Tesla's new No. 2 won Musk over by working around the clock

Zhu speaking at a delivery ceremony for China-made Model 3 vehicles in the Shanghai Gigafactory in December 2019. — Reuters
NEW YORK: In a Twitter photo celebrating Tesla Inc. producing 3,000 Model Ys a week at its Texas factory last month, Zhu Xiaotong, who goes by Tom Zhu, stood smiling to the left of the large crowd in a hi-visibility vest and black cap imprinted with a white "T” for Tesla.

Zhu, who spearheaded the US carmaker’s Asia Pacific operations and oversaw Tesla’s factory in Shanghai become its most productive in the world, was brought over to Austin late last year to help run the company’s newest plant.

Although Tesla hasn’t made any formal announcement and has yet to name him as an executive officer, it’s understood Zhu is now overseeing global automotive production, sales and service, a level of responsibility arguably second only to chief executive officer Elon Musk.

So who is Zhu, whose role is all the more important in light of Musk’s preoccupation with Twitter Inc. and shareholder demands for more transparency about who’s next in line after Musk?

Born in China and also reportedly holding a New Zealand passport, Zhu joined Tesla in early 2014 to help build out its Supercharger network. Prior to that, he helped found an international engineering consultancy that offered services to Chinese contractors wanting to expand overseas.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree of commerce in information technology from Auckland University of Technology and later graduated from the MBA program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Zhu rose through Tesla’s ranks quickly, becoming manager of China operations by the end of his first year. Under his purview, Tesla’s Shanghai factory - the company’s first outside the US - materialized at breakneck speed, going from a muddy field to gleaming facility producing electric cars in under 12 months. Before mass production even started at the end of 2019, Zhu had been promoted to global vice president and president of Greater China.

In July of last year, he was elevated further to oversee all of Tesla Asia Pacific as the automaker expanded in Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore. Zhu’s China team also won praise from Musk for "burning the 3 a.m. oil” as they worked around the clock to keep the Shanghai factory operating during the city’s Covid lockdowns.

During what was an extraordinarily difficult last 12 months, the plant underwent upgrades to boost production capacity to 1 million EVs a year.

The more than 710,000 cars Tesla made in China last year was around 52% of the company’s worldwide output. Zhu’s work ethic was on full display during the lockdown - he stayed in the plant when movement restrictions were first introduced, sleeping in the factory with a handful of security staff who made sure the facility wasn’t breached.

He remained during the entire two months that Tesla ran a closed-loop production system with workers brought back to operate in a bubble environment that sealed them off from the outside world.

The few YouTube videos and local language media reports that Zhu appears in show him to be wholly committed to Tesla, even down to his attire - he’s almost always dressed in a Tesla-branded fleece. He’s lived in a two-bedroom, government-subsidized rental apartment about a 10-minute drive from the factory that costs less than 2,000 yuan (US$300) a month. Most of his family lives in Beijing, some 1,200km away.

In an interview with Chinese media last year, Zhu said he typically starts his work day around 6 a.m. to catch his North American colleagues before they log off for the evening.

He then travels to the factory, sometimes car pooling with other employees who live in the same complex. "It’s a great atmosphere,” Zhu said. "Say, you help me get my parcel, I get something for you. It’s a good way of working and living.”

Once at the factory, Zhu said he spends time walking the production lines of the various workshops and talking with engineers to solve technical issues.

"In our company, most of the things you do it with your hands on it, get your hands dirty,” he said, explaining why he mostly wears hi-vis jackets and a safety helmet. In the nearby office, Zhu shared an open space at standing desks with many others, including production director Song Gang. He was often spotted there well beyond midnight.

Several current and former Tesla China employees describe Zhu as pragmatic and responsive, noting that he tends to reply to emails and messages promptly and at all hours of the day. In an interview with Duke’s Fuqua School, Zhu described himself as "tenacious.”

He recounts the story of how, after the Shanghai factory’s construction, an intense storm and water-drainage problem threatened to collapse a section of the roof. Zhu and around 30 other staff, from new hires to senior employees, grabbed plastic buckets and went up on the roof in the driving rain to "safeguard our property.”

"The company’s culture is not to waste resources and time on those fancy and nonsense things,” Zhu said in a recent and rare video interview with PCauto, a local car-review website.

"Focus your main energy and resources into what really matters. We don’t have a huge administrative organization here to service the management. Book tickets by yourself, grab your food by yourself. Everybody is very used to it, this is an expression of true equality, right?”

Zhu has eschewed the limelight, hurrying off from public appearances at the Shanghai factory, such as the handoff of keys to initial Model 3 owners in December 2019.

He does, however, communicate frequently with Musk, who made his last visit to China in 2019, prior to Covid.

During an earnings call in April of that year, Musk said progress at the Shanghai factory was "testament to the outstanding execution of our team on the ground there. I get daily emails with a dozen pictures from one day to the next from Tom Zhu, who leads the Gigafactory program.”

And in true egalitarian fashion, Zhu has said everyone can contact the big man at the top, too.

"Of course, in China it’s not only me who can communicate with Elon,” Zhu said in the recent interview. "Actually all of our employees, you can randomly ask any in this factory, how to contact Elon. They all know Elon’s email and can directly reply to him.”


Lotus Emira V6 First Edition gets a shakedown

                LONDON: Lotus has released a new film of the Lotus Emira in action, showing the V6 First Edition being put through its paces by Gavan Kershaw on the iconic Hethel test track.

The Lotus Cars director for attributes & product integrity leads the dynamic development of every Lotus and is part of the team which engineers in the thrill of driving.

Amid some sideways action, he explains the Emira’s outstanding performance on both the track and the road, adding: “With the 3.5-litre V6 configuration and the supercharger, you start an acceleration from as low as 1,500rpm and the car just pulls and pulls and pulls, getting stronger and stronger as the revs increase. This is what a real sports car feels like.”

Kershaw also expands on the car’s intuitive driving performance, plus the four different driving modes – Tour, for maximum stability and control; Sport, for increased body slip and throttle response; Race, with even greater motorsport-derived dynamics and a revised instrument cluster; and Fully Off, where the stability control is completely disengaged.

“The whole package is tuned to give you maximum reward and confidence."


UD Trucks launches Croner medium-duty truck range

                SERDANG: UD Trucks, owned by Swedish truck giant Volvo Group and distributed solely by Tan Chong Industrial Equipment (TCIE), launched its latest medium-duty Croner truck at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang today.

The company touts its Croner (named after the god of time in Greek mythology) medium-duty truck range to be one that's specifically made for growth markets like Malaysia with versatility, uptime, safety, reliability and robustness.

The Croner uses the new GHE engine series mated to a new transmission and a newly designed aerodynamic cab. A n automatic transmission is also available for all variants.

It comes in two gross vehicle weight models starting with the smaller 12-tonne LKE and the the larger 18-tonne PKE, and their various wheelbase variants is able offer a wide range of configurations to suit specific demands of various industries.

As standard, a full airbrake system, including anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, and S-cam drum brakes as well as front underrun protection is available in all variants.

The air suspension on the PKE models is available as an added option to help protect a client's cargo when traversing over rougher terrain.

While rolling 19.5-inch steel wheels with 265/70, the 12-tonne LKE with a 5,500mm wheelbase uses a 190-litre fuel tank to feed the Euro3 5,132cc GH5E 210 EC01 turbodiesel engine.

Power is rated at 210hp at 2,200rpm and 825Nm of torque from 1,200 to 1,600rpm, while being mated to a UDT ST1006 six-speed manual synchronized direct drive gearbox with cable gear shift linkage remote control.

The PKE model range, however, gets a larger Euro3 7,698cc GH8E 250 EC01 turbodiesel engine , producing 250hp at 2,200rpm and 950Nm of torque from 1,100 to 1,700rpm, while rolling on 22.5-inch steel discs with 295/80 tyres.

“Safety is a very important aspect to UD Trucks, and as such, the all-new Croner is equipped with superior braking and handling features to keep drivers and fleets in prime condition. Designed with good level of passive safety in the event of an accident, the reinforced cabin also ensures safety and extra durability to the driver even under rough road conditions,” said UD Trucks product management vice president Toshihiko Odawara.

Also, customers who purchase UD Trucks will also be supported by UD Extra Mile Support services which includes UD Genuine Service and Parts, UD Driver Training and UD Trust Services Agreement for customers.

Furthermore, the Croner will also come factory-fitted with the company’s own remote monitoring system - UD Telematics, which keeps customers updated on their fleet in real-time format in terms of location, fuel reports, service reminders, remote diagnostics and quick break-down assistance.

UD Trucks Croner LKE42R

UD Trucks Croner PKE42R


Renault launches Talisman, replacing laggard Laguna

PARIS: French carmaker Renault today launched its new Talisman model, replacing the Laguna at the top of its private passenger vehicle range in the hope it will do better against the German competition.

Aimed at a sector long dominated by German offerings from BMW and Mercedes, the Talisman will be marketed in France from the end of this year, and then rolled out in the rest of Europe, north Africa and Turkey.

"The market for these big road cars is about a million a year in Europe. There is no reason for Renault to be absent from the segment," a spokesman said at the launch in Chantilly, near Paris.

Early models of the Laguna, launched in 1994, suffered from reliability problems, and the trade press criticised a decision to keep the name when the Laguna III hit the market in 2007.

The Laguna III has sold only 345,000 units since launch, including 16,000 last year. The first and second Laguna versions sold 1.4 and 1.1 million respectively.

Renault has focused on design, equipment and comfort to win market share for the Talisman, which is also slightly bigger than its predecessor.

The Talisman will be offered in two petrol units and three diesel powerplants, being efficient, high-performance small-displacement engines.

Its range of engine options includes the Energy TCe 200 petrol unit and the Energy dCi 160 and Energy dCi 130 diesels that can also be specified for the new Espace. Renault said these engines perform even better in the Talisman, which is some 200kg lighter than its large crossover, while the new saloon’s Cd is a low 0.27.

