Driving the in-car audio experience into the future

                PARIS: Just like other on-board technologies, in-car sound systems are about to undergo a revolution.

Numerous solutions - most of which are still at the experimental stage - are currently in the pipeline among car manufacturers. Sophisticated audio systems will give way to more discreet and comfortable solutions, allowing everyone in the car to enjoy an optimised and even personalised audio experience.

Cars of the future may have no speakers whatsoever, while still offering unparalleled sound quality. But how is this possible? The answer lies in new technology in which the car's interior acts as a soundbox, like a violin or a guitar, for example.

Continental and Sennheiser have already taken a first step in this direction by unveiling a novel, highly immersive 3D audio system without any visible speakers.

Here, sound is produced by stimulating surfaces that vibrate and send sound into the car's cabin. An algorithm automatically converts stereo sources into three-dimensional sound, which means that everyone receives sound according to their position in the car, much like a miniature concert hall or movie theatre.

This system, although sophisticated, has the advantage of being able to be installed in any model. Called Ac2ated Sound, it could save up to 90% in size and weight compared to current conventional systems.

Another key point of interest for carmakers right now is personalisation.

Ideally, everyone in the car should be able to listen to what they want. With this in mind, BMW recently unveiled a unique system in its i Vision Circular concept car.

Loudspeakers located under the headrest cushions give each seat in the car its own sound zone, theoretically allowing each passenger to enjoy their own audio content without disturbing the others.

With the development of 5G, multiple streaming services (audio and video) will no doubt be present on board vehicles, hence the importance of meeting individual preferences.

In the future, artificial intelligence will potentially be able to "recognize" each passenger and offer them a personal selection of content in line with their tastes and habits. It remains to be seen whether car manufacturers themselves will one day become content providers.

Finally, in a car, sound isn't just about entertainment. Whether it's the turn signal, the GPS voice, the various driver aids, or warnings of different degrees of urgency, certain audio signals and information must come to the fore.

The prioritisation of sounds is therefore another factor for vehicle manufacturers to consider.

Like the ergonomics of the dashboard or the different means of displaying multimedia content, the optimisation of sound inside the cars of the future is a major challenge for manufacturers.


Suzuki, Daihatsu and Toyota to jointly launch electric mini-vans

                TOKYO: Prototype zero-emission, battery electric powered mini-commercial vans jointly developed by Suzuki, Daihatsu and Toyota will be unveiled at an exhibition from May 18 to 21.

The exhibition is organised by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) along with the G7 Hiroshima Summit.

In a statement, the automakers said the cruising range per charge is expected to be 200km.

Development is currently under way with the aim of creating a vehicle that can fully meet the needs of customers in the delivery industry.

The three companies jointly developed a BEV (battery electric vehicle) system suitable for mini-commercial vehicles by combining Suzuki and Daihatsu's expertise in creating small-size cars with Toyota's electrification technology to introduce this fully electric mini-commercial van.

Daihatsu will produce the vehicles, and Suzuki, Daihatsu, and Toyota will each release their own version within fiscal 2023.

Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT) also participated in the planning to achieve the optimal specifications for efficient last-mile logistics.

The three companies Suzuki, Daihatsu, and Toyota will continue to promote efforts to achieve CN (carbon neutrality) by providing sustainable means of transportation.


Meet creator of FOBO Bluetooth tyre pressure monitoring system

                Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have always been known as the backbone of the economy. Apart from their resilience during economic downturns, they are also collectively a sizable employer.

In the Economic Census conducted in 2011 for reference year 2010 by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, SMEs employed about 3.7 million out of a total of seven million workers or 52.7% of total employment.

 Salutica Allied Solutions chairman and CEO James Lim Chong Shyh with the FOBO Tire TPMS

James Lim Chong Shyh’s journey from manager to entrepreneur stemmed from an obligation to keep the company he was working for going and ensuring that the employees’ livelihoods was not jeopardised when the owners decided to opt out.

Now chairman and chief executive officer of Salutica Allied Solutions Sdn Bhd, Lim’s story is of a confident executive who introduced policies to keep a company on track to weather an uncertain business environment and then finding himself taking on further responsibility following a management buyout.

A trained design-and-process engineer in electrical and electronics, Lim climbed the corporate ladder in the electronics field and has experience in global multinational corporations such as General Electric, ABB, Maxtor and Seagate.

Now 57, he was already managing director of a multinational company’s (MNC) local manufacturing facility in Malaysia when he was 35, and has held positions as managing director and CEO in subsequent years in many MNCs.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that Lim embraces the “quality first” culture, saying: “If we do something, we have to be the best in it. Our culture plays a role in deciding who we can be, and we want to be world class.”

His involvement with Salutica began when he was headhunted in 2004 for the role of CEO of Balda-Thong Fook Solutions Sdn Bhd, a German joint venture with a local company that acted as original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of electronics and plastic components for consumer electronic devices, including feature phones.

“I was in a difficult position, always caught between the two owners, but I simply set out to do what was good for the company,” he recalled.

Stressing to the owners that the company had to move away from a labour-intensive model where the company merely charged for labour and assembly costs.

He likens this to “setting up hawker stalls”.

Lim started a research-and-development department after sternly telling the owners, “You may own the company but I am the CEO.”

 Instant updates - Readings for the pressure of all four tyres are constantly done and can be accessed on smartphones.

The R&D unit got them into the original design manufacturing (ODM) business.

Thanks to his foresight in starting the R&D department, the company was able to build and design almost any electronic item. They started getting clients who wanted to build things like headsets and speakers.

In 2009, the company’s OEM business took a hit as the use of smartphones became more widespread and feature phones became obsolete, along with the design and plastic moulding contracts for building them.

“The ODM business, which made us very good at bluetooth technologies involving headset and speakers, kept us standing, but the German owners, who in 2006 had bought out the local partners, were not interested in the electronics business compared the plastic moulding segment,” he says.

According to Lim, this was understandable as the margins for plastic mouldings could go up to 20% whereas electronic ODM could at most fetch 7%, .

“The German partners couldn’t accept this, and on April 2013, they proposed that we take over ownership via a management buyout (MBO). After deliberating a few months together with the top management, we signed the deal on September 2013 and changed the name of the company to its present name, beginning a new journey as new owners,” he says.

As he was 55 at the time, his wife asked him to retire and spend more time with his grandchildren.

Lim wanted to do this too but he knew if he did not take charge of the company, the future of its employees would be filled with uncertainty, especially if the company had new owners who did not understand the business.

“I was in the position to protect the jobs of the employees,” said the CEO who, last year, instituted a profit-sharing scheme with 30% of the distributed profits given to the employees via promissory equity issued after the MBO, on top of bonuses.

The company’s chain of command has also gone through a shake-up, with greater autonomy given to senior managers. Lim’s message to them from time to time is: “Just do what you think is best for the company”.

Today, the company operates a 30,000sq m one-stop design, sales, administration and manufacturing plant in Kawasan Perindustrian Zarib, Ipoh with about 1,000 employees, both contract and permanent. This head count has remained steady since the day of the MBO.

 Evolving - The company diversified into original design manufacturer (ODM) business in the early 2000s.

Having invested over RM5mil since the MBO on machinary and other technology upgrades, such as starting a mobile applications (apps) development division, the mid-tier company has also developed their own products, one of these being FOBO Tire — a tyre pressure monitoring system that uses Bluetooth technology to monitor tyre pressure that was launched late last year.

It has sold more than 5,000 units in the US, Germany, Japan and other countries.

“When we develop our own product, we make it very clear that there will be no conflict of interest with our existing clients, and that ethical issues will not arise.

“If you are wondering why FOBO Tire, which is so different from the usual consumer electronics? The answer is simple, because none of our clients was making this product,” he said.

 Evolving - The company diversified into original design manufacturer (ODM) business in the early 2000s.

Lim said he told his management team to let him know when he was no longer effective in leading the company, with full knowledge that after a company grows to a certain scale, the owners may not be the best people to run the company.

At the moment, there is no sign of him slowing down, and Lim said, “The day I can’t take the technology further, I’ll step down.”


Japan to ban Russia-bound exports of luxury cars, goods from April 5

Japan-made cars for export are loaded onto a cargo ship at a port in Yokohama. — AP
TOKYO: Japan will ban the export of high-end cars and other luxury goods to Russia in its latest response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the trade ministry said today.

The partial ban on Russia-bound auto items, which account for more than half of Japan's exports to Russia, came after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a commitment to place more sanctions on Russia at a Group of Seven summit last week.

The new items on the export control list, to take effect from April 5, span 19 categories, from cars worth more than 6 million yen (RM205,000) to jewellery, watches, cosmetics, liquor and art priced at more than 40,000 yen, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a statement.

Russia-bound exports of boat engines worth more than 1.3 million yen, motorcycles worth over 600,000 yen and grand pianos priced at more than 200,000 yen will also be banned, the ministry said.

Japan's ban on luxury exports to Russia, first announced by Kishida on March 16, followed steps by the United States and European countries to impose sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Russia says it is carrying out "a special military operation" in its southern neighbour.

"In cooperation with the US and the EU, Japan joins the sanction against Russian oligarchs and the ruling class," a ministry official told a media briefing.

'Certain impact'

The inclusion of luxury cars on the list "may have a certain impact" on Japanese exports, but not a sizable one, the official said, adding Japanese cars sold to Russia are mostly models that sell for less than 6 million yen.

In 2021, Japan sold 358 billion yen worth of automobiles to Russia, making it Japan's main export item to Russia, equivalent to 41.5% of Japan's exports there, according to government trade data.

Exports of car parts were worth 100 billion yen, or 11.6% of total exports to Russia, last year.

Shipments of chassis and automobile bodies worth more than 2 million yen to Russia will also be banned, the ministry said.

Japan has already banned high-tech exports to Russia such as semiconductors, censors and communication equipment.

The new items will take the total to about 310 items on the Russian export blacklist, the ministry official said.

Kishida has also announced plans to revoke Russia's most-favoured nation trading status, which could lead to higher tariffs on its imports, as well as a ban on certain imports from Russia.

