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Isuzu Malaysia launches the D-MAX Stealth Edition, only 180 units available

With pick-up trucks and light commercial vehicles, the product cycle is usually up to 10 years, unlike passenger cars which are typically 5 years. This means that the distributors have to keep finding ways to sustain interest in their product for many years, and that can be a big challenge. While there are occasions when the manufacturer will depart from usual practice by changing the powertrain, in most cases, it’s special edition after special edition to provide customers with something ‘new’ each year.

For Isuzu Malaysia, the D-MAX has been their main product apart from commercial vehicles and it was only in recent years that they got a second non-commercial product, the MU-X. They’ve done pretty well to maintain high sales numbers over such a long period and of course, that’s also partly due to the D-MAX being a tough, well engineered and proven pick-up truck.

More aggressive and bold looks
For 2020, Isuzu Malaysia has created a Stealth version that is quite exclusive since only 180 units will be available. Developed on a design theme of premium urban pick-up, the D-MAX Stealth gains additional aggressive and boldness in its looks from liberal use of blackened components that replace the chromed parts. These include the front grille, headlamp, fog lamp and bumper garnish, roof rails and rear bumpers.

The grille incorporates a fine silver accent line that flows across the entire front and has a matching line running through the new front spoiler. The accent line also complements the boomerang-shaped daylight running light within each headlamp, providing identification from a distance.

Besides specially designed two-tone 18-inch alloy rims, the D-MAX Stealth also has the requisite decals to identify it from the sides and rear. It is available only in Stallion Black Metallic or Silky White Pearl. Customers can also include a black custom-designed sportsbar for an extra RM1,320.

The D-MAX has a generously-sized cargo bed that measures 1,485 mm long, 1,530 mm wide and 465 mm deep. With many trucks, opening the tailgate can require some effort because it’s heavy. But the Isuzu engineers added an assist mechanism that ‘lightens’ the tailgate. It’s as easy as opening and closing the rear door of a SUV or passenger car. Those who require security for their cargo can add an optional T-Lid for RM5,500.

And now we come to a ‘stealth’ feature which is a first of its kind to be offered as standard on a pick-up truck – retractable side steps. Side steps are necessary as the cabin floor is quite high up but they stick out a bit which can be a problem on rough terrain. The retracting side steps on the D-MAX Stealth deploy when any door is opened and return to a flush position under the sills when the doors are closed. An automatic welcome light below the vehicle provides illumination at night.

Striking first impression
Inside the double cab, the red and black combination seats give a striking first impression. The premium leather and fabric upholstery incorporates stitched Stealth logos in the leather backrests for a more exclusive outlook.

The interior has been accentuated with dark grey headlining while the trim garnish is in piano black in keeping with the overall theme. Accenting them are the air vent knobs that have been finished in chrome.

The majority, if not all, the people who buy the 180 D-MAX Stealth trucks will be spending most of their time in the ‘urban jungle’ or on highways, so comfort and entertainment will be a high expectation. Isuzu Malaysia has equipped the vehicle with a first-in-class front and rear digital video recorder (DVR) that can record the front and rear views in full HD.

The videos are stored on a 32GB SD card each time the vehicle is driven. Using motion detectors, it can also record when the vehicle is parked if it detects movement within its 140-degree angle of view or when it senses an impact to the vehicle. The camera can then play back on the owner’s phone through wifi and the IROAD app which can be downloaded from Apple App Store of Google Play.

Another handy feature for urban drivers is another first-in-class offering – the Around View Monitor with 3D Image Guide. Using 4 cameras around the vehicle, the system offers ease of manoeuvring as it automatically provides a choice of bird’s eye view or 3D view when Reverse Gear is selected. Drivers can also manually activate the AVM with the push of a button on the dashboard to check surroundings for added assurance and more precise positioning.

Additional assistance comes from front parking sensors that help the driver determine the distance from walls. This, along with the rear-view camera, will help when positioning the truck in tight parking bays.

Innovative Blue Power turbodiesel engine
The D-MAX Stealth has the same powertrain as the D-Max 4×4 Premium Automatic version. This is the innovative RZ4E-TC 1.9-litre Ddi Blue Power turbodiesel engine. Though smaller in displacement than the engines that have been used before, the Blue Power engine actually deliver higher output of 150 ps/350 Nm. However, because its displacement is less, it has lower fuel consumption.

