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Volkswagen Warns of Factory Closures as It Downgrades 2024 Financial Forecast

Volkswagen has downgraded its 2024 financial outlook amid significant challenges, marking a difficult period for the automotive giant. Facing high production costs, slow progress in its transition to electric vehicles (EVs), and rising competition in key markets like China, VW has warned of potential factory closures in Germany, a move that could lead to major job cuts.

Key Updates:

Revenue Forecasts: VW now expects 2024 revenues to be around €320 billion, down from earlier projections of a 5% increase over 2023’s €322.3 billion.
Vehicle Deliveries: The company anticipates delivering around nine million vehicles, scaling back from a previous goal of up to 3% growth over 2023’s 9.24 million vehicles.
Operating Return on Sales: VW reduced its projected operating return on sales to 5.6%, from a previously forecasted range of 6.5% to 7.0%.

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Honda Introduces City And WR-V Special Editions Exclusively For Malaysians

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.

Review: BMW iX2 – For Those Who Prefer Some Heritage In Their Cars

Heritage, as it would seem, is an important thing in the automotive business. It is quite common to hear or read about car companies talking about their achievements through the years either through an advertisement somewhere or through a carefully curated press release.

These chest thumpers usually centre around achievements in the world of motorsports, safety technologies, performance, design and sales figures. (more…)

VW Commits to Sustainable Interiors, Phases Out Cheap Plastics for Premium Materials

Volkswagen is making a significant shift in its design philosophy, moving away from the use of cheap, scratchy plastics in favour of higher-quality fabrics in its interiors. This decision is part of a broader commitment to enhancing cabin quality while also streamlining production processes, ultimately saving money for the company. This change, as described by Andy Mindt, VW’s head of design, and Christian Schreiber, head of design strategy, is intended to create a more refined and functional experience for Volkswagen drivers.

Schreiber highlighted that the brand’s cabins will focus on simplicity and usability, ensuring that design choices prioritize function over unnecessary decoration. He emphasised that a Volkswagen should feel intuitive and supportive to its user: “When you open the door of a Volkswagen, it needs to be simple and usable, and not overly decorated,” Schreiber explained. Additionally, Volkswagen will incorporate nostalgic design elements, such as specific patterns for GTI models, maintaining a sense of heritage without overextending these unique features across the range.

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UMW Toyota’s Momentum Continues with Strong Sales, New Model Launches, and Exciting Promotions

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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2025 Chery Tiggo 9 and Tiggo 9 C-DM Officially Launched in China

The 2025 Chery Tiggo 9 is available in five variants, with prices ranging from 152,900 – 203,900 yuan (approximately RM90,187 to RM120,199). Additionally, the Tiggo 9 C-DM plug-in hybrid comes in two variants priced between 165,900 – 175,900 yuan (approximately RM97,817 to RM103,620). Both models offer the choice of 5- or 7-seat configurations, making them versatile for various customer needs.

Exterior Design

The Tiggo 9 retains its signature wide front grille, now with a more refined “waterfall” pattern. Design features such as hidden door handles, a floating roof, roof rails, and an electric tailgate remain. The model comes in five exterior colors, including black, silver, gray, and two-tone white. The rims have been updated for a more stylish look.

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Proton Business Case Study Challenge 2024 Draws 300 University Students

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 All-Terrain T/A KO3 Tyre Officially Launched in Malaysia

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.

Hyundai, Kia and Samsung Join Forces to Develop Next-Gen Infotainment System

Hyundai, Kia, and Samsung have joined forces to create a next-generation infotainment system that will link software-defined vehicles from the automakers with smartphones. This collaboration, alongside Hyundai Motor Group’s global software centre, 42dot, will integrate future Hyundai and Kia models into Samsung’s ‘SmartThings’ ecosystem, allowing vehicle owners to operate smart Samsung devices remotely via an Internet of Things (IoT) platform.

This partnership will enable drivers to control smart home devices, like Samsung air conditioners, wirelessly from their vehicles. Additionally, the ‘SmartThings Find’ feature will allow Hyundai and Kia drivers to track their vehicles using crowdsourced data from millions of Samsung Galaxy devices, enhancing vehicle security. If a vehicle is stolen, this system could help locate it globally.

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Police Call for Public Assistance to Curb ‘Mat Rempit’ Activities

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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English

Volkswagen Warns of Factory Closures as It Downgrades 2024 Financial Forecast

Key Updates:

Honda Introduces City And WR-V Special Editions Exclusively For Malaysians

City V Special Edition

WR-V RS Special Edition

Pricing and Availability

Review: BMW iX2 – For Those Who Prefer Some Heritage In Their Cars

VW Commits to Sustainable Interiors, Phases Out Cheap Plastics for Premium Materials

UMW Toyota’s Momentum Continues with Strong Sales, New Model Launches, and Exciting Promotions

New Model Launches

2025 Chery Tiggo 9 and Tiggo 9 C-DM Officially Launched in China

Exterior Design

Proton Business Case Study Challenge 2024 Draws 300 University Students

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 Tyre Officially Launched in Malaysia

Hyundai, Kia and Samsung Join Forces to Develop Next-Gen Infotainment System

Police Call for Public Assistance to Curb ‘Mat Rempit’ Activities

Volkswagen Warns of Factory Closures as It Downgrades 2024 Financial Forecast

Honda Introduces City And WR-V Special Editions Exclusively For Malaysians

Review: BMW iX2 – For Those Who Prefer Some Heritage In Their Cars

VW Commits to Sustainable Interiors, Phases Out Cheap Plastics for Premium Materials

UMW Toyota’s Momentum Continues with Strong Sales, New Model Launches, and Exciting Promotions

2025 Chery Tiggo 9 and Tiggo 9 C-DM Officially Launched in China

Proton Business Case Study Challenge 2024 Draws 300 University Students

BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 Tyre Officially Launched in Malaysia

Hyundai, Kia and Samsung Join Forces to Develop Next-Gen Infotainment System

Police Call for Public Assistance to Curb ‘Mat Rempit’ Activities

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Proton Partners with MY Clean Beach for Environmental Conservation

BYD Surges Ahead in China’s Booming EV Market, Set to Surpass Honda and Ford in 2024

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