Aerodyne CEO welcomes audit, says public money not used for air mobility vehicle project

A 2016 file pic showing Kamarul with his company's drones.
PETALING JAYA: The CEO of the company developing Malaysia's first air mobility vehicle, or the "flying car", welcomes an audit of his firm, saying that not a single cent of public money was or will be used for the purpose.

Aerodyne CEO Kamarul Muhamed said the company did receive RM20mil from Malaysian VentureTech but that investment was only for their drone business expansion.

"We have never approached the Entrepreneurial Development Ministry for any assistance other than for the purpose of working on the framework and regulations of drones in Malaysia," he said in a public post on his Facebook page today.

He said they closed US$30mil (RM125mil) worth of Series B funding, including the RM20mil from Malaysian VentureTech.

He said the other investors were from Indonesia, South Korea, China and Japan.

A check on business information platform Crunchbase showed that Gobi Partners and 500 Startups were among their investors.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), in a report on the super drone project tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday, said that Entrepreneurial Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof had made a premature announcement on the project.

The report said PAC also found that Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), through VentureTech, had approved an investment in Aerodyne to the tune of RM20mil that was channelled on Nov 1.

The PAC also called for the Auditor-General's Department to do an audit of the RM20mil investment.

Kamarul said that the development of the air mobility vehicle was put on hold since August as they were growing rapidly around the world in their core drone-based business and full focus was put on this expansion.

"Urban air mobility (UAM) is a long-term journey and will not be mainstream until at least 2025. No reason for Aerodyne to focus on this now," he said, adding that the company had grown to more than 330 people in 25 countries around the world with very little help from the Government.

He said the company had refused a RM2mil grant from Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) previously because they didn't need the help.

He said that MDEC, through the Gain programme, did play a big role in helping in their global expansion.

He said that when they first talked to the ministry and other agencies earlier this year, it was about giving back to the nation and helping to shape the future of the nation.

"PAC never invited me for a talk. Never asked a single question of me. I have no interests in politics. The truth that many already know anyway will come out for others to see," he said.

Kamarul did not respond to the Star Online for additional comments on the matter.

His statement appears to be at odds with what the Entrepreneurial Development ministry said last night. The ministry had said the RM20mil went to the third national car project instead of Aerodyne.


BMW opens autonomous driving campus

                MUNICH: The BMW Group celebrated the official opening of its autonomous driving campus in Unterschleißheim, Germany with BMW AG member of the board of management Klaus Fröhlich and Bavarian state premier Markus Söder attending during the inauguration.

The German carmaker boasts that its new 23,000 square-metre campus with room for 1,800 employees is a state-of-the-art centre that covers every base when it comes to offering greater capacity for innovation and increased development efficiency.

Fifteen months ago, the company took the decision to pool together its development expertise in the fields of vehicle connectivity and highly / fully automated driving at a single location.

The campus' new site is located close to the Research and Innovation Centre as well as a nearby link to the motorway network. It is 31km north of here.

The company is now intending to drive forward development of highly automated vehicles with the new campus and is looking to recruit IT specialists and software developers in the areas of artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analysis.

The autonomous driving campus is opening its doors to “new working environments” – i.e. an open-plan layout, intelligent and flexible use of office space, and a multifaceted and creative workplace.

The benefits for the development experts employed here are clear: flexibility, efficiency, a high level of autonomy and short distances.

This means, for example, that a software developer working at the new campus can immediately test out freshly written code in a vehicle that is just a short walk away.

New working environments go hand in hand with a new employee and management culture, and managers work in the same open-plan office spaces as their staff.

This enhances interaction and facilitates communications, resulting in effective teamwork in the development of highly complex products.

The company is the first in the automotive industry to apply the agile working model systematically and universally for an entire specialist area – in this case across autonomous driving and driver assistance, from the research phase all the way through to series production development.

Agile working models form a crucial basis for efficient, future-proof development.

The open campus structure offers excellent conditions and exceptional support for scrum teams, and therefore lends itself perfectly to the agile software development process.

Scrum teams have an interdisciplinary structure, meaning that a variety of skills are brought together.

They handle complex sub-processes, working independently with an end-to-end approach and the high degree of flexibility allows the teams to react quickly and effectively to new requirements.


Over 8,000 potholes on Federal roads patched up since last year, says Works Ministry

                KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 2,138 potholes were repaired under the “Zero Potholes” programme as of April this year, says the Works Ministry.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad told the Dewan Rakyat that under the programme which began in July 2022, the Public Works Department (JKR) and federal road concession holders repaired 8,519 potholes on federal roads in Peninsular Malaysia last year.

"In 2021, JKR also developed a pothole monitoring application system (ASaPP) to monitor potholes through the use of an app on mobile phones, tablets, and computers, across federal roads in Peninsular Malaysia.

"All complaints related to pothole repairs will be registered in this application, and the encountered potholes will be immediately repaired and recorded in the ASaPP system, accessible to all parties involved," he said.

Abdul Rahman added that these parties include the JKR headquarters, district JKR offices, and the federal road maintenance concession companies in Peninsular Malaysia.

He said this in a reply to a question from Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (PN-Gua Musang) during Question Time.

Mohd Azizi had asked the ministry to state the effectiveness of the Zero Potholes policy and to ensure that the repair works implemented under the initiative followed all the set specifications.

Abdul Rahman said a pothole has a width that is between 200mm to 1,000mm, with a depth of 25mm.

"If the size of the damage exceeds the size of a pothole, it is classified as road damage and requires permanent repair under the periodic pavement maintenance programme," said the Deputy Minister.

Under the Zero Potholes programme, he said that pothole repair works will be carried out within 24 hours of discovery or reporting of the damage.

"In addition, the JKR will conduct inspections to ensure repairs are carried out according to specifications and to monitor the quality of the pothole patches," he said.

At the same time, Abdul Rahman said the quality of pothole repairs must adhere to the specified specifications, referring to the Standard Specification for Roadworks (JKR/SPJ/2008).

"The JKR will constantly monitor the implementation of pothole repair works, starting from the selection of materials obtained from approved quarries to ensure high-quality and long-lasting repairs," he said.


Car price reduction target of 20% can be achieved by 2017, says govt

                KUALA LUMPUR: The government is confident that the car price reduction target of 20 per cent by the end of 2017 can be achieved, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said.

He said the average price of all models and variants of cars in the country had dropped by 12 per cent since 2013.

"In 2013, the average price of cars dropped by five per cent, and last year, it further decreased by seven per cent, benefitting 72.5 per cent of buyers," he told a press conference during the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2014 update here today.

The minister said the comparison were between new and previous on-the-road prices.

On the NAP, he reiterated that the key objective of the policy is to transform Malaysia into the Asean energy-efficient vehicle (EEV) hub by 2020.

"Other objectives are developing research and development capabilities for right-hand drive vehicles and related technologies such as fuel efficiency, light material, telematics, tooling and component design," he said.

Citing examples of car price reduction, he said Perodua slashed Myvi prices by 11 per cent, Proton by 13 per cent for Proton Saga, and Honda by 17 per cent for Jazz.


Got game? Automakers show off in-car entertainment options at CES 2023

                LAS VEGAS: What started out as a novelty offered by Elon Musk to Tesla owners has turned into table stakes in the next generation of electric vehicles.

Automakers from Sony Honda to Hyundai are introducing ways at the CES 2023 technology trade show this week to reshape the in-car entertainment experience, including offering video games during the rides. They are positioning themselves to take advantage of the time people spend in their cars as a source of potentially lucrative, recurring revenue.

"This is a field which can be deployed very quickly," Dirk Hilgenberg, head of Volkswagen AG's CARIAD software unit, told Reuters at CES. "You could just host the third-party app for a streaming service, or generate joint platforms. You guarantee certain volumes, you guarantee certain revenue."

While car radios have been an entertainment staple in vehicles for decades, Tesla vehicles have reset consumer expectations with the ability to watch popular video streaming services, such as Netflix, YouTube and Hulu, while the vehicle is parked and charging.

In December, Tesla issued a "holiday update" to its software to add access to 1,000 PC games through the Steam platform.

Other automakers have followed suit. In October, BMW announced a partnership with AirConsole to bring casual gaming into its vehicles. Stellantis last year announced plans to add Amazon.com Inc's Fire TV for Auto to its new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs.

In Las Vegas, South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor Co said it would use technology developed by Nvidia Corp, a company whose chips power PC gaming, to stream games in cars.

Nvidia's cloud-based game service, known as GeForce Now, would provide access to more than 1,000 titles from PC game stores such as Steam, as well as free-to-play games such as Fortnite. China's BYD, and Swedish electric vehicle brand Polestar also are working with Nvidia.

Japan's Sony, the maker of the market-leading PlayStation video game console, on Wednesday at CES said its newly christened electric vehicle, Afeela, would be powered by the same Unreal Engine 3D technology used in video games.

Sony promised "best in class" movies, games and music, though it offered few details on the vehicle it is developing jointly with Honda Motor Co.

"In order to realise intelligent mobility, continuous software updates and high-performance computing are required," Yasuhide Mizuno, chief executive of Sony Honda Mobility, told the trade show.

The auto industry has been grappling with how to introduce these new features safely, and restrict use to passengers while the vehicle is in operation.

Tesla became the focus of regulators in 2021 following reports that one feature allowed drivers to play games on the cars' tablet-like touch screen. Tesla disabled the feature while the car was in motion.

Hilgenberg said Volkswagen is developing vehicles that can drive themselves on the highway or in traffic jams, which could give drivers and passengers more time to view videos or play games. But those vehicles will have safety systems that could shut down gaming or video displays to the driver if conditions made automated driving unsafe, he said.

Still, these are features that consumers are demanding, so VW is at CES seeking partnerships.

"In some regions, we will see people say, 'You don't have that? I'm not buying," Hilgenberg said. "We will see the content ... which is provided by software enabled functionality will be a decisive factor for buying."


