Hyundai opens doors to world’s first car-powered hotel

                LONDON: Consumers can now get a glimpse of the world’s first car-powered hotel, as Hotel Hyundai opens its doors, offering the most unique off grid experience of 2022.

The new one-of-a-kind experience, curated by broadcaster and critic Grace Dent, launches as research commissioned by Hyundai found that nearly half (46%) say that sustainability and the environment are more important to them now compared to five years ago when choosing holiday accommodation.

A further quarter (25%) are choosing staycations over travelling abroad to reduce their carbon footprint by flying less.

Two fifths (40%) say they are also looking for cheaper travel options this year and over half (55%) admit this decision is due to the current cost of living crisis. As a result, over half (53%) say they would like to invest their holiday spend in local UK economies rather than abroad.

Grace Dent, curator of Hotel Hyundai, said: “We’re looking for unique, memorable stays more now than ever and this is a delicious blend of innovation, luxury and comfort that gets you thinking. With power coming from the car, where could Hotel Hyundai pop-up next?

“I’m excited for those staying with us to sample the sustainable, locally sourced menu as well as the equally fabulous cocktails, and of course to enjoy a good night’s sleep.

“I hope this three-week pop-up hotel is just the start for this concept of a car plugging in and powering a luxury experience like this. I’m predicting that guests will be hoping that his amazing hotel and the full experience it offers might be here again in 2023.”

Situated in Essex, just an hour from central London, Hotel Hyundai is centred around a luxury cabin and set across three key areas:

The guest suite
A high-end luxury cabin by Colemans Farm, the room offers everything guests can expect from a luxury boutique hotel. From the lights and all amenities, everything is powered by Ioniq 5 and its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology.

Bar & restaurant
No hotel is complete without a bar and restaurant and Hotel Hyundai is no different. The menu and mixology have been curated by Grace Dent, providing a food and beverage offering as innovative and sustainable as the cars powering it, with ingredients sourced locally within Essex. As well as indoor-outdoor dining and cooking over fire, the bar and restaurant area will have an Ioniq 5 coffee lounge, with expertly prepared espresso powered by the car.

Cinema
To finish off the evening, guests are invited to enjoy a film from a car-powered projector and speakers, with a V2L powered popcorn machine for the true cinema experience.

The Ioniq 5 is able to power the hotel and its experiences using its V2L feature that supplies AC power (230V/50Hz) up to a maximum of 3.6kW (or 15 Amps) power consumption. An adapter from the car provides a socket into which standard domestic appliances can be plugged into.

Members of the public can win a stay at the unique hotel and enjoy the full experience on offer with welcome cocktails, a three-course meal, evening film and breakfast hamper all included.

Hotel Hyundai is open for 14 nights from Oct 19 to Nov 5. To be in with a chance to win a stay, visit: www.kiphideaways.com/hideaways/hotel-hyundai.


Carsome announces Women Take the Wheel initiative

                KUALA LUMPUR: Carsome, Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, has announced its Women Take the Wheel initiative to be rolled out in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand in line with the company’s commitment to be more inclusive across all its touchpoints with society.

The statement was made in conjunction with International Women’s Day.

Carsome data showed the number of female car buyers has risen by more than 308% in 2022 compared to the previous year.

In response to feedback  from its female customers on their needs and challenges when purchasing pre-owned cars, the Women Take The Wheel initiative aims to empower female car buyers with a differentiated experience and offerings, taking into consideration their request to be educated and guided especially in the technical and process-related aspects of car buying during the early stages.

Carsome group president and chief financial officer Juliet Zhu said: “We’ve heard the feedback of our female customers and recognize the challenges they face throughout their car ownership journey. In addition to providing trust, transparency and choice through our digitized car buying and selling experience, ‘Women Take the Wheel’ is our way of supporting women in making informed and confident decisions."

Carsome will be piloting an elevated customer experience in Malaysia for women with 11 customer specialists at selected Inspection and Experience Centers including PJ Automall, Kepong, Kelana Jaya, Puchong, Klang, Seremban, Melaka, Skudai, Ipoh and Bayan Lepas.

These consultants will support and guide female customers to provide them with a seamless experience right from the test drive to car ownership, after which customers will be able to access convenient after sales support through Carsome’s digital touchpoints.

The programme also kicked-off with a 30-day money-back guarantee for female customers, first of such offering in the industry and free 1 month life insurance from Fi Life, one of Carsome’s partners in the Women Take the Wheel initiative.

This will be applicable during the campaign period from 8 - 31 March 2023.

Parents will also be able to benefit from a Children's Corner, which is being piloted at PJ Automall.

At the launch of the Women Take The Wheel initiative, Juliet sat down with digital entrepreneurs Malek Ali, founder of BFM and Fi Life; Sherry Sheriff, co-founder of Wahine Capital; as well as Vanessa Gomes, senior writer at Digital Edge for a fireside chat titled ‘Elevating the Women Consumer Experience’.

The discussion was focused on how businesses can better anticipate the needs of women and cater to them more meaningfully.


Employee accidentally crashes car into bank

                KUANTAN: A bank employee crashed her car into her workplace in an accident today.

Kuantan OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Noor Yusof Ali said the 53-year-old woman arrived at the bank on Jalan Tun Ismail here for a morning meeting when the incident happened.

The woman apparently accidentally stepped on the accelerator, causing the car to speed forward and ram the glass wall of the bank.

"The manager of the bank and the driver have lodged a police report at the traffic police station," said ACP Noor, adding that they did not find any criminal elements in the investigation.

Fortunately, nobody was injured in the 9.30am incident.

READ MORE: Elderly driver crashes car into Seremban restaurant


UMW going full throttle, vehicle sales up 35% in first quarter

                KUALA LUMPUR: With the reopening of the economy, UMW Holdings Bhd seems to have quite a lot going for it.

For one, sales of new models have exceeded expectations on the back of tax exemptions and increased industry volumes.

The first batch of UMW Toyota’s (UMWT) recently-launched Toyota Corolla Cross CBU (Completely Built-Up) units were fully taken up after less than a month of its launch in March. The company is in discussions with the government and its principal on the possibility of bringing in more units before it starts to locally assemble the model, which would tentatively begin in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2021.

Meanwhile, UMWT’s associate, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), has received about 15,000 bookings for the Ativa model since it started taking orders in mid-February. Based on Perodua’s initial sales target of 3,000 units per month, UOB Kay Hian Research (UOBKH) said this implied a five-month waiting period.

Sales of these new models are partially reflected in Q1FY21 sales, with UMW-related brands reporting total sales of 74,911 units, up 34.8% year-on-year.

“Backlog orders and sales tax exemption are likely to cushion the impact of the second movement control order (MCO). With the whole supply chain being allowed to operate this time round, the MCO impact will be a lot less severe as compared with the previous round.

“The introduction of several new models like Toyota Corolla Cross and Perodua Ativa might also help to bolster 2021 sales, ” UOBKH said in a report.

UMWT has yet to share the next model after the Corolla Cross, but it has reiterated that the decision will be made based on the saleability of the model.

The research house noted that UMWT will also be stepping up efforts to introduce more locally assembled models to ensure its products are more competitively priced given the domestic automobile market’s growing competitive landscape.

UOBKH has maintained its “buy” call on the stock with a slightly higher target price of RM3.80.

Compared with its closest competitor, Honda, which locally assembles most of its products, UMWT locally assembles only seven of its 15 Toyota offerings.

Also, to differentiate itself, UMWT will leverage on Toyota Capital’s easy ownership scheme, Toyota EZ Beli, which lowers the barriers of entry for buyers. The scheme is gaining traction, especially among first-time car buyers, and now contributes about 13% of Toyota Capital’s financing portfolio.

The company also said it would continue to focus on online sales channels to leverage recent e-commerce trends and provide continuous support to its dealers as part of its customer experience enhancement plan.

With its near-term prospects looking up, UMW is also identifying opportunities for its long term plans.

UMW is not ruling out potential merger and acquisitions or major investments should a good opportunity arise, especially in its area of interest within the mobility ecosystem.UOBKH noted that UMW continues to receive orders from Rolls Royce for 2021 under its aerospace segment while exploring diversification opportunities within the high-value manufacturing space by leveraging on the division’s engineering capabilities.

While the brokerage expects sales to slow down for two to three months after the year-long sales tax exemption ends on June 30, sales should gradually recover going into Q4 as distributors gear up their year-end promotional activities.


Shell Helix engine oil with Made For Malaysia labels

                KUALA LUMPUR: To counter counterfeit and unauthorised engine oil in the market, genuine Shell Helix products meant for sale in Malaysia now come with "Made for Malaysia" labels.

The new "Made for Malaysia" labels are now found on:

- Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40 (4L)
- Shell Helix HX7 10W 40 (4L)
- Shell Helix HX7 5W 30 (4L)
- Shell Helix HX5 10W 30 (3L)
- Shell Helix HX5 15W 40 (4L)

These five Shell Helix products are now blended and packed at Shell’s Lubricant Oil Blending Plant at Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

The new front label can be peeled to reveal a unique QR code for quick product authentication, while the label at the back features information in English and Malay.

The QR code also enables easy registration for the Shell Advantage Rewards (SHARE) programme which rewards customers with goodies that include a sign-up bonus, Shell Helix Engine Warranty (SHEW) and free Shell Helix products (terms and conditions apply).

 From left: Shell Lubricants general manager (lubricants supply chain) Cheong Kin Seng, Shell Malaysiachairman Datuk Iain Lo, Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd managing director Shairan Huzani Husain, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Malaysia Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Ministry ofDomestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism deputy secretary-general (domestic trade) Datuk Basaruddin Sadali and Shell Lubricants general manager (Malaysia and Singapore) Baljit Singh.

