Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) is Now Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) - Expanding Their Scope Towards Enhancing The Malaysian Automotive Industry

The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), has been rebranded as the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii). The announcement was made by the Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Datuk Darell Leiking at the Car of the Year 2018 (COTY2018) awards on the 4th of December 2018 and sometime last week, MARii Chief Executive Officer Dato' Madani Sahari spoke to members of the automotive fraternity which comprised of industry players, academics, government bodies and members of the media on the scope expansion of MARii. This included the opportunities created for all stakeholders in expediting the adoption of robotics within the automotive sector in a briefing, titled “An Introduction to the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute”, in MARii’s headquarters in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. 

Trucks: Konsortium PD Sdn Bhd Adds 17 New Volvo Trucks to Their Fleet With Another 11 More Coming in 2019

Volvo Trucks Malaysia recently handed over 17 new Volvo trucks of various models to Konsortium PD Sdn Bhd. The handover was held at their Konsortium PD's headquarters in Lukut, Port Dickson. Of the seventeen trucks, two of them were the Volvo FH440, seven were Volvo FM370 and eight were Volvo FM440. Both the senior management of Volvo Trucks Malaysia and Konsortium PD were present at the small ceremony.

Volkswagen Dealer Wearnes Automotive Launches Their Service 2.0 Customer Aftersales Programme

Wearnes Automotive recently introduced and launched the Service 2.0 Program for their Volkswagen Dealership in Sg Besi, Kuala Lumpur. According to them, Service 2.0 will try to ensure a new customer experience exclusively to Wearnes Volkswagen customers and will enable Wearnes to be positioned at the top leading in automotive service industry, second to none. The new customer experience which was launched at Wearnes Automotive's flagship 4S centre in Kuala Lumpur.

DS Automobiles Opens its Flagship DS Store in Petaling Jaya - Premium French Chic For Those That Want Individuality

The PSA Group brand DS now has a new DS Store in Petaling Jaya. Located at the Naza Automall the brand new DS Store is the first of its kind in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Naza Euro Motors Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor for DS cars in Malaysia officially launched the new flagship showroom last Friday where the event was inaugurated in the presence of Yves Bonnefont, CEO of DS Automobiles and Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings.

Upcoming Events - BMW Shorties Film Festival 2018 This 15th December 2018 at Tiffin Food Court, Petaling Jaya - Something To Do This Weekend!

If you have nothing to do this weekend, there will activities, film and music awaits you folks out there at the BMW Shorties Film Festival. It will be held this 15th December  at the Tiffin Food Court, Petaling Jaya. The event, whilst not a motoring event per se is what BMW Group does as part of how they give back to a society where they are based at. So here, BMW gives back by inculcating filmmaking here in Malaysia.

Dato' Zainal Abidin Ahmad to Succeed Datuk Dr Aminar Rashid as President and CEO of Perodua Come 1st January 2019

Malaysian compact car manufacturer Perodua has announced earlier today that their longest-serving President and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh, 58 is set to retire after nine years of running what can be said as the most successful car company in Malaysia today. It is under his leadership that Perodua not only expanded its market share from 31.2% in 2010 to above 37% share as of year-to-date 2018. As CEO, he also  also started the company's transformation programme within the Perodua Group which has made the company what it is today.

PROTON Officially Launches the Long, Long, Long Awaited X70 SUV - Prices Start From RM99,800 Onwards

PROTON has finally did it. They've officially launched the Proton X70 SUV. Their first SUV and their first Proton-Geely collaboration car. While most of us already know the details of the new SUV, Proton has made available to most important detail of them all - the prices for all the variants. We now know that the prices start at RM99,800 without insurance for the base 2wd model and it goes up to a reasonable EM123,800 for the full specced premium variant. The good news is that there is one price for the X70 throughout Malaysia. Those in Sabah and Sarawak need not pay any extra like they used to pay with all the cars sold over there! Great initiative by Proton here folks. You folks in Sabah and Sarawak can finally get a price similar to the people of Peninsular Malaysia.

Site Update and the Perodua Nautica - Did You Know Perodua Only Sold 200of These in Malaysia?

I'm back. I was basically hit with a very bad case of influenza right after the KL International Motor Show 2018 and was basically sick as heck. A round of antibiotics and a lot io rest was needed for me to recover. Furthermore, it is the end of the year. I think I deserve a break after running my business affairs, this blog and making videos for the blog without a break throughout 2018.

KLIMS 2018

Do head over to the Facebook page folks. Been updating the Motoring Malaysia facebook page on the motor show.

