When it comes to sportiest Volkswagen on the planet, the models always come with their performance brand letter, the Volkswagen R. Bred and perfected on the race track, all Volkswagen R models are offered and enhanced with both superior performance and all-round capabilities for daily driving which includes comfort and driving dynamics. (more…)
Volvo Cars and Geely, both part of the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH), intend to merge their existing combustion engine operations into a stand-alone business. This will see the establishment of a new global supplier that will seek to develop next-generation combustion engines and hybrid powertrains.
The proposed new business would clear the way for Volvo Cars to focus on the development of its all-electric range of premium cars. Volvo Cars is building an entirely electrified product range as part of the company’s ambition to put sustainability at the core of its operations. By the middle of the next decade, it expects half its global sales to be fully electric and the other half hybrid, supplied by the new unit.
For Geely, the planned new entity means technologically advanced and efficient combustion engines and hybrid powertrains would be available to Geely Auto, Proton, Lotus, LEVC and LYNK & CO. The planned new business would represent a significant industrial collaboration between Volvo Cars and Geely, with substantial operational, industrial and financial synergies.
Additional business opportunities
The planned new stand-alone business can also supply powertrains to other manufacturers, providing possible growth opportunities. This is not new as some major carmakers also have subsidiaries that supply engines to other carmakers. For example, in the early 2000s, Renault Moteurs provided the 1.8-litre engine for the Proton Waja 1.8 and later on, the engine for the Savvy.
The proposed new business is intended to be an attractive employer for approximately 3,000 employees from Volvo Cars and around 5,000 employees from Geely’s combustion engine operations, including R&D, procurement, manufacturing, IT and finance functions. No reductions in the workforce are anticipated.
Both Volvo Cars and Geely are in the process of carving out their ICE (internal combustion engine) operations into new units within their respective organisations as a first step towards a merger of the two into a combined new stand-alone business.
Volvo Cars believes the electrification of the automotive industry will be a gradual process, meaning there will be significant ongoing demand for efficient hybrid powertrains alongside fully electric offerings. “Hybrid cars need the best internal combustion engines. This new unit will have the resources, scale and expertise to develop these powertrains cost efficiently,” said Hakan Samuelsson, Volvo Cars’ President & CEO.
10-year-old Sam Scharer from the Ysgol Bro Gwydir School, Llanrwst, Conwy, has won a very special design competition which involves a livery for a Toyota GT86 rally car and WRC. The kid’s sea-themed design won the hearts of judges at the nationwide competition and will be seen taking part at the UK’s round for the FIA World Rally Championship. How cool is that? (more…)
Subsidizing the retail price of fuel for motorists has cost the government millions – this week, the total cost amounts to RM101.52 million – and the money can obviously be better spent for other purposes. However, subsidizing fuel prices has helped not just those who really need assistance but also many who can afford to pay more for their fuel.
So over the past year, the government has been trying to find a way to target subsidies to make sure that only the groups that need fuel at subsidized prices get them. The approach has been finalized and announced today by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The planned implementation date will be at the beginning of 2020 so we should be hearing the full details from the Finance Minister in the coming Budget speech on October 11.
RM30/month for cars, RM12/month for motorcycles
Subsidies under the Program Subsidi Petrol will be given to eligible motorcycle and car owners in Peninsular Malaysia who are also registered for Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH). Those with motorcycles will receive RM12 a month while those with cars will receive RM30 a month. The subsidies will be paid into bank accounts of the recipients every 4 months.
Among the additional conditions are that for cars, the maximum engine size to qualify is 1600 cc or if above 1600 cc, the vehicle should be over 10 years old. Some 2.9 million people will receive the subsidies which are expected to total around RM65.4 million each month.
NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd, an authorised dealer for Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia, has added another outlet to its network of Mercedes-Benz Autohauses in the Klang Valley. The Autohaus, acquired from another party, is a 2S (service and spare parts) facility which sits on 13,866 sq ft of land and has a built-up area of 9,200 sq ft.
Commenting on the new outlet, SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Group Executive Chairman & CEO, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd said: “At NZ Wheels, we are committed to giving our customers peace of mind through high quality products and exceptional customer experience. Therefore, we are beyond excited to introduce the NZ Wheels Setapak Autohaus as our fourth outlet and given its strategic location in north-east Kuala Lumpur, the new 2S facility will complement our existing NZ Wheels Bangsar Autohaus 1S facility to offer unparalleled service excellence expected from the 3-pointed star marque.”
“Moreover, we are confident the Setapak outlet will appeal to the most discerning Mercedes-Benz customers as it is fully equipped with state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz approved diagnostic tools and equipment and staffed by professionally-trained Mercedes-Benz Certified Service Specialists,” he added.
The Autohaus conforms to the Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II (MPS II) concept in line with the German luxury marque’s global customer experience concept and corporate identity. Its service centre, which has 5 work bays and 1 bay for wheel alignment, can handle up to 250 vehicles a month for both general and specialized repairs. At present, there are 10 highly-trained personnel experienced in technical, service and parts.
It has been a day to remember for two very lucky Isuzu D-Max owners as they were greatly rewarded with a brand-new Isuzu D-Max 2.5 Auto 4×4 earlier today. The Isuzu D-Max Buy and Win Contest was held earlier this year where Isuzu customers stand a chance to win the grand prizes. (more…)
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