The introduction of Shell Helix products with "Made for Malaysia" labels is ongoing and is expected to be completed by January 2019.

During this transition period, official genuine Shell Helix products with old labels would still be on sale and can be authenticated through the unique product code on the label.

“The presence of counterfeit and unauthorised products in the market is affecting customer confidence and negatively impacting our trade partners’ businesses.  The decision to commence local production of official genuine Shell Helix products meant exclusively for the Malaysian market and clearly identify them with the new "Made for Malaysia" labels, is a key step to address this issue,” said Shell Malaysia Trading managing director Shairan Huzani Husain.

The "Made for Malaysia" Shell Helix range was officially launched by Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Malaysia Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

Also present was Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism deputy secretary-general (domestic trade) Datuk Basaruddin Sadali, Shell Malaysia chairman Datuk Iain Lo, Shell Lubricants general manager (Malaysia and Singapore) Baljit Singh and Shell Lubricants general manager (lubricants supply chain) Cheong Kin Seng.


Weekly fuel price mechanism to continue

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government has no intention of abolishing the weekly petrol price setting mechanism as it plays a role in national development.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said it was important to allow the market to determine petrol prices as the previous subsidy allocated for petrol had not reached the targeted group.

"We cannot just go back to the old system where the government can subsidise up to 70 sen.

"If we keep giving on the subsidy, it will not generate more growth for us. Those receiving the benefit may not be the targeted group," he said at a press conference after launching the Malaysia SME Economics Conference Series 2017 today.

"When it goes down, no one says anything but when it goes up I know people feel the pinch," he added. "We cannot keep taking out money from the Treasury to pay subsidy to oil companies."


Five car hacks you should know

                DETROIT: Ford posted up a video clip last month that highlighted five car hacks that make driving a more pleasant affair.

Like how to keep a pizza hot or cooling down a hot car fast. They are simple and quick tricks to carry out.

The video, one of a number of Ford How-to series, has garnered over 130,000 views since it was posted up on the Ford channel on YouTube.

Check it out below.


In California, Porsche drops manual transmission for top-of-line 911 GT3

UPDATE: Porsche and Californian authorities have reached a last-minute deal to allow the manual transmission GT3 to be sold in the state.

LOS ANGELES: On June 16, Porsche announced the 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring.

The 502-horsepower coupe is the understated version of the top-of-the-line GT3 that comes with a spoiler large enough for a picnic.

But the arrival of the new variant has also elicited an omission far more consequential: For the first time ever, Porsche will not offer a manual transmission in its most coveted 911s for drivers in its single biggest US market. California will be the only state to not receive the 911 GT3 in manual form.

“The seven-speed PDK gearbox will be the only transmission offered in California with the 911 GT3,” Porsche reported in a line buried at the end of the GT3 Touring press release.

The decision had not been made public when Porsche debuted the GT3 earlier this year.

“For those who prefer three pedals and are located outside of California, a six-speed manual gearbox will continue to be available at no extra cost.”

According to Porsche, the “Touring” distinction refers to an equipment variant of the 1973 911 Carrera RS. Porsche revived the idea in 2017 when it offered a Touring package for the 911 GT3.

Porsche is notoriously vague about how many allocations of its halo car are bought as manuals vs PDK (automatic paddle shifting), but fans take the stick shift option very seriously.

For them, a manual transmission is the sure-fire way to show that the person behind the wheel is a “serious” and accomplished driver ready to handle a GT3 car that’s tuned to dominate the track.

Globally, the take-up rate for manual versions of the GT3 is 30%; in the US, that number jumps to 70%, says Porsche spokesman Luke Vandezande. (That’s compared to less than a 10% take rate in some markets for manuals across all 911 variants.)

Even Andreas Preuninger, the boss of Porsche’s 911 GT3 program, often uses the hashtag #savethemanuals on his personal social media posts.

Vandezande said in an email that the company is “unable to confirm whether a manual gearbox for the 911 GT3 in any form will be offered in California in the future,” though he did confirm the manual transmission will not be offered on any of the the 2022 model year cars.

And, in theory, he conceded, Beverly Hills Porsche could sell a manual GT3 if they knew it would be registered in another state.

The omission is due to the California Code of Regulations, which stipulates that highway vehicles must pass certain “drive-by” noise tests orchestrated by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Put simply, manual vehicles must remain under a certain decibel level up to full throttle in second or third gear. But an automatic transmission can hit the same speed requirements in first gear, which is far quieter.

Porsche’s quandary is exacerbated by the timing of current and upcoming noise regulations, which has left Porsche engineering the new GT3 to comply with upcoming standards while the old standards are still in effect—effectively relegating Porsche’s purposefully aggressive, racer-light, and screamingly loud GT3 manual cars to limbo.

“The issue is focused on an outdated test procedure still found in California Highway Patrol regulations - it’s called SAE J1470 and it dates back to 1992 when manual cars might have four or five gears,” Vandezande explained via email.

“It’s since been superseded by a new and more modern procedure called SAE J2805 from May 2020. The former test is no longer current (and this is the one the 911 GT3 would not pass), and the latter test has not yet been adopted by California – meaning we’re somewhere in the middle and therefore cannot register the car in manual form in California right now.”

In contrast, the new entry-level 911 offers a different, seven-speed manual gearbox that complies with the California code; the manual version of the Porsche Speedster, which shares the same engine as the GT3, also complies with the code.

Porsche considered making a “California edition of the GT3 but ultimately decided against it, Vandezande said. “We considered this option, but to alter a 911 GT3 would not be the right course of action.”

The interior of the GT3 has the steering wheel, gear selector, centre console, armrests, and door handles covered in black leather.

The partial leather interior features understated black stitching; the seats are covered with black fabric, and the roofliner is also black.

The news comes during a heady time for Porsche, which is the top-earning brand for Volkswagen Group.

Germany’s 73-year-old automaker has seen record sales in recent years, down just 3% during the pandemic in 2020, compared to the record set in 2019, and well up compared to previous years. In the first quarter of 2021, Porsche sales were up 36% year-over-year, to 71,986 units sold globally.

But this constitutes the latest evidence that manual gearboxes, which used to signify the brand’s commitment to its racing heritage—and among Porsche’s faithful adherents, distinguish between a “real driver” and a dilettante—have largely fallen out of the conversation.

Quieter models are unlikely to affect the bottom line of a brand pivoting away from the die-hard driver mentality that still bolsters its image. Last year in the US, Porsche sold 18,631 Macan and 18,092 Cayenne SUVs, compared to just 8,840 911s. It’s an SUV company now.

Company executives have worked hard to emphasise the importance of seamless technology between car and owner, the luxury of its hugely profitable PDK-only SUVs, and the futuristic prowess of the electric Taycan.

The gear-less plug-in sedan and wagon is the essential prime mover in the automaker’s €1 billion (RM4.9bil) shift to EVs; in the first quarter of 2021, Porsche delivered 9,072 Taycans around the globe—just 61 fewer than the long-running 911.

The 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 with Touring Package is expected to begin arriving in the US in early 2022. It has a starting price of US$161,100 (RM666,803).


Malaysian-built Peugeot 3008 to be exported to Philippines

                KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) will be exporting its first shipment for the Asean region under the new joint venture agreement between Groupe PSA and Naza Corporation Holdings.

The first batch of the Peugeot 3008 1.6L Active, awarded ‘European Car of the Year 2017’ manufactured in NAM, Gurun, Kedah has boarded and is estimated to arrive in the Philippines by the end of the month.

“The Peugeot 3008 with the Peugeot 5008 1.6 THP are targeted to be available in the Philippines with more than 4,000 units by 2023. The Philippines is the first Asean country where our cars manufactured at NAM is being exported to under the AFTA,” said Laurence Noël, Head of ASEAN & CEO of Naza Automotive Manufacturing, Groupe PSA.

“More cars will be exported to other Asean countries very soon,” she added.

In February 2018, Naza Corporation Holdings and Groupe PSA signed a share sale and joint venture agreement to officially establish shared operation of the Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) plant in Gurun, Kedah, as the first manufacturing hub in Asean for Groupe PSA.

This marks the beginning of Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) distributing the brands under Groupe PSA - Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel to the Asean region.


Pacific & Orient Insurance introduces online campaign to promote its mileage-based packages

                KUALA LUUMPUR: Pacific & Orient Insurance Co Bhd (POI), recently launched its interactive online game ‘Shortcut by PrOmilej’, with the aim to drive home the message ‘drive less, pay less’ to consumers.

With the campaign, POI wants to create awareness for its usage-based motor insurance, PrOmilej, which is available directly to consumers through its website or App.

Breaking the mould of a one-size-fits-all motor insurance product, PrOmilej offers flexible private car insurance at a premium based on expected annual mileage.

With options to top-up, the innovative plan currently consists of three options: Less than 5,000km, 10,000km and 15,000km and corresponding savings as high as 40% on comprehensive car insurance premiums.

POI chief executive officer Muzir Kassim said the movement control order (MCO) caused by the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in reduction in vehicle usage as more people were traveling less and working from home.

“Through our PrOmilej product we are offering consumers an opportunity to choose how much they will drive in a year and only pay for that.

"However, the product is also flexible as it allows customers to ‘top up’ the mileage for additional premiums if they have underestimated how much they need.

"This ‘top up’ feature grants customers more control on how much they pay for their car insurance as it enables them to buy “blocks” of mileage as and when they need more,” Muzir said.

The company also said the Shortcut game together with a play-to-win campaign allows participants a chance to win up to RM88,000 worth of prizes, including the grand prize of a brand-new Proton X50

“We are excited to launch this fun free-to-play game that embodies our message well: find the shortest route, ALWAYS DRIVING LESS, to be a winner!

