Mercedes-Benz issues special edition G-Class

The G-Class designo manufaktur Edition (left) and the Exclusive Edition.
STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz has taken the wraps off two new special editions of its iconic G-Wagon SUV as the venerable off-roader moves into its final year of production.

Mercedes is clearly finding it hard to say "goodbye" to the G-Wagon. The company's first SUV, which has been on sale without a major overhaul since 1979 was set to bow out this year with the uber-luxurious, US$500,000+ (over RM2mil) drop-top Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet special edition.

But now Mercedes is also offering buyers the chance to snap up two other limited-run G Wagons and while they both come with a premium price tag, unlike the Landaulet, they're not capped at 99 examples.

The new "designo manufaktur" Edition is available with either a 3-litre, six-cylinder diesel or a 5.4-litre V8 under its bonnet and a choice of three special exterior paint finishes and comes with five-spoke AMG alloy wheels as standard.

 The Exclusive Edition interior.

Inside, there's piano black lacquer trim pieces, nappa leather appointments and a sports steering wheel plus seats that can automatically raise or lower their temperature, and illuminated doorsills.

The designo manufaktur Edition will retail from €109,878.65 (RM519,000) depending on powertrain.

However, for those with more disposable income, there's the G 63 AMG and G 65 AMG Exclusive Editions, the latter of which will cost €287,658.70 (around RM1.4mil).

 The 'designo manufaktur' Edition.

But for that financial outlay, owners will get a car with a stainless steel underguard, exclusive alloy wheels, and AMG body enhancements on the outside, and lashings of the finest quality animal hides on the inside.

The cabin is dressed in two-tone leather and the seats and door panels have a quilted leather finish. The parts of the dashboard console that aren't wrapped in hide are finished in a choice of carbon fibre or Piano black lacquered veneer and owners can even specify for the roof-mounted grab handles to be leather wrapped to complete the look.


Refreshed Mercedes-AMG C 63 comes with more custom options

                AFFALTERBACH (Germany): Mercedes-AMG has revealed the facelifted C 63, which promises better dynamics and a more modern interior with extended individualisation options.

The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G transmission with wet start-off clutch makes for an even more agile gearshift response.

Engine output remains  unchanged from the prevfious C 63.. The 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine is available in two output variants rated at 476hp or 510hp for all body styles and delivers a performance on a par with that of a sports car – the top speed of C 63 S sedan and coupé is 290 kph.

Transmission is upgraded from the 7-speed automatic sports transmission to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G transmission with wet start-off clutch.

Six different drive programs are now offered: Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Race and Individual. There is a new transmission technology called AMG Dynamics, which changes the car's handling according to driving conditions. It offers four modes of Basic, Advanced, Pro and Master, which are automatically selected by the respective drive program. AMG Dynamics alters the car's steering, handling, ride, throttle response, shifting action and the function of the limited-slip differential.

For added fun with the C 63, the car can be specified with the optional AMG Track Pace program. In this case, the instrument cluster shows the "AMG TRACK PACE" menu, with visualisations of race tracks, sector and lap times. There is also a specific AMG TRACK PACE view in the optional head-up display (HUD) with circuit graphic, bends, braking points, delta speed and absolute times.

Visually, the looks of the new C 63 are even more emotionally appealing: the AMG-specific Panamericana grille underscores the brand identity while emphasising the muscular appearance.

The interior benefits from an optional fully digital cockpit with unmistakable AMG displays and the new generation of AMG steering wheels.

"The AMG C-Class is our best-selling model series and therefore a key cornerstone of our company's success of recent years. We have therefore increasingly expanded our C-Class offer: customers can now choose between twelve models from the C-Class family. As part of the latest facelift, we have upgraded all variants of the model series even more substantially," says Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

"This relates to the 43-series models and especially, of course, to the AMG C 63. The perfected driving dynamics and expressive design underscore the powerful, muscular character of the rear-wheel drive icon."

The impressive driving dynamics are based, among other things, on the elaborately retuned AMG RIDE CONTROL steel suspension with adaptive damping adjustment, the electronically controlled rear-axle limited-slip differential which is now also standard on all C 63 variants, and the dynamic engine mounts, which are part of the standard equipment on all C 63 S models.

The facelift changes apply to sedan, wagon, coupé and cabriolet of the C 63. The C 63 series will be on display at the March 30-April 8 New York Motor Show. It will go on sale in early 2019.


Toyota to sell first hybrid car made in Brazil

                SAO PAULO: Toyota Motor Corp said it will begin building a new version of the Corolla sedan in Brazil that will run on electricity, ethanol and gas, which it says will be the first vehicle of its kind in the world.

Brazil, which is South America’s largest auto producer, has largely resisted the shift toward electric and hybrid vehicle production that has swept through more developed markets.

Some of Toyota’s competitors in Brazil, including General Motors and Volkswagen AG, have said they will import electric vehicles but do not plan to produce them domestically.

The announcement was made in a news conference hosted by Sao Paulo state governor Joao Doria. Toyota said the car will be produced in the state, at its Indaiatuba plant, which will receive an investment of 1 billion reais(RM1.06bil).

Toyota said in a statement that it made the decision to build the Corolla in Brazil in part thanks to a package of tax incentives passed by the country’s Congress, known as Rota 2030.

Unlike in most markets around the world, ethanol is a common car fuel in Brazil. Toyota already imports the hybrid Prius to Brazil.


Socar rolls out affordable plans for delivery agents and SMEs

                KUALA LUMPUR: Socar Mobility Malaysia launched their Business Mobility plan in an effort to assist delivery agents as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with transport solutions.

As part of the first phase of the rollout during the MCO period, the packages for the plan (not applicable for the one-way Intercity discount) starts from as low as RM4 per hour or RM200 for five days across Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Baru and Ipoh.

Delivery agents and business operators would have a variety of cars to choose fro, including Perodua Axia, Honda City, Honda Jazz, Toyota Vios, Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Rush among others.

Other benefits include free petrol worth 20km for every hour booked (capped at 240km for 12 hours booking) and SOCAR-2-YOU delivery service for areas within the coverage area.

Additionally, a pre topped up petrol card option upon request via email at help@socar.my can be provided.

The final payable amount is subject to the selection of car model, insurance and service tax while car models are subject to availability.

Delivery agents and SMEs interested in the plan will need to log on to the official website and register their details.

Successful applicants will then be notified with a promo code that can be applied and redeemed on the Socar app and is available for download on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

“We chose to roll out the first phase of SOCAR Business Mobility plan during this time to help lessen the burden of operating cost and at the same time be a reliable alternative for these business operators,” said SOCAR Mobility Malaysia CEO Leon Foong.


BMW moulds a sportier i3

                MUNICH: The new BMW i3 has a sportier cousin, the new BMW i3s which will make its world premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt/Main in September.

The new BMW i3s has  a high-performance 135 kW/184hp electric motor that generates peak torque of 270Nm.

What’s more, the new BMW i3s boasts sports suspension with specially developed springs, dampers and anti-roll bars.

Just 6.9 seconds is enough to see the new BMW i3s burst past 100 kph on its way to a top speed of 160kph. It returns a combined electric power consumption of 14.3 kWh per 100 kilometres on the NEDC cycle.

Its electric range runs to 280km based on the NEDC cycle, 235 to 245km  and up to 200km in everyday use.

The new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s come equipped with all-LED headlights as standard, which employ LED bulb units for dipped beam and high beam as well as the daytime running lights. The new turn signal indicators also feature LED technology and are integrated into the front apron in the form of horizontal strips.

The front bumper is completely painted in the body colour and has a black U-shaped surround that reinforces the car’s presence when viewed from the front.

Moving round to the rear end, the powerfully moulded contours and the contrast in colour between the black surround and the body-coloured inlay again create an energetic and expressive appearance.

Like the exterior design, the interior styling of the new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s is rooted in the novel LifeDrive vehicle architecture.

The carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell has a wonderfully spacious feel about it and is dominated by a sense of lightness.

The Loft, Lodge and Suite equipment lines are available for the new BMW i3 and new BMW i3s as alternatives to the standard Atelier version.


2014 car sales at all-time high, says MAA

                KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's car industry recorded a total industry volume (TIV) of 666,465 units for 2014, an all-time high, said the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

The TIV eclipsed 2013's 655,793 units, it said.

Its president, Datuk Aishah Ahmad, said the strong 2014 performance was attributed to factors like a stable economy and employment rate, positive consumers' sentiment and steady consumer spending, particularly during the first half of the year.

For this year, Aishah said, MAA has put TIV forecast at 680,000 units.

"The forecast would be two per cent higher from last year's 1.6 per cent," Aishah said at a media briefing on industry market review for 2014 and outlook for 2015.

She said the forecast was in tandem with the challenge of the global economic uncertainties such as the declining crude oil prices, downgraded world economic outlook and the weakening ringgit.

Aishah said the continuation of the Economic Transformation Programme projects would contribute to the growth momentum of the local economies and help spur greater demand for new vehicles.

"Aggresive promotional campaigns by car companies, especially local players such as Proton and Perodua that have a higher market share of 49 per cent in 2014, are likely to boost TIV this year.

"However, with the tightening of hire purchase loans from the banks to curb household debts, it might be a challenge for the low-end cars."


Sony to launch firm to explore making electric cars

                TOKYO: The Japanese firm, better known for its TVs and video game consoles, will create the Sony Mobility subsidiary in spring 2022 as it weighs entering the field.

Sony chief executive officer Kenichiro Yoshida unveiled at the CES tech show in Las Vegas the Vision-S 02, a new version of the firm's first prototype that has begun road testing.

Through this new branch, the electronics giant "intends to explore entry into the EV market," it said in a statement.

The Vision-S is packed with internal and external sensors and is used by Sony to test its autonomous driving technologies.

The company is also working on entertainment systems.

The electric vehicle sector is still small, accounting for only about three percent of current sales in the United States but it is attracting a lot of interest and investment.