Japan has also frozen assets of more than 100 Russian individuals and organisations, while it is considering extending financial regulations to Japan-based crypto-currency exchanges.

Japan, however, has walked a fine line regarding its energy supplies from Russia, stressing the strategic importance of oil and gas projects in eastern Russia in which the government and Japanese firms hold stakes.


It's crazy but someone actually paid RM2.8mil for a parking space in HK

                HONG KONG: Its property prices are famously sky-high but now a Hong Kong parking space has been sold for an eye-watering HK$5.18 million (RM2.8mil) in what local reports said was a world record.

The space is on the first floor at a luxury apartment complex near the harbourfront in the west of Hong Kong Island, according to records from the city’s Land Registry.

Measuring 188 square feet (17.5 square metres), it was bought by Kwan Wai-ming, an executive director at an investment firm, said the South China Morning Post which called the sale a world record.

It tops the HK$4.8 million (RM2.6mil) paid for a parking space last October at another luxury residential complex.

The sale comes a month after a Hong Kong tycoon paid US$3bil (RM12.8bil) for a prime commercial lot in the Central business and shopping district, in another record for the city where property prices have become a political issue.

Small businesses are being forced to close due to spiralling rents and many residents cannot afford to buy or rent decent homes, despite a series of measures by the government aimed at cooling runaway prices.

Commercial and residential property prices have been fuelled by an influx of money from wealthy mainland Chinese investors and developers.

Critics also accuse the government of having cosy ties with developers, rather than prioritising the construction of more reasonable public housing.


Banks could face modification loss of RM4.4b on HP instalments

                KUALA LUMPUR: Maybank Investment Bank Research estimates the one-off “Day One” provision, or modification loss under MFRS 9, following the banks’ decision not to charge additional interest on hire-purchase (HP) instalments, could be about RM4.4bil.

It said today the decision which is over the six-month loan moratorium period (April to September 2020) is positive to consumers but it comes at a cost to the banks.

Maybank IB Research said banks may have to recognise a one-off Day One provision but this would be just a one-off accounting impact to financials.

“This loss relates to the opportunity cost over time from not having received the additional cashflow. By our estimates, the modification loss for the banking industry as a whole works out to be about RM4.4bil,” it added.

To recap, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced that an agreement was reached with the banks to not charge additional interest on HP instalments deferred over the six-month loan moratorium.

HP borrowers (that now have to opt-in if they would like a loan moratorium), but banks will likely have to make a one-off provision for the interest that they cannot collect.

“Banks with a larger HP portfolio will likely see a bigger earnings impact. In a worst-case scenario, we estimate that AMMB, Public Bank and Hong Leong Bank would likely see a larger hit to net profit arising from the additional provisions. Least affected would likely be Alliance Bank and BIMB,” it sai


KL City Hall outlines steps to tackle flash floods

                KUALA LUMPUR: Upgrading scupper drains, constructing new sump pumps, placing sandbags and desilting debris at flood retention ponds in 25 flood hotspots in the city are all part of interim measures taken by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to tackle the flash flood problem in Kuala Lumpur.

The project, costing RM10mil, was unveiled by mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah today at the DBKL headquarters, and is expected to start immediately.

The project, called the Flash Flood Action Plan KL 2022, also lists other measures including ensuring that enough manpower and logistics are available and on standby during thunderstorms in flood-prone areas to ensure that help is available fast for people caught in the flood.

“Based on warnings by the Meteorological Department, we will ensure that traffic wardens will be at the spot to divert traffic.

"Those who have installed the DBKL Mobis app will immediately get an alert via SMS to avoid certain roads and this will be available starting tomorrow," he said.

Mahadi also said that DBKL will ensure that those who do not have the app will also be getting an SMS alert to avoid certain roads during a flood and that they were working to provide that service.

“We have given ourselves until the end of the year to see if some of the measures work, but we will be monitoring the efforts within the next three months," Mahadi said.

The mayor added that they have also appointed a consultant to look into some of the measures that will be updated regularly.

Mahadi said the measures were taken based on community feedback at flood-prone areas as well as based on flood reports investigated at 25 flash flood hotspots in the city that took place on April 25.

Areas identified as prone to flash floods are Jalan Antoi, Kepong, Jalan Pintasan Segambut, Jalan Rahmat, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Bulatan Datuk Onn, Dataram Merdeka, Kampung Kasipillay. Jalan Travers and Jalan Tun Sambanthan Brickfields to name a few.

On April 25, heavy rains left thousands stranded in flash floods around the city causing traffic to come to a standstill.


More roadblocks to go up on highways during festive period

                SHAH ALAM: Additional roadblocks on highways will be put up to prevent illegal interstate travel during the festive period.

Selangor police Covid-19 special spokesman Asst Comm Muhammad Yazid Muhammad Yew said that five new roadblocks will start operations by May 21.

“Yesterday (May 19), 21,993 cars were checked and 708 cars were instructed to turn back, ” he told reporters at the state police headquarters today.

He also said from May 6 to May 19, the police received 33,090 applications for interstate travel, of which 30,112 had been approved.

He also warned that those found making interstate travel without prior permission would be compounded.

“Now we mean business. No more 'advice', ”he said.

He also emphasised that house-to-house checks will be conducted during the festive period to see if people are complying with the set procedures.

“We will act on information obtained, ” he said.


Nazim flies the flag in UK

Nazim Azman posing with the trophy after winning Round 9 of the British Formula 3 race at Brands Hatch Circuit in England.
PETALING JAYA: Nazim Azman earned a meaningful Merdeka Day joy for the nation by winning his first British Formula 3 race this season after a storming start from fourth on the grid at Brands Hatch Circuit in England.

The 18-year-old is the only Malaysian granted special permission to go overseas to compete in four-wheel racing at the moment.

And he has not squandered the opportunity, handling the car well despite rainy conditions to win Round 9 of the championship on Saturday.

The Carlin driver jumped up to first as those ahead of him on the grid struggled to get away and did not relinquish the position throughout the 14-lap race.

He withstood major pressure from Japanese Reece Ushijima to finish in 19:29.899, taking what is Carlin Racing’s fourth win of the season.

His Japanese rival from Hitech GP took second in 19:30.598 ahead of Australian Bart Horsten (19:31.041).

Nazim was delighted to have done his small part to cheer up the nation despite the tough current situation.

He is constrained to a bubble environment in the championship with the rest of the Carlin team members until November and took time to get used to the new norm.

“It was a matter of time before this moment arrived and it’s something special to win it on the eve of Merdeka Day,” said Nazim.“The last two rounds have been a bit disappointing. At Oulton Park (first stop), we were really quick but we kind of dipped off at Donington (second stop) and then the same here because of the rain.

“But overall I was quite optimistic, I had a gut feeling that we could do it.

“It started to rain a bit early in the race and continued until the end.

“I had to be a bit careful and manage my tyres wisely,” added Nazim, who is only the second Malaysian winner to win a British F3 race after Jazeman Jaafar.

It is not the first for Nazim, who honed his skills for Meritus Racing in the SEA F4 Championship before moving to Europe.

He already won two races last year in his rookie season last year while driving for Chris Dittmann Racing.

The series is the leading single-seater championship in Britain and attracts aspiring young drivers hoping to break into Formula 1 in the future.

A total of 24 rounds are taking place in eight tracks with the season finale at Silverstone in early November.

Nazim is fourth in the championship overall standings after nine races on 144 points.


GM moves deeper into mining with EnergyX lithium investment

                DETROIT, United States (Reuters): General Motors (GM) on Tuesday said it will invest in lithium technology startup EnergyX as it expands further into the mining industry, the latest deal by the car maker to ensure long-term supplies of the metal used to make electric vehicle batteries.

The global push by automakers to electrify their fleets has sparked a rush for stable supplies of lithium, copper, nickel and other critical minerals.

Demand is expected to exceed supply by the end of the decade, fueling interest in novel production methods.

Privately-held EnergyX is one of several companies developing so-far unproven direct lithium extraction technologies (DLE) that could help GM filter the metal for its Ultium battery packs from some types of brine that have been largely ignored by the mining industry in favor of evaporation ponds and open-pit mines.

Brine deposits are essentially salt-infused waters found throughout the globe. Many teem with lithium, calcium and other minerals, and DLE technologies aim to separate out the lithium and leave the rest.

As part of the investment, GM's scientists will work to help EnergyX commercialize the DLE technology, trying to succeed where it, rivals Rio Tinto Ltd, BMW-backed Lilac Solutions Inc and others have so far failed. GM told Reuters it believes DLE "could be the most efficient method to extract lithium from brine sources."

The automaker plans to lead a Series B round of financing for EnergyX worth $50 million (RM220.6 million) and to help finance EnergyX's future expansion across North and South America. Reuters first reported GM's investment earlier on Tuesday.

GM, which declined to say how much of the Series B round it was funding, will have the right of first refusal to buy lithium from any projects that EnergyX develops.

"We are committed to securing EV-critical minerals that are sustainable and cost competitive," said Jeff Morrison, GM's vice president of global purchasing and supply.

EnergyX, also known as Energy Exploration Technologies Inc, has said it aims to launch an initial public offering by 2024.

As part of any IPO, private equity firm Global Emerging Markets Group plans to invest $450 million (RM1.986 billion) in EnergyX once shares begin trading.

Lithium metal from brine

EnergyX has said its technology can make lithium metal directly from brine, a tantalizing prospect for GM that could let the automaker bypass lithium refining, which is widely seen as a key supply-chain bottleneck.

The EnergyX investment comes after GM in January agreed to pay $650 million (RM2.868 billion) to become the largest shareholder in Lithium Americas Corp, which is developing the Thacker Pass clay lithium project in Nevada.

The automaker in 2021 also invested in privately held Controlled Thermal Resources Ltd (CTR), which is trying to use DLE technology to develop a geothermal brine project in southern California.

GM's investment is a major vote of confidence in EnergyX, which was stung last year when officials in Bolivia - home to the world's largest lithium resource - disqualified the startup from a DLE selection process.

