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    With a chairman (44-year old Bill Ford) who is especially concerned about the environment, Ford Motor Company has, in recent years, embarked on an extensive program to offer more environment-friendly vehicles. As one of the companies which makes and sells the most automobiles in the world, it realizes that its products obviously make a major impact on the environment with the amounts of exhaust gases generated, as well as the millions of litres of fuel consumed.

    Like many other automakers, Ford has been spending a lot of money on R&D into environment-friendly vehicles. The company introduced its “Cleaner, Safer, Sooner” commitment in 1998 by making U.S. and Canadian SUVs and Windstar minivans low emissions vehicles (LEVs) ahead of any US regulatory requirement. The next year, Ford expanded its LEV commitment to its F-Series pickup trucks. In Europe, the company has moved ahead of stage IV requirements by nearly five years. By January 2000, Ford had more than 2 million vehicles on the road that operated significantly cleaner than the local regulatory requirement.

    In addition, Ford is the industry leader in the production and sale of alternative fuel vehicles, including cars and trucks powered by natural gas, propane and electricity. Natural gas versions of the Ford F-Series and Econoline were the first vehicles to be certified as SULEV under the strict criteria of the California Air Resources Board. Ford also has more zero-emissions electric vehicles on the road in North America than any other automaker.

    Not content with its industry-leading position, Ford continues to develop other types of vehicles that are more environment-friendly and within just two years, it will offer a sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a hybrid powerplant.

    Based on the present Escape model, the Escape HEV (hybrid-electric vehicle), as it is known, is being claimed as ‘the cleanest, most fuel-efficient SUV on the planet when it goes on sale in 2003′. It will be the first production SUV with a hybrid powerplant but not the first SUV with an alternative powerplant; some years ago, Toyota began offering its RAV4 model with an electric engine in some countries.

    The Escape HEV will feature an electric drivetrain combined with a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder petrol engine. With regenerative braking and nearly instantaneous start-stop capability, the Escape HEV will be especially fuel-efficient in the city, delivering about 40 USmpg (about 17 kms per litre or 48 mpg) in urban driving conditions. The hybrid Escape will be capable of being driven more than 900 kms on a single tank of petrol. It will, however, have acceleration performance similar to an Escape equipped with a 3.0-litre V-6 engine.

    “The Escape HEV will be a ‘no-compromise’ family-sized hybrid electric vehicle that achieves superior fuel economy and low emissions without sacrificing performance, roominess or affordability,” said Jim O’Connor, president, Ford Division.

    Prototypes of the Escape HEV are presently undergoing rigorous testing to ensure the vehicle is “Built Ford Tough.” Like the current production Escape with petrol engine, it will have 4×4 capability, the same ground clearance and comparable cargo capacity.

    The Escape HEV drive system combines a 65 kW permanent magnetic electric motor and 28 kW generator with an Atkinson cycle variant of the Escape’s Zetec 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine. The Atkinson cycle engine is significantly more efficient than a conventional four-stroke Otto cycle engine. The increase in efficiency is due to controlling pumping losses and optimizing the expansion ratio, while maintaining a constant compression ratio.

    The Atkinson cycle, also called the “5-stroke cycle”, works like this: intake, back-flow (partial expulsion to eliminate pumping losses), compression, expansion and exhaust. Based on this cycle, the combustion chamber volume is adapted to maintain a constant compression ratio for each load level while varying the expansion ratio to optimize efficiency. Low-end torque losses, which are characteristic of 5-stroke cycle engines, can be overcome with the assistance of an electric drive motor, making the Atkinson cycle ideal for hybridization.

    The electric drive motor is used to increase the performance of the internal combustion (IC) engine, stop and restart the IC engine when the vehicle is at rest, drive the vehicle at low speeds, recharge the 300V traction battery and recapture braking energy – called regenerative braking. Sanyo Electric has been selected as the exclusive supplier of the nickel-metal hydride batteries for the Escape HEV.

    These and other related technologies have been developed and proven during Ford’s P2000 research program.

    The Escape HEV is being designed to operate cleaner than government regulations require. In fact, it will qualify as a Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) under California emissions standards. It will also meet Stage IV emissions requirements in Europe before they become mandatory in the 2005 model year.