These downsized powerplants, boasting latest-generation technologies such as direct petrol injection and steel pistons, all bear the “Energy” label through the fact that they incorporate either one or two turbochargers, Stop&Start technology and energy recovery under braking.

All of the Talisman’s diesel engines will be fitted with NOx Traps and a particulate filter. Their LNT (Lean NOx Trap) technology offers the advantage of being maintenance-free.

Depending on variant, transmission choices are a seven-speed dual-clutch EDC automatic transmission, a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed dual-clutch EDC automatic transmission.

The Talisman, a name taken from an existing Renault car marketed in China, will appear at the Frankfurt auto show in September.


Solar mod turns Ford F-150 Lightning EV into a backup home generator

                CHICAGO: Ford began deliveries of its F-150 Lightning last month, and the electric version of the truck features a new option with a lot more utility than all-weather floor mats.

For about US$5,000 (around RM23,000), not including installation costs, you can add a bidirectional charging system that turns the EV pickup into a backup generator capable of powering your home for three days.

Sunrun, the nation’s largest residential solar power company, developed the groundbreaking charging system with Ford, tapping into the Lightning’s massive battery to keep the lights on during an electrical outage, a technology that could have widespread application for the growing EV industry.

California-based Sunrun is also looking to leverage its charging system to spur adoption of another technology: rooftop solar power.

“There’s a real connect between folks that drive EVs and want to charge their EVs with clean power,” said Sunrun spokesman Wyatt Semanek. “We’re hoping to get some synergies there.”

Electric vehicles and residential solar power are niche segments in the auto and energy industries, but both are gaining traction in Illinois, boosted by federal and state incentives to convert to renewable energy sources in the coming years. Combining the two could put Sunrun’s massive suburban Chicago warehouses at the centre of the state’s expanding clean energy initiatives.

Illinois has become a hotbed for large-scale solar projects in recent years, with renewable energy developers staking out turf on the rural fringes of the Chicago area to build dozens of solar farms to feed the electric grids of Commonwealth Edison and other utilities.

The state’s solar energy boom is driven by legislation requiring Illinois utilities to get 40% of their power from renewable sources such as solar and wind by 2030, essentially doubling the projected renewable energy used this year, according to the Illinois Power Agency.

Residential solar is a significant focus of the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, a renewable energy bill signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in September. The bill provides US$610 million per year for an Adjustable Block Program that pays residential, commercial and community solar system owners for generating renewable energy fed into the grids of ComEd, Ameren and other utilities.

ComEd pays the solar owners upfront for 15 years of projected renewable energy credits. All ComEd customers fund the program through the Renewable Portfolio Standard line item on their bills.

Sunrun entered the Illinois market in 2017, following the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act, which set an initial goal for Illinois utilities to get 25% of their retail power from renewable sources by 2025. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act raised the renewable energy target and increased the incentives paid for residential solar power generation.

“What the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act did on the solar side of things was create a stable funding source to keeping the solar industry growing in Illinois,” said Amy Heart, vice president of public policy at Sunrun.

Sunrun has grown to more than 500 employees working out of warehouse facilities in Des Plaines and Bolingbrook, Illinois. The company has completed more than 17,000 Illinois residential solar installations over the past five years, making it the state’s largest supplier of residential solar power.

An average Sunrun residential solar installation in the Chicago area is for a 7-kilowatt system costing about US$21,000 — before incentives, Heart said. Sunrun also leases systems, but the state and federal incentives are only for outright purchase.

The state currently pays about US$68 per renewable energy credit, which for a 7kW system would generate about US$612 per year, according to Scott Vogt, vice president of strategy and energy policy at ComEd. Homeowners that install new systems can expect an upfront check for about US$9,200 from ComEd for the projected 15 years of solar energy credits.

The solar system owner would also be entitled to a 26% federal investment tax credit on the purchase, which at US$21,000 would mean another US$5,460 in savings.

The federal and state incentives reduce the cost of the US$21,000 rooftop solar installation to about US$6,300. At that price, homeowners would get the solar system investment back in five to seven years, including net metering credits for excess energy produced and purchased by the utility, Vogt said.

After the investment is recovered, the typical residential solar owner can expect to save about US$700 per year in energy costs, Vogt said.

The state incentives have already made a big difference for the growth of residential solar in Illinois. At the end of 2016, ComEd had 722 residential solar customers, Vogt said. That number has grown to 27,000 customers as of May.

While the solar growth rate is robust, it still represents a fraction of the more than 4 million ComEd customers in northern Illinois.

The Illinois Power Agency, which oversees the Renewable Portfolio Standard, projects residential solar power to double in the state over the next two years.

David Kolata, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, a nonprofit watchdog group, said rooftop solar has been generating increased interest among consumers as prices drop and incentives grow. At the same time, Kolata said there are limits to its widespread adoption.

“Solar can’t be put on every residential home for a variety of reasons,” Kolata said. “The roof may not be right, you may not have control over your roof if you live in multifamily housing, or you may not have enough exposure to the sun.”

ComEd has an online solar calculator to determine if your home would benefit from installing solar panels.

Brutto Thomas, 64, an automotive service manager, leased a solar rooftop system in 2018 for his three-bedroom Aurora, Illinois, home. Before installing solar, his electric bill ran about US$250 per month during the summer, Thomas said.

Last month, his ComEd bill was about US$13, with another US$55 going to Sunrun for the system lease.

“And I crank the AC,” said Thomas, 64. “The savings are unbelievable.”

Thomas said 12 solar panels are installed on the roof facing his backyard. They catch enough sunlight that even during the long, dark Midwestern winter, his combined ComEd and Sunrun bills are roughly the same as his pre-solar electric bills.

William Freeman installed a leased rooftop solar system on his four-bedroom University Park, Illinois, home last summer. His ComEd bill and Sunrun lease totaled about US$100 in June, down about US$60 from the same month last year — before adding solar.

The 60-year-old retiree, who has lived in his house for 16 years, said the solar panels are installed on the front and side roof.

“We did it because with the air conditioner running in the summertime, the bills were starting to get a little high,” Freeman said. “With the panels up there, it kind of lowered the bills and we were just looking to save here and there, because we’re both retired.”

Kolata said generating savings through a leased solar system can be “complicated” by the financial terms. In addition, solar lessees miss out on thousands of dollars in federal and state incentives that offer a relatively quick return on investment for the buyer.

Solar lease customers “need to read the fine print” to make sure the energy savings will be greater than the financing costs, Kolata said.

“We’re not saying that leasing is always a bad choice,” Kolata said. “I think at the end of the day, if you can buy a system, especially given all the incentives out there, you’re going to be better off.”

For Ford F-150 Lightning owners, pairing rooftop solar with the Sunrun EV charging system creates an added off-the-grid benefit.

Under normal circumstances, the sun powers the home, which charges the EV. But when the power is out, the F-150 Lightning extended-range battery system can store 131 kilowatt-hours of energy — enough juice to power a home for three days.

If there’s enough sun, the Lightning can keep the lights on a lot longer than that, Semanek said.

“Folks essentially create a microgrid of their own homes, to where they’re self-sufficient powering (them) with rooftop solar during the day,” Semanek said. “Then at nighttime, when the sun goes down, they’re able to pull from those EV battery packs to run their homes.”

Kolata expects the backup power capabilities of Sunrun/Ford bidirectional charger to spur “all EV manufacturers to provide similar functionality.”

Ford is out in front of the potentially transformational energy solution. Several companies are developing aftermarket systems and other EV manufacturers are exploring the technology, but even market leader Tesla, which also sells solar roofing and battery backup systems for the home, doesn’t yet offer bidirectional charging.

While EV manufacturing is gearing up, consumer adoption has a long way to go to hit Pritzker’s goal of 1 million EVs by 2030. There are currently 34,706 electric vehicles registered in Illinois, or less than 1% of the state’s 10.3 million vehicles, according to Dave Druker, a spokesman for the Illinois secretary of state’s office.

The F-150 Lightning is being heralded as a potential game changer for the adoption of electric vehicles, packaging the technology into a utilitarian truck that can haul cargo and blow the doors off of a sports car. Ford launched production in April at the Rouge EV center in Dearborn, Michigan, and expects to fulfill 200,000 preorders by mid-2023.

The Lightning’s US$40,000 starting price is offset by a US$7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles, and a US$4,000 Illinois rebate that began July 1 through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.

The pairing of solar and EV charging technology may prove to be a game changer as well.

“We’re moving into a very interesting way that we are thinking about generating power and consuming it,” Semanek said. “And I think auto manufacturers are seeing that and they’re definitely wanting to jump into that headfirst.” — tca/dpa


Errant motorists won't learn, so PJ council cracks down again

                PETALING JAYA: The authorities have come down hard on drivers who park their vehicles illegally in the Section 16 business centre here.

A total of eight vehicles parked outside Phileo Damansara 1 and 2 as well as the ramp were towed away while seven others had their tyres clamped in an enforcement operation yesterday morning by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

It was led by the council’s enforcement assistant deputy director Mohd Nadzli Hussein who said the council had towed some 117 vehicles here since January.

A total of 578 compound notices were issued during the same period.

In 2014, some 69 vehicles were towed and 114 were issued compound notices.

The operation came after StarMetro highlighted the congestion outside the business centre and along the non-toll road of Jalan 16/11 during rush hours.

Mohd Nadzli called on drivers to park their vehicles at legal parking spots and not obstruct traffic flow.

“We will tow most of the vehicles and if there are too many, we will lock the vehicle tyres and issue summonses,” he said.

He said the council would leave a notice indicating the offence committed as well as a contact number for the owners to call within four hours.

“We would unlock the tyres after the offender pays the RM100 fine.

Once the car tyres were clamped, the council officers would leave a notice indicating the offence and a contact number for the owners to call. The clamp will only be unlocked upon payment of a RM100 fine.

