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SUNDAY STAR, 13 DECEMBER 2015

special

Motoring
Year-end auto
industry review

SUNDAY STAR, 13 DECEMBER 2015

2 motoring

THE sales of vehicles or total


industry volume (TIV) this
year might not be able to hit
670,000 units a target set by
the Malaysian Automotive
Association.
Although sales in October
jumped to above 60,000 units,
it happened after a two-month
decline.
The market needs to sell more
than 64,000 units of vehicles in
November and December for the
TIV to hit the target, which seems
difficult as the market winds
down for the year end.
However, car companies
are not giving up yet. There is
still an abundance of offers and
promotions in the market, and
with warnings about inevitable
price hike next year due to the
weakening of the ringgit, now is
the best time for you to get your
new vehicle with the best bargain.
With a more mature crowd,
waiting for the new year to buy a
new car seems to be a thing of the
past. The market now looks more
into the service history and
mileage of a vehicle rather than
the difference of a few months.
As for the performance of each
brand, Perodua continues to
strengthen its position, with a
solid 19.5% improvement in
October compared with the
month before. From January to
October this year, Perodua has
sold 174,832 vehicles.
Trailing far behind is Proton at
86,862 units. Honda is third at
74,915 units while Toyota is
following closely at 71,097 units.
Bear in mind that Toyota offers
commercial vehicles and Proton
receives a lot of sales from fleet
operators. Without those two,
their numbers would have slid
lower.
The sales performance of
vehicles next year will be

Serving
you
better

Car buyers should take advantage of promotions available as car prices may be expected to rise in the coming year.

Now is the time


determined solely by the economic
health of the ringgit.
Currently, sales people are
already complaining about how
long it takes to get loan approval
a strong sign that financial houses
are starting to tighten up in giving
out car loans. Perodua might
experience a slow-down in sales
too but industry analysts are
confident that the brand will
survive the wave and still top the
sales chart.
The Perodua brand has been
seen as a safe purchase among
Malaysians as many will not think
twice about buying a Perodua,

says an industry analyst.


With plans to introduce new
models, Perodua will not be quiet
next year either. A media trip to
Tokyo a few months ago proved
that the company wants to do
something exciting such as to
introduce a low-volume
convertible assembled in Malaysia.
The other national player Proton
is heard to be launching three new
models next year.
That is not the smartest move
but better that than having to sell
stale models. Proton needs to
refocus and restrategise on its
operations and even the brand.

The word efficient must be


introduced to the management
and workers. They have the
ability but not the proper
leadership to unite and make
use of all their resources, says
another industry watcher.
Knowing about cars is totally
different from knowing how to
run a car company.
Being the No.1 passenger
car market in Asean, Malaysias
automotive industry will survive
the economic turmoil, although a
few companies will have to make
drastic decisions just to stay
afloat.

Lower
price
unlikely
ONE of the impacts of the TransPacific Partnership Agreement and
Asean Free Trade Agreement with
Japan and Australia, which will
take effect in 2018, is the gradual
reduction of import duty.
Some are saying that one of the
benefits will be cheaper cars from
the participating countries.
However, a few analysts
disagree, stating that Malaysia
has already been enjoying
zero-tax import duty for cars
from Asean.
The prices of cars are made up
of the ex-factory price, sales tax,
excise duty and profit margin.
Sales tax stands at 10% while
excise duty for non-national cars
under 1,800cc is set at 75% for
complete knock-down or complete
built built-up units.
However, some car companies
are already enjoying lower excise
duty (between 40% and 50%
reduction) due to the use of local
content.
The current excise duties range

At the launch of the Volvo XC-90, which is planned to be assembled locally and exported.

from 30% to 50%.


Even if the excise duties are
lowered, another factor that the
Government has no control over is
the profit margin of car companies.
Right now, some car companies
are getting a good profit margin.

Some cars are given the tax


incentives, but comparing the
prices with the cars in the country
of origin, you can still see an
increment of 40% in price.
Car companies might want to
protect their own profit margin,

but the increase of cost in


promotional activities might also
contribute to car prices not being
lowered despite the trade pacts,
says Mohamad Madani Sahari,
chief executive officer of Malaysia
Automotive Institute (MAI).

PEUGEOT Service Centre


Klang launched its newest
offering, the 60 Minutes
Express Service, on Dec 7.
It is the first Peugeot Service
Centre offering the service.
Service manager
Jeganathan Singh says,
Customers always come first,
hence we decided to reduce
the waiting time for regular
service to cater to their hectic
schedules.
Peugeot owners are
welcome to bring their cars in
for the 60 Minutes Express
Service for regular servicing
(excluding fault diagnosis or
major servicing).

n For more information


on the 60 Minutes Express
Service, call Peugeot Service
Centre Klang at 03-3123 1220.