“As the name suggests, users stand to win attractive prizes, if they manage to get the shortest route in the fastest time,” Muzir said.

The campaign will run from May 14 to July 11 and consumers can participate via www.poi2u.com.

Scores are accumulated throughout the duration of the campaign and consumers are advised to play daily to increase their chances of winning the weekly prizes or the grand prize at the end of the campaign.


Hong Leong Bank offers digital auto loan service

                KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Leong Bank Bhd (HLB) today launched its auto loan application service called Loan2Go.

This makes HLB the first bank in Malaysia to roll out such a service whereby its sales workers would attend to customer loan applications using tablets.

In a statement, group managing director and chief executive officer Domenic Fuda (pic) said HLB is moving towards digital operations, adding that the new platform would improve speed and quality of delivery to cater to the changing needs of customers.

"Our move to an online mobile loan application platform is part of our effort to improve customer service.”

Fuda said the move would let the bank boost its ability to sell more auto loans while boosting staff productivity.

"With the approval in-principle in hand, customers would also have the confidence to complete their auto loan application with HLB.

“Our dealers will be able to close their sales in half the time required, as the applications can be submitted any time on Mondays to Sundays," he added.

Loan2Go is HLB's innovation strategy, which follows on the back of its recent announcement of a collaboration with Malaysian businesses through the Angels Network to support and develop local technology-focused start-ups and businesses through mentorship.


GM invites ‘Everybody In’ as it gears up for an EV future

                DETROIT – General Motors is debuting a new marketing campaign as part of the company’s comprehensive efforts to accelerate mass adoption of electric vehicles. The “Everybody In” campaign is a call to action meant to reflect a movement that’s inclusive and accessible.

The company is also evolving its brand logo as GM transforms into a digital-first environment.

The new logo builds on a strong heritage while bringing a more modern and vibrant look to GM’s familiar blue square. The new brand identity extends to technology brands including Ultium.
The team of GM designers tasked with creating the new logo considered how to balance the history and trust inherent to the existing design with GM’s vision for the future.

The new GM logo features a color gradient of vibrant blue tones, evoking the clean skies of a zero-emissions future and the energy of the Ultium platform. The rounded edges and lower-case font create a more modern, inclusive feel. The underline of the “m” connects to the previous GM logos as well as visually representing the Ultium platform. And within the negative space of the “m” is a nod to the shape of an electrical plug.

“There are moments in history when everything changes. Inflection points. We believe such a point is upon us for the mass adoption of electric vehicles,” said Deborah Wahl, GM global chief marketing officer. “Unlike ever before, we have the solutions, capability, technology and scale to put everyone in an EV. Our new brand identity and campaign are designed to reflect this.”


MAA urges car owners to replace faulty Takata airbag inflators

                The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) is urging car owners to replace their faulty Takata airbag inflators.

In a statement, the MAA said its members had spent a lot of efforts in tracking car owners and inviting them to replace the faulty Takata airbag inflators.

These efforts included setting up VIN number checker, airbag replacement campaigns, and extra working hours.

"The faulty Takata airbag inflators can cause injury and in the worst case, death," said MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad.

Owners of the affected vehicle models who have yet to get their airbag inflators replaced are strongly urged to contact the distributor of the vehicle immediately to receive the free remedy repair for their cars.


Italy seeks alliance with France and Germany to tame EU car emissions laws

                ROME: Italy wants to team up with France and Germany to "influence" and slow the pace of European Union laws on cutting car and truck emissions, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government has already come out strongly against the bloc's decision to outlaw the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, with one minister calling the forced switch to electric "suicide" and a "gift" to Chinese industry.

Speaking to the TGcom news channel, Urso called on the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, to take a "pragmatic, concrete, non-ideological" approach to climate change laws, and said he wanted to build "an alliance" with Paris and Berlin to soften their cost for industry and consumers.

He said he had discussed the issue in Berlin with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck on Feb. 20, and would do the same in Rome on March 3 with French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire.

"The three great European industrial countries can influence ... European regulations," he said, referring to Italy, France and Germany.

Urso specifically mentioned two draft EU laws: the Euro 7 tougher emission rules for cars, vans, trucks and buses, and this month's proposal to further cut truck and bus emissions. He said Italy would be "determined" to stall the two bills' approval until after the next EU parliamentary elections in 2024, unless Rome's demands for moderation are met.

"They are two important dossiers which must be tackled realistically, giving citizens and businesses a real chance to adapt in good time," he said.

Urso also indicated that Italy would lobby for a broader revision of "the stages and modalities of the ecological transition" in 2026, when the European Commission is due to review progress made towards the 2035 target of achieving zero emissions from new cars and vans.

Echoing concerns expressed by Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, Urso said the EU risked going from "energy subjection" to Russia for fossil fuel supplies to "an even more serious dependency" on China for green technologies and raw materials.

EU regulations on road sector emissions are part of a broader package of tougher policies against climate change, designed to deliver on the bloc's targets to slash greenhouse gas emissions this decade.


Seven Honda models on recall list over faulty fuel pump, more than 77,000 cars affected

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia today announced a product recall involving an additional 77,708 units of vehicles to replace the fuel pump as a precautionary measure.

The recall affects seven models namely Accord, BR-V, City, Civic, CR-V, HR-V and Jazz. The 2019 City is by far the most affected with over 30,000 units being recalled.

In June last year, Honda Malaysia began a recall involving 55,354 cars over the same issue, in line with Honda's global fuel pump recall.

Current models are not affected in this product recall.

Honda Malaysia said a faulty fuel pump could lead to difficulty in starting the engine, loss of engine power or vehicle stalling. There have so far been no incidents of crashes or injuries caused by this issue reported in Malaysia.

All affected customers will be informed by letter. Customers can also check if their vehicle is affected in the fuel pump recall via the HondaTouch application. Honda Malaysia urges all affected customers to contact any Honda authorised dealer to make an appointment upon receipt of the notification to replace the fuel pump, subject to parts availability.

The replacement of the affected fuel pump is free of charge and all cost related to the replacement will be borne by Honda Malaysia. The replacement stock will be available in stages.


Indonesia close to EV deals with BYD Group and Tesla, says minister

                JAKARTA: Indonesia is finalising agreements with China's automaker BYD Group and US carmaker Tesla to invest in electric vehicle (EV) production facilities in the Southeast Asian country, a senior cabinet minister said today.

Indonesia is aggressively promoting investment into batteries and EVs at home to take advantage of its rich nickel resources. Once a major nickel ore exporter, it has banned exports to ensure enough raw materials for investors.

"All the biggest (electric) car makers in the world will invest here. BYD Group, the number one in the world, Tesla, the number two, Hyundai and so on, they are all finalising deals with Indonesia," coordinating minister Luhut Pandjaitan said in a meeting with provincial governments.

He did not disclose further details at the meeting.

BYD Group and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

South Korean carmaker Hyundai launched its plant in Indonesia in March last year to produce the country's first locally assembled EV.

SGMW Motor Indonesia, part of a joint venture of SAIC Motor Corp Ltd, General Motors Co and Wuling Motors Holdings, has built assembly facilities in Indonesia.


Ford’s Lincoln brand to launch full slate of electric SUVs by 2026, say sources

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co is stepping up plans to extensively electrify its Lincoln brand in North America, as it prepares to introduce at least five new battery-powered Lincoln sport utility vehicles through 2026, say three people familiar with the plans.

Included are battery-electric models that will replace or supplement the Lincoln Corsair, Nautilus, Aviator and Navigator, said the sources, who asked not to be identified.

The strategy to electrify Lincoln is a key element of Ford's planned US$30 billion investment in EVs and batteries through 2030. Ford announced the US$30 billion initiative in May 2021.

The automaker has said it will have the annual capacity to build at least 600,000 electric vehicles globally within 24 months, when it aims to become "the clear No. 2 electric vehicle maker in North America" behind Tesla Inc.

On Thursday, Lincoln spokesman Anika Salceda-Wycoco said it was "too early to talk about specific details around future vehicle or production plans."

The first of the new Lincoln EVs, a large crossover about the size of the Aviator, is slated to begin production in late 2024 or early 2025 at Ford's Oakville, Ontario, plant, as part of a US$1.5 billion changeover there from combustion-engine to battery electric vehicles, two of the sources said, citing the automaker's plans shared with suppliers.

Several more Lincoln EV crossovers, including potential replacements for the compact Corsair and the mid-size Nautilus, could be built in Oakville in 2025-2026, said the two sources, who cited internal planning documents. Production plans for those models have not been finalized.

Several of the smaller Lincoln EVs will share an improved version of the EV platform that underpins the Ford Mustang Mach E, the sources said.

A larger Lincoln SUV, a battery-powered companion to the big Navigator, is scheduled to go into production in 2026, the sources said. It will share a new dedicated EV truck platform with the next-generation Ford F-150 Lightning, the sources said.

Ford's plans to transform the Lincoln brand in North America into a mostly electric family of premium utility vehicles parallels an effort at General Motors Co, where the Cadillac brand has embarked on a similar makeover, starting this year with the mid-size Lyriq electric crossover.

Eventually, Cadillac is expected to field a full portfolio of electric utility vehicles, GM executives have previously said, including a full-size Escalade EV that is expected to share its underpinnings with the Hummer and Silverado EVs.

Cadillac also plans to introduce an ultra-luxury sedan called Celestiq in 2023.


Govt to look into ways to bring in EVs priced below RM100K, says minister

                BANGI: The government will look into ways to bring affordable electric vehicles (EVs) priced less than RM100,000 into the local market to benefit the people, says Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

He said the prices of most EVs that are currently sold in the local market are beyond the means of the vast majority of Malaysians.