“However, if the owner does not call us within four hours, we will tow the vehicle,” he said, adding the towed cars were taken to the council store located in Damansara Perdana.

To claim the vehicle, the owner has to pay RM300 and produce the vehicle ownership documents.

“The store is officially open from 9am to 6pm.

“After 24 hours, a RM50 storage fee will be charged for each day the vehicle goes unclaimed,” he said.

The council also clamped 10 vehicles and issued 20 compound notices at Jalan SS20/10 near the Damansara Specialist Centre.


No squeaks, no streaks: What to know before buying windscreen wipers

                BERLIN: Your windscreen wipers may be working overtime this season - so if you're due to replace them, here's a few things you might want to bear in mind.

You could install new ones yourself, in which case you can find new windscreen wipers at specialist shops or online.

Choose carefully, though, says technical inspector Achmed Leser who works for Germany's inspection giant Tuev. Windscreen wiper blades are not universally exchangeable so won't necessarily fit each and every car.

"Many new vehicles nowadays have blades that are a different length on the driver side and the passenger side," says Leser. Windscreen wipers also have different systems to attach them.

So before shopping, dig out a few crucial details to make sure you get the right windscreen wipers, he says. "You need vehicle information such as the manufacturer, model and the year of manufacture - that's really important," says Leser.

You'll find the right ones for your particular car in specialist shops or if you look at special portals for spare parts online.

Some portals allow you to enter the vehicle identification number to search - you can find that on your vehicle registration document.

"Windscreen wipers are among the parts of the car that get the most wear and tear," says Leser. One sign they need to be replaced is if they're leaving streaky marks on your windscreen - as that means the rubber part has become worn or porous.

You definitely need new ones if you cannot see clearly through the windscreen anymore. Sound, too, can be a key. "You can often tell if your wipers are worn if they squeak or rumble," says Leser.

No huge amount of technical skill is needed once it comes to actually exchanging them, and it's something users can do themselves.

But if you'd rather not or don't feel like doing all the research to find the right model, it might be best to head to a specialist workshop.


Check out new prices for Kia, Peugeot, Citroën and DS

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Naza Automotive Group distributes Kia, Peugeot, Citroën, and DS.

Here are their revised prices.


China's Geely invests US$326mil to build satellites for autonomous cars

                BEIJING: China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group said today it was investing 2.27 billion yuan (RM1.37bil) in a new satellite manufacturing plant, where it plans to build low-orbit satellites to provide more accurate data for self-driving cars.

Geely, one of China's most internationally-known companies due to its investments in Daimler, Volvo and Proton, is building the facilities in Taizhou, where it has car plants. It aims to produce 500 satellites a year by around 2025, with around 300 highly-skilled staff, it said in a statement.

Geely's technology development arm, Geely Technology Group, launched Geespace to research, launch, and operate low-orbit satellites in 2018.

Geespace will begin the launch of its commercial low-orbit satellite network by the end of this year, Geely said.

Geely said low-orbit satellites would offer high speed Internet connectivity, precise navigation, and cloud computing capabilities to cars with autonomous driving technology.

Geely, which sold 2.18 million cars last year, is among global automakers from Tesla to Toyota to pursue autonomous driving technologies.

It is building low-orbit satellites to meet demand for high-speed connectivity capabilities that can deliver fast software updates. From around 2025, Geely's cars will have more functions to connect to the satellites.


Bentley EXP 100 GT hybrid car concept to break cover on July 10

                LONDON: Bentley Motors will reveal its take on the future of grand touring through the EXP 100 GT hybrid car concept on July 10 – the company’s official 100th birthday.

Bentley released a teaser image and video today, describing the car as "a showcase of sustainability and innovation." Its designers would feature an array of luxurious materials in the car that takes it to another level of craftmanship.

The EXP 100 GT would be self-driving but also offers the option for the driver to take over. According to media sources, the EXP 100 GT is expected to come with a hydrogen-hybrid powertrain. Offering the "wow" factor is a transparent OLED screen integrated into the door panel for users to gain access to various car functions.

A full electric Bentley is timed to arrive in 2024.

Bentley has set up a microsite www.ExtraordinaryJourneys.Bentley for the centenary event.

The global debut of the EXP 100 GT would also be livestreamed at www.bentleymedia.com and Twitter @BentleyComms from 16:00 British Summer Time on July 10.


Lekas Highway to shut temporarily on Oct 15 for night cycling race

                KUALA LUMPUR: The Kajang-Seremban Highway (Lekas) will be closed temporarily to all vehicles from 5pm on Oct 15 until 4am the next day, in conjunction with the annual night cycling race - the seventh edition of the RHB Lekas Highway Ride 2022 - involving 5,618 participants.

Lekas chief executive officer Wan Salwani Wan Yusoff said the road closure will start from Kajang Selatan Interchange to the Paroi Junction with 19 other junctions being closed for the event to ensure a smooth and safe ride for participants.

She said Lekas had identified several alternative routes during the closure to facilitate the mobility of motorists on the said days.

“Once the road closure takes place, northbound and southbound road users, such as from Kuala Lumpur, Cheras, Kajang, Seremban, Senawang and Kuala Pilah are advised to use the Federal Route 1 or PLUS Highway to continue their journey,” she said in a statement today.


New Renault showroom in Seremban

                PETALING JAYA: TC Euro Cars, the franchise holder for Renault cars in Malaysia, announced the official opening of a new Renault dealer showroom in Seremban.

Strategically located along Jalan Era Square 2, Era Square, the new 1S centre builds on TC Euro Cars’ strategic expansion plan to strengthen the Renault brand presence in the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

“This new dealer showroom in Seremban will allow us to expand our reach and interact with more customers as we continue to offer more desirable and fuel-efficient Renault cars with ingenious innovations which enable customers to live life to the fullest,” said TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, Kuan Kim Luen.

Operated by AJ Premium Motors, the new Renault 1S centre will display and retail the recently launched Renault Captur urban crossover and the sporty Clio GT Line hot hatch.

To ensure that customers in this region receive the very best aftersales and service experience, TC Euro Cars will utilise the strength of Tan Chong Group’s aftersales network.

Customers in the region can service their Renault cars at the Tan Chong (or Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis) service centre located along Jalan Lombong Emas 6 in the Seremban Light Industrial Park, which is situated about five kilometers away from the new showroom.

The new Renault showroom is open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

Operating hours for the Tan Chong service centre is 8.30am to 5pm from Monday to Sunday.

To date, Renault has 15 showrooms all over Peninsular Malaysia and 14 service centres across Peninsular and East Malaysia.


PLUS Malaysia travel time advisory for GE15

                PETALING JAYA: PLUS Malaysia Bhd is aiming for a more comfortable journey for Malaysians driving back to their hometowns to vote in the 15th General Election on Nov 19.

The company is re-issuing its Travel Time Advisory (TTA) and beefing up its highway operations to accommodate the 1.8 million to 1.9 million daily vehicles on its highways between Nov 17 and 21.

PLUS chief operating officer Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi said those travelling out of Klang Valley to Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak (North) and Johor from Nov 16 and 18 are encouraged to enter the highway before 10am.

"Highway users heading towards other states are advised to enter the highway between 1pm and 4pm," he said.

For inbound journey to Klang Valley from Nov 20 to 21, motorists from Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak (North), Johor and other states are advised to enter the highway before 10am.

PLUS will also suspend all highway maintenance, upgrading and construction works that require lane closure from Nov 17 to 21 except for emergency works such as accident clearance and critical or emergency repair work.

The company will also have 200 PLUSRonda teams on 24/7 patrol, 1,500 personnel at toll plazas and 30 Traffic Monitoring Centre Personnel to assist road users.

Cranes and tow trucks will also be stationed at strategic locations to help clear obstructions.


Continental to axe jobs, cut costs in shift to e-cars

                FRANKFURT: Continental AG plans to eliminate jobs and is considering strategic options including the sale of some combustion-engine businesses as the disruptive industry shift to battery-powered vehicles picks up speed.

The company is holding talks with labor representatives about adjusting to a "very challenging” market environment, CEO Elmar Degenhart said Wednesday.

The world’s second-biggest auto parts supplier only sees "selective” future opportunities for some components used in combustion engines, while demand for electric vehicle parts is growing faster than expected.

Continental last month cut its full-year financial outlook, joining a host of of carmaking companies in lowering annual targets due to softening demand in key regions including China and Europe.

Overhauling operations

Continental’s latest move underscores the urgency for manufacturers to overhaul operations to compete in a rapidly changing industry.

Stricter emission regulations in China and Europe are forcing vehicle manufacturers to sell more electric cars in coming years, at a time of weakening global demand after a decade of almost constant growth.

While Continental has sufficient scale and a strong presence in the growing electronics components business, many smaller peers specialized in traditional combustion-engine technology are getting squeezed.

Signals for suppliers from major auto manufacturers point to a persistent market weakness. Volkswagen AG reduced production plans for this year by about 450,000 cars to adapt to cooling demand and avoid the build up of inventory. BMW AG also said it would align production plans with demand.

IPO plans

Continental continues to work toward a potential initial public offering of its powertrain unit Vitesco Technologies in 2020, chief financial officer Wolfgang Schaefer said in a telephone interview. A final decision will depend on market conditions.

The company had postponed the project after initially planning to complete preparations in the second half of this year.

Given the electric-car shift, Continental won’t grow its hydraulic components business any further. The unit makes injectors and pumps for gasoline and diesel engines. Existing orders will be fulfilled, but new orders will "play an increasingly marginal role,” the company said.

Continental is also reviewing operations that make components for exhaust-gas treatment and fuel-supply systems.

Schaefer said the plans will potentially affect jobs globally, but declined to comment on the magnitude and restructuring charges as talks with unions aren’t finalised.

Continental employs about 244,000 people in 60 countries across the globe. It also scrapped potential plans to start making solid-state battery cells. German rival Robert Bosch GmbH likewise abandoned such plans as too risky.