"This GM investment will completely change the trajectory of EnergyX," said Teague Egan, the startup company's founder and chief executive.

EnergyX is building five demonstration facilities that it plans to locate in Argentina, Chile, and in the U.S. states of California, Arkansas and Utah. Potential customers would supply brine from acreage that they own in order to test EnergyX's technology, before signing any development deal.

The sites selected in the United States are near existing lithium brine reserves owned by Standard Lithium Ltd, Compass Minerals International Inc and CTR, each of whom has selected a DLE technology provider but not yet launched production.

GM said it is working with CTR and EnergyX to find the best technology to extract lithium from California's Salton Sea, where CTR has been trying to use technology from Lilac Solutions, Koch Industries and others to produce the battery metal.

"With CTR we have a great resource and with EnergyX we have a great potential technology," said GM spokesperson Priscilla Zuchowski.


Indonesia plans EV purchase subsidies in 2023 to spur sales

                JAKARTA: Indonesia plans to begin subsidising purchases of electric vehicles next year as the country aspires to have 2.5 million EV users by 2025 to boost demand and reduce air pollution.

The government is deciding on the magnitude and its precise mechanism, said Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi in an interview on Thursday, promising that the new rule will become a "game changer” for the domestic industry.

"Someone asked me why is Indonesia so ambitious with EVs,” said Sumadi. "Maybe because he doesn’t experience the same thing as we do here in terms of air pollution coming from combustion engines.”

Indonesia ranks 17th among the world’s most polluted nations, according to IQAir index, which provides scores for air quality in 117 countries.

The latest incentive adds to a list of EV policies introduced by President Joko Widodo over the past year as the world’s largest producer of nickel used in batteries seeks to stop exporting raw materials and move up the value chain.

READ MORE: MAA tells what it takes to grow EVs in Malaysia

Regulators are also considering subsidies for the conversion of internal combustion vehicles, Sumadi said. The government is studying the plan carefully as it will create a major shift in the labor-intensive automotive industry, he said.

Sumadi said the ministry will approach existing carmakers in Indonesia like Hyundai Motor Co. and China’s BYD Co. to build the EV ecosystem for the nation’s new capital city in Borneo, which is intended to fully run on renewable energy.

Earlier this year, the government ordered all state offices to shift to electric vehicles and told state utility PLN to ramp up charging stations to reach a target of 2 million users of electric motorcycles and 500,000 of electric cars in less than 4 years. Sumadi expects the public transport sector to be fully electrified in five years.

There are around 28,188 electric vehicles in Indonesia as of Oct. 3, of which 22,942 are motorcycles and 4,904 are cars, according to the ministry data. The rest are buses, lorries and three-wheelers.

Electric motorbikes will likely lead in terms of growth as they are reaching a price equilibrium with their internal combustion counterparts faster than electric cars, said Sumadi.


Nissan unveils latest Navara pickup truck

                CANBERRA: Nissan in Australia conducted a virtual unveiling of the latest Navara pickup truck that promises enhanced safety, comfort, handling prowess, durability, reliability and versatility.

The Navara will be assembled in Thailand (for the ASEAN and Australian market) and the Kingdom will be among the first in the world to receive the Japanese pickup truck.

Edaran Tan Chong Motor, the official distributor of Nissan in Malaysia, is expecting to make this pickup available sometime in the first half of 2021.

There will be eight colours for choice including two new colours developed for the PRO-4X grade only - Orange Brown and a new shade of grey.

The colours are available for all markets that will be paired by light grey, grey and black fabric or a leather interior - depending on market availability for the cabin.

Although there's no mention of the Navara's powertrain options, it is confirmed that there will be a six-speed manual transmission available with four driving modes while Thailand will be receiving a more powerful twin-turbo 4x4 engine option.

Although the Japanese carmaker did state that its new Navara will possess an improved suspension system for on and off-road duties with added comfort and handling elements, Australia has confirmed to receive this.

Externally, the Navara will sport a new "interlock" grille with the model name embossed on the top of the front grille and across the full width of the flatbed's door at the rear with a new "stronger" font.

It will also come fitted with new C-shaped quad-LED projector headlamps at the front and LED tail lamps with bright chrome detail in between for the rear - flanking the new rear bumper step.

The new side step finishers are said to aid in aerodynamic performance by decreasing wind noise, thus contributing to better fuel economy.

Inside, the cabin is said to have improved Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels with added insulation materials together with laminated windshield and front windows.

Along with an updated steering wheel, drivers get to stare into the newly styled instrument cluster as well as an 8.0-inch navigation touchscreen or a 7.0-inch higher resolution TFT screen.

Rear-seated passengers will benefit from upgraded cushions and back shape that comes with an armrest with built-in cup holders.

Budding owners opting for the PRO-4X grade can expect to receive blacked-out elements which include the Nissan emblem, front bumper, grille, door handles, roof racks, running boards and the 17-inch wheels fitted with all-terrain tyres.

Also included is the signature orange-red colour accents, inspired by the colour of magma, and can be found on the Nissan wordmark on the black emblem as well as the interior and exterior of this pickup.

For safety, the Nissan Intelligent Mobility's suite of advance driver aids is available to further bolster safety levels. Although it would most likely be found in a range-topping variant once the Navara reaches our shores.

Such systems will include Intelligent Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Emergency Braking, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Intervention Blind Spot Warning, Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Entertainment will come from the Nissan Connect infotainment system that offers smartphone connectivity and features Bluetooth streaming audio, voice recognition and navigation as well as multiple USB ports - including the more capable Type-C connection.

Other forms of conveniences include automatic wipers, speed-sensing door locks when passing the 25kph mark and auto-folding mirrors when locking or unlocking this pickup.

Certain improvements for the Navara includes a strengthened rear axle, and an additional truck bed volume (depending on region) as well as the new integrated step in the new rear bumper to access the flatbed section.

The flatbed is equipped with a flap-type tie-down hook to allow owners to transport objects more securely.

When in four-wheel-drive mode (4WD), the Navara activates its Active Brake Limited Slip Differential system (ABLS) to better manage power delivery and wheel braking between the front and rear axles as well as between the left and right wheels depending on traction and speed.

The ABLS system works in tandem with the Vehicle Dynamic Control system (VDC) and anti-lock braking system to provide owners with added confidence especially while transporting heavy payloads or traversing through questionable terrain.

A Trailer Sway Control system has also been added to help increase on-road stability with a trailer hooked up.

Initial production of the new Navara will start in Thailand and Frontier in Mexico with production commencing in Rosslyn, Pretoria, South Africa at a later time.


Thoughts on making fuel subsidy work in Malaysia

                PETALING JAYA: It is common knowledge that some government subsidies are benefiting the rich more than the poor.

Just recently, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz reminded us that “for every RM1 of fuel subsidy, 53 sen goes to the T20 group while 15 sen is utilised by the B40”.

How can we make targeted fuel subsidies work? We all remember the petrol subsidy programme in 2019 that never materialised. Back then, some complained about the mechanism while others griped about the thresholds used.

The problem, like many others that we face as a nation, was that the matter was not widely discussed and debated. We should all agree on the facts and deliberate on the numbers. It makes very little sense for people owning luxury vehicles to enjoy fuel subsidies.

However, nobody likes to be singled out for unjust treatment, especially the rich and powerful who believe they have more than paid their fair share.

Consider the EPF contributions and the annual dividend payout. At face value, it seems fair that everyone gets, say, a 6% dividend rate at a given year.

Unfortunately, for low-income earners with little accumulated savings, their actual return is dwarfed in comparison to high net-worth individuals.

There is a simple solution to make EPF more equitable – set a contribution ceiling as has been done in Singapore since the late 1980s. EPF should only accept contributions up to a fixed amount annually; in the Lion City, the ceiling is between S$31,450 and S$37,740 or a CPF (Central Provident Fund) annual limit that is equivalent to 17 months of CPF salary ceiling of S$6,000 at 37%.

Similarly, we do not need to invent a new mechanism to pass the cost of fuel subsidies to the undeserving by fudging around with measures that might invite more trouble than necessary.

Although I personally support the development of population or household registry (just one step away from our current National Registration System) to improve subsidy targeting, we can achieve the same effect by increasing the road tax for luxury cars every year. This would be a quick, short-term measure that could be implemented immediately.

Simply put, we just calculate a premium for the road tax of such vehicles that can be adjusted every year according to fluctuations in oil and gas prices. This would help us to make full use of any existing mechanisms by adding other desired features.

This is, of course, just a suggestion and I am sure there are many other ways to skin a cat, so to speak, without convoluted mechanisms. It is difficult to compare with Singapore’s additional registration fee (ARF) on open market values (OMV) for vehicles, but there is definitely a lot of room for fiddling in this aspect for Malaysia.

I know our cars ARE overpriced, but that is another problem for another day. The cost of buying a car and maintaining it cannot be separated from the fuel subsidies we enjoy at the pump, depending on our average consumption.

All I hope for is that there are robust debates, consultations and consideration of multiple viewpoints. Try to find an elegant solution that does not involve additional or hidden costs, and hopefully no unnecessary enrichment of well-connected third parties!

For the rich who own luxury vehicles, you still have many choices to game the system (like getting a cheaper car), and that is why this is just a temporary measure until we have better policies in place to make sure redistribution and risk-pooling happen in the background without disincentivising financial success.

If owning a Bentley is a status symbol, the higher road tax would probably make it even more exclusive, no? For those who paid over a million ringgit for their Rolls Royce, Ferrari or Lamborghini, what is another RM20,000 for the annual road tax, right? — CHAI SEN TYNG

> Chai Sen Tyng is a Star reader from Seri Kembangan, Selangor, who wrote in to the Letters section of the newspaper to voice his opinion on fuel subsidy.


Could Harald Krueger lose job as BMW CEO?

Krueger (shown projected on LCD screen) speaking at BMW AG's 99th annual general meeting in Munich on May 16.
MUNICH: BMW AG chief executive officer Harald Krueger’s job is hanging in the balance as the luxury carmaker steers towards a future of electric and autonomous vehicles and navigates weakening markets, people familiar with the discussions said.