In fact, it is the most fuel-efficient engine ever produced by Isuzu and this was proven in an exercise where a D-MAX was driven from Pekan, Pahang to Shah Alam, Selangor, by a very long route over mountains. Based on the reading from its on-board computer, the 1.9-litre engine consumed fuel from its 76-litre tank at an average rate of 7.2 litres per 100 kms or 13.7 kms/litre.

“Customers seeking one of the most dependable and capable pick-up trucks in the market today can now arrive in distinctive style with the new Isuzu D-Max Stealth. The stylish exterior is equally matched by striking interior designs that embolden the vehicle, offering urban drivers an elevated presence on the road,” said the Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia, Masayuki Suzuki.

The D-Max Stealth comes with a special 7-year unlimited mileage warranty and will be available at all authorized Isuzu showrooms nationwide from today. Prices start from RM125,799.20 (without insurance) in Peninsular Malaysia, RM128,176.20 (without insurance) in Sabah and RM128,220.30 (without insurance) in Sarawak.

Buy one now and get extras
Early bird purchasers who register their vehicles (private registration only) during the month of August 2020 will have the option of a free sportsbar or opt to purchase a T-Lid Cover for only RM2,000.00, while stocks last.

For more information or to locate a showroom, visit www.isuzu.net.my.

Isuzu’s Deferred Instalment Campaign allows you to start repayments up to 6 months later

BMW and MINI owners can now enjoy Door-to-Door Service

In the post-COVID-19 world (we’re not there yet), life will be different from what we’re used to. This will especially be the case where interactions are concerned due to the need to observe social distancing. You can’t just walk into a kopitiam any longer and have to register as well as have your temperature taken. Maybe it will not be like that for years… or maybe it will.

Car companies have also had to change the way they do business in this context, in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures set by the Health Ministry. The aim is to minimise contact between customers and staff which can help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Customers too may be hesitant about going to a dealership as some may worry about the risks of infection.

*BMW and MINI owners can request for their vehicles to be picked up for servicing from their home.*

BMW Group Malaysia has introduced a solution for contactless customer service with its new Door-to-Door service. Working in collaboration with Allianz Worldwide Partners, the company aims to further enhance the BMW premium ownership experience.

The Door-to-Door service will also improve on convenience by integrating BMW and MINI premium services into the customer’s daily routine. Owners can now request for and receive vehicle service (additional charges apply) without leaving the comfort of their home, wherever they may be in Malaysia.

They can communicate with their preferred dealership and a BMW service provider will be assigned to collect the vehicle from their doorstep (which could also be their office) and transport the vehicle to the service centre chosen. Once the work is completed, the vehicle will also be returned to the owner at their preferred location.

Additionally, the Door-to-Door service allows customers to arrange for doorstep delivery of their new BMW or MINI vehicle (extra charge option). They do not have to go to the showroom to collect it, as has been the case all along. As for concerns about the risk of the new vehicle being accidentally damaged along the way, it will not be driven but be transported on a flatbed truck (depending on the location and customer’s preference).

Click here to learn more about the new Door-to-Door service or contact any BMW or MINI dealership nationwide. For contact details, visit www.bmw.com.my or mini.my.

Road closure at Shah Alam Interchange on Ebor-Shah Alam Access Road in Selangor

Motorists who are travelling along the North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) are advised that there are maintenance works at the Shah Alam Interchange on the Ebor-Shah Alam Access Road at KM0 (Northbound). It will be closed to all vehicles from 10 pm to 5 am daily until Sunday, August 9. 2020.

Highway users travelling from Ebor/ELITE heading to Shah Alam/Bukit Jelutong are advised to utilise the alternative route by exiting the highway via the Setia Alam Toll Plaza. They can re-enter the highway by doing a U-turn at the Setia Alam Toll Plaza and continue their journey to Shah Alam/Bukit Jelutong.

