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UMW Toyota Issues Recall Of Alphard & Vellfire For ECU & EPB Fix

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT), distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Malaysia, has announced a Special Service Campaign (SSC) to update the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of the Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system of certain units of Toyota Alphard and Vellfire. UMWT has assured that the safety of their customers is always Toyota’s top priority.

There are around 1,900 units of the two models manufactured from April 2016 to Feb 2018 and distributed by UMWT involved in this campaign. The condition occurs due to improper programming of the ECU for electric parking brake system. There is the possibility that a voltage reduction during an engine re-start after an idling stop could be judged as an abnormality if the battery has experienced degradation. If this were to occur, a warning light would illuminate and the EPB system may not work.

UMWT will notify all its affected vehicle owners officially to update the ECU programming at no charge to the customers. The work should take around an hour. For further information, owners of affected cars can contact any authorised Toyota service centre or call the Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682).

Toyota owners can also visit Toyota’s Special Service Campaign webpage through this link: toyota.com.my to check whether their vehicle is involved, through Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Checker. To those who have uploaded the Toyota Drive Apps, there is also a link to Toyota’s SSC page and the VIN Checker. Information on other vital SSCs is also available on the webpage.

ETCM Waives 6% GST For Nissan Vehicles Ahead Of 1st June Implementation, Announces “Raya 2018” Campaign & RM450,000 Worth Of Prizes Up For Grabs

In line with the Government’s move to zero-rate Goods and Services Tax (GST) effective 1 June 2018, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) has announced the implementation of 0% GST by offering GST Rebates for Nissan passenger vehicles registered from 16 to 31 May 2018. Under this GST Rebates promotion, ETCM will provide a full GST cash rebate for Nissan passenger vehicles registered from 16 to 31 May 2018. Note that with the GST Rebates in effect, the Price Protection Promise is no longer valid.

Additionally, customers can also enjoy Duit Raya Rewards via the ‘Blissful Journey with Nissan’ promotion throughout the month of May 2018. ETCM is rewarding 5 lucky owners the opportunity to take home an OSIM uLove Massage Chair (worth RM19,988) and other prizes worth up to RM450,000, with a purchase of a new NISSAN vehicle.

Speaking of which, check out our coverage on the new Nissan Serena launch and media drive (NB: please disregard the prices listed in those two links, refer to the chart below).

Nissan 0% GST Savings & Rebates:

NISSAN MODELS	GST REBATE	DUIT RAYA REWARD	TOTAL SAVINGS
ALMERA	Worth up to RM 4,625.10	Up to RM 10,000	Up to RM 14,625.10
GRAND LIVINA	Worth up to RM 5,783.25	Up to RM 7,000	Up to RM 12,783.25
TEANA	Worth up to RM 8,506.53	Up to RM 5,000	Up to RM 13,506.53
X-TRAIL	Worth up to RM 9,419.99	Up to RM 10,000	Up to RM 19,419.99
All-NEW NISSAN SERENA S-HYBRID	Worth up to RM 8,304.41	Up to RM 2,000	Up to RM 10,304.41
SERENA S-HYBRID	Worth up to RM 8,055.36	Up to RM 6,000	Up to RM 14,055.36
NAVARA (2018 models)	Worth up to RM 6,770.92	Up to RM 8,000	Up to RM 14,770.92
NAVARA (2017 models)	Worth up to RM 6,770.92	Up to RM 13,000	Up to RM 19,770.92

ETCM also announced their reduced vehicle prices in conjunction with zero-rated Goods and Services Tax (GST) effective 1 June 2018. In the event of a new tax structure implementation, On-The-Road prices may vary for Nissan vehicles. For more information, visit www.nissan.com.my or call the Nissan Customer Care Centre Hotline at 1800 88 3838.

Proton In 2018 – Part 5: 109 3S & 4S Outlets Targeted By Oct 2018, And More Than RM15,000 Off For A Suprima S Now With 0% GST!

