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Taking note of the growing demand for pick-ups by Malaysians who see them as ‘lifestyle machines’, the Mazda Division of C&C Bintang Bhd is introducing the new Mazda Fighter 4WD Double Cab. The all-new model, to be officially launched on April 26th, is a jointly-developed model between Mazda and Ford, which the Japanese company is affiliated to, and is technically similar to the Ford Ranger XLT which is also available locally.

“It is no secret that Mazda and Ford collaborate on a number of models sold in the Asia-Pacific region but each maker’s products are still differentiated in terms of exterior style and accessories,” Larry Cheong, Manager – Marketing of C&C Bintang’s Mazda Division, explained to AUTOWORLD. “Our latest Mazda Fighter comes with a number of original Mazda accessories which add a sporty touch to the vehicle and will definitely appeal to customers.”

The Fighter variant assembled in Malaysia is the Double Cab which offers an extra row of seating behind the front two seats. Mr Cheong said that there is greater demand now for Double Cabs than Single Cabs but the company is considering also offering Single Cabs later on, if there are enough customers wanting it.

In contrast to the pick-ups of just five years ago, the Fighter is oriented towards private ownership (five years ago, JPJ regulations didn’t allow people to register pick-ups for private usage) and is therefore better equipped. It comes with a sturdy front bullbar (with spotlights), distinctive chrome alloy rims, fat dual-purpose tyres and a sturdy black custom-designed sportsbar behind the cab. The styling is bold, yet very much in line with current automobile design trends.

The cabin is spacious and the dashboard is just like a car’s with soft curves and sufficient padding. In fact, when you sit in the Fighter, you are not likely to feel like you are in a pick-up at all because the upholstery is fabric and not the cheap vinyl. There’s plenty of storage space around the cabin and if you have really big stuff, well, there’s 2.34 sq. metres of cargo deck behind!

Powering the Fighter is a 2.5-litre turbodiesel (with intercooler) 12-valve 4-cylinder engine which qualifies as a “Green Engine’ and therefore gets the owner a 50% ‘discount’ on annual roadtax. That’s quite a lot of money considering that it would cost you over RM3,400 without the rebate. To qualify, a diesel engine must meet the Euro-1 emission control standard.

A 5-speed manual gearbox is standard with a floor-mounted shift while the 4WD system used is the conventional type which also allows 2WD and has high/low ranges for added flexibility on demanding terrain.

With prices starting from RM75,002.90 (non-metallic finish, with insurance), the Fighter is competitively priced against the Ford Ranger and will also do battle with the latest Toyota Hilux Double Cab as well as the Isuzu Rodeo. USF also has a contender in this segment in the form of the Mitsubishi L200.

“We are confident that demand will be strong and with the Ford Ranger having a waiting list, there should be customers who will choose the Mazda Fighter if they can’t wait,” said Mr Cheong. He added that the company’s attention over the next few months will be focussed on this new model as all other products are virtually sold out.

“We have cleared our stocks of Lantis and most other models so we will concentrate on the new Fighter. In the second half of the year, we will have some new models in the showrooms alongside the Fighter,” he revealed.

AUTOWORLD will bring you more information on the Mazda Fighter a bit later on when we get to test-drive it. So do drop by at this website regularly for updates.


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When it comes to automotive technology, there can be no doubt that the Japanese manufacturers possess a great deal of experience, expertise and knowledge. Companies such as Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) have been making cars for over 50 years and their experience, if shared with developing countries, can prove invaluable as it can help avoid the pitfalls while accelerating development.

During a visit to Japan last year, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad decided to make a request to TMC to assist Malaysians in the field of high-tech training so that there would be greater advancement in the local automotive industry. In response, TMC has formulated a “Hi-Tech Training Package” which is said to have a value of at least RM1 million(mainly in specialised equipment costs). The training package will encompass four sessions for automotive instructors over a one-year period and will be held at the Centre for Instructors and Advanced Skills Training (CIAST) in Shah Alam, Selangor.