However, MAI a division


under the Ministry of International
Trade and Industry is adamant
that car prices will slowly become
cheaper, 20% to 22% of reduction
to be exact.
We believe that the prices
will go down because price
rationalisation exercise has been
in progress for the past year.
Madani agrees that the
Government has stopped
determining the prices of cars
since 2006.
Car prices after tax are being
determined by car companies, but
we do help where we can as we
want to promote Malaysia as the
regional hub for energy-efficient
vehicles, he explains.
One of the brands that have
received such assistance is Volvo
Car Malaysia, which just launched
its hyper-modern Volvo XC-90 that
is not only powerful but, at
RM453,888, is at least RM100,000
cheaper than its other European
competitors.
To get the incentive, Volvo Car
Malaysia has announced a
concrete plan of assembling the
modern hybrid XC-90 in its plant in
Shah Alam and will be exporting it
to Thailand, Indonesia and other
Asean countries.
Volvo is also adamant that it
will meet the 40% local content
required.

SUNDAY STAR, 13 DECEMBER 2015

motoring 3

Irresistible year-end bonus


Go on- or off-road with a reliable Jeep.

JEEP Malaysia is celebrating its


first anniversary this month.
To coincide with the festive
season, Jeep Malaysia is throwing
in some excellent goodies if you
are looking to get a Jeep for
yourself.
If you purchase a 2014 model,
you will be entitled to a free
one-year insurance premium

Jeep offers a wide range of vehicles that suits different lifestyles.

package and zero monthly


instalments for one year.
You can also opt for cash rebates,
whichever suits you better.
For 2015 models, you can enjoy
cash rebates and good over-trade
values. The promotion is valid till
Dec 31 (terms and conditions
apply).
If you are thinking of getting

yourself the iconic American offroad brand that will definitely


open up new horizons in your
lifestyle, the promotion offers good
values.
Besides offering a wide range
of vehicles that meets your needs
and styles, Jeep Malaysia goes to
great lengths to ensure that its
customers experience of owning

a Jeep is a good one.


Its trained technicians and
complete maintenance equipment
will ensure that your Jeep has no
problem being driven on- or offroad anytime, safely and with a
great drive experience.
To learn more about the offer
and Jeep vehicles, you can head
over to the Jeep showroom in

Glenmarie and talk to the friendly


staff.
Bring some excitement into
your life with a new Jeep today.
The Glenmarie showroom is
open seven days a week.

n For more information or


to arrange a test drive, call
1800 885 337.

SUNDAY STAR, 13 DECEMBER 2015

4 motoring

Truck with car-like features


EDARAN Tan Chong Motors might
have another winner as the
company launched the latest
generation of its popular Navara
pick-up truck.
In times when pick-up trucks
are perceived as lifestyle vehicles,
the NP300 Navara proves to bear
features that tend towards that
concept with its car-like features in
the interior of the new double-cab
pick-up truck.
Using the proven and improved
third-generation 2.5-litre YD25DDTi
with variable geometry system and
turbo-intercooler engine, the new
Navara (top-spec) unleashes up to
190PS and 450Nm of torque.
The other variants have a
slightly lower power output
163PS and 403Nm, and this
includes the single-cab entry
level version too.
Transmission options are a
seven-speed automatic or a
six-speed manual.
Underneath, the Navara is
serious in offering a truck that is
akin to a car. At the rear, a multilink rear suspension system offers
better ride quality for the pick-up
truck.
If that is not enough, the rear
seat has a good recline to offer a
friendlier and more comfortable
seating position for passengers.
There is also an air-conditioning

The instrument panel comes with a


colour TFT-LCD screen.

Prices of Navara
NP300 variants

The NP300 Navara is a truck with premium features.

vent for the rear passengers.


Up in front, Nissan even has the
zero gravity-inspired car seat for
the driver that includes electric
adjustments.
The zero gravity seat technology
helps alleviate fatigue for drivers
and passengers during the drive,
helping them maintain the ideal
posture that makes long drives
more comfortable.