Germany to raise carbon price to €25 in 2021, say sources

A vehicle transporter carrying trucks as emissions rise beyond from the Jaenschwalde lignite fired power plant, operated by Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG, in Barenbrueck, Germany. — Bloomberg
BERLIN: Germany's federal government and states have agreed to raise the price for carbon emissions to €25 (RM116) per tonne from 2021, from the €10 (RM47) originally planned, government sources said today.

The lower house of parliament last month approved a major climate protection package to help Germany achieve its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 55 percent of their 1990 level by 2030.

It envisaged a price of 10 euros a tonne for carbon dioxide emissions from heating and transport, but the opposition Greens, economists, business groups and activists criticised the amount, saying it was far too low.

The government sources said the carbon price would now increase annually, hitting €55 (RM254) in 2025.

All the revenue from the higher carbon price will be used to reduce the fee consumers have to pay to support the country's shift towards renewable energy, Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing the German dpa news agency.

Other German media said that the agreement paved the way for VAT on state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn's train tickets to be reduced from Jan. 1, 2020. The government wants to make railway trips cheaper to discourage people from taking domestic flights.

Sueddeutsche Zeitung said the entire climate package could be passed by the Bundesrat upper house of parliament on Friday.


China's Yahua agrees five-year deal to supply lithium to Tesla

                SHANGHAI: China’s Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group Co Ltd said on Tuesday it had signed a deal to supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide to Tesla Inc for the next five years.

Yahua, which is based in southwest China’s Sichuan province, did not provide tonnage figures but, in a filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, put the total value of the contract at US$630-880 million over 2021-25.

Tesla, which started delivering the first vehicles from its gigafactory here in December last year, already sources lithium - a key ingredient in EV batteries - from China’s Ganfeng Lithium, one of the world’s biggest producers of the commodity.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

In May this year, Yahua put a 20,000 tonnes per year lithium hydroxide plant into operation, more than doubling its previous capacity, even as prices languished at multi-year lows amid oversupply and a knock to lithium demand brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.


Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV and Omoda 5 among five Chery models previewed

The Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV (right) is on static display alongside the Omoda 5. Shown below is the dashboard of the PHEV.

PETALING JAYA: Chery today took a major step towards its brand rejuvenation in Malaysia by previewing no less than five of its current models for select members of the media, potential dealers and business partners.

Among them was the Tiggo 8 Pro plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), which is making its first appearance in South-East Asia.

Also present were the Omoda 5, Tiggo 4 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro, which Chery said conveyed a strong and unified expression of advanced technology, trendy design and premium features.

The Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV were on static display, while the other Tiggo Pro series models were available for a brief media drive around Setia Alam in Shah Alam.

The Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV represents one of Chery's newest technologies in the field of new-energy vehicles. Its petrol engine works together with a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) that features dual electric motors and nine operating modes, making it the first of its kind amongst Chinese brands.

The Omoda 5 is Chery's first global model targeted at younger customers.

It adopts a brand-new design language "Art in Motion", featuring a borderless grille, a "suspended" roof, double-layer sports tail and 18-inch sports rims.

Chery said it comes with multiple intelligent technologies to improve the active safety performance and bring an immersive intelligent driving experience.

In terms of intelligent security configuration, Omoda 5 is equipped with an ADAS system with more than 10 functions "to ensure the safe travel of young trendsetters." They include rear cross traffic alert, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist.

The flagship of the acclaimed Tiggo Pro series, the Tiggo 8 Pro, aims to delight upwardly-mobile entrepreneurs and professionals through its combination of technology, premium touches and seven-seat versatility.

READ MORE: Chery to stage measured return to Malaysia
 The Tiggo 8 Pro is flanked by the Tiggo 7 Pro (left) and Tiggo 4 Pro.

Its more compact five-seat sibling, the Tiggo7 Pro, is said to strike a balance between urban style and premium features, including three high-definition screens packed with the latest technology.

The Tiggo 4 Pro targets the young go-getter with its combination of technology and comfort.

Chery Malaysia country director Leo Chen said Malaysia is a strategic market in the Chinese carmaker's plans for further globalisation.

He said the two-day preview session was a chance for Chery to solicit feedback from Malaysians on its products.

"Besides communicating our recent global successes and showing them our leaps in technology, quality and design, this preview event is also a platform for us to directly engage with Malaysian consumers and deeply understand their hearts and minds with regards to automobiles.

"This preview event will strengthen the market research we have done so far by allowing us to gather extensive feedback from our valued guests via survey, this time alongside the real vehicles. This feedback will greatly help us fine-tune our product and brand strategy to best serve the Malaysian market, as well as assess the suitability of each of these models for the market."

 The charging port of the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV is on the left side of the front fender.


New promotions by Scania Malaysia

                SHAH ALAM: Scania Malaysia has launched a two years free Scania Maintenance offer.

This is in addition to the two years free Scania Assistance and ten years free Scania Fleet Management that already comes with Scania vehicles ordered today.

Scania Maintenance is part of a range of maintenance from Scania Contracted Services.

It includes assistance call-out charges, travelling charges to/from the breakdown site, inspection for factory recommendation, lubricants, filters and labour for maintenance.

Now, it is free for every Scania truck, bus and coach chassis for two years (subject to mileage limit).

"Scania vehicles are a precision machine backed by over one hundred years of intelligent engineering tradition. So it makes sense to have a contract with Scania for all repair and maintenance needs,” said James Armstrong, Managing Director of Scania Southeast Asia.

“Our maintenance procedures are proactive to avoid time-consuming and costly problems from occurring to maximise our customers’ uptime and operating economy. It also gives our customers predictable maintenance costs so that they can focus their time and energy on their core business.”

Last year, Scania Malaysia launched a new Scania Assistance number 1800-08-8500 (+603 5590 9077 for international calls) with an improved call-centre system based on Scania global standards.

It is an operator-based call-centre that operates 24/7, 365 days a year.

The improved call-centre system allows Scania to track and follow-up on the status of any customer’s case from start to completion; keeping the customer informed throughout the entire process.

This allows the customer to plan and reorganise their fleet movements better in the event of a particular vehicle needing assistance.


Mazda sales set to increase

                PETALING JAYA: Berjaya Auto Bhd’s (BAuto) Mazda vehicle sales are expected to increase to over 15,000 units in the financial year 2015 (FY15) and over 18,000 units in FY16, said MIDF Research.

Mazda vehicle sales are expected to be driven by new model launches and introduction of completely knocked-down (CKD) models.

The CKD variants command lower prices than the completely built-up (CBU) models due to localisation of certain parts which reduces the effective excise duty incurred.

MIDF Research expects the group’s FY15 revenue to grow by 41% to RM2bil and a further 14% growth to RM2.3bil in FY16.

Unlike its peers, BAuto operates an asset-light business model, with only seven outlets out of the entire network of 78 sales outlet in Malaysia.

In the Philippines, BAuto is only limited to being the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles which garners better margin.

“(BAuto) Having an asset-light business model translates into efficient capital structure, good earnings quality and strong earnings growth,” said MIDF Research in an initiate coverage statement yesterday.

As a result of the group’s asset-light business model, BAuto generated strong return on equity of over 50% and return on invested capital of 80% in FY14.

The research house expects these returns to remain at healthy levels in subsequent years, driven by higher net margin and asset turnover.

“We expect BAuto’s earnings to continue to post robust growth of 75% in FY15 to RM225mil before it eases to 14% in FY16 to RM258mil,” said MIDF Research.

Besides, BAuto is indirectly exposed to the yen via Prima Merdu, the approved permit holder, and MMSB, a joint-venture company, for the purchases of CBU units and CKD parts from Mazda Japan.

It was guided that for every 10 sen change in the ringgit/100 yen exchange rate, BAuto’s earnings would be impacted by about RM4.5mil to RM5mil.

“In our model, we have assumed average rate of RM3.05/100 yen for FY15 before increasing to RM3.08/100 yen in FY16 to reflect current volatility, in tandem with the depressed crude oil prices,” said MIDF Research.

Moving forward, the research house expects BAuto’s earnings to grow at a 41% compound annual growth rate over FY14 to FY16 while net margin to expand further to as high as 11.1%.


Volkswagen to invest US$193 billion over 5 years to hit EV target

                BERLIN: Volkswagen plans to invest 180 billion euros (RM865bil/US$193bil) over the next five years in areas including battery production and its North American operations, it said today, though the pace of spending will fall from 2025.

The investments come as Volkswagen, Europe's top carmaker, tries to close a gap with electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Tesla by expanding its slice of the growing market for battery-powered cars.

As it works toward a target of EVs accounting for 50% of its sales globally by 2030, over two-thirds of the five-year investment budget is allocated towards electrification and digitalisation, up from 56% in a five-year plan it had released a year earlier.

The difference from the previous plan is primarily down to more investment in its battery business, raw materials, and a US$2 billion (RM9bil) plant for the Scout brand, chief financial officer Arno Antlitz said.

"We expect to reach 20% electromobility in new sales from 2025 and are already investing two-thirds in that area," Antlitz said. "On the other hand we need to keep combustion engines competitive... that is a double burden."

The carmaker said it is finalising high-performance software for its premium and luxury brands which could in the medium-term be applied across the company, in an attempt to improve operations at its software unit Cariad.

The unit set up under former CEO Herbert Diess has gone over budget and fallen behind on its goals, suffering an operating loss of 2.1 billion euros in 2022 on revenue of 800 million euros (RM3.8bil), according to the carmaker's annual report released on Tuesday.

In the latest investment plan, up to 15 billion euros (RM72bil) is ringfenced for battery plants and raw materials.

Board member Thomas Schmall said on Monday the carmaker's needs were covered in Europe by the three plants already in the works, and that it was in no rush to pick new sites. It also announced its first North American plant in Canada, due to start production in 2027.

The investment decisions are targeted towards fulfilling a 10-point plan developed by Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume after he took the helm in September.

