English Archives

Volkswagen Malaysia Adjusts Touareg R-Line Pricing to Boost Appeal

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has announced revised pricing for its flagship SUV, the Touareg R-Line, aiming to make the luxury model more attractive to Malaysian customers. The locally assembled Touareg R-Line is now priced at RM382,690, excluding the Volkswagen Assurance Package (previously priced at RM469,990, inclusive of VAP), reflecting the brand’s commitment to passing operational savings onto consumers amid favourable market conditions.

Performance and Features

The Touareg R-Line is celebrated for its cutting-edge technology, advanced safety features, and commanding design. Under the hood, the SUV boasts a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine that delivers an impressive 340PS and 450Nm of torque, ensuring a dynamic and robust performance for discerning drivers.

(more…)

Four Puspakom Staff Under Investigation Following Ops Gempur Surprise Checks

Four employees from the Puspakom Wangsa Maju branch have been questioned by the Road Transport Department (RTD) over allegations that a vehicle was approved despite failing to meet inspection standards. This comes after RTD conducted surprise checks as part of its nationwide Ops Gempur initiative on December 31.

Puspakom Chief Executive Officer Mahmood Razak Bahman clarified the situation at a press conference held at the Shah Alam Puspakom branch. Initially, only two staff members were summoned to provide statements, but RTD later extended the investigation to two more employees from the same branch.

Clarification on Media Reports

Mahmood addressed media reports that incorrectly stated three staff members had been summoned. He explained that a photograph published in the media depicted Puspakom’s central region director accompanying staff during the RTD checks, but the director was not involved in the questioning.

(more…)

JPJ Cracks Down on Traffic Offences Nationwide in New Year’s Eve Operations

In a sweeping nationwide effort to enhance road safety, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) inspected over 12,000 vehicles across several states on New Year’s Eve, resulting in significant enforcement actions. The operation, spanning Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Pahang, Perak, Penang, and Terengganu, targeted traffic law compliance, especially among motorcyclists, and involved collaborative efforts with agencies like the Immigration Department and National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK).

Kuala Lumpur: 731 Vehicles Penalized, 117 Impounded

In the federal capital, authorities inspected 5,094 vehicles, issuing penalties to 731 for various offences. Among these, 117 vehicles—including 101 motorcycles—were impounded. According to JPJ Kuala Lumpur director Hamidi Adam, the operation, starting at 8 pm, prioritized safety and legal compliance.

Authorities detained 30 foreign drivers from Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka during the inspections. Meanwhile, the AADK conducted urine tests on 26 individuals, with three testing positive for methamphetamine or opiate drugs. A separate traffic operation targeting reckless motorcyclists resulted in 38 motorcycles being seized and 92 summonses issued for violations such as driving without a license and improper vehicle modifications.

(more…)

Mercedes-Benz Rolls Out Enhanced Drive Pilot System for SAE Level 3 Autonomous Driving

Mercedes-Benz has achieved a significant milestone in autonomous driving with the latest update to its Drive Pilot system, now certified by Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority. This upgrade positions Drive Pilot as the fastest conditionally automated driving system (SAE Level 3) available in standard production vehicles. The feature is set to hit the market in early 2025, offered on the S-Class and EQS luxury saloons at a starting price of €5,950 (around RM27,620).

Existing vehicles equipped with Drive Pilot can receive the software update for free, either over-the-air or at authorized service centres, with no need for hardware modifications.

(more…)

Volkswagen Avoids Immediate Layoffs Amid Historic Union Deal

In the culmination of Volkswagen’s longest-ever union negotiations, the German automaker reached a critical agreement to delay plant closures and sweeping layoffs, while workers stepped back from further strikes. The resolution, finalized after a gruelling 70 hours of discussions, ensures all 10 of Volkswagen’s German plants will remain operational, with involuntary layoffs postponed until 2030.

