Scania, the First Heavy Commercial Vehicle Manufacturer in Malaysia to be accredited as the National Dual Training System/Sistem Latihan Dual Nasional (NDTS/SLDN) Centre by Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia has produced its first batch of 10 apprentices that had successfully passed the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia Tahap 2 (SKM Level 2) from Institut Kemahiran Tinggi Belia Negara, Dusun Tua - IKTBNDT .
On the 27th of February 2023 PROTON announced the official opening of its Regional Parts Centre in Kuching, Sarawak. This is part of Company’s continuous effort to enhance after sales service over in East Malaysia where the newly completed facility can reduce the lead time for parts delivery by at least 30%, thereby allowing PROTON a boost to its after sales service over in East Malaysia. This should allow Proton vehicles to be serviced much faster if there are cases of major repairs or servicing.
A few days ago, Continental Tyres launched its newest product in its line of Generation 7 tyres, the ComfortContact CC7. This new series is a comfort-focused tyre that seeks to make every journey truly enjoyable for both drivers and passengers. This new tyre follows the launch of the UltraContact UC7 in August 2022 and was designed with comfort, like its namesake, in mind.
The CC7 replaces the ComfortContact CC6. The ComfortContact CC7 provides enhanced safety on the road though significant improvements in handling and braking without sacrificing on comfort and low noise levels. The new all season CC7 tyre was designed for a wide range of vehicles and is available from 13” to 16” tyre size fitments. Drivers looking for a truly enjoyable driving experience can also choose the ComfortContact CC7 for their mini-compact, compact, mid-size and MPVs as Continental has sizes for these vehicles.
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Volvo Buses showcased the first ever fully built Volvo B11RLE 6x2 double deck coach for the Malaysian market and had inviting customers to experience first-hand a Ride and Drive event earlier today. This comes after introducing the Volvo B11RLE 6x2 chassis here recently. YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Transport Minister of Malaysia, and His Excellency Dr. Joachim Bergstrom, Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia, graced the event held at the Volvo Group Malaysia Shah Alam office.
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Yesterday, the integrated car e-commerce platform CARSOME has ventured into the after-sales car service market with the launch of CARSOME Service Center. Currently operating two service outlets, he company has commenced operations of two CARSOME Service Centers in Petaling Jaya and Ampang. Car owners can book an appointment for an initial inspection through CARSOME’s website. So now, aside from catering to its pre-owned car buyers, CARSOME Service Centre can also serve anyone looking for worry-free car maintenance, and those looking for a trusted car maintenance partner upon expiry of their principal warranty period.
UMW Toyota Motor and GAZOO Racing Malaysia today, for the first time ever in the history of specialty model launches, launched five new GAZOO Racing models comprising three GR and two GR Sport variants consisting of the all-new GR Supra (pictured below), GR Corolla (pictured above), GR86, Hilux GR Sport and Corolla Cross GR Sport. So three actual performance models and two, which are regular Toyota models with GR parts plastered onto them.
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On the 16 February 2023 Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (Hino) officially opened its new Hino Approved Service Outlet (HASO) in Bandar Muadzam Shah, Pahang, under the company’s dealer development program. The partner dealer involved is Mara Liner Sdn Bhd (MLSB). A familiar name in Malaysia, MLSB is wholly owned by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) and it specialises in public transport, logistics services, and bus services to all states in Peninsular Malaysia.
Yesterday, Isuzu Malaysia introduced the 2023 Isuzu D-Max range which has received a number of updates for the model year. Notable changes is the introduction of new body colours for the flagship 3.0liter X-Terrain and 3.0liter and 1.9liter Premium variants including a new Islay Gray Mica . Both variants also benefit from a new shade of white – Dolomite White Pearl which has a more lustrous sheen than the previous Silky PearlWhite. Now, there is also Biarritz Blue Metallic replacing the Sapphire Blue, available primarily with the Automatic Premium, 1.9liter Auto Plus and 1.9liter Automatic Standard variants.
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Naza Italia has introduced the 2023 Levante GT Hybrid for the Malaysian market today. The Italian luxury SUV is Maserati's most urban, minimal and contemporary styled SUVwith variant specific trimming. The GT hybrid trims have been developed not only to meet all customers’ requirements and expectations, but also to epitomise the various over-arching themes of the Maserati range which must highlight innovation, performance and design. This is the result of the synergy between the Centro Stile Maserati and the Product Development Team, focusing on research into materials, design cues and dedicated features. All of this comes at a price of RM738,000.00 including local duties and taxes, but before customization options, and insurance.