Volkswagen will share the results of a "virtual equity story" exercise instigated by Blume, which had all of the company's brands from Audi to Bentley prepare for a listing as a training exercise, at a capital markets day on June 21.

The most likely actual stock market candidate is battery unit PowerCo. Reuters in November reported talks were on with investors to buy into the division ahead of a possible partial listing.


Mazda reveals virtual RX-Vision GT3 Concept

                TOKYO: Mazda, the Japanese car brand that's known for its "zoom-zoom" tagline, has unveiled its RX-Vision GT3 Concept virtual race car.

The car has been jointly developed with Polyphony Digital - the folks that brought us the popular Gran Turismo racing game for Sony Interactive Entertainment's PlayStation gaming console.

The virtual race car can be found in the Gran Turismo game title and company says that players from all over the world will be able to drive it on all of the game's set courses from May 22, 3.00pm onwards in Japan (2.00pm Malaysia time).

The game has been certified and promoted by Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA - French for International Federation of Automobiles) association.

Players who use Mazda vehicles that include the RX-Vision GT 3 Concept in the game will automatically be granted seed rights to participate in the FIA-certified Gran Turismo Championship (World TOur) in various international locations for the 2020 season.

In the virtual realm, the car has been modified in accordance with the FIA GT3 race car regulations.

Power comes from a naturally-aspirated next-generation quad-rotor SkyActiv-R engine before it takes its styling cues from the Mazda RX-Vision concept first seen at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2015.

Power is rated at 570PS at 9,000rpm with 540Nm of torque at 7,500rpm.

According to the Japanese carmaker, the engine has been mounted behind the front axle with power going to the rear wheels.

This gives it a 48:52 front-rear weight distribution of its 1,250kg heft which the front-double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension system which takes care of.

The vehicle has a 2,700mm wheelbase and measures in at 4,590-long, 2,075mm-wide and 1,120mm-tall and rolls on 18-inch wheels with 310mm-wide, 700mm inflated-diameter racing slick tyres from Michelin.


Elon Musk overtakes Jeff Bezos to become world’s richest person again

Musk is world's richest for now. But don't take such rankings too seriously. Fortunes ebb and flow with gyrations in share prices. — Reuters
CHICAGO: Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, with a net worth of US$213bil (RM890.97bil), has pipped Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to become world’s richest person again, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

In the past week the Tesla founder has gained around US$13bil (RM54.37bil) in net worth as the share price of electric vehicle maker surged.

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a daily ranking of the world’s richest people.

Tesla’s shares have been trading lower today by 1.4% at US$780.7 (RM3,265) on Nasdaq as tech stocks took a pounding on rising US bond yields. Meanwhile, Amazon’s stock has fallen over 3%, trading at US$3,297.47 (RM13,793) on Nasdaq.

Tech-heavy Nasdaq on Tuesday fell over 2%, the most among Wall Street indexes as technology stocks came under pressure.

According to the real-time data of Bloomberg index, Jeff Bezos has a net worth of US$197bil (RM824.05bil), followed by Bernard Arnault, the chairman of Louis Vuitton (LVMH) with a net worth of US$160bil (RM669.28bil).

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates take fourth and fifth places in the index with a net worth of US$132bil (RM552.15bil) and US$128bil (RM535.42bil) respectively.

Tesla is the world’s most valuable carmaker with a market cap of more than US$792bil (RM3.31 trillion). The Palo Alto, California-based company is the state’s largest automotive employer.

Musk is also the chief executive of SpaceX, a rocket manufacturer tapped by NASA to resupply the space station.

Musk owns about 20% of Tesla, according to an August 2021 regulatory filing. Part of his holdings are used as collateral for personal obligations.

A December 2020 filing shows he has roughly US$500mil (RM2.09bil) of loans outstanding from three US banks.

SpaceX is valued using an February 2021 funding round that valued the company at US$74bil (RM309.54bil). A Nov 15, 2016, filing with the Federal Communications Commission showed Musk owned 54% of the closely held company through a trust. – Mint, New Delhi/Tribune News Service


B10 biodiesel to start selling from October

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities expects the B10 biodiesel programme to be carried out nationwide starting October.

Its minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, said the implementation would lift domestic use of crude palm oil by one million tonnes annually.

"The meetings with the stakeholders (planters) will be concluded by end- June and we will also finalise the papers on the implementation for submission to the Cabinet by then," he added.

He said the move would replace the current use of B7 biodiesel.

Uggah was speaking to reporters after officiating the 8th International Planters Conference here today.
The B10 blend comprises a ratio of 10 per cent palm-based biodiesel and 90 per cent petroleum diesel.

Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm grower, is at present using the B7 biodiesel programme which was implemented at end-2014.

Uggah said about 700,000 tonnes of crude palm oil annually were used in the B7 biodiesel programme.

Meanwhile, he said that oil palm mills in Sabah were not damaged by the 6.0-magnitude earthquake, last Friday.
Meanwhile, the three-day Planters Conference which began today is themed, "Addressing the Triple Bottom Line: Changing Dynamics of the Oil Palm Industry."

The conference provides a platform for the exchange of views on issues and challenges faced by the industry in particular, the palm oil industry.


Watch out for Proton X70 SE launch on July 22

                PETALING JAYA: Proton will be releasing a special edition X70 come July 22 at a virtual launch.

Only 2,000 units of the X70 SE would be produced. Proton is inviting prospective customers to register their interest online following the announcement of the special edition on Monday.

Based on the Premium 2WD X70 variant, the front-wheel drive X70 SE essentially sports only cosmetic changes.

On the outside, expect the special edition to feature black roof, black wing mirrors and a two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels.

The black theme is echoed in the cabin with black trim and black Nappa leather seats.

It would be available in a new Ocean Blue colour first introduced in the X50 or the existing Ruby Red.

The special edition will use the same 1.8 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 181hp/300Nm and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The launch event will take place at 11am, July 22, at Proton's Facebook page.


Japan unsuccessful in lifting auto tariffs early in UK trade deal, says paper

                TOKYO: Japan and Britain agreed to lift auto tariffs for a post-Brexit trade agreement in 2026 despite Japan’s push to lift the tariffs earlier, the Nikkei Asian Review reported on Sunday.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is currently in negotiations with British Trade Minister Liz Truss in London.

British Trade Minister Lizz Truss said in a statement that they “have reached consensus on the major elements of a deal,” and both have announced that they will agree on the principles of a trade deal by the end of August.

However, despite reassurances that the two countries had by and large reached an agreement, auto tariffs and agricultural products have proven to be a sticking point in the negotiations.

Japan had hoped to lift tariffs on auto and auto parts earlier than in the current trade deal between the EU and Japan, which will phase out import tariffs on Japanese vehicles by 2026.

“Japan agreed to phasing auto tariffs on Japanese vehicles out in 2026 in line with the EU trade deal, despite asking to hasten the timing,” Nikkei reported on Sunday.

Britain, on the other hand, is hoping to secure better terms on agriculture, Financial Times reporter George Parker tweeted on Friday.

“UK-Japan trade talks close to agreement but @trussliz said by Brits to be holding out on agricultural access,” he said, referring to Truss’s Twitter handle.

Britain, which left the European Union in January, is seeking to clinch a trade agreement with Japan based on the 2019 EU-Japan agreement by the end of the year, when Britain’s no-change transition arrangement with the EU will expire.

The Japanese Trade Ministry and Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.


Covid-19: Nissan and Toyota temporarily halt production in North America

                TOKYO: Nissan and Toyota have announced the temporary suspension of production in the US while Toyota has added Canada and Mexico to their list.

Nissan's production halt in the US starts today until April 6 in order to boost containment efforts amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Japanese carmaker also announced that there are currently no confirmed cases at any of its facility. However,  areas deemed business-essential will continue to operate with enhanced safety measures.

As for Toyota, its manufacturing facilities in Canada, Mexico and the US will be closed from March 23 to 24 with production resuming on March 25.

During this time, the Japanese carmaker's service parts depots and vehicle logistics centres will continue operating.

The company announced that the temporary closure is to help ensure the health and safety of its employees while anticipating a decline in market demand related to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company will conduct a thorough cleaning at all of its manufacturing facilities during the shutdown.

Meanwhile, it will allow its employees to prepare and adjust their family plans in relation to regional directives to school closures as they continue to monitor the situation and take action as and when needed.


Tesla on Autopilot rear-ends a parked cop car in US

                NEW YORK: Another Tesla Inc. vehicle operating on the carmaker’s driver-assistance system branded as Autopilot has crashed into a emergency vehicle parked on the side of the road, eliciting fresh warnings about the shortcomings of automated technology on public roads.

A Tesla Model 3 sedan hit a parked police cruiser with its hazard lights flashing on a major highway near Norwalk, Connecticut, near here over the weekend.

The collision occurred around 12:40am local time Saturday, when a highway-patrol vehicle stopped to assist a disabled SUV in the left-centre lane of Interstate 95, according to a Connecticut State Police report.

"When operating a vehicle your full attention is required at all times to ensure safe driving,” the state police wrote Saturday in a Facebook post.

"Although a number of vehicles have some automated capabilities, there are no vehicles currently for sale that are fully automated or self-driving.”

A similar incident last year in which a Tesla Model S slammed into the rear of a fire truck on a Southern California highway triggered an investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board.

While neither crash resulted in injuries, both raise questions about the use and limitations of advanced driver-assist technology that can struggle to detect stationary objects.

There’s no indication at this time that the NTSB’s Office of Highway Safety intends to investigate the latest crash, a spokesman for the agency said in an email. Representatives for Tesla didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

On Saturday, the 2018 Model 3 was traveling in the same lane as the parked police cruiser, which it hit before continuing on and damaging the bumper of the disabled Jeep.

The rear end of the police cruiser and front end of the Model 3 sustained "heavy” damage, but the state trooper was outside the police car at the time of the accident, according to the police report.