The agreement marks a temporary win for the automaker’s 120,000 German workers. However, it does not fully resolve Volkswagen’s broader struggles in the European market. The company has committed to a restructuring plan that includes shedding over 35,000 positions, primarily through early retirement packages and buyouts, as production scales down by approximately 734,000 vehicles.

Key Concessions on Both Sides

Volkswagen withdrew its initial proposal of a 10% wage cut, while the union compromised on its demand for a 7% pay increase. These negotiations followed months of unrest, including a major strike earlier this month involving 100,000 metalworkers, with another strike planned for January.

(more…)

Tesla Announces Free Lifetime Supercharging for Cybertruck Foundation Series Orders

Tesla has unveiled a tempting perk for latecomers to its Cybertruck Foundation Series: free lifetime Supercharging for all orders placed on or after December 27, 2024. This exclusive benefit adds to the allure of owning one of Tesla’s highly anticipated electric trucks, which debuted earlier this year.

The Foundation Series, akin to a collector’s edition, includes the first Cybertrucks to roll off the assembly line, starting in October 2024. Early adopters who shelled out an extra $20,000 (around RM89,641) for the privilege received not only priority delivery but also access to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite, a Powershare mobile connector, and various customisation options.

Terms and Conditions of Lifetime Supercharging

While free lifetime Supercharging is an attractive feature, it comes with limitations. The benefit is linked exclusively to the original owner’s Tesla account and cannot be transferred to subsequent owners or other Tesla vehicles. This means that if you decide to sell your Cybertruck, the new owner won’t inherit the lifetime Supercharging perk, and you won’t be able to transfer it to any future Tesla purchase.

(more…)

Beijing Greenlights Autonomous Driving, Paves Way for Driverless Taxis and Buses

China’s capital, Beijing, has passed new regulations to bolster autonomous driving technology, positioning the city as a leader in intelligent transportation. The regulations, set to take effect on April 1, 2025, aim to facilitate the adoption of driverless public buses, taxis, and private autonomous vehicles.

According to the Beijing Daily, autonomous vehicles that successfully pass road testing and safety evaluations will be eligible for road trials. The move reflects Beijing’s broader ambition to integrate autonomous technology into urban transit systems, including private cars, urban buses, trams, and taxis. To support this, the city plans to accelerate the construction of intelligent road infrastructure tailored to autonomous vehicles.

Expanding Autonomous Vehicle Trials Across China

Beijing’s announcement comes amid a nationwide push to promote self-driving technology. Wuhan, another major Chinese city, recently approved its own regulations to support the development of intelligent connected vehicles. Across China, at least 19 cities are actively conducting trials for robotaxis and robobuses, signalling rapid progress in this sector.

(more…)

BYD Has Nearly One Million Employees and 110,000 Engineers

BYD, a leading name in new energy vehicles (NEVs), continues to set new benchmarks in the automotive industry. At the China Innovation and Technology Festival on December 29, Wang Chuanfu, Founder and Chairman of BYD, announced remarkable milestones, underscoring the company’s dominance in research and development (R&D) and its rapid workforce expansion.

Industry-Leading Workforce and R&D Investment

BYD now boasts nearly one million employees, supported by 11 major research institutes and 110,000 engineers. This makes it the global leader in automotive R&D personnel. The company files an impressive 32 patents daily, reflecting its commitment to innovation.

Since 2011, BYD has grown its engineering team from 20,000 to nearly 110,000. The company significantly ramped up hiring in recent years, doubling its workforce from 280,000 in 2021 to approximately 570,000 in 2022, and nearly a million employees in 2024. Notably, a large portion of this expansion is in production and R&D roles, with over 50,000 fresh graduates recruited in the past three years. Nearly 70% of this year’s recruits hold Master’s or Doctoral degrees, with 80% joining R&D teams.

(more…)

Volkswagen Data Leak Exposes Over 800,000 Customers’ Personal Information

Data breaches have become an unfortunate norm but the latest incident involving Volkswagen underscores just how vulnerable sensitive information can be. A German news outlet revealed that personal data and vehicle location information for more than 800,000 customers, including high-profile German figures, was freely accessible since mid-2024 due to poor security practices.