First national carmaker Proton hosted another round of dealers signing ceremony and this time a total of 12 existing, and 3 new dealers were present for the ceremony. The Dealers Network Upgrade and New Dealership Agreement signing ceremony was held at PROTON Centre of Excellence. Representing PROTON was Abdul Rashid Musa, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, who signed the agreement with the dealers.

Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON and senior management members of PROTON were present to grace the occasion. In less than five months, PROTON has achieved 72% of its 2018 intended target for its outlets nationwide to have 3S and 4S status. On a strong footing, PROTON is on track with its plan to attain 109 outlets of 3S and 4S stature by end of October 2018, and the Company is getting closer to the benchmark target earlier than expected.

“I am happy to share that within a period of less than five months, that is from January – 18 May this year, we managed to accomplish 79 outlets with 3S and 4S status, which is approximately 72% achievement against target set for the year. This is absolutely good news, a wonderful moment for PROTON, and with the upgrading taking place, we are confident that we are on steady grounds to provide world class excellence by delivering best sales and service experience for our customers,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON.

Li also mentioned, “I also wish to thank new investors who joined us as Dealers of the PROTON family. While all of us were tirelessly making plans to drive PROTON forward, we are very encouraged by the fact that we have the support of new investors along the way, who are game to take on the challenge of being a PROTON dealer. This can only mean one thing – that we still have strong brand presence in the market and because of this, many came on board to sail on the PROTON journey into the future with us. Thank you for believing in us. Now we can all charge ahead and be the driving force of the brand”.

And on that note, in terms of sales, the recent announcement by the Malaysia government for zero-rated Goods & Services Tax (GST) to come into effect on 1 June 2018, car buyers will be enjoying a tax holiday with substantial savings on car prices. PROTON customers stand to gain even more as the national car maker strives to boost its value for money proposition.

Despite zero-rated GST only due for implementation on 1 June 2018, buyers of Proton cars can enjoy lower post GST pricing with immediate effect. Though the sticker price will remain the same until the date GST gets zero-rated, all customers will be offered the choice between an instant cash rebate for cars registered from 16 May to 31 May or service vouchers equivalent in value to the difference between the current and new price of the car, effective June.

Adding to the potential savings PROTON customers receive in May are exciting sales initiatives that make it even easier to own a Proton car. The current Kosong-kosong promotion (above) means buyers of the Proton Iriz (Executive and Premium variant), Proton Ertiga (all variants) and Proton Exora (all variants) who sign-up with Hong Leong Bank will receive 0% financing for the first year*. Customers who prefer to buy a Proton Saga or Proton Persona will receive free 3-months installment if they finance their new car via PROTON Commerce*.

As for fans of Proton Suprima S (above), they will enjoy whopping discounts of up to RM15,172 on top of the zero-rated GST pricing for these cars. The zero-rated GST offer extends also to servicing at all authorised PROTON service centres where a 6% discount (for labour and periodical maintenance parts only) is being offered to all owners who send in their cars for periodical maintenance.

For the FULL list of 0% GST Proton prices, download this:

NEWS RELEASE – THE BEST TIME TO BUY A PROTON

For full details of all offers, visit the nearest PROTON showroom or call its Customer Care hotline at 1-800-88-8398 or email customercare@proton.com.

*terms & conditions apply.

150 Units Of Renault Captur Compact CrossOver Allocated For GoCar, Fleet Now At 450 Vehicles!

TCEC, the sole franchise holder for Renault vehicles in Malaysia, today announced that it will be providing 150 units of the stylish and versatile Renault Captur compact crossover to GoCar, Malaysia’s leading on-demand car-sharing platform, bringing the total fleet to 450 GoCars on the road. The collaboration was announced at a handover ceremony at TCEC’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya during which the first 50 units of Renault Captur were delivered to GoCar. The remaining 100 units will be fulfilled in subsequent months.