"Proton will bring in Geely vehicles in the near future…(but) if we can install the vehicles in Malaysia, maybe it will help us to offer EVs (at a) lower cost," he said at a press conference after launching the Bangi Golf Resort EV charge hub and the handing over of the EV charging system public distribution licence by the Energy Commission here on Wednesday.

On the licence, Nik Nazmi said it was to ensure that the installation of EV charging stations is safe and regulated.

"This industry is growing. We want to make sure there are regulations and standards that should be fulfilled by companies that provide charging facilities. We know that if we do not scale up these charging stations, it will not support the expansion of electric vehicles,” he said, adding that the ministry hoped that these standards would convince the public to buy EVs.

He said the expansion of the EV industry in the country was also part of the government's efforts to achieve a low-carbon future.

When asked about incentives for Malaysians to own EVs, Nik Nazmi said the ministry would look into ways to improve Budget 2023 or Budget 2024 to include the incentives, in addition to establishing cooperation with automotive companies to bring more EVs that are affordable into the local market.

Meanwhile, when asked about the details of the electricity tariff announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after yesterday's Cabinet meeting, he said the matter would be announced soon.


Jalan Universiti renamed Jalan Prof Diraja Ungku Aziz

                PETALING JAYA: Selangor's Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has given consent for Jalan Universiti to be renamed Jalan Prof Diraja Ungku Aziz.

In a statement posted on the Selangor Royal Office's Facebook today, it said the changes woudl take effect immediately.

The Ruler said the decision to change the name of the road was to immortalise and commemorate contributions of the late Royal Professor Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid during his lifetime in the field of education and the Malay economy.

"For that, His Majesty has also agreed to meet with Prof Ungku's daughter, YBhg Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, to convey His Majesty's wishes and his decision to change the name of the road.

"The decision to rename Jalan Universiti to Jalan Prof Road Ungku Aziz is appropriate as it is the main gateway to higher learning institutions such as University Malaya, International Islamic University and Mahsa University," the statement said.

The Royal Office noted that the late Ungku Abdul Aziz served as a lecturer at the University of Malaya (Singapore) from 1952 to 1961, before being appointed to the position of professor and then Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University Malaya (Kuala Lumpur) from 1962 to 1965.

"Jalan Universiti stretches for 3.2km and is the main road connecting Petaling Jaya to Kuala Lumpur.

"It was built in 1960 and is the first bilateral road in Malaysia," it noted, adding that the road connects to other major roads such as the Federal Highway, Jalan Prof Khoo Kay Kim, Jalan Dato' Abu Bakar (Jalan 16/1) and Jalan Harapan.


World’s biggest independent oil trader snapping up used cars in diversification move

A done deal at Vava Cars' Turkey site. — Image from Twitter/VavaCars Turkey
LONDON: If you live in Turkey or Pakistan and are looking to sell your car, the world’s biggest independent oil trader wants to make a deal.

Vitol Group, which traded more than 8 million barrels of oil and petroleum products a day in 2019, is getting into the used-car business.

The storied trading house, founded more than 50 years ago in the Netherlands, has launched a new venture called Vava Cars. It’s “on a mission to become the most trusted car transaction platform in the world,” the company says on its website.

The used-car startup is the latest example of how the world’s biggest energy traders are trying to diversify their core business of buying, blending and transporting oil and refined hydrocarbon products amid the transition to greener fuels.

While Vitol has said it doesn’t expect global oil demand to peak until at least 2030, it has already moved aggressively to diversify some of its business away from oil.

The Rotterdam-based company has made investments in wind, solar and battery storage while recently beefing up its power trading business. It’s invested in one company that converts plastic into diesel and another that uses coal to create hydrocarbon liquids. It’s also bankrolling a proposed carbon capture and hydrogen project in Britain.

But funding a business buying and selling used cars is a decidedly new tack for the oil trading giant, taking it even further downstream the energy chain.

A Vitol spokesman declined to comment on Vava and the strategy behind the new business.

Soaring car costs

The price of used cars has soared in Turkey amid a shortage of new vehicles as they have become a hedge against inflation, following a crash in the value of the Lira, Bloomberg reported in February.

The situation has since become more acute, with prices for some used cars now higher than new vehicles of the same make and model.

Vitol has access to plenty of low-cost capital to buy used cars as the world’s biggest oil traders depend on billions of dollars in bank loans to fund their day-to-day operations. It’s also an expert in exploiting price arbitrages between different geographic markets.

“Our revolutionary new service takes the hassle out of trading second hand vehicles and allows consumers to sell and dealers to buy with confidence,” Vava says on its LinkedIn page. “We are the future of used car selling and buying.”

Vava is looking to hire for a number of roles based here including a finance manager, chief product officer, head of platforms and head of data science, according to its LinkedIn page.

Vitol and other large trading houses have been hiring data scientists and building “data-refineries” to interpret millions of daily data points including, presumably, used car sales and price information.

In Turkey, the Vava venture is operating out of Vitol’s Petrol Ofisi fuel station network, which boasts more than 1,800 locations across the country. Petrol Ofisi is Turkey’s third-largest company by revenue, according to information on its website.

The oil trader already has a major presence in Pakistan through its 40% stake in Hascol Petroleum Ltd., a fuel storage and service station retailer.


Williams Advanced Engineering refining special wheelchair for young users

                LONDON: Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) is working with Whizz-Kids and Frazer-Nash Consultancy to refine the DREAM wheelchair concept.

The wheelchair has been designed by children for young wheelchair users, showcasing the way in which technology and design can help overcome the daily challenges faced by young wheelchair users.

WAE said it would use its experience in product design to further improve the wheelchair including a twist and smart features seat and kerb climb ability whilst ensuring the seat is able to support a modular construction.

Using its knowledge of the healthcare industry, gained through a series of high-profile projects such as Babypod (a lightweight incubator for the transportation of critically ill children) and a Paralympic handbike the company said it would strive to ensure the individual needs of the user are central to both the design and manufacture of the wheelchairs.

In 2017 the charities Whizz-Kidz and Duchenne UK came together, with the help of academics at Edinburgh University and an award of £1 million (RM5.7mil) from the People’s Postcode Lottery’s Dream Fund, to design a chair that would not just meet medical needs but harness technology and design to meet a young person’s dreams and aspirations.

Following a workshop at the Innovation Hub here in 2018, a shortlist of 72 recommendations were put forward; all of which would address the everyday challenges faced by young wheelchair users.

The project team enlisted experts from Curtiss Wright, Somo Global and Aergo to work with Frazer-Nash Consultancy and Edinburgh University to turn the project from a dream into a reality and the DREAM wheelchair prototype was launched in December 2020.

The success of the DREAM wheelchair prototype has enabled further funding to be secured from Duchenne UK and Motability Operations to examine the feasibility of bringing the chair to market, and a range of design and engineering reviews have been commissioned.

Williams Advanced Engineering’s capabilities cover a wide range of disciplines, honed from the ultra-competitive environment of motorsport.

The company provides innovation covering electrification, lightweighting, systems and whole product development, all aided by advanced simulation, rapid prototype manufacturing and testing.


Toyota: Going full steam on clean mobility

                TOYOTA Motor Corp (TMC) wants to launch compact hybrid cars in the A and B-segments in Asean in the near future, according to the automaker’s top executives.

“We want to introduce hybrid vehicles in the A and B-segments as soon as possible in Asean markets, featuring the latest technologies which have resulted in more compact, high-performance and fuel-efficient powertrains,” said Yoshiki Konishi, president and executive chief engineer of Toyota Daihatsu Engineering and Manufacturing Co Ltd, on the sidelines at the recent Idemitsu 1500 Super Endurance race at the Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram, Thailand.

 bZ4X electric vehicle.

Konishi said that the new 2023 Prius, built on a second-generation Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, features three key technologies.

“Compared with the first Prius (launched in 1997), fuel efficiency and passenger comfort have improved significantly due to reductions to the size and weight of the powertrain, as well as smaller battery sizes, resulting in better interior space, and lower costs of the hybrid system,” he said.

 bZ4X electric vehicle.

Hao Quoc Tien, who is Toyota Motor Corp’s CEO for Asia Region, added, “We do have plans for hybrids in the A and B-segments. I can’t tell you the date yet, but they are coming soon. Toyota continues to innovate and offers alternatives.”

Hao also pointed out tha Toyota’s hydrogen-fuelled powertrain technologies align with Singapore’s recent announcement of a national strategy to develop hydrogen as a major decarbonisation pathway, and to support the island nation’s international climate commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

 bZ4X electric vehicle.

Hydrogen power is only one of the multiple pathways towards carbon neutrality as envisioned by Toyota Motor Corp (TMC), which wants its customers to have choices of different powertrains.

These can include hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle (HICEV), fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), battery electric vehicle (BEV), plug-on hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and conventional internal combustion engines (ICE) powered by alternative fuels.

 bZ4X electric vehicle.

Hao noted that while many challenges lie ahead on the road toward HICEVs, its success would see less employment shocks or disruptions in the automotive industry.

“If HICEVs can see mass commercialisation, we can preserve many jobs,” said Hao, who is also president of Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.

The race in Thailand was also a platform for TMC president Akio Toyoda and his Rookie Racing privateer team to demonstrate the prowess of a hydrogen-powered GR Corolla H2 as well as a synthetic fuel-powered GR86.

 Toyoda (centre) races under the pseudonym 'Morizo.'

Toyoda’s intent was to highlight that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are not the only way to achieve a carbon neutral future, and hydrogen or synthetic fuel-powered cars could be better choices for slowing down climate change.

Hao said Toyota’s multiple pathways approach towards carbon neutrality is much more practical as there are different mobility and transportation needs such as trucking, logistics, and first and last-mile connectivity.