The driver of the Tesla told police his car’s Autopilot feature had been activated and he was not facing forward — he was checking on his dog in the back seat, according to the state police’s Facebook post.

Police issued him a ticket for first degree reckless driving and endangerment.

Tesla releases quarterly reports that it says indicate drivers using Autopilot are safer than those operating without it. The company also has said the system repeatedly reminds drivers they are responsible for remaining attentive and prohibits the use of Autopilot when warnings are ignored.


CIMB Classic offering BMW i8 prize

 The i8.

KUALA LUMPUR: The lucky hole-in-one winner at this year's CIMB Classic will take home the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.

In announcing this today, BMW Group Malaysia also said that the 5 Series and X5 vehicles will be used as official cars at the golf tournament to be held from Oct 29 to Nov 1 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club in Bukit Kiara here.

The i8 is largely made up of carbon fibre reinforced plastic and is able to accelerate from 0-100 kph in 4.4 seconds while only consuming 2.5 litres per 100km of fuel and emits 59 grams per km of CO2. It uses a 1.5 litre, three-cylinder combustion engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and electric motors for propulsion.

The fleet of forty 5 Series and 20 X5 will be used as shuttle vehicles for players, officials, as well as VIPs throughout the tournament. This is the sixth year BMW has been supplying cars to CIMB Classic.

BMW Group Malaysia will also used CIMB Classic to showcase the 6 Series Gran Coupe, X6, X1 sDrive 20i and the i8.


More 'affordable' Porsche Taycan shows up

                STUTTGART: A slimmed-down, entry-level model of the first all-electric Porsche will soon be rolling out to dealerships in Europe, but even at a discount of €20,000 (RM98,220), it's still anything but cheap.

With a home-market price tag of at least €83,520 (RM411,000), the electric sports saloon's latest iteration first arrives in March with only one electric motor instead of two.

It also won't have any fancy extra letters after its name, and instead of a GTS, Turbo or Turbo S, it will just be a plain old Taycan.

This standard rear-wheel driven model with a basic battery produces 326hp and can reach 408hp in a quick overboost.

Porsche hopes buyers will pay extra for the optional Performance Battery Plus, which can drive further and rely on more power - 380hp as standard and up to 476hp at peak.

Regardless of which battery is on board, the driving performance is identical: The Taycan accelerates from 0 to 100kph in 5.4 seconds, and won't stop until it hits 230kph.

With the 79.2kWh of the standard battery, the Taycan has a range of 431km; for the 93.4 kWh of the larger battery, Porsche puts range at up to 484km (WLTP).

Drivers can charge it at up to 270kW, so that the batteries can go from 5 to 80 per cent in just over 20 minutes and, according to the manufacturer, the power for another 100km flows in 5 minutes.


MAI and Perodua team up to develop dealer capability

                CYBERJAYA: The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) and Perodua have jointly rolled out the Dealer Entrepreneurship Enhancement Programme (DEEP) to further increase competitive capabilities of local automotive dealers.

DEEP is designed to give homegrown businesses the tool needed to improve their professionalism in the areas of human capital development and business acumen.

MAI chief executive officer (CEO) Mohamad Madani Sahari said the collaboration was aimed at enhancing technical skills and entrepreneurship of more than 100 Perodua dealers within five years.

"The programme is also an initiative to meet the 2014 National Automotive Policy core strategy to increase competitiveness and capacity in the automotive aftermarket sub-sector," he said at the signing of the DEEP memorandum of understanding between MAI, Perodua and the Perodua Dealership Association here Monday.

Mohamad Madani said MAI had selected Perodua as its partner for the first-of-its kind programme for they believed that Perodua sales and service dealers were ready for the big leagues.

Perodua president and CEO Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said DEEP was the third initiative taken with MAI to develop the local automotive ecosystem.

"We are now at the final stage in identifying 12 dealers for the pilot project of this programme which is expected to start in the next three months," he added.

The DEEP initiative is open to all medium-sized sales and service dealers, selling at least 84 vehicles per month, with the business run by the owner or owners that showed high level of proficiency.


Who called the fashion police? Golden SUV deemed 'too dazzling'

                DUSSELDORF: The driver of a shiny gold-coloured SUV in Germany had his vehicle confiscated at the weekend after police deemed the car was just "too dazzling."

Police said on Monday the gold foil exterior could have posed a danger by blinding others in traffic. The 30-year-old driver had to slum it on foot after his pimped-out BMW X5 was taken off the road in the western city of Dusseldorf during a police check on Sunday.

The ever-more popular foil wrapping technique, which is generally cheaper, faster and more versatile than a spray-paint job, has seen an uptick in head-turning colours, but this one appeared to be all too garish for police.

An expert is now clarifying whether golden foil on cars does indeed have a "dazzling effect" that would endanger road traffic, the police spokesman said, adding that they also found the car's exhaust and rear lights had also been modded.

The wrap method allows almost any colour or design to be applied to your vehicle, simply by having it printed onto vinyl or wrapping film and then affixed to the contours of the car.

It also takes much less time to have your car wrapped than to have it professionally repainted. The wrap keeps the original paint intact so you can even change your mind once you get tired of the look.

Wrapped cars tend to be head-turners, even if the glances are not always admiring, as in this case.


UMW sells record-high 383,054 vehicles in 2022

                KUALA LUMPUR: The UMW Group delivered a record-high of 383,054 units of vehicles in 2022, 46% higher than the 262,685 units registered in 2021.

“Both UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) and Perodua surpassed their sales targets for the year, mainly due to the robust demand driven by the sales tax exemption as well as the exciting new models launched during the year,” UMW said in a statement.

In December 2022, the group delivered a record monthly sales of 41,664 units, 7% higher than the 39,034 units registered in November 2022.

With 10,440 units registered in December 2022, UMWT successfully delivered 101,035 units in 2022, a 40% increase compared with the 72,394 units registered in 2021.

UMWT, therefore, maintained its leadership in the non-national automotive segment amidst challenging market conditions and supply chain issues.

The Toyota Vios, Hilux, and Corolla Cross were its best-selling models for the year, UMW said.

“In 2023, UMWT will continue to introduce new and exciting models to sustain its momentum. As UMWT is taking a multipath approach towards carbon neutrality, it also plans to introduce a second hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) model this year, on top of the possible introduction of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) for the Malaysian market,” it said.

Meanwhile, Perodua continued to retain its pole position in the Malaysian automotive industry with the delivery of 282,019 units in 2022, a 48% increase compared with the 190,291 units registered in 2021.

Perodua also broke another monthly sales record since its inception in December 2022, with 31,224 units registered during the month.

Furthermore, Perodua also achieved its highest annual production with 289,054 units in 2022.

“Moving forward, Perodua will continue to introduce new technologies in its products and services as well as to continue to invest to improve its production efficiency and capacity,” it said.

UMW Holdings Bhd president and group CEO Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali said: “We are pleased with the strong sales registered by UMWT and the record sales achieved by Perodua in 2022. Both companies have shown resilience and performed exceptionally well for the year considering the headwinds and challenges faced by the automotive industry.”

“Moving forward, we are cautiously optimistic that the automotive industry will continue to perform well in 2023 based on the encouraging bookings and the continuing strong demand.

“The group will continue to introduce competitively priced exciting new models to meet its customers’ requirements. We would like to extend our appreciation to our customers for their continuous support of our products and services,” he added.


Hyundai unveils Prophecy concept EV

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Company unveiled its new concept EV, “Prophecy”, expressing the company’s latest design language.

The autonomous concept expresses Hyundai’s latest design philosophy, Sensuous Sportiness, expanding on the era-defining example set by last year’s “45” concept EV that stripped away complexity in favour of clean lines and minimalistic structures.

Leveraging the extended wheelbase and shorter overhang, Hyundai’s designers have created a car with high aerodynamics, which is important to EVs. The propeller shapes embedded in the vehicle’s wheel draws in air and direct it down the side of the body. The integrated rear spoiler adds downforce that improves vehicle stability when travelling at speed.

The transparent acrylic material provides a clear view of the functional components inside.

The pixel lamp lights will be carried forward as a signature design element in future Hyundai models.

Prophecy’s identity as an EV extends to the underbody. A wide air intake that is installed below the bumper takes fresh air to cool the batteries more effectively.

The “Prophecy” interior is carved out as a lifestyle space. Two joysticks replace the steering wheel.

By offering the joysticks that can pivot left and right, one in the centre console and another on the door trim, drivers are able to control the vehicle from a position of comfort. Drivers also have access to a wide variety of functions, which can be selected via the joysticks’ integrated buttons.

Design changes that have been enabled by the use of joysticks offer more visual freedom to passengers. In Relax mode, passengers have zero visual obstacles. In a comfortably reclined position, all that the passengers see is the horizontal pillar-to-pillar display and the wing-shaped dashboard. In this mode, the dashboard swivels, allowing for a spacious interior and seat position from which passengers are able to enjoy content shown on the display.

With “Prophecy,” Hyundai has created an interior environment where eco-friendly design and material selection have been combined to demonstrate the company’s vision for EVs of the future.

External intakes placed at the bottom of the side doors allow air to circulate through Clean Air Technology, providing a steady stream of purified air inside the vehicle. In addition, the treated air is circulated back out into the atmosphere as clean air.

The flow of clean air over the interior’s wool-based felt carpet is inspired by the flow of water in nature. The interior’s colours and materials allow passengers to take time to chill out, aided by low intensity ambient lighting.


Subaru celebrates 50th anniversary of its AWD system

                TOKYO: Did you know that Subaru's legendary All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system is 50 years old?

Yes, it has been that long.

The Japanese car company is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the debut of its AWD system this year.

Since the introduction of the Subaru Leone 4WD Estate Van, Japan's first mass-produced AWD passenger car, in September 1972, the company has produced about 21 million AWD vehicles as of today.