More car-like features


l Colour TFT-LCD (thin-filmtransistor liquid-crystal display)
screen in the instrument binnacle
l Touchscreen infotainment
system with good audio quality
and satellite navigation
l Full LED headlight system
with LED daytime running
lights

l Steering wheel with control


buttons
l Rear spoiler on the edge of the
truck bed, which is proven to offer
downforce during high-speed
driving.
Customers can check out the
Navara NP300 models and try it
out for themselves.
They can also choose from a

l Navara NP300 4WD single


cab RM79,000
l Navara NP300 4WD double
cab 2.5E Manual RM89,800
l Navara NP300 4WD double
cab 2.5SE Manual
RM97,800
l Navara NP300 4WD double
cab 2.5SE Auto RM102,800
l Navara NP300 4WD double
cab 2.5V Auto RM109,800
l Navara NP300 4WD double
cab 2.5VL Auto RM120,800
variety of accessories from the
showroom and include them in
their loan amount, allowing them
to customise their truck and place
it under warranty.

SUNDAY STAR, 13 DECEMBER 2015

HINO has been operating in


Malaysia for more than 38 years
now and the brand has become an
industry-wide go-to for commercial
vehicles in the country.
With more than 100 outlets
nationwide, the presence of the
Hino brand is stronger than ever
with a proven track record of
success over the decades since
operating in Malaysia.
According to Ken Iwamoto,
managing director of Hino
Malaysia, customers need a strong
brand to back them up when it
comes to commercial vehicles,
as most of the time, the trucks
are the backbone of a company.
Hino recently established a
factory in Sendayan, Negri
Sembilan, and has been
manufacturing commercial
vehicles there since last year.
This is to cut down waiting time
for vehicle delivery and also to
manage cost effectively and ensure
disruption-free operations for most
of the time.
The management in Hino
Malaysia consists largely of
Japanese professionals from Hino,
Japan, thus the Japanese work
culture has a good presence in the
Hino Malaysia office.
Hino Malaysia currently sells
32 variants that include light
commercial vehicles (LCV) that
weigh from 4.5 tonnes to 8.5
tonnes, heavy-duty trucks and even
buses.
Of all these vehicles, the LCV is
the best-selling Hino product in the

motoring 5

Powering on strong

Ken Iwamoto says that training is an


important foundation to provide
customer satisfaction.

Winners of the 2nd Hino Total Support contest.

Malaysian market with 80% of the


total market share.
Hino held the 2nd Hino Total
Support contest last Saturday,
Dec 5.
This is the second time the Hino
Total Support contest is being held
here.
The contest is meant to
encourage the sharpening of
certain operational skill sets
required to work with the
demanding clients of today.
The objective of this event is to
provide a platform for Hino
dealers to test their knowledge and

show off their skills in categories of


sales, service and spare parts.
In addition, it is also an
opportunity for Hino to give due
recognition to dealers efforts in
promoting sales, service and spare
parts activities related to customer
satisfaction, said Iwamoto in his
opening speech during the event.
Training is an important
foundation in the ability to provide
customer satisfaction, which will
benefit dealers in the long term
and in meeting Hinos aspiration of
providing total support and being
the partner of customers.

When asked about the sales


figures for the first three quarters
of this year, Iwamoto says that the
company has met its target and is
hoping to meet the yearly target
for this year.
The commercial vehicle industry
as a whole has taken a slight
hit this year due to economic
uncertainty. Hino has sold slightly
less vehicles this year compared
to last year.
In the midst of all this, Iwamoto
still sees the bright side. According
to him, Difficult times are the best
time to improve, as it tests our

ability to work under pressure. If


you can excel under the pressure
of difficult times, then you can
achieve excellence.
Compared with this year,
Iwamoto feels that there will be a
slight growth in vehicle numbers
next year.
He says that it is important for a
company to have constant growth
and he feels that Malaysia has a lot
more potential for growth and
development.

n For more information,


visit www.hino.com.my

SUNDAY STAR, 13 DECEMBER 2015

6 motoring

Premium quality and innovation


VOLKSWAGEN Group Malaysia
offers the refined Passat with
enhanced specifications for a
competitive price.
Following the introduction of its
complete build-up (CBU) version in
2011, the Malaysian-assembled
Passat rolled out of the DRB-HICOM
factory in Pekan a year later and
has since been one of the most
popular models in Volkswagens
range of vehicles in Malaysia,
selling a total of more than 6,000
CBU and complete knock-down
(CKD) units to date.
The popularity of this sedan
in Malaysia is evident due to its
combination of premium and
modern features packaged with
an award-winning TSI engine and
Volkswagens hallmark sevenspeed direct-shift gearbox
transmission, making it the
segment leader in ride and
handling.
Volkswagen Group Malaysia
managing director Christoph
Aringer shares that the Passat has
always emulated the progress of
technological advancement at
Volkswagen, saying, Since the
inception of its debut model in
1973, the Passat has undergone
impressive technological
improvements to be the premium
executive sedan that it is today,
concurrently selling more than

The Volkswagen
Passat offers modern
features and awardwinning TSI engine.