Grand prize winner of Caltex: Fill, Swipe & Win announced

                PETALING JAYA: Hairunazuan Nordin from Taman Pagoh Jaya, Johor was the Grand Prize winner of the 'Caltex: Fill, Swipe & Win' campaign.

Hairunazuan, an AmBank credit cardholder since 2014 was presented with the mock cheque for RM50,000 at the prize presentation ceremony held today at the Caltex Petrol Station in Batu 6, Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

Present at the prize giving ceremony were Anthony Chin, Deputy Managing Director, Retail Banking, AmBank (M) Berhad, Syed Anuar Syed Ali, Head, Group Corporate Communications & Marketing, AmBank Group, Chang Swee Wah, Retail District Manager, Central & South, Chevron Malaysia Limited and Damien Ong, Lead Card Marketing & Sales Automation, Chevron Malaysia Limited.

The 'Caltex: Fill, Swipe & Win' campaign was a joint marketing collaboration with Caltex to reward all existing and new AmBank credit and debit cardholders.

To participate in the campaign, cardholders only had to register via a one-time SMS and fuel up with a minimum spend of RM50 at any of the 420 Caltex stations with their AmBank Credit or Debit cards. Cardholders with cumulative monthly spending of RM200 and RM400 were also awarded with additional 25 and 50 entries respectively.

Apart from the Daily Cash Back, there was a total of RM70,000 worth of cash prizes comprising the Grand Prize of RM50,000 and four monthly cash prizes of RM5,000 each that were given away.

Jade Lee, Managing Director, Retail Banking, AmBank (M) Berhad said, “The campaign was launched to provide more rewards to our cardholders in the form of cashback on their daily petrol use at Caltex. We at AmBank are consistently creating new and innovative products and services, bearing in mind the ever changing demands and needs of our customers. We believe in rewarding our customers and we are delighted to share this joyous occasion with Encik Hairunazuan. Our congratulations to him and a big thank you to all our customers for their overwhelming response during the 'Caltex: Fill, Swipe & Win' campaign.”

“The Caltex Star is our symbol of quality, value and service, and it is a constant reminder of our commitment to our customers to make their journeys more enjoyable. We are constantly on the lookout for new partnerships to deliver exciting campaigns to suit the evolving needs of our customers, and with that, we are honoured to have partnered with AmBank for the 'Caltex: Fill, Swipe & Win' campaign.

"This is one of many successful campaigns we have launched this year,” said Shahid Ahmed, Country Chairman, Chevron Malaysia.

“I had a pleasant shock and am also happy at the same time, to win the Grand Prize of RM50,000. As a family, we will use our winnings the best we can and also save with AmBank for our children’s future needs. Moving forward, we will continue to use our AmBank credit card for most of our transactions,” said the 35- year old Hairunazuan.

The Caltex: Fill, Swipe & Win' campaign commenced on June 1 and ended on Sept 30 2016. The campaign boosted year-on- year retail spending by 14% and garnered an increase of 35% AmBank card spend at Caltex stations.


Fire dies down on ship carrying luxury cars, with little left to burn

                LISBON: A fire which swept through a cargo ship carrying thousands of luxury cars and adrift off the coast of Portugal's Azores islands has lost its intensity, probably because there is little left to burn, a port official said.

The Felicity Ace, carrying around 4,000 vehicles including Porsches, Audis and Bentleys, some electric with lithium-ion batteries, caught fire in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean last Wednesday.

The 22 crew members on board were evacuated the same day.

"The fire has subsided in recent hours," João Mendes Cabeças, captain of the nearest port in the Azorean island of Faial, told Lusa news agency, saying there was probably little combustible material left to burn.

Cabeças said over the weekend lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicles were "keeping the fire alive", adding that specialist equipment was required to extinguish it. It was not clear whether the batteries sparked the fire.

He also said the fire was spreading closer to the ship's fuel tanks.

"Our concern has been with pollution since the ship has large amounts of fuel on board and car batteries but so far there are no hotbeds of pollution," Cabeças told Lusa.

As the fire's intensity ebbs, firefighting teams and technicians might be able to board the vessel to prepare towing it to either Europe or the Bahamas, Cabeças said.

Volkswagen, which owns the brands, did not confirm the total number of cars on board and said on Friday it was awaiting further information.

It did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the next steps to identify the cause of the fire.


Toyota says it has a better way to create HD maps for automated driving

                TOKYO: Toyota Research Institute-Advanced Development, Inc. (TRI-AD) says it has successfully completed proof of concepts (PoC) demonstrating high definition (HD) map building for surface roads with relative accuracy of less than 50cn, a good level that is required for automated driving.

TRI-AD is a Toyota offshoot that focuses on automated driving software development.

TRI-AD said the map building was based on information obtained from the cameras of ordinary vehicles as well as satellite imagery. The use of survey vehicles was unnecessary.

By using the results of these PoCs, it is expected that the delay in updating HD maps for automated driving can be shortened, areas of HD map coverage can be expanded quickly, and costs to build and maintain the HD maps can be substantially reduced.

"I'm very pleased to announce the results of the PoCs with Maxar and NTT DATA, and CARMERA, and also the results of our new demonstration partners, TomTom and HERE," said said Mandali Khalesi, Vice President of Automated Driving Strategy and Mapping at TRI-AD.

"We got a step closer to a future where automated driving becomes a safer and more accessible technology for all. We will continue to cooperate with partners as we further refine our accuracy."


10th-gen Honda Civic arrives, priced from RM113,800 - LAUNCH VIDEO

KUALA LUMPUR: The 10th generation Honda Civic has finally landed in Malaysia and is available in three versions with a level of packaging and pricing that are designed to keep it on the minds of the car-buying public.

The 1.8 S (naturally aspirated), 1.5 TC (turbocharged) and 1.5 TC-P (turbocharged) are priced at RM113,800, RM127,800 and RM135,800 respectively (on-the-road prices inclusive of GST and insurance). Both powertrains are linked to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) for a smooth driving experience and fuel efficiency. The model is locally assembled at Honda Malaysia's plant in Malacca.

With a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, there's also five colour choices namely White Orchid Pearl (add RM300), Crystal Black, Lunar Silver, Dark Ruby Red and Modern Steel.

Honda said the line-up is expected to meet individual preferences of young families to working adults and professionals.

The new Civic has gotten larger than its predecessor, with a 20% larger bootspace at 519 litres as well as an extra 30mm to its wheelbase at 2,700mm, while being 4,630mm-long (+105mm), 1,800mm-wide (+45mm) and 1,415mm-tall (-20mm).

The 1.8-litre variant rolls on 16-inch wheels with 215/55 series tyres, with the single over-head cam churning out 141PS at 6,500rpm and 174Nm of torque at 6,000rpm - allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100kph in 10.4 seconds, while combined fuel economy is rated at 6.3 litres per 100km.

1.5-litre turbo1.8-litre naturally aspirated

As for the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with dual valve timing control and an electric waste gate, it produces 173PS at 5,500rpm and 220Nm of torque from 1,700 to 5,500rpm, while rolling on larger 17-inch wheels with 215/50 series tyres. It's 0-100kph time stands at 8.2 seconds, while combined fuel economy comes in at 5.8 litres per 100km.

The turbocharged variants have a smart monitoring system that promises peace of mind in maintaining the efficiency of the engine performance. This feature will indicate the timing of oil change and notify customers with an indication lamp on the speedometer on their service status.

Everything about the Civic is new from its chassis, aerodynamic efficiency, styling, lightings and even cabin materials.

In achieving “Superior Comfort”, the challenge for Honda engineers was to combine sleek and aerodynamic exterior design with D-segment level of spaciousness and comfort. With Honda’s vehicle packaging expertise and Civic’s longer wheelbase and wider body, the new Civic is able to deliver best in class package. High quality and soft padding finishing are applied generously in keeping with the cool personality and premium character of the Civic.

To achieve cabin quietness and further enhance ride quality, the Civic interior package is fitted with light-weight sound proofing system. This includes underbody covering and high noise isolation door system. Overall, Honda has managed to reduce the Noise, Vibration and Harshness to achieve all road quietness which set the Civic a class above the rest.

The Civic offers “Advanced Interface” via its 7” Advanced Display Audio, which has been completely redesigned to be the most convenient and connected Civic ever. Some of these features which are also Civics’ first include: Remote Engine Start; Walk Away Auto Lock; Electric Parking Brake; and Auto Brake Hold. Standard across the variants is a rear-view camera, rear air-cond vents, 4-corner reverse sensors, auto headligths, LED daytime running lights, cruise control and Smart Entry with Push Start Button.

Safety is also emphasised across the three variants as they are all equipped with six airbags (Dual Front Airbags, Side Curtain Airbags, and Side Airbags), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA),   Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Hill Start Assist (HSA),  Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) and  ISOFIX.

The growth of the B-segment and the popularity of SUVs that have seen lowered prices in recent years have come at the expense of the C-segment, which has declined 19%.

The Civic has sold over 80,000 units since its introduction in 2001.

"We are confident that the new Civic will not only live up to its name but also be the game changer and up the ante in the C-segment with its stylish design, new powertrain and class leading advance features," said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer  Katsuto Hayashi in his first address to the media.

Touting the Civic as offering "D-segment value at C-segment pricing", Hayashi said he was confident of achieving the monthly sales target of 1,200 units despite the dampened consumer sentiments this year.

To a question, Hayashi said Honda Malaysia has no plans to sell a hybrid variant of Civic even though the model has received EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) certification.

For bespoke options, Honda Malaysia is offering the Utility, Urban and Modulo packages priced at RM1,150, RM2,420 and RM4,650 respectively.

Honda Civic 1.5TC-P

Honda Civic 1.5TC-P with Modulo, Urban and Utility packages

Honda Civic 1.5TC1.5-litre turbo

Honda Civic 1.8S1.8-litre naturally aspirated


10 automakers sued in US over 'deadly' keyless ignitions

                LOS ANGELES: Ten of the world's biggest automakers were sued on Wednesday by US consumers who claim they concealed the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning in more than 5 million vehicles equipped with keyless ignitions, leading to 13 deaths.