AWD models currently account for 98% of Subaru’s global sales, and all of those AWD models feature the Subaru Symmetrical AWD system fitted with the horizontally-opposed “Boxer” engine.

 The Leone in action.

The most distinctive feature of Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD is a symmetrically-laid-out drivetrain paired with a longitudinally-mounted Boxer engine positioned in line with it.

The combination of the low centre of gravity provided by the Boxer engine and the superior weight balance of the symmetrical drivetrain maximises stability and traction intrinsic to all-wheel drive, offering superb driving performance in a variety of weather and road conditions.

In addition to these hardware advantages, Subaru has been continuously honing its AWD capability.

Subaru’s AWD technology continues to evolve in electrified vehicles as well. In “e-BOXER”-equipped models sold in Japan and other regions around the world, a highly-responsive motor allows more precise control of AWD, which offers a greater sense of security on a slippery road surface such as on snow or ice as well as an enhanced driving capability on rough roads.

The dual-motor AWD system adopted in the all-new Solterra electric SUV has been developed incorporating expertise gained from the company’s motor AWD R&D initiative launched in 2005, offering the driving capability and enjoyment characteristic of Subaru.

“As one of the core technologies that underpin Subaru’s commitment to safety and driving enjoyment, Subaru’s AWD system has been continuously enhanced over half a century,” said Subaru president and CEO Tomomi Nakamura.

“Towards the age of electrification, we will further refine our long-cultivated AWD capability with electrification technology and continue to pursue the ‘Subaru Difference,’ such as stability, driving dynamics, and handling.”


Ford puts Amazon in the passenger seat

                LAS VEGAS: Several carmakers are already experimenting with connecting certain vehicle operations with Amazon's Echo or Google's Home Assistant smart home hubs, but at this year's CES, Ford has become the very first to put Amazon's Alexa voice activated assistant in its cars.

It means that, from this summer, even when driving alone, Ford owners will have someone to talk to as they travel -- as long as to begin with, they want to talk about the quickest route to a restaurant or the best online deals for goods stocked by Amazon.

"Ford and Amazon are aligned around a vision that your voice should be the primary way to interface with your favorite devices and services," said Don Butler, executive director, Ford Connected Vehicle and Services.

Voice is the least distracting form of operation, particularly if driving, but the key to ensuring a system is simple and doesn't cause a loss of focus is for commands and instructions to be of the natural language variety.

All premium carmakers offer voice recognition command systems on their current generation cars, but they only respond to very specific vocabulary and instruction. As intelligent as the latest Mercedes E Class is, you can't have a conversation with it.

What tech companies like Amazon and Google are bringing is a contextual understanding, and an ability to interrupt the natural way in which we speak.

"The ability to use your voice to control your smart home, access entertainment, manage to-do lists and more makes for an extraordinary driving experience. We can't wait for Ford customers to try this out," said Steve Rabuchin, vice president, Amazon Alexa. "We believe voice is the future, and this is particularly true in cars."

Before Alexa arrives in the car dashboard, starting at the end of January, Ford owners with Amazon's voice assistant at home will be able to do things such as check fuel levels or remotely lock, unlock and start the car from the comfort of their living room.

"Customers will be able to start their vehicles from home, and manage smart home features while on the road -- making life easier," said Butler.


Honda launches a new Civic small car into an SUV crazy world

DETROIT: Honda unveiled the tenth generation of its Civic small car Wednesday, aiming to reinvigorate its best-selling model at a time when many consumers are bypassing small sedans for sport utility vehicles.

The 2016 Civic, which will be sold worldwide, will have a sportier exterior design, a revamped interior and offer as either optional or standard equipment features such as automatic emergency braking and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity systems.

The new Civic is designed to deliver more than 64 km per gallon in highway driving, John Mendel, executive vice president of Honda's US sales arm said here.

The 2015 Civic is rated at 47km per gallon in city driving and 38 miles mpg (61 kmpg) in highway driving by US regulators. Honda said it will disclose prices for the new Civic later, but Mendel said they will be in line with the current model, which starts at about US$18,490.

The Civic is a pillar of Honda’s global business, selling more than 800,000 cars annually. In the 1980s, Civics drove Honda's breakthrough in the United States market. Durable, thoughtfully designed and highly efficient, the Civic upstaged Detroit’s poorly built gas guzzlers of the time.

The outgoing Civic, however, was criticised for drab styling and mediocre driving performance. The new car has a more refined interior, sporty creases on its sides and front fenders that rise above the center of the hood like a sports car.

The Civic is the ninth best-selling model line in the American market this year, but rivals, including the Detroit Three and Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co, now have highly competitive cars in the Civic’s class.

The new Civic arrives as cheap gasoline and a flood of compact sport utility vehicles are luring consumers out of smaller sedans. In the United States, Civic sales are down 4 percent for the year through Aug. 31, while the overall car and light truck market is up nearly 4 percent.

The new Civic will compete at Honda dealerships with the CR-V and HR-V small sport utility vehicles. Small SUVs such as the CR-V, Toyota's RAV4, Ford's Escape and General Motors Chevrolet Trax are gaining in popularity in China and Europe as well.

Mendel said Honda is confident the Civic will maintain worldwide sales at their current level.


Geely to press on with methanol vehicles

                BEIJING: Chinese automaker Geely will keep working on vehicles powered by methanol even though the effort may fail, chairman Li Shufu said on Sunday.

Zhejiang-based Geely, among a small number of automakers developing methanol-powered vehicles, is testing methanol taxis in some western Chinese cities as well as developing methanol-powered trucks at its commercial vehicles unit.

Li said Geely, which owns Volvo Cars and 9.7% stake in Daimler AG, invested in Carbon Recycling International, an Icelandic company, to work on technologies to produce methanol with carbon dioxide, in a way to lower overall carbon emissions.

"We will keep exploring methanol vehicle technologies. Of course it might fail in the end, but currently we are still working on it," Li told an industry conference in the western city of Chongqing, without elaborating.

Methanol fuel would boost China's energy independence as the country has huge amounts of coal, which can be converted to methanol. Geely's Li has also said he expects methanol vehicles to be cleaner than gasoline models.

Li did not offer details of the technology. He has told Reuters that Geely would expand production of methanol-powered vehicles.

Geely is also developing battery electric vehicles, petrol-electric hybrid cars and hydrogen commercial vehicles.

China, the world's biggest auto market, is developing electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.


Mercedes S Class to get four new engines next year

                STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz has announced four new engines, including a mighty V8 and several inline six-cylinder units, for the 2017 facelifted version of its range-topping S Class luxury limousine.

The high-tech motors - three petrol-driven and a diesel - are seen by industry insiders as proof that Daimler's luxury brand regards internal-combustion motors as essential to its future.

Germany's Autobild said details of what will be under the long bonnet of the made-over S-Class were becoming clearer. The mid-cycle makeover comes four years after the new S Class weighed in.

Several spy pictures on the Internet hint at subtle exterior changes, with black tape obscuring many of the most interesting details.

The new twin-turbocharged V8 with 470hp codenamed M176 on tap will be available in the S Class from mid 2017. It replaces a 450hp unit and has benefited from tuning by Mercedes' AMG tuning subsidiary.

The performance gain comes from mounting the turbochargers between the cylinder banks to create what engineers call a "hot V" formation.

This makes for shorter piping to the turbos with the result that less heat is lost from the exhaust gases being pumped back into the engine.

The other three engines for the new S Class are inline sixes. Mercedes-Benz says this configuration still ensures smooth power delivery and is ideal for future hybridisation in combination with an electric motor.


Modenas Power Store opens in Kota Damansara, PJ

                PETALING JAYA: Motosikal Dan Enjin Nasional (Modenas) has opened its flagship Modenas Power Store 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre in the Kota Damansara area here and features riding gear, test-rides, service centre and the brand's latest motorcycles.

Touted as a one-stop motorcycle sales and service centre located at Sunsuria Avenue, it is also the first in the ASEAN region and caters exclusively to the Modenas street bike models - namely the Bajaj-based Pulsar and Dominar.

Aside from being a sales centre, the store also offers specialised on-site repairs (including major works), servicing and customisations for the brand's bikes with genuine spare parts and special accessories sourced from around the ASEAN region.

Additionally, customers are able to experience the bikes in a test ride and obtain assistance in terms of financing for their purchases.

Company chief executive officer Roslan Roskan said that the introduction of the store concept in Malaysia will help the brand elevate its presence in the country.

The Modenas Power Store will not only enhance the motorcycle purchase experience but also provide our customers with a holistic motorcycle experience from financing arrangements, bike enhancements, genuine spare parts, test rides as well as repairs and servicing by highly-trained mechanics," added Roslan.


German solar car startup Sono to stay in business after crowdfunding success

                MUNICH: Sono Motors GmbH, the embattled German startup working to serially produce a solar-charged electric car, said it’s achieved a crowdfunding goal that will let the company stay in business.

The sum passed its 50 million euro ($55 million) goal Saturday, the Munich-based company announced in a tweet. It had hoped to raise the amount by Jan 21.

Sono announced the move to crowdfunding in December, after talks with potential investors broke down. Financial backers had demanded the company give up on the Sion car because they said it cost too much to manufacture, the company said in a statement at the time.

"We realized again and again over the past few months that we have entirely different goals to traditional financial investors,” chief executive officer Laurin Hahn said.

"Aggressive growth and quick profits are difficult to reconcile with a sustainable corporate and vehicle concept.”

The crowdfunding pushed back the expected production start of the car to Sept. 2021. The company had originally planned to start in 2019.

If and when completed, the Sion would be able to charge conventionally through a power outlet or through solar panels integrated into the body that would recoup as many as 34km to its 255km range in a day.


Order your MINI Clubman Sterling Edition online

                KUALA LUMPUR: MINI Malaysia, the sophisticated compact premium automotive brand in the country today introduced the new MINI Clubman Sterling Edition with an estimated retail price (on-the-road without insurance) is RM268,888.