Some supervisory board members are questioning whether he’s the right choice to lead the company and will discuss the CEO’s second-term prospects in the coming weeks, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential deliberations. Krueger’s current tenure ends next May, with an announcement on his future due in June or July. The shares rose 0.3% at the start of trading Wednesday in Frankfurt.

BMW, like other carmakers, is making a costly transition to electric cars and new business models and is confronting deep-pocketed tech competitors encroaching with new mobility options including ride hailing. After leading the luxury competition for a decade, BMW’s momentum petered out in 2016 and the carmaker has since struggled to regain the top spot with cautious model redesigns. Since last year, weaker global markets and trade tensions have shrunk profits.

Any new CEO will be chosen from inside the Munich-based carmaker, and production head Oliver Zipse, 55, is considered a possible successor, one of the people said. A BMW spokesman declined to comment on CEO succession plans.

“There are doubts about Kreuger’s perspectives as CEO of BMW -- internally and externally,” Juergen Pieper, an analyst at Metzler Bank, said in an email. “Results of the past four years are mixed, profitability is turning down quite substantially” and “there are no clear strategic signals.”

Board tension

Krueger, 53, has been at the helm since 2015, when he became the youngest leader of a major automaker and was tasked with leading BMW through the industry’s transition. He is struggling to stamp his authority on a divided management board that’s failing to unite on plans for partnerships and spending on new technology, the people said.

While BMW merged its car-sharing business with Daimler AG last year, it hasn’t otherwise aligned with new competitors thus far. Daimler, Toyota Motor Corp. and Volvo Cars, meanwhile, have forged partnerships with Uber Technologies Inc., while Jaguar Land Rover is teaming up on self-driving electric cars with Alphabet Inc.’s autonomous-vehicle unit Waymo.

“BMW is a case of strong brand and strong capability, but they have stuttered in their commitment to a direction in an industry in transition,” said Bill Russo, CEO of Shanghai-based consultancy Automobility Ltd. “Several of BMW’s competitors are moving more rapidly and aggressively in forming partnerships with tech players in the internet of mobility era.”

Efforts to deepen ties with Daimler have run into resistance from some board members who are wary of new partnerships, the people said.

The last BMW CEO to leave after just a single term was Helmut Panke, who vacated the top position at BMW in 2006. He left a day before turning 60, which at the time was the proclaimed age limit for executives at the company. BMW’s largest shareholder are the Klatten-Quandt siblings, which together hold about 45% of the shares.

 Zipse's name has been bandied about as a potential successor.

Krueger has struggled to emancipate himself from his predecessor and BMW’s now chairman Norbert Reithofer, who is credited with taking some bold steps such as adding a range of sport utility vehicles at a time when other luxury carmakers neglected the segment.

Reithofer also moved early with BMW’s first electric car and a push into mass-producing lightweight carbon fibre. Early in Krueger’s tenure, he fainted on stage during his first major presentation as CEO at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show and demonstrated obvious discomfort with speaking publicly in the weeks and months that followed.

BMW squandered its early lead in electric cars by pausing new battery-powered models after unveiling the slow-selling i3 in 2013. It now trails the electric SUVs of Jaguar, Audi and Mercedes already on sale.

Bloomberg columnist Chris Bryant recently wrote in a May 22 opinion piece that Krueger's pragmatic, cautious style could actually be a good thing at a time of unprecedented technological and regulatory upheaval in the industry.

At BMW’s shareholder meeting last week, Krueger told investors that putting all the company’s “eggs in one basket” on electric vehicles was the wrong approach. It is instead pursuing a mixture of electric, hybrid and fuel cell cars.

Bryant said that in hindsight, Krueger’s biggest “mistake” was fainting on stage at the Frankfurt show in front of hundreds of journalists just weeks after taking the job in 2015. The question of “is he up to it?” seems to have dogged him ever since, said Bryant.


Honda NSS300 and PCX scooters back to win hearts

                PETALING JAYA: Boon Siew Honda (BSH) has launched its new premium NSS300 high-spec mid-sized scooter and the Honda PCX Smart in Blue.

From RM30,727.28 with GST (excluding road tax, insurance and registration), the NSS300 is available in three colors of Pearl Himalayas White, Seal Silver Metallic and a new Candy Caribbean Blue Sea.

As for the PCX, it comes similarly priced at RM11,658.94, while being offered in Asteroid Black Metallic, Pearl Metalloid White and a new Candy Caribbean Blue Sea

Both scooters come with a two year or 20,000km manufacturing warranty (whichever comes first).

The NSS300 sports an underbone chassis that cages its 279cc single-piston motor that has 1.5-litre of engine-oil capacity and is fed by an 11.6-litre fuel tank, while being mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Twisting the throttle gets 25.5hp at 7,500rpm and 26Nm of torque at 5,000rpm sent to the scooter's rear 13-inch wheel with 140/70 tyre, while the 14-inch front wheel uses 120/70 sized tyre.

At 192kg (kerb) - 194kg with ABS, the NSS300 has a 27-degree front caster angle for its 35mm front telescopic fork (rear twin suspension) and a 716mm-high saddle height.

This gives the scooter a wheelbase of 1,546mm, while measuring 2,166mm-long, 753mm-wide and 1,189mm-tall.

The PCX, on the other hand, has an 8.0-litre tank providing fuel to the 149cc single-piston motor also mated to a CVT to manage the 12.5hp at 8.500rpm and 13Nm of torque at 5,500rpm.

At 131kg (kerb), its front fork also has a 27-degree caster angle, putting its wheelbase at 1,315mm, while measuring 1,931mm-long, 737mm-wide and 1,103mm-tall - giving it 138mm of ground clearance and putting the saddle height at 761mm.

Braking power comes from a front hydraulic single disc and a trailing drum for the rear while rolling on 14-inch wheels with front 90/90 and rear 100/90 tyres.

In terms of equipment the PCX comes with a 25-litre U-box, start-stop system, LED head and taillights, console box and a key FOB.


Honda Malaysia launches two new pandemic-related assistance programmes

                PETALING JAYA: Honda Malaysia has introduced two new programmes to provide more benefits to new customers.

The Customer Car Loan Protection Programme which offers up to RM39,000 worth of protection, is offered to all customers who registered a new Honda car during the programme period from Oct 1 to Dec 31.

Under this programme, the customer who loses his/her job in the first year of car ownership, would have RM12,000 of the car loan subsidy reimbursed to support the customer for the monthly instalments which is a 100% increase compared to previous insurance coverage.

Other benefits include death or permanent disability coverage worth RM20,000 which has also increased by 100% compared to the previous insurance coverage; Burial or Cremation coverage worth of RM2,000 and Repatriation Expenses worth of RM5,000.

With a total coverage worth up to RM39,000, this programme will offer additional benefits besides the standard car insurance coverage, aimed at providing assurance and peace of mind to customers during the current difficult situation and economic uncertainties.

Under the new Vaccinated Customer Programme, all new Honda customers will be entitled to a service voucher worth RM250 with a one-year validity if they are registered for the national vaccination programme or have received vaccination confirmation and appointment or have been vaccinated either partially or fully.

The customers must complete the new car registration within the campaign period from Oct 1 to Dec 31.

The customers are also required to show proof of their participation in the vaccination programme via the MySejahtera mobile application.

Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Madoka Chujo said:

“We are mindful that having an ownership of a personal mode of transport to commute safely with one’s family is an important need for most Malaysians.

“By introducing the enhanced Customer Car Loan Protection Programme, we aim to help our customers by providing them with some financial support to ease their monthly instalments should the customer be unexpectedly out of employment.

“This enhanced personal accident insurance initiative is to protect the car loan of new Honda customers so that they can continue to enjoy their new car with peace of mind and without disruptions,” she said.

She also said the Vaccinated Customer Programme was an initiative by Honda Malaysia to support the Malaysian Government’s vaccination program and to encourage people to get vaccinated in an effort to achieve herd immunity.


Residents near Maju Expressway worried about accident-prone stretch

Cheam (right) and some of her neighbours have a good view of MEX expressway from their condominium in Taman Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR: Residents living near Maju Expressway (MEX) in Sungai Besi here are disturbed by the frequent accidents taking place at KM7 in the Kuala Lumpur-bound direction.

They are urging the concessionaire, Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd (MESB), to look into the matter and warn motorists about the accident-prone stretch.

Residents of Residensi Vyne in Taman Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, contacted StarMetro to highlight the matter as the four-block condominium has a clear view of the highway, where they witnessed numerous accidents at that particular bend on the highway since the movement control order (MCO) was introduced on March 18 this year.

“From March until now, I made 12 phone calls to MESB to inform them about accidents that took place on this dangerous stretch.

“We often hear screeching sound of tyres followed by a loud bang against the concrete barrier when vehicles lose control and skid when turning at the bend.

“Since it is a bend in the road, stalled vehicles involved in accidents become a safety hazard to other drivers, and sometimes there would be a pile-up of several cars after they crashed into the stalled vehicles, ” said the condominium’s resident, Vanessa Heng, 34.

“Sometimes, the car would turn turtle. Vans and lorries would skid and knock into the concrete barrier.

“I have witnessed several accidents and it is dangerous, ” she said.

Another resident, Eunice Chan, 41, said one of the more serious accidents involved a huge lorry that lost control along the stretch during a downpour.

“We can see the accidents as our condominium is facing the highway.

“The accident-prone stretch is also a popular spot for tow truck operators as they know accidents frequently take place there.

“I have seen them in the area. Their presence at the location is also a safety hazard to other road users and often the highway patrol officers will direct them to disperse, ” she said.

Resident Cheam Yee Siew, 47, said she had complained to MESB about the frequent accidents taking place at that particular stretch.

“The MESB official who spoke to me, attributed the accidents to drivers speeding and poor maintenance of vehicles.

“They said they would increase warning signage and consider installing speed breakers to slow down vehicles.

“However, these measures have not been implemented yet, ” she said.