General Motors has planned to invest more than US$35 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles by 2025.

Authorities in the United States plan to spend billions of dollars to strengthen the network of charging stations or encourage individuals to abandon their fossil fuel-powered vehicles.


Toyota teases 2019 Supra's power with clip of its roaring engine

                BRUSSELS: Toyota has posted a 30s-video featuring the growl of the 2019 Supra's straight six.

As the world is patiently waiting - some of us not-so-patiently waiting - for the reveal of the 2019 Supra, the company continues to feed us more teasers, and, this time, we got far more than words and camouflaged images.

In the 30-second long video that Toyota uploaded to its European YouTube channel, we got half of a minute of pure Supra engine sounds accompanied by some blurred imagery of the bright red model sans camo.

Chief engineer Tetsuya Tada indicated back in July that the new Supra holds true to its characteristic inline six-cylinder engine (the same as BMW's new Z4), which is reiterated in the video. He also confirmed that, like previous models, the engine that is mounted up front powers the rear wheels.

The video goes on to confirm the engine's 3-litre capacity, but we still don't know the horsepower; reports say that it's somewhere above 350hp, maybe even above 380hp. The Z4 puts out 340hp, though that model is definitely designed more as a leisure sportscar than a hardcore performer like the Supra is turning out to be.

Unfortunately for Toyota and perhaps fortunately for us, the Supra's exterior was leaked just last week, so even though the clip shows a fuzzy silhouette, a clear shot is already circulating.

Toyota's new video concludes with the date and location for the unveiling of the car: Jan 14 at the Detroit Auto Show. Just a couple days later, though, the 001 model is heading to the auction house in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you can't make it out to either, you can always settle for the Supra's signature camouflage in the form of very limited-edition holiday wrapping paper; after all, it's for a good cause.


Cops cripple gang for allegedly stealing building materials for Pan Borneo Highway project

                SIBU: Police in Dalat have crippled a three-member gang for allegedly stealing building materials for the Pan Borneo Highway project.

"The theft was reported in Dalat on Aug18 by a site foreman working with the construction company at KM49 of the Pan Borneo Highway.

“Losses were estimated at about RM10,000," said Dalat OCPD, Deputy Supt Saga Chunggat.

Saga said the three suspects were apprehended in Sibu following a tip-off from the public.

READ MORE: Sarawak to finance Northern Coastal Highway

"The success was due to public tip off. The first suspect was arrested by the public and later handed over to the police," he said today.

This led to the arrest of two more suspects. A lorry fully loaded with stolen items which included iron rods and cables were also confiscated.

"With the arrest of the suspects, we believe that we have solved the case of stolen property belonging to sub-contractors along Pan-Borneo Stapang/Selanggau area," he said.

All three suspects have been detained at the Dalat police station for further investigation.


Ferrari's orders accelerate after virus hit to full-year outlook

                MILAN: Ferrari trimmed its full-year earnings forecast on Monday after second-quarter income fell 60% due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, but said orders were “very strong,” sending the luxury carmaker’s shares up nearly 4%.

Chief executive Louis Camilleri told analysts that last quarter’s order book was up double digits (percentage) in absolute terms, versus the same period of last year.

“Demands remains vibrant and our order book is up significantly,” Camilleri said.

The company said its sales in April-June had been hit by production suspensions and significantly lower sponsorship and commercial and brand revenues due to the pandemic, which has caused a slump in car sales around the world.

That resulted in a 60% drop in adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to 124 million euros in the second quarter, in line with an average forecast of 120 million euros from analysts polled by Reuters.

Ferrari now expects full-year adjusted EBITDA of between 1.075 billion-1.125 billion euros, versus the guidance provided in May for adjusted EBITDA of between 1.05 billion and 1.20 billion.

Morgan Stanley analysts said given the circumstances second-quarter results were strong. “The full year 2020 guidance, while lowered marginally at the midpoint and below consensus, is extremely high quality and sets up 2021 for a significant year on year (improvement),” they said.

The company’s shares closed 3.8% higher.

Ferrari, which makes high performance models such as the F8 Spider, the SF 90 Stradale hybrid and top-selling Portofino grand tourer, said it was also hit by the temporary suspension of the Formula 1 season which resulted in a reduced number of races as well as reduced in-store traffic and museum visitors.

The carmaker, which also guided for a positive free cash flow this year, now expects revenue to top 3.4 billion euros in 2020, versus previous guidance of between 3.4 billion and 3.6 billion.

Ferrari is also pushing ahead with its strategy of new model roll-out to support growth and profitability, confirming that two new supercars would be unveiled by the end of this year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Things are slightly delayed but the plan remains intact,” Camilleri said. “Next year, we have some exciting models that will be presented”.


WATCH: All-electric Battista hypercar nears final tests

                ROME: Automobili Pininfarina's pure electric hyper GT - the Battista, has completed its first high-speed test programme at the Nardò Technical Centre in Italy.

The successful test marks the start of the next chapter in its development programme of the most powerful all-electric Italian sports car ever produced before starting to hand-build no more than 150 examples in Cambiano, Italy.

This will see nine test and validation versions of the Battista driven on public roads and in private test facilities to fine-tune, validate and homologate its bespoke chassis settings, advanced torque vectoring system and unique sound experience.

Test Driver and vehicle dynamics manager Georgios Syropoulos concluded a series of tests at the world-renown Nardò- ring proving grounds with its 6.2km handling track section and 12.6km circular banks for conducting sprints.

The Battista possesses a 120kWh battery that sends the charge to four electric motors – one for each wheel – for a combined power output of 1,900hp and maximum torque of 2,300Nm.

Its powertrain is able to intelligently distribute power between all four wheels for optimised traction in all conditions and allows customers to tailor the driving experience to suit their personal tastes using five unique driving modes of Calma (Calm), Pura (Pure), Energica (Energetic), Furiosa (Fury) and Carattere (Character).

The prototype Battista testing at the Nardò Technical Centre is not a stripped-out development mule but instead - beneath its carbon fibre skin, the cabin has been fully finished in luxury for engineers to assess every element of the new hyper GT.

The company says that its bespoked chassis setting will help to ensure the Battista hyper GT delivers a unique dynamic experience that can be tailored to suit every trip.

This test phase has allowed its engineers to develop and fine-tune a range of technologies to optimise the driving dynamics, including brakes featuring racing-inspired Brembo CCMR carbon-ceramic brake technology that's been blended with high-speed aerobrake and energy recuperation system.

The torque vectoring system utilises each of the four motors to ensure traction is delivered with confidence in all conditions.

Energy-neutral torque vectoring will be optimised to recuperate and shift electrical energy seamlessly for enhanced range and efficiency.

The tailored chassis settings, which took about 1,000 hours of virtual dynamic testing sees the Battista fitted with double-wishbone suspension components, forged aluminium wheels, torsion bars and elastokinematics.

All that will be evaluated and fine-tuned, to take full advantage of the Battista’s carbon fibre monocoque.

For each of the Battista's five driving modes, final software tuning and validation will take place on road and track before customers choose either a set of 20-inch Prezioso wheels or the lightweight 21-inch Impulso options and save 8.9kg in unsprung mass.

Regardless of wheel choice, they can be wrapped in either super-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R or Pirelli P Zero.

Following simulation and wind tunnel testing, the unique exterior design and active aerodynamics of the Battista will be fine-tuned during track testing to ensure the sculpted bodyworks delivers the refinement, aerodynamic stability and performance expected from a luxurious hyper GT.

The car's soundscape will be further refined both in-car and externally in all driving environments.

In production form, owners will be able to expect 0 to 100kph sprints to be dispatched in under 2.0 seconds - faster than a current Formula 1 car or 0 to 100kph in under 12 seconds before reaching a top speed of 350kph.

Other comfort/convenience accoutrements will include a seamless global roaming system thanks to a partnership with integrated communications leader, Deutsche Telekom.

The agreement ensures owners will enjoy online connectivity worldwide without interruption or incurring additional charges.

This advanced connectivity supports Over-The-Air technology, which is capable of remotely updating software for 26 individual control modules on the Battista, encompassing everything from the pure- electric powertrain to the infotainment.

Smart Diagnostics technology will also monitor the hyper GT to spot potential issues before they arise, bringing 21st century connectivity to the sector for the first time.

The suite of customer-friendly digital services offered with every Battista also includes complimentary charging in partnership with ChargePoint and the availability of a Pininfarina SpA-designed wall box in the same colour as the hypercar.

The Battista is named after Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, the founder of the Carrozzeria Pininfarina coachbuilding company, which he established in 1930.

The pure electric hyper GT is the realisation of Battista’s dream to see a car produced wearing the Pininfarina name.

“This test is an exciting moment for our clients and the team at Automobili Pininfarina as we complete another phase In the development of the most powerful Italian sports car ever made. We have undertaken extensive development using advanced simulation technology, and we can now fine-tune the calibration of Battista’s bespoke chassis and pioneering four-motor torque vectoring system on road and track," said Automobili Pininfarina chief product and engineering officer Paolo Dellachà.


Shanghai auto show crowds flock to BYD's Seagull

A group of visitors expressing great interest in the Seagull at the 2023 Auto Shanghai show. — Reuters
SHANGHAI: At the Shanghai auto show this week, the largest crowds can be found around an unassuming, bright yellow hatchback parked at the booth of China's largest electric carmaker BYD.

Dubbed the "Seagull", BYD's latest electric vehicle (EV) made its debut at the event this week, stunning visitors not so much for its look or its features, but the fact it will sell from just 78,000 yuan (RM50,242) - around half the price of the cheapest new energy vehicles available elsewhere.

"It’s my kind of car, it’s suitable for driving to and from work, and you don’t need to manage anything, just use the battery ... it's also a relatively low cost product," said Fan Yuhong, 28, a visitor to the fair who works in advertising and was among those at the booth.