Bentley Mulliner building 12 units of 1929 racing model

Assembly of the first new Bentley Blower in more than nine decades has officially started in a bespoke Bentley Mulliner workshop. ‘Car Zero’ is the engineering prototype for the Blower Continuation Series, a run of 12 meticulously engineered, hand-crafted, supercharged 4½-litre Bentleys built to the unique design of Bentley’s own 1929 Team Car developed and raced by Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin.

Continuation series for a pre-war car
The 12 cars together form the world’s first continuation series for a pre-war car, and all have been pre-sold.

The first parts in the workshop are some of the most important. First to arrive was the chassis for the car – the backbone of the entire project, to which almost everything will be attached. The fuel tank and radiator were next, as work was completed on the ash frame for the body.

The first pair of headlights was delivered, while the mechanical aspects of the first car started to come together – the very first engine (complete with remade Amherst Villiers supercharger), the front axle assembly and the leafsprings.

As the 12 lucky customers choose the colour and trim specifications for their cars, the engineering team is working hard on assembling the running prototype in time for its unveiling ahead of a development programme later this year.

The most valuable Bentley in the world
Following a piece-by-piece disassembly of the #2 Team Car owned by Bentley (likely the most valuable Bentley in the world) and an exceptionally precise laser scanning of the frame and its components, new parts were ordered from a combination of fully digital CAD data and the original 1920s engineering drawings and drafts.

“After almost a year of highly detailed engineering work, it is extremely rewarding to see the first parts coming together to form the first Bentley Blower in over 90 years. The skill of our engineers and technicians in completing hundreds of individual part specifications is equalled only by that of the artisans across the country that have handmade the components that we’re now starting to bolt together. As we go, we’re refining designs and fixing problems, which is exactly what a prototype build is for. We’re all really excited to get this first car finished, and to show it to the world later this year,” said Bentley Mulliner’s Tim Hannig.

Draftsmen meet craftsmen
From the outset, Bentley Mulliner sought to engage the very best specialists across the country to create componentry for the Blower Continuation Series in a manner befitting such a project – using traditional techniques passed down through generations. With the very latest CAD technology finalising the exact designs to supplement the original engineering blueprints from the 1920s, work began at a multitude of small artisan businesses to bring the new Blower to life.

The chassis has been created in heavy-gauge steel, hand-formed and hot riveted by the specialists at Israel Newton & Sons Ltd. This 200-year old company traditionally makes boilers for steam locomotives and traction engines, and as such has the skills to forge and shape metal in a traditional way.

The Vintage Car Radiator Company, based at Bicester Heritage, has crafted exact recreations of the some of the Blower’s key components – including the mirror-polished, nickel-plated radiator shell and the hand-beaten fuel tank formed in steel and copper. Market leaders in the manufacture and restoration of vintage car radiators and components to the highest possible standards of craftsmanship and authenticity, they were the perfect choice to handcraft these tricky and vital components.

These parts will feed the first Blower’s brand new 4½-litre engine, originally designed by W.O Bentley himself and now recreated by Bentley Mulliner with the expert support of specialists including NDR Ltd.

Featuring many innovations of which a sportscar engine of the 1970s would be proud – aluminium pistons, an overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and twin spark ignition – the renowned 4½-litre engine will meet a newly machined, exact recreation of an Amherst Villiers roots-type supercharger. Mulliner’s experts will then be tuning the engine on a specially-prepared testbed at the Bentley factory in Crewe, where together the engine and supercharger should generate around 240 bhp.

The next steps
Over the course of the coming weeks, more and more components for Car Zero will be completed and test-fit. The new engine and supercharger will be put through their paces on Bentley’s very own engine development test beds in Crewe, while period-specific paint will be applied to the chassis before final assembly begins.

The finished Car Zero is due to make its first public appearance later in the year – but only after it’s been shown to the 12 customers.

Unique final ‘6.75 edition’ marks end of Bentley Mulsanne production

Covid-19 — **Fighting COVID-19 is our joint responsibility. Protect yourself and others: make these 6 simple precautions your new habits.**

Malaysia’s three bestselling models help Perodua achieve 42% market share

Perodua delivered a total of 23,203 vehicles last month, which was the best sales month in 2020 for the Malaysian carmaker, beating the June volume by 9.2%. This brings the cumulative volume for the first 7 months to 97,373 units. For the same period in 2019, it was over 141,000 units, which shows the impact that the Movement Control Order (MCO) had on new vehicle sales this year.

