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Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has clarified that the government is still covering the cost of diesel subsidies for eligible sectors, despite the price of diesel being floated. Speaking on the Yang Bakar Menteri (YBM) podcast, Rafizi explained that subsidies are still provided to essential sectors like fisheries, public transport, and logistics, although private users are now subject to market prices.

According to Bernama, Rafizi noted that the government has not fully removed diesel subsidies but has adopted a targeted approach, ensuring that specific sectors continue to benefit. The retail price of diesel in Peninsular Malaysia was set at RM3.35 per litre on June 10, 2024, while in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan, it remained at RM2.15 per litre, with prices fluctuating based on market conditions.

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Great Wall Motor (GWM) Malaysia has marked a significant milestone with the rollout of the first Complete Knock-Down (CKD) unit of the GWM Haval H6 Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) at EP Manufacturing Berhad’s new CKD production plant in Melaka. The Haval H6 HEV, set for an official launch in October, is the fourth model from GWM Malaysia, following the Ora Good Cat, Ora 07, and GWM Tank 300. This launch also marks GWM’s first locally assembled model in Malaysia, reflecting its commitment to expanding its global presence and promoting environmentally friendly mobility.

Key Highlights:
  • Production Capacity: In its initial phase, the plant aims to produce 10,000 units annually, with plans to increase capacity to 300,000 units in the second phase.
  • Localisation: GWM prioritises local content and economic support, backed by strict quality control regulations.
  • Quality Control: Every GWM Haval H6 HEV undergoes 12 rigorous quality checks and on-track safety tests to ensure optimal performance and customer satisfaction.

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Central Auto Distributors Bhd (CADB), a subsidiary of PEKEMA and the exclusive distributor of Dongfeng Cars in Malaysia, has announced a significant development in the country’s electric vehicle (EV) sector. They have officially appointed 23 authorised dealers in preparation for the launch of the Dongfeng Box EV, which is set for Q4 2024.

Key Features of the Dongfeng Box:
  • Range: 430km on a single charge, making it an ideal choice for urban and light passenger transport.
  • Safety: Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) with lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, collision warning, and an automatic parking system.

CADB Experience Centres:
  • Cyberjaya and Kota Damansara now host CADB’s Experience Centres, giving customers hands-on access to explore the Dongfeng Box. These centres also serve as key hubs for education and training on EV technology.
Road Testing:

The Dongfeng Box recently completed a rigorous R&D phase, including 45,000km of local road tests across Peninsular Malaysia. Tests like the Adaptive Durability Test (DAT), Electric Road Test (ERT), and ADAS Test ensured the vehicle is well-suited for Malaysian roads, leading to improvements in navigation, safety, and comfort systems.

Datuk Hj Mohamed Nazari Bin Noordin, President of PEKEMA, expressed enthusiasm about these developments, highlighting the company’s dedication to offering environmentally friendly, high-quality EVs tailored to Malaysian customers’ needs.

The newly appointed 23 first batch dealers will serve as the backbone of CADB’s distribution and service network, provide sales and after-sales services across five main regions in Malaysia:

 

STATE DEALER NAME CITY/TERRITORY NO. OF DEALER
 

 

 

 

 

 

CENTRAL

HAMAWANGSA KREDIT SDN BHD

PROMINENT MOTOR SDN BHD

ADK GLOBAL SDN BHD

NASSER AUTO SPORT SDN BHD

ZIE GARAGE MOTORS SDN BHD

PANTHER CAR CO MALAYSIA SDN BHD

TTDI

KAMPUNG PANDAN

SEPANG

SUBANG JAYA

KG BARU AMPANG

AMPANG

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

SWEETCARS GALLERY SDN BHD BATU CAVES
AUTO EVOLUTION SDN. BHD. BANDAR SUNWAY
WAJAR KUASA SDN BHD BUKIT TINGGI, KLANG
SMS AUTO WORLD SDN BHD USJ, SUBANG
PANTAI BHARU HOLDINGS SDN BHD JALAN MERU, KLANG
FADASON SDN BHD SETIA ALAM, KLANG
  TOTAL    
 

 

NORTHERN

LBI MOTOR SDN BHD

DK AUTO CAR (M) SDN BHD

FADASON SDN BHD

ALOR SETAR

SEBERANG JAYA

GEORGETOWN

 

 

5

PANCA ABADI AUTOMOBIL SDN BHD BAYAN LEPAS
JENDELA UNGGUL SDN BHD IPOH
  TOTAL    
SOUTHERN FF GALAXY SDN BHD

HAMAWANGSA KREDIT SDN BHD

JOHOR JAYA

BATU PAHAT

2
  TOTAL    
EAST COAST LBI MOTOR SDN BHD

NOBLE COUNTRY SDN BHD

KOTA BHARU

KUANTAN

2
  TOTAL    
SARAWAK BEST AUTO NIAGA SDN BHD KUCHING 1
  TOTAL    
SABAH PERNIAGAAN SHIRBA SDN BHD & FALIDA MOTORS KOTA KINABALU 1
  TOTAL    
  GRAND TOTAL 23

Honda Malaysia has introduced Special Edition variants of two of its most popular models, the City and WR-V, each limited to just 99 units. These exclusive models are designed to create excitement in their respective segments and offer unique enhancements to further captivate Malaysian car enthusiasts.

