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The Perodua Axia netted two awards at the annual Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence Awards ceremony – “Value-for-Money Car of the Year (1.3L and below)” and the overall “Car of the Year for 2016” award.

As Perodua’s 10th model, the Axia was awarded the Value-for-Money Car of the Year (1.3L and below) based on affordability and fuel consumption efficiency that contribute to friendlier ownership costs.

Meanwhile, its Car of the Year Award was based on the Axia’s impressive growth of sales volume in 2014 and 2015, which increased its market share to become the leading passenger car and impacted the total industry volume (TIV) overall for 2015.

The awards were presented by Frost & Sullivan Managing Director for Malaysia & Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific, Mr Hazmi Yusof to Perodua President and CEO Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh. “These two awards show that we are very committed in giving our customers the best quality, value for money and good driving experience,’’ Aminar said. “We are very happy yet humbled to receive these awards and thank Frost & Sullivan for providing an objective platform to evaluate vehicles fairly. We would also like to thank Malaysians, especially our customers for their continued support of us; they are the reason why we are here tonight,” he added.

Representatives from Perodua at the Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence Award include YBhg Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh, President & CEO (centre), YBhg Datuk Ahmad Suhaimi Hashim, President of Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (centre right) and Dr Zahari Husin, Managing Director of Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd (centre left).
Representatives from Perodua at the Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence Award include YBhg Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh, President & CEO (centre), YBhg Datuk Ahmad Suhaimi Hashim, President of Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (centre right) and Dr Zahari Husin, Managing Director of Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd (centre left).

Perodua Axia SE FrontThe Perodua Axia is the compact car maker’s first EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) which comes with 4 variants (Standard E, Standard G, SE & Advance); Perodua has sold about 154,103 units since it was launched in September 2014. It continues to receive favorable bookings.

The Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Excellence Awards in its year 12th, evaluates and recognises industry leaders in the telecommunications, automotive, energy, environment, healthcare and logistics sectors.

 

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Mercedes-Benz Malaysia CEO Dr Claus Weidner giving his opening speech

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is riding high contrary to the general automotive market performance, achieving a 41% year-on-year quarterly growth in 1Q16 and increasing its market share to 2.3%.

“Taking pole position doesn’t happen overnight. Our success comes from the combination of all our on-going initiatives,” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner, at the company’s 1st Quarter 2016 media briefing yesterday.

As part of its Best Customer Experience initiative, Dr Weidner said that Mercedes-Benz Malaysia had launched three new showrooms and four new models, introduced product experts, and service differentiation, all in the first three months of the year.

“In the year that the Mercedes-Benz brand celebrates its 130! Years of Innovation, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia renews our commitment to the Malaysian market. We will continue to focus on key customer touch points through our dealer network. We will be continuously upgrading our existing dealerships, and we will continue to provide customers with not only The Best products, but also The Best customer experience,” Dr Weidner pledged.

In the first quarter of 2016 alone, two revamped Mercedes-Benz Cycle & Carriage Bintang Autohauses were launched. Carrying the latest Mercedes-Benz corporate identity and featuring upgraded showrooms and customer lounges, upgrading the Mercedes-Benz Cycle & Carriage Bintang Autohauses in Petaling Jaya, Selangor and Georgetown, Penang required a total investment of RM11 million. In the same quarter, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Cycle & Carriage Bintang also introduced the all-new Mercedes-Benz City Store at TREC Kuala Lumpur, a fresh new concept and customer experience which was built with an investment of RM4.3 million.

“We are pleased that our relentless pursuit of excellence is producing such a positive result. Following a stellar 2015 performance, we have successfully maintained our lead in Malaysia’s premium automotive segment, recording a healthy growth of 41% in the first quarter of 2016, with total sales of 2,658 units. With this, we achieved a new milestone, as at YTD March 2016 we recorded a Market Share of 2.3%, marking an increase of 0.5% versus previous year.” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Vice President Sales and Marketing, Passenger Cars, Mr Mark Raine.

Leading Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s encouraging Q1 performance was the locally produced limousine segment. The ‘bread-and-butter’ models recorded a collective growth of 26%, delivering a total of 1,814 units. The C-Class emerged the volume leader in this segment with a total sales of 1,359 units, a phenomenal growth of 871%. The locally produced E- and S-Class delivered 260 units and 195 units respectively.