According to the complaint filed in federal court here, carbon monoxide is emitted when drivers leave their vehicles running after taking their electronic key fobs with them, under the mistaken belief that the engines will shut off.

The 28 named plaintiffs said this can injure or have "deadly" results for people who inhale the colourless and odourless gas, including when vehicles are left in garages attached to homes. They also said the defect reduces their vehicles' resale values.

A keyless ignition lets a driver start a vehicle by pushing an on-off button, instead of inserting a key, once the vehicle senses the presence of a nearby electronic fob.

The defendants include BMW, including Mini; Daimler's Mercedes-Benz; Fiat Chrysler; Ford Motor Co; General Motors Co; and Honda , including Acura.

Also named as defendants were Hyundai, including Kia; Nissan , including Infiniti; Toyota, including Lexus; and Volkswagen, including Bentley.

The lawsuit is the latest seeking to hold the automotive industry liable for defects that could make driving unsafe, such as Takata airbags and ignition switches on GM vehicles.

The lawsuit claimed that the 10 automakers have long known about the risks of keyless ignitions, which have been available in the United States since at least 2003, yet deceived drivers by marketing their vehicles as safe.

The plaintiffs said the automakers could have averted the 13 deaths, and many more injuries, by installing an inexpensive feature to automatically turn off unattended engines, and that GM and Ford even took steps to patent a shut-off feature.

They said 27 complaints have been lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since 2009 over keyless ignitions.

"The automakers had actual knowledge of the dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning consequences of vehicles with keyless fobs that lack an automatic shut-off," the complaint said.

Unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning kills about 430 people a year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The lawsuit seeks class-action status and an injunction requiring automakers to install automatic shut-off features on all existing and future vehicles sold with keyless ignitions. It also seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Ford said it takes customer safety "very seriously," and said its keyless ignition system has proven "safe and reliable."

BMW, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota declined to comment. None of the other automakers had an immediate comment.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs declined to comment. A US Department of Transportation spokesman declined to comment on the NHTSA's behalf.

The lawsuit was filed in the same federal court here where Toyota has defended against claims that its vehicles accelerated unintentionally.

US District Judge James Selna in July 2013 approved a US$1.6 billion settlement to resolve claims that Toyotas lost value because of that defect. The ignition lawsuit was assigned to US District Judge Andre Birotte.


K.I.T.T. going once: World's favourite talking car up for auction

                LOS ANGELES: One of TV's most famous cars is going under the hammer.

David Hasselhoff, best known as the crime-fighting and beach-strutting star of 1980s TV shows "Knight Rider" and "Baywatch", is selling the former's best-known prop.

The AI-powered car known as K.I.T.T. from "Knight Rider" is one of dozens of items up for grabs in a sale of items owned by the the 68-year-old actor.

"Everything goes," Hasselhoff said in a video promoting the auction on his Twitter account, pointing to a room full of Baywatch paraphernalia and gold and platinum records.

Ahead of the end of bidding on Jan 23, "David's personal K.I.T.T. Knight Rider car" had already fetched US$750,000 in early bids.

The auctioneers initially expected the K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand) to fetch a sum between US$175,000 and US$300,000.

If the tricked-out Pontiac's final price is more than 25 per cent above the estimate, Hasselhoff will personally deliver the car to the new owner, according to the auction website.

The seller is giving little information about the car other than that it's "fully functional" - presumably without the turbo boost or built-in AI that can talk, drive and smell that features on the show.

But photos do show it features the same button-crammed cockpit seen in original episodes.

In addition to the cult car, the Live Auctioneers website is also offering a giant Hasselhoff statue, a pair of worn swimming trunks from the "Spongebob" film and numerous other props from "Baywatch".

If the car is too pricey, you can can also buy yourself dinner with the Hoff for upwards of US$8,500.


New Perodua SUV coming this year, says research house

                PETALING JAYA: Perodua is expected to introduce a new compact SUV this year, according to a Kenanga Research report.

This comes at the same time when Proton will roll out its first SUV based on the Geely Boyue later this year. Note that the Perodua SUV will not compete with the Proton SUV as they are in different segments.

The new Perodua SUV is likely to be based on the Daihatsu DN TREC concept, which CarSifu reported in Oct 2017 at the Tokyo Motor Show.

SUVs are hotsellers globally and it stands to reason that both national cars will want to have an SUV in their product line-up to tap into that demand. Malaysia is still a sedan market but with a fast growing SUV market.

 The Daihatsu DN TREC concept.At this point in time, there's really little competition for SUVs in the sub-RM100K band except for the Great Wall Motors Haval H1 and H2. The smaller H1 starts from RM62,000 and the bigger H2 is priced from RM87,000. Both are five-seaters. However, the Havals lack mass appeal in Malaysia, and the situation is ripe for Perodua and Proton to exploit.

Perodua is not new to the SUV market, having sold the Kembara (1998–2008) and Nautica (2008–2010), both of which are based on the Daihatsu Terios.

The expectations for a Perodua SUV launch in 2018 was made in the March 12 Kenanga Research report detailing UMW Holdings Bhd offer letter for MBM Resources Bhd, which has a substantial stake in Perodua. MBM Resources is also involved in the distribution and dealership of Daihatsu, Hino, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Volvo, as well as the manufacturing of automotive parts.

The Kenanga findings also pointed to the arrival of the Volvo XC40, a premium SUV, voted recently as the 2018 European Car of the Year. Other vehicles Kenanga Research believe will launch in Malaysia this year are the facelifted VW Golf, the VW Arteon, Mitsubishi Xpander (a Honda BR-V rival with seven seats), and Daihatsu Gran Max van.

It also announced what we already know - that local assembly of the Volvo XC60 will begin next month. With that comes a lower pricing for the midrange SUV.


Consumers looking forward with hopefulness, says Ford trend report

                DETROIT: Ford's annual global trends report shows that the year ahead is one brimming with a renewed optimism and one focused on responsibility, sustainability and individualism.

The "Looking Further With Ford" report surveys the opinions, thoughts and feelings of consumers in eight countries - the US, China, Germany, Australia, Brazil, India, the UK and Spain - for the insights that will shape not just automotive, but all future brand thinking.

Perhaps the most startling finding, considering that almost two thirds of adults believe that the world is worse than it was when they were younger, is its positivity. "In our four years of researching and compiling consumer trends, never have we seen optimism, resilience and self-reliance figure so prominently," said Sheryl Connelly, Ford global trend and futuring manager, of the results, published Monday.

Consumers around the world are looking to their work, families, or their communities for role models and inspiration and are using social media to promote the positive and banish the negative. Almost three quarters of adults said they're more likely to share feel-good news on social networks.

But technology is also taking its toll on peoples' lives. Respondents feel that keeping on top of their social networking activities is a full-time job, and 49percent of adults under the age of 35 say that they feel obliged to continue checking work emails after hours.

This feeling explains the positivity around technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous cars. Almost two thirds of those under 35 said they can already imagine how they'd spend their free time behind the wheel of a self-driving car, and the US, Australia and the UK were the only countries surveyed where the majority of adults said they couldn't imagine themselves buying a self-driving car in the future.

Consumers are also moving towards sustainability and material responsibility. The majority of those polled favor products made from recyclable content, and there's a move towards owning fewer possessions that serve a host of uses. Even in the US, 76percent of adults said that when they buy a car now, they intend to keep it for 10 years.

However, one type of car won't suit every driver - 54 percent of Millennials and 42 percent of adults aged 35+ believe standing out is more important than fitting in. This individual style is driving people away from established brands and towards those that offer more meaningful or personalised products or services - an experience rather than just a product or service.


Siemens invests in WiTricity to advance wireless charging for EVs

                BOSTON: Siemens is investing US$25 million (RM110mil) and acquiring a minority stake in US-based WiTricity, a wireless charging technology company.

Siemens and WiTricity will work together to drive innovation in the emerging market for wireless EV charging.

This market is expected to reach US$2 billion by 2028 in Europe and North America alone, according to Siemens' calculations.

The two companies seek to bridge the gaps in the global standardisation of wireless charging for electric passenger and light duty commercial vehicles, to enable interoperability between vehicles and infrastructure, as well as support market penetration.

In addition, both parties will collaborate to advance the technical development of wireless charging systems.

Siemens and WiTricity jointly announced that they would work together to drive adoption of open, interoperable standards to advance wireless charging for electric vehicles.

Siemens will also become a technology licence partner, benefitting from WiTricity's deep know-how and decade-long collaboration with global automotive OEMs to develop proven, field-tested, interoperable wireless charging solutions.

A charging pad mounted on or in the ground exchanges power with a receiving coil attached on the underside of the EV.

There are no moving parts or physical connectors.

Instead, a magnetic field transfers energy between the charging pad and the vehicle coil when the vehicle is over the charging pad.

The system uses resonant induction between the charger and receiver in order to provide high efficiency at a variety of ground clearances, from low-slung sports cars to SUVs.

The ultimate goal of the collaboration is to accelerate the maturing of wireless charging technologies together with OEMs and infrastructure partners to simultaneously ensure their cost-effective availability worldwide.

A recent survey of more than 1,000 current and future EV owners interested in buying an EV in the next two years indicated that wireless charging was one of the highest-rated add- ons and a more preferred option to other amenities, including park-assist, performance, or premium audio packages.

"Wireless charging enables a driver to just park and walk away, returning to a charged vehicle," said WiTricity CEO Alex Gruzen.

"Wireless charging makes EVs more appealing for individual owners and more cost-effective for commercial operators."

For autonomous vehicles to fulfill their promise key friction points will need to be removed, such as charging, which today still requires human intervention.

Wireless power transfer will be the key technology to enable contactless automatic charging with least maintenance requirements and pave the way to an all-electric, fully autonomous mobility future.