City V Special Edition

The City V Special Edition brings a refreshed exterior with sporty enhancements, including Front, Side, and Rear Under Spoilers, along with a Special Edition emblem. For added convenience and style, it includes a front Honda Digital Video Recorder (DVR), Foot Light, Side Step Garnishes, and a Trunk Tray. These features build upon the already well-equipped City V variant, which includes:

  • Eight speakers
  • 60:40 Split Rear Seat
  • 519 litres of cargo space
  • Six airbags
  • Advanced Honda SENSING with eight safety features
  • Walk Away Auto Lock

The City has enjoyed widespread popularity in Malaysia since its 2001 debut, with over 450,000 units sold to date. The current fifth-generation facelifted model, introduced in August 2023, has sold more than 26,200 units.

WR-V RS Special Edition

The WR-V RS Special Edition is designed to appeal to those seeking a versatile small SUV with added exclusivity. It features Front, Side, and Rear Under Spoilers, a Special Edition emblem, a front DVR, an Exhaust Pipe Finisher, a Rear Panel Lining Cover, and Rear Step Garnishes. These upgrades enhance the WR-V RS’s appearance and value, making it a standout in the small SUV segment.

Since its launch, more than 13,400 units of the WR-V have been sold in Malaysia, with the RS variant being the most popular, accounting for 53% of total sales. The WR-V RS is equipped with Honda SENSING and earned a five-star rating from ASEAN NCAP.

Pricing and Availability

  • City V Special Edition: Priced at RM94,900 with an additional RM300 surcharge for the Platinum White Pearl colour.
  • WR-V RS Special Edition: Priced at RM107,900 in Stellar Diamond Pearl.

Both models maintain the same pricing as their regular variants, offering excellent value with exclusive features. The WR-V RS Special Edition will be available for viewing at Honda dealerships starting 12 September 2024, followed by the City V Special Edition at the end of September 2024.

Interested customers can visit Honda authorised dealerships or contact Honda Malaysia for more details or to secure their units.

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) continues its impressive performance, recording total sales of 8,500 units in August 2024. This brings the year-to-date sales to approximately 64,000 units. The top three best-selling models for August were the Toyota Vios, Toyota Hilux, and Toyota Corolla Cross, highlighting the strong demand for Toyota sedans, pick-ups, and SUVs in Malaysia.

New Model Launches

In line with this success, UMWT opened orders for the enhanced 2024 models of the Toyota Hilux, Fortuner, and GR86 on 16 August 2024.

  • Toyota Hilux: Known for its durability, the new model now features Vehicle Stability Control in the 2.4 Single Cab and offers advanced features like Remote Engine Start and Panoramic View Monitor in select variants.

  • Toyota Fortuner: The SUV now includes a GR Body Kit Package and Remote Engine Start on higher trims, emphasising its rugged and versatile appeal.

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Proton has launched its Business Case Study Challenge, attracting nearly 300 students from six public and private universities in Malaysia as part of its Proton Young Talent (PYT) programme. The challenge encourages participants to solve real-world business problems using data analysis, business judgment, and innovative thinking. Open to university students from the first to final semester, teams must consist of four to six members. The competition aims to expand Proton’s talent pool through the PYT programme, which offers career development opportunities in the automotive sector.

The three-month challenge kicked off in September, with Proton CEO Dr. Li Chunrong delivering a talk on “The Journey of Proton’s Revival” to 150 students at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP). In the latest UTP session, 17 groups participated, with five teams shortlisted for the final presentations. The top three winners received conditional offers to join the PYT programme in 2025.

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BFGoodrich Malaysia officially introduces the newest addition to its celebrated All-Terrain family, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tyre. The brand-new all-terrain tyre made its Malaysian debut at the company’s media launch at Terra, Petaling Jaya. 

Building on the outstanding performance of their well-loved BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tyre, BFGoodrich developed the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tyre to tailor to the evolving needs of adventure-seekers by incorporating the latest innovative tyre technologies into a product that delivers an even stronger performance, providing advanced mobility for all types of terrains. Designed with BFGoodrich’s legacy of off-road excellence in mind, the new tyres will also arrive with revived raised white lettering on the sidewall, highlighting the Baja Champion badge on even more tyre sizes. 