She added that she hoped MESB would expedite executing the safety measures.


TC Subaru unveils Drive Now, Pay Later programme with Maybank

                KUALA LUMPUR: TC Subaru Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia has introduced a special Drive Now, Pay Later promotion in collaboration with Maybank.

The offer is available exclusively to Maybank customers who bought a new Subaru Forester between Oct 15 and Dec 31.

The promotion with Maybank is based on a  fixed monthly instalment amount throughout the agreed loan tenure with the bank.

Eligible customers would not need to pay their loan instalments for 15 months upon receiving their new Forester.
Customers would only need to start paying the fixed monthly instalment from the 16th month onwards.The Forester is priced from RM163,788 and comes in six variants:
• Forester 2.0i-L GT Lite Edition
• Forester 2.0i-S
• Forester 2.0i-S GT Lite Edition
• Forester 2.0i-S Eyesight
• Forester 2.0i-S Eyesight GT Lite Edition
• Forester 2.0i-S Eyesight GT Edition

Every new Forester bought through the campaign is entitled to a 5-year comprehensive warranty, and complimentary Subaru Eco Sterilising In-Cabin 3D Spray Service worth RM1,200, that removes up to 99% harmful bacteria and viruses.

Customers who purchase a new Forester can trade-in their old vehicle through TC Subaru’s Special Trade-In Assist programme for added value.

The promotional collaboration is available for selected model year units, while stocks last.

Visit Subaru showrooms nationwide or our Subaru website to find out more about this promotion.


Taiwan trade fair showcases competitive innovations

Taiwan is known for innovating and manufacturing high-quality automotive parts and accessories at competitive prices.

The annual Taipei AMPA (international auto parts and accessories) trade fair is touted as the world’s leading automotive trade fair for those looking to buy products and parts on motorised wheels.

Organised by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (Taitra), the four-day trade fair was held early last month.

Taiwan has a thriving motorcycle manufacturing industry, with Kymco and SYM being the dominant domestic brands to compete with Japan’s Yamaha Motor.

To put this into perspective, according to 2013 statistics, there were slightly over 15 million motorcycles in Taiwan’s population of 23.4 million. This means there are almost seven motorcycles for every 10 persons.

 Su displaying the company’s I-Key immobiliser key system for motorcycles.

Among the exhibitors at 2015 Taipei AMPA was Chian-Yie Industrial Co Ltd which supplies parts and accessories for scooters and mopeds under its brand NCY.

These include wheels, ECU (electronic control unit), fuel supply systems, brake components and CVT (continuously variable transmission).

According to Chian-Yie Industrial general manager Chen Chung-Jung, about 60% of the products from the company’s three factories are exported.

“We have 20 CNC (computer numerical control) machines. Our main export market is Japan, followed by the United States,” said Chen.

Another innovative Taiwanese company was 3D King Co Ltd, which makes multi-functional jackets for motorcyclists.These award-winning jackets are designed with extra materials that provide face masks to cover the nose and mouth, glove-like folds to cover hands, and a backpack option.

“The jackets protect your skin from wind, dust and sun damage. They use quick dry and cooling fabric; so you won’t feel hot,” said 3D King general manager Yu Yu.

The jackets are priced from NT$1,500 (RM176) onwards. Meanwhile, for those looking to upgrade their carburetor equipped motorcycles, Eltronix Co Ltd offers its SparKing programmable digital CDI (capacitor discharge ignition).

Eltronix president Chamber Ling said SparKing can be used in single-cylinder motorcycles of 100cc to 250cc, and has a micro-controller as well as plug-and-play capabilities.

“The SparKing CDI provides a high-performance, programmable motorcycle engine ignition system,” said Ling.
Eltronix also offers its R2Power rectifier regulator for bikers who want improved power efficiency and extended battery life.

As for those who want higher performance and fuel efficiency from their fuel-injected bikes, IC Leader Technology Corp Ltd offers its EZECU range of after-market ECUs for fuel injection and ignition systems.
The EZECU brand is readily identifiable by a Taiwan Black Bear graphic.

The company’s head Webb Tang said the ECUs are easily installed and are plug-and-play ready.  Prices start from NT$9,500 (RM1,113).

“We have more than 45 types of ECUs. Research and development, design and production are all done in Taiwan,” he said. While many of the ECUs are for fuel-injected motorcycles under 250cc, there are also units for more powerful bikes like the 530cc Yamaha TMAX.

“Many racing teams in Taiwan use our ECUs. In Malaysia, it is a popular after-market choice for the Yamaha FZ150i,” said Tang.

Meanwhile, Accel Technology Corp is known as the industry leader in Taiwan when it comes to small after-market components such as plugs, covers, nuts, caps, spacers, screws and bolts on a motorcycle.

Set up in 1995, the company’s 18 CNC machines also help to produce metal rollerblade guards. Motorcycle parts include brake line and rotator clamps, oil filter covers, engine plug kits, clutch and folding levers, mud flaps, lever blades, chain rollers, axle blocks and sprockets.

According to Accel Technology CEO Alex Liu, about 90% of production is exported to the United States, Europe and Asia.  Liu said Accel Technology’s advantages lie in its parts design and customisation capabilities.

 Chian-Yie Industrial general manager Chen showing the parts and accessories for scooters and mopeds sold under its NCY brand.

The trade fair also had exhibitors like the Aixstream group which offers a range of helmets, footwear and apparel for motorcyclists.

Based in France and founded in 2009, the group has brands such as Astone (helmets), V’Quattro Design (footwear and gloves), Overlap (jeans) and Octopuss (waterproof bags).

“Our products are certified in Europe and tested for abrasion, shock and perforation. The materials used, stitching and technical designs are geared for bikers,” said Aixstream group partner Philippe Secchi.

We also checked out Haihao Technology Co Ltd which makes motorcycle helmet visor wipers for better vision in rainy weather.

The company’s general manager Jerry Tseng said the helmet visor wiper uses a 6cm silicone-rubber blade, and is available with a remote control unit or fixed control buttons.  It is lightweight (265 grams) and can run for eight hours, powered by four AA-sized alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries.

Another Haihao Technology product is its UPC-700 mini portable camcorder, which Tseng said is priced at NT$5,770 (RM675) per unit.  The portable camcorder is waterproof, lightweight (50 grams), supports 32GB micro SD cards and records in high-definition 1080P or 720P resolution.

It can connect to Android devices and has a 1,000mAh li-ion battery for up to six hours of operation. The compact-sized portable camcorder can be hung on shirts or installed on car dashboards and even integrated into helmets.

“We have sold 20,000 units since its launch last year in Taiwan. Many were sold to the police force. The device is useful in recording evidence and mishaps,” said Tseng.

As for Wukawa Industry Co Ltd, it manufactures 12, 13 and 17-inch lightweight forged aluminium alloy wheels for motorcycles. Jasmine, a senior executive in Wukawa, said the wheels were mainly exported to the US, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, those looking for an immobiliser key system can check out the I-Key from What-Trend Technology Co Ltd.

The company’s manager Tim Su said the I-Key can be installed on most motorcycles and is priced at US$40 (RM145) per unit.  “It is similar to a car’s smart key and immobiliser system. For two years, we tested this on various models and brands of motorcycles. It was not easy!,” said Su.

Powered by a cell battery, the I-Key’s operational life is more than two years.


BMW engineer wooed over, may become new Audi chief amid crisis

Duesmann.
WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen AG poached BMW AG’s purchasing chief Markus Duesmann, lining up a possible successor for its luxury Audi brand’s long-time boss following his surprise arrest last month.

Duesmann, 49, will join Volkswagen’s management board in an undefined role as soon as possible, the Wolfsburg-based company said today in a statement.

He will be a top contender to eventually replace Audi’s interim chief executive officer Bram Schot, according to people familiar with the matter.

Duesmann is also being considered for other top positions within the group, depending on when he can resolve contractual obligations to BMW, the people said.

“No decision has been made yet regarding responsibilities” for the executive, a spokesman for VW’s supervisory board said by phone.

Restoring Audi’s muscle is vital for Volkswagen. The upscale brand fell behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz in profitability and deliveries in recent years.

The woes culminated last month with the arrest of now-suspended CEO Rupert Stadler. The long-time Audi boss, who also oversaw group-wide sales activities for Volkswagen, is still incarcerated over allegations that he tried to tamper with evidence in the diesel-cheating scandal.

Duesmann’s start date at VW has yet to be determined as his contract with BMW only expires in the fall of next year and includes a clause that prevents him from joining a rival straight away, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.

BMW’s supervisory board will discuss the matter today, they said. A spokesman for the Munich-based manufacturer declined to comment.

With Duesmann’s hiring, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess, who joined the automaker from BMW in 2015, is pushing ahead with an overhaul of the management ranks.

To speed up decision making and make the German giant more nimble, the initiative includes hiring more external executives at a manufacturer that has been dominated for years by home-grown managers.

Many VW lifers have left the company since the diesel scandal erupted in September 2015. Stadler, whose future is in limbo following the arrest, and China chief Jochem Heizmann are among the few remaining long-time members of the group’s senior management ranks.

 Stadler's future is in limbo following his arrest.

“For VW’s Diess, it is proof of leadership and skill to attract top talent,” Arndt Ellinghorst, a London-based analyst at Evercore ISI, said in a note to clients. “We expect Audi will benefit from his fresh style and technical background.”

Duesmann, a mechanical engineer born in a small municipality called Heek close to the Dutch border, joined BMW from Daimler AG’s Mercedes in 2007, where he was head of Formula 1 development. He became BMW’s purchasing chief, a role previously filled by Volkswagen’s Diess, in 2016.

His departure is a surprise for BMW, where he was one of CEO Harald Krueger’s close confidantes and could now set himself up as a major rival. Audi has long held ambitions to challenge for the top spot and is a critical part of Diess’s plans to transform Volkswagen into a leader of self-driving, electric cars.

Interim CEO Schot - a sales expert who lacks an engineering background - is considered a long shot to permanently lead the world’s third-largest luxury-car brand given its technology-driven cachet.