Biden to propose toughest-ever rules on car pollution to spur EVs

                WASHINGTON: The Biden administration is on track to propose the toughest-ever US curbs on car pollution, while stopping short of an electric-vehicle mandate or ban on petrol-powered models.

The proposed standards on cars and light trucks, set to be announced Wednesday in Detroit, are expected to govern tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide, smog-forming nitrogen oxide and other pollution from vehicles manufactured for model years 2027 through 2032.

The plan was described by people briefed on elements of the proposal who asked not to be named because it isn’t yet public.

Major US automakers have pleaded for requirements extending just a few years, while EV manufacturers such as Tesla Inc insist the administration should take advantage of new federal-government investments in charging and battery production to push for even stricter limits on car emissions.

The plan is part of a multi-pronged Biden administration strategy to clamp down on planet-warming pollution from transportation and electricity, taking advantage of hundreds of billions of dollars of clean energy incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which is writing the new requirements, also is set to propose new rules for greenhouse gas releases from heavy-duty trucks on Wednesday and power plants as soon as later this month.

Limits on car pollution are key to helping the US meet its Paris Agreement commitment to slash greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% from 2005 levels by the end of the decade and fulfilling President Joe Biden’s ambition for at least half of all new vehicle sales to be electric models by 2030.

While US automakers such as General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co have outlined bullish plans for EV sales, environmental advocates say aggressive tailpipe standards are necessary.

"There has to be continuous pressure for improvement” to prevent industry backsliding, said Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Safe Climate Transport Campaign.

Environmentalists, public-health and electric-vehicle advocates have lobbied the administration to ensure requirements for model-year 2030 vehicles are 75% tougher than those governing 2021 models.

Strong standards are "incredibly important” to sending market signals to accelerate electric vehicle emissions and secure necessary emission reductions later on, said Britt Carmon, a senior advocate with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The EPA is poised to reject some environmentalists’ requests to set standards through 2035, however.

Automakers pushed for a shorter timetable, cautioning White House officials in a Feb. 14 meeting that the trajectory for EVs and emission reductions depends on factors outside their control, including investments in charging infrastructure and critical mineral production.

The shift will require a "massive, 100-year change to the US industrial base,” and the rule should be based on "a clear-eyed assessment of market readiness,” the Alliance for Automotive Innovation said Thursday.

The EPA proposal is set to also tighten limits on smog-forming vehicle pollution, potentially forcing automakers to adopt exhaust controls already used on cars sold in Europe, China and other markets.


GM loses US sales crown to Toyota, ends run dating to 1931

                DETROIT: Toyota Motor Corp grabbed the US sales crown from General Motors Co., swiping an honour that the Detroit automaker has held since Herbert Hoover was president.

If GM’s explanation is to be believed - that its 43% fourth-quarter sales decline and 13% tumble for the year stemmed from a semiconductor shortage - then last year’s sales race was really a supply-chain pageant.

Whoever could best cajole stretched chip producers for more product came out a winner.

Navigating the squeeze has been a nightmare for the auto industry, and especially for US carmakers. While GM’s sales fell for the year, Toyota, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. posted gains.

Toyota may not be No. 1 - the spot GM had occupied beginning in 1931 - for long.

"We see it as not sustainable,” Jack Hollis, the company’s senior vice president of automotive operations, said without elaborating Tuesday at a briefing for reporters.

GM agreed. Steve Carlisle, the carmaker’s president for North America, said the company will increase sales this year.

Most major automakers reported fourth-quarter US sales on Tuesday, with Stellantis NV, which owns the Jeep and Ram brands, posting full-year sales down 2% and an 18% drop in the last quarter.

Ford Motor Co. is expected to release its figures Wednesday.

To retake its leadership position, GM will have to return to something closer to the 2.5 million vehicles the company delivered in 2020.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic and semiconductor shortage hit, GM sold about 2.9 million vehicles in 2019.

"Our dealers and our engineering, supply chain, manufacturing and brand teams moved mountains to satisfy as many customers as possible in 2021” Carlisle said in a statement.

"In 2022, we plan to take advantage of the strong economy and anticipated improved semiconductor supplies to grow our sales and share.”

Market share is vital to GM’s long-range target of doubling revenue to US$280 billion.

That will require keeping buyers of gasoline-burning cars and trucks and stealing new ones who want electric vehicles.

And as production recovers, GM may not want every sale it can get. Domestic automakers typically keep 80 days worth of vehicles on dealer lots, while Japanese automakers keep as few as 50 days worth available.

Thinner inventory allows for better pricing and fatter profits.

Consumers today are paying record prices, since automakers don’t need rebates and dealers don’t need to bargain heavily.


Is an Apple car coming?

                NEW YORK: Apple Inc has a secret lab working on the creation of an Apple-branded electric car, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The project has designed a vehicle that looks like a minivan (or MPV), the newspaper quoted one person as saying.

It would take years to finish the project, and it is not certain if Apple will eventually build a car, the Journal said.

The news signals that Apple is sharply raising its ambitions for automotive technology, which has become a prime area of interest for Silicon Valley companies ranging from Google Inc to ride-sharing firm Uber to electric car-maker Tesla Motors Inc.

The connected car, or vehicles with a full range of Internet and software services beyond mere navigation and communications, is considered one of the ripest areas for expansion for technology companies.

Last March, Apple unveiled CarPlay, which lets drivers access contacts on their iPhones, make calls or listen to voicemails without taking their hands off the steering wheel.

Now, the head of Mercedes-Benz's Silicon Valley research and development unit, Johann Jungwirth, has defected to Apple, according to a LinkedIn profile, which said his title was head of Mac Systems Engineering.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

The Financial Times reported earlier that Apple had created the secret lab and that Jungwirth had joined the new research team.

Two sources said Apple has recently tried to recruit from the automotive industry in fields such as robotics.

The research lab was set up late last year, soon after Apple revealed its forthcoming smart watch and latest iPhones, the Financial Times said.

The Wall Street Journal said that the Apple project, code-named "Titan," employed several hundred people working a few miles from Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Apple executives have met with contract manufacturers including Magna Steyr, a unit of Magna International Inc. A Magna spokesman declined to comment.

Google is working on plans for a self-driving car, but that is not part of Apple's plan, the Journal said.

Trying to design and build an actual car would mark a change for the iPhone maker, which researches and discards plenty of projects but has so far mainly stuck to its core expertise in mobile and electronic devices.

But it has been open about wanting to integrate its core iOS software into automobiles with CarPlay.

Along with HomeKit and HealthKit, the idea is to extend Apple's software dominance into industries including home devices, healthcare, and automobiles.


UMW Group vehicle delivery up 4% to 35,130 in October

                KUALA LUMPUR: The UMW Group’s automotive sales improved in October as both UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) and UMW’s associate company, Perodua, delivered 35,130 units that month, four per cent higher than the 33,859 units registered in September.

In a statement today, the group said that the higher sales were recorded as both companies continued to fulfil outstanding bookings.

UMW Holdings Bhd president and group chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali said the group expects the sales momentum to continue especially in the last two months of the year driven by the year-end promotions.

"Supported by the encouraging bookings and improving supply chain, both companies will continue to ramp up production to hasten delivery. Barring unforeseen circumstances, we are confident of achieving our sales targets for the year,” he said.

For the first 10 months of 2022, the UMW Group delivered a total of 302,356 units, 50 per cent higher than the 201,569 units registered in the corresponding period of 2021 which was affected by the implementation of the full movement control order (FMCO) from June 1 to Aug 15, 2021.

UMWT achieved its highest sales for 2022 with the delivery of 9,281 units in October 2022, a marginal rise versus 9,233 units registered in September 2022.

Year-to-date October 2022, UMWT registered 80,153 units, a 47 per cent growth versus the 54,618 units registered in the corresponding period of 2021.

UMWT launched Toyota Veloz on Oct 18 and garnered over 7,000 bookings to-date.

Strong sales momentum also continued in Perodua with the registration of 25,849 units in October 2022, five per cent higher than the 24,626 units registered in September 2022.

The top three Perodua models sold in October were the Bezza, followed by Myvi and Axia.

Perodua’s sales surged by 51 per cent to 222,203 units in the first 10 months of 2022 versus 146,951 units registered in the corresponding period in 2021.

Perodua is on track to achieve its sales target of 247,800 units for 2022.


Koenigsegg, a supercar challenging Swedish stereotypes

                ANGELHOLM (Sweden): For a quarter century, Koenigsegg has been making supercars for a niche market typically reserved for Italian luxury brands, while challenging perceptions of Swedish modesty.

With brands like Volvo — which introduced the three-point seat belt — and Saab, Sweden distinguished itself in the 20th century as a maker of reasonable priced family-friendly cars that put safety first.

But in a workshop in the southern town of Angelholm, the term "made in Sweden" is given a new meaning, and horsepower and torque take centrestage.

"When I started the company (...) I said to myself why would anyone buy one of my cars: it is an unknown brand, by an unknown person from a country not famous for sports cars," said the company's founder, Christian von Koenigsegg.

"So I said to myself, they have to really stand out and be different and hopefully better in some ways than the competitors," he added.

The philosophy has been that if Bugatti and Pagani go fast, the Swedish car has to go faster and really push the limits, compensating for the lack of notoriety with performance.

In 2002, a mere eight years after the company was founded, the engine of the Koenigsegg CC8S was named the world's most powerful in a production car by Guinness World Records.

Two years later, the Koenigsegg CCR was named the World's most powerful serially produced car.

The Agera RS arrived in 2010 and in 2017 it set a speed record by reaching 447.19kph.

That record has since been broken by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ with 490.48kph.

"They did it on a closed track and we did it on a public road and we have not been dethroned as the fastest recorded speed on a public road by a production car (...) also, our record was with a production car while the Chiron was a pre series prototype," von Koenigsegg argued.