The breach originated from VW’s car app, developed by its subsidiary Cariad, which stored customer charging data on Amazon Web Services (AWS). A lack of encryption and inadequate security protocols left sensitive data—including email addresses, home addresses, and phone numbers—exposed. Shockingly, one file even contained login credentials to VW’s Amazon cloud account, granting potential access to a treasure trove of customer information.

The leak affected multiple Volkswagen Group brands, including Audi, Seat, and Skoda. For the Volkswagen and Seat models, geolocation data was accurate within 10 centimetres, while the Audi and Skoda models were traceable within a range of 10 kilometres.

(more…)

Audi E: June 2025 Launch for the Chinese EV Market

Audi, in partnership with SAIC, is set to redefine its presence in the Chinese market with the Audi E, an electric car tailored exclusively for China. Spotted during road tests, this innovative EV is slated for a summer 2025 (June – August) launch and departs from Audi’s traditional design language, notably omitting the brand’s iconic four rings.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by its electric vehicles in China, Audi has made a strategic shift. Market acceptance for the brand’s EVs has historically been lukewarm, highlighted by a 2022 promotional campaign attempting to raise awareness of Audi’s electric offerings. To combat this, Audi has introduced a new sub-brand under the name “AUDI,” designed specifically for China. The vehicles will be developed and produced entirely within the country to cater to local tastes and preferences.

The Audi E, the first model under this initiative, debuted as a concept car in November 2024. The production-ready version, now undergoing tests, promises a blend of cutting-edge technology and sleek aesthetics to capture the attention of China’s increasingly sophisticated EV market.

(more…)

Piston.my

English

Volkswagen Malaysia Adjusts Touareg R-Line Pricing to Boost Appeal

Four Puspakom Staff Under Investigation Following Ops Gempur Surprise Checks

JPJ Cracks Down on Traffic Offences Nationwide in New Year’s Eve Operations

Mercedes-Benz Rolls Out Enhanced Drive Pilot System for SAE Level 3 Autonomous Driving

Volkswagen Avoids Immediate Layoffs Amid Historic Union Deal

Tesla Announces Free Lifetime Supercharging for Cybertruck Foundation Series Orders

Beijing Greenlights Autonomous Driving, Paves Way for Driverless Taxis and Buses

BYD Has Nearly One Million Employees and 110,000 Engineers

Volkswagen Data Leak Exposes Over 800,000 Customers’ Personal Information

Audi E: June 2025 Launch for the Chinese EV Market

Volkswagen Malaysia Adjusts Touareg R-Line Pricing to Boost Appeal

Four Puspakom Staff Under Investigation Following Ops Gempur Surprise Checks

JPJ Cracks Down on Traffic Offences Nationwide in New Year’s Eve Operations

Mercedes-Benz Rolls Out Enhanced Drive Pilot System for SAE Level 3 Autonomous Driving

Volkswagen Avoids Immediate Layoffs Amid Historic Union Deal

Tesla Announces Free Lifetime Supercharging for Cybertruck Foundation Series Orders

Beijing Greenlights Autonomous Driving, Paves Way for Driverless Taxis and Buses

BYD Has Nearly One Million Employees and 110,000 Engineers

Volkswagen Data Leak Exposes Over 800,000 Customers’ Personal Information

Audi E: June 2025 Launch for the Chinese EV Market

Archive

Hyundai Unveils Redesigned Ioniq 6 and Sportier Ioniq 6 N Line

Volvo Car Malaysia Opens Bookings for EX90 and New XC90 SUVs

Subaru Malaysia Rolls Out Festive “Raya Bersama Selamat Sentiasa” Campaign with Exclusive Offers

Malacca EV Battery Collection Plant Destroyed in Massive Fire

Proton Starts 2025 With New e.MAS 7 Leading EV Sales In January

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube

The Piston Show