Three bestsellers of 2020
The carmaker estimates its July and year-to-date market shares to stand at 40% and 42%, respectively. The models contributing to this were the Myvi, Axia and Bezza which, according to Perodua, are Malaysia’s top three best-selling vehicles in the first seven months of 2020.

Cumulative sales of the Myvi were 29,313 units, while the Axia reached 28,107 units, and the Bezza ended July at 25,416 units.

“The Perodua Myvi, Malaysia’s best-selling vehicle every year since 2006, has recently been upgraded with the latest Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 2.0 suite of driver assistance safety systems. It remains one of the most affordable cars with advanced safety features in the country,” said Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Higher sales will help automotive eco-system
“Since our operations restarted after the 2-month Movement Control Order (MCO) closure, sales volumes have rebounded swiftly, aided by the government’s sales tax exemption which will run until the end of the year. Should this encouraging trend continue, the healthy volume will enable us to further bolster Malaysia’s automotive eco-system of suppliers and dealers in this time of need,” he said.

According to Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) estimates, a Total Industry Volume of at least 500,000 units is needed this year to ensure the continued survival of the automotive eco-system. The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has offered a forecast of 470,000 units of new vehicle sales after obtaining input from its members.

“Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, we understand that we must work to our fullest capacity to help shore up the Malaysian economy and ensure jobs are protected. As the market leader, Perodua’s utmost priority is to continue providing the best products and services to ensure maximum customer satisfaction. We are committed to continue offering better value propositions to all Malaysians in the forms of affordability, quality, technology and the latest advanced features,” said Dato’ Zainal.

All of Perodua’s current models have over 90% local content and with its economies of scale, service parts are affordable and readily available, giving its valued customers total peace of mind. Dato’ Zainal added that Perodua embodies the concept of ‘Simple, Slim and Compact’ in all its operations, including interactions with all its stakeholders, while never forgetting its People First focus.

Latest Perodua Myvi gets upgraded A.S.A. 2.0 safety system

RFID gains increasing acceptance with introduction in northern region

With the volume of traffic having grown substantially over the years, toll plazas are a bottleneck along the highways. To eliminate this issue, PLUS and other highway concessionaires are working towards implementing a Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system. With this system, toll booths won’t be needed any longer as all payments will be totally electronic.

Our highway Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) process started off with a tollcard manually swiped on a reader, progressing to a SmartTAG which uses an infrared beam to transmit the card information to a receiver over the lane. In both cases, the vehicle has to slow down considerably which caused traffic to build up at toll plazas.

The future is RFID – Radio Frequency IDdentification – using a tiny tag stuck on the headlight or windscreen which send a radio signal to a receiver to execute ETC. This allows quicker communication that will speed up the flow of traffic through the toll plaza.

RFID has been available for almost two years now and with PLUS – the largest highway concessionaire – having also adopted the system for its toll plazas this year, its acceptance and usage by motorists has been steadily increasing.

Positive response to pilot run
On July 22, PLUS began a pilot run of accepting ETC by RFID on a closed-toll highway system (this system charges by distance travelled) in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. All 9 toll plazas from Hutan Kampung all the way to Sungai Dua in the states of Penang and Kedah have lanes dedicated for RFID. It’s clear that the benefits of RFID have appealed to motorists as the penetration has increased from 2.3% two weeks ago to 10% today.

“It is encouraging to see the positive take up of the RFID with a short period of 14 days. I am confident that this will increase as more will see the multiple benefits of this payment solution. The most compelling reason for RFID is that the technology itself propagates physical distancing as compared to the existing card. Once it is linked to your e-wallet, it reduces the probability of being stuck in the toll lane because of insufficient balance and need to physically reload and risk transmission of the coronavirus,” said Datuk Azman Ismail, Managing Director of PLUS.

“We are grateful for the Malaysia Highway Authority’s endorsement of this public pilot. The support by our highway regulator enabling PLUS to proceed with the first 9 designated closed toll plazas namely Hutan Kampung, Alor Setar Utara, Alor Setar Selatan, Pendang, Gurun, Sungai Petani Utara, Sungai Petani Selatan, Bertam and Sungai Dua, is a testament of the promise that the other remaining closed toll highways will be primed for RFID very soon,” Datuk Azman added.