Bright light improves alertness in night driving, says Canadian study

                SEATTLE: As you drive into the night, turn on a bright light to improve your performance, suggests a new study that says doing this could improve cognition and alertness.

This extends to night-shift workers whose work environment is dimly lit, for bright light suppresses the release of the natural sleep hormone melatonin, according to the researchers.

While this does not improve subjective alertness or coordination, it staves off the effects of sleep deprivation and, as the hours pass, bright light works better than dim light at enhancing your alertness.

In the study, the researchers screened would-be participants to find out their circadian rhythm chronotype, a scientific expression for whether you like to go to bed early and wake up early or if you prefer the opposite.

They also screened them for sleep disorders and propensity for motion sickness because a driving simulator was the vehicle for the experiment.

They accepted a total of 19 mostly-male participants whose mean age was 23 and structured the experiment in a crossover design involving repeated measures.

Conditions for testing included having not experienced sleep deprivation within a week of driving the simulated circuit.

Participants were asked to stay awake until they exhibited sleep deprivation and 45 minutes later the research team exposed them to either dim light or bright light.

Next, they were asked to drive in the simulator for 45 minutes, divided into two circuits of at least 22 minutes each.

Being sleep deprived, they experienced telltale consequences that could have led to accidents in a real-life driving situation, and the incidents worsened as the task continued.

Bright light did not make much of a difference when compared to dim light until after the first 22-minute circuit; however, it made a significant, positive difference in the next, reducing would-be-accidents, according to the study.

"We were most surprised to find that significant differences between the bright light condition and the dim light condition occurred in the second lap of the simulated driving task rather than immediately following the bright light exposure," says lead author Denise Weisgerber, a doctoral candidate at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.

Weisgerber says the experience of driving in a simulator might have aroused participants, thereby masking the effects of bright light during the first circuit.

The study was presented on June 9 in Seattle, Washington in the US at SLEEP 2015, the 29th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC.


GoCar Malaysia's GOLADIES campaign returns with great savings

                PETALING JAYA: GoCar Malaysia has reintroduced its GOLADIES campaign which comes with generous savings in celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day.

This time the campaign offers 70% savings across the GoCar Garage basic service packages starting now to March 31.

Available via GoCar’s seamless end-to-end mobile app, the first 300 customers to apply the promo code “GOLADIES” will enjoy the following special rates on the 45-minute pit-stop engine oil change service.

The one-time-only promo code is applicable till March 31 and customers will have until 30 June 2022 to redeem their service appointments.

When servicing their cars at GoCar Garage, customers can also enjoy additional benefits including the GoValet pick-up and drop off service (minimal fee of up to RM20 applies depending on distance), two-hour free usage of a GoCar vehicle, free car wash and sanitisation, and a free comprehensive vehicle inspection to help ensure their car is in tip-top condition.

GoCar technicians are certified to work on any passenger vehicle make and model with OEM-level service excellence to provide customer peace-of-mind.

The GOLADIES campaign is available only for the Klang Valley and vehicles will be serviced at the GoCar Garage Hub in Petaling Jaya.

GoCar Malaysia CEO Wong Hoe Mun said the company was delighted to offer a new GOLADIES promotion in celebration of International Women’s Day and support of women empowerment in view of the success of the previous campaign.

“GoCar Garage is an ideal solution for them to take complete control of all their car care needs from the comfort of their homes.

“More importantly, they can be assured of full transparency in our pricing with quotations for pre-approval,” said Wong.

In addition to the 45-minute oil change, GoCar Garage offers a range of other services including battery inspection and replacement, tyre services, air conditioning repair and maintenance, brake repair and maintenance, engine cooling system and replacement, electrical diagnosis as well as body and paint repairs.

Through the GoCar mobile app, customers can easily schedule and confirm their service appointments, select or request required services, make payments and arrange for door-to-door delivery, anytime and from anywhere.

To ensure full transparency of pricing, customers are notified of any jobs required and the relevant cost breakdowns after inspection by GoCar’s certified technicians.

Work will only begin after customers confirm and approve the upfront quotation via the GoCar app.

Amy Heng, who tried out the GoCar Garage service during the first GOLADIES campaign, said she decided to try out GoCar Garage when she heard about the campaign.

“The whole process of booking my service appointment, approving the upfront quotations and finally making payment though the mobile app was so seamless and convenient.

“Most importantly, there are no hidden fees. I would definitely recommend GoCar Garage to my friends and family,” he said.

Another customer Nur Ann Nissa said: “So far, the services have been satisfactory. Despite it being a public holiday when I sent my car in, the servicing including the car wash was pleasantly fast.”

For details on GoCar Garage and GoCar Malaysia, visit https://hi.gocar.my, GOLADIES campaign or

To schedule a service appointment and select the services available, download the GoCar mobile app.


Polestar beefs-up Volvo S60 and V60 to 367hp

STOCKHOLM: Volvo is proud to present its quickest car its ever made – a 367hp S60 and V60 estate.Thanks to its Polestar performance engineers, the V60 now takes 4.8 seconds to go from 0-100kph, before reaching a top speed of 250kph.Making it possible is are a number of additions that's found under the car's sheet metal, such as a bigger turbo, air intake and fuel pump as well as new conrods, camshafts, BorgWarner four-wheel-drive (4WD) system and a new Polestar-optimised eight-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox.In terms of looks, the V60 hasn't changed much, except for its new Polestar front splitter corners, rear spoiler and diffuser.Aside from being fitted with performance, the car has also lost a total of 44kg – 24kg over the front axle and 20kg over the rear, compared to the outgoing model, at 1,796kg (kerb).It wears new Polestar bespoke 20-inch alloy wheels with 245/35 series Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres for grip, while the Brembo six-piston brake callipers (front – 371 x 32mm, rear – 302 x 22mm) take care of bleeding speed.The 1,969cc inline four-cylinder engine drinks from a 67.5 litres and is supercharged with a maximum boost of 2.0bar - producing 367hp at 6,000rpm and 470Nm pf torque from 3,100-5,100rpm before hitting the rev-limiter at 7,000rpm.Power is managed by a fast-shifting eight-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox with optimised shift precision, curve-hold and off-throttle functionality before reaching the 4WD system that's been Polestar-callibrated with a new stability control system and more dynamic rear torque distribution.Also, the gearbox brings with it paddle shifters, launch control and Sport+ mode.While combined fuel consumption has been rated at 8.1L/100km, its 186g/km of CO2 emission is let out by a 3.0-inch stainless steel active exhaust system with twin 3.5-inch tail-pipesThe car sits on adjustable Polestar Öhlins shock absorbers with the coils stiffened by an additional 80%, while the front strut brace has been reinforced with carbon fibre, a s stiffer top-mount for the front and rear has been chosen and thrown in with the mix is also a stiffer tie blade bushing and Polestar-optimised steering.Inside, the cabin gets “blue”-ed again with Polestar's corporate colours while equipped with sports seats that comes with a combination of charcoal, nubuck, blue thread and the Polestar imprint.Even the leather/nubuck steering wheel comes with blue piping, while the centre stack uses carbon fibre and finally nubuck for the door inserts and centre armrest.

Furthermore, it also gets a Polestar knob, sport pedal with footrest, door sills, carpets with blue piping and an optional sunroof.Instead of the familiar Rebel Blue, budding owners can also have the Polestar-tuned V60 in Onyx Black, Bright Silver and Ice White.The UK will be the first to take deliveries and are expected to arrive in the last quarter of 2016.“All changes made to the car are about improving drivability and efficiency. The base of the new engine carries motorsport technology, with solutions such as the combination of turbo and supercharger, lightweight materials and more. This works hand-in-hand with our core philosophy and has enabled us to evolve the Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar,” said Polestar vice president R&D Henrik Fries.


US cars mandated to spot drunk drivers — and stop them

                WASHINGTON: Breath-sniffing sensors and finger-scanning detectors are central to a landmark US safety mandate to fight drunk driving that is spurring tough questions about what technology can be trusted to do.

The federal law, which will require new cars to spot intoxicated drivers in coming years, could save thousands of lives annually with the potential to expand abroad, advocates say.

Yet the legislation signed into law this week by President Joe Biden has also left sceptics to question whether vehicles could refuse to operate due to a false positive or effectively become witnesses against their owners in criminal cases.

Ultimately, it is up to American regulators to decide what could become international precedent-setting rules. They have not said much so far, but have a potentially extendable three years to work with.

The initial reaction though was euphoria for people who battle against alcohol-related crashes in the United States, which permits drivers to have a higher level of booze in their blood than many other developed nations and consistently records a death toll over 10,000 per year.

"I'm crying tears of joy today," said Alex Otte, national president of anti-drunk-driving advocacy group MADD.

"This is the beginning of the end of drunk driving," she wrote in a statement after Biden's law signing ceremony Monday at the White House.

The devil is in the details of course, and one of the best options for fielding functional technology to meet the mandate has been under development since 2008 in a collaboration between carmakers and regulators.

As part of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS), researchers have developed tiny vent-like sensors that draw in a driver's exhaled breath and test it.

Or the driver pushes the ignition button, which measures blood alcohol levels under the skin's surface by shining an infrared-light through the person's fingertip.

Anti-cheat functions are built into the system, which could prevent the car from starting or keep it from moving for drivers over the .08 percent blood alcohol limit in most US states, said Robert Strassburger, president of the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS), which is supported by carmakers.

'Completely unconstitutional'

The DADDS initiative is a partnership between ACTS and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which did not respond to a request for comment.

"We all emit carbon dioxide as we exhale and as long as you are in a range of CO2, then we know that sample was coming from the driver and nowhere else," Strassburger told AFP.

As for the touch system, by pressing the ignition button the driver would complete what is effectively a circuit between their seat and the system.

"If the passenger were to reach over and touch the sensor the circuit would not be completed and an (alcohol testing) measurement would not be taken," he said.

They are considered "passive" measures, unlike the already existing devices that require drivers to pass an alcohol test by blowing into a tube before they can operate a vehicle - devices that some jurisdictions require of people convicted of drunk driving.