The car is available in two range versions from 305km to 405km, with a fast charging system that will allow it to ramp up from 30% to 80% charge within 30 minutes, according to BYD. It will run on a lithium iron phosphate BYD Blade battery.

 The interior of the Seagull. - Screengrab from CarNewsChina

Bill Russo, the Shanghai-based founder and CEO of strategic advisory firm Automobility, predicts the Seagull will become the best selling car in China within six months of its launch.

"This redefines the whole market in terms of a price value proposition," he said.

In recent years, the rise of Chinese automakers has remade the competitive landscape of the world's largest auto market, and those companies, including BYD, are now readying to take their cut-throat domestic prices global by increasing exports.

Russo predicts the value proposition of the Seagull will be compelling to overseas customers.

"Affordability is attractive to everyone anywhere, whether it's an emerging market, the United States or Europe, this kind of car with this kind of value proposition will sell," he said.


French cops buy Alpine sports cars to chase robbers

                PARIS: French criminals will have to think twice about trying to outrun the cops, now that the police force is equipping itself with 26 high-speed Alpine 110 sports cars.

Manufacturer Renault announced the deal on Twitter and two of the cars with a top speed of 252kph have gone into service with the Gendarmie's rapid deployment unit, the Brigade Rapide d'Intervention.

The A110 can race from 0 to 100kph in 4.5 seconds.

The remaining cars will be delivered over the next four years, all finished in the Gendarmie's trademark blue, with striped red and yellow warning panels fore and aft along with sirens and radio equipment.

Reports said the French cars were chosen to replace its ageing Mégane R.S. hatchbacks on motorway patrols and they follow in the tradition of the first French police Renault Alpines bought in 1966.

"These vehicles will allow the police to carry out interventions on the motorway, involving high-speed cars, as part of road safety or judicial police missions,” said a statement from the Ministry of the Interior.

It seems the combination of the Alpine's high power and low emissions clinched the deal.

Police all over the world use performance-tuned cars for the high-speed pursuit of criminals, but the Alpine would be no match for the world's fastest police car, a thrilling Bugatti Veyron operated by the force in Dubai.

Police in Germany use the odd Porsche and BMW M2 to give chase while US police forces often rely on scary-looking SUVs to run down crooks.


Lexus offers sneak peek of Skyjet collaboration in Valerian epic

                TOKYO: Lexus has unveiled a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of the Skyjet collaboration, in celebrating its creative partnership with Luc Besson's upcoming sci-fi epic, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

The behind-the-scenes sneak peek also explains the brand's design and technology philosophy that inspired elements of the final Skyjet.

It offers a unique insight and experience into how Lexus collaborated with Luc Besson and his design team to bring the single-seat pursuit craft of the future to life on the big screen in spectacular fashion.

The design and technology series, which is available on Lexus International's website, chronicles the Skyjet journey from original concept, from the visionary mind of Luc Besson, to its visualization by Concept Designer Ben Mauro, through to Lexus' collaboration, which matched Luc's ambition for a vehicle befitting of the Valerian world, set 700 years in the future.

To find out more about Lexus' role in bringing the final Skyjet to life, visit https://www.lexus-int.com/

Taking the experience to another level, a short 90s 'Making of the Skyjet' video launches today, as part of the content series, providing an exclusive look at the Skyjet behind the scenes on-set with director Luc Besson and lead actor Dane DeHaan, in his role as titular character Valerian.

 Skyjet - Fuel Cell.

The video also features expert commentary from Producer, Virginie Besson-Silla, Valerian Concept Designer, Ben Mauro, and Lexus Chief Engineer, Takeaki Kato.

Lexus Chief Engineer, Takeaki Kato, comments, "Technology will constantly advance and many things far in the distant future are impossible to be certain of now, however, at Lexus, we continuously challenge ourselves to imagine them."

He added, "The cars of the future might be flying in the air, but as a luxury brand we consider essential that they remain emotional."

When designing the interior of the concept model, the Valerian creative team were inspired by Lexus' future vision in AI and advanced HMI technologies.

 Skyjet - Flying.

These showcase the brand's ambition for the vehicles to become at one with the driver, enabling control of the vehicle with simple hand gestures, such as with the LF-FC concept's hologram technology, or even with the human mind.

The Skyjet's final design incorporates an adapted interpretation of Lexus' signature "spindle" grille, and a similar headlight design to that of the 2017 Lexus LC coupe, defined by an athletic and aerodynamic shape.

What's more, the narrative is also set to incorporate an imagined energy capsule of the future, inspired by Lexus' work on innovative hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Fans will get another exclusive glimpse of the Skyjet as it whizzes through the Valerian world in the new Lexus Skyjet ad which launches today, ahead of the hotly anticipated global launch of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets in theaters on 21st July.


Budget 2023: Infra projects to ease traffic jams, perks to boost EV adoption extended

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will carry out several infrastructure projects to alleviate traffic congestion, which has affected tourist hotspots.

"A new road will be constructed from Habu to Tanah Rata in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, at a cost of RM480 million, and an upgrade of Jalan Tun Hamzah to the intersection of Semabok along the Lebuh AMJ in Central Melaka, at a cost of RM300 million,"  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said when presenting the 2023 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat today.

"A road and bridge will also be built over Sungai Sepang to connect Bukit Pelandok in Port Dickson and Sungai Pelek in Sepang, at a project cost of RM160 million."

Anwar also said that the highway network to Pengerang in Johor will be upgraded through the construction of an overtaking lane on the Senai Desaru Expressway.

"We will also widen the North-South Expressway, from North Yong Peng to North Senai - Phase 1, Johor, from four to six lanes, at a cost of RM525 million, in phases,” he said.

A total of RM250 million has been allocated to promote the tourism sector through the 2023 Budget.

Anwar said the total allocation was in line with the Visit Malaysia Year in 2025, with a targeted arrival of 23.5 million international tourists and a projected income of up to RM 76.8 billion.

The Unity Government, led by Anwar, presented the 2023 Budget today, which has allocated a total of RM388.1 billion, with RM289.1 billion for operating expenditure, and RM99 billion for development expenditure, including RM2 billion in contingency savings.

Other transport and infrastructure-related allocations included the following:

> The Government will cover the riding test fee for motorcycles class B2, and the driving test fee for taxis, buses and e-hailing licences.

> Expediting the construction of Sabah Pan Borneo Highway and Sarawak-Sabah Link Road involving a total cost of RM20bil and covering a distance of 1,000km

> RM2.7bil to maintain and upgrade federal roads.

> RM1.5bil to upgrade and build new rural roads.

> RM100,000 set aside to repair damaged fedreal roads in each district

> RM50mil for immediate installation of street lights especially in accident-prone areas

> The Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) grant increased to RM5.2bil. The system is used for the purpose of recording road data throughout the states.

> RM2.5bil for road projects in Sabah and Sarawak covering road projects, street lights as well as water and electric supply.

Although Anwar's tabling of Budget 2023 did not mention electric vehicles (EVs), there are incentives provided for EVs as set out on Page 77 of the Budget 2023 Touchpoints.

Basically, tax exemptions for fully imported and locally assembled EVs as well as parts have been extended two more years. There are also measures to encourage more EV chargers to be installed through Gentari and Tenaga Nasional.
Tax incentives to support EV adoption

> Full import duty exemption on components for locally assembled EV until Dec 31, 2027;
> Full excise duty and sales tax exemption on locally assembled CKD EV until Dec 31,  2027;
> Full import duty and excise duty exemption on imported CBU EV until Dec 31,  2025;
> Income tax exemption of 100% on statutory income of EV charging equipment manufacturers from the year of assessment 2023 to
the year of assessment 2032 and the Investment Tax Allowance of 100% for a period of 5 years; and
> Tax deductions for companies that rent EVs with a maximum amount of eligible rental amount limited to no more than 300,000

The Government expects 500 units of Gentari EV charging facilities to be installed nationwide, while Tenaga Nasional has been tasked to install EV charging facilities at 70 key locations to the tune of RM90mil. — Additional reporting from other sources


Man claims his bankrupt brother did not take car loan

                JOHOR BARU: A coffee shop assistant declared a bankrupt by the High Court here last year for failing to settle a car loan did not apply for it, claimed his brother.

Gan Kim Chai, 40, did not borrow the money to buy a second-hand car as the loan was issued to a stranger using his lost MyKad.

“My brother lost his MyKad in December 2003 and had lodged a police report. He also went to the National Registration Department to get a new card,” said Gan Ah Hook at a press conference organised by MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Jason Teoh yesterday.

Ah Hook said his brother Kim Chai was a slow learner and forgetful.

He said his brother lost his MyKad twice – in 2003 and last year.

“My brother received a letter from a bank last June asking him to settle the remaining RM60,000 loan which he did not borrow,” Ah Hook said.

He claimed the borrower had used his brother’s MyKad to get the car loan from the bank with the address at Taman Puteri Wangsa, while his brother’s address on his MyKad was Taman Bukit Indah.

He said the family members met the bank officers to settle the case as they claimed the bank failed to carry out due diligence before approving the loan.

But the bank insisted that Kim Chai had to settle the outstanding amount.

“My brother does not even drive and he earns about RM1,000 monthly. The bank should have done its homework before giving out the loan,” said Ah Hook.

Teoh said he would assist Kim Chai by giving free legal service to him and would meet with the bank and Bank Negara to settle the case.


Arizona police release video of fatal collision with Uber self-driving SUV

A still frame taken from video released March 21 showing the interior view of an unidentified operator in a self-driving Uber vehicle reacting as she looks through the windshield leading up to a fatal collision in Tempe, Arizona on March 18.
SAN FRANCISCO: Police in Arizona on Wednesday released a short video of a fatal collision between an Uber self-driving vehicle and a pedestrian, as investigators probe the accident that has put new focus on the safety of autonomous vehicles.

The video, taken from inside the Volvo XC90 sport utility vehicle that Uber has used for testing, shows the vehicle driving along a dark road when an image of a woman walking a bicycle across the road suddenly appears in the headlights. The woman, Elaine Herzberg, 49, later died from her injuries.