    While a few automakers have introduced small, low-volume hybrid electric cars, Ford is introducing its first HEV in a family-sized sport utility to increase customer appeal. This hybrid-electric powertrain also has been developed with additional applications and vehicle platforms in mind to expand the potential impact of the environmentally-responsible technology.

    “The most impressive technology in the world cannot make a measurable difference in addressing global concerns until it is applied in large-volume production,” Mr O’Connor said. “Ford has consistently worked for high-volume solutions that don’t require our customers to make compromises. The Escape HEV will continue in that tradition.”

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      Australian-based Orbital’s OCP (Orbital Combustion Process) direct-injection (DI) technology had achieved a new level of capability in the automotive sector. During extensive testing of the system, Orbital achieved a vehicle fuel economy improvement in excess of 20% over the European test cycle while still meeting the tough EURO 4 emission control requirements.

      The results were achieved without modification to the baseline vehicle and demonstrated a very high reduction (up to 90%) in engine-out oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The very low NOx emissions enabled the use of a relatively low cost catalyst aged to simulate conditions at high mileage. The catalyst was developed in conjunction with Johnson Matthey, one of the world’s leading producers of automotive catalysts.

      “The 20% improvement takes OCP into a league of its own, in terms of real world fuel economy improvements from a single tchnology change. When you look at the combustion system alone, the alternative stratified charge direct injection systems do not show more than a 5-10% improvement under driving conditions in Europe,” said Kim Schlunke, Orbital’s CEO. “Indeed, if Orbital’s technology were applied in combination with typical additional vehicle refinements, such as electric power steering and weight reduction, we would expect a fuel economy improvement in excess of 25%.”

      In the US, fuel quality limitations have so far prevented significant penetration of petrol DI technology. However, the inherently low NOx emissions of Orbital’s combustion system will enable the technology to work in the US emissions environment. This means that a single technology change would have a significant impact on the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) performance of major US automobile manufacturers.

      The average fuel economy of cars and light trucks sold in the US is at it’s worst since 1981 which has placed US automakers under intense pressure to improve their CAFE performance. Orbital is hoping its breakthrough will draw their serious attention.

      The fuel economy capability is particularly important to Orbital’s automotive customers as they look to the future requirements for greenhouse gas reduction in the global market. In Europe, for example, the major automakers have committed to a vehicle fleet average CO2 target of 140 g/km by 2008, which will require on average a 35% reduction from current fleet fuel consumption figures. Orbital’s latest achievement will obviously be able to contribute significantly towards this goal.

      The fuel economy results were achieved in a standard 4-door sedan powered by a 2.0-litre, 16-valve 4-stroke engine converted to run the latest version of the OCP DI fuel system. The test engine incorporated major developments of the air and fuel supply systems as well as further refinement of the engine calibration and control system.

      “The last few years have been a new learning experience for automotive companies as they have found that laboratory predictions for the performance of competing DI fuel systems have not always transferred into their on-road vehicles”, added Mr Schlunke.

      “Orbital has continued to develop a robust direct injection combustion system which can deliver major fuel economy improvements in the real world. A key feature of Orbital’s unique system is the use of low-pressure air as the propellant which produces very small fuel droplets that contribute significantly to the robustness of the system. This is one of the key factors that enables the laboratory test data to be transferred into a real world vehicle application The OCP robustness has been discussed in detail in a recent publication by Orbital at the Japan Society of Auto Engineers Conference,” he said.

      Orbital has been developing OCP technology for 4-stroke automotive applications for over five years, with previous announcements in 1999 and 2000 detailing the technical capability of the system and the commitment of customers such as Saab for future production programs. Orbital is today a leading international developer of engine technologies using direct in-cylinder fuel injection and lean-burn systems for enhanced fuel economy and lower emissions.

      The Orbital Combustion Process
      The breakthrough in engine design achieved by Orbital is a stratified combustion process, which involves an air-assisted injection of fuel directly into the combustion chamber and uses electronic control of the fuel delivery, injection timing, ignition and other variables.