"But is was really impressive," he admitted.

A rare sight

While records and accolades are "not so unimportant" for von Koenigsegg, the most important thing is "the overall performance of the car."

Hailing from a family with "no real car interest," the tall Swede found his passion at an early age.

"Since I was 6-7 years old, the only thing I read was car magazines or technical books about cars and things like that," he said.

In 1994, he decided to pursue his dream of building "the world's greatest super-sports car" and started Koenigsegg.

Nearly a decade later, in March 2003, the first production car, the CC8S, was delivered at the Geneva Motor Show.

Sixteen other models have followed, but some models have been limited to as few as six units, and with a total of 250 cars in circulation a Koenigsegg remains a rare sight on the roads.

The brand also cultivates secrecy and won't confirm reports of high-profile buyers like footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic or boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The privilege of owning one of these supercars however comes at a price.

The latest model, the Jesko, will set you back about €3 million (RM13.6mil), but the 125 cars still sold out in two days.

It takes between seven and eight months to manually assemble the cars, and it requires a jeweller's precision.

"It is a very different way of working than on a regular production, so of course it can be similar to jewelry," said production manager Marian Gadau, adding that the manual assembly makes every car unique.

"Even though all of them need to be at the same level... all of them are slightly different because it is the personal touch of working manually with every part."

In 2020, Koenigsegg plans to launch a new "less expensive" model — at a more modest price of around one million euros — but von Koenigsegg stresses that it will still be hand made and "in a niche where we don't see any cars today."


Carsome and Microsoft collaborate on Code; Without Barriers Programme

                UALA LUMPUR: In efforts to collectively grow women's participation and leadership in tech, Carsome, Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft to adopt its Code; Without Barriers initiative for one year.

Under the programme, women employees across Carsome’s operations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore will be able to access initiatives that include upskilling courses, participation in hackathons or skills challenges, and mentorship programs in the areas of Cloud, Artificial Intelligence and Technology.

 Zhu.

Carsome group president and chief financial officer Juliet Zhu said the company is strongly positioned to support and accelerate women's representation in the tech and automotive sectors leveraging its positioning as Southeast Asia’s largest integrated e-commerce platform.

“Towards this end, Carsome will digitally upskill 30% of our women employees by 2026 in our offices across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, especially in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Data and Technology.

“Promoting diversity and equity in tech and innovation-centric areas will not only benefit our employees and the organization, it also supports the transition towards equitable digital first societies,” she said.

Zhu said there is strong demand for skilled tech talent across the region and the collaboration with Microsoft through the Code; Without Barriers programme will enable women in Carsome to access a range of upskilling programmes to enhance employability and participate more equitably in the growth of these industries.

 Mathew.

Microsoft Asia Pacific, Developers and Digital Natives director, Annie Mathew said: “Code; Without Barriers was incubated in APAC, and it’s the first programme to bring together a coalition of developers, industries, businesses, and allies to literally do just that… break barriers for women in tech!

“We’re excited to have Carsome join us to empower a new generation of women in technology across Southeast Asia, as we together, drive a more inclusive digital economy in Asia Pacific,” she said.


Electrifying the VW Beetle: The classic car makes a perfect EV

                BERLIN: A petrol-driven Volkswagen Beetle is an enduring classic, but it's not the most eco-friendly mode of transport - unless you convert it to 100-per-cent electric.

That's where Johannes Boddien comes in, an enthusiast and engineer from Germany who specialises in upgrading Beetles along with VW's chunky T1 and T2 camper vans.

His company trades under the name Voltimer - a play on Volkswagen and the German Anglicism "oldtimer," for a classic or cherished car.

Boddien starts off with a well-kept conventional Beetle - usually an import from South American countries where the mild climate has kept rust at bay. Pristine examples can cost more than 20,000 dollars.

Mechanics strip out the old motor and replace it with an electric power plant of a type usually used to power escalators before adding a rack of batteries.

The conversion takes around 100 man-hours, and the first five cars have been finished already, with three more in the pipeline. Three workshops convert the cars.

The Beetle was famous for its clattery power plant, which settled down to a loud whirr once warm. The electric version is as quiet as a mouse.

Performance was never a Beetle strongpoint either, but the 28kW motor in the electrified version is much more lively than the original, with improved acceleration thanks to the typical linear power delivery of electric motors.

The electric Beetle can top 150 km/h - around 30 km/h faster than a petrol-powered example - although this may be governed down in some countries, according to local regulations.

Voltimer buys the battery cells from an outside supplier or uses recycled ones from accident-damaged Tesla cars.

The electric Beetle costs 30,000 euros (RM141,000) in standard trim with a range of 70km, or 10,000 euros (RM47,000) more for the "Hobby" model, which can manage 200km between charges.

An electrified camper van or minibus costs 59,900 euros (RM281,000), rising to 75,000 euros (RM351,000) if ordered with a range of 400km.


Tesla to unveil Model 3 in less than two weeks time

                SAN FRANCISCO: California car company Tesla has revealed that their Model 3 electric car will be unveiled to the public in two weeks time.

From what is known so far about Tesla's new release the car is expected to have a 200-mile range, less complicated features than the Model X, and a base price of US$35,000 (RM142,000), according to Venture Beat. It is not yet known what will be the composition of the Model 3's body, although the existing Model S and Model X both have aluminum bodies.

Details will all be confirmed however on March 31 when the car is revealed to the the public.

The Model 3 is a key part of Tesla's plan to produce 500,000 electric cars per year by 2020, and Tesla is currently constructing and upgrading factories to meet this target.

The Model 3 is slated to launch in 2017.


Four winners of special edition Honda models announced

The winners (front row) are (from left) Abdul Hakim, Lim, Chuah and Shaiful. In the back row are Soh, Sarly, Ishiyama, Hoe and Hoh.
KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia presented four lucky winners with special edition models of the Jazz, Civic, CR-V and Accord at its "1 Million Dreams Grand Finale" event over the weekend.

The event was held at Bukit Jalil National Stadium here to mark Honda Malaysia's milestone of having sold 1 million cars since 2001.

The recipients of the cars were Shaiful Rezza Abdul Razak who won the Jazz; Chuah Sze Yong (Civic); Lim Lye-Gaik (CR-V); and Abdul Hakim Mohd Radzi (Accord).

The Jazz was set aside for frontline workers fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. The winner, Shaiful, is a policeman.

The Special Edition models come with unique features, making them a one-of-a-kind model in Malaysia.

The cars come with dual tone exterior, front fascia with red highlights, sporty red line side mirrors, black painted alloy wheels with red highlights as well as 1 Million Dreams Signature Emblem on both front fenders of the cars.

They also get the 1 Million Dreams embossed leather headrest for both driver and front passenger seats,  leather steering wheel with red stitching and centre mark, and special edition leather key pouch.

Three more Honda cars are to be given away.  Winners of the special edition models of the BR-V, City and HR-V would be announced by CUCKOO, Shopee and Watsons in early April.

Since Honda Malaysia kicked off the campaign in February, it had received over 155,600 entries within a month.

"The 1 millionth sale unit is an important milestone for Honda Malaysia since we began our sales journey in 2001," said Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Toichi Ishiyama.

"Over the years, we introduced many models with advanced technologies that were well received in the market, and became the segment leaders. Highly popular models such as the City, Civic and CR-V contributed to the overall 1 million sales units, accounting for 37%, 15% and 11% respectively.

"We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all Honda customers, members of the media, our dealer partners and the Malaysian government for their unwavering support for Honda Malaysia."

Also present at the event were Honda Malaysia chief operating officer Sarly Adle Sarkum; Shopee Malaysia's Shopee Mall head Kenneth Soh; CUCKOO founder/CEO Hoe Kian Choon; and Watsons Malaysia customer director Danny Hoh.

For more information, go to www.honda.com.my, its Facebook page or call toll-free at 1-800-88-2020.


Lexus returns as sponsor of Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2021

                KUALA LUMPUR: Lexus, one of the world’s leading luxury automotive brands, has confirmed its return as official sponsor of the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW).

KLFW 2021, one of Malaysia’s most hotly anticipated fashion events, will be making its return to the runway following its digital foray in 2020.

This celebration of arts, design and culture comes in times where entire industries, including the luxury lifestyle world, have had to rediscover what it means to connect with people on a deeper and more meaningful level.

In reaffirming Lexus’s continued commitment to supporting Malaysia’s fashion industry, Lexus Malaysia deputy chairman Akio Takeyama said:

“Events in the previous year have made it abundantly clear how central the human connection is to excellence in design, be that in automotive technology or fashion.

“As a leading luxury brand that creates amazing experiences through empathy, a keen eye for detail and superior craftsmanship, Lexus is proud to once again partner this prestigious event in showcasing innovative and captivating designs,” he said.

From the Nov 3 to 7, Lexus will be showcasing the Lexus UX and LC500 Convertible in Pavilion KL.

As part of this showcase, Lexus will also be providing luxury vehicles to chauffeur KLFW guests in style, comfort and safety.

In addition to that, Lexus is also presenting for the first time the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Awards in conjunction with KLFW.

With award categories including Brand of the Year, Outstanding Achievement, Fashion Icon of the Year and Most Sustainable Brand, the event will fete 30 Malaysian designers in an evening of glamour, style and excellence.

Lexus Malaysia president Ravindran K said creative expression is integral to the company's identity as humans and Lexus have always shared a synergy with the world
of arts and design.

“In the vein of our very own Lexus Design Award, the KL Fashion Awards will not only recognise the resilience and innovation displayed by these fashion designers in the previous year, but also serve as a platform to highlight undiscovered talents,” he said.

KLFW x LEXUS Event Highlights

Lexus Night (featuring Malaysian couturier Fizi Woo)
Date: Nov 5 (Friday)
Location: Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

KL Fashion Awards by Lexus
Date: Nov 24 (Wednesday)
Location: Shangri-La Hotel

To keep up with these exciting events, stay connected with Lexus on Facebook.

