The Audi RS Q8 is Officially Available in Malaysia

 

Good news to those that like Audi. The flagship 2022 Audi RS Q8 SUV has been officially made available here by Audi's authorised distributor here, PHS Automotive Malaysia and it will be priced from RM1,699,990 inclusive of duties and sales tax. 

PETRONAS' GENTARI - A Clean Energy Provider Setup is Launched Beginning with a Suite of Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Green Mobility Solutions

 

On September 15, 2022 PETRONAS officially launched their clean energy solutions provider Gentari Sdn Bhd (GENTARI). The new venture was officially launched by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob following a brand introduction in June of this year. The entity, wholly owned by PETRONAS, Malaysia's oil and gas giant, aims to become a one-stop integrated clean energy solutions provider, beginning with a suite of renewable energy, hydrogen and green mobility solutions for commercial, industrial, and retail customers. Quite a necessary initiative as eventually when all nations push for sustainable and green energy.

HINO Opens New Service Outlets in Georgetown, Penang and in Sungai Petani, Kedah

Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (HINO) had appointed two new HASOs (Hino Approved Service Outlet) up north in Georgetown, Penang and in Sungai Petani, Kedah. This strengthens its service network and provide easy access for after-sales support to customers, for the northern region, improving its customer support network. UP Service Centre Sdn Bhd (UP Service) located in Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, and Hong Yee Car Computer Service Sdn Bhd (Hong Yee Car) located in Sungai Petani, Kedah operate these two new centres.

Booking is Now Open for the all-new 10-seater Hyundai Staria - Scheduled to be Sold by 4th Quarter of 2022

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has informed that they will be launching the 10 seater variant for the spaceship inspired Hyundai Staria. While they like to call it a spaceship, I think that it is more akin to the head of a Shinkansen high speed train. But what ever the case, it looks very futuristic and now you can order one with more seats by the fourth quarter of 2022.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Enters Into a MOU with Montfort Boys Town to Strengthen its Advanced Modern Apprenticeship Programme

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia earlier today entered into a two year long Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Montfort Boys Town to cultivate and develop local young talent for its Advanced Modern Apprenticeship programme. Here, students from Montfort Boys Town who successfully pass the annual pre-enrolment assessment will receive a full scholarship and have a passport to the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Modern Apprenticeship Programme.

New 2022 BMW M850i xDrive Coupe MY Edition Launched - Exclusive for Malaysia Edition at Only RM 1,102,800.00+++

BMW Malaysia had on the 13th of September 2022 unveiled the newly enhanced BMW M850i xDrive Coupé MY Edition. This is a special Malaysia only version of the potent M850i and it features added enhancements for the luxury M Performance sports coupé, a refreshed front end and a suite of upgraded standard equipment. The price before insurance of this range topping coupe is RM 1,102,800.00 before you factor in insurance. 

Volvo Car Malaysia Launches Two Volvo Certified Damage Repair Centres Located in Ara Damansara and in Glenmarie

At the Glenmarie VCDR Launch

Volvo Car Malaysia is stepping up the game in providing better customer aftersales by introducing its first dedicated body repair and paint service facilities through the launch of the Volvo Certified Damage Repair Centre (VCDR). The VCDR service is now available at Federal Auto Cars, Glenmarie and Sime Darby Swedish Auto, Ara Damansara, So customers will get to enjoy an end-to-end high quality body repair and paint service from the authorised aftersales dealerships for customers who have gotten accident damage to their Volvo cars.

Confirmed prices of the Mercedes-Benz EQS, EQB and EQC for the Malaysian Market

 

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia presents their future of electric mobility with three new models from the Mercedes-EQ family and their official prices for the Malaysian market. The Mercedes-EQ is their fully electric range of premium, luxury cars tops out with the EQS, the S-Class full electric luxury car and now we have two SUVs, the EQB, which is the B-Class equivalent. Aside from that, there is also an EQC, if you want that C-Class type of SUV (aka the GLC). All were previewed, or launched in July 2022 but official prices have only been confirmed today.

///Malaysia Day and 50 Jahre M at LaLaport Bukit Bintang City Centre, 16th September 2022 - BMW and M Fans Should Head Over There for Sights and Sounds

 BMW Group Malaysia and the M Owners Malaysia Community intends to celebrate 50 years of M performance cars with the Largest BMW M Gathering on ///Malaysia Day 2022. If you forgot, 16th of September is Malaysia day and this gathering will be held at LaLaPort Bukit Bintang City Centre in Kuala Lumpur. 

Official Press Release is here....

Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur Launches their Latest SUV - The DBX707

The Aston Martin DBX is Aston Martin's SUV. Now, in its latest revised for 2022 form, it makes its ASEAN appearance here in Kuala Lumpur in its latest form, the DBX707. This range-topping hand-built DBX has been made better according to Aston Martin and adds more driving pleasure as well as performance to the mix.  The DBX707 gets the AMG derived 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 which generates 707PS and 900Nm of torque but what's new from this upgraded DBX are notably some chassis improvements, a 9 speed DCT transmission and carbon brakes. 