      The OCP and control is suitable for both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines and has been applied successfully across a range of cylinder displacements from 50 cc to greater than 500 cc, including high speed engine operation.

      In a conventional engine, the fresh fuel/air mixture is prepared upstream of the cylinder (whether by carburettor or conventional EFI) and enters the cylinder during the intake stroke, with the intent of forming a homogenous mixture of air and fuel within the cylinder.

      The application of OCP technology enables systems allow a highly stratified combustion process to occur, containing the combustible fuel cloud to a small area within the cylinder, with the remainder of the air in the cylinder being not fuelled.

      This process at light loads allows engines with OCP to run very lean (in some cases, total engine operation is carried out without the use of an air intake throttle). Under high load conditions, the OCP system runs similar to a homogeneously-charged engine, with good mixing of the fuel/air mixtures within the cylinder.

      In the case of a 2-stroke engine, direct fuel injection is possible after the exhaust port closes at light loads, minimising the short-circuiting of fresh fuel/air mixture out of the exhaust port as occurs in conventional 2-stroke engines. In the case of a 4-stroke engine, direct fuel injection allows lean engine operation, significantly reducing the engine pumping work.

      The combustion process, due to control of the air to fuel ratio gradient within the spray plume, allows clean and controlled combustion, resulting in further improvements in fuel economy and emission control.

      Apart from the basic combustion process and the associated fuel and control system, Orbital has developed related technologies including catalyst systems, control systems, control hardware and control software for vehicle applications of engines using OCP technology.

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      Proton today completed the 40,000th unit of the Waja since production of the model began in September 2000. On hand to give the milestone car, a silver 1.6, its final quality check was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad. At a simple ceremony in the Medium Volume Factory which only produces the Waja, the PM went through the checklist with Proton QC staff and finally affixed the ‘LULUS’ sticker to the rear left quarter-glass of the car.

      Prior to the ceremony, the PM toured the MVF which was specially built for the purpose of producing the Waja. It has a present capacity of 60,000 units a year which works out to 5,000 units a month. This can be increased to 80,000 units a year with an additional investment of RM50 million. The 800 workers have been putting in a great deal of effort to produce more cars to try to shorten the waiting list (which started with over 32,000 orders) and monthly production exceeded 5,000 units in June this year. It takes about 27 hours to assemble a car or about 25.2 man-hours per unit.

      The RM400 million factory, which operates on two shifts, is one of the most advanced in ASEAN as it has a high degree of automation. Unlike the main plant which does the other models, the MVF is designed for modular production. In this type of production, less assembly of small components is carried out in the plant and the suppliers deliver larger pre-built units such as the dashboard and door module. The Waja presently has 14 modules, which has reduced the number of components to be installed by 25%.

      According to Tengku Tan Sri (Dr) Mahaleel, Proton’s CEO, the various processes in the MVF have helped Proton reduce its production cost per car by 11.3% since 1997. However, he is not satisfied with this reduction and says that greater efforts will be made to bring costs down.

      This is understandable as Proton’s rivals have also achieved cost reductions over the years and in the highly competitive auto industry today, the name of the game is getting the cost as low as possible. This is being done through squeezing suppliers to lower their prices as well as increasing productivity and efficiency. Besides these approaches taken, Proton is also cutting its costs through design and engineering.

      Commenting on the MVF after his tour, the PM said that he was greatly impressed with the progress made by Proton and its capabilities today. He noted that in earlier days, the cars sold in Malaysia were mostly from UK; today, however, there is no longer a true British car but there is still a truly Malaysian car by Proton.

      The Prime Minister also continued to stress that Proton would not be sold off to foreign parties and said that “we will resist this move as long as possible”. He said that, instead, strategic partnerships and technical tie-ups would be considered.

      No mention was made of the next product which Proton will introduce although it is widely known that it will be a mini-MPV based on the Mitsubishi Town Box. The 1.1-litre model is already in production at the AMM plant in Pekan, Pahang, and is likely to be launched this month.

      There was also no news of the availability of the more luxurious Waja 1.6X version (although a unit is being displayed in the Proton head office lobby) but the company announced that the Renault-engined Waja 1.8 will go into production during the first quarter of 2002.