CIAST is under the aegis of the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources and has been operational since 1984. Its establishment was sponsored by the Japanese government under the ASEAN Human Resources Development Project. It offers courses for instructors, supervisors and skilled workers from the private and public sectors.

TMC’s Hi-Tech Training Package will be among the 31 courses available each year. For the course, TMC will send its own instructors to CIAST where they will conduct training and the Malaysian instructors will then return to their own organisations to conduct their own training programs.

Besides sending Japanese instructors to conduct the training, TMC has also donated special training equipment and training manuals. The special training equipment was developed for advanced training of automotive technicians and includes a full-sized engine that allows for simulation of electronic fuel injection (EFI). There are also simulators which demonstrate front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and 4WD, while a cut-away model of automatic transmission and ABS units will give the trainee instructors a clear understanding of their operations.

“We are pleased to be given the honour and privilege to share our educational know-how of human resources development by assisting the instructors at CIAST. As a corporate citizen, we hope that the Toyota Hi-Tech Training will contribute to technical education of the young people in Malaysia who will acquire the latest technology and highest skills in the automobile industry,” said S. Takahashi, a Director of TMC who represented the Japanese company at the official Handing-Over Ceremony and Program Commencement at CIAST today.

The training program at CIAST is the second technical training support program provided jointly by TMC and UMW Toyota Motor for automotive trainees and instructors. In 1991, the two companies also introduced the Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP) for vocational schools and to date, five such institutions have the program.

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SAME PLATFORM
The platform is essentially unchanged from before which is not unusual since platform development is very, very costly so manufacturers often use the same platform for at least two generations. To offer the maximum level of comfort and also handling, an all-independent suspension layout works best. Up front, MacPherson struts are used while each rear wheel is located by a double wishbone with trailing arm configuration.

The brake system comprises a disc/drum set-up for most variants although some markets will get 4-wheel disc brakes. Likewise, ABS will be either a standard or optional item but if it is included, there will also be electronic brake force distribution. To make braking more effective in off-road conditions, the RAV4 has a deceleration sensor which feeds additional data to the ABS control unit.

NEW ENGINES
The previous generation came with a choice of two 2.0-litre engines – one with 96 kW/130 bhp and the other with 121 kW/165 bhp – but buyers outside Japan only got the lower-powered engine. This time round, brand new engines are offered from the newly-developed all-aluminium Z-series family. There are two displacements – 1.8 litres (1ZZ-FE) and 2.0 litres (1AZ-FE). Both DOHC 16-valve engines have VVTi, Toyota’s own version of variable valve timing control. The smaller engine develops 92 kW/125 bhp and 161 Nm of torque while the larger one produces 110 kW/150 bhp and 192 Nm.

Performance claims for the new engines: 1.8 litres – top speed of 175 km/h and 0 to 100 km/h in 12.2 seconds; 2.0 litres (manual) – top speed of 185 km/h and 0 to 100 km/h in 10.6 seconds.

Although the 1.8-litre engine may seem under-powered, Chief Engineer Ikehata thinks it won’t be a problem because that engine will only be fitted on variants with only front-wheel drive.

FWD variants have existed in the US market for a number of years with the first generation and Toyota has found that there is fairly good demand, even in Japan, so it is now making this variant more widely available. The 2.0-litre variant will have permanent 4WD with an automatic centre differential lock for both automatic and manual gearboxes.

VERSATILITY
The concept for the interior matches the dynamism of the exterior, with versatility very much a key feature. The dashboard has been restyled with a sportier theme (some parts come from the latest Celica). Metallic trim is also used in various areas for the same purpose and the three separate meters have metallic-coloured rings around their white-faced dials.

As would be expected of a SUV, storage space is plentiful with cupholders front and rear and retractable coat hooks incorporated in the back of each back seat. Although the boot space remains pretty much the same, the back seats can now be moved forward and also removed completely to increase cargo capacity. And responding to a common complaint of many RAV4 owners, Toyota now provides a standard cover for the cargo area; it is specially designed so that it can stretch all the way to the front seats and hooks onto the head restraint supports.