Police have released few details about the accident that occurred on Sunday night in Tempe, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, while the SUV was driving in autonomous mode. Uber suspended its self-driving testing in North America after the incident and federal safety regulators are conducting their own probe.

Fall-out from the accident could stall the development and testing of self-driving vehicles, which are designed to perform far better than human drivers and sharply reduce the number of motor vehicle fatalities that occur each year.

The video shows the vehicle traveling in the right-hand lane of a divided four-lane roadway. The vehicle’s headlights illuminate a woman directly in front of it who is crossing the SUV’s lane with her bike. The woman appears to be jaywalking as she is not in a crosswalk.

A photo released by safety regulators on Tuesday showed that the impact occurred on the right side of the vehicle.

 This video grab made from dashcam footage released by the Tempe Police Department on March 21 showing the moment before the collision of ride-sharing Uber's self-driving vehicle and a pedestrian in the city of Tempe.

The footage also shows a view of the vehicle’s interior and the driver at the wheel. The driver appears to be looking down, and not at the road, for two periods of about five seconds each. Just before the video stops, the driver looks upward toward the road and suddenly looks shocked.

“The video is disturbing and heartbreaking to watch, and our thoughts continue to be with Elaine’s loved ones,” Uber said in a statement. ”Our cars remain grounded, and we’re assisting local, state and federal authorities in any way we can.” The video is likely to be a key part of investigations of Uber’s self-driving car technology and whether it was ready for testing on public roads.

Although the exact specifics of Uber’s technology are not known, self-driving cars typically use a combination of sensors, including radar and light-based Lidar, to identify objects around the vehicle, including potential obstacles coming into range. While cameras do not perform well in the dark, radar and Lidar can work at night.

One question on regulators’ minds will be why the sensors did not pick up on the presence of Herzberg, who would ostensibly have already crossed three lanes of traffic before arriving in the path of the Uber vehicle.

One self-driving car expert, Bryant Walker Smith, said his first impression was of ”outrage” viewing the video.
“Although this video isn’t the full picture, it strongly suggests a failure by Uber’s automated driving system and a lack of due care by Uber’s driver (and by the victim),” said Smith, a professor of law at the University of South Carolina.

Another autonomous driving expert agreed with Smith’s assessment.

“The sensors should have detected the pedestrian in this case; the cameras were likely useless but both the radars and the Lidar must have picked up the pedestrian,” said Raj Rajkumar, a professor at Carnegie Mellon.

“Though no information is available, one would have to conclude based on this video alone, that there are problems in the Uber vehicle software that need to be rectified,” he said. Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its systems.

The video is likely to renew calls for more oversight in a nascent industry that lacks standardized testing or safety definitions. Lawmakers have had to juggle the need to encourage innovations that promise to dramatically improve safety on roads with current public safety concerns.
Companies including Uber, Alphabet’s Waymo and General Motors’s Cruise Automation have been testing their self-driving technology in Arizona, which has welcomed the industry with a lighter regulatory touch than in states like California, for example.

On Tuesday, Arizona transportation officials said they saw no immediate need to tighten rules on the testing of self-driving cars in the state.

Although some within the self-driving industry have suggested agreeing testing and safety standards for autonomous technology, there has been no concerted effort to do so.

Timothy Carone, an associate teaching professor at Notre Dame University’s Mendoza College of Business whose research specialties include artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, said the question is whether Uber did enough testing before sending robot cars out onto streets alongside humans.

“Did they jump the gun?” he said. ”If their testing is found to be inefficient, that cannot be allowed to happen again because these systems have to be ready for road tests.”


With one final vote, Nissan shareholders dump Ghosn, seek clarity on company's future

                TOKYO: Nissan Motor Co shareholders ousted Carlos Ghosn as a director today, severing his last tie with the Japanese automaker he rescued from near-bankruptcy two decades ago and from which he is now accused of siphoning funds.

Days after Ghosn’s latest arrest in Tokyo, shareholders gathered for an extraordinary meeting, expressing bafflement and disquiet about growing allegations of financial misconduct laid out before them - while seeking more clarity on how Nissan plans to recover from the scandal.

Meeting shareholders for the first time since Ghosn’s initial arrest in November, Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa and Jean-Dominique Senard, the chairman of its alliance partner Renault, said they needed to focus on collaboration and improving governance at the Japanese company. But they offered few concrete details about the way forward.

“I can’t comprehend how this could have happened, despite having auditors,” said Setsuko Shibata, a retired homemaker who said her family had held Nissan shares for decades. “I can’t say I feel better about the situation after today’s explanation.”

Ghosn has denied all the allegations against him and said he is the victim of a boardroom coup.

Proceedings were at times interrupted by some hecklers on the floor of the meeting, which was attended by a near record-high 4,100 shareholders.

The shareholders voted to remove both Ghosn and co-accused Greg Kelly from Nissan’s board of directors. Kelly has also denied the charges against him.

They also voted in Senard as a director, a move that was widely seen as an attempt to assuage concern about the future of the Nissan-Renault automaking alliance engineered by Ghosn.

Allegations

Prosecutors last week took the highly unusual step of re-arresting Ghosn - who had been out on US$9 million bail - returning him to the Tokyo detention center where he had previously spent more than 100 days.

Under the latest allegations, he is suspected of trying to enrich himself to the tune of US$5 million at the automaker’s expense.

Ghosn’s lawyers called the arrest an attempt to muzzle him. He was due to speak at a news conference this week, but instead a video statement from him will be shown on Tuesday at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ), the FCCJ said on its website.

Ghosn has been charged with under-reporting his Nissan salary for a decade, and of temporarily transferring personal financial losses to Nissan’s books. However, the new allegation is potentially more serious, as it could show he used company funds for his own purposes.

Shareholders baffled

Both Saikawa and Senard talked about the need to focus more on unity and respect among executives and workers, although neither offered details on the outlook for their complex capital structure, in which smaller Renault owns a bigger share of Nissan.

“I will constantly suggest the best possible evolutions in the framework of the alliance,” Senard said after voters approved his appointment to Nissan’s board. “We want to secure the right future for Nissan,” he said, without elaborating.

The fall of one of the world’s most-feted executives appeared to have left some Nissan shareholders nonplussed.

“I was hoping to hear more details about the path forward. I wanted to know what sort of role a Japanese company can play in an international alliance like this,” said a shareholder who declined to be identified for personal privacy issues.

“The situation seems to go deeper than it looks based on the information,” said 68-year-old shareholder Roberto Montoya. “I’m very suspicious of the situation, and most people are.”

Saikawa said Nissan may claim damages against Ghosn and that he did not want to pay severance to the former chair. He also said he would work to stabilize the company before standing down as chief executive.

“This is not an issue we can fix overnight,” Saikawa told shareholders. “We need to fulfill the task (of improving governance) and prepare the company for our next steps, and then pass the leadership baton.”


Mercedes-Benz marks production of 25,000th commercial vehicle in Pekan

                PEKAN: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Pekan plant marked the production of its 25,000th Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle on Wednesday.

As one of nine Daimler CKD commercial vehicle production facilities worldwide, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Pekan production plant is spread across 19,000 sq metres. The Pekan production plant produces a large variety of commercial vehicles, including the largest in the world, the Actros.

The commercial vehicle production line is operated by 176 employees, and has a current capacity of 4,000 units a year.

“Reaching the 25,000th commercial vehicle is a definite milestone for us,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia vice president for production plant Ingbert Grombach.

“Every detail, from assembly to painting and quality control, counts; and as we would like to demonstrate, every truck has earned its star”.
The commercial vehicle production line differs from passenger vehicles. With shorter and wider space to accommodate the size of commercial vehicles, the production process has five stations.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s commercial vehicle portfolio is designed for a wide range of applications. From long-distance to short-radius distribution transport, work on construction sites and rescue operations, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has supplied commercial vehicles to multinational corporations and a variety of organisations, including fire stations, hospitals and rescue services.

With a current market share of 16.4 per cent, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has also secured significant fleet deals since establishment, with key partners such as Swift Haulage Sdn Bhd, Interway Transport Sdn Bhd and Landbridge Haulage Sdn Bhd.

As a customer-oriented solutions provider, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia continues to develop its product portfolio and after-sales service in tandem with the demand for commercial vehicles.

Its current best-selling model, is the six by two configuration, Mercedes-Benz MP3 Actros 2640LS.


Students graduate from Bermaz Auto apprentice programme

                SHAH ALAM: Some 185 students from Bermaz Auto's apprentice programme has graduated on Wednesday.

The graduates were enrolled in three technical training programme where 68 were from Mazda Apprenticeship Programme (MAP), 60 from Mazda Mechanic Programme (MPP) and 57 from Body & Paint Programme (BPP).

All of the graduates are currently employed under Bermaz Auto Bhd and will be assigned to the service centres for the three brands which the group operates - Mazda, Peugeot and Kia.

Bermaz Auto has also increased and upgraded the technical equipment and facilities in the Training School to meet the aftersales workforce's current needs and to equip them with the know-how to handle Next-Generation vehicles (NGV) such as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).

The new BAuto Training School will provide Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to fit the requirements of Mazda, Peugeot and Kia.

The vocational programmes include BAuto Body & Paint (BABP) and BAuto Mechanics’ Programme (BAMP).

These vocational programs are certified by Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK) and Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) UK, one of the Accreditation Centre on Motor Vehicle Mechanic Training providers.

In addition, BAuto has also introduced the BAuto Mechatronics Programme (BMP); a new programme that focuses on educating the students in electronic and electric vehicle (EV) technologies.

The state-of-the-art training school comes with a wide range of facilities such as the new E-learning & Computer Lab, Advanced E-lab, EV Learning Centre, Learning Management System (LMS), and a 22kW AC Chargers for electric vehicle training purposes.