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tyre outperforms its predecessor, the KO2 tyre in terms of treadwear, toughness and traction – making it a great choice for off-road adventures. Especially in Malaysia where the roads have diverse terrains, ranging from rugged trails to urban landscapes, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 is engineered to meet the needs for local adventure enthusiasts.

 Treadwear: BFGoodrich has engineered the All-Terrain T/A KO3 tyre with a new tread pattern and new all-terrain tread compound to provide durability and longevity, even on gravel. The All-Terrain T/A KO3 tyre has an optimized footprint and full-depth 3D locking sipes designed to evenly distribute stress for uniform wear over the long haul. As a result, the All-Terrain T/A KO3 has an improved mileage and wear performance.

 Toughness: Improved CoreGard Technology, as also found on the BFGoodrich Baja T/A KR3, gives the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tyre excellent sidewall toughness, earning it the Baja Champion badge. This technology extends split and bruise resistant shoulder rubber down the sidewall to provide protection on the critical sidewall failure zone. The Advanced Deflection Design helps prevent objects from snagging and splitting the sidewall – perfect for all-terrain driving.

 Traction: Even in the worst conditions, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 tyre is made to grip in any situation. The All-Terrain T/A KO3 is engineered with full depth 3D locking sipes and serrated shoulder design and Mud-Phobic Bars which are improved upon the KO2 tyre’s outstanding mud and snow traction, helping it earn the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake severe-snow rating. With interlocking tread elements, the tyre is designed to maximise handling and traction for both on and off-road journeys by stabilising the tread centre. The new All-Terrain tread compound improves wet traction, stopping 4.2M shorter than KO2.

BFGoodrich Malaysia will introduce more than 62 sizes over the next 24 months with 39 sizes being launched in three phases starting September 2024. Additionally, 19 more sizes will be made available in 2025 with the final 4 sizes arriving in 2026 to complete the lineup. The recommended retail pricing for the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 will start from RM825 to RM2946.

The Kedah police are urging the public to help by photographing modified vehicles and sharing them on social media as part of efforts to combat illegal racing and ‘mat rempit’ activities. Kedah Police Chief Datuk Fisol Salleh highlighted that the issue of illegal racing and street thugs has persisted for a long time and requires collective action to address.

According to Astro Awani, he encouraged the public to take pictures of any suspicious vehicles, including motorcycles, cars and even bicycles, that have been illegally modified, such as those with flat tyres, removed brakes, or upgraded carburettors. The police will then use these images to trace the vehicles to their owners’ homes.

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Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, has introduced the Ford Ranger XLT Plus Special Edition, bringing new upgrades to the popular Ranger lineup. This limited-edition model enhances the rugged appeal and performance of the Ranger, delivering a unique driving experience for pickup truck enthusiasts.

The exterior of the Ranger XLT Plus Special Edition is equipped with bold, practical features such as Matte Black Fender Flares, a Matte Black Sports Bar, and distinctive Matte decals on the sides and hood. Other enhancements include LED Ranger Scuff Plates, a chrome grille, LED headlights, and 17-inch alloy wheels for better versatility across different terrains. Interior conveniences include Pull-out Cup Holders, catering to both drivers and passengers.

This special edition comes in Absolute Black and Meteor Grey, offering a refined and rugged look backed by a parts warranty. Powering the truck is a 2.0L bi-turbo diesel engine that produces 210PS and 500Nm of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford’s Electronic Shift-On-The-Fly (ESOF) system ensures adaptability on highways and tough terrains.

Inside, the truck features a 10.1-inch Multi-Touchscreen Display with Wireless Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, Voice Recognition, dual-zone climate control, and a range of practical features such as a digital instrument cluster and 12V power outlet.

Safety features include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Roll Over Mitigation, Active Brake System, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), and Traction Control System (TCS). Limited to 300 units, the Ford Ranger XLT Plus Special Edition is priced from RM143,888 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM149,388 in Sabah and Sarawak.

To celebrate its launch, SDAC is hosting the Ford Experience Hub at Setia City Mall from 25 to 29 September 2024, offering exclusive launch promotions and RM3,000 fuel vouchers for the first 20 online buyers.

BMW Group Malaysia recently showcased its latest-generation BMW 5 Series at the SKY5PACE event in Kuala Lumpur, highlighting the brand’s legacy and innovations in the premium executive sedan segment. The event featured both the locally assembled BMW 520i M Sport and the fully electric BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport, underscoring BMW’s commitment to Malaysia and its future mobility.

BMW 520i M Sport

Benjamin Nagel, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia, emphasised the significance of the BMW 5 Series, which has been a global leader in the premium sedan market since 1972. He also highlighted BMW Group Malaysia’s role as the largest assembler and exporter of premium vehicles in the region, with over 10,000 vehicles exported since 2018.

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