      While at the factory, the PM was taken around in a unique long-wheelbase Waja. This prototype was not built by ACE, the EON subsidiary well known for its conversion of Proton models, but was built by Proton engineers in-house. It has a 1.8-litre engine and the interior is equipped for the executive on the move. It has a full complement of mobile office equipment, including a fax machine, printer and video-conferencing facilities. A Proton source said that there were no plans to offer such a variant.

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        The breakthrough in engine design achieved by Orbital is a stratified combustion process, which involves an air-assisted injection of fuel directly into the combustion chamber and uses electronic control of the fuel delivery, injection timing, ignition and other variables.

        The OCP and control is suitable for both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines and has been applied successfully across a range of cylinder displacements from 50 cc to greater than 500 cc, including high speed engine operation.

        In a conventional engine, the fresh fuel/air mixture is prepared upstream of the cylinder (whether by carburettor or conventional EFI) and enters the cylinder during the intake stroke, with the intent of forming a homogenous
        mixture of air and fuel within the cylinder. The application of OCP technology enables systems allow a highly stratified combustion process to occur, containing the combustible fuel cloud to a small area within the
        cylinder, with the remainder of the air in the cylinder being not fuelled.

        This process at light loads allows engines with OCP to run very lean (in some cases, total engine operation is carried out without the use of an air intake throttle). Under high load conditions, the OCP system runs similar to a homogeneously-charged engine, with good mixing of the fuel/air mixtures within the cylinder.

        In the case of a 2-stroke engine, direct fuel injection is possible after the exhaust port closes at light loads, minimising the short-circuiting of fresh fuel/air mixture out of the exhaust port as occurs in conventional 2-stroke engines. In the case of a 4-stroke engine, direct fuel injection allows lean engine operation, significantly reducing the engine pumping work.

        The combustion process, due to control of the air to fuel ratio gradient within the spray plume, allows clean and controlled combustion, resulting in further improvements in fuel economy and emission control.

        Apart from the basic combustion process and the associated fuel and control system, Orbital has developed related technologies including catalyst systems, control systems, control hardware and control software for vehicle
        applications of engines using OCP technology.

          by -

          The breakthrough in engine design achieved by Orbital is a stratified combustion process, which involves an air-assisted injection of fuel directly into the combustion chamber and uses electronic control of the fuel delivery, injection timing, ignition and other variables.

          The OCP and control is suitable for both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines and has been applied successfully across a range of cylinder displacements from 50 cc to greater than 500 cc, including high speed engine operation.

          In a conventional engine, the fresh fuel/air mixture is prepared upstream of the cylinder (whether by carburettor or conventional EFI) and enters the cylinder during the intake stroke, with the intent of forming a homogenous
          mixture of air and fuel within the cylinder. The application of OCP technology enables systems allow a highly stratified combustion process to occur, containing the combustible fuel cloud to a small area within the
          cylinder, with the remainder of the air in the cylinder being not fuelled.

          This process at light loads allows engines with OCP to run very lean (in some cases, total engine operation is carried out without the use of an air intake throttle). Under high load conditions, the OCP system runs similar to a homogeneously-charged engine, with good mixing of the fuel/air mixtures within the cylinder.

          In the case of a 2-stroke engine, direct fuel injection is possible after the exhaust port closes at light loads, minimising the short-circuiting of fresh fuel/air mixture out of the exhaust port as occurs in conventional 2-stroke engines. In the case of a 4-stroke engine, direct fuel injection allows lean engine operation, significantly reducing the engine pumping work.

          The combustion process, due to control of the air to fuel ratio gradient within the spray plume, allows clean and controlled combustion, resulting in further improvements in fuel economy and emission control.

          Apart from the basic combustion process and the associated fuel and control system, Orbital has developed related technologies including catalyst systems, control systems, control hardware and control software for vehicle
          applications of engines using OCP technology.

            by -

            The breakthrough in engine design achieved by Orbital is a stratified combustion process, which involves an air-assisted injection of fuel directly into the combustion chamber and uses electronic control of the fuel delivery, injection timing, ignition and other variables.