The first generation was conceived at a time when the Japanese carmakers were severely squeezed by a downturn in Japan and so its design was done on a ‘tight budget’. This time round, the budget was not as tight but the engineers still had to keep costs down.

“We were under pressure to lower the cost and we succeeded because in Japan, the new RAV4 should sell for almost the same price as the first generation,” revealed Mr Ikehata. He added that a lot more has been added so the new model is really a lot better value for money.

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Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad (EON) reports that 11,257 units of Proton cars were sold in March and anticipates continued growth in tandem with the positive and vibrant economy of the country.

“With private consumption forecast by BNM to increase by 9.5% to become the main driver of growth, we anticipate sales of Proton cars to be in tandem,” said EON managing director Datuk Adzmi Abdul Wahab.

The Proton Iswara continued to be the most popular car in the country with 5,951 units sold while Proton Wira Sedans closed in at 4,483 units.The Proton Perdanas recorded a surge of 823 units sold.The month’s performance of 11,257 units compares well against 8,751 units sold in March 1999, reflecting a 28.63% increase.

Cumulative EON sales (sales by USPD, another Proton distributor are not included) for the first quarter of 2000 were 28,112 units, a 16.98% improvement over the same quarter for 1999.

Datuk Adzmi revealed that there is also a strong interest by customers for the higher-end cars and this, he said, indicates a rise in consumer confidence in the economy. In the first quarter, cumulative sales of Proton Wiras increased by 43% while Proton Perdanas have surpassed previous high levels recorded in the good times of 1995 and 1996.

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By enhancing the services at its petrol stations, Petronas Dagangan Bhd is aiming for the leading position in the petroleum retail business in Malaysia. Over the past few years, the company has been active in incorporating its Mesra convenience stores at its stations and has set a target of having no less than 100 such stores nationwide by the end of 2000.

The Mesra convenience stores have proven a successful way of drawing customers to Petronas stations, especially with their wide variety of offerings from snacks to newspapers to auto accessories. The bigger Mesra stores even have fast food stores and internet stations on their premises.

Besides sundry goods and fast food, Petronas also wants to make it more convenient for customers to do banking transactions. Towards this end, it has collaborated with Maybank to provide electronic banking facilities at its petrol stations. The first such facility was opened in September last year in Kuala Lumpur.


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As part of its move towards repositioning the Peugeot brand in Malaysia, MBf-Peugeot Sdn Bhd will be bringing in some exciting new models from Peugeot in the near future. Besides the 206 launched today, the company will also be introducing the 406 Coupe shortly, revealed MBf-Peugeot President Yeow Ewe Hor. Although he did not mention a price for the sleek coupe variant of the 406, AUTOWORLD.COM.MY understands that it is likely to be priced at about RM230,000.

“I can confirm that it will soon be in our showrooms and in fact, we have already had some customers expressing serious interest in buying the car – even without actually sitting in it!” said Mr Yeow.

The 406 Coupe uses the 406 platform (engines and chassis) but does not actually share any body panels even though there are visual similarities. It is built by renowned Italian stylist and coachbuilder Pininfarina, which has collaborated in the styling of a number of Peugeot models for over 40 years.


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MBf-Peugeot Sdn Bhd, the importer and distributor of Peugeot vehicles in Malaysia, has begun sales of Peugeot’s best-selling model, the 206. Officially launched today, the stylish hatchback is priced at RM83,593.20 (inclusive of insurance), an attractive price for a car which is imported Completely Built-Up (CBU) from Peugeot’s factory in UK.

“The rapid recovery of our economy and clear signs of positive growth has encouraged us to begin sales of the 206 in Malaysia,” said Yeow Ewe Hor, President of MBf-Peugeot. “It has been extremely successful in in every country where it has been introduced and we are sure that the same success will be evident in Malaysia.”

The version which is being imported is the 206 XR 1.4 Automatic with the ‘Presence’ equipment level and a 5-door bodystyle. Mr Yeow said that this version was considered the most appropriate for the Malaysian market but did not rule out the possibility of other versions like the sporty 206 S16, if there was demand from customers.