 Hao.

On the diversity and different economic conditions in Asean markets, Hao noted that Malaysia serves as a good example.

“You have big cities where passenger cars dominate and in East Malaysia, pick-up trucks are a popular choice in many areas.”

“This goes back to Toyota’s philosophy of offering different choices for consumers. Asean automotive markets continue to grow, with rising motorisation rates (cars per 1,000 inhabitants),” he added.

At the event, the motoring press also had brief test drives of the Toyota bZ4X battery electric vehicle (BEV) and Mirai, which is a hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) at a reserved area at the circuit, laid out with a long runway for straight off-the-line sprints, a short slalom exercise and an irregular surfaced section.

 Mirai is hydrogen-powered.

Likely to be introduced in Malaysia in this year, following its recent launch in Thailand in November, the bZ4X comes in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options, has a 71.4-kWh lithium-ion battery, and a travel range of up to 500km.

As expected from a BEV, the drive is near silent, without the noise or vibration of a combustion engine, and acceleration is effortless.

The bZ4X has responsive steering, a cabin with a Lexus-like premium look and feel, ample leg and headroom for 1.7-metre adults - that was the general impression we came away with after two quick rounds in the five-seater sports utility vehicle (SUV).

As for the five-seater Mirai sedan, again, there is no engine vibration or noise, and it delivered quick off-the-line sprints, as well as sharp, responsive handling during a quick slalom course.

 Mirai.

It’s worth noting that the second-generation Mirai has a third hydrogen fuel tank added, contributing to a 30% increase in the car’s driving range to 650km (compared with its predecessor).

Powertrain layout was optimised by Toyota engineers to give the Mirai a 50:50 front:rear weight distribution.

In the fuel cell system, hydrogen and oxygen from the air combine in a chemical reaction to create electricity to power the electric motor.

The only emission produced by a hydrogen fuel cell is water vapour.

The Mirai promises easy refuelling in five minutes or less.

In November 2022, Thailand’s first hydrogen refuelling station was launched in Pattaya, Chonburi and the Mirai will be offered as a limousine service car between U-Tapao International Airport and Pattaya, in a collaboration between Toyota Motor Thailand, BIG (Bangkok Industrial Gas) and Thai state-owned oil and energy giant PTT.


Tax breaks continue for Mercedes-Benz hybrids, no price hikes

                KUALA LUMPUR: Locally assembled Mercedes-Benz hybrid cars, namely the S400L Hybrid and E300 BlueTec Hybrid, continue to enjoy import duty and excise tax exemptions.

Prices for the 3.5-litre S400L Hybrid and 2.2-litre E300 BlueTec Hybrid with AMG Line are RM598,888 and RM338,888 respectively.

In a statement, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and and CEO Dr Claus Weidner said, "We are delighted to have been granted an extension on duty exemptions."

Since 2003, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has invested over RM800mil for assembly and retail operations in the country.

The company's vice president of passenger cars (sales and marketing) Mark Raine said there would be no increase in prices for Mercedes-Benz cars at the moment.

"We will continue to monitor all influencing factors. Also, given the success we have seen with the Mercedes-Benz hybrids, we are always examining the possibility of expanding our range of vehicles here," said Raine.

MORE:Mercedes-Benz Price List 2016


Transfer cost of motorcycle ownership to be standardised at RM3

                PUTRAJAYA: The fee for the transfer of ownership of motorcycles will be standardised at RM3 nationwide beginning April 1, the Transport Ministry announced.

At present, the fee is RM3 for the peninsula, RM5 in Sarawak and RM40 in Sabah.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said this was to ease the burden of Malaysian citizens.

As of June last year, there were nearly 13 million motorcycles registered on the road nationwide. Johor led the way with over 1.8 million motorcycles, followed by Federal Territories and Selangor.


Tesla starts building Model Ys, Musk does a dance in Shanghai

Musk tossing his coat onstage during a delivery event for the China-made Model 3 cars in Shanghai earlier today. — Reuters
SHANGHAI : Tesla Inc said it has started work on building Model Y electric sports utility vehicles (SUV) at its US$2 billion Shanghai factory, marking a new milestone for the company’s first foreign car plant.

The event comes just over a week after Tesla started delivering Model 3 vehicles built at the factory that was up and running in just 357 days - a record for global automakers in China. The first batch of sedans were handed to its employees.

Tesla delivered China-made Model 3 cars to 10 customers from the public today. Present were billionaire CEO Elon Musk, Shanghai mayor Ying Yong and other senior government officials.

In a moment of levity, Musk pulled off some awkward dance moves to celebrate the first China-made Model 3s, much to the amusement of everyone present.

“We are holding today a ceremony to mark the start of the China-made Model Y programme,” senior Shanghai government official Zhu Zhisong said at the ceremony.

Musk said that “ultimately Tesla Model Y will have more demand than probably all the other cars of Tesla combined”.

Construction of Tesla’s first plant outside the United States began in January and production started in October.

The factory started with a production capacity of 150,000 Model 3 sedans and Tesla aims to push that to 250,000 vehicles a year, including Model Y, in the plant’s first phase.

Shanghai vice mayor Wu Qing said he hoped to see Tesla extend its cooperation with the city and for the car maker to manufacture more models at its Chinese plant.

Tesla unveiled its Model Y in March 2019 and said in October that production of the electric compact SUV at its Fremont facility was running ahead of schedule.

It has said that margin expectations are higher for Model Y than Model 3, while production costs are roughly the same.

Tesla’s China website estimates the starting price for Model Y vehicles at 444,000 yuan (RM262,000). It will announce retail price later, the website says. The China-made Model 3 sedans are priced at 355,800 yuan (RM210,000) before subsidies.


Ferrari CEO announces upcoming hybrid supercar

                GENEVA: After unveiling the F8 Tributo on Tuesday at the Geneva Motor Show — the first of five Ferrari models to come out this year — Ferrari announced that the next will launch in May, and it will be a V8 hybrid supercar that can outrun the LaFerrari.

On Tuesday in Geneva, Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri told reporters that May showers will bring a brand-new Ferrari hybrid supercar — possibly with a V8, according to Bloomberg. This will be the second hybrid the company has ever made after the LaFerrari was launched in 2013, and the second new model that Ferrari will launch in 2019.

When asked by Roadshow about the upcoming lineup, chief marketing and commercial officer Enrico Galliera said that the company will "establish 'clear, different positioning' for each new model, ensuring each targets a specific type of buyer."

The F8 was targeted at those who want a supercar that's still "streetable," whereas the V8 hybrid will be for more emissions-conscious drivers. Additionally, a V6 is on the way; according to CTO Michael Hugo Leiters, "This will be the next step to follow the speed of downsizing without losing any performance or driving emotion."

Leiters even went as far as to say that Ferrari is having serious discussions about developing an all-electric car, though for the time being, a battery vehicle simply does not fit a brand that's known for its iconic combustion-engine roar.

In any case, another Ferrari hybrid will make its debut in just a couple of months. With increasing stringent emissions standards, it's likely we'll be seeing several more over the next few years.


India's Mahindra open to more partnerships for EV parts

                DAVOS: India's Mahindra and Mahindra will explore sourcing more components from other companies to boost its electric vehicle (EV) portfolio, says its chief executive.

Anish Shah said Mahindra had over time focused on developing EV components in-house, but now changed tack to forge partnerships to achieve faster growth in the segment.

Mahindra last week signed a partnership agreement with Volkswagen in which it will explore equipping its electric cars with motors, battery system components and cells made by the German automaker.

"The world is moving towards a lot more partnerships. It's better to source the best that's out there, rather than do everything ourselves," Shah said in an interview at the World Economic Forum summit here.

"It's VW (Volkswagen) at this stage and as we see similar strengths in other areas, we are open to looking at various components that we would bring in, and do what we are very good at in-house as well," he added.India's Mahindra to explore more partnerships for EV parts

Although Mahindra is placing big bets on developing its EV portfolio, it will face fierce competition from India's Tata Motors in a country where the clean mobility sector is picking up fast.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is offering companies billions of dollars in incentives to build EVs, as India looks to meet its climate change and carbon reduction goals.

India's EV market represents only 1% of the country's annual sales of about 3 million vehicles, with consumers still opting for fuel-guzzling cars that are far more affordable.

Tata dominates India's EV market and last year raised US$1 billion from TPG for the business. MG Motor India, which is owned by China's SAIC Motor, also has plans to raise funds to develop its EV business.

Shah said Mahindra will use "significant funds" for EVs and had them available, adding: "We always will be open to value creation opportunities".

Mahindra has developed a portfolio of EV commercial vehicles in India, but the latest push is focussed on passenger cars, and more particularly, sports utility vehicles (SUVs).

"Our strike zone has been authentic SUVs, that's where we are going to stay ... we are not going to make EV sedans, no hatchbacks," Shah said.


Chinese carmaker NIO soon to launch its first all-electric SUV

                SHANGHAI: NIO is set to unveil its first ever mass market electric SUV codenamed ES8 at the April 21-28 Shanghai auto show.

According to specialist websites, the all-electric vehicle will have a range of more than 300km.

It will also feature a spacious interior that can accommodate seven passengers. More interestingly, it will be equipped with autonomous driving technologies, however precise details on this capability have yet to be announced.

It should be noted that the new SUV is not due to be launched in Asia before 2018, and not before 2020 on the US market.

NIO's strategy is reminiscent of the one adopted by US manufacturer Faraday Future, which followed up the unveiling of its spectacular FFZERO1 concept, a 1,000hp single-seater with a top speed of 320kph, with the Las Vegas CES presentation of its first connected and customisable electric crossover.

The brand is also involved in the FIA Formula E Championship (all-electric single-seaters) through its NextEV NIO stable.

