Truck News: Volvo Trucks Malaysia offers Engine and Transmission Overhaul Promotions this year end

For those running Volvo Trucks do take note that Volvo Trucks Malaysia is offering an Engine and Transmission Overhaul Promotion for this year end (2015) from the 1st of November 2015 to the 31st of January 2016. Save up to 60%!  For example, the Volvo FM12 overhaul would cost RM29,140.00. But with this promo, the cost goes down to RM16,100, or 45% off the original price. But also note that terms and conditions apply - see the final photo published herein for details.

2015 Chevrolet Colorado Sport & Cruze Sport revealed for the Malaysian market

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NAZA Quest Sdn Bhd, official distributor of Chevrolet cars here in Malaysia has launched the Chevrolet Colorado Sport (above) and the Chevrolet Cruze Sport (below) recently. These new variants see enhancements in exterior, interior and performance. Both of these cars will be showcased at One Utama Auto Fair from 2nd - 6th December 2015, Highstreet zone. 

Spotted for Sale: 2012 Honda CR-Z 2.0 - It should have been like this all along

It's been a while since I did any 'Spotted for Sale' articles. I suppose it's because there haven't been anything truly interesting out there when I was checking out the want ads. This time we have a winner folks, a 2012 Honda CR-Z with a nice big fat VTEC inside. By nice I mean a 2.0liter with 2.4liter stroker kit Honda K20a Type R engine plonked into it instead of the standard lethargic 1.5liter with a tiny electric motor for assist. 

BMW Group supports 500 refugees with social and professional intergration

Anette Farrenkopf, CEO of the Jobcenter in Munich; Milagros Caiña-Andree, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG; Manfred Schoch, Chairman of the General Works Council of BMW AG and Dr Markus Schmitz, CEO Regional Directorate Bavaria Federal Employment Agency with WORK HERE participants und their BMW mentors. (11/2015)

BMW has something called a refugee initiative. They have something called 'WORK HERE!'. This is a nine week practical work programme to help qualified refugees with social and professional integration over in Germany. It is organised by BMW in conjunction with the Federal Employment Agency of Germany. The BMW Group’s “WORK HERE!” training programme teaches skills that will give refugees better prospects in Germany and help them start a new life. The goal is for around 500 refugees to participate in practical work training and entry qualification.

BMW previews the Concept Compact Sedan - the upcoming BMW 1 Series Sedan ????

This folks, could be the upcoming BMW 1 series sedan. It will be previewed at the Auto Guangzhou 2015, China in concept car format for the moment. Read on for more details in the press release which I have put below. The thing about concept cars is that even though they are nearly production ready, they don't really interest me to the extent that I need to put some extra energy into writing something that the manufacturer has done so nicely. If the car was a production model I'd be interested. As I might get to drive the darn thing. So read on, about what the future 1 Series sedan may look like....

PRESS RELEASE

Munich/Guangzhou. The BMW Group has chosen Auto Guangzhou 2015, one of the largest international motor shows in China, to present a very special new development to the global public: the company’s vision of a four-door sedan for the compact segment. “The BMW Concept Compact Sedan reveals the potential we see in a compact sedan,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “It not only gives the driver and passengers generous amounts of space within a compact area but does so while providing the sporting ability you’d expect from BMW and an elegance otherwise only available in large BMW sedans. The quality and intrinsic value of the BMW Concept Compact Sedan are clear signals of our premium intentions for the car.”

Caltex Fuel Your School creates impact for students in Negeri Sembilan

 10th from left: Pn. Nor Baizura Kamaruddin, Student Affairs Supervisor of Seremban School District,  11th from left: Mokhtar Ali Ismail, Policy, Government & Public  Affairs Manager, 12th from left En. Pkharuddin Bin Hj. Ghazali, Deputy Director of Education, Education Department of Negeri Sembilan and 13th from left:Jeffrey Perera, Managing Director of MyKasih Foundation with Caltex retailers, teachers and students of the winning schools in Negeri Sembilan

After finishing off with schools in Melaka, Caltex has now completed its annual community campaign in Negeri Sembilan, the land of masak lomak cili api. Caltex Fuel Your School in partnership with MyKasih Foundation. In its fourth consecutive year, the Campaign had once again further raised the awareness in driving change and providing equal self-development with proper classroom facilities for students of high need schools in Negeri Sembilan and Malacca by enhancing a better environment and further promoting the learning of Science, Technology, English and Mathematics.