RFID DIY — Besides going to the Fitment Centres, motorists can also purchase the RFID tag online and attach it to the headlight or windscreen themselves. The price is the same as at the Fitment Centre but you probably have to pay a delivery charge.

Mindset shift necessary
PLUS, however, recognises that to embrace the RFID technology will require a level of mindset shift. For one thing, motorists will have to make use of the Touch’NGo eWallet which means they must have a smartphone or tablet (which can connect to the internet). Data from the RFID tag is linked to the Touch‘NGo eWallet and reloading can therefore be done online. This is more convenient than having to look for a reload kiosk or outlet to top-up the balance.

Eligible motorists can apply for the PENJANA economic package offered by the government where RM50 reloads will be transferred into successful applicants’ eWallets. However, this benefit does not apply to SmartTAG and Touch‘NGo card.

ETC is still accepted by Touch‘NGo cards and SmartTAGs at all PLUS toll plazas. However, at smaller toll plazas with limited lanes, SmartTag lanes were replaced with dedicated RFID lanes, but the card can still be used at the Touch‘NGo lanes. This will also apply with nationwide roll-out of RFID soon.

PLUS customers now have PUTRI to help them with their enquiries

Gordon Murray’s T.50 supercar revealed in full

Gordon Murray’s much-anticipated supercar has been revealed in full for the first time and as expected, it has ground-breaking technical specifications. Designated T.50, it has been engineered to be the purest, lightest, most driver-centric supercar ever. His design for T.50 is the 50th in a prestigious line of racing and road cars he’s penned over his illustrious 50-year career – hence the number ‘50’.

Even better than the McLaren F1
Improving on his acclaimed McLaren F1 ‘in every conceivable way’, Professor Gordon Murray is leading the team that will begin building customer versions of the 986-kg supercar in January 2022. Justifying its £2.36 million (almost RM13 million) pricetag, the T.50 promises to deliver an unsurpassed driving experience. It is powered by a 100% bespoke 3.9-litre, 663 ps V12 engine that will spin up to a record-breaking 12,100 rpm. Helping it slip through the air will be the most advanced and effective aerodynamics ever seen on a road car – aided by a 400 mm rear-mounted fan.

The global premiere is the first time the clean lines of the exterior and the driver-focused interior have been seen. From his first ballpoint sketches to every engineering and design detail, Murray has led the Gordon Murray Automotive team and briefed and overseen suppliers to drive the project forward at an unrelenting pace.

The most dominant characteristics of the exterior design are purity and balance, free from the wings, skirts and vents that adorn most modern-day supercars. The clean surfaces are enabled by the most advanced and effective aerodynamics ever seen on a road car, resulting in deliberately simple, beautiful lines and a timeless appearance.

The purity of the silhouette is broken dramatically when the pair of dihedral doors rise up and forwards, coming to rest high above the passenger cabin. Inside, the driver-centric approach is plain to see – from the central, jet fighter-like driving position, to the aerospace-grade primary and secondary controls arranged in an ‘ergonomic bubble’ around the driver.

A true British sportscar
Quality of materials, the utmost precision, and simplicity of visuals define the whole car, but nowhere is this more evident than inside the cockpit. British suppliers are responsible for every major component throughout the interior, as well as every facet of the car’s exquisitely-engineered underpinnings – an attribute insisted upon by Murray who was determined the T.50 would be a true British sportscar.

Superlative quality
From the exclusive V12 engine, plus what is said to be the best lightweight transmission, to the world-first aerodynamic package and the feather-light titanium throttle pedal, every element is 100% bespoke and crafted by a British company. Murray pushed each supplier to their limits to deliver ingenuity, the highest quality and of course new levels of lightness.

With a vision that the car, and every element of its componentry, would be considered ‘engineering art’, Murray set out to create a vehicle that surpassed all others, fostering new levels of pride and connection among owners. Every T.50 customer has the opportunity to meet Murray to discuss their car and personalise it inside and out.