NIO is the international name (Weilai in Chinese) for the Chinese start-up NextEV's new automobile brand.


Pay traffic summonses online and get up to 50% discount from May 18 to 21

                PETALING JAYA: Motorists with outstanding traffic summonses will get discounts of up to 50% on their penalties when they pay them online from May 18.

For four days until May 21, motorists can enjoy the discount when they pay their summonses online via www.myeg.com.my and www.rilek.com.my.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department director Deputy Comm Datuk Azisman Alias hoped that the discount would come as a relief to motorists are burdened by challenging times.

"We understand some may be facing difficulties during the movement control order (MCO) while others may be preparing to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri," he said.

DCP Azisman also said traffic service counters at district police headquarters nationwide would start reopening in stages beginning May 18 to facilitate summons payments as well as insurance documentation for road accidents.

The counters are expected to be open from 9am to 2pm every Monday and Wednesday in Perlis, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

On Fridays, the counters will be open from 9am to noon.

Meanwhile, in Kedah, Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu, counters will be open every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday from 9am to 2pm.

DCP Azisman also advised motorists to be mindful of standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the conditional MCO when dealing at the counters.


Tesla deal boosts Chinese presence in US auto tech

A Tesla showroom in London. - Reuters
DETROIT: China's Tencent Holdings Ltd has bought a 5 percent stake in US electric car maker Tesla Inc for US$1.78 billion, the latest investment by a Chinese Internet company in the potentially lucrative market for self-driving vehicles and related services.

Tencent's investment, revealed in a US regulatory filing, provides Tesla with a deep-pocketed ally as it prepares to launch its mass-market Model 3.

Tencent also could help the US company sell - or even build - cars in China, the world's largest auto market, analysts said.

"It certainly is a strong chess move for Tesla," said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting for researcher LMC Automotive, citing the cash infusion and "help in navigating the Chinese market."

Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk on Tuesday tweeted: "Glad to have Tencent as an investor and adviser to Tesla." Musk did not say what he meant by "adviser" but in a separate tweet he noted Tesla had "very few" Model 3 orders from China, where the car has not been formally introduced.

The midsize Model 3 is due to go on sale later this year in the United States.

The deal expands Tencent's presence in an emerging investment sector that includes self-driving electric cars, which could enable such new modes of transportation as automated ride-sharing and delivery services, as well as ancillary services ranging from infotainment to e-commerce.

Those new technologies, and their potential to create new business models and revenue streams in the global transportation sector, have attracted billions in investment from China's three tech giants - Tencent, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Baidu Inc.

In an investor note, Morgan Stanley auto analyst Adam Jonas said on Tuesday that he "would not be surprised" to see Tencent and Tesla collaborate in the development and deployment of some of those technologies.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Chinese investment in Tesla, but President Donald Trump has been critical of US automakers and of China trade policies.

Founded in 1998 by entrepreneur Ma Huateng, Tencent is one of Asia's largest tech companies, best known for its WeChat mobile messaging app. With a market capitalisation of about US$275 billion, it is roughly six times the size of 14-year-old Tesla, whose US$45 billion market cap on Tuesday was only US$1 billion shy of 114-year-old Ford.

Tencent was an early investor in NextEV, a Shanghai-based electric vehicle startup that since has rebranded itself as Nio, with US headquarters in San Jose, not far from Tesla's Palo Alto base. Tencent also has funded at least two other Chinese EV startups, including Future Mobility in Shenzhen.

In addition, Tencent has invested in Didi Chuxing, the world's second-largest ride services company behind Uber, and in Lyft, Uber's chief U.S. rival.

Baidu has invested in Nio, as well as in Uber and Velodyne, a California maker of laser-based lidar sensors for self-driving cars. Alibaba's mobility investments include Didi and Lyft.

As Tesla is doing, many of the start-up companies backed by Tencent, Baidu and Alibaba are developing self-driving systems that eventually could be introduced in commercial ride-sharing fleets in the United States and China after 2020.

Tencent maintains a US office in Palo Alto, in the heart of California's Silicon Valley. Beijing-based Baidu and Hangzhou-based Alibaba also maintain offices in Silicon Valley.

Tencent owns about 8.2 million shares in Tesla, the carmaker said. It is the fifth-largest shareholder, behind Musk and investment companies Fidelity, Baillie Gifford and T. Rowe Price.

To help fund Model 3 production, Tesla raised about US$1.2 billion by selling common shares and convertible debt earlier this month. Tencent said its shares were acquired as part of the early March equity sale and on the open market.

Musk had a stake of about 21 percent as of Dec 31.


Car sales in China shine as rest of world reels from virus

Visitors browsing the Lexus booth at Auto China 2020 show in Beijing last month. — AP
BEIJING: Demand for cars in China continues to go from strength to strength, making the automobile market in Asia’s biggest economy a lone bright spot as the coronavirus pandemic puts a damper on sales in Europe and the US.

Deliveries of sedans, SUVs and multipurpose vehicles jumped 7.4% in September from a year earlier to 1.94 million units, the China Passenger Car Association said today. That’s the third straight monthly increase, and it was driven primarily by demand for SUVs.

Passenger vehicle deliveries to dealers, meanwhile, rose 8% to 2.1 million units, while total vehicle sales, including trucks and buses, expanded 13% to 2.57 million, data released later by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed.

With auto sales in the US and Europe still affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, reviving demand in China is proving a boon for international and domestic manufacturers. China is set to be the first country globally to bounce back to 2019 volume levels, albeit only by 2022, according to researchers including S&P Global Ratings.

 Visitors checking out a Tesla Model X SUV on display at a Beijing expo. — AP

Automakers worldwide have invested billions of dollars in China, the world’s top car market since 2009, where the middle class is expanding but penetration is still relatively low.

Brands from countries such as Germany and Japan have weathered the pandemic better than their local rivals — the combined market share of Chinese brands fell to 36.2% in the first eight months from a peak of 43.9% in 2017.

Even as the market recovers, it may still record its third straight annual decrease, Xin Guobin, a vice minister at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said last month. That’s because of the heavy declines suffered at the start of the year, during the height of the outbreak.

Regardless, China’s importance is boosted by its focus on nurturing the electric-car ecosystem, a technology shift in which automakers have invested a great deal of time and money. Beijing wants new-energy vehicles to account for 15% or more of the market in 2025, and at least half of all sales a decade later.

Wholesales of new-energy vehicles, consisting of pure electric cars, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell autos, almost doubled in September to 125,000 units, PCA said. Tesla Inc., which started deliveries from its Shanghai gigafactory at the start of the year, sold 11,329 vehicles.

The company ranked third in NEV wholesales last month, behind SAIC-GM Wuling automobile Co. and BYD Co.

PCA said it expects NEVs to help drive overall auto sales growth in the fourth quarter with the introduction of new, competitive models, while strength in the yuan will help lower costs locally.


€1.3mil Praga Bohema hypercar makes dramatic global on-screen debut on 'The Grand Tour'

                PRAGUE: The Praga Bohema has made its dramatic global on-screen debut on Amazon Prime Video’s The Grand Tour with glowing feedback from the famous television personalities Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

Featured in Season 5 Episode 2, The Grand Tour: Eurocrash, the road-legal Bohema hypercar prototype was driven by May at an airfield in Slovakia and praised for its “incredible” steering, “enormous” acceleration and agility, and summed-up by Jeremy Clarkson as “one very impressive piece of engineering from the Czechs.”

Filmed on one of the hottest European days on record in the summer of 2022, the television appearance comes just weeks before the launch of the 89-run, €1.3 million (RM6.6mil) production specification Praga Bohema and the start of manufacturing of the first customer cars at the Praga factory in the Czech Republic.

Fellow presenter Richard Hammond complimented the design and styling of the Bohema development prototype, saying: “It’s a difficult path to tread isn’t it, because it’s got to look childish and silly, which it is, but it looks accomplished and finished.”

At 982kg, the lightweight rear-wheel drive Bohema uses a 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 engine that produces 700bhp/725Nm and goes from 0-100kph in less than 3.5s. It has a top speed in excess of 300kph.

The episode also paid tribute to Central Europe’s impressive heritage of automotive design and engineering.

With 117 years of history, the Praga brand became one of Central Europe’s biggest automotive engineering firms in the first half of the 20th Century and grew to become one of Czechoslovakia’s “big three” brands, producing more cars than Škoda and Tatra combined in the 1920s and ‘30s.

With a product line including karts, trucks, planes, the R1 race car and now the road-legal, Bohema hypercar, Praga remains one of the oldest car brands with an unbroken history in the world.


Kia previews Rio in new set of images

                FRANKFURT: An exclusive set of images released by Kia previews the all-new, fourth-generation Rio which will make its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show.

Design of the new Rio was led by Kia’s design centres in Germany and California, in close collaboration with the company’s global design headquarters in Namyang, South Korea. The appearance of the new Rio is defined by straight lines and smooth surfacing, giving the car a distinctive, confident new look.

At the front, the Rio wears the latest evolution of Kia’s "tiger-nose" grille, now thinner in height and wider across the front of the car. Integrated bi-function projection headlamps – again, thinner and more sculpted than those of its predecessor – project a new U-shaped LED light signature. Changes to the front of the car, including moving the fog lamps’ position outwards within the front bumper, are designed to add greater visual width for a more stable overall look. The new Rio grows by 5mm in width (to 1,725mm), further adding to this effect.

In profile, the fourth-generation Rio’s lengthened, more balanced stance is achieved with a long bonnet and longer front overhang, a 10mm longer wheelbase (up to 2,580mm), a thinner, more upright C-pillar, and a shorter rear overhang. Overall, the new car is 15mm longer than its predecessor (now 4,065mm long), and 5mm lower in height (to 1,450mm). Straight, clearly-defined lines run down the full length of the car’s shoulder and along its doors, further stretching the appearance of the car for a more stable, confident look.