            The OCP and control is suitable for both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines and has been applied successfully across a range of cylinder displacements from 50 cc to greater than 500 cc, including high speed engine operation.

            In a conventional engine, the fresh fuel/air mixture is prepared upstream of the cylinder (whether by carburettor or conventional EFI) and enters the cylinder during the intake stroke, with the intent of forming a homogenous
            mixture of air and fuel within the cylinder. The application of OCP technology enables systems allow a highly stratified combustion process to occur, containing the combustible fuel cloud to a small area within the
            cylinder, with the remainder of the air in the cylinder being not fuelled.

            This process at light loads allows engines with OCP to run very lean (in some cases, total engine operation is carried out without the use of an air intake throttle). Under high load conditions, the OCP system runs similar to a homogeneously-charged engine, with good mixing of the fuel/air mixtures within the cylinder.

            In the case of a 2-stroke engine, direct fuel injection is possible after the exhaust port closes at light loads, minimising the short-circuiting of fresh fuel/air mixture out of the exhaust port as occurs in conventional 2-stroke engines. In the case of a 4-stroke engine, direct fuel injection allows lean engine operation, significantly reducing the engine pumping work.

            The combustion process, due to control of the air to fuel ratio gradient within the spray plume, allows clean and controlled combustion, resulting in further improvements in fuel economy and emission control.

            Apart from the basic combustion process and the associated fuel and control system, Orbital has developed related technologies including catalyst systems, control systems, control hardware and control software for vehicle
            applications of engines using OCP technology.

              by -

              The breakthrough in engine design achieved by Orbital is a stratified combustion process, which involves an air-assisted injection of fuel directly into the combustion chamber and uses electronic control of the fuel delivery, injection timing, ignition and other variables.

              The OCP and control is suitable for both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines and has been applied successfully across a range of cylinder displacements from 50 cc to greater than 500 cc, including high speed engine operation.

              In a conventional engine, the fresh fuel/air mixture is prepared upstream of the cylinder (whether by carburettor or conventional EFI) and enters the cylinder during the intake stroke, with the intent of forming a homogenous
              mixture of air and fuel within the cylinder. The application of OCP technology enables systems allow a highly stratified combustion process to occur, containing the combustible fuel cloud to a small area within the
              cylinder, with the remainder of the air in the cylinder being not fuelled.

              This process at light loads allows engines with OCP to run very lean (in some cases, total engine operation is carried out without the use of an air intake throttle). Under high load conditions, the OCP system runs similar to a homogeneously-charged engine, with good mixing of the fuel/air mixtures within the cylinder.

              In the case of a 2-stroke engine, direct fuel injection is possible after the exhaust port closes at light loads, minimising the short-circuiting of fresh fuel/air mixture out of the exhaust port as occurs in conventional 2-stroke engines. In the case of a 4-stroke engine, direct fuel injection allows lean engine operation, significantly reducing the engine pumping work.

              The combustion process, due to control of the air to fuel ratio gradient within the spray plume, allows clean and controlled combustion, resulting in further improvements in fuel economy and emission control.

              Apart from the basic combustion process and the associated fuel and control system, Orbital has developed related technologies including catalyst systems, control systems, control hardware and control software for vehicle
              applications of engines using OCP technology.

                by -

                DaimlerChrysler researchers in Germany have developed an infrared-laser (IRL) night vision system that is claimed to significantly increase a driver’s view of the road even on a moonless night. The system allows drivers to recognize darkly-clothed pedestrians and cyclists even at great distances. It also illuminates the road ahead over a distance of around 150 metres without blinding the drivers in oncoming vehicles; conventional high-beam headlights provide visibility up to only about 40 metres.

                The system has two laser headlights on the vehicle’s front end which illuminate the road by means of infrared light that is invisible to the human eye. A video camera records the reflected image, which then appears in black and white on a screen projected on the windscreen directly in the driver’s field of vision.