The Mercedes-Benz Compact Cars continued to delight the market in Q1 recording a healthy growth of 59%, delivering a total of 664 units. The recently launched A-Class led the pack, registering impressive sales of 300 units, a 38% increase compared to the same period last year. The CLA continued to maintain robust growth with a 200% increase from Q1 2015, selling a total of 183 units. Mercedes-Benz’s compact SUV, the GLA, recorded a strong 77% increase during Q1’16, to 159 units, from 90 units during the same period in 2015.

Since its launch in January, the all-new Mercedes-Benz SUVs have been very well received by the Malaysian market. In Q1, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia delivered a total of 170 SUVs to customers, comprising 121 GLC and 49 GLE units.

The striking Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars line-up continued to maintain a steady momentum in 1Q16, with 20 units delivered to customers.

“This achievement is clearly the result of a coordinated market offensive, which includes the extremely successful launch of a new SUV line, and bringing new customers into the Mercedes-Benz brand by providing a wider variety of vehicles. We thank our dealer network and our loyal fans for their steadfast support of the Mercedes-Benz brand,” Mr Raine said.

“It has been a very eventful first quarter for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, and we are most encouraged by the results. We will continue to provide The Best in our offerings and customer experience through all customer touch points. We have achieved a lot, and we are not stopping here. We will keep up the momentum and remain the leading brand in the premium automotive segment,” assured Dr Weidner.

Ending a good note on a good note, Mr Raine announced that Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will introduce 3 new models, update 3 models, add 2 new engine variants and 1 facelift. Further, the company has no plans to increase prices in the foreseeable future as it is actively managing inventory and currency; this move also helps with residual values.

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Mr Glenn Tan, Executive Director, Tan Chong International Ltd. and Monika Sta. Maria, Subaru Ambassador with the new Subaru Forester

Following its launch at the 2016 Bangkok Motor Show last month, Motor Image Malaysia (exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in Malaysia), yesterday launched the new Subaru Forester at 1 Utama Shopping Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya.

The improved Subaru Forester offers better handling dynamics, innovative technologies and aesthetic upgrades, making it the ideal choice for an active family that lives life to the fullest.

The new Subaru Forester is available in three options – Two Completely Knocked Down (CKD) variants – 2.0i (RM 144,948) and 2.0i-P (RM 154,488). A third variant is the turbocharged 2.0XT imported Complete Built Up (CBU) from Japan (RM 211,729).

For a limited time only, TC Subaru is offering an introductory price for 2.0i at RM 139,800 and 2.0i-P at RM 151,800. All prices stated are on-the-road inclusive of GST, road tax and without insurance, for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia only.

To mark the arrival of the new Subaru Forester, Motor Image launched a brand campaign called ‘Is There Anything You Can’t Do?’. This campaign is aligned with families and drivers who have an unstoppable attitude – There is nothing they can’t do in life. The New Subaru Forester is the car designed specially for their lifestyle. A car that represents the resilience and endless capacity to get what they desire.

“Together with the launch of the Forester, Subaru is excited to roll-out a brand-new campaign to highlight the traits of the Forester, an unstoppable vehicle that can turn any challenging terrain into an exciting adventure. The campaign name “Is There Anything You Can’t Do” reminds people that they can achieve anything they have their eyes set on, and the Subaru Forester will accompany them throughout their adventure”, said Mr Glenn Tan, Executive Director, Tan Chong International Ltd.

The Forester 2.0i and 2.0i-P variants feature Subaru’s renowned 2.0-litre four-cylinder 16-Valve, FB20 Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine which produces maximum power of 150PS at 6,200 rpm and peak torque of 198 Nm at 4,200 rpm. Better fuel efficiency of 7.9L/100km (combined) is also achieved as a result of a long stroke engine coupled with a lightweight engine block.

The 2.0XT variant produces maximum power of 241PS at 5,600 rpm and peak torque of 350 Nm at 2400-3600 rpm as a result of a FA20 Direct-Injection Turbocharged Boxer Engine for higher power and decent fuel efficiency of 8.5 L/100km (combined).

Paired to these engines is a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) which is tuned to complement the Forester’s performance. Other notable features of the Forester include the X-Mode suite of driving features, SI Drive and a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) code access which lets you lock your key fob in the car for convenience. More details in our upcoming review.

Besides the Subaru showrooms nationwide, the Forester is available this week (14 – 17 April) for viewing at 1 Utama Highstreet (New Wing); a course has been set outdoors for you to test the Forester’s capabilities.