ASEAN NCAP Gives the Upcoming Proton X70 a 5 Star Rating & Zero Stars for the TATA Super Ace - Some Thoughts on Both of the Results

There was a recent announcement by the people at ASEAN NCAP, the people in charge of testing the safety of new cars sold in the ASEAN or most parts of Southeast Asia. The New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP) recently crash tested four models during its third and fourth quarter of 2018. The tested models comprised the new Suzuki Swift, the new Proton X70, Wuling Confero and Tata Super Ace. This short piece is on two of the vehicles sold here in Malaysia, the X70 and the Super Ace. The Confero (fortunately not here- zero rated NCAP) and Swift (4 Star NCAP) aren't available officially in Malaysia.

Pre-Motorshow News: Naza Automotive Group to Showcase Peugeot, DS, Citroen & Kia to Name a Few Brands at KLIMS 2018

This is another Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 (KLIMS 2018) pre-show update folks. The Naza Automotive Group will be showcasing a range of passenger and commercial vehicles, motorcycles, accessories and alot more at KLIMS 2018 which will be held at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC) from 23 rd November until 2 nd December 2018. Some of the highlights include Peugeot, DS and Citroën and Kia.

Pre-Motorshow News: - Ford Malaysia to Officially Launch the Ford Ranger Raptor and will preview the New Ford Mustang at KLIMS 2018

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), the folks who distribute Ford vehicles in Malaysia will be participating in the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 which is scheduled to open its doors to the public on the 23 November 2018 until 2 December 2018 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). 

After 2,500 Units, the Last Scania PGR series truck rolls off the assembly line in Malaysia - New Scania Truck Variants to be Launched Soon

It has been a good run while it lasted but recently, the last Scania PGR series truck has rolled off the assembly line at the Scania Regional Production Centre in Port Klang. It must be a notable record of sorts, as Scania Malaysia has produced and sold more than 2,500 units of the Scania PGR series of trucks (P, G & R series folks...not PGR as a single model) since they were first introduced in the country back in 2008. So one decade and 2,500 units assembled locally later, its time to say goodbye to all three of these current PGR series of trucks.

Promotions: Test Drive a Renault and Win Some Prizes - Year-End Deals on the Captur & Koleos Too!

The ‘Renault Test Drive Challenge’ campaign is currently ongoing and it is offering participants the chance to win an Apple iPhone XS and other attractive prizes. Those that end up purchasing a Renault during the campaign period will also walk away with an additional year-end free gift of Raytech Solar and Security tint for the newly purchased Renault. The tinting is worth up to RM1,800 depending on the model purchased. TC Euro Cars, the authorised distributor for Renault vehicles in Malaysia is also extending their sales promotions on limited units of the Renault Koleos premium SUV and Captur compact crossover.

Castrol Malaysia Launches the all-New Castrol POWER1 Motorcycle Engine Oil

It's been a busy few weeks here in terms of covering the automotive industry in Malaysia. One of the new product launches held last week was the launch of the all-new Castrol POWER1 motorcycle engine oil. Castrol Malaysia launched this new product by unveiling a total of four new variants which according to them have been tailor made to suit a motorcycle's special demands. 

The New Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC+ & GLC 63 S Coupé 4MATIC+ is Now Available in Malaysia

Last week, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launched what they consider their Ultimate Performance Athletes. These are the new Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC+ & GLC 63 S Coupé 4MATIC+. These heavyweights were launched together with the iconic and most probably G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) off-roading Mercedes-Benz, the all-New Mercedes-Benz G-Class or G-Wagen as most of us like to call it.

The all-new Mercedes-Benz G-Class Makes Its Way To Malaysia - Mercedes-AMG G 63 is the Sole Variant Here!.

Sometime last week, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launched the all-new Mercedes-Benz G-Class off-road vehicle over at the Sepang Circuit. The unique thing is that we Malaysians are only getting one variant of this all-new G Wagen, the almighty Mercedes-AMG G 63. A truly unique statement indeed.

The New Mitsubishi Triton Shows Off Its New Face - Local Debut Will Be At The Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2018 & at Mitsubishi Roadshows in Malaysia

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) unveiled the new TRITON / L200 1-ton pickup truck over in Bangkok, Thailand recently. This is just about a week or so prior to them actually starting sales of the Triton in Thailand on November 17, 2018. Whilst it is still based on the fifth generation Triton which we see here in Malaysia, Mitsubishi have made major upgrades to it from the looks of it.

Naza Quest Ceases Distributorship of Chevrolet Vehicles - Will Still Handle All After Sales Until New Distributor is Announced

We've just received official word from the official distributors of Chevrolet here, Nasa Quest Sdn Bhd. They have announced that they will stop distributing new Chevrolet vehicles. 

Hap Seng Trucks Distribution Formally Takes Over The Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Distribution Here in Malaysia

Hap Seng Trucks Distribution Sdn. Bhd. recently completed the take-over of the commercial vehicle general distribution business from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia on the 1st of November 2018. It marked the start of Hap Seng Trucks Distribution as the exclusive and official distributor of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans and FUSO Trucks in here in Malaysia. The transfer also includes the import, assembly, wholesale distribution and aftersales services of Mercedes-Benz and FUSO commercial vehicles.