                Driving at night in bad weather is tiring and risky: the German Federal Statistics Office reports that some 40% of serious accidents occur at night, despite the fact that night driving accounts for less than 20% of total driving time in the country. The main cause of the accidents at night is poor visibility. Conventional high-beam headlights do not provide sufficient visibility, and many drivers therefore have difficulty estimating the correct distance. High-beams, which extend the illumination, also blind the drivers of oncoming vehicles, thereby limiting their ability to react quickly to potentially dangerous situations. Poor visibility also causes drivers to tire very quickly, something which can have fatal results.

                DaimlerChrysler’s IRL night vision system can do a lot to reduce these dangers. It is an active system with its own light source and, unlike passive systems, not solely dependent on information resulting from the heat emitted by objects in the field of vision. This means that it can discern objects which display no difference in temperature from their surroundings — like lane markers, for example.

                Researchers chose an infrared light source because such light is invisible to the human eye, so it cannot blind drivers of oncoming vehicles. Its narrow spectral width also offers substantial benefits: preset optical filters are capable of dampening the blinding effects of oncoming headlights by a factor of 50 ~ 100, while still allowing the system’s reflected laser light to pass through.

                The DaimlerChrysler team even came up with another trick to reduce the blinding effects of oncoming high-beams: the laser headlights send pulsating infrared light onto the road. Since the video camera`s electronic cover is synchronized with the frequency of the laser diode, the camera records all of the reflected infrared light but only a greatly reduced amount of the blinding light from oncoming vehicles.

                Prototypes of the IRL system – presently referred to as ‘Active Night Vision’ – have been in the test phase on a bus and this year, DaimlerChrysler is installing it on one of the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee models to evaluate its effectiveness further. It is likely that such a system, previously only used by the military, will become optionally available on more expensive models in the near future, as well as buses, trucks, emergency service vehicles and taxis.

                “This system enhances the night vision of drivers and thus makes night driving safer, especially for older drivers whose night vision may be less acute,” said Steve Buckley, Manager Electronic Product Innovation at DaimlerChrysler’s Liberty & Technical Affairs group. “The advantage of Active Night Vision is that it gives the driver a complete view of the road ahead.”


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                MITSURU OZAKI
                Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

                Mitsuru Ozaki, 54, has been in the automobile industry for nearly 22 years. He has had extensive experience in various countries outside Japan. In the early years of his career with Honda, Mr Ozaki was in charge of foreign sales for the Oceania region. In 1978, he was transferred to Honda’s Thai unit where he had responsibilities covering import, sales, marketing and PR. In 1984, he moved to Honda Federal Inc in Indonesia where he was the Sales & Marketing Advisor in the joint-venture company which manufactures and distributes Honda motorcycles.

                Mr Ozaki has also spent time in Honda’s unit in Italy where he served as its president. It was one of his tougher assignments as Italy has a strong indigenous motorcycle industry.

                In 1997, he moved back to Thailand to become vice-president of Asian Honda Motor, Honda’s ASEAN headquarters.

                ABDUL RASHID bin ABDUL RAHIM
                President and Chief Operating Officer

                A graduate of the RAF College in Cranwell, Encik Rashid, 50, holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering as well as a Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a BSc Honours degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

                Prior to entering the automobile industry 10 years ago, he served in the RMAF (until 1985) where he attained the rank of major. He then joined AIROD, a company which services aircraft, and remained there when it was privatized.

                His entry into the automobile industry began when he joined USF as its General Manager, after which he was appointed the first CEO of USPD (the joint-venture between Proton and the DRB Group, now renamed Proton Edar after Proton acquired it completely). His other positions in the DRB Group prior to joining DOH in January 2001 were CEO of Proton Corporation and also CEO of DRB-HICOM Export Corporation.

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                The new joint-venture company handling Honda manufacturing, distribution, marketing and sales in Malaysia – DRB-Oriental-Honda Sdn Bhd (DOH) – officially began operations on July 1st 2001, taking over from its previous franchise holder of 33 years, Oriental Holdings Bhd (the parent company of Kah Motors). As yesterday was a Sunday, the new company, in which Honda is the largest single shareholder with a 49% equity, began its activities today with the signing of dealership agreements in Kuala Lumpur.