Part of this process includes a seat, steering wheel and pedals ‘fitting’ session – personalised to every owner – that will ensure the T.50 is ergonomically perfect and individualised for each discerning customer. Of course, when you are paying that much money, personal attention would only be expected.

Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 — The T.50 will have the most advanced and effective aerodynamics ever seen on a road car – aided by a 400 mm rear-mounted fan. **The fan concept** is something which Murray used in the 1978 Brabham BT46 F1 car to increase downforce, but the FIA decided to ban it after the season ended.

Accomplishing objectives and more
Commenting on the journey so far, Murray said: “For the past 18 months, the T.50 team has lived and breathed the ethos of the car, accomplishing everything we set out to achieve and more. I couldn’t be happier with the car and the team – they’re by far the best I’ve ever worked with.”

“Just 100 customers will share my vision, a car created to improve on the F1 formula in every conceivable way. With 30 years of technological and systems advancement, the time is now right to design the greatest analogue driver’s car. I believe no other company could deliver what we will bring to market in 2022, producing this British supercar will be my proudest moment,” declared Murray.

Gordon Murray’s T.50 supercar will use a fan to increase downforce

2020 World Rally Championship to resume next month in Estonia

As with Formula 1, the 2020 World Rally Championship (WRC) also saw disruption in the second and third quarters of the season as the COVID-19 pandemic spread widely and most countries started to have lockdowns. However, with the situation having improved – although some countries see signs of a new wave of infections – and organisers understanding what measures need to be taken if they are to run events, motorsports activities are resuming.

The sad thing is that spectators are not allowed, and participant numbers must be kept to a minimum. While F1, being held mostly at racing circuits, can adhere to the no-spectators condition, rallies are a different matter as they are held in the countryside. It would be impractical to try to enforce such a condition in wide open spaces.

Resuming on September 4
Anyway, three rounds of the 2020 WRC (Monte Carlo, Sweden and Mexico) were completed before being suspended and it will resume on September 4 with the Rally Estonia. Another four rounds are confirmed in Turkey, Germany, Italy and Japan, while the events in Finland, New Zealand and Britain will not be run this year.

8 rounds instead of usual 13
The organisers are hopeful that they can add a few more events to the calendar before the year ends. In past years, there have been 13 rounds on average although the inclusion of Rally Turkey last year made it 14 rounds in 2019.

Two events which the organisers are hoping to run could be in Belgium and Croatia in the month of October. Both countries have never hosted a WRC event before although Belgium’s Ypres Rally is among the more significant ones in the European Rally Championship.

The championship so far
There was a different winner in the first three rounds – Thierry Neuville/ (Hyundai), Elfyn Evans (Toyota) and Sebastien Ogier (Toyota). Two podium finishes and a fourth in Sweden put Ogier in the lead with 62 points while team mate Evans is 8 points behind. Neuville is third, 12 points behind Evans.

With five podium finishes in three rallies, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, using a Yaris WRC, has a commanding lead of 110 points. In second position is the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team (89 points) which has the i20 Coupe WRC (pictured above). Third, with 65 points, is the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team using a Fiesta WRC (below).

Tax-free incentive helps boost Proton sales to highest volume in over 8 years

2020 will be remembered as a very bad year for the auto industry in Malaysia and other countries. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped sales (and production) leading to unprecedented contraction of markets by nearly 100%. When business was allowed to resume, consumers remained still worried about uncertainties of the future, leading to more cautious spending/

This of course doesn’t help the economy to recover so the government has had to allocate billions for aid to various sectors to provide incentives to consumers and encourage them to start buying. For the auto industry, the assistance is in the form of exemption of sales tax, which will be given till the end of the year.

The incentive seems to work as most companies have reported high sales numbers, although the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) expects that when the year ends, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) will be around 470,000 units – 22.2% or 134,287 units lower than the TIV in 2019.

Among the companies experiencing healthy sales numbers is Proton which reports that its total sales volume in July was its highest since June 2012. Compared to June 2020, the increase was 37.2% while compared to July 2019, it was 45.7%. And with 13,216 units delivered, the carmaker estimates that it should have a market share of 63.2% of the TIV for the month.

Four models are said to have topped their respective segments. The Saga, with 5,421 units (including all 1,100 units of the 35^th anniversary edition) sold led in the A-segment. The popular X70 recorded its best month since being launched as 3,087 units of the SUV were delivered to new owners nationwide.