While some experts see the new technology as ultimately positive with proper protections and communication, others see it as a worrying erosion of privacy.

Laura Perrotta, president of the advocacy group American Highway Users Alliance, said the alcohol testing technology is a fine idea - as long as it works.

"Someone uses mouthwash and goes to turn on their car and can't get it to start, but then someone else has one too many drinks and it doesn't detect it," she said. "That could be a real problem."

Albert Fox Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project watchdog group, said: "It's completely unconstitutional to have our cars commandeered to monitor us for the government."

"This is no less illegal than if the government mandated that the phone company installed wiretaps in everyone's home just to make sure that they don't commit a crime in the future," he added.

Strassburger, the ACTS president, said there are already privacy limits for other information-gathering technologies in cars and the police need a warrant to get access to them - yet he will not be the final decider of which way things go.

"Vehicle manufacturers are going to make that ultimate decision or they will be commanded by policymakers," he said.


Wow! That was fast. All Special Edition VW Polos snapped up in one minute

                KUALA LUMPUR: Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia has something to crow about. Remember its online Polo sale at Lazada's 11.11 Shopping Festival?

Well, all 11 units of the Special Edition Polo Black & White were snapped up within a minute after it was launched. All 11 cars were booked by 12:01am on Nov 11 and all purchase transactions were completed 1 hour after, it said in a brief statement.

The special edition Polo Black & White was sold exclusively on the Lazada e-commerce site.

Customers had to pay a booking fee of RM799 on Lazada to enjoy the retail price of RM68,488 for the Polo Black & White and receive added accessories worth RM7,500. Only available in Candy White, each unit is fitted with a black rear spoiler, black body side moldings, leather seats, 15-inch black alloy wheels, black side mirror and VW Tint.

It's a sure bet Volkswagen will be concocting more sales online in future. So stay tuned for further updates.


Why you might want to wrap your car fob in foil

                Given that the best way to store your car keys at night is by putting them in a coffee can, what's an ex-FBI agent's advice to protect cars from theft during the day?

Wrap car fobs in aluminium foil.

“Although it's not ideal, it is the most inexpensive way,” said Holly Hubert, a cybersecurity expert who retired in 2017 from the FBI in Buffalo, New York. “The cyber threat is so dynamic and ever changing, it's hard for consumers to keep up.”

Now, as CEO of GlobalSecurityIQ, she suggests clients go online and spend a few dollars and buy what's called a Faraday bag to shield the fob signal from potential theft. Imagine a traditional sandwich bag made of foil instead of plastic.

Copying code from key fobs isn't difficult. And this is something the auto industry and insurance companies are monitoring closely.

The cheap (or homemade) metal protection covers, named for the scientist who figured out how to block an electromagnetic field, can prevent thieves from having access to vehicles with a wireless fob. Currently, thieves can capture fob signals from outside a home, office or hotel room.

“You know it works if you can't unlock a car door when the fob is inside,” said Moshe Shlisel, CEO of GuardKnox Cyber Technologies and a veteran of the Israeli Air Force who helped develop cyber protection for fighter jets and missile defence systems.

“The credit card holders don't work because they're essentially a net rather than a wall.”

He visited Detroit recently to meet with automakers. He's already working with Daimler on Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the Volkswagen Group on Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen products – to protect them from hackers. Other clients and potential clients have asked to remain confidential.

Shlisel showed the Free Pressa new video of his company's engineers taking control of a semi-truck through the use of a cellphone. Numerous videos have been posted online to illustrate that vulnerability is an industry-wide problem.

Canned key fob

He held up his fob and said, “This should be something we don't need to wrap with foil. It's 2018. Car companies need to find a way so no one can replicate the messages and the communication between the key and the vehicle.”

At home, Shlisel puts his key fob in a can with foil around it to add another layer. In his pocket, he carries the fob for his 2017 Ford F-150 in a little pouch that is made of fabric on the outside and foil inside.

Cybersecurity experts say privately that anyone who knows anything about the ease of auto and personal data hacking practices safe fob storage.

Clifford Neuman, director of the USC Center for Computer Systems Security in Los Angeles, pointed to the millions of consumers who now carry their credit cards in a protective pocket designed to work as a Faraday cage.

“We're talking about electronic burglary tools or car theft tools,” he said. “You go up to a house with a car parked in front of it, detect a fob 10 feet away in a bedroom and it allows the car to be unlocked. As these devices become more available, this scenario becomes more and more likely.”

Neuman added, “Cars used to be hot-wired. That used to be common, but was an accepted risk. This will become a new technique used by criminals. How much you are concerned, and what you do about it, is a matter of risk management.”

People who store their fobs in Faraday cages aren't paranoid, experts say.

Jay Beckerman doesn't want to wrap his key fob in aluminium foil before leaving home, but he says he is learning that maybe it's a good idea.

After the Free Press wrote an article in May about cybersecurity experts not going to bed before stashing their car “keys” in metal coffee cans to prevent theft, the retired journalist from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, wrote to say, “I can't carry my keys in a metal can during the day. What do I do?”

He went on, “I bought a Samsonite RFID pouch from Staples, put my fob wholly in the pouch, stood about 10 feet from my car, a 2004 Audi A6, and pressed the buttons from the outside. But the lock and unlock buttons worked, lights went on and off. Same with a 2013 A4. Not the desired outcome to foil a miscreant snooper. Though they might fit in a purse, Altoid cans probably aren't deep enough and wouldn't work in a pants pocket. Band-Aids don't come in small cans anymore.”

Shlisel said at the time, “The best thing you can do is keep your key in a small tin can wrapped with aluminium foil. But in a purse or pocket, just aluminium foil will do the job.”

Beckerman was one of many readers who called or emailed the Free Press from around the country saying they wanted to learn more.

This is the reality of a wireless, connected world where car doors lock with a click and a chirp, where children in the back seat stream videos and companies can update software technology remotely.

While auto industry engineers know a lot about traditional safety, quality, compliance and reliability challenges, cyber is an “adaptive adversary”, said Faye Francy, executive director of the non-profit Automotive Information Sharing and Analysis Centre, which specializes in cybersecurity strategies. “Automakers are starting to implement security features in every stage of design and manufacturing. This includes the key fob.”

Ford Explorer targeted

Macomb County executive Mark Hackel is still trying to figure out what happened to the 2016 Ford Explorer parked in his driveway at home. Surveillance cameras recorded a thief approaching his vehicle around 4.20am on the last Saturday in May. It was parked close to the Macomb Township home with exterior lights shining brightly.

Hackel always locks the car door when he comes home. And he remembers doing so this time, too.

“It would look like daylight on my driveway,” Hackel said. “And there's a streetlight in front of my house. I play back this video and see a guy creeping up alongside my house. It shocked me because of how well lit it was and the proximity to my house. I couldn't see anything in his hands but he had something that unlocked the car doors. I watched the interior and exterior lights went on and he opened the door.”

The thief spent time going through the vehicle and ended up stealing a .40-caliber Glock and gift cards. Hackel's wife's car was entered, too.

At the time, Sgt Eric Ehrler told the Free Press that three vehicles were broken into in Hackel's driveway near 25 Mile and Romeo Plank, along with a vehicle belonging to a neighbour.

Hackel said that some type of new remote opening device was used to unlock the vehicle.

Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said this week the case is still under investigation. — Detroit Free Press/Tribune News Service


Puspakom giving free vehicle inspections for CNY

                KUALA LUMPUR: Puspakom is offering free vehicle inspection services from Feb 7 to Feb 14 for private vehicle owners at all its 55 branches in conjunction with the Chinese New Year (CNY).

Its chief executive officer, Mohammed Shukor Ismail, said the inspection focused on vehicle safety such as the efficiency of the braking system, side slip, suspension and tyre grip.

"By having the inspection, vehicle owners would know beforehand the level of safety of their vehicle before beginning a journey or sending the vehicle for maintenance services," he said in a statement on Thursday.

The free vehicle inspections would start at 8am until 5pm every day, according to the hours of operation of each branch.

Members of the public can make appointments by contacting the Puspakom branches or contacting the toll-free number 1800-88-6927 for further information.

A similar campaign last year saw about 4,000 private vehicles being inspected.


Protesters deface Ferrari and Bentley showrooms in London

                LONDON: Just Stop Oil activists have sprayed paint on the facade of two luxury car showrooms in central London.

Protesters began spraying paint from a fire extinguisher over the premises of high-end dealers Ferrari and Bentley on the corner of Berkeley Square and Bruton Street at 8.30am today.

Police arrested two people on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to the protest.

It came as the campaign group continues its month-long series of protests as it calls on the government to halt all new fossil fuel licences.

The group says police have made 585 arrests since they began their action at the beginning of October.

Seven Just Stop Oil demonstrators were arrested on Tuesday after spraying paint on to the facade of 55 Tufton Street in Westminster as it targeted the headquarters of climate sceptic think tank Global Warming Police Foundation.


Ford designers work with 3D VR tool Gravity Sketch

                DEARBORN: Co-Creation, a feature developed by Gravity Sketch in collaboration with Ford, allows designers across the globe to create, collaborate and evaluate vehicle designs with one another in real time without leaving their physical workspace.

Ford is the first automaker to work with Gravity Sketch – a 3D virtual reality tool that enables designers to create more human-centric vehicle design.

Designers trade in their sketchpads for a headset and controllers to become immersed in virtual reality, imitating gestural interactions through motion tracking that replicates sketching with pen and paper.

Designers can draw, rotate, expand and compress a 3D sketch. The Co-Creation feature allows multiple designers to engage in content creation, while making these real-time adjustments.

"The Co-Creation feature adds more voices to the conversation in a virtual environment, which results in more efficient design work that may help accelerate a vehicle program’s development,” says Ford Design Manager Michael Smith.

Gravity Sketch allows designers to speed the process from weeks to hours, skipping the 2D stage and working with a 3D model from the beginning.