                At a simple ceremony, DOH formalised dealership agreements with 51 parties, including 12 Kah Motors branches. Virtually every state, including in East Malaysia, has at least one Honda dealer and there are also 12 authorised Honda service dealers.

                “It is our wish to cause no disruption or inconvenience to our customers with the beginning of our operations and we believe that the change-over will occur smoothly,” said Mitsuru Ozaki, DOH Managing Director/CEO. Mr Ozaki said that while there would be no dramatic changes in store for customers at Honda showrooms right away, there would be intensive training for all the dealers to heighten as aspects of customer service and after-sales support.

                “We want to achieve the Highest Customer Satisfaction in Malaysia in the shortest possible time,” he declared.

                Aware that there has been a degree of customer dissatisfaction with the way Hondas have been marketed in the past, DOH is giving a lot of attention to improving all aspects of its interaction with its customers. One area that has often upset customers has been the accessories they have been forced to accept when buying a new Honda.

                On this issue, Abdul Rashid Rahim, President/Chief Operating Officer of DOH, said that the company will respect customers’ wishes if they do not want any optional accessories. At the same time, the optional accessories offered are all approved by Honda and meet the high quality standards of the company.

                “All accessories – standard and optional – are of a very high quality and they also come with a 2-year warranty, the same as the cars we sell,” he said.

                Another good piece of news is that prices will be reviewed to benefit customers although the nature of the changes are unknown at this time. According to M. Takano, General Manager of Sales & Distribution at DOH, the review has already been done with the aim of making Honda cars more competitive and ‘less isolated’ in the market.

                “We have already submitted the revised prices to the government and when we receive approval of them, an announcement will be made,” Mr Takano said. However, the prices may not necessarily come down significantly as it was also mentioned that DOH plans to include safety items such as airbags and ABS. If this is the case, customers may get better value for their money with a minimal price change. The prices of genuine Honda spare parts will also be revised and some items may be reduced by as much as 30% from previous prices.

                Speedy after-sales support is also a priority for DOH and reducing delays getting parts to customers will be achieved by the new parts warehouse set up in Port Klang. The distribution system will also be improved and according to Mr Ozaki, there will be increased quality checks on all new cars as well as dedicated transportation of the new units from the assembly plant in Johor.

                For those who own Hondas that were imported by parties other than official dealers, there’s good news: DOH will not have a policy of discrimination like that of Kah Motors where owners of reconditioned models or privately-imported units were not accepted for service. DOH dealers will provide after-sales support although the owners will have to understand that there are limitations.

                “DOH won’t be able to honour any warranty on vehicles we do not sell but we will certainly offer after-sales support to any Honda owner,” explained Encik Rashid. “Of course, due to the great variety of models Honda offers worldwide, it is possible that we may not have the required parts but we can still help owners to get them.”

                “Supporting owners of the ‘gray imports’ is not something we will emphasise since it should be appreciated that those companies which sell them do not invest much in after-sale services and just sell the cars. Nevertheless, DOH will not turn away these owners as they are still Honda customers,” he added.

                Communication with its customers is going to be given a lot of attention, Mr Takano promised, and apart from printed materials, there is also a new website at www.honda.net.my . Mr Takano, who spent some 6 years in Honda’s American subsidiary, said that DOH would also be noting feedback from customers and also working hard to upgrade the standards of the dealers.

                “Give us till the end of this year and you should see many changes,” he said.

                DOH also announced today the introduction of an additional variant of the City Type Z with a more luxurious interior. The new variant is the City Type Z VTi and features a 84.5 kW/115 ps VTEC LEV SOHC engine with a 1.5-litre displacement. This has a 4-speed electronic automatic transmission only. The price, excluding optional accessories, is RM87,308 (with insurance). With the accessories (alloy rims, carpet mats, numberplate, etc), the price would be RM89,388.00. In line with DOH policy, customers will be given the option of not taking the accessories.

                Up till 2003, DOH will use Oriental Assemblers to assemble its vehicles as its new plant in Melaka will only being construction work this September. The new plant, near Pagoh, will have a capacity of 20,000 units a year and its output will be intended for domestic as well as export markets. For this year, DOH expects total Honda sales in Malaysia to be around 8,000 units.

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