MAN Truck & Bus to Start Offering Euro V Bus for Malaysian By 2023 ... and Maybe Their EV E-Chassis Bus Too

 

MAN 3 Axle RR5 Bus Chassis

MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN Malaysia),  to be the first vehicle manufacturer in  Malaysia to offer Euro V engines as standard across its entire Truck range, will now aim to become the first company to offer Euro V for its bus range too.  This piece of environmentally friendly news was first announced at MAN BAGUS, an annual gathering for key players from the bus  industry at its Serendah CKD assembly plant. There, MAN Malaysia Managing Director  Andrew O’Brooks announced that the company plans to introduce a low-emission  Euro V engine as an option in 2023 to help bus operators reduce their carbon  footprint. 

MAN 2 Axle RR3 Bus Chassis

PROTON – MSF Merdeka Race Carnival 2022 on 27th and 28th August 2022 at Sepang International Circuit

 PROTON partners with Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF), the organiser of the MSF Saga Cup racing

series, to create the PROTON – MSF Merdeka Race Carnival 2022 on 27th and 28th August 2022 at

Sepang International Circuit which harks back to the halcyon days of the original PROTON 300km

Merdeka Race of the late-90s which was the first ever race to be held at Sepang Circuit on 11-13

December 1998.

Malaysian Scania Technicians Compete at the Scania Top Teams Competition Again

This has been awhile. Scania Malayia recently held the Malaysian leg of the Scania Top Teams competiton for their technicians. I managed to find some time during my busy post-lockdown schedule to attend this event. This could have been the first competition of sorts for technicians assembled at one place since the country went thought lockdown after lockdown to combat the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Five teams managed to compete in the finals from a total number of twelve (which are from the 12 branches throughout Malaysia) and Team B100 from Scania Malaysia's Ipoh workshop secured the win.

Ford and Sime Darby Auto Connexion Launches the Latest Generation Ford Ranger in Malaysia

Ford, together with Malaysian authorised distributors Sime Darby Auto Connexion has launched the next generation Ford Ranger pickup truck. This ever popular pickup was engineered with valuable input from customers, Ford engineers and designers created a bold, purposeful exterior design and sleek, inviting, high-tech interior. Still familiar in its overall styling but improved all over according to the folks at Ford. I managed to attend the launch event even though I had quite a busy schedule. Maybe since it was Friday and most of my errands were done for the week (trying to get things back on track after all lockdowns over the past two years).

All New 2022 Perodua Alza MPV Launched - Already 30,000 Bookings Received For It

As usual, a new Perodua gets a ton of bookings prior to the official launch. So we now see the all-new Alza MPV having 30,000 and by now, more than that bookings by Malaysians. It does look like Malaysians love their Perodua and the new Alza, totally all-new is being welcomed extremely well. Now, it is based on the latest generation of Toyota/Daihatsu compact MPV chassis which is will know as the Avanza (in its most basic form).

Scania Malaysia Delivers to MFJ Logistics their First Scania New Truck Generation XT Truck

Scania recently delivered the first Scania New Truck Generation (NTG) XT G410A6x4NZ in Johor to MFJ Logistics Sdn. Bhd. (MFJ). This heavy duty NTG Scania XT truck comes with Contracted Services and Scania Fleet Management System (FMS) Control 10 and covered by Scania Financial Services. Scania Malaysia handed over the key to Mad Faisal Jamaluddin, Director of MFJ Logistics Sdn. Bhd at MFJ’s premises in Pagoh, Johor.

PROTON Officially Opens its Latest Hi-Tech Engine Assembly Line in Tanjung Malim

PROTON earlier today unveiled their latest engine assembly line at their Tanjung Malim plant at an exclusive event for invited media guests. The hi-tech assembly line has been in operation since April this year and produces the company’s 1.5 TGDI (Turbo Gasoline Direct Injection) engine, the first time it has been assembled outside of China and is one of the most advanced automotive engine assembly lines in the country. This means that even more local content is in Proton's SUVs after this.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s product pricing updates - Post 30th June 2022 SST Exemption Pricing

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia have on the 1st of July 2022 announced the adjusted manufacturer’s recommended retail selling prices for each Mercedes-Benz model in line with reintroduction of the sales tax (SST) for locally-assembled and fully imported vehicles. Remember folks, this is what we were basically paying when we bought a new car prior to the suspension of the SST due to the government of Malaysia putting in place a system to lessen the burden of Malaysians during the recent pandemic. Now it is back to normal. 

Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Delivers RM2.4m UD Quester Vacuum Loader Truck to Duromac

On 1st July 2022, Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd (TCIE), the sole distributor of UD Trucks delivered a UD Quester CGE390 8x4 rigid truck platform equipped with a vacuum loader worth 2.4 million ringgit to the Duromac Group today. The UD Quester is UD Trucks' heavy-duty truck that has been designed with fuel efficiency and durability as well as being a platform designed to fit into different customers’ expectations. Like this unique vac-blower truck you see here right now. The handover ceremony was held at Duromac headquarters located in Puchong and witnessed by senior management of Duromac, UD Trucks and TCIE. 

PHS Automotive Malaysia is the official distributor of Audi cars in Malaysia- Things Should be Rosy Again for Audi Here After This

Managing Directors, Erik Winter and Kurt Leitner

PHS Automotive Malaysia (PHSAM) is now the official distributor of Audi cars in Malaysia. Finally after being in somewhat of a limbo, Audi has a proper distributor again. Previously, Audi Malaysia was the official distributors but since 2018 or so, they have pulled out with the principal handling things via their Singapore office. Now, PHSAM is handling things. I believe that they will do a better job that what has been done previously and actually bring Audi back into the premium car game here in Malaysia.