are Boston, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas and Houston.

Locations were chosen based on MX-5 sales history, as well as overwhelming enthusiasm from owners’ clubs that expressed interest when Mazda North American Operations announced the tour.


Perodua's new registrations in August jumped to 6,988 units

                RAWANG: Perodua registered a significant rise of 6,988 vehicles in August compared with only 655 units in July as Perodua’s manufacturing and sales arms gradually resume their operations after the nationwide lockdown was lifted on Aug 16.

Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the company expected the production and registration numbers to rise higher in September as the situation normalised.

All of Perodua’s operations were halted in accordance with the national lockdown introduced on June 1 to control the spread of Covid-19.

On a year-to-date basis, Perodua registered 104,933 vehicles or a 12.5% drop compared with 119,977 vehicles sold between January and August last year.

“We are working on closing this gap by further increasing our manufacturing output as well as further improving our standard operating procedures to ensure the safety of our people and our customers,” Zainal said.

“Based on the time and resources available, we are reducing our sales target by 10.8% to 214,000 units for this year from our earlier target of 240,000 units,” he said.

“Our main concern now is to ensure that the automotive industry will be able to sustain itself this year as Covid-19 and the semiconductor supply shortage continue to haunt the manufacturers both domestically and globally,” Zainal said.

On the semiconductor chip shortage, Zainal said that Perodua was able to secure enough to ensure production would resume smoothly this year and that most of Perodua’s outstanding order would be met within the year.

“For now, the semiconductor chip supply is still a global issue and we are working with our partners and suppliers to limit any disruption it may cause,” he said.


Govt plans to unveil ‘flying car’ prototype as early as October

The two-seat Vector that was showcased in Langkawi in March. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The government plans to unveil the prototype of the so-called “flying vehicle” project as early as this October, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof said all the intellectual property including design, cost and software of the air mobility vehicle will be fully owned by the local company that is developing it.

“The ministry only plays its role as a development facilitator of the air mobility industry ecosystem, especially in the drafting of policies, regulations and support for local players to fulfil the need of the industry,” he told Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS-Pasir Puteh) during question time.

Nik Muhammad Zawawi had asked the ministry on the status of the development of the flying vehicle project.

The model of the two-seat flying car known as Vector made its debut in March at this year's Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition, which was attended by the Prime Minister.

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Mohd Redzuan said the air mobility industry was among the areas identified by the ministry that has high marketability potential in local and international markets.

This is especially important in the infrastructure, security, agriculture sectors, he added.

“The air mobility industry uses the latest application technology like drones, big data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), mobility and the Internet of Things (IoT), which are growing swiftly at the international level,” said Mohd Redzuan.

He said that if the government does not provide the ecosystem needed and laws required by local players and companies, Malaysia would be left behind.

“We have started discussions with relevant ministries, including the Transport Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority, to look into some space and the laws needed so we will be prepared and allow the industry to grow.

“Other countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have invited us to see the launch of their flying vehicle project and they have started to create laws from three years ago,” he added.

The flying car project is separate from the proposed third national car project mooted by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.


Nissan among the first to trial all-electric, heavy-duty trucks for new vehicle deliveries

                LOS ANGELES: Nissan is now using two battery electric vehicle (BEV) heavy-duty, Class 8 trucks to deliver new vehicles from the Port of Los Angeles to dealerships here.

Two major manufacturers of electric heavy-duty trucks, Nikola and Kenworth, will each provide trucks that will pull traditional car haulers. The program is being conducted in collaboration with logistics partner Avant-Garde Auto Logistics LLC, a woman-owned transportation company headquartered in Smyrna, Tenn.

In addition, Nissan collaborated with current logistics partner Wallenius Wilhelmsen to install a charging solution to support the trucks operating from the port.

"Exploring the use of BEV trucks for new vehicle delivery is an important milestone in our journey toward carbon neutrality throughout our business," said Chris Styles, vice president, Supply Chain Management, Nissan North America.

"By being an early adopter of this technology, we're showcasing our innovative spirit and positioning ourselves to meet our long-term goals for zero-tailpipe-emission transportation."

The first dealership deliveries with the BEV trucks, to Downey Nissan in California, included Nissan's all-new, all-electric crossover, the 2023 Ariya.

Nissan said Ariya combines the latest in its technology and cutting-edge design. The crossover offers an option for everyone with eight grade levels. Ariya FWD trims are on sale now, with deliveries of e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive trims to follow this spring.

The proof-of-concept project will help Nissan and its logistics partners understand more about the use of all-electric trucks for vehicle delivery. Following the initial trial with four BEV car hauler trucks, Nissan plans to deploy additional trucks in the Los Angeles area. Building on lessons learned from these projects, Nissan could eventually begin using BEV trucks for a variety of logistics uses.

As one of the first automakers to use all-electric heavy-duty trucks to transport new vehicles to dealerships, Nissan builds on its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality across its operations by 2050.

As part of the company's Ambition 2030 plan, Nissan has a target of 40% of its US sales being electric by 2030, with more to be electrified.