Today the 15h of February, the first-all electric Mercedes-EQ built in Malaysia has been successfully launched in Mercedes-Benz production plant in Pekan, Pahang. Now locally assembled (CKD or completely knocked down) for the Malaysian market, the new 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS will be available in a more powerful EQS 500 4MATIC, from mid-March 2023 onwards. The luxury flagship fully electric sedan has a 330 kW rated output thanks to the new dual electric motor and comes with an extensive range of up to 696km according to WLTP (amended from 695km because of a typo and 1km in difference is a huge difference that it will disrupt the space and time continuum) . This makes the EQS 500 4MATIC, the best in its class.
The next generation Perodua Axia has been launched and as always, they have already started deliveries. This time with the first 2,900 customers getting the full model change Axia city compact car. It is larger in size inside and out, which should be quite a blessing to those that opted to switch to the new model from the 44,000 existing Axia orders still undelivered.
The Palisade, Hyundai’s luxury SUV recently had its facelift and it is now available in Malaysia. The already premium specced SUV gets with an upgraded front end, a different rear bumper layout and a more luxurious and comfortable interior. Quite fitting for this SUV which has been quite popular as a social media topic due to the fact that Malaysia's constitutional monarch, the Yang DiPertuan Agong has been spotted on many occasions driving this SUV personally.
It has been about a year after the introduction of the New MAN Truck Generation with low emission Euro V engines here in Malaysia and more freight transporters are now opting them as their choice for truck transport solutions. Following the heels of a 41-unit delivery to FGV Transport Services Sdn Bhd last month, MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia) recently welcomed four new, first-time customers at its latest handover ceremony at Port Klang.
This is one unique looking scooter! BMW Motorrad Malaysia today announced the arrival of the New BMW CE 04 electric scooter. This is the first fully electric scooter in its local Urban Mobility portfolio and this is how the brand wants to showcase their electrification ambitions for not only the passenger car segment but the two-wheel landscape in Malaysia. This unique, boxy electric scooter was previewed at BMW Group Malaysia's preview of the facelifted BMW 3 Series and their 2022 performance report. No solid pricing as yet, but they are expecting somewhere in the RM60K region.
The facelift of the current BMW 3 Series has officially made it to Malaysia. The latest generation of the highly successful BMW 3 Series is now available in two petrol variants and one plug-in hybrid variant – the New BMW 320i M Sport, the New BMW 330i M Sport and the New BMW 330e M Sport. Like the officially sold pre-facelift models, these are locally-assembled, and prices start at RM283K onwards.
Last Saturday. the 10th of December 2022, I actually took time to attend the 8th edition of HINO Malaysia's HINO Total Support Contest at their Petaling Jaya headquarters. This time around, the contest had the participation of 158 contestants from 26 authorised dealers throughout Malaysia. This marks a return to having this contest after all the lockdowns trying to handle the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia and the mood was very positive at the event where it gives a chance for HINO sales and aftersales personnel to try out their skill and knowledge among each other, thereby enhancing their customer servicing skill as well as improving technical expertise by competing.
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Mercedes-Benz Malaysia introduced the all-new EQE, the all-new electric business avant-garde from the Mercedes-EQ sub-brand earlier today. This unveiling comes after the successful launch of the EQS, and the EQE is the next model based on the electric vehicle architecture (EVA2) developed specifically for electric vehicles. Technically an all-electric Mercedes-Benz E class, the sporty business sedan offers all the essential functions of the EQS in a slightly more compact format.
Recently, Hap Seng Trucks Distribution announced that the Lukut, Port Dickson based transport company Pearl Castle had invested in ten brand new Mercedes-Benz Actros 6x2 prime movers. This new purchase from the trucking solutions provider was made to expand its 70-strong fleet of vehicles which are used in the petroleum, water supply and construction sectors.
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FGV Transport Services Sdn Bhd (FTSSB) has ordered a total of 41 units of the New MAN TGS prime movers fitted with low emission Euro V specification engines to its land transport fleet..The new additions comprises of five units of MAN TGS 4x2 and 10 units of 6x2, both which will be used for container haulage as well as 26 MAN TGS 6x4 which will be used for heavy-duty cargo transportation.
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On the 1st of Nov 2022, Isuzu Malaysia officially opened its new retail outlet design operated by the people of Autoexec Corporation. The new Isuzu 3S Centre is located along Jalan Jinjang Permai which is on the Northern part of Kuala Lumpur. The new centre has visually bolder and vibrant façade with a distinctive logo tower, and shows off a more distinctive and recognizable venue for their Isuzu needs.
MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia), who was the first vehicle manufacturer in Malaysia to offer Euro V engines as standard across its entire Truck range, has launched the taller and more spacious TM Cab for their TGS new truck generation range as an option. Previously, the standard height TN Cab has always been preferred by the Malaysian market due to its flexibility but MAN Malaysia feels that it is timely to introduce a truck cabin that allows people to stand upright in the cabin, thereby allowing more space for the truck driver for his comfort and convenience.
China brand Chery is making a comeback into the Malaysian automotive scene. You may remember if you are old enough where the brand was around in the early 2000s and then slowly faded away due to various factors. But they're back!
Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (HINO) has officially opened its latest 3S Centre which is located in West Port, Pulau Indah on the 26th of October 2022. HINO had appointed Truck Solutions Sdn Bhd, who operates this new authorized 3S - Sales, Service, and Spare Parts centre. Strategically situated in West Port/Port Klang area, this new 3S centre aims to provide total support to HINO’s customers, especially those operating in logistics & transport services. This is the the first service centre in West Port that aims to provide top-notch vehicle services to support logistics and transport operation.
On October 18, 2022, Harley-Davidson® announced that its Asia Harley Days 2022 event will be held at Triple Tree Beach Resort Cha-Am Beach, Petchaburi in Thailand on November 5th and -6th, 2022. The two-day event is a moto-music festival that unites Harley-Davidson® riders, H.O.G.® members, enthusiasts and fans from over 11 countries and territories including Thailand, South Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, India and Singapore, as well as 87 H.O.G.® chapters and many motorcycle clubs from these countries and territories.
Do you know that there has been an e-hailing ride service in Malaysia called Maxim? Anyway, the company has been operating here for quite a while now (since 2018) and had conducted a recent survey on their drivers for us to find out about who these people are. Maxim, who operate in about eleven countries globally, are onwards toward being one of the world's prominent ride hailing service. They have tractable data of application, driver, passenger and history of ride, the users get the opportunity to know more about their drivers and the type of car that they can expect for their booking.
TREVO is inviting Malaysians who are 21 years old and above who like football, or soccer, have a basic understanding of the sport (or can quickly learn) to enter a contest organised by them. TREVO is a peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace where guests can share any car that fits the needs and wants for the trips they are taking, from the closest TREVO hosts in their community. TREVO aims to provide more vehicle choices that fulfil the travel needs of the users, called Guests, while providing car owners, who are called Hosts, the opportunity to earn extra income to offset the cost of car ownership.
Anyway, they have a contest.
It has been a good 25 years for Bentley here in Malaysia. The brand has grown from strength to strength and persevered throughout the years to bring some truly great brand experiences to its loyal customers in Malaysia. So in conjunction with the anniversary, Bentley Kuala Lumpur has previewed the latest variant of their limousine, the 2023 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid. Aside from bringing a hybrid Bentley, it also signals the market’s maturity in charging infrastructure and a move for the brand to be carbon neutral. Bentley Kuala Lumpur like its parent company has started on its journey to achieve carbon neutrality by 2023.
Last week, on the 12th of October 2022, express bus operator SuperNice Express (SuperNice), a brand under the Unimax Group, received the first Scania coaches with Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). These are the first buses in Malaysia equipped with active safety systems and features the usual anti-lock braking systems but with electronic safety programme (ESP) lane departure warning and Advanced emergency braking which can prevent collision with the vehicle in front by applying the brakes automatically.
Isuzu is going for another round of the Borneo Safari, which could be one of the toughest yearly 4x4 events in the world. Isuzu Malaysia is sending in the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain as media vehicles in this year’s Borneo Safari International Off Road Challenge. This time, three units of the award-winning pick-up trucks are set to perform duties as the official media vehicles for the event. Of course, they will feature minimal mods only, which will showcase the capabilities of the D-MAX. This is also the first Borneo Safari in about two years as the recent Covid-19 pandemic had put a stop to things for a while.
PROTON’s new energy vehicle subsidiary, Proton New Energy Technology (PRO-NET) had earlier today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Gentari Sdn. Bhd., the clean energy subsidiary of PETRONAS, at the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM). This is part of Proton's intention to develop its own-brand NEVs and also for boh parties to leverage the capabilities and drive growth in Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in line with national decarbonisation goals.
