Proton will soon launch a new SUV with an updated design, confirmed Deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah at a media event yesterday evening. Although Roslan didn’t mention the model, it’s clear that he was referring to the new 2024 Proton X70 facelift. The new 2024 Proton X70 will likely adopt a new front-end design similar to the Chinese market Geely Boyue Pro. However, finer design details will be adapted to meet local taste, probably mimicking the design of the Proton X90’s grille. Also read: 2024 Prot
Mar 28, 2024
Toyota Motor Thailand has announced plans to start mass production of the Toyota Hilux BEV in Thailand by the end of 2025. Speaking to Reuters at the ongoing Bangkok International Motor Show, Mr. Noriaki Yamashita, President of Toyota Motor Thailand said "The Hilux (BEV) could be ready by the end of next year." However, he did not reveal where the vehicle would be produced. Also read: This is the all-electric Toyota Hilux Revo BEV Concept Underscoring the company’s commitment, Yamashita added To
Mar 28, 2024
Making its right-hand drive (RHD) debut at the ongoing 2024 Bangkok Motor Show is the Zeekr X SUV. The model has so far been seen in left-hand drive (LHD) configuration, and its introduction in RHD hints at the possibility of it being the first of the two models from the brand that is slated to be launched in the Kingdom, the other being the Zeekr 009 MPV. Previously, we’ve reported that Zeekr - Geely's premium battery electric vehicle (BEV) subsidiary – is preparing to enter the Thailand market
Mar 28, 2024
Fuel price movements in Malaysia from 28-March to 3-April 2024 are as follows: Fuel Price Update 28-March to 3-April 2024 RON 95 RM 2.05 RON 97 RM 3.47 RON 100 RM 5.00 Shell V-Power RM 6.00 Diesel EURO 5 B10 RM 2.15 Diesel EURO 5 B7 RM 2.35 Follow fuel price live updates: Petrol Price Malaysia
Mar 27, 2024
Perodua appears to be on track to launch its first EV model within 2025. A post by Tengku Zafrul, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry on X, reiterates that the project to produce Malaysia’s first affordable EV is on track following the latest round of discussions with Perodua. The Minister’s post read, " An affordable EV from Perodua by the end of next year?" Zafrul added “When it comes to EVs, many complain about their high prices. Therefore, Perodua was chosen as the leader in producing
Mar 27, 2024
SAIC Motor Malaysia has confirmed that it will be launching the fully electric MG Cyberster, as early as Q3 2024 if homologation work can be completed in time. Speaking at the launch of the MG ZS EV and MG 4 earlier today, Steven Du, Managing Director of SAIC Motor Malaysia said the MG Cyberster is already launched in China, but that’s a left-hand drive model. “The right-hand drive is supposed to be ready by Q3 this year. By then we will bring the Cyberster here,” said Du. Du added that before S
Mar 27, 2024
The Kia EV9 is the Korean carmaker’s flagship battery electric vehicle (BEV) model and this gentle giant will be launching in Malaysia soon. We went to the ongoing 2024 Bangkok Motor Show to have a closer look at the EV9. Thailand is the third Southeast Asian market to launch the Kia EV9 after Singapore and Indonesia. Launched earlier this month, the KV9 is available in Thailand in two variants, Earth Long Range and GT-Line AWD. The 2WD Long Range is powered by a 203 PS/350 Nm rear-mounted elect
Mar 27, 2024
The 2024 Mercedes-Benz G-Class facelift has been revealed. This facelift exercise maintains its iconic exterior and brings it up to date with the current Mercedes-Benz lineup in terms of technology, particularly the interior. Exterior wise, there are subtly redesigned front and rear bumpers, along with a new reversing camera placement above the license plate holder, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality. There are improved aerodynamics and acoustic comfort through new A-pillar cladding, a
Mar 27, 2024
SAIC Motor Malaysia today officially launched the 2024 MG ZS EV, arriving in its latest facelifted version, fully imported (CBU) from China. The MG ZS EV is offered in a sole Standard Range variant, priced at RM 125,999. Note the stated price excludes registration, HP endorsement, insurance and other miscellaneous charges. The MG ZS EV is also launched alongside the MG 4 hatchback, which is available in 4 variants priced from RM 103,999. Also read: Challenging the BYD Dolphin - MG 4 launched in
Mar 27, 2024
There is now a credible alternative to the BYD Dolphin. SAIC Motor Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (MG Motor Malaysia) has launched the MG 4, priced from RM 103,999. The price puts the China-made MG 4 in the firing range of the BYD Dolphin, which starts from RM 100,530 for the Dynamic Standard variant, and RM 125,530 for the Premium Extended variant. We also don’t want to forget the Ora Good Cat, which has since slashed its price down to RM 113,800. Like the Dolphin, the MG 4 is a small hatchback about the s
Mar 27, 2024