Bermaz Auto executive chairman Datuk Seri Ben Yeoh said the objective of the technical and vocational academy is to give young school graduates the opportunity to embark on a career in the automotive industry.

“This academy is also a platform for continuous training and development of our skilled human resource.

“To upskill them to meet the demands of the next generation vehicles which focuses on green and clean technology, autonomous safety features and better connectivity. Our programs will be structured to encourage continuous learning,” he said.

Individuals who have the attractive combination of passion, ambition and drive to pursue a career in the after-sales sector can submit their resume to bts6@bermaz.com.my.


Bookings for new RM190K Toyota Camry open

                SHAH ALAM: The new Toyota Camry is set to debut at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2018 later this month, but pre-bookings are now open for the model.

Available only in 2.5l-form, the new Camry is priced at RM189,900.

It is powered by the same engine as before but it has been tweaked to make 4hp more at 182hp and 235Nm of torque at 4,100rpm. Transmission remains a 6-speed automatic.

The car is now bigger in every way and has a longer wheelbase, and is lowered to confer a sporty stance.

The Camry is based on the Toyota New Global Architecture and is loaded with safety features such as Pre-collision System, Lane Departure Alert, Steering Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control as well as Automatic High Beam.

The Camry comes with a 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage.


US$7.5mil Schumacher Ferrari sets record in NY auction

                NEW YORK: Michael Schumacher's Grand Prix-Winning Ferrari sold for US$7.5mil (RM31.2mil) here on Thursday, setting an auction record for a modern-era Formula One car, Sotheby's said.

The seven-time world champion's 2001 Ferrari F2001 sparked furious bidding, roaring past its pre-sale estimate of US$4-5 million at Sotheby's flagship post-war and contemporary November evening art sale.

It put the buzz into a night that otherwise fell short of the dizzying heights reached by Christie's on Wednesday selling a painting of Christ attributed to Leonardo da Vinci for a record US$450.3mil (RM1.8bil).

Sotheby's said it was the first time that a rare automobile was included in an art auction and the decision appeared popular.

The sleek, low-slung, fire-engine red vehicle may not have been a work of art, but Gregoire Billault, senior Sotheby's vice president, called it "the very best racing car ever sold at an auction."

The German racing legend has not been seen in public since suffering serious head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013. His record of seven titles and 91 career victories remains unchallenged.


Singapore Motorshow 2020: New Land Rover Defender 110 rolls in

                SINGAPORE: First seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show (2019), the five-door variant of the Land Rover Defender 110 (L851) got an unveiling at this year's Singapore Motor Show (2020).

With Wearnes Automotive Pte Ltd - the official importer of Land Rover in Singapore, keeping silent about its specifics or whether the three-door "Landy" Defender 90 (L663) will also be offered, it will unequivocally be landing on Singaporean shores sometime in the second half of 2020.
Unveiled in a neo-classical design, the new Defender 110 - seen here as a left-hand drive version, unabashedly borrows much of its design cues from the iconic original L316 (1983 to 2016) to proudly display its heritage.The modern take of the Defender has heavily improved on cabin space before adding a plethora of electronic wizardry and convenience that includes the new 10-inch Pivi Pro Infotainment system, 18-inch wheels and LED lights.Power from under the hood could come from a 2.0-litre (1,999cc) inline-four P300 with 300PS at 6,500rpm and 400Nm of torque from 2,500rpm or a 3.0-litre (2997cc) inline-six P400 engine with a mild-hybrid setup producing 400PS and 550Nm.Regardless, the two aluminium Ingenium engines will be turbocharged within the petrol spectrum while a 2.0-litre inline-four turbodiesel engine with 240PS and 500Nm could also be a possibility for Singaporeans.
As standard, the Defender will be provided with permanent all-wheel drive capability along with locking differentials and a two-speed transfer case - all sitting on an aluminium unibody rather than its predecessor's body-on-frame construction.

With a wheelbase of 3,022mm, at 2,008mm-wide the Defender 110 is 5,018mm-long (including spare wheel) while the shorter Defender 90 is 435mm-shorter at 4,583mm.

The Defender 110 - with its standard air suspension, will stand at 1,967mm-tall with ground-clearance at 291mm.

However, the Defender 90 with coil springs will stand at 1,969mm-tall which provides for 226mm of ground clearance with the air suspension as an optional extra.

Land Rover will also be offering numerous accessories to go along with its new Defender in a choice of four accessory packs of Adventure, Urban, Country and Explorer which includes items such as snorkels, mud flaps, deployable roof ladder, fixed or deployable side steps and 20-inch Style 5095 five split-spoke gloss dark grey wheels to name a few.


Hennessey Venom F5 hypercar: All sold out

                SEALY (Texas, USA): High-performance vehicle creator, Hennessey Special Vehicles has announced it has sold all its Venom F5 hypercars.

The Texas-based company showed a pair of Venom F5 customer cars at Monterey Car week where orders were confirmed for the remaining models of the 24-vehicle run.

The F5 pair were shown at The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering, the Pebble Beach Concours and McCall's Motorworks Revival at the week-long celebration of all things automotive in California.

Tens of thousands of fans joined Hennessey customers in admiring the "performance follows function" form of the F5 along with its luxurious, driver-focused interior.

John Hennessey, company founder and CEO: “Showing two of the latest F5 models at The Quail and Pebble Beach alongside the likes of Bugatti, Lamborghini and Koenigsegg was an honor for the whole Hennessey team. The fact that we secured orders from customers who saw the cars at the events is testament to the quality our team has achieved… and we’re yet to reach the vehicle’s full potential!”

Hennessey’s US$2.1 million (RM8.9mil) twin-turbocharged, 6.6-litre V8 hypercar boasts 1,817hp and 1,617Nm of torque making it the most powerful hypercar ever made.

Hennessey said its team focused on quality of workmanship, and simplicity of design and engineering to deliver an exceptional hypercar.

With the show season drawing to a close, the engineering team may return to final validation testing on roads and racing circuits. The final phase of testing will see the team refine the car’s full-power acceleration, high-speed stability and braking. Once the engineering team signs-off this final development phase, Hennessey has its sights set on a top speed surpassing 500kph.


Arizona governor suspends Uber’s ability to test self-driving cars

A self driving Volvo vehicle, used by Uber, for driverless testing. — Reuters
PHOENIX: The governor of Arizona on Monday suspended Uber’s ability to test self-driving cars on public roads in the state following a fatal crash last week that killed a 49-year-old pedestrian.

The decision to block Uber Technologies Inc’s is a blow to the ride-hailing company, which sees its future success reliant on driverless vehicles, and trails competitors such as Alphabet Inc’s Waymo in developing the technology.

Arizona had been a key hub for Uber, with about half of the company’s 200 self-driving cars and a staff of hundreds.

In a letter sent to Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi and shared with the media, Governor Doug Ducey said he found a video released by police of the crash ”disturbing and alarming, and it raises many questions about the ability of Uber to continue testing in Arizona.”

Police and safety regulators are investigating the March 18 fatality in which a woman crossing a four-lane road at night was struck and killed by an Uber self-driving Volvo XC90. The incident has focused new attention on the lack of clear safety standards for such vehicles.

 No more self-driving tests in Arizona for now, says Ducey.

Ducey called the crash ”an unquestionable failure.”

“In the best interests of the people of my state, I have directed the Arizona Department of Transportation to suspend Uber’s ability to test and operate autonomous vehicles on Arizona’s public roadways,” Ducey said.

The letter strikes a dramatically different tone from late 2016, when Ducey invited Uber to his state with celebration, saying ”Arizona welcomes Uber self-driving cars with open arms and wide open roads.” At the time, a banner was hung on a building in Phoenix welcoming Uber.

Uber moved its driverless cars to Arizona from San Francisco after California regulators shut down the self-driving fleet for not having the proper permits.

Uber, which had already pulled its self-driving cars off the road after the accident, said in a statement on Monday that it will ”keep a dialogue open with the Governor’s office to address any concerns they have.”

In another development, Bloomberg quoted an auto-parts maker who supplied the vehicle’s radar and camera that Uber had disabled the standard collision-avoidance technology in the Volvo SUV that struck and killed the woman.

"We don’t want people to be confused or think it was a failure of the technology that we supply for Volvo, because that’s not the case,” Zach Peterson, a spokesman for Aptiv Plc, said by phone. The Volvo XC90’s standard advanced driver-assistance system “has nothing to do” with the Uber test vehicle’s autonomous driving system, he said.

Aptiv is speaking up for its technology to avoid being tainted by the fatality involving Uber, which may have been following standard practice by disabling other tech as it develops and tests its own autonomous driving system. Uber’s system failed to slow the vehicle as 49-year-old victim Elaine Herzberg crossed the street pushing a bicycle. Police in Tempe, Arizona, and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.

Uber declined to comment. A Volvo spokesman said the company can’t speculate on the cause of the incident and is awaiting a full investigation report.


BMW accelerates electrification plan

                MUNICH: BMW said Tuesday it would accelerate its plans to build new electric models, as the whole industry comes under pressure to meet strict emissions regulations.

The Munich-based manufacturer will offer 25 electrified vehicles in 2023, "two years earlier than originally planned," chief executive Harald Krueger said in a statement.

Of those, more than half will be all-electric while the remainder will be hybrids, BMW said.

The carmaker took an early lead in battery-powered driving with its i3, released in 2013.

However, it is no longer the market leader using the technology, which is indispensable for carmakers to meet the EU's tough new carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rules set to bite from 2020.

Germany's flagship industry as a whole is seen as lagging foreign competitors like California's Tesla or China's producers.

In the first five months of 2019, BMW sold 48,000 electrified vehicles, up two percent on the same period in 2018.

But that number made up just five percent of the group's total unit sales of more than one million.

"By 2021, we will have doubled our sales of electrified vehicles compared with 2019," Krueger promised.

Huge investments are needed to modify production lines and develop electric drive technology, weighing on carmaker's bottom lines -- and pushing them into unprecedented collaborations.