15 million vehicles worldwide.


The Passat continues to be a
testament of our commitment to
offer competitively priced classleading vehicles to Malaysians
and the Passat remains true to
Volkswagens values of quality,
innovation and environmental
friendliness.
Simply automotive engineering
at its finest, the Passat aims to
provide premium mobility for
discerning Malaysians looking for
advanced comfort.

Enhanced features
The Passat offers drivers

enhanced connectivity, safety and


comfort features. The sedans
range of connectivity options now
includes Bluetooth, telephone
connectivity and audio streaming
that allow Passat owners to
wirelessly integrate a compatible
mobile phone offering hands-free
communication.
Its comfort features have been
upgraded to include 12-way
adjustable electric front seats and
memory function for drivers seat
to ensure comfortable and fatiguefree travel, even on long journeys.
On the cars security front, the
Passat is now improved with
anti-theft alarm system with an

electronic immobiliser, offering


maximum protection against
vehicle theft.
Another notable enhanced
feature is the sedans electric
folding exterior mirrors.

Engine and performance


Equipped with a 1.8-litre TSI
160PS turbocharged direct petrol
injection four-cylinder engine, the
Passat produces maximum torque
of 250Nm kicking in from a low
1500rpm all the way to 4200rpm
making it among the most
powerful cars available in
its segment.

This efficient engine is mated to


a seven-speed direct-shift gearbox,
enabling this sedan to accelerate
from 0kph to 100kph in 8.5
seconds. It is capable of reaching
a top speed of 220kph.
Installed with Volkswagens
signature seven-speed direct-shift
gearbox, drivers can experience
smooth and fast gear shifts, which
contribute to better fuel efficiency
and ride comfort.
The combination of its TSI and
direct shift gearbox technology
places the Passat at the forefront
of Volkswagens fuel efficiency,
returning a frugal seven litres
per 100km on the combined cycle
allowing drivers to go a distance
of approximately 14.3km per litre.
The Passat is available in six
colours candy white, light
brown, reflex silver, deep black,
black oak brown and icelandic
grey.
The Passat now comes with five
years of free maintenance (terms
and conditions apply), which is
equivalent to five times free
services.
The Passat is available for
booking at all Volkswagen
dealerships with the selling
price of RM169,888.

n For more information, visit


www.volkswagen.com.my

SUNDAY STAR, 13 DECEMBER 2015

MOTOR Image, the exclusive


distributor of Subaru in the region,
launched the Subaru XV STI
Performance Edition last year.
The STI Performance Edition
complements the Subaru XV
through the use of STIs
engineering technologies, which
achieve enhanced aesthetics and
performance from improved
handling, aerodynamics and
weight distribution.
The Subaru XV STI
Performance Edition includes
the following enhancements:
l Sportier exterior upgrades,
including STI front, rear and roof
spoilers, side skirts, flexi-tower bar,
daytime running lights and STI
Performance badges
l Refined interior upgrades
featuring chrome temperature
control dials, matte silver steering
wheel control panel and side
panels
l Improved handling and
drivability
Glenn Tan, executive director of
Tan Chong International Ltd, says,
Subaru customers are very
discerning and there has been
growing interest for the Subaru XV
in the Asean region. Therefore, to
cater to this increasing demand
for the XV, we want to be able
to offer a variety of options to
our customers and the STI
Performance Edition is one of
them.
The Subaru XV-STI Performance
Edition will take the Subaru XV

motoring 7

About Subaru

The Subaru XV STI


performance edition.

Enhanced drive
one step further, giving consumers
an enhanced driving experience
through improved handling and
stunning visual aesthetics, he
adds.
The Subaru XV STI
Performance Edition is a dynamic
crossover vehicle that blends
luxurious urban living with an
active adventurous lifestyle.
This vehicle caters to consumers
wanting a convenient, practical car
that provides an enjoyable driving
experience on any terrain.
The STI package features
sportier exterior upgrades such
as the STI front and rear underspoilers and side skirts that
visually enhance the Subaru XV
and inspire the driver to feel
confident, safe and responsive.
A smoother ride is delivered

through better aerodynamics and


handling. The Subaru XV STI
Performance Edition has
undergone extensive testing
undertaken by Subaru Tecnica
International (STI) using FHIs
(Fuji Heavy Industries) wind
tunnel test laboratory to compare
the aerodynamics effects, driving
stability and manoeuvrability
between the original Subaru XV
and the STI Performance Edition.
The test result showed that the
vehicles exterior upgrades have
improved the drivability of the
Subaru XV STI Performance
Edition.
Like every other Subaru vehicle,
the Subaru XV STI Performance
Edition has gone through
comprehensive safety testing that
conforms to the highest levels of