The company has no firm numbers for the volume it will sell this year but expects the figure to be around 100 units. At present, the cars are being imported in small batches and due to strong demand all over the world, there is likely to be a wait of ‘a few months’ for those who order now, revealed Mr Yeow.

“Obviously we are not competing against the national cars and we are aiming to attract those who want something different and special, and who prefer imported models. The standard equipment we have put in is, we believe, great value for money and we are sure our buyers will agree,” he said.

The strong demand worldwide was confirmed by Frederic Banzet, Peugeot’s Director of International Operations (Asia-Pacific region) who said that some 551,000 units of the 206 were sold in 1999 and Peugeot is trying to meet growing demand by increasing output to 700,000 units this year.

“The car has far exceeded our original expectations and surpassed the success of our previous bestseller, the 205,” he told AUTOWORLD.COM.MY. “It is now being produced in four factories – two in France and one each in Britain and Argentina – and we will be expanding production at our plant in Brazil at the end of this year. As our bestselling model, the 206 now accounts for around 20% of all new Peugeots sold worldwide.”

For the time being, the 206 will be sold as a CBU import in Malaysia but in the medium-term, it is possible that the model may also be locally assembled alongside the 306 and 406 models. Mr Banzet said that an assembly programme does exist for the Argentina plant but if the 206 is to be locally assembled in Malaysia, it would not be before the end of 2001.

“It all depends on how strong demand is and whether it will be justified to assemble the car locally, so we can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the matter at this time,” added Mr Yeow.


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NEW FEATURES AT A GLANCE

– Two new DOHC all-aluminium VVTi engines: 1.8 and 2.0 litres
– 1.8-litre FWD only variant to be sold globally
– 4-wheel disc brakes available as option
– Rear seats can slide or be removed
– Same body size, longer wheelbase

As with the first generation, Toyota again chose the Geneva Motorshow to unveil the next generation of its RAV4 compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV). Unlike the first time, however, the styling was not ‘previewed’ earlier in the form of a concept car and so its unveiling attracted a great deal of attention.

CONCEPT RETAINED
The new RAV4 (RAV stands for Recreational Active Vehicle) maintains the same concept as before, a successful idea which merges conventional car elements with the features of a small off road vehicle. But it has never been intended to be a serious off-roader and designed more as a ‘lifestyle vehicle’.

“Styling has always been a top-priority for the RAV4″, Hiromi Ikehata, the model’s Chief Engineer, told Autoworld. “It was one of the motoring icons of the 1990s and when we worked on the second generation, we took into account current fashion trends.”

Where the first generation started off only with the 3-door version – the 5-door came a year later – both versions in the second generation will be available at launch (this May in Japan, followed by mid-year in Europe). Many of the original styling ideas are retained but the lines are more rounded and there is ‘a more powerful mature individual look’.

The 3-door has a closer resemblance to its predecessor with wraparound rear glass treatment (like the Mercedes M-Class) but the 5-door takes on a ‘bigger’ look with strong character lines along the sides. Dimensionally, both versions are marginally bigger with increases in the wheelbase to get more room inside. The softer edges improve aerodynamics to 0.35 Cd which is no big deal but then again, it does not really matter for such vehicles. Nevertheless, because of the bias towards on-road performance, much attention has been given to stability at higher speeds. In certain European markets like Germany where cruising speeds can be quite high, there are even small flaps installed under each side of the front bumper to increase front end stability.

CAR-TYPE CONSTRUCTION
The original RAV4 was not the first 4WD to have passenger car-type monocoque construction which provides more rigidity because the body and floorpan are welded as a single unit, but it did inspire other carmakers to go the same way with their smaller SUVs. Monocoque construction enables better handling and ride compared to the bigger 4WDs which have their bodies bolted onto a chassis frame so the body tends to move separately during cornering. So in effect, the RAV4 is a car with extra ground clearance and 4WD – a concept which proved so successful that journalists in UK considered the model an “off-road GTI”!

As with all the latest Toyotas, the new RAV4 meets the company’s tough in-house standard known as GOA (Global Outstanding Assessment). This means it satisfies present or near-future accident protection requirements in all countries and additionally, it also offers superior protection against rear-end collisions (which is not presently a safety standard). But as with the first generation, there is still no proper bumper structure provided.