BMW is expecting a net profit "well below the previous year's level" in 2019, in part blaming higher costs.

In response, it has linked up with Jaguar Land Rover to develop next-generation electric motors.

Meanwhile, manufacturers know electric cars will only find receptive buyers if the charging infrastructure is in place to support them.

They pressed Chancellor Angela Merkel on that point in a high-level meeting in Berlin on Monday night.

Politicians, car bosses and union representatives agreed that by 2030 there should be enough charging points to support between seven and 10 million electric vehicles on German roads, the VDA industry federation told news agency DPA.

Mammoth Volkswagen has also jumped feet-first into an ambitious electric strategy, planning 70 new models by 2028 and shooting for sales of 22 million over a decade.


Highway concessionaires to offer Christmas toll rebates

                KUALA LUMPUR: Three highway concessionaires are offering toll rebates on selected roads in conjunction with Christmas on Friday.

They are PLUS Malaysia Berhad, Syarikat Mengurus Air Banjir and Terowong Sdn Bhd (SMART) and Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd chief operating officer Mohammad Fuad Khusairi said users of Class 1 vehicles utilising the electronic toll payment system on Dec 25 would benefit from a 20% rebate.

"The rebate will be inserted in their Touch 'n Go or PLUSMiles cards by way of a top-up between Jan 15 and April 14, 2016," he said in a statement today.

The rebate is for toll on the PLUS network of highways, namely the North-South Expressway, North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite) and Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkedua).

However, highway users would not benefit from the rebate at the Tanjung Kupang, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Sultan Iskandar Building and Penang Bridge toll plazas, he said.

SMART announced that a 20% discount would be given to all vehicles using the SMART tunnel between 6am on Dec 25 and 6am on Dec 26.

SMART Highway chief operating officer Mohd Fuad Kamal Ariffin said the discount was in appreciation of users of the SMART tunnel on Christmas Day.

Maju Expressway is offering a 10% discount for users of the Maju Expressway (MEX).

Its corporate senior executive officer, Saiful Bakhri Mohd Annuar, said the discounted toll rate would be effective from midnight on Dec 25 to 11.59pm on Dec 26.

"Users of the Seri Kembangan toll plaza can continue to enjoy the toll-free ride until further notice," he said. - Bernama


Grab now offers rides between JB and Singapore

                JOHOR BARU: Between Uber and Grab, it's Grab's turn to be in the spotlight today as it announced its first cross-border ride-sharing service.

Known as GrabHitch Johor Baru-Singapore Inter-Country Service (GrabHitch JB-SG), the new service allows both drivers and passengers to pay less for their daily commute, meet new people, and enjoy the safety, comfort and convenience of point-to- point transportation.

To celebrate the launch of GrabHitch JB-SG, Grab is running a promotion for JB-bound rides. From June 20 to Aug 20, passengers can enjoy S$5 (around RM15) off all weekday Singapore to Johor Baru trips that are above 10km by entering the promo code "hitch2jb" when making a booking.

GrabHitch, a beta carpooling service that was recently launched in Malaysia and Singapore, is designed for regular drivers with extra space in their vehicles to pick up fellow passengers who share similar routes or destinations.

Cost-sharing is the biggest motivation for both drivers and passengers. A Grab survey of commuters who travel regularly between JB and Singapore found that nine in 10 commuters (88%) are open to hitching a ride from JB to Singapore. Correspondingly, 89% of respondents who own a private vehicle said they are willing to give commuters a lift.

According to Malaysia’s Immigration Department and Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, an estimated 400,000 commuters pass through the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints daily. Despite high toll fees and frequent traffic jams, a majority of commuters still prefer to travel by private cars when crossing the border for the convenience of door-to- door transport.

To give passengers peace of mind, Grab said it ensures all GrabHitch drivers have the valid licences to drive a private car. Grab will screen all GrabHitch drivers for any major traffic offences that may put passengers’ well-being at risk. Other safeguards include in-app features like “Share My Ride” to allow passengers to share ride information with loved ones on the go, as well as “Driver Rating” to encourage GrabHitch drivers to maintain high standards. A 24-hour customer service hotline is available to provide further assistance to commuters.


New Honda Accord, now with added fun

The 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T in Touring specification.
LOS ANGELES: For years, the Accord has been a sensible choice for anyone looking for a mid-sized family sedan that's high on reliability and standard equipment and low on depreciation.

However, until now, it couldn't exactly be described as a driver's car. But starting Monday, with the official US launch of the Accord 2.0T, it could be about to change.

The new 2.0T keeps everything that's great about the Accord and that has made it one of America's most popular cars, but adds a direct injection, turbocharged straight four-cylinder engine with double overhead cams and Honda's phenomenal VTEC variable valve timing.

If that engine description sounds familiar, it's because it's the same block Honda uses to power its phenomenally entertaining and lightning-quick Civic Type R hot hatchback.

In the Accord, the turbocharger force-feeding the engine with air is smaller and with lower inertia, so the engine isn't quite the fire-breathing 306hp powertrain found in the Civic.

Nevertheless, it still outputs 252hp and 370Nm of torque, making it the most powerful US Accord in history. And because the turbo is of the low inertia variety, turbo lag should be minimised.

Yet, even with all that torque, the 2.0T is good for 9l/100km on the combined cycle when mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Opt instead for the new 10-speed automatic — a segment first — and it edges up to 8.7l/100km on the EPA confirmed combined cycle.

The car will be available in five different trim and equipment levels, from Sport to Touring and creature comforts though dependent on trim level, include wireless device charging, a head-up display, 12-way electrically adjustable driver's seat and a new infotainment system.

Prices in the United States for the new Honda Accord 2.0T start at US$31,200 (RM129,000) rising to US$36,690 (RM151,000) for the 10-speed automatic Touring model.


Man who crashed car into six other vehicles in KL arrested

                KUALA LUMPUR: The police have arrested a 40-year-old man who was at the wheel of a Lexus car that crashed into six vehicles on the Bukit Jalil Highway last Saturday after he was found to be driving under the influence of drugs.

Cheras OCPD Asst Comm Zam Halim Jamaluddin said in the incident, which occurred at about 10.30am near the Lumba Kuda Roundabout, the man, who is a local, lost control of his car and crashed into six other vehicles that had stopped at the traffic light before overturning.

"However, the accident only caused damage to the vehicles and no one was injured,” he said in a statement here today.

He said the 40-year-old man was taken to the Kuala Lumpur traffic police station and a urine test conducted on him found that he was positive for marijuana.

The driver is now under arrest and the case is being investigated under Section 42 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless and dangerous driving, he added.


Proton got RM14bil aid so far, but don't call it a failed company, says Govt

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Government says that Proton is not a failure despite having pumped RM13.9bil in funds to aid the company.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed in a written reply said that the Government had aided Proton by various means since its formation to ensure that they remained key industry players.

"In total, the Government has given RM13.9bil in tax-exempted grants, inclusive of non-fiscal aid," he said.

Mustapa, who is also Jeli MP, said it was unfair to deem Proton as an unsuccessful company as it has contributed significantly to the nation since its formation in 1985.

"Proton has also created job opportunities as 12,000 Malaysians were working directly under them while 130,000 people were indirectly involved in the local automotive industry.

"The company has thus far contributed RM24bil in taxes in addition to committing over 500 local businessmen as parts suppliers and service centre operators," he said.

He was responding to Rasah MP Teo Kok Seong who had asked on how much financial aid the Government had provided to Proton and why the automotive company had failed despite heavily being assisted.


The personal voice assistant has become an essential element in cars

                PARIS: Voice assistants are taking over the interiors of our cars, allowing us to perform a whole range of hands-free commands.

The trend is not about to stop.

The latest example is Alexa at Jaguar Land Rover. Each manufacturer now has its own intelligent assistant, whether it's a system designed in-house or coming from an external provider.

More than 55,000 Jaguar owners will be able to start using Amazon's voice assistant this month.

Alexa will be part of a remote update of the Pivi Pro infotainment system, available for example on the I-Pace. Jaguar Land Rover is not the first manufacturer to partner with Alexa, which already can be found in a number of vehicles from the Ford and Volkswagen groups.

The intelligent voice assistant responds to simple, everyday requests.

For example, it allows the driver to control navigation and music, get news or information or check the weather forecast.

The same functions are essentially handled by Google's assistant, which is now present in a range of manufacturers' models, starting with those of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi and Hyundai groups.

While many manufacturers have partnered with Amazon or Google to integrate an intelligent voice assistant into their latest models, others have decided to develop their own solution.

That's the choice made, for example, by Mercedes and BMW. Via commands starting with "Hey Mercedes" or "Hey BMW," a driver can be assisted by a virtual co-pilot, capable of guiding them along their daily journeys and managing their on-board entertainment tools.

Such a voice assistant can also, if necessary, warn the driver in case of a technical problem or remind them of their next maintenance appointment.

Meanwhile, at French firm Peugeot, the personal voice assistant project has not yet been rolled out beyond concept cars.

Presented in 2018 on the e-Legend, this voice-activated personal assistant proves to be capable, on paper, of modifying the driving mode or even various comfort options such as the position or temperature of the seat or managing playlists etc.

According to Peugeot, it will be able to understand up to 17 languages. However, it has not yet been deployed in a production model.


Sime Darby Motors woos corporate clients

                PETALING JAYA: In conjunction with Sime Darby Motors’ “Unbelievable Deals” campaign, its retail and distribution arm in Malaysia has launched a corporate programme, providing special privileges to its corporate clients to own their dream cars at very attractive cost of ownership with exceptional benefits.

This campaign is applicable across all the brands presented under Sime Darby Motors’ retail umbrella in Malaysia namely BMW, MINI, Motorrad, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Ford, and Hyundai, as well as Sime Darby Auto Selection which retails quality pre-owned cars.

