Geely has become the first Asian automaker to join IATF, a global automotive quality standards organization. The International Automotive Task Force (IATF) is a group of automotive manufacturers which aims at providing improved quality products to automotive customers worldwide. With its admission, Geely will now participate in the formation and improvement of international quality standards with other global automotive groups to promote the sustainable development of the world’s automotive indu
Apr 9, 2021
In a parliament sitting last week, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar explained why Malaysia lags in the automotive sector. "Focusing on the automotive sector, we can see that Proton and the government policies back then were stumbling blocks to the development of the national automotive industry,” said Wan Junaidi, in response to a question posed by Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN, Pontian) at the Dewan Rakyat sitting last Wednesday
Aug 10, 2020
With the recent launch of the Audi RS6 and RS7, plus the BMW M3 and BMW M4 performance cars on our shores, it seems that there is a shift in direction towards the torque converter transmission (TCT) on core performance models. More importantly, manufacturers like Audi were - up until this point in time - massive proponents of the dual clutch transmission (DCT). Other performance-oriented brands have also followed suit. It wasn't that long ago when the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) was hailed as
Feb 16, 2021
China’s white goods manufacturer Hisense Home Appliances Group will acquire Japan’s automotive air-conditioning manufacturer Sanden for JPY 21.4 billion (about RM 809.7 million). The move will allow Hisense to diversify into the automotive air-conditioning system market. Hisense has ambitions to manufacture air-conditioning units for electric vehicles. In an announcement by Sanden made earlier this week, the company says Hisense will acquire 75 percent of voting rights in the company for 21.4 bi
Mar 9, 2021
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) has released a list of companies that are allowed to operate during the second round of the Movement Control Order (MCO). Updated: MITI has done a U-Turn on the list of essential services, read more about it here. Update No.2: MITI has once again revised the essential services list, car factories will be allowed to continue operations effective immediately. On Monday (11/1/2021), Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that MCO wi
Jan 12, 2021
Those who have always longed for the new Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé can now order one through Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. Prices of the CKD car start from RM 498,722.77 (OTR without insurance, until the end of the tax-free incentive period). From the outside, the AMG-specific radiator grille makes it obvious that this car belongs to the AMG family. Flanking the grill are Multi-beam LED headlamps with Adaptive High beam Assist Plus. The wheels are 21-inch light alloy wheels. High performance is
Nov 11, 2020
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has introduced the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4Matic+ Coupe, priced at RM 787,357 (OTR without insurance, inclusive of SST incentive). Engine comes in the form of an electrified 3.0-litre in-line 6 turbo with EQ Boost, making 435 PS/520 Nm. The AMG Speedshift TCT 9-speed automatic transmission sends power to all corners via the fully variable 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system. 0-100 km/h is achieved in 5.3 seconds with a limited top speed of 250 km/h. Brakes are 400 mm discs at the
Sep 11, 2020
Also making its world premiere at this week’s opening of the 2019 Frankfurt International Motor Show is the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe - the sloping roofline version of the standard Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. Set to take on the BMW X6, the second generation GLE Coupe will initially be available with just three engine options: 2.9-litre straight-six turbocharged diesel with 272 hp/600 Nm (GLE 350d) 2.9-litre straight-six turbocharged diesel with 330 hp/700 Nm (GLE 400d) 3.0-litre straight-six
Sep 13, 2019
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) is expected to backtrack on its earlier decision to remove automotive manufacturing from its list of essential services sectors, and will allow automotive manufacturing to resume operations next week. The government has yet to make an official announcement on the matter and those involved have been told to not speak to the media. However WapCar.my understands that discussions is almost complete and automotive manufacturing might be re-insta
Jan 15, 2021
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) has once again updated the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the reinstated Movement Control Order (MCO), this time automotive plants, including vehicle assembly and component suppliers, will be allowed to continue operating for the duration of the country’s second MCO. This is yet another U-turn from the MITI on the essential economic services SOP. Previously, when MITI first released the MCO SOP for essential services on 12 January