(From left) Sicard Guillaume, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Asia Pacific, Renault, Dato’ Rosie Tan, Group CEO of Tan Chong Motor Holdings, Kuan Kim Luen, CEO of TC Euro Cars, Nicholas Tan, President of GoCar, Alan Cheah, CEO of GoCar Malaysia, Quincy Govin, Head of ASEAN Operation, Renault

The Renault Captur is Europe’s best-selling crossover in its segment. Its vibrant exterior styling, powerful turbocharged engine, excellent fuel efficiency, excellent safety rating and affordable maintenance package all combine to make it a good addition to the GoCar fleet. “The fashionable yet sporty Renault Captur is an excellent choice for GoCar members. Its stylish exterior with vibrant two-toned colours adds a distinct French flair to our fleet while its impressive equipment and features deliver enjoyable driving performance in addition to offering comprehensive safety features,” said Alan Cheah, CEO, GoCar Mobility Sdn Bhd.

Through the GoCar sharing service, the Renault Captur is offered with a rate of RM18.90 per hour, RM189 daily, RM1,323 weekly or RM5,670 for a month. To access the service, simply download the GoCar mobile application and register as a member. Upon verification, members can easily make bookings as well as lock, unlock and start the Captur via the GoCar mobile app. Extensions for reservations can also easily be managed via the app.

“Renault Captur is the perfect embodiment of 120 years of Renault know-how and technical expertise including breakthroughs like turbocharging and excellent efficiency. Through this collaboration with GoCar, we hope to offer more opportunities for Malaysians to experience a crossover model that has been Europe’s segment leader for many years,” said Kuan Kim Luen, CEO, TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd.

Powered by Renault’s turbocharged TCe 120 engine that is mated to a six-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) transmission, the EEV-certified Captur is capable of delivering the performance and acceleration of a normally-aspirated 1.8L engine, with excellent fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

In conjunction with the Renault Captur joining its fleet, GoCar is offering Malaysians the opportunity to #TakeCaptur for a road trip between now until 31 December 2018. Valid for new members only, the promotion offers RM30 off the Captur, with a minimum booking of 10 hours, through the special promo code ‘GOCARCAPTUR’.

Weststar Maxus To Absorb 6% GST With Immediate Effect For All Variants

In the Ramadan spirit of giving, and with the Government’s revised GST to zero percent, Weststar Maxus, the sole distributor for the Maxus range of vehicles in Malaysia, has reworked its pricing for the range of G10 luxury “people mover” and V80 commercial vehicles with 0% GST effective immediately.

The price reductions ranging from RM5,000 to RM10,000 will remain in effect until end May pending the reimplementation of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) by the Government. “This initiative is aimed at making the full range of our vehicles more affordable to Malaysians,” says Tan Sri Syed Azman Syed Ibrahim, Group Managing Director, the Weststar Group. “We are now in an expansion phase and want to strengthen our brand and quality proposition to the widest target segments across the country.”

Plans are afoot to open two new showrooms within the next couple of months in Penang and Kota Bharu. Weststar Maxus also opened a showroom in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, in February this year. “The marquee value of Weststar Maxus has gained considerable traction among family and commercial segments in the last two years, and we are confident that our product range has the price, quality, and features advantages to succeed as a premium brand,” notes Tan Sri Syed Azman.

The Maxus G10 range of luxury vehicles is powered by a 225Hp (165kW) 2.0T turbo-charged direct injection engine pared with a ZF 6-speed automated manual gearbox for smooth power output and swifter response to gear shifting. With a maximum of 345Nm on tap, the Maxus G10 SE delivers a similar power ratio as that of a 3.0L natural aspirated engine, but with 30 percent less fuel consumption. Read more about the Maxus G10 here.