Purposefully made with unprecedented aesthetics and brimming with serene elegance, the new limited edition MINI is a true expression of a modern gentleman’s car and will only be available for booking online at www.mini.my/sterlingedition from Aug 15 to Aug 26, 2017 - a first in the Malaysian automotive industry.

“The MINI Clubman was the car that created a new chapter in the story of MINI. Not only did it revolutionise the brand by taking the MINI appeal a notch higher, it also introduced us to the new creative class social segment. Today, the New MINI Clubman Sterling Edition, is a modern take on one of the most iconic cars in the world.

"Limited to only 20 units made available in Malaysia, this MINI is exceptionally well-made with unique versatility to its body concept and individual style. Known as the car for the gentlemen of the modern age, this limited edition MINI is bound to excite and make its mark in the premium compact segment,” said Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia, Han Sang Yun.

One of its key exterior highlights is its Melting Silver body colour with the subtle Matte Black Jack mirror caps and roof décor. This is complemented further by Black Union Jack symbols located at the side scuttles including the bespoke 18” MINI Yours Masterpiece wheels in burnish black.

The new MINI Clubman Sterling Edition’s interior is a combination of Indigo Blue and Pure Burgundy.

The Pure Burgundy interior is made available with MINI Yours Illuminated Interior, which allows the owner to choose from 12 pre-set colours to the trims, fitting to whatever the mood and liking of the driver and passengers.

Inside are supple seats in luxurious Chester Leather upholstery in Indigo Blue crafted to deliver a smooth feel of the leather against the driver’s hand with its diagonal quilting.

The steering wheel also represents the best in British craftsmanship, wrapped in a soft Nappa leather and completed with a hand finished aluminium coloured stitching. At the bottom of the steering wheel, there is also the signature Union Jack insignia.

Other features include the Parking Assist function  which will automatically steer the new MINI into any parallel parking spaces.

The infotainment interface of the new MINI Clubman Sterling Edition is a gorgeous 6.5” high resolution LCD mounted in the central speedometer with graphics tuned to hug its inner circumference. The MINI Connected infotainment itself features over 30 million songs which can stream live to the MINI.

Intuitive Spotify Interface is ever present in the MINI’s screen and all control functions are easily accessed with the MINI controller.

Additionally, standard readings such as current fuel consumption, current fuel range and last known locations can be viewed via the MINI Connected phone App.

Navigation is also a breeze with easily found new or frequent destinations. Appointments and addresses that are saved in the owner’s calendar can also be used as pre-set destinations.

With the new and advanced system, route guidance is immediately displayed the moment MINI owners connect their iPhones to the car.

The New MINI Clubman Sterling Edition is also covered by MINI Malaysia’s newest 5 Years Roadside Assistance program, available for all new MINI vehicles with a comprehensive list of services that include a 24-Hour, 365-days- a-year Accident and Help on the Phone and On the Spot Hotline, Free Towing Services and when needed (over 200KM from residential home),
Replacement Vehicle, Accommodation, Mobility Services Solutions as well as Repatriation services.

The New MINI Clubman Sterling Edition arrives with the MINI 4 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service.

The MINI Roadside Assistance program can be accessed by contacting 1800-88- 8808.

On a side note, the new MINI Clubman Sterling Edition will also be on display at the MINIFest in Desa ParkCity! Running for a day on Sunday, Aug 20, MINIFest 2017 will be the first-ever MINI styled marketplace where vendors and owners will be selling fashion, accessories and lifestyle items right from the boot of a range of MINI vehicles.

The festival will also see a host of activities for family and friends to enjoy. The activities include test drive of MINI cars, hot air balloon rides, food trucks as well as car boot flash sales. For entertainment, MINI Malaysia will also be inviting bands and DJs to perform throughout the day.


Honda offers window tint installation from RM1,500, but only if you want to

                PETALING JAYA: If you have just bought a new Honda car,  here's news for you.

Honda Malaysia says you are entitled to install the optional window tint films from RM1,500.

There are four types of tint films being offered (see table below), with 3M and Ecotint being contracted to supply the films.

Honda Malaysia said the films would also help hold glass fragments together in case the glass breaks in an accident.

The films are available in various thickness and comply with Road Transport Department (JPJ) regulations on permissible visible light transmittance (VLT). JPJ regulations state that front windscreen must have more than 70% VLT and side &Rear windscreens must have more than 50% VLT.

As they are "non-metallised" and are low infrared rejection, the films do not hinder the operation of GPS gadgets and the SmartTag toll device.

The film comes with a five-year warranty from the date of installation.

The tinting offer and installation is available at all 82 Honda dealers nationwide. 3M gets its films from Japan and South Korea while Ecotint sourced films from Sumitomo Osaka Cement.

For more information on the offer, call Honda at 1-800-88-2020, or log on to www.honda.com.my.


Top US auto safety investigator resigns after audit finds flaws

                WASHINGTON: The head of the US governmental office charged with administrating auto recalls and launching federal investigations into safety defects has resigned, a week after government auditors issued a critical report about the division.

Stephen Ridella, who served as the director of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defect Investigation, resigned from the agency on June 3, spokeswoman Veronica Morales said in a statement.

Cem Hatipoglu, an NHTSA associate administrator for vehicle-safety research, will take on Ridella’s responsibilities as the agency searches for a permanent replacement, she said. Ridella.

The NHTSA didn’t provide a reason for Ridella’s departure, though the resignation happened a few days after the US Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General published the results of an audit.

In the report, inspectors accused Ridella’s office of moving too slow at times, and of failing to properly document investigations.

Ridella started a new position this month at Amazon.com Inc.’s autonomous-vehicle subsidiary Zoox Inc., according to his LinkedIn profile.

Ridella worked at the NHTSA for 17 years and spent six years at its defect-investigations office.

Ridella has been at the centre of high-profile NHTSA investigations, including several ongoing probes involving Tesla Inc.

In August 2021 and February 2022, the NHTSA opened the investigations into possible Autopilot defects. It’s also been assessing Tesla’s methods for monitoring drivers using Autopilot to ensure their engagement.

The executive’s departure was first reported by the Associated Press.


Jaguar to deliver nine new models

                LONDON: It is impossible to ignore the giant strides Jaguar has made as a brand over the last few years, and a regular feed of new models is largely responsible for its increasingly high profile. It seems as though the trickle of new models is going to turn into something of a flood as the company looks to adjust to a very different future for the automotive industry.

It's just been revealed that a new model to be called the J-Pace is in the pipeline to take on the Porsche Cayenne, but it turns out there are a further eight models also on the Jaguar horizon in the coming years.

 I-PACE.

The J-Pace is inevitably going to be yet another new SUV, which is hardly a surprise after the sales success of the F-Pace and the positive reaction to the new I-Pace. This all-new model is scheduled to arrive in 2021 with the Porsche Cayenne firmly in its sights, but it will have a brand new shape and will be built on the same platform and using much of the running gear from the Range Rover.

Where the J-Pace will differ from its Land Rover cousin is it will be a considerably more road-focused model than the go-anywhere, do-anything Range Rover.

Unfortunately, the other new models on the horizon are going to be a lot more familiar than the all-new J-Pace. In fact, what we're really talking about are new-generations of existing models and the potential reprise of an old favourite.

The XE is set to be renewed in 2021, and the XF is due to get a new version in 2022-2023, and both are expected to be produced in long-wheelbase versions for the Chinese market. A new version of the F-Type is scheduled for 2020, which some suggest will have a new, own-brand straight-six under the hood and a hybrid version has also been promised.

 F-PACE.

The F-Pace is doing well, especially in the US, and a plug-in hybrid is due along with a facelift in 2019, but it won't be until 2022-2023 that we get a new generation. The I-Pace we already know about, but success could potentially see it produced in Britain, China and even India as well as Austria where it's being made initially. The E-Pace will get a hybrid powertrain in 2020 and a facelift probably a year later, and a new all-electric XJ is due next year.

The XK is the name that looks as though it could be making a comeback, but it's likely to have an all-electric powertrain and make use of the XJ's architecture. The last version of the XK (last produced in 2014) was an out-and-out sports coupe and convertible, but it's believed a new XK is more likely to be something like a grand tourer based on a modified version of the XJ body shell.


Mercedes-AMG Project One takes another step closer to series production

                AFFALTERBACH: The development of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE hypercar has taken a step closer to production with several pre-production models taking to the company's own proving grounds.

For the first time, the project leaders have also authorised testing of the comprehensively electrified and highly complex hybrid power unit with its full output of more than 735kW (1000hp).

Along with the dynamic test programme and some refinements to the car's driveability, development work is also focused on its active aerodynamics.

In short, this simply means that the Project One's downforce is being fine-tuned outside of the wind tunnel and comes from various active components that include the louvres, air outlets in the front fenders or the large rear aerofoil.

The adaptation of a complete Formula 1 drive unit for a hypercar with road approval, which along with its impressive driving dynamics must also deliver perfectly in terms of everyday performance and be able to drive in all-electric mode, represented a tremendous challenge.

As far as many aspects were concerned, such as noise levels, the development team with their engineering expertise embarked on a journey to find solutions that could be developed to series maturity.

In parallel to the extensive dynamic testing being undertaken with the project vehicles, the attendant development work also continues on this extraordinary hybrid vehicle from Mercedes-AMG at the company's base in Affalterbach.

The various vehicle systems are currently being put through their paces on the engine testbeds and in the in-house simulator.

The next step in this extensive programme of testing and development will shortly begin with runs on the north loop of the infamous Nürburgring.


Ford uses Mustang name, hoping new electric SUV will zap Tesla

                DETROIT: Ford Motor Co will tag its new electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) with the Mustang name, the automaker said on Thursday, seeking to entice customers into a new era by linking it to the model whose groundbreaking design in the 1960s combined sportiness and affordability.