Jan 16, 2021
From fuel standards to Approved Permits to tax structures, the last 18 months have been marked by a lot of uncertainties in the Malaysian automotive industry. Last October, the government announced that it is backtracking on its commitment to roll out lower sulphur Euro 4M standard RON 95 petrol by 14 months, from 1-October 2018 to 1-January 2020. The Ministry Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs nonchalantly announced the postponement only on 5-October 2018, saying that the delay was due to the
Oct 21, 2019
Beginning from 15-June to 31-December 2020, the government has waived the 10% sales tax (SST) on locally-assembled models (CKD) while imported cars (CBU) were only reduced to 5%, half of what the CKD models were given. Seeing the overall positive growth in the automotive industry, Proton Edar Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah hopes that the government will extend the SST exemption period. “Those of us in the automotive industry hope the government will consider in extending the SS
Oct 6, 2020
Naza Automotive Group, the automotive division of Naza Group, announced a new pricelist for vehicles under its automotive brands in line with the Government’s announcement. The new price list is recalculated in accordance to the sales tax exemption for locally-assembled vehicles and tax reduction for imported cars until year-end as part of the national economic stimulus plan, Penjana. The revised pricelist will be effective from 15th June 2020 until 31st December 2020, and covers the wide range
Jun 15, 2020
Syarikat pengeluar drone komersial terbesar di dunia, DJI, dikhabarkan akan menghasilkan kereta elektrik (EV) berteknologi tinggi di China tidak lama lagi. Syarikat DJI yang terkenal dengan produk-produk mereka seperti rangkaian drone Mavic serta pengimbang OM telah menubuhkan satu lagi syarikat dipanggil DJI Automotive, lapor CarNewsChina.com. Sebagai permulaan, DJI Automotive akan menayangkan sebuah kereta konsep di Shanghai Auto Show yang akan berlangsung di sana hujung bulan ini. Jika diamat
Apr 13, 2021
The Indonesian government will remove the luxury tax imposed on cars below 1,500cc from March 2021 to May 2021. Reuters reports that the tax removal is to bolster the Indonesian automotive industry. Currently only LCGC (Low-Cost Green Cars) are exempted from the luxury tax. LCGC in Indonesia includes locally produced (CKD) hatchbacks, MPVs, and cars below 1,200 cc. The current luxury tax for sedans and other car below 1,500 cc is between 10% and 30%. The tax exemption for cars below 1,500 cc wil
Feb 15, 2021
A leaked memo from the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham) to its members says that the manufacturing sector should prepare itself for a shutdown/strict lockdown if the Covid-19 situation doesn't improve. The memo adds that the organization’s CEO Sven Schneider had a meeting with MITI on 22-January and was told that the Ministry of Health (MoH) has made a clear stance for a complete shutdown of the economy if Covid-19 cases continue to rise. 99 of the 300 Covid-19 clusters in
Jan 24, 2021
At 9am today, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s (MITI) website will begin accepting applications from businesses who wish to reopen during MCO. Last Friday, MITI Minister Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali announced a list of business sectors that are allowed to resume operations. Among the sectors are automotive workshops and automotive manufacturing plants (exports only). However, Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob clarified yesterday that MITI’s announcement doesn’t cover the whole of Ma
Apr 13, 2020
Although not quite reinventing the wheel (those are still round), the boffins at the Center of Automotive Management (CAM) have awarded the 2020 Porsche Taycan as the most scientifically innovative car in the world. CAM’s Automotive Innovations report reveals that the all-electric sports car comes with 27 groundbreaking developments and features, 13 of which are the world's first. Innovations that were recognised by the scientists include its 800-volt architecture, two-speed transmission on the
Jul 15, 2020
DJI, the world's largest maker of commercial drones, is reportedly stepping into the automotive industry by developing autonomous driving systems. According to Chinese media, the company has set up a seperate arm called DJI Automotive. But this doesn't mean that DJI will be building their own cars anytime soon, but rather act as 'Tier 1' suppliers (direct to OEM) to carmakers. DJI Automotive will be dedicated to creating smart driving systems, including Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor
Apr 13, 2021
The BMW Group Malaysia delivered 11,567 vehicles in 2019 – contributed by 9,300 units of BMW cars and 1,142 units of MINI cars, plus 1,125 units of BMW Motorrad motorcycles. The figure is 19 percent lower than 2018’s record sales of 14,338 vehicles. Sales of the company’s namesake BMW brand cars dropped 23 percent while the youthful MINI brand contracted by 5 percent. Archrival Mercedes-Benz Malaysia sold 10,020 cars in the same 12-month period. Like BMW, Mercedes-Benz too experienced a similar
Feb 4, 2020