At the ongoing 2024 Bangkok Motor Show (BMS), Chinese battery electric vehicle (BEV) company, XPeng made its ASEAN debut with a trio of models. The main highlight though is the XPeng G6 which is planned to be the first model introduced to right-hand drive (RHD) markets. Yet the units shown at XPeng’s booth are Chinese-spec left-hand drive (LHD) models. XPeng is widely compared with Tesla and the G6 is a close rival of the Tesla Model Y. Built on XPeng’s SEPA 2.0 platform, the XPeng G6 will be of
Mar 27, 2024
At the ongoing 2024 Bangkok Motor Show, Kia Thailand officially launched the Kia EV5 which also marks its debut for the Asia Pacific market. The Kia EV5 is the second Kia battery electric vehicle (BEV) model introduced in Thailand after the Kia EV9. Four variants are offered in the Kingdom which range between THB 1.249 million and THB 1.749 million (~RM 162k-227k). That puts it in direct competition against the popular Chinese BEV offerings like the BYD Atto 3 which tops out at THB 1.049 million
Mar 26, 2024
Lexus Thailand has launched the first ever Lexus LBX. Positioned below the Lexus UX, the entry-level B-segment premium SUV is priced 20 percent lower than the UX. If there’s a BBA (Benz, BMW, Audi) equivalent to the LBX, the closest would be the Audi Q2. The Lexus LBX rides on the same TNGA-B platform as the Japanese / European market Toyota Yaris Cross, analogous to the VW T-Roc. Two variants are available in Thailand – Luxury and Premium – both powered by the same 1.5-litre 3-cylinder M15A-FXE
Mar 26, 2024
Geely Automobile Holdings Group posted a higher-than-expected profit of 5.31 billion Yuan (~RM 3.46 billion) in 2023, up 1 percent from the year before, despite intense price war in China. Analysts had expected Geely to post a lower profit figure of 4.9 billion Yuan (~RM 3.2 billion), according to Bloomberg. Geely also said if its one-off spending to acquire 34 percent of Renault Korea is removed, its profit would’ve increased by 51 percent. Revenue climbed 21 percent to 179.2 billion Yuan, also
Mar 26, 2024
The right-hand drive MG Cyberster made its Southeast Asian debut at yesterday’s opening of the 2024 Bangkok International Motor Show. Designed as an electric successor to MG’s famed post-war era sports cars of the ‘50s and 60s, this Cyberster has swapped pistons for a 77 kWh battery. Being a Chinese electric car, it’s a given there will be gimmicky, tech-heavy features. The highlight of the MG Cyberster is its electrically operated, automatic opening-closing scissor doors. This means that it doe
Mar 26, 2024
There’s now an updated ‘Honor Edition’ of the 2024 BYD Seal in China. Honor Edition refers to BYD’s mid-lifecycle specifications update. It’s often accompanied by an adjustment in prices. If you’ve just bought or are going to buy a BYD Seal from a local BYD dealer in Malaysia, do not worry. This Chinese market 2024 BYD Seal Honor Edition has no meaningful updates to its specifications. Most of what’s new are related to financing and charging credits, which are not relevant to us Malaysians. Ther
Mar 26, 2024
With an estimated starting price of under RM 130,000, this 5-seater C-segment Chery Tiggo 7 Pro represents the latest in Chery Malaysia’s relentless product offensive on Malaysia’s growing SUV segment. The final price will only be confirmed closer to its launch date, but Chery Malaysia says deliveries will begin by end-May 2024, suggesting that the model will be launched within the next month or so. Despite the 'Pro' name, this is actually a 'Pro Max' model. In some markets like South Africa and
Mar 25, 2024
We’ve been building this for a while now, and it’s finally live – WapCar’s Cars for Sale microsite. Easily accessible through wapcar.my, simply navigate to the "Cars for Sale" tab located at the top left corner or click here for direct access. Our new microsite aggregates listings from our esteemed sister sites, Carlist and CARSOME, offering a diverse range of options including new cars, used cars, reconditioned (recon) cars, certified pre-owned cars, and CARSOME Certified Cars. To kick things o
Mar 25, 2024
In 2022, Nissan USA discontinued the Rogue Sport, as the Nissan Qashqai is known as there. The American Qashqai was supposed to be replaced by a new generation, more upmarket Kicks in 2023 but production of the B-SUV faced some undisclosed setbacks. Now, Nissan has previewed the second generation 2024 Nissan Kicks ahead of its public debut at the 2024 New York International Auto Show. As this is just a preview, not a lot of details are shared. The new Kicks looks bigger than before, but dimensio
Mar 25, 2024
At the PADU public dialogue session held in Shah Alam on Friday, 23 March, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said that the government will have to bear at least RM 2 billion a month on fuel subsidies if it continues delaying the implementation of targeted subsidies. He said as announced in Budget 2024, the government needed to adhere to the scheduled restructuring of bulk subsidies to targeted subsidies this year. He added that the government did not intend to extend the 31 March deadline for regist
Mar 25, 2024