Ford confirmed its new electric SUV will be called the Mustang Mach-E ahead of a debut event scheduled for Los Angeles on Sunday. Until now, the Mustang name has been used only on a line of sporty coupes associated with Detroit’s 1960s muscle car era.

Customers in the United States, Canada and Europe can start ordering the electric vehicles on Nov 17, Ford said.

While Mustang coupes are built in Michigan, the Mach E will be built at a factory in Cuatitlan, Mexico.

The Mach E is the first of a more than dozen all-electric automobiles the company plans to launch by 2022 with an investment of US$11.5 billion as it moves away from traditional gasoline-powered cars.

Electric vehicle market leader Tesla Inc has used speed and power to sell its vehicles, along with upgradable software and big display screens.

Using the Mustang name signals that Ford intends to do the same, leaving behind the prior strategy of positioning electric vehicles as practical, “green” cars.

Competition for electric vehicle customers will intensify over the next several years as more mainstream automakers launch electric models, and Tesla expands into new market segments.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has said he will unveil a high-performance electric pickup truck at an event in Los Angeles on Nov 21, coinciding with the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Ford and General Motors Co are working on electric pickup trucks as well.

In April, the No. 2 US carmaker invested US$500 million in electric automaker Rivian and said it planned to use the Michigan startup’s platform to build a new Ford-branded electric vehicle.

Ford has also formed an alliance with Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) to use the German automaker’s compact electric vehicle platform for new vehicles in Europe.

A reservation for the Mustang Mach-E can be made on Ford’s website in the United States, Canada and Europe by paying a refundable deposit of US$500, the company said.


Film producer's Ford Mustang dented in accident

                PETALING JAYA: A RM400,000 Ford Mustang driven by drama producer Datuk A. Aida was dented after being involved in an accident near Ajil, Hulu Terengganu, on Saturday.

She was on her way to attend the funeral of her step-sister, Kosmo! Ahad reported.

Aida, whose real name is Zaidah Awang, said she was thankful that no one was injured.

“I was driving slowly as it was raining. Suddenly, a car overtook me and water splashed on my windscreen. I panicked as I could not see anything in front of me,” she explained.

As a result, the Mustang ended up crashing into a road divider.

The fully imported Mustang is sold in two versions in Malaysia. A new 2.3-litre EcoBoost Mustang is priced at around RM460,000, while the 5.0-litre V8 Mustang GT 5.0 is priced at RM566,000. The facelifted Mustang is expected to arrive locally later this year.


Govt further eases rule on passengers in cars

                PETALING JAYA: Malaysians will be allowed to have the usual number of passengers in their cars according to the capacity of their respective vehicles beginning May 27, says Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“Drivers are allowed to ferry passengers according to their respective vehicle capacity under the Road Transport Act 1987.

“For example, if the vehicle has a capacity of four passengers, then it’s one driver plus three passengers.

“For multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs), there can be one driver and six passengers, given there’s a capacity for seven passengers, ” he said in his daily briefing on the conditional movement control order (MCO) on Tuesday (May 26).

The new ruling will come into effect beginning Wednesday (May 27), added Ismail Sabri.

However, Ismail Sabri added that the conditions on travel remained the same, where the passengers of the said vehicle must be from the same home.

Ismail Sabri said this was based on amendments made under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act, which was gazetted by Putrajaya today.


State depts and highway authorities urged to find ways to reduce roadkill

TA tapir that was hit by a vehicle along Jalan Sedili-Mersing on April 6.

PETALING JAYA: There should be a multi-pronged approach by state departments and highway authorities to ensure fewer animals get killed on our roads, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Responding to the recent slew of roadkill, the Alliance for Safe Community chairman said this was due to decades of encroachment into wildlife habitats.

The issue, he said, needed consideration and collaboration between highway authorities, the Works Ministry and state wildlife departments to work out a solution. A Star Metro report on Thursday (May 6) reported that more than 100 wild animals have been killed in accidents in Johor since 2019.

This included seven tapirs that were killed since January this year.

"It's not just in Johor, but also in other parts of the country such as Pahang. It happens a lot at night when these animals cross the roads," said Lee.

The former chairman of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) said among the reasons behind the accidents involving animals were inadequate signage and poor lighting.

He proposed the installation of spotlights for stretches of roads, as well as signs to alert motorists of highway stretches where there's a higher number of animals crossing. Another cause for roadkill was speeding on highways at night, Lee said.

"In the absence of sufficient notice and inadequate lighting, I think motorists would not be able to avoid the animals in time when they speed," he added.

Lee expressed concern over the number of tapirs that were killed in road accidents recently, saying that if nothing was done to address the issue, it could push tapirs into extinction in the near future.

"The government has to act on this," said Lee, adding that drivers have a duty to protect nature, the ecosystem and to abide by traffic rules.

In a report by The Star on Thursday, Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Salman Saaban said 15 animals were killed in the first three months of the year due to road accidents.

That figure included an incident where a 250kg male tapir was found dead after it was hit by a heavy vehicle along Jalan Sedili-Tenggaroh on April 6.

Just two weeks prior to the incident, a female tapir weighing about 300kg was killed in a similar fashion near Institut Latihan Perindustrian Mersing, along Jalan Mersing-Jemaluang.

He also said that from 2019 to 2020, there were 93 animals that died due to accidents, adding that these included elephants, monkeys, civet cats, tapirs, monitor lizards and hedgehogs.


Toyota to spend over US$13bil to develop EV batteries and supply systems by 2030

                TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp said today it expects to spend more than US$13.5 billion by 2030 to develop batteries and its battery supply system.

The world's largest automaker by volume uses a range of battery types in its vehicles and is also considered the front runner to mass produce solid-state batteries - a potential game changer for automakers because they are more energy dense, charge faster and are less prone to catching fire.

If developed successfully, they could replace liquid lithium-ion batteries.

It said, however, it was still struggling with the short service life of these cells.

"We are still searching for the best materials to use," Toyota's chief technology officer Masahiko Maeda told a media briefing today.

Efforts to mass produce solid-state batteries have stumbled as they are expensive to fabricate and are prone to crack when they expand and contract during use.

Toyota also plans to use solid-state batteries in hybrid electric vehicles such as the Prius, it said.


Polestar performance package available for Volvo S90 and V90

                GOTHENBURG: Polestar has launched the new generation of its performance package for the new Volvo S90 and V90. Known as Polestar Performance Optimisation, the package upgrades the entire drivetrain and further improves driving dynamics.

The S90 and V90 are the latest models launched on SPA, Volvo Cars’ new modular vehicle architecture that will underpin all new cars in Volvo’s 90 and 60 series. After bringing its new performance package to the XC90 last year, Polestar now launches the same upgrades for the other two models in Volvo’s top-of-the-line 90 range.

Instead of just increasing engine performance, Polestar Performance Optimisation upgrades the entire drivetrain. By improving throttle and off-throttle response, gearshift speed and precision, as well as overall engine performance, the S90 and V90 become even more dynamic and fun to drive.

The performance package has been developed in cooperation with the engineers and racing drivers of Polestar Cyan Racing.

”It is exciting to take the technology we use in our race cars and apply that to Volvo’s road cars. We have created a balanced package that provides performance in all conditions, whether you are winning a race or driving actively on your favourite roads,” said Thed Björk, who drives a Volvo S60 Polestar TC1 with Drive-E technology in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The first S90/V90 variant available for optimisation is the D5 diesel, while a performance package for the T6 petrol version will be available from October.

All changes as part of the Polestar performance package are made with certified emissions, fuel consumption, service intervals and Volvo warranties unchanged.


Kia reveals new 2019 Forte renderings

                DETROIT: While some major motor manufacturers are re-assessing the need for future generations of small and medium-sized sedan cars, Kia appears to be going full steam ahead with a new third-generation of the Forte.

The South Korean automaker has released a handful of renderings ahead of a full reveal at the Detroit auto show this week, and if small sedans are going to survive the sales onslaught from crossovers and SUVs, they'll probably need to look like this one.

Kia's Stinger sport fastback is gaining huge acclaim around the world, so it's no surprise the new Forte bears more than a passing resemblance to its stunning styling. The current Forte is an attractive, if somewhat conventional design that won't offend anyone, but the new model looks like something that could really get consumers interested in this type of car once again.

It sticks with a version of the company's trademark tiger-nose grille, but now adds a number of design elements to the sheet metal, lower valance and headlights that it refers to as "muscular" and "dynamic." And don't think the influence of the Stinger's design ends with the exterior, because it definitely carries through to the interior too, with a look that's open, spacious and horizontal.

Although the renderings appear to show a liftback body style, Kia isn't saying yet whether a production version will stick with the format or adopt a more conventional hatchback configuration instead.

At the moment, Kia doesn't offer the Forte in Europe. And it seems there are no plans to offer this one to European buyers at the moment either. But if the Stinger proves to be as successful as its initial reception suggests it might be, Kia might be tempted to rethink this one in the future as demand for the Stinger could easily outstrip supply.


RON95 petrol and diesel prices to go up in January

                PUTRAJAYA: The retail prices of RON95 and diesel are expected to go up in January due to an increase in the price of crude oil in the world market this month, said Finance Ministry strategic communications director Datuk Lokman Noor Adam.

He said the retail price of RON95 and diesel were set according to the average prices of the fuel in the world market for a month, as well as being influenced by the Ringgit's movement against US Dollar.

"The average (here) means the prices from day one to 31 (of the month) divide by 31 days. Not the global oil prices at the end of the month as understood by certain quarters.

"With the current strengthening of the US Dollar against Ringgit, the cost of purchasing crude oil will also increase. Hence, the surge of the retail fuel price in Malaysia," he said in a statement.

Lokman Noor said the retail prices of fuels in the country had been decided using the controlled flotation method since Dec 1, 2014 following a drop in global oil prices then, which saw the prices being determined by the market on a monthly basis.