“This programme is specially curated to reward our loyal customers across Sime Darby Motors Malaysia. As exhilarating as it is rewarding, we aim to offer our customers with irresistible deals whilst ensuring their sales and after-sales needs are cared for by our passionate professionals who are dedicated in providing world-class services that exceed expectations,” said the Managing Director of Retail & Distribution Malaysia, Jeffrey Gan.


Hard-hit conventions in US hope delta fades soon as shows axed again

                NEW YORK: The cancellation of the 2021 New York Auto Show last week over concerns about the spread of the Covid-19 delta variant sparked “here-we-go-again” fears in the events industry, just when it started booking conferences again.

For now the rebound is moving ahead, venue managers from across the country said in interviews, even if many trade shows are drawing half as many attendees as normal.

Last week, salespeople working the exhibitor hall at VenueConnect 2021 in Atlanta, an annual gathering of event-venue operators, were in no mood to go back to Zoom meetings.

The sponsor of the convention, the International Association of Venue Managers, was determined to hold its conference. If venue managers themselves weren’t willing to meet, what message would it send?

“If anyone should gather for a show if it’s safe and appropriate, it should be us,” said Rip Rippetoe, chair of the IAVM and chief executive officer of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation.

The nixing of this month’s New York International Automobile Show at the city’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, billed as the nation’s best-attended auto show, spooked an already shell-shocked industry.

Other recent cancellations have included the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers show in Orlando, Florida, a fundraiser at the Chattanooga, Tennessee, convention center for a local children’s hospital and the in-person portion of the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly in Washington.

It was hardly news the industry needed. Some venue operators had just reopened, including the San Diego Convention Center, which had its first show last week after spending the last four months serving as a centre for unaccompanied migrant children.

As the number of delta cases rose across the country, the IAVM quickly switched from “highly suggesting” masks to mandating them at the Atlanta gathering, said Brad Mayne, the association’s CEO. Attendees also had their temperatures checked before entering. Still, the event may have had half the attendance it normally has, Rippetoe estimated.

 The impressive venue of the 2021 New York Auto Show that wasn't to be.So far, so good

So far, venues around the United States report relatively little fallout.

Chicago’s McCormick Place, dubbed North America’s biggest convention hall, hasn’t had any recent cancellations, spokeswoman Cynthia McCafferty said, although the number of shows overall is down.

McCormick Place scheduled 43 meetings and conventions from July 1 through year-end. While a direct comparison wasn’t available, the centre had 289 meetings, sporting events and concerts in the full year 2019.

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority, operator of Atlanta’s biggest convention hall, saw rental space revenue fall by almost half in the just-finished fiscal year, but sees the current year hitting pre-pandemic levels, even if attendance is down, spokeswoman Holly Richmond said.

And, San Diego’s convention centre has around 30 events lined up through year end, including a scaled-back Comic-Con, the show for which it’s perhaps best known.

It’s been a slow comeback for the trade-shows business. While music concerts and festivals have returned in force and are selling out, almost 78% of business-to-business shows were cancelled in the first quarter, with 14% postponed and roughly 8% occurring as planned, according to the latest estimates from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research.

In New York, a design and merchandise show called NY NOW is moving forward at the Javits Center this week despite the delta flareup.

Addressing critics who questioned why it’s still on given the auto show’s cancellation, the event’s organiser, Emerald, said NY NOW is a much smaller show: Attendance is in the thousands, not the hundreds of thousands the auto show was expecting.

And everyone will be masked up, said a senior vice president of Emerald’s retail group, Tim Hart.

“Virtual events are no substitute for in-person events,” Hart said.

“It’s very very important that we come together so our customers can buy and sell. They need these face-to-face events to come together and do business.”


Suzuki GSX-S750: All show and go

                THE new Suzuki GSX-S750 is all about styling and performance that are hard to deny.

From the bold upswept lines of its crouched stance to the aggressive styling of its headlight, fuel tank and body trim design, every aspect of the GSX-S750 is exciting.

To me personally, two things stood out on this bike.

Firstly, the Transformer looking headlights which could be inspired by anime that seems to be popular among the younger generation and secondly is the nose-down tail-up design of the bike.

This design makes the bike look sportier.

Meanwhile, the rear of the bike is well designed to complement the overall look of the bike.

The rear light is placed under the tail of the bike looks small but visible enough for other road users.

Like other naked bikes, the rider's saddle is narrow and the seat for the pillion rider is too small for the comfort of most people.

The rider's sitting position on this bike is upright with a bit of hunch but very comfortable.

The sitting position did not put any stress my neck, shoulders and back.

I enjoyed riding the bike and clocked more than 300km on a day trip.

The GSX-S750 features a brightness-adjustable LCD instrument panel.

Readouts include the speedometer, tachometer, traction control mode status, gear position, odometer, dual trip meters, coolant temperatures, driving range, fuel consumption, and a clock.

You can personalise the tachometer readout with a choice of five styling.

The bike loaned for this review was in Metallic Triton Blue which offered a lot of character and allowed the lines on the bike to be clear and distinct.

Compared with Matt Black that allowed a mysterious persona, the lines of the bike could only be seen when you go close to the bike.

As such, I definitely preferred blue.

On the highways and open roads, this bike is always waiting to be pushed hard.

The torque on the bike is instantaneous and manageable without any no sudden surprises.

The new GSX-S750 has a reliable midrange supply of power and torque that you won’t be disappointed with.

While doing a 300km plus ride, it was very apparent that the perfect throttle and good fueling combination made the ride pleasant and fun.

Meanwhile, in the city centre, the bike performed well at low rpm and there was nothing to worry about.

A must mention here is the three-mode traction control system that operates smoothly and does not interfere with handling, even when the rider engages in aggressive riding.

I can freely select one of three modes using the convenient handlebar switch.

Mode one is for sport riding with minimal intervention; mode two offers the ideal balance for typical road conditions, and mode three delivers maximum traction control when riding in poor conditions.

During my ride on the North-South Expressway to Tanjung Malim, I tailed a Ducati Multistrada at high speed.

The bike was calm and composed when engaging corners and bends on the highway and could easily overtake other vehicles confidently.

What amazed me was that the wind blast was manageable, thanks to the mini screen which was deflecting the rushing air  well.

Every time I shifted a gear, I could feel the gentle surge of power pushing the bike forward complemented by enough torque.

Power is abundant and allowed good acceleration at the command of the rider.

It is not often that one can admit that the bike is an extension of the rider.

To me, the GSX-S750 was one such bike.

Within an hour, the machine and me understood each other well. I was a happy man on that day.

The bike is at its best when tackling corners and twisties.

Even though the bike weighs 213kg, it did not feel that way at all. It felt lighter around 140kg.

It felt light and nimble enough to zip in and out of any tight corners or twisties.

Suzuki’s dual power throttle valve system allowed smooth power delivery which is very much welcomed when one is exiting a corner, thus giving the bike the needed continuous power without any hesitation.

This ensured the continuity of engaging the next immediate corner without losing any momentum.

I began to appreciate the seating position of the bike when the machine began to engage difficult corners.

As I mentioned earlier, the seat was small but there was enough space to move a bit.

The little space allowed me to ride well in the corners.

I believe that if there was too much saddle space, I would be sliding from side to side.

The KYB suspension is also another main reason for the great ride in the corners.

The front is fitted with 41mm inverted front forks with adjustable pre-load, while the rear had a link-type shock with adjustable spring pre-load.

There is nothing to complain about here.

Meanwhile, the Nissin brakes are competent and a perfect fit for the GSX-S750.

The front brake came with four-piston radial-mount calipers and 310mm semi-floating rotors at the front.

The front brake's bite is satisfactory.

Meanwhile, the rear is fitted with a 240mm disc, one-piston caliper and was as equally effective as the front.

Light touches are good enough for to stop the bike.

This naked bike oozes a lot of charm complemented with an abundance of power and versatility.

This RM37,289 bike promises all riders a good time be they be on short or long distances.

One thing this bike fails miserably is not being exciting.

The minute you hit the throttle, you are transformed into this persona that is ready to take on any challenge on the tarmac.

SPECIFICATIONSSuzuki GSX-S750Engine: 749cc, 4 stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC
Maximum power: 114hp at 10,500rpm
Maximum torque: 81Nm at 9,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed
Suspension: Front 41mm KYB inverted forks, adjustable spring preload; rear single shock, 7-way adjustable spring preload
Braking system: Front 2X310mm discs, four-piston Nissin radial calipers, ABS; rear 240mm disc, one-piston caliper, ABS
Fuel capacity: 16-litres
Wet weight: 213kg
Price: RM37,289 (without registration and insurance)


VW testing level 4 autonomous driving in Hamburg traffic

                HAMBURG: Volkswagen has announced that its first tests of vehicles (e-golf) with level 4 automation are currently under way, in real traffic conditions in the city centre of Hamburg.

This is the first time that Volkswagen has conducted tests of such magnitude, using cars equipped with level 4 self-driving technology in urban areas.

For this specific "test-bed", five e-Golf models have been equipped with 11 laser scanners, 7 radars and 14 cameras. The cars are driving three kilometres of urban Hamburg roads and for this specific test, new traffic management systems have been installed to facilitate autonomous driving.

READ MORE: Six levels of driving automation explained in simple terms

These new facilities include components for infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. By 2020, this test perimeter is expected to increase further.

In the boot of each test car is the processing power of 15 laptops, allowing up to 5 gigabytes of data to be communicated every minute during each test which lasts for several hours.

The aim is to gather data concerning pedestrians, cyclists, other cars, intersections, priorities, parked vehicles and lane changes; and all this within very short distances and in milliseconds to avoid these obstacles.

A level 4 autonomous driving system is considered to be fully autonomous. This means that driver intervention is no longer necessary except in extreme situations. Level 5 is total automation.


Legendary BMW 530 MLE restored in South Africa

                PRETORIA: BMW South Africa has fully restored the track-inspired BMW 530 MLE at its plant in Rosslyn on the outskirts of the capital.