Remember folks, it is always a good thing to give back to society, especially our rural folk who somehow lag behind when it comes to education and the necessary tools to compete.

6th from left: Pn. Nor Baizura Kamaruddin, Student Affairs Supervisor of Seremban School District, 7th from left: Jeffrey Perera, Managing Director of MyKasih Foundation, 8th from left: En. Pkharuddin Bin Hj. Ghazali, Deputy Director of Education, Education Department of Negeri Sembilan,  9th from left: Mokhtar Ali Ismail, Policy, Government & Public Affairs Manager along with teachers of the winning schools in Negeri Sembilan

The Tesla Model S 85 as a passenger at the Green Tech EV Experience, CyberJaya

Last Saturday I was invited to experience some electric cars (courtesy of Cyberview Sdn Bhd - the people that has the task to develop Cyberjaya as a global tech hub) at the GreenTech Malaysia EV Experience over at Cyberjaya. The 'EV' here stands for Electric Vehicles. No hybrids or fossil fuel power vehicles were present on that day. Only fully electric or to put it crudely, battery operated vehicles. So that day I saw electric powered bicycles, electric Go-karts (very nice to drive with bucketloads of lowdown torque) and most importantly, electric cars.

Ford's 48th and largest showroom and service centre officially open in Petaling Jaya

Ford Motor Company and its Malaysian distribution partner, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) has officially opened its new showroom and service centre in Petaling Jaya. The centre, the Sime Darby Auto Connexion, Petaling Jaya 2 is strategically located at Lot 3, Jalan 51A/219, 46100 Petaling Jaya. It is actually just off Federal Highway and is on the opposite side of the current SDAC PJ dealership. 

Mark Kaufman, president, Ford ASEAN, signs a plaque to mark the opening of the new Ford showroom, SDAC PJ2

The new centre is part of Ford and SDAC’s two-year RM140 million network expansion and customer service enhancement plan. Ford Malaysia is basically making it easier for customers to interact with them by opening dealerships and expanding existing dealerships so they incorporate sales, service and spare parts under one roof. 

Scania Malaysia (Scania) and Malaysia Innovation Agency (AIM) collaborate to exploring viable commercial opportunities for biofuels from municipal waste in Malaysia

From left to right: Dato’ Azman Mahmud, CEO of MIDA, Dato’ Mah Siew Keong, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Malaysia, Mark Rozario, CEO of AIM, Marie Sjödin Enström, MD of Scania SEA, HE Mrs Kristina Persson, Minister for Strategic Development & Nordic Cooperation of Sweden, HE Mr Bengt G Carlsson, Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Scania Malaysia and Agensi Innovasi Malaysia (AIM).

I was recently invited to do some coverage at the Sweeden-Malaysia Innovation Day 2015 ministerial level round-table discussion here in MIDA, Kuala Lumpur a few days ago. There I witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Swedish manufacturer Scania and the Malaysia Innovation Agency (AIM). The MoU's purpose is the collaboration by the Malaysian Government, via AIM and Scania to explore viable commercial opportunities for biofuels from municipal waste in Malaysia in line with Malaysia's National Biomass Strategy 2020 (NBS 2020).Scania was represented by the Managing Director of Scania Southeast Asia, Marie Sjödin Enström, and AIM, represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Mark Rozario.

Now biofuels turn waste into clean energy, increase security of fuel supply and improve local economies, help create local job opportunities and industrial development. The collaboration study includes identification of possible project locations, price and market demand projections and economic and operational feasibility. Scania has the technology to catalyse this project as it has been one of the main contributors to the development and adaptation of biofuels, developing and producing commercial biofuel-based transport solutions for over 20 years in Sweden and in around the world.