The rear section of the Rio is now more upright, with a near-vertical rear windscreen and a shorter overhang. The straight line that runs from the grille, through the headlamps and along the top of the doors, continues around the back of the car, paired with thinner, more sculpted rear lamps, which now feature a new arrow-shaped LED light signature. Like the wider-looking ‘face’ of the car, the rear design of the new Rio gives it a stronger overall appearance.

The new Rio will offer motorists a modern new cabin design, featuring sculptural forms and a more ergonomic layout than its predecessor.

Like the exterior, straight lines running the width of the dashboard characterise the shape of the interior, giving the cabin a wider appearance and increasing the sense of space for occupants.

The dashboard itself is now angled towards the driver, and at its center is a new infotainment system, a ‘floating’ HMI (human-machine interface), with a high-resolution touchscreen to power the Rio’s audio, navigation and new connectivity systems. The new HMI has allowed Kia to reduce the number of buttons on the centre console.

The new Rio is available with a choice of black or grey cloth seat upholstery, or with black or grey faux leather. A "Red Pack" for the Rio gives buyers black with red faux leather-trimmed seats throughout the cabin. The cabin itself features gloss black and metallic trim throughout, for a more modern finish.

Production starts at the end of 2016. The Rio is the Korean manufacturer’s best-selling model globally, with more than 473,000 sold around the world in 2015.


2018 Paris Motor Show: Renault presents futuristic infotainment system

                PARIS: Renault has a new immersive experience in store for this year's Paris Motor Show, taking visitors into the multimedia world of the vehicles of the future by means of a capsule on the French car manufacturer's stand.

Renault has chosen to unveil its Augmented Editorial Experience (AEX) at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. This exclusive voice assistant prototype uses artificial intelligence to propose customised and contextualised content, as well as multimedia experiences, to enrich onboard travel time. The voice assistant can, for example, read aloud news stories.

For the duration of the Paris show, visitors will be invited inside a four-metre-wide capsule installed on the Renault stand to experience four different sample situations (starting the day, travelling to a business meeting, heading home, or a family trip).

The experience promises exceptional image quality, with 222-degree high-definition images across several screens.

In all of the situations, the driver can talk to the assistant at any moment to find out the latest news, ask it to read out entire articles or to get contextual information relating to the surrounding environment.

The project simulates Renault's vision of the future of vehicle travel in the era of fully autonomous driving, in the coming years. The aim is to entertain and inform the driver and their passengers so that they can get the most out of their journey time.


Norway revs electric cars to 100,000 units

                OSLO: Norway, which boasts the world's highest number of electric cars per capita, now has 100,000 such vehicles on the road, a trade body said Tuesday.

The clean cars are already saving the Nordic country some 200,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, and the plan is to boost their number to 400,000 over the next three years, the Electric Vehicle Association said.

Generous state-funded measures, including tax breaks, free city tolls and free parking, have catapulted Norway to the top of the electric car league.

With a population of 5.2 million, Norway has a total of 19 electric cars for every 1,000 inhabitants, with electric vehicles making up for almost 20 percent of new car registrations.

By last year, Norway had the fourth largest fleet of electric cars in the world in absolute terms, after the United States, China and Japan, according to Transport and Environment, a European green transport lobby.

"The present fleet cuts 200,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually," the association's secretary general Christina Bru said.

"Even though BEVs (battery electric vehicles) only account for three percent of the total passenger car fleet, we have achieved a substantial (emissions) reduction," she added.

Bru called on authorities to maintain the benefits granted for the vehicles, saying that the electric car fleet needs to quadruple to meet Norway's climate targets.

After an initial target of 50,000 electric vehicles had been met in May 2015, policy makers renewed the incentives, but hinted a very gradual and partial phase-out.

While these benefits are praised by environmental organisations, their cost-effectiveness is sometimes criticised by researchers.

Sales are also suffering from increasing competition from hybrid cars.


Michael Mann gearing up for Enzo Ferrari biopic

                LOS ANGELES: The new feature from the director of "Heat," "Collateral" and "The Last of the Mohicans" is said to be in its final development stages and filming is scheduled to start next year.

According to Variety, the project has been gestating for some time and will be based on Brock Yates' 1991 book "Enzo Ferrari The Man, the Cars, the Races".

Although there is no word on the likely cast for the feature, Cecchi Gori Media's Niels Juul has confirmed that Mann has merged two existing adapted screenplays of the book, one penned by Troy Kennedy Martin and the other by David Rayfield, along with elements from Ferrari's official biography in order to arrive at the story he wants to tell.

The film has been in development in some shape or form at Cecchi Gori Media since 2004 and is in no way related to the recently announced Gianni Bozzacchi-produced Enzo Ferrari biopic to which Robert De Nero is allegedly attached.


Weststar Maxus launches 10-seat G10 people mover

KUALA LUMPUR: Weststar Maxus has launched the China-built G10, a 10-seater MPV priced at
RM139,888 on-the-road.

The G10, billed as a versatile family vehicle, is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol turbocharged engine with direct injection  and 225hp and 345Nm, mated to a ZF-sourced six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode.

The engine is engineered by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) together with GM and Volkswagen. SAIC owns the Maxus brand.

"We're positioning the G10 as the ultimate people mover - and families are the target audience for this vehicle," said Weststar Group managing director Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim.

The Torino-designed vehicle comes equipped with full leather seats and safety features that fulfil the European MPV passive safety standards. The safety kit includes dual airbags and ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability programme, brake assist, brake override system, tyre pressure monitoring system and reverse camera.

The fully imported G10 also has all-round disc brakes, xenon HID headlights, LED taillights,  powered sunroof, keyless entry system, push-start ignition, rain sensing wipers, leather upholstery, and a seven-inch LCD infotainment display mated to a six-speaker audio system with MP3, DVD and Bluetooth features.

The G10 is available in three striking colours: Champagne Gold, Blanc White, and Obsidian Black. The G10 has a three-year warranty with one year free service.

"Approximately 120 G10 units have been pre-ordered to date," said Syed Azman. "Our sales target for this year is 500 units."

He also said there are plans to locally assemble the G10 by September 2016 and export the MPV to Asean countries next year.

To check out the G10, visit the Weststar Maxus showroom at 366, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur or call 03-2143 3331.


Limited-run Rolls-Royce Landspeed Collection featuring Wraith and Dawn Black Badge unveiled

                LONDON: Rolls-Royce has introduced the Landspeed Collection featuring the Wraith and Dawn Black Badge that commemorates the records set by British engineer Captain George Eyston in Thunderbolt, powered by two Rolls-Royce R V12 aero engines.

While the exploits of Sir Malcolm Campbell are well documented and widely known, Eyston's achievements using Rolls-Royce engines had been largely overlooked by history.

Now, after more than 80 years, Rolls-Royce is celebrating Eyston's heroic and inspiring exploits of 1930s.

Production of the collection is limited to just 35 units of Wraith Black Badge, and 25 of Dawn Black Badge, all of which have already been allocated to customers.

The collection is presented in a specially created two-tone finish, which marries Black Diamond Metallic with a new Bespoke colour, Bonneville Blue.

The interior details of both cars recall the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where Eyston pursued his record-breaking endeavours in 1937-38.

The Salt Flats’ fissured texture is reproduced in the engraved fascia while the steering-wheel detail mimics the dark track-line marked on the surface during record runs.

The Starlight Headliner, meanwhile, depicts the night sky on Sept 16, 1938, when Eyston set his third and final land speed record of 357.497mph (575.336kph) which stood for 341 days.

The silhouettes of the long-lost Thunderbolt, and its three record-breaking speeds, are laser-engraved on the front tunnel while subtle detail in driver’s-side door reproduces ribbon colours of the honours awarded to Eyston during his lifetime.

The record-setting six-wheeled Thunderbolt was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce R supercharged 37-litre, V-12 aero engines, each producing well over 2,000 horsepower.

Around only 19 of these engines were ever made and they were so rare that Thunderbolt’s engines had a previous career in the Schneider Trophy-winning Supermarine S6.B seaplane that would lay the foundations for the legendary Spitfire.

Meanwhile, the body of the Thunderbolt body was made from aluminium and, in its original form, had a blunt, heavyset profile topped with a large triangular tailfin.

Thunderbolt’s two R engines are preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon and the Science Museum in London but the car itself had been lost in a fire.

After being exhibited at the 1940 Centennial Exhibition in New Zealand, it was placed in storage, but was destroyed in 1946 when 27,000 bales of wool, housed in the same building, caught fire.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO Müller-Ötvös said, “Rolls-Royce has been synonymous with adventure, daring and pushing boundaries throughout its history. We are delighted that with the Landspeed Collection, we can add another hitherto unsung hero to the illustrious roll call of pioneers associated with our great marque.

“With his vision, boldness, determination and genius for innovation and invention, George Eyston embodies so much of what makes Rolls-Royce unique. These cars are a fitting and long overdue tribute to a truly inspiring character.”

Eyston received three significant honours - the Military Cross (MC) while serving in the Great War; in 1938, after his record-breaking runs with Thunderbolt he was made a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest civilian decoration; and in 1948, he received the Order of the British Empire (OBE).


Mercedes lays out its electric ambitions

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz is converting one of its biggest production plants in Sindelfingen, near Stuttgart, into a facility for developing premium plug-in electric cars as it moves towards its ambitious aim of building a 10-model fully electric car range by 2025.

"The Sindelfingen site plays an important role in the electric offensive of Mercedes-Benz Cars and is being advanced into a competence center for EV of the upper range and luxury class," said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production and Supply Chain Management.