“Our collaboration with Ford designers has enabled us to get immersed in their creative process and discover ways to help fine-tune this application to better suit their needs so they can build the best possible vehicles for their customers,” said Oluwaseyi Sosanya, Gravity Sketch CEO & Co-founder.


Heritage GT, performance models among Ford highlights at Geneva

                GENEVA: Ford is delivering the company's most comprehensive lineup of performance models ever. The Geneva Motor Show this week will feature fast and furious Fords from hatchbacks to supercars and a special limited edition GT.

First up, Ford has introduced a three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine into the third-generation Fiesta ST for the first time. In addition the company is showing the Focus ST petrol and diesel models, the acclaimed Focus RS, and, it goes without saying, the iconic Mustang.

Ford performance car sales recorded a 60% increase in 2016. Jim Farley, Ford European chairman and CEO said, "Accessible performance is at the heart of what we do at Ford. From the active aerodynamics of the Ford GT supercar to the Drive Modes of our next generation Fiesta ST, our Ford Performance models are developed using innovation that brings the driving thrill of our race cars to customers on the road."

The Fiesta ST will be the first Ford Performance model ever powered by a three-cylinder engine and the first Fiesta ST to feature selectable Drive Modes. Ford's all-new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine will deliver 200PS, 290Nm of torque and an anticipated 0-100kph acceleration in 6.7 seconds. Using cylinder deactivation technology, Ford claims the engine will reduce emissions.

New Drive Modes will enable engine, steering and stability controls to be configured to Normal, Sport and Track settings for an optimized fun-to-drive experience. For those that appreciate it, Electronic Sound Enhancement technology will deliver an even more satisfying driving experience by amplifying the naturally sporty sound of the three-cylinder engine.

With the Ford GT supercar set to return to the Le Mans 24HR race this year, Geneva will be treated to the sight of a limited edition Ford GT in '66 Heritage livery. The model honors Ford's 1966 Le Mans victory, offering a Shadow Black exterior in either gloss or matte finish with silver stripes and exposed carbon fiber; Frozen White hood and door graphics; and 20" one-piece forged aluminum wheels.

The spirit of innovation that brought the world the Ford Cosworth DFV engine is reflected 50 years on in Ford's EcoBoost engines from the all-new three-cylinder 1.5 litre EcoBoost to the twin-turbocharged 3.5 litre V6 EcoBoost engine that powered the Ford GT race car to victory at Le Mans last year. Ford's continued investment in performance models will be good news for driving enthusiasts.

The Geneva Motor Show opens to the public March 9.


Navigation firm TomTom to cut jobs as it automates mapmaking

                AMSTERDAM: TomTom will slash hundreds of jobs due to improvements it has made in automating its mapmaking activities, the Dutch digital navigation company said today, adding that the cuts would amount to around a tenth of its global workforce.

"Regrettably, this will have an intended impact on approximately 500 employees in our Maps unit," the company said in a statement. "The full assessment of the financial implications of the reset of the Maps unit is ongoing."

ING analyst Marc Hesselink estimated that the cuts would hit relatively lower-paid workers, adding that savings and restructuring charges for the company should balance out at around €30 million (RM141mil) each.

"Over recent years, TomTom has been working towards the holy grail of a fully automated map-making process," Hesselink said in a research note, adding that an investment drive launched this year appears to have been successful.

Chief executive Harold Goddijn said higher levels of automation would build better, broader maps enabling it to address a wider market across its carmaker and tech customers.

The company, whose clients range from Volkswagen and Renault to and Microsoft, has been hit by pandemic-caused supply chain shortages which forced automakers around the globe to slash production.

It had reaffirmed its cash and sales forecasts in April, when it said it had seen limited immediate effects from Russia's war in Ukraine as some factories belonging to carmakers and suppliers in the country remained in operation.

TomTom said it would provide an update as it announces its quarterly financial results on July 15.


Uber to stop using diesel cars in London by end 2019

                LONDON: Uber will cease using diesel cars here by the end of 2019 and the vast majority of rides will be in electric or hybrid vehicles by then, the taxi app said.

At the moment, the company says around half of all the journey miles completed in the British capital are undertaken with greener vehicles on the firm’s standard low-cost UberX service, which lets customers book journeys on their smartphone.

Several carmakers have announced plans in recent months to electrify a large proportion of their new cars, with Volvo becoming the first major carmaker to set a date for phasing out vehicles powered solely by the internal combustion engine.

Britain will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2040, replicating plans by France and cities such as Madrid, Mexico City and Athens.

Uber, which has about 40,000 London drivers, will only offer electric or hybrid models on UberX by the turn of the decade and plans to do the same by 2022 nationwide.

“Air pollution is a growing problem and we’re determined to play our part in tackling it with this bold plan,” said Uber’s Head of UK Cities, Fred Jones.

“Londoners already know many cars on our app are hybrids, but we want to go much further and go all electric in the capital,” he said.

Globally, Uber has endured a tumultuous few months after a string of scandals involving allegations of sexism and bullying at the company, leading to investor pressure which forced out CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick.

In London, the firm has faced criticism from unions, lawmakers and traditional black cab drivers over working conditions.

Later this month, it will appeal a decision by British judges who have ruled that the app should treat two of its drivers as workers and pay them the minimum wage and holiday pay.

The capital’s transport regulator will also decide in September on how much Uber needs to pay to renew its licence.

Uber said on Friday that it will help its drivers who want to switch to greener cars with a more than 150 million-pound (RM832mil) fund, paying up to 5,000 pounds (RM28,000) per upgrade from a petrol or diesel vehicle.

Uber will start building the fund next month with a 2-million pound (RM11mil) investment with a further 35 pence added from each fare taken in London.

It will also offer the first 1,000 Londoners who scrap an older diesel car, 1,500 pounds (RM8,318)in credit to use on Uber.


New CEO named to take over reins at Renault

                PARIS: Following the selection process led by the Governance and Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors, under the chairmanship of Jean-Dominique Senard, the decision was made to appoint Luca de Meo as chief executive officer of Renault S.A., and chairman of Renault s.a.s. effective July 1.

The Board of Directors considered that de Meo, through his career, experience and success in his previous functions, combines all the qualities to contribute to all aspects of Groupe Renault’s development and transformation.

Clotilde Delbos, interim chief executive officer of Renault S.A. will continue in her current role until de Meo takes office.

She will then take the position of deputy chief executive officer of Renault S.A., effective July 1.

“I am delighted with this new governance, which marks a decisive step for the Group and for the Alliance. Luca de Meo is a great strategist and visionary of a rapidly changing automotive world. His expertise but also his passion for cars make him a real asset for the Group," said Senard.

He added that Delbos is committed and determined to provide all her services to Renault and with a new duo at the helm of the company, they will form a high-quality, multi-talented team that's equal to Renault's ambitions.

de Meo was born in Milan, Italy in 1967 and later graduated in business administration at Luigi Bocconi Commercial University - also in Milan.

The new CEO was Luca began his career at Renault before joining Toyota Europe, then the Fiat Group where he managed the Lancia, Fiat and Alfa Romeo brands and has garnered more than 20 years of experience in the automotive sector.

Luca de Meo joined the Volkswagen Group in 2009 as marketing director, both for passenger cars of the Volkswagen brand and for the Volkswagen Group. He then held the position of member of the Board of Directors in charge of sales and marketing at Audi AG in 2012.

He was chairman of the executive committee of Seat from Nov 1, 2015 until January 2020 and was also a member of the Supervisory Boards at Ducati and Lamborghini, as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Volkswagen Group in Italy.

As for Clotilde Delbos, the 57-year-old who graduated from EM Lyon, began her career in California before moving to Price Waterhouse in Paris and then on to the Pechiney Group in 1992 where she held various positions before becoming Division Financial Director.

After Pechiney’s acquisition by Alcan, Delbos served as Vice President & Business Finance Director of the Engineered Products Division from 2005 up until it was sold in 2011.

Delbos then joined Groupe Renault in 2012 as Group Controller and on May 1, 2014, she was appointed Alliance Global Director, Control.

It was on April 25, 2016, that she was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Groupe Renault as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors of RCI Banque and is also a member of the Groupe Renault Executive Committee.

On October 11, 2019, she was appointed CEO of Renault for an interim period and remains Chief Financial Officer of Groupe Renault and Chairman of the Board of Directors of RCI Banque.


Hyundai open call to startups

                SEOUL: Hyundai Motor Group announces its 2020 ZER01NE Accelerator, an open innovation platform that facilitates collaboration among startups and Hyundai’s internal teams on various projects.

This program discovers valued startups and develops strategic usage possibilities of their innovative technologies.

A total of 50 ZER01NE Accelerator projects have been developed by various teams within the Group under 10 themes, including data, user experience, human machine interface, mobility, charging, robotics, smart factory, logistics, healthcare and materials.

Applying startups can apply for only one among these projects. Teams responsible for technology developments will be directly involved in reviewing and recruiting startups for collaboration.

Selected startups will be provided with a budget for project development. The Group will also review potential equity investment into startups among those selected.

Since ZER01NE Accelerator’s introduction in 2018, eight affiliates of the Group and 54 startups have participated in the program, resulting in 48 collaborative projects and 35 equity investments to startups.


BMW tweaking M3, M4 Coupe/Convertible to meet emissions rules

                MUNICH: BMW wants prospective buyers of its M3, M4 Coupe/Converible to know that the carbon fibre reinforced plastic driveshaft in the cars would be replaced by an M specific high-performance driveshaft made of steel from November.

The move is aimed at meeting future statutory emissions requirements, it said. Combined fuel consumption figures for the M3, M4 Coupe/Converible are 9.5 – 8.3 l/100 km, while CO2 emissions is rated at 218 –194 g/km.

 The M3 family.

The driveshaft change would be followed by the introduction of a petrol particulate filter (PPF) into the existing installation space in these models in major markets. This measure does not apply to the M4 CS and M4 GTS special-edition models.

BMW claimed the newly developed steel driveshaft has been designed to ensure exceptional performance and handling qualities of the M3/M4 sports cars.

Now in their fifth generation, customer deliveries of the current generation of models have now topped 68,000.