Proton Holdings Berhad akan memulakan projek CKD di Pakistan seawal suku ketiga tahun 2021. Rakan perniagaan Proton di Pakistan, Al Haj Automotive telah bersedia dengan rancangan CKD pada kilang terbaru mereka seawal Julai 2021. Kilang tersebut dibina di Karachi dan mempunyai kapasiti pengeluaran yang dianggarkan sebanyak 25,000 unit setahun. Sebanyak USD 30 juta telah dilaburkan untuk pembangunan kilang tersebut. Pada awalnya kilang ini sepatutnya beroperasi pada akhir tahun 2020. Walaubagaiman
Apr 12, 2021
Zerotohundred.com is an automotive enthusiast site most popularly known for its automotive forum in the early days of the internet. Look up ZTH on Instagram and YouTube, you’ll be treated with adrenaline-pumping content from the all-new Toyota GR Supra to Ferraris. However, this weekend (9 – 10 November 2019), founder of ZTH, Tom Goh will be behind the wheel of a Toyota Vios for the Season 3 Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival Toyota Vios one-make series. We caught up with Tom to find out why are big n
Nov 9, 2019
Car manufacturers are bracing for an increase in manufacturing cost for at least the next 6 months as chronic shortage in semiconductor chips for cars drive up prices. The matter is serious enough that manufacturers from USA, European Union, Japan have reportedly escalated the matter to their respective countries’ diplomatic channels to secure for more supply from Taiwan, according a report from Reuters. Taiwan is one of the world’s biggest supplier of semiconductors and the global shortage in t
Jan 26, 2021
Proton announces the appointment of Roslan Abdullah as Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Concurrently, he is also appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar Sdn Bhd (PESB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Proton involved in the distribution of Proton cars and providing sales and after sales services to customers, effective June 1st, 2020. Having spent close to three decades in the automotive sector, Roslan brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge about Malaysia’s automotive
Jun 1, 2020
Say what you want about Made in China because the Chinese have come a very long way from mass-producing cheap knockoffs to becoming the technology hub they are today. Huawei, Alibaba (yes Alibaba is a tech company) and Geely are now familiar names to the rest of the world. Although the latter only made its wave among Malaysians in 2017 after acquiring a 49.9% stake in Proton. Since then Geely-Proton partnership has made technologies such as 4G online connectivity, intelligent voice command, Adva
Nov 9, 2020
Ingress Corporation Berhad, the automotive parts maker best known among consumers for its BMW dealerships around the country, is now expanding its reach into the premium sector with Volvo Cars. Under its new subsidiary Ingress Swede Automobile, the company will now also sell Volvo cars. The company will soon launch a new 3S Centre in Damansara, details to be announced in the next two months. “As a people-centric brand, we would like to ensure that we consistently deliver a premium and holistic e
Jul 24, 2019
Effective since 1 September 2019, Tushar Gupta was appointed as the new managing director for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. His predecessor, Pascal Nouvellon, was promoted to a new global role at Michelin headquarters in France. Armed with an accounting degree and an MBA, Mr. Gupta joined Michelin Group in 2010 as a Corporate Development Manager. In the span of 6 years, he moved up to Zone Director of Michelin Aviation Tyres, Asia Pacific in 2016 until July this year after the success turning
Nov 19, 2019
The 6-month long loan moratorium is set to expire in September and its expiry could have some negative impact on the Malaysian automotive industry. The loan moratorium went into effect in April as the country entered the Movement Control Order (MCO) period. Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad told The Edge, “People will not have the money to buy new vehicles. But I think it depends on the category of vehicles. I think high-end vehicles will not be impacted; people
Jul 27, 2020
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia today announced that one if its outlets, Volkswagen Sg. Besi will now operate under a new dealer partner GVE Asia Group. Formerly operated by Wearnes Automotive, which has since exited the Volkswagen business, the Volkswagen Sg. Besi 3S centre will continue operating as usual under its new owner. GVE Asia Group is a leading automotive company that distributes and retails a range of luxury and premium passenger marques in Malaysia. Its business operations compri
Dec 6, 2019
Most, if not all automotive centres will be closed entirely starting 18-March until 31-March, following the government’s order to control movement. The order will see all business premises to close except for supermarkets, sundry goods stores, markets and other places selling daily necessities. For those of you who made a service appointment, do reschedule to another date in April. At the moment, the management of many leading automotive companies are still deliberating on the specifics of the i
Mar 17, 2020
Honda HR-V
Perodua Alza
Honda City
Honda City Hatchback
Toyota Yaris