The announcement was one of several points raised during its annual press conference this week designed to underline the firm's commitment to zero-emissions mobility and in playing a defining role in the technology's development as a replacement for the traditional gasoline-powered car.

"As the inventor of the automobile, we aim to play a major role in shaping the future of mobility from a position of strength, and to occupy a leading position in the industry," said company chairman Dr Dieter Zetsche.

It aims to do this by launching an entirely new EQ (pic) range of models that will cover everything from city cars to SUVs.

Real-world, on-road testing of the battery-powered cars is already underway and the first EQ-branded Mercedes-Benz is expected to arrive in showrooms in 2019.

And, by 2025 the company is certain that it will have 10 plug-in electric cars on sale and believes that the only barrier to its EV range making up 25% of its total car sales by that point will be the state of the wider charging infrastructure.

As for 2017, the company is getting ready to launch a heavily updated S-Class flagship luxury sedan which will, in the company's words "Strengthen its leading position in the field of automated driving and connectivity."

Mercedes is already a world leader in the field of active safety and semi-autonomous driving systems and as such, each new iteration of the S Class should be seen as the benchmark in terms of mainstream luxury motoring and what is currently possible in terms of technological innovation.

This year will also see the launch of yet another E Class variant. After the sedan, estate, coupé and crossover-styled All-Terrain model, the company will be launching the E Class Cabriolet in June. This will bring the company's range of convertibles up to a staggering six individual models. What's more it will be launching at a time when many other marques are cutting back on soft-tops.

However, Mercedes set an annual sales record of 3 million vehicles for 2016, so it clearly understands what the market wants.


Toyota Tundrasine concept has global debut at SEMA

                LAS VEGAS: Toyota takes the Tundra pickup to new places in luxury and length with its Tundrasine concept, which made its global debut at the Las Vegas Convention Center at the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.

“SEMA is the perfect event to debut this concept vehicle that takes the best of Tundra and turns it into the pinnacle in executive transport . . .  limo style,” said Steve Appelbaum, National Engagement Marketing Manager, Toyota Motor Sales, USA.

The vehicle started out as a Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition 4×4 CrewMax 5.7L V8 pickup.

Toyota then transformed that full-size Tundra into a larger-than-life-size limousine—hence the Tundrasine’s portmanteau name.

The Tundrasine is over 26 feet in length and has a wheelbase of 235.9 inches.

The exterior is painted Midnight Black Metallic, and its eight doors open to reveal a custom and functional brown leather interior, inspired by the cockpits and passenger compartments of luxury private jets.

“People have seen plenty of limousines before, but never one quite like the Tundrasine,” said Appelbaum.


Firefly is the world's first car for kids

                LONDON: The world’s first electric car specially developed for five to 10 year olds is the Firefly.

Designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK, Firefly is the brainchild of Young Driver Motor Cars Ltd, a division of Young Driver, the UK’s largest provider of pre-17 driving lessons.

While Young Driver already offers lessons for youngsters aged 10 – 17, it became clear that there was currently nothing suitable for those aged under 10 to drive.

When searches revealed there were only ‘toys’ available, typically for under fives, Young Driver recruited a team of UK automotive experts with the mission to design and manufacture a properly engineered small electric car.

The Firefly technical spec includes hydraulic disc brakes, rack and pinion steering, independent suspension, an electronic tablet based dashboard and an eye catching body styled by veteran car designer, Chris Johnson.

Firefly is powered by an electric drive train featuring twin electric motors enabling a top speed restricted to 16kph.

An innovative (patent pending) and optional safety system uses sensors to detect obstacles in time to bring the car to a halt when it is operating in the Junior mode, which also limits speed to 8kph.

Working in forward or reverse modes, this is supplemented by a remote control switch which enables adults to stop the car from up to 120 metres away in case of an emergency.

Kim Stanton, who heads up Young Driver, said: “Firefly is something very special, it’s a real car in its own right, designed, engineered and manufactured in the Midlands, Great Britain – home of the car industry. We know that youngsters will enjoy driving it and that through this they will learn about road safety, finding out about the basics of driving and gaining a better understanding of how it feels to be behind the wheel.”


Interstate travel ban to be lifted on June 10, says PM

                PETALING JAYA: Interstate travel is to be allowed effective June 10, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Prime Minister said people would be allowed to cross state borders, except those staying in enhanced movement control order (MCO) localities.

He announced that the recovery MCO phase would be imposed from June 10 to Aug 31.

"This is part of the exit strategy. Since the MCO and conditional MCO were imposed, we have seen a declining trend of (Covid-19) cases in Malaysia.

"The Health Ministry statistics show the rate of transmission among locals is low and under control. Most of the cases recorded recently involve imported cases and undocumented migrants at detention centres," he said.

He warned that enhanced MCO would be imposed at localities where a surge in number of Covid-19 cases are detected.

Therefore, people should strictly observe the conditions imposed by the health authorities to reduce risk of Covid-19 transmission.

These include maintaining social distance, observing hand hygiene, and wearing masks.

He reminded those planning to return to hometowns to protect the elderly, as they were in the high risk group to contract the disease.

Muhyiddin said the recovery MCO would be implemented based on seven strategies.

They comprise fortifying public healthcare, law and enforcement, strengthening border control, fully re-opening the economic sector, inculcating new normal culture, empowering community responsibility, and protecting the high-risk group.

For more information on businesses and activities allowed and not allowed, surf http://www.mkn.gov.my/web


May 25-31: RON97 petrol up 8 sen


Daimler launches new electric medium-duty truck brand in US

                SAN FRANCISCO: Commercial vehicle maker Daimler Truck on Thursday launched Rizon, a medium-duty electric truck brand for the US, aiming to take on the likes of Isuzu Motors Ltd and Toyota Motor Corp's truck and bus unit Hino Motors Ltd.

Truck makers have long anticipated a shift to electric vehicles (EVs) with lower maintenance costs, but uptake has been slow because of the higher purchase price and a lack of adequate charging infrastructure.

Rizon will offer Class 4 and 5 trucks with lithium iron phosphate battery technology and start production in the third quarter of 2023, Andreas Deuschle, the global head of Rizon, said on a call with reporters.

Distribution will start in the fourth quarter through an exclusive agreement with Velocity Vehicle Group, the company said.

Karl Deppen, head of Daimler Truck Asia, said purchase prices were falling for some vehicles that received different grants and interest in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) was rising based on their quietness and comfort compared with diesel trucks.

"There's a lot of drive towards locally emission-free vehicles and BEVs, and that's the perfect opportunity here," he added.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this month proposed sweeping emissions cuts for new cars and trucks through 2032, a move it said could mean two-thirds of new vehicles sold would be electric within a decade.

Stricter rules for medium-duty vehicle are projected to cut emissions by 44% over 2026.

Daimler already makes a medium-duty Freightliner eM2 106 for distribution purposes such as beverage delivery and the Freightliner eCascadia, an 18-wheeler, aimed at regional distribution and port services with a range of up to 370km.

Depending on the battery variant, Rizon trucks will offer a range of 121 km to 177 km. The company said it would target customers involved in urban retail logistics, last-mile deliveries and municipal work.


Nissan Qashqai gets China unveil

                CHENGDU: Nissan has launched the new Qashqai in China through its joint venture Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company (DFL-PV).

Priced at RMB139,800 (RM94,000), Nissan is hopeful that the new Qashqai, with a class-leading wheelbase of 2,646mm, will be met positively by urban Chinese.

Designed in Europe, the new Qashqai adopts a V-Motion grille at the front as well as the boomerang LED headlights and passengers will be comfortably seated in the company’s zero-gravity seats.

The Qashqai is built on the Renault-Nissan Alliance's Common Module Family platform architecture and gets either a 2.0 or 1.2-litre turbocharged engine mated to a new-generation Xtronic Transmission with 7-speed manual mode.

Damping is taken care of by independent suspension and an array of technologies including active ride control, active trace control, active engine brake, double modes EPS (Electric Speed-Sensitive Power Steering and intelligent parking assist.

Other safety features under the Nissan Safety Shield includes forward emergency braking, emergency assist for pedal misapplication, around view monitor, moving object detection, lane departure prevention and blind spot warning.

The first generation Qashqai, a pioneering crossover vehicle, was introduced to China in 2008.

Cumulative sales from launch in March 2008 through July 2015 totalled more than 600,000 units.

The new Qashqai has been called a “game-changer” in Europe, with more than 1.8 million units sold in the region.

Qashqai was awarded “Car of the Year” in the small SUV segment last year and “2015 Best Small SUV” this year by What Car.

“With its outstanding exterior design and functions, the new Qashqai is set to be another game-changer in the Chinese market and we expect it to impress Chinese consumers and contribute to DFL-PV’s leadership in the market,” said DFL-PV managing director Susumu Uchikoshi .”


Volvo Cars says investigating hacking incident

                STOCKHOLM: Volvo Cars said it has launched an investigation into a cyber security breach and the theft of some research and development data that could impact the company's operation.

A spokesman for the firm, majority owned by China's Geely Holding, said it had been approached by a third party, but declined to give any further details.

"Investigations so far confirm that a limited amount of the company's R&D property has been stolen during the intrusion," the Swedish carmaker said in a statement on Friday.

It added that "there may be an impact on the company's operation", without specifying what that might be. It said it did not see an impact on the security of its customers' cars or their personal data.

The Gothenburg-based company said it had implemented security countermeasures to prevent further access to its property, while notifying relevant authorities.

"Volvo Cars is conducting its own investigation and working with a third-party specialist to investigate the property theft," it said.

Volvo Cars is now a listed compant following its IPO on Oct 29.