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MUV Marketplace Sdn Bhd is moving to change the used vehicle market, according to founder Nicholas Tan, with the tagline “Dare to Move”, in conjunction with the launch of its new website catering to dealers, corporations and consumers alike.

Connecting and re-engineering processes, MUV empowers buyers and sellers with symmetrical information, transparency and convenience to change the used vehicle buying and selling experience. Since its inception in July 2013, MUV has sold more than RM260 million worth of used vehicles, ran 50 auctions for more than 11,000 vehicles with a hit rate of 75%.

MUV currently has three hubs across Malaysia, namely in Klang Valley, Penang and Johor that are capable of housing more than 2,000 vehicles and seating 350 buyers altogether.

Nicholas Tan said, “The used vehicle industry is ripe for disruption. If you look at it, there’s billions invested in the new vehicle space and very little in the used vehicle space. We wanted to create a level playing field, a marketplace that brings the openness of information technology with the physical ecosystem of a marketplace – nationwide”.

Available on both Apple and Google app stores (B2B only) and the website (consumers, corporations & dealers), MUV provides dashboards for users detailing vital information on vehicles; such as their inspection report, mileage, value and ratings. The mobile app also enables dealers to bid straight from their own mobile devices.

DSC_5590For dealers, the MUV website and mobile app empower users with the tools to view, assess and bid for vehicles in real-time. Vehicles are physically available for viewing at MUV Xchange Hubs located at its headquarters in Seri Kembangan, Bayan Lepas and Johor Jaya. Successful bidders can drive away with their purchase within 7 working days, once payment has been made. The secure bidding system allows for the price discovery process to be optimised.

For consumers, Quick Sell @ Garage provides a hassle-free and immediate solution for selling their vehicles directly to MUV. Alternatively, they can sell their vehicles on the MUV Xchange Platform that enables them to get the highest possible price through competitive bidding. Both options will require the consumer to undergo a 30 minutes appraisal to obtain an estimated value.

The event also saw the launch of MUV’s CSR initiative, which unconventionally revolves around animal rescue. MUV is about rescuing animals and vehicles alike, re-homing them to give a fresh start and repairing a broken industry.

The campaign identified five independent animal rescuers and sponsored five independent animal rescuers a monthly incentive for one year in MUV’s bid to support them in their efforts to rescue, spay, nurture and home abandoned animals. MUV will also be collaborating with these unsung heroes to raise greater awareness surrounding this cause.

More information on MUV can be derived from their website: www.muv.com.my

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Earlier this week, Lexus delivered the NX 300h compact crossover to its one millionth hybrid vehicle customer in Milan, Italy – Mr Aldo Pirronello. “This is my first Lexus. I chose this brand because I really value it. I was surprised to hear that I was the buyer of the 1000000th hybrid Lexus, and I am honored to celebrate this important milestone with Lexus!”, he said.

About 11 years ago, the premium Japanese marque started off with the Lexus RX 400h SUV thereafter setting a trend for premium and luxury marques to offer hybrid variants. And even today, Lexus still leads with the widest range of hybrid variants available from a premium brand, from the CT hatchback to the GS midsize sedan to the RX SUV.

“We have set ambitious environmental goals for 2050, the popularity of the hybrid technology worldwide is extremely important for us to achieve those goals. I’m extremely happy that over 1 million customers worldwide have put their faith into our Lexus hybrid line-up,” Tokuo Fukuichi, President of Lexus International, commented.

Petroleum-electric hybrid is regarded as a stepping stone to alternative powertrain technology and reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Japan, Europe and North America remain the biggest hybrid markets for Lexus.

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Following its success at the iF Design Awards, Continental’s Conti Hybrid HT3 trailer tire has won another award – the renowned “Red Dot: Best of the Best” design award. The international Red Dot jury made the award in the product design category to the low profile tire in sizes 445/45 R 19.5 and 435/50 R 19.5 for incomparable design quality and groundbreaking construction. Continental’s premium tire, which was specially developed for use on mega liners, is now one of the most award-winning trailer tires.

Constantin Batsch shows the Conti Hybrid HT3_print
Constantin Batsch with the Conti Hybrid HT3

“The Conti Hybrid HT3 445/45 R 19.5 and 435/50 R 19.5 were assessed by an independent expert jury of 41 specialists from around the world for innovation, technical quality, functionality, and environmental impact. The “Red Dot: Best of the Best” award is recognition at the highest level of the trailer tire’s excellent product design. We are delighted that the standards that are always at the heart of our tire development have been specially recognized, and we are just as proud to accept this second award as we were the iF Design Award,” said Constantin Batsch, Vice President Business Region Truck Tires EMEA, commenting on the recent award.