On the same weekend that GWM slashed RM 26k off the Ora Good Cat’s selling price, MG Motor Malaysia announced that it will be launching the BYD Dolphin-rivalling MG 4 and BYD Atto 3-rivalling MG ZS this Wednesday. Both models have been previewed earlier with estimated prices. This Wednesday’s launch will see the confirmed price announced. MG is the most successful Chinese battery EV (BEV) brand in Europe. Last year, MG sold 231,818 units in Europe, putting it well ahead of BYD’s 15,707 units, ac
Mar 25, 2024
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia recently hosted its Retail Partner of the Year 2023 awards honouring its best in customer service and retail excellence. The awards saw Hap Seng Star Bukit Tinggi clinching the Retail Partner of the Year title. Amanda Zhang, CEO and President, of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia stated, “Last year marked a year of transition for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, from a phase of comprehensive transformations to a renewed focus on performance and operational excellence. The Retail Partner of th
Mar 24, 2024
Isuzu Motors has announced a significant THB 32 billion (~RM 4.1 billion) investment in Thailand to kickstart the manufacturing of battery cells and production of EV pick-up trucks in the region. The Thai investment is part of a larger JPY 1 trillion (~RM 32.1 billion) to be funnelled across the company until 2030, as the company hopes to make Thailand a production and export hub for EV pick-up trucks, The Bangkok Post reports. The investment in Thailand will focus on establishing EV production
Mar 23, 2024
The Mercedes-Benz GLC has a reputation for being a capable all-rounder, carefully balancing practicality, performance, driving enjoyment, and prestige in good measure. But at a price of around RM 380k - which is a lot - does it also stand out as a great SUV for the family? To find out, I took the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 on a real-world test during a recent family trip to Penang, carrying 3 adults and 2 restless children, no less. As with any other family car buyer, I needed a safe, practical,
Mar 23, 2024
GWM Malaysia has announced new prices for its Ora Good Cat. The entry 400 Pro variant now starts at RM 113,800, while the 500 Ultra variant is now priced from RM 143,800. Prices are excluding insurance and fees for vehicle registration, inspection and handling fees, endorsement, and number plate. Previously, the two variants were priced from RM 139,800 and RM 169,800 respectively, excluding insurance and the miscellaneous charges mentioned above. As before, the Ora Good Cat is covered by a 5-yea
Mar 22, 2024
Several Chinese carmakers recently expressed a rare pushback on their government’s battery EV (BEV) promotion policy. Speaking against a backdrop of slowing demand and intense price wars eating into their already-thin profits, leaders of Geely, GAC, and Changan called for moderation to ensure sustainability of China’s automotive industry. The comments were made in the weeks prior to the National People’s Congress – one of the most important events in China’s political calendar. The fact that sta
Mar 22, 2024
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) come in various designs, and their battery packs are no exception. Different approaches are taken to integrate batteries into these vehicles, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. In this article, we'll explore some of the battery pack designs that have evolved in the recent years. The early battery designs utilised a conventional approach known as Cell-to-Module (CTM). In this method, individual battery cells were packaged into modules, which were then assem
Mar 22, 2024
Japanese domestic sales of the updated 2024 Toyota GR Yaris facelift are to begin on 8-April 2024, bringing with it an automatic transmission, beyond a host of new stuff. While that will be relatively readily available, the two special brews – the Sébastien Ogier Edition and Kalle Rovanperä Edition – are only available at 100 units apiece, and only by lottery. More on that in a bit... Anyway, the GR Yaris facelift gleans on lessons learnt from the road, track, and dirt, which sees it gain more p
Mar 22, 2024
The Japanese automotive industry was rocked earlier this month when Nissan was fined by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission for owing around JPY 3 billion (RM 94.4 million) to suppliers for decades. Following that, Japan’s Nikkei reported that Honda will be paying suppliers lump-sum payments instead of protracted instalments for auto part dies. The metal dies used in car part manufacturing are often made to order and adhere to strict quality standards. This would incur high costs which are usually bor
Mar 22, 2024
One of the most highly anticipated cars to be launched in Malaysia is Perodua’s next SUV model. Rumoured to be called the Perodua Nexis, the upcoming SUV will slot above the Perodua Ativa in the highly competitive B-segment market. Codenamed D66B, it might seem that the wait is nearly over as cited by an analyst for Kenanga Research. The analyst told Berita Harian that Perodua is expecting to launch the DNGA-based SUV next month. This is to explain Perodua’s sales forecast for 2024 further. The
Mar 22, 2024