GOA is mainly about ensuring survival of the occupants in an accident and to complement the structural design are many safety devices such as dual front airbags, side impact beams and even whiplash-reducing seat designs for the front seats.

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The Honda CR-V is no newcomer to Malaysian roads as it has been sold here since 1996. However, Kah Motor Co Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Honda vehicles, had special reason to ‘launch’ it today because it is now assembled in Malaysia. Local assembly of this popular Honda model – which accounted for about 10% of all Honda vehicles sold in 1999 worldwide – follows a similar move by Honda in Thailand and the Philippines and in July this year, Indonesia as well. In total, Honda expects to sell about 9,000 – 10,000 locally-assembled CR-Vs in the ASEAN region this year.

Actually, if it was not for the economic recession, we would have seen the locally-assembled CR-V two years ago. A Kah Motor source said that the decision was made in early 1997 with the aim of starting assembly by the end of that year. “The assembly jigs were actually half completed at the plant in Johor when we were told to put the project on hold till the market recovered,” the source told AUTOWORLD.COM.MY.

Why assemble locally? The immediate answer used to be that it would reduce the price compared to a Completely Built-Up (CBU) import from Japan which incurs high import duties. But the weakening of the ringgit in the past two years has meant that even being assembled in Malaysia, the CR-V now costs not less than RM143,986; typically a customer will pay around RM149,791 with the Recommended Accessories Package included.

The good thing, of course, is that the private importers will have to lower their prices (which have been over RM160,000 in the past year) to attract customers now that Kah Motor is offering the model in a more serious way. According to Dato’ Robert Wong, JP, Oriental Holdings Bhd Group Managing Director, the company expects to sell between 1,200 – 1,400 CR-Vs this year. This will account for about one-quarter of the total volume of Honda vehicles forecast for 2000 in Malaysia.

The CR-V assembled locally is not much different from those already on the roads since the model is still in its first generation (the next generation is expected to be launched in Japan next year and won’t be assembled here till early 2002). But since its original introduction four years ago, some technical aspects have been improved, eg the ignition timing system for the sparks in the 2.0-litre DOHC 16-valve engine is now integrated with the primary engine management system.
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Honda has never produced a manual transmission version of the CR-V to date and the automatic transmission it utilises is quite an advanced system with electronic controls and a ‘Grade Logic Control’ to make gear changes less frequent on slopes. To do this, Fuzzy Logic is employed and the transmission computer makes decisions to shift based on a number of factors. Incidentally, to provide more space on the floor, the shift lever is mounted on the steering column – just like it was in the old days!

Unlike many other 4WDs, the CR-V’s drivetrain is not full-time nor part-time (where you have to use a lever to engage 4WD). Instead it is what Honda calls ‘Realtime’ and the system provides 4WD only when needed. In conditions where the tyres grip firmly, the system runs only on front- wheel drive. But if the speed sensors detect that there is slippage occurring at the rear wheels, power is automatically transferred to the rear wheels as well, giving 4-wheel drive traction for stability. Honda believes this is a more efficient system as it reduces weight, noise and fuel consumption. It is not unique, though, as the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Navigator employs a similar concept. However, in its class, the CR-V is the only model which has such a system.

The CR-V has independent double wishbone suspension on all four wheels with the components suitably strengthened to cope with occasional off-road trips. The disc/drum brake system is controlled by a 3-channel ABS said to be of the latest generation.

Standard equipment is quite comprehensive and includes dual front airbags, an improved 3-channel reverse sensor system said to be more accurate and even a picnic table cleverly stowed in the boot floor. A ‘baby mirror’ is installed on the left fender and this item, installed by Japanese manufacturers for the domestic models in the mid-1980s, was to ensure that the driver could see if there was any child near the car in that hidden corner. Apparently, it was introduced after the driver of a rather tall 4WD rolled over a child because he could not see the child from his seat. But for Malaysia, Kah Motor says that it is intended to aid parking.