Receiving more than 17,000 submissions every year, the Red Dot Design Award is one of the best-known design competitions in the world. The prize is also seen internationally as a recognition at the highest level of outstanding product design and has been run by the Design Zentrum in North Rhine-Westphalia since 1955. As well as being published in the Red Dot Design Yearbook, the award-winning products will also be displayed in the Red Dot Design Museum.

With their award-winning design, Continental’s Conti Hybrid HT3 445/45 R 19.5 and 435/50 R 19.5 are high-mileage, fuel-saving trailer tires, which, thanks to their high load capacity at low diameters, find particular use on the semitrailers of mega liners for long-distance transportation. The optimized tire contour of the low profile tire, with its “B”-grade EU fuel efficiency label, produces a uniform wear pattern and high mileage. With its retreadable carcass, the premium tire from Continental makes a valuable contribution to the sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation of goods.

This award-winning tire is already available for sale in Malaysia with its official launch slated for this quarter.

Continental Conti Hybrid HT3 Tyre Red Dot Design Award 2016 - Malaysia

 

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Transcend DrivePro DP520 Car Video Recorder

Have you ever gotten into a traffic accident and argued till kingdom come despite it not being your fault? Have you noticed a crime being committed in front of you while you’re waiting at the traffic lights, and you want to help the victim but can’t offer much details? Transcend Information, Inc. a leading manufacturer of storage and multimedia products from Taiwan, has introduced the complete DrivePro Car Video Recorder series, to remember the details and be your eyewitness on the road day or night.

Every model in the DrivePro series captures crystal-clear Full HD 1080P (1920 x 1080) video at 30 frames per second, recording everything happening on the road with its wide 130° to 160° viewing angle and large aperture lens. This comes in handy to settle any traffic disputes and even to record third-party accidents or crime.Transcend DrivePro Cameras
DrivePro safeguards your video record with its built-in battery to keep recording for 30 seconds in the event of power failure or interruption, plus the G-sensor emergency recording function protects video files from erasure after any unusual shock or impact is detected. The Auto Power On/Off feature ensures your DrivePro is ready whenever you need it.

The bright built-in 2.4″ color LCD screen lets you review video at any time, and your recordings can also be copied to PCs and other devices, and viewed with Transcend’s free-to-download DrivePro PC Tool for Windows. There’s also a quick snapshot feature to take photos at any time.

Capture every detail and every moment

The camera is built to the highest optical standards to capture critical details such as license plates, even in sub-optimal conditions. The DrivePro camera uses up to 6 or even 7 glass lenses, plus an infrared filter lens, for sharp and clear images. Unlike competing products, this design avoids fogging from heat generated during long periods of operation, reliably recording in difficult conditions. The large aperture of the lens, from F/1.8 up to F/2.0, ensures clarity in low light.

Powerful navigation, driving assistance, and safety features

There is a DrivePro camera for all budget ranges – from the entry-level DrivePro 100 to the DrivePro 200 and 220 to the powerful DrivePro 520. Features available in the range include GPS, rear-facing in-car camera, collision warning and driving assistance, and a mobile app with Wi-Fi connectivity.

The top-of-the-line DrivePro 520 features a dual lens camera where you can clearly capture both the road and the interior of the vehicle simultaneously, thanks to the rotatable rear lens with infrared LEDs for night vision.

Both the DrivePro 520 and the DrivePro 220 record GPS coordinates along with video, to precisely determine the location of an incident, or to display your journey path later on with the free PC software.

The DrivTranscend DrivePro Car Video RecordersePro 220 also offers innovative driving assistance functions, including Forward Collision Warning System (FCWS) to keep a safe distance at speed, Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) to warn if the vehicle is drifting out its lane while moving at high speed, and Parking Mode, to record video and capture evidence automatically if the car is bumped while parked unattended. These are useful additional driving safety features for your current car if you can’t yet afford a new car with such safety features.

DrivePro series car video recorders all include a free microSD Card (Transcend is a well-known maker of memory cards in case you didn’t know), and are available with a choice of either a suction mount or adhesive mount and include a car lighter power adapter. Additionally, there are accessories such as additional mounts, car lighter power adapters and high endurance, shock resistant microSDXC/SDHC memory cards for extended recording or to archive video. Every DrivePro product is protected by Transcend’s two-year Limited Warranty.