The Weststar Maxus G10 is available at all Weststar Maxus showrooms throughout the country starting from as low as RM130,000. The Weststar Maxus G10 range is available in six colour options – Obsidian Black, Blanc White, Aurora Silver, Weststar Blue, Amber Gold, and Lava Grey. Below are the new prices:

Maxus G10
*G10 Model*	*Current Price*	*New Price On the Road Without GST (OTR without Insurance)*	*Difference*
Base Sport CBU	137,954.85	130,146.08	7,808.77
G10 SE CBU	157,348.50	148,441.98	8,906.52
G10 SE CKD	152,623.30	143,984.25	8,639.05
Executive CBU	179,935.11	169,750.01	10,185.01
Maxus V80
Window Van 12-Seater	130,678.60	123,281.70	7,396.90
Window Van 15-Seater	131,738.60	124,281.70	7,456.90
SWB	90,996.18	85,845.45	5,150.73
LWB	111,129.45	104,839.10	6,290.35

HSDM Announces 0% GST For Hyundai Vehicles, While Hyundai CRADLE Invests in Metawave to Help Develop Smart Automotive Radar Platforms

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors has announced the new prices of its vehicles, set to take effect on 1st June 2018, when the GST is abolished. You can find the new prices in this downloadable document:

Hyundai New Price List with Zero-Rated GST (Hyundai Sime Darby Motors)

Savings of up to RM10,000 are to be had on the Starex soon, and up to RM6,500 on the Ioniq (below).

On the global front, Hyundai CRADLE, Hyundai Motor Company’s corporate venturing and open innovation business, has announced it is investing in the Metawave Corporation to build intelligent radars for autonomous vehicles. Metawave is revolutionizing radar sensing by leveraging adaptive metamaterials (conventional materials using engineered structures with unique electromagnetic properties not found in nature) and artificial intelligence (AI) to create smart radars. Hyundai is closely evaluating new technologies, such as Metawave’s high-performance radar capable of 3-D imaging, for future autonomous platforms.

“Next-generation radar technology can use advanced algorithms for object detection and classification,” said John Suh, vice president of Hyundai CRADLE. “A new radar system that can increase resolution and accuracy with an AI engine will be a disruptive technology.”

How it works…

Three sensors are the fundamental components of the perception system for self-driving cars today: camera, LiDAR and radar. The camera is the highest-resolution sensor but cannot see objects beyond 50 meters. LiDAR extends the range to about 150 meters, with a fairly high-resolution imaging capability. Both camera and LiDAR are affected by bad weather and dirty roads. Radar, by its nature, operates at a lower frequency and “sees” objects at long ranges faster and in all weather and driving conditions. Today’s radar cannot cover wide angles at long ranges and lacks the resolution to differentiate between objects.

It needs a large number of antennae and expensive chips to run the complex digital signals. This type of system takes time and energy, making it inefficient. Metawave’s advanced radar platform, WARLORD uses just one antenna and pushes the complexity of the analog space, using ultra-fast and precise responses. With WARLORD, the antenna itself shapes and steers the beam in all directions using pencil beams, deep learning engines and AI algorithms to recognize objects quickly and send 4-D point cloud to the sensor fusion.

“The investment by Hyundai represents another key company milestone and further proof of our rapid momentum as we bring WARLORD long-range radar with imaging and AI capabilities to autonomous vehicles,” said Metawave CEO Maha Achour, PhD. “With our talented team of mm-wave and metamaterial experts, we were the first to demonstrate Electronically Scanned Metamaterial Array for Autonomous Driving at 77GHz. This technology will be an enabling factor for Hyundai and other auto leaders who are striving to improve the vehicle experience.”

Hyundai Autonomous Vehicle Development…

In January, Hyundai Motor Company and Aurora, a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, announced a strategic partnership to bring self-driving Hyundai vehicles to market by 2021. This partnership will incorporate Aurora’s self-driving technology into Hyundai vehicles, starting with models custom-developed and launched in test programs and pilot cities.

In February, a fleet of Hyundai NEXO fuel cell electric SUVs