The other two Proton segment leaders were the Persona and Exora, with 3,043 units and 792 units, respectively, sold in July.

“Proton’s performance in July 2020 was our best in over 8 years. We are especially happy with how our models are faring within their segments. We also note that there has been a positive effect on other areas of the business as a result of the encouraging sales. For instance, Proton Commerce, our in-house vehicle financing provider, saw an increase of 100% in the number of loans it disbursed compared to the previous month. Therefore, we are thankful for the support shown by all Malaysians and as for now, we remain cautiously optimistic for 2020,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

“For August, Proton aims to continue to excite the market and stimulate sales in preparation for more model introductions later in the year. Our production, quality, sales and aftersales divisions are all working hard to ensure we are able to meet consumer demand as well as deliver a level of customer service befitting the brand promise that we have set out,” he added.

Proton Used Car Management division sees increasing business

Sales uplift for Mitsubishi Triton in spite of difficult market conditions

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) reports that the company’s volume seller, the Mitsubishi Triton, recorded a 22.2% market share from January to July 2020, accounting for the bulk of the 4,008 units of Mitsubishi vehicles sold during the period. For the same period in 2019, the Triton’s market share was 16.9%.

The Triton is now in top position in the double-cab pick-up truck segment in three states – Melaka, Penang and Kedah.

Market share improvement
In overall performance, MMM saw its market share growing to 1.7% of the Total Industry Volume between January and July in spite of difficult market conditions, especially the long period of businesses being closed in compliance with the Movement Control Order.

“MMM is pleased to see positive sales take off after being under pressure by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. This is driven largely by the 100% sales tax exemption from the government which applies to both our locally-assembled SUVs the ASX Compact SUV and Outlander seven-seater SUV. The good sales also reveal brand and customer’s loyalty in these very tough times,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of MMM.

New model launch soon
Mr. Shinnishi said that MMM is very excited for a thrilling year ahead with the introduction of the Mitsubishi XPANDER. “The 7-seater crossover will provide us with a solid base to maintain strong sales momentum until the end of the year. The demand and success of the new Mitsubishi XPANDER in our neighbouring ASEAN countries reflects on how well-suited this car is to meet the needs of customers and we’re confident that this impressive XPANDER will capture the heart of Malaysians,” he added.

In preparation of the introduction of the Mitsubishi XPANDER, selected number of Mitsubishi showrooms will be upgraded to Mitsubishi Motor’s latest Visual Identity (VI) this year to maintain the company’s leading position in providing excellent aftersales customer service.

For more information on the new XPANDER or other Mitsubishi models sold in Malaysia, visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my.

MITSUBISHI CONNECT adds convenience to the ownership experience for Mitsubishi owners

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English

Isuzu Malaysia launches the D-MAX Stealth Edition, only 180 units available

BMW and MINI owners can now enjoy Door-to-Door Service

Road closure at Shah Alam Interchange on Ebor-Shah Alam Access Road in Selangor

Bentley Mulliner building 12 units of 1929 racing model

Malaysia’s three bestselling models help Perodua achieve 42% market share

RFID gains increasing acceptance with introduction in northern region

Gordon Murray’s T.50 supercar revealed in full

2020 World Rally Championship to resume next month in Estonia

Tax-free incentive helps boost Proton sales to highest volume in over 8 years

Sales uplift for Mitsubishi Triton in spite of difficult market conditions

Maserati and Sparco Bring Bespoke Racing Kits

Das Treffen 9: A Celebration of Porsche Passion in Southeast Asia

Heineken is Giving away over RM10,000 Worth of Grab Ride Voucher

Honda Unveils Revolutionary S+ Shift Technology for Next-Generation Hybrids

GWM Haval H6 HEV CKD Production Hits 1,000 Units

Honda and Nissan Reportedly in Merger Talks to Bolster EV Competition

Cabinet to Review Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) Toll System Proposal in January

Proton e.MAS 7 Officially Launched – RM4,000 Rebate for the First 3,000 Customers

Penang JPJ Seizes 17 Vehicles in Crackdown on Foreign Drivers

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