The recommended retail prices (including GST) are: RM 399 for DP100; RM 549 for DP200; RM 649 for DP220 and RM 849 for DP520. The DrivePro range is locally distributed by Amble Action Sdn Bhd (Contact: 03-7968-6899 or visit ambleaction.com.my).

More information can be found at Transcend’s website.

 

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The Tesla Model 3, touted by Tesla CEO Elon Musk as the electric car for the masses was recently spotted on the streets running behind a Model S fitted with a rear camera rig; most probably for filming for marketing purposes or Musk’s ‘part two’ of the unveil.

The Model 3 is claimed to cover over 400 km on a single charge while carrying five adults “comfortably”; and like the Model S, comes with cargo space in the front AND the back (since there’s no engine to fit in). It is also said to do 0-100 km/h in less than 6 seconds. “Tesla doesn’t make slow cars”, as Musk puts it.

The Model 3 has become the envy of many an automaker; it’s already a huge success even before production has begun. Since its unveiling last week, it has created a new sales record with over 325,000 units reserved. That’s about US$ 14 billion in total sales (completely unheard of in any industry), with production not even expected until 2017.

Not to pour cold water on this hot new car but Tesla hasn’t had a great history of timely delivery. The Model S sedan was besieged by production and technical delays as has the newly introduced Model X SUV (which is also affected by recall as of yesterday). Thus far, Tesla has built about 50,000 cars a year and is expecting to nearly double that capacity this year with its expansion program to fulfill its delivery commitment of the existing models.

Nevertheless, the Model 3 is said to be a showcase for a platform that will form the base of a multitude of vehicle types (perhaps a compact SUV or even a pickup is on the cards).

The Model 3 in the footage is a pre-production model as the interior (not seen in the video) is still just a rough mock-up and more details should be revealed in ‘part two’. Despite the hype, Tesla is probably the company that is spurring on the electric vehicle movement; its opening up of its patents also plays a big role, allowing car manufacturers to use technology already developed by Tesla thus saving on R&D.

Click here to watch the video and here for the unveiling video.

 

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Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the premium British automaker, has launched a spin-off technology venture called InMotion to build apps for mobility services like car-sharing. InMotion will begin testing applications including car-sharing and car-ownership services in North America, Europe and Asia within the year.

InMotion Logo“With the development of new apps and on-demand services, InMotion provides us with an opportunity to provide engaging and invaluable experiences to both new and existing customers globally,” Group Strategy Director Adrian Hallmark said. “As a startup business, InMotion combines the flexibility and pace needed to compete in the ever-changing mobility sector. It allows us to react quickly to new tech and ever-changing customer demands.”

Jaguar Land Rover joins the ranks of a growing list of automakers who are tapping into new technology amidst a changing motoring landscape. Some examples are BMW with the DriveNow car club; General Motors and its investment in ride-sharing company, Lyft and self-driving car startup, Cruise Automation; Volvo with its development of a car controlled via phone (no key needed) as well as Toyota’s car rental system.

Jaguar Land Rover

 

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Chevron Malaysia Limited, which markets Caltex Lubricants, Havoline® and Delo®, has partnered with Twentieth Century Fox to run a promotion in conjunction with the opening of the X-Men: Apocalypse movie.

Caltex Havoline & Delo X-Men Promotional BoxFrom now till 12 June 2016, make a trip to any Caltex service station or Caltex Lubricants workshops to experience the Power of X with Havoline® and Delo® lubricants, while stocks last. The Havoline® and Delo® promotion gift boxes comes with a free X-Men T-shirt and lucky draw chances to win exclusive X-Men: Apocalypse premiums including X-Men Magneto helmets, X-Men wash bags, X-Men hoodies and movie tickets.

Customers will also stand a chance to walk away with the grand prize of a brand new 150cc Yamaha motorbike.

“At Caltex, our customers are the cornerstone of our business. Every bottle of Caltex Havoline and Delo engine oil is imbued with the strength to protect their engines and deliver optimized performance. To help our customers ‘Enjoy the Journey’ even more, we’ve tailored exclusive offers and activities to make every journey with Caltex an exciting one,” said Asim Khan, Area Business Manager, Cluster, Asia Pacific.

The following are the dates for the fortnightly lucky draws, along with the corresponding prizes:

Caltex X-Men Lucky Draw

For more information on the ‘Release the Power of X’ promotion and the winners announcement, visit www.calteXmen.com.

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