Subarus philosophy of all-around


safety.
The combination of safety
technologies with Subarus
symmetrical all-wheel drive
(AWD) gives drivers stable control
and peace of mind in all driving
conditions.
Motor Image Malaysia also
opened the new 3S Centre in
Petaling Jaya last year in
conjunction with the launch,
featuring a wide range of facilities
for sales, service and spare parts
under one roof.
The Subaru XV STI
Performance Edition are available
in the following markets under
the Motor Image Group
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia,
the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong
and Singapore.

Based in Japan, Subaru is the


automotive division of FHI, a
comprehensive, multi-faceted
transport equipment
manufacturer that develops a
wide range of innovative
products and services such as
automobiles, aerospace, bus
manufacturing, houseprefabricating, industrial
products and ecology systems.
Founded in 1955, Subaru has
since grown to become one of
the worlds leading carmakers.
In 1972, Subaru became the first
in the world to market an AWD
passenger car and pioneered
the market in Japan for highperformance station wagons
by combining a turbocharged
engine with an AWD system.
Subaru has improved and
refined its AWD system to create
a symmetrical AWD system that
enables optimal driving pleasure
and safety.
Subaru is well known for its
engineering, design, functionality,
safety and reliability.
The Subaru range of vehicles
includes the BRZ, Exiga, Forester,
Impreza, Legacy, Outback,
Tribeca and XV.
Its core technologies, such as
the symmetrical AWD and
Subaru Boxer built into every
model, offer superb handling.

n For more information,


visit www.subaru-global.com

SUNDAY STAR, 13 DECEMBER 2015

8 motoring

THE Borneo Safari International


Off-Road Challenge celebrated its
25th anniversary recently with a
10-day event that brought together
participants from all walks of life,
including some off-road novices.
Johnson Ling, media
photojournalist and first-time
participant, decided that it was
time for him to experience the
challenge for himself after reading
and hearing about the tough offroad 4x4 safari.
Ling was invited to experience
the Borneo safari as a journalist
and when he was told that he
would be off the grid for 10 days,
he accepted without hesitation.
Thus began his off-road trip in
an Isuzu D-Max. This was Lings
first off-road jungle trip.
Although he had been to nature
camps and done some dirt cycling,
he had never attempted something
such as this.
From the first day, the issues
of zero Internet and limited
cellphone connectivity seemed
to be small worries as there was
an overwhelming sense of
excitement.
As they progressed onto light
jungle terrain, the urban world
and the need to stay connected
diminished completely because
Ling and the other newbies on the
trip were fascinated with the world
around them.
At the end of the first day, it was
time to rest, take a bath in the river
and relax after a long day spent in
their vehicles.
The second day and subsequent
days were tougher as the progress

Participants of the Borneo Safari International Off-Road Challenge waiting to


embark on their 10-day journey into the wild.

Johnson Ling, first-timer in the 10-day challenge.

Adventure of a lifetime
into the thick forest was slow, with
obstacles that left many first-time
participants worrying if passing
would be possible.
With a good winch, skilled
drivers and well-prepared Isuzu
vehicles, the water crossings, deep
gulleys and steep hills were
conquered with a special mix of
camaraderie and motivation.
The new participants were
witnessing the coming together

of man and machine, working


together to overcome nature
at its best.
Food was never a problem
as the cooks on the trip kept them
well fed and most participants
had to stop themselves from going
for seconds as toilet breaks were
few and this meant it was best to
eat modestly during the day.
There were a few light terrain
stages where Ling and the other

media people were allowed to


drive their Isuzu trucks, which was
an exciting experience.
The well-engineered trucks
never failed and gave drivers a
sense of security as they went
through some special off-road
stages to show the ability of the
trucks in rough conditions.
Ling says that he looks forward
to returning for next years
Borneo Safari International

Off-Road Challenge.
He finds the friendships formed
over the 10 days invaluable and
that being one with nature has
taught him about things he never
considered important till now.
The safari challenge is a trip
for the toughest people who are
looking for a good challenge.

n For more information,


visit isuzu.net.my/home/

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