For more information on KLFW 2021, visit the official website at http://klfashionweek.website/.


China auto giant FAW gets new chief amid graft scandal

                SHANGHAI: China’s third largest carmaker FAW today named a new chairman, after its previous chief was formally put under investigation for corruption.

China FAW Group said Xu Ping will take over as chairman and company Communist Party chief, according to a statement, poaching him from China’s second-largest automaker Dongfeng Motor Corp.

Dongfeng said Wednesday that Xu had stepped down, to be replaced by the chairman of FAW from 1999 to 2007, Zhu Yanfeng.

The Chinese government controls the management of major state-owned enterprises, with power to shuffle their heads at will.

FAW’s last chairman Xu Jianyi was put under investigation by the party’s graft watchdog in March for “severe” violations of discipline and the law, a phrase that typically refers to corruption.

FAW, originally known as First Automotive Works, is China’s third biggest automaker with sales of more than three million vehicles last year, according to an industry group.

Headquartered in the northeastern city of Changchun, FAW and Germany’s Volkswagen have a passenger car joint venture that produces the Audi brand, among others.

Dongfeng’s listed arm on Tuesday denied that a merger was planned between its parent and FAW.

Dongfeng has several joint ventures with foreign manufacturers and is a shareholder in France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Speculation about mergers among China’s major state-owned enterprises has grown after state media said the government was considering merging scores of its biggest state firms to create around 40 national champions from the existing 112, but the government denied those reports.

The leadership shuffle between the two automakers follows the Chinese government this week naming new heads of its three biggest energy companies: China National Petroleum Corp., Sinopec and CNOOC.

Dongfeng Motor Group Co. stock was down 0.94 percent in Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon.


Jaguar Land Rover teams up with Ford and Tata to test new connected technologies

                LONDON: Jaguar Land Rover is working with Ford and Tata to trial new connected technologies that allow cars to talk to each other.

This co-operation is a first for the auto makers and forms part of the UK Autodrive demonstrations taking place at Horiba Nira automotive proving ground in the Midlands today.

“Our aim is to give drivers exactly the right information at the right time and collaborations with other manufacturers are essential to help us deliver this commitment to our customers,” said Jaguar Land Rover research chief Tony Harper.

The trial involves creating a fleet of more than 100 research vehicles to develop and test a wide range of connected and autonomous Vehicle technologies over the next four years. Ultimately, these technologies would enhance the driving experience as well as making driving smarter, safer and even cleaner in the years to come.

Some of the technologies being tested are Advanced Highway Assist, Electronic Emergency Brake Light Assist and Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory.

With Advanced Highway Assist the vehicle can overtake vehicles automatically as well as stay in its lane on the motorway without the driver having to touch either the steering wheel or the pedals.

Electronic Emergency Brake Light Assist warns drivers when a vehicle ahead brakes severely or unexpectedly. This is particularly useful when driving in dense fog or if the vehicle in front is out of sight.

Imagine travelling across central London or Paris without needing to stop at traffic lights because they are always on green. This could be possible with Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory. The car connects to traffic lights advising the driver of the best driving speed required to reach the lights when they are on green. This will improve traffic flow, CO2 emissions as well as the driver’s experience.


S. Korea suspends sales of 32 VW, Audi, Bentley models

                SEOUL: South Korea today suspended sales of 32 Volkswagen Group models and fined the German automaker 17.8 billion won (RM65mil), accusing it of forging documents on emissions or noise-level tests.

The move by Asia's fourth-biggest economy builds pressure on Volkswagen as it struggles to repair its reputation after it admitted in September to using illegal software to hide toxic emissions on about 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide.

Europe's largest automaker more than tripled sales in South Korea to 35,778 last year, before suffering a slump following the emissions scandal. South Korea is one of the major markets for its luxury brands like Audi and Bentley.

The environment ministry said it had revoked certification for 83,000 diesel and gasoline-powered Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley vehicles, bringing the total number of VW vehicles de-certified in South Korea to 209,000.

This amounted to 68 percent of the vehicles the German automaker had sold in the country since 2007, the ministry said.

In November, the government revoked certification of 126,000 VW vehicles, ordered their recall and fined Volkswagen 14.1 billion won, accusing the company of manipulating an emissions control system.

Prosecutors subsequently raided Volkswagen's Seoul offices and arrested an executive.

Volkswagen voluntarily suspended sales of most of its models in South Korea from July 25, ahead of the government's decision.


Aston Martin reveals images of US$8mil pair of cars

                LONDON: In preparation for Zagato's 100th anniversary, Aston Martin published detailed sketches of the DBS GT Zagato and the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation, the two models that comprise DBZ Centenary Collection.

This year, Italian design house Zagato is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Over half of that century has been spent in partnership with Aston Martin who, in honour of this milestone, will be building a specially designed pair of vehicles — the track-only DB4 GT Zagato Continuation and the road-legal DBS GT Zagato — called the DBZ Centenary Collection to celebrate.

Since the project was announced in September of 2018, we've only had a rough sketch of the DBS GT. Aston Martin on Monday shared a collection of renderings that show the pair from almost every exterior angle.

The DBS GT started out as a DBS Sugerleggera and has been souped up using the original DB4 GT Zagato as design inspiration. Most significantly, the double-bubble roof of the first iteration is carried over into 2019; From the top of the wrap-around windshield, the roof continuously slopes downward until the end point of the rear.

The DB4 GT, on the other hand, will "follow that same recipe" as the original, starting with a DBS Superleggera, as well.

Aston Martin executive VP Marek Reichman describes the model as a "modern incarnation of a timeless icon."

The two vehicles will only be available for purchase as a pair for US$8 million (RM33mil), and only 19 pairs will be made. Deliveries for the DB4 GT Zagato Continuation will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, and deliveries for the DBS GT will begin in the fourth quarter of 2020.


Apple hires ex-BMW executive for its rebooted car project

                SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc. has hired Ulrich Kranz, a former senior executive at BMW AG’s electric car division, to help lead its own vehicle efforts, according to people familiar with the situation.

The technology giant hired Kranz in recent weeks, about a month after he stepped down as chief executive officer of Canoo Inc., a developer of self-driving electric vehicles.

Before co-founding Canoo, Kranz was senior vice president of the group that developed the i3 and i8 cars at BMW, where he worked for 30 years.

Kranz is one of Apple’s most significant automotive hires, a clear sign that the iPhone maker is determined to build a self-driving electric car to rival Tesla Inc. and other carmakers. Kranz will report to Doug Field, who led development of Tesla’s mass-market Model 3 and now runs Apple’s car project, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss a private matter.

Apple has become the world’s most valuable company, with a market capitaliSation of more than US$2 trillion, by selling iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Macs and services. With investors and customers clamoring for new products, the company has targeted cars and augmented-reality headsets. An Apple spokesperson confirmed Kranz’s hiring.

Apple began developing a vehicle in 2014 but shelved the effort around 2016 to focus on an autonomous platform it could sell to other companies or eventually use itself. Along the way, Apple poached several Tesla executives, who now help head up drive-train engineering, self-driving software and interiors and exteriors.

Last year, Apple gave oversight of the operation to John Giannandrea, senior vice president of machine learning and artificial intelligence and Field’s boss.

Several months ago, Apple rebooted its efforts to develop a full-fledged electric car, but development remains in the early stages, so a launch is likely at least five years away.

Before hiring Kranz, Apple lost some key auto executives. Benjamin Lyon, Jaime Waydo and Dave Scott, who worked on engineering, safety systems and robotics, respectively, all departed in recent months. It’s unclear why the three left.

Following successful stints at BMW’s MINI division and teams working on sports cars and SUVs, Kranz was asked to run Project I, a battery-powered vehicle skunkworks started in 2008. It yielded the all-electric i3 compact and the plug-in hybrid i8 sports car. The former was panned by design critics, and production was limited on the latter.

Kranz left BMW in 2016 and soon became chief technology officer at Faraday Future, an electric vehicle startup based in Los Angeles. He stayed only three months, before co-founding Canoo. Both firms have struggled with their technology and ability to produce vehicles, while Canoo reportedly discussed selling itself to Apple and other companies.

Canoo went public in December after a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, called Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. Canoo last month said it was being investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, becoming the third clean-energy auto startup to disclose a federal probe in the past year. Canoo plans to debut a minivan for less than $35,000 next year.

Apple has worked with BMW for many years, integrating the iPod with auto infotainment systems back in 2004 and more recently making the iPhone double as a car key.

Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook was spotted checking out a BMW i8 outside Apple’s Cupertino, California, headquarters in 2014, and company executives have been known to visit BMW offices in recent years.


New go-kart track opens next to PJ mall

                PETALING JAYA:  The city now has a new go-kart track built with state-of-the-art technology.

Morac Go Kart Track 1 Utama in Petaling Jaya is the second track to be built by Amprex Circuit Sdn Bhd, after the one in Langkawi.

Located beside the new wing of 1 Utama Shopping Centre, the 420m track has ample parking space and provides a great setting for racers and spectators.

The track is designed to cater to individuals and can even host large parties and functions.

Karting is an activity the whole family can enjoy.

With the right equipment, children as young as seven can also enjoy and learn the sport.

This is the first time the go-kart model Sodikart 2Drive — ideal for newbies or children — is available in Malaysia.

For single-seater karts, the Sodikart RT10 go-kart, which is making its Asian debut, is deemed to have the highest level of safety and loaded with groundbreaking karting technology.

Amprex Circuit claims the track has the latest and most sophisticated safety features that were first introduced at its Langkawi circuit.

A live timing LED board gives everyone a real time sense of the race, ensuring drivers and spectators are fully informed about the ongoing race and race results are sent to the drivers via email immediately at the end of their sessions.

A unique live driver tracking map keeps the spectators, on track, excited as they will know where each driver is during a session.

Also used for the first time in Asia is a live POV camera unit that will give the drivers a recording of their sessions.