The 530 MLE was the model that preceded the M5.

After a year of restoration, BMW South Africa revealed its latest classic project car as a limited edition “homologation” special developed especially by BMW Motorsport for South Africa.

The restored 530 MLE had its first showing at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn in the company of four BMW Group South Africa employees who were on hand to built the original more than four decades ago.

Restored by Luis Malhou of Custom Restorations, William Mokwape, Walter Mahlangu, Jacob Matabane and Cassie Calaca provided their input during the vehicle’s restoration process.

“It is not only the 530 MLE that was exclusively produced at this plant,” said Johan Mouton, Director: Technical and Logistics at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn, speaking at the unveiling event. “Legendary cars such as the Gusheshe – the second generation BMW 3 Series (also known as the E30) – in particular the 325iS and the South Africa-only 333i, rolled off the assembly line at this plant more than 30 years ago.

“The BMW 530 MLE at the time demonstrated how competitive sporting events were the ideal setting to impress the motoring public with the performance of new vehicles, said BMW Group South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa CEO Tim Abbott.

“The success of the 530 MLE was a pure example of ‘What wins on Saturday sells on Monday’, and it paved the way for BMW South Africa as a sporty brand and a serious motorsport contender in the country. To this day, M remains the most powerful letter in the world!”

After years of searching, BMW South Africa in 2018 acquired one of the only BMW 530 MLEs known to have endured beyond its 70s heyday. Car number 100 came with a particular pedigree – it was owned by race driver and the racing 530 MLE’s team manager Peter Kaye-Eddie, and its engine and chassis numbers are a matching set.

Unique in the world, the Rosslyn-produced vehicles saw weight-reduction measures that included bodywork and pedals drilled by hand, manual windows with no air conditioning, and Mahle wheels.

 The condition of the 530 MLE when BMW restorers acquired the car.History of 530 MLE

When BMW South Africa wanted to go racing in the mid-1970s, the company sought out famous racing driver and BMW Motorsport head Jochen Neerpasch. Shortly thereafter, two of the first generation 5 Series (E12) race cars were prepared to compete in the flagship Modified Production Series in South Africa.

The BMW 530 Motorsport Limited Edition (MLE) rolled up to the starting line in the Modified Production Series in 1976.

Fifteen wins from 15 consecutive starts followed, and BMW stamped its authority on the racing series with three championship titles in three years. The 530 MLE was the most successful racing 5 Series in history when it was retired in 1985.

To qualify for entry, however, BMW South Africa had to sell 100 road-going versions of this first generation 5 Series, known as the 530 Motorsport Limited Edition (MLE), to the public.

Developed by BMW Motorsport as a limited edition “homologation” model for South Africa, 110 units of the Type 1 were produced in 1976, while 117 versions of the Type 2 rolled off the production line at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn in 1977.

The six cylinder engine was a factory tweaked version of the same engine found in the 3.0L, boasting figures such as 197hp, 277Nm, a 208kph top speed and a 0-100kph sprint time of 9.3 seconds. It proved to be an early step of BMW’s ventures into track-oriented cars for the road.

South Africa enjoys a long history of rare and storied BMW special editions. In 1973, BMW Group Plant Rosslyn was the first BMW plant established outside of Germany and several models were specially built for the local market until 1990. A growing list of these have been restored by BMW South Africa in later years, including the cult classic BMW 333i.


Proton a drag on DRB-Hicom

                PETALING JAYA: National automaker Proton continues to be a drag on owner DRB-Hicom Bhd’s earnings, following a nearly 24% year-on-year sales drop in the first fourth months of this year.

Proton sales from January to end-April were 32,654 vehicles (compared with 42,826 vehicles a year earlier). In April, in terms of sales ranking, Proton (4,972 vehicle sales) was also in an unlikely fourth place behind Japanese marques Toyota (6,032 vehicles) and Honda (6,562 vehicles) according to data from the Malaysian Automotive Association.

Perodua enjoyed its usual top spot (17,584 vehicles) in April. Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) automotive analyst Daniel Wong said the decline in Proton sales was mainly due to stiff competition, resulting in a “car buyers’ market” where attractive rebates and offers are common.

“This meant that the price gap between national and non-national marques has narrowed significantly. There is also brand perception. It has reached the point where by topping up RM100 or RM200 more in monthly installments, car buyers can get a non-national marque which they perceive to be better,” said Wong.

Another analyst with a bank-backed brokerage said Proton’s steep sales drop in April was also partly due to consumers adjusting to the post-goods and services tax (GST) environment.

“Proton customers tend to be in the low to mid-income segments; so they are more sensitive in terms of post-GST blues. We are not surprised by the belt-tightening seen in the Proton sales numbers,” he said.

“The sharp drop in Proton’s April sales was also magnified by the high sales of 10,528 Proton vehicles in March, which saw unusually high monthly auto sales ahead of the GST implementation,” he pointed out.

Also, the analyst noted that sales of the Proton Iriz B-segment five-door hatchback, launched in September 2014, had been slow.

In a CIMB Research report in early April, auto analyst Azman Hussin had said returning Proton to sustainable profitability remains the biggest task for DRB-Hicom due to the former’s size and impact on the group’s bottom line.

Azman noted that although sales of the Iriz started to pick up in March with about 4,000 units sold, it was still short of Proton’s target of 5,000 units per month.

He also said Proton’s initiatives to return the company to profitability include vendors’ and dealers’ rationalisation to reduce production costs, improve sales and provide faster delivery of new cars to customers.


Louis Camilleri steps down as Ferrari CEO, Philip Morris chairman

A source said Camilleri’s illness was not the reason for his resignation. — Reuters
MARANELLO: Ferrari chief executive officer Louis Camilleri has retired citing personal reasons after being in the role for nearly two and a half years and chairman John Elkann will lead the company on an interim basis, the luxury automaker said on Thursday.

Camilleri’s decision to step down came after the executive suffered health problems, which made it necessary to hospitalize him for Covid-19 in recent weeks, a company source said.

He is now recovering at home but his illness was not the cause of his decision to retire, the source added.

Camilleri also retired as executive chairman of Philip Morris International (PMI), the Marlboro maker said separately.

Ferrari’s board is identifying a permanent successor to Camilleri, it said in a statement, giving no further details.

Camilleri was appointed to lead Ferrari in July 2018 after the sudden death of former CEO Sergio Marchionne.

During Camilleri’s tenure, Ferrari was one of the best performing stocks in the automotive sector, as demand for the company’s high performance cars remained strong despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Under his leadership, Ferrari shares have hit record levels, with those listed on Milan bourse touching an all-time high of 182.95 euros ($222.05) last month.

Camilleri was also leading a careful effort to expand the Ferrari vehicle lineup and the use of its brand, without undermining the exclusivity that supported its premium pricing and profit.

US-listed shares of Ferrari fell about 1% in after-hours trading on Camilleri’s retirement news.

Ferrari’s Elkann told employees the company respected Camilleri’s decision to retire.

“It is with great regret that I, and all of us in the Ferrari family, have learned of Louis Camilleri’s decision to step down for personal reasons from his role as our Chief Executive”, Elkann said in a letter seen by Reuters.

“Louis’ leadership and passion have guided Ferrari to delivering impressive results,” Elkann said, adding that Camilleri will be available for advice to Ferrari.

Elkann is the scion of Italy’s Agnelli family and CEO of Exor, the family’s investment company and Ferrari’s top shareholder.

Philip Morris appointed CEO André Calantzopoulos to serve in Camilleri’s stead. Its independent presiding director, Lucio Noto, will serve as interim chairman until Calantzopoulos’ succession in May, the company said.


Tesla Model 3 owners may have to pay for Superchargers

                SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Motors Inc will likely charge owners of its forthcoming Model 3 sedan to use the company's network of Supercharging stations, which is free to owners of current models, chief executive officer Elon Musk said.

“Free Supercharging fundamentally has a cost,” Musk, 44, said Tuesday during Tesla's annual shareholders meeting, held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. “The obvious thing to do is decouple that from the cost of the Model 3. So it will still be very cheap, and far cheaper than gasoline, to drive long-distance with the Model 3, but it will not be free long distance for life unless you purchase that package.”

Musk did not provide further details as to what the package may cost consumers. Tesla's Supercharging stations, typically located at malls on highways between major cities, aim to ease “range anxiety” and enable long-distance — even coast-to-coast — driving in Tesla's all-electric cars. Use of any of the 632 Superchargers in the world is free for customers of the Model S and Model X, but Tesla has found that some customers go to their local Superchargers out of habit. The Superchargers deliver 273km of range in 30 minutes, more than 10 times the range provided by other chargers, according to the company's website.

“The best thing to do is to charge your car where you charge your phone: at home and at work,” said Musk.
The smallest and youngest publicly held US automaker is investing heavily in growth in as it prepares to begin producing the Model 3, slated to start at US$35,000, about half the base price of the larger Model S car.

Tesla had 373,000 pre-orders for the Model 3, many from consumers whom stood in long lines to place US$1,000 deposits for the promise of a fully electric car with a range of at least 346km. The demand inspired Musk to pull forward an already ambitious goal of building 500,000 vehicles a year to 2018, two years earlier than previously planned. Tesla has said that the first Model 3 deliveries will be in late 2017.

The battery factory Tesla is building east of Reno, Nevada, is critical to getting the Model 3 out on time and at the lower price. Tesla has said battery-cell production there will begin in the fourth quarter. Panasonic Corp., the supplier of battery cells for the Model S and the Model X sport utility vehicle, is an investor in the plant. Musk said that Tesla and Panasonic are moving to slightly larger battery cells. Instead of using cylindrical cells that measure 18 millimeters x 65 mm, they will move to cells that are 20mm x 70 mm.

Addressing owner complaints on the US$80,000 Model X whose "falcon wing" doors always open or close, Musk said software updates coming in June would fix the problem.