He said there were still many people who could not accept the fact that the government needed to discontinue giving the bulk of subsidies and help the people by distributing the subsidy to the right group.

Lokman Noor said the previous bulk of subsidies given to the people meant that both the rich and the poor received the same amount of subsidy.

"For instance, in July 2014, we've subsidised RM0.6843 for each litre of RON95. Unfortunately, the rich people used the fuels in bigger quantity which was far more than the poor people.

"For example, the subsidy for the poor people driving (Perodua) Kancil were only around RM16.29 when they filled their tanks to full with RON95.

"Whereas those in the middle class bracket driving Toyota Camry spent RM150 for a full tank. The subsidy that the government has to pay to these group would be RM48.87, a three-fold increase than the poor. Is this fair?" he asked.

Lokman Noor said based on a study by the Finance Ministry, the government spent 70 per cent of the fuel subsidy to help the rich while the target group only enjoyed the remaining percentage of the subsidy, in the form of RON95 and diesel.

At the same time, he said the foreigners also enjoyed the subsidy which was borne by Malaysian taxpayers via the bulk subsidy system.

According to Lokman Noor, the subsidy given to the Malaysians were also enjoyed by the foreigners when the drivers of Singapore-registered vehicles entered the country on a daily basis, especially on weekends, and when the fuels smuggled into Thailand and the Philippines were sold in the international waters.

"Subsidy means help, assistance and handout from the government to the people. If (you) ask who should get the assistance, we should certainly help the less fortunate first before the rich.

"And they should definitely be given to our people, not the foreigners," he said.


Mazda CX-3 goes live in Malaysia

SHAH ALAM: The much-awaited compact Mazda CX-3 – the little brother to the CX-5 – has finally arrived and it's ready to go up against the Honda HR-V.

Mazda distributor Bermaz Motor has expanded the model line-up to six that are equipped with the Japanese carmaker’s SkyActiv technology.

The CX-3 has been priced on-the-road with insurance  at RM135,143 and comes with a “3+3 Years Free Warranty and Maintenance” programme as well as LED technology for the automatic headlights, daytime running lights, tail lights and fog lamps.

Bermaz is confident the CX- 3 would be a hit with Malaysians, expecting the initial 2,000 units brought in from Mazda's Hiroshima plant to be snapped up by February next year.  The distributor  has also signalled that it is keen to assemble the CX-3 at its plant in Kulim, Kedah, which now produces the CX-5 and Mazda3.

Defined by a long hood, short overhangs, a 350-litre boot capacity and a kerb weight of 1,193kg, the CX-3 has a wheelbase of 2,570mm while measuring 4,275mm-long, 1,765mm-wide and 1,550mm-tall.

Powering the front wheels is a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G engine with a compression ratio of 14:1 that sips from a 48-litre fuel tank and produces 154bhp at 6,000rpm and 204Nm of torque at 2,800rpm while mated a six-speed SkyActiv-Drive transmission.

It rides on 18-inch wheels with 215/50 series tyres that partially hide the brake discs all-round and the combination of McPherson struts (front) and torsion beam (rear) takes care of ride and handling.

The cabin gets half-leather seats while the centre dash panel receives a seven-inch LCD colour touchscreen with reverse camera for its six-speaker audio system and paddle-shifters for the multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel that uses an electric power assisted steering system.

For added convenience, it comes equipped with Mazda’s i-Stop (start-stop functionality), keyless entry with push-start button, head-up-display, automatic wipers, sunroof and MZD Connect.

In terms of safety, the CX-3 gets six airbags along with a host of electronic wizardry that includes antilock braking system, electronic brake force distribution, electronic brake assist, traction control, dynamic stability control, hill launch assist and emergency signal system.

Other optional accessories being offered - priced with GST, include navigation (RM1,270) and SKYTINT safety tint (RM1,900).

The CX-3 is being offered in five colours of Soul Red Metallic, Crystal White Pearl, Jet Black, Meteor Gray and Deep Crystal Blue.


Battista hypercar grabs world records in acceleration and braking

                DUBAI: Italian performance carmaker Automobili Pininfarina has ticked off a list of world records while putting its all-electric Battista hyper GT through its paces in Dubai and showing off what its makers say is the world's fastest accelerating road-legal car.

With 1,900hp at the wheels, the €2-million (RM9.4mil) car delivered blistering acceleration and sensational stopping power on the track at the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates.

With 0-100kph completed in 1.86 seconds and 0-200kph achieved in only 4.79 seconds, Battista said the car's launch control technology contributed to acceleration levels that surpass Formula 1 cars.

A car as fast as the Battista needs strong stopping power and official tests confirmed that Battista is the fastest braking EV in the world, completing 100-0 kph in just 31 metres.

Deliveries of the handcrafted hypercar built in Cambiano, Italy began earlier this year with initial cars bound for the Middle East.

Only 150 will be made at a starting price of €2.2 million (RM10.3mil).


Musk tips Tesla cap to humans after robots undercut Model 3

 Model 3.

SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Inc.’s Elon Musk, who’s built up an aura around how automated his car assembly plant will be, has good news for humans: We still need your help.

“Excessive automation at Tesla was a mistake. To be precise, my mistake,” the CEO wrote in a tweet Friday, hours after CBS aired an interview in which he acknowledged putting too many robots in Tesla’s lone auto factory. “Humans are underrated.”

It was a significant concession by Musk, 46, who boasted less than a year ago that Tesla was building a competitive advantage over established automakers by programming robots to quickly produce vehicles. Instead, Tesla has struggled to hit targets for the Model 3, the first sedan the company has tried to mass-manufacture and eventually sell for as little as $35,000.

Excessive use of robots has been one of the factors holding Tesla back from making more Model 3s at its factory in Fremont, California, the chief executive officer said in an interview with CBS This Morning.

“We had this crazy, complex network of conveyor belts, and it wasn’t working, so we got rid of that whole thing,” said Musk, wearing a black Tesla cap and safety glasses.

Analyst Max Warburton saw this mea culpa coming. He was the lead author of a Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. report last month that called Tesla’s belief it could automate most aspects of making the Model 3 a “fallacy.”

“Automation in final assembly doesn’t work,” according to Warburton. “Many have tried it in the past,” including Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co., and failed, he wrote.

Tesla acquired German manufacturing-technology specialist Grohmann Engineering GmbH in late 2016, and Musk said in February that the unit had designed a new automated system for module production at its battery factory near Reno, Nevada. The line needed to be shipped to the US in March to help boost output of more packs, he said.

Bernstein’s Warburton researched auto assembly plants around the world for an influential Massachusetts Institute of Technology research group before joining the finance industry. He wrote that Tesla’s Grohmann acquisition and use of Kuka AG robots suggests the electric-car maker is inspired by German automation, and portrayed this as ironic.

“German OEMs — traditionally the most enthusiastic proponents of automation — have actually been rowing back on it in recent years,” Warburton wrote.

“The best producers — still the Japanese - try to limit automation. It is expensive and is statistically inversely correlated to quality. One tenet of lean production is —stabilise the process, and only then automate.’ If you automate first, you get automated errors. We believe Tesla may be learning this to its cost.”

Tesla’s engineering team worked on a project code named “Alien Dreadnought” to heavily automate the Fremont factory, which Musk said in October 2016 would result in “really, really crazy” efficiency. He’s also spoken about the company’s manufacturing capabilities as a product unto themselves, describing the plant as “the machine that makes the machine.”

“This is just going to be a very difficult thing for other manufacturers to copy,” Musk said during a May 2017 earnings call. “I would not know what to do if I were in their position.”

In November, Tesla acquired Perbix, a closely held maker of automated machines used for manufacturing, as it was struggling to get Model 3 output going. A week before the company announced the deal, Musk, 46, alluded to how robots were contributing to the slow ramp up.

“With Model 3, either the machine works, or it doesn’t, or it’s limping along and we get short quite severely on output,” Musk said on a Nov. 1 earnings call. By contrast, with the Model S sedan or Model X sport utility vehicle, “because a lot less of it was automated, we could scale up labor hours and achieve a high level of production.”


All-new Toyota Vios estimated from RM90,000 and open for booking

                SHAH ALAM: UMW Toyota Motor will launch the all-new fourth-generation Vios that gets a striking new exterior and interior along with features to make driving more enjoyable and safer.

The new sedan is open for booking at all authorised Toyota showrooms nationwide today.

It comes with a new design language to deliver a fastback silhouette and is offered in two variants of 1.5 G (AT) advanced, estimated at RM96,000 and 1.5 E (AT) value deal, at RM90,000, on-the-road without insurance in Peninsular Malaysia.

The car will also come in five colour options with Spicy Scarlet being a new choice.

Its long-nose, rear-biased cabin, lowered body with a long wheelbase and large wheels shout sportiness that is common in premium sedans.

The proven 1.5-litre DOHC Dual VVT-i engine has been improved to deliver stronger performance while a new 7-speed CVT with Sequential Shiftmatic gives quicker acceleration as well as enhances fuel efficiency.

Aside from new features such as Paddle Shifters and Electronic Parking Brake, the new Vios will also get a premium interior with more soft-touch materials.

Also offered is the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) which alerts the driver of dangers and also acts autonomously to prevent or avoid a collision.

The car also gets a 5-year warranty and unlimited mileage.

Owners also enjoy 24SEVEN Road Assist and 3 years of free subscription for the Toyota Vehicle Telematics System which monitors the car’s location at all times.

“The all-new Toyota Vios is all set to take centrestage as the car is definitely of top-notch quality at a competitive price that will certainly exceed customer expectations,” said UMW Toyota Motor president Datuk Ravindran K.

UMW Toyota Motor will reveal detailed specifications after the launch.

As a core model for UMW Toyota Motor, the Vios nameplate has always been a value-for-money, reliable, and feature-packed sedan with more 505,000 units sold since its launch.

Contact Toyota for more information or further assistance by dialling 1-800-8-TOYOTA (1800-8-869682).