Next year, selected markets in Southeast Asia will launch a new hybrid variant of the 2024 Toyota Hilux. Unlike the electrified Hilux that was announced for Europe earlier this month, our region’s Hilux hybrid will have two more forward ratios, courtesy of a new 8-speed automatic transmission. We had the opportunity (albeit a very brief one) to drive the new 2024 Toyota Hilux hybrid in Thailand recently. The car is still a prototype and the final specifications have yet to be revealed. Despite t

Following yesterday’s announcement by Sime Darby Berhad to acquire 61.2 percent of UMW Holdings for RM 3.57 billion, it’s still business as usual at UMW Toyota Motor (and Perodua) this morning, but there is clearly a sense of uncertainty among employees. UMW has yet to make any announcement on the matter, so the obvious questions on whether Daihatsu and Toyota were consulted on the deal, cannot be answered yet. The fact that UMW Toyota and Perodua – which are known for their very close engagemen

Ford has suspended production of the Ford Ranger at its AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) plant in Rayong since 28-June, due to shortage in supply of electronic parts. According to colleagues from our sister site AutoFun Thailand, the suspension will continue until 9-July. Checks with Ford dealers in Malaysia suggest that the suspension in production will not have any immediate impact to Malaysia because our volumes are relatively small. Right now, the problems faced by Ford dealers in Malaysia is how

Last year in June, the government announced a decision to place sales tax (SST) exemption for cars – cut sales tax on CKD cars, while offering 50% sales tax discount for CBU models as part of the Penjana stimulus package. It was supposed to last until 31-December 2020 but in a twist that brought mixed reactions in the local automotive industry, the Ministry of Finance extended the exemption to 30-June 2021. So, if you’re interested to buy a new car, now might be the right time to take advantage

Fans of Kia can expect a new compact 7-seater MPV from the Korean carmaker this year - the Kia KY - according to a leaked document. Sighted by Indian media, the leaked presentation file shows Kia's plans for 2021. While specification details are still shrouded, the KY is said to be a compact 7-seater MPV - think therabouts the size of the Perodua Alza. Meanwhile, it's been rumoured that the KY will be based on the upcoming Hyundai Staria MPV that's reportedly going to be produced in Hyundai's In

Isuzu Malaysia is paving the path to normalcy for potential Isuzu D-Max customers by offering a moratorium for financing payments on new vehicles purchased from 1 June 2020 till 31 August 2020. Through the Isuzu Deferred Instalment Campaign, the first programme of its kind in the pick-up segment, the company hopes that customers can fortify their earnings by putting their brand new Isuzu D-Max pick-up trucks to work during the deferment period of either three or six months before needing to worr