As many people would be aware, the CR-V’s rear door is a two-piece affair with the glass separately swinging upwards and the door section swinging outwards to the right. For those who find they cannot fit a bicycle into the boot, there’s a special carrier for the roof rack available. And for a limited period, CR-V buyers can also buy a special edition ‘CR-V’ mountain bike made by Le Run at a 40% discount from the normal price for the model.

Also offered by Kah Motor is the ‘Skyguard’ system, a special security system that can be activated by satellite to immobilise the vehicle and set off the alarm if it is reported stolen. The same system is also used to remind the owner when it is time to service the CR-V. Dato’ Wong said that buyers can opt not to buy this system (which normally retails for RM1,280 but is specially priced at RM998 for buyers) but he strongly recommends it as the CR-V is quite a ‘hot car’.

“Many people like to buy the CR-V but many also like to steal it!” he said, referring to statistics that show it has been among the models frequently stolen or hijacked. “We therefore urge owners to install this Skyguard system so that they can have better protection for their CR-V.”

So now that the CR-V is available as a locally-assembled model, should you buy from it from Kah Motor or buy a privately-imported model? Kah Motor will tell you that their product comes with guaranteed after-sales support and indeed, they do not touch those CR-Vs not sold by them. However, Honda has made their products so reliable that they rarely have problems! Nevertheless, should a major problem occur – especially in the electronics – it is likely that the Kah Motor service centre will be the only place with the right equipment to diagnose and fix the problem.

A final word from Dato’ Wong: “Don’t wait too long to buy our CR-V because we can’t be sure how long this launch price can be maintained. If the exchange rate becomes less favourable in the near future, we may be forced to raise the price before the end of the year as the cost of many of the parts from Japan is quite high.”


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Consumers in Malaysia who have been counting the months to the opening of the Malaysian auto sector under the ASEAN free Trade Area (AFTA) agreement in 2003 will now have to add 24 months to that deadline. The decision to ask for an extension had already been announced at the end of last year by the Malaysian government which said that it needed extra time for its auto industry to recover from the severe effects of the recent recession.

On May 1st, ASEAN trade ministers who gathered in Myanmar for an informal round of talks gave the green light for Malaysia’s request to extend its deadline for the reduction of tariffs to between 0% and 5% for intra-ASEAN automobiles and related products.

The acceptance of Malaysia’s request appears to have been made grudgingly as members like Thailand had declared their unhappiness over the matter and even threatened reciprocal action by not allowing Malaysia’s palm oil exports in on the 0% – 5% basis. But Malaysia has also indicated its strong commitment to AFTA by having 60% of its product lines made tariff-free on January 1st this year, the most extensive of any of the members and 5 years earlier than the latest date agreed.

While Malaysia’s request was made under Article 6 of the AFTA Agreement signed in 1992 (extract of Article 6), the other ASEAN trade ministers want to review that provision which, according to meeting chairman George Yeo (Trade Minister of Singapore), “should be invoked only when the needs are clearly over-riding”. The structure of the exemption will be formulated before 32nd ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting in Thailand in October.

(Extract from AFTA Agreement signed in 1992)


Article 6: EMERGENCY MEASURES

1 . If, as a result of the implementation of this Agreement, import of a particular product eligible under the CEPT Scheme is increasing in such a manner as to cause or threaten to cause serious injury to sectors producing like or directly competitive products in the importing Member States, the importing Member States may, to the extent and for such time as may be necessary to prevent or to remedy such injury, suspend preferences provisionally and without discrimination, subject to Article 6 (3) of this Agreement. Such suspension of preferences shall be consistent with the GATT.

2. Without prejudice to existing international obligations, a Member State, which finds it necessary to create or intensify quantitative restrictions or other measures limiting imports with a view to forestalling the threat of or stopping a serious decline of its monetary reserves, shall endeavour to do so in a manner, which safeguards the value of the concessions agreed upon.

3. Where emergency measures are taken pursuant to this Article, immediate notice of such action shall be given to the Council referred to in Article 7 of this Agreement, and such action may be the subject of consultation as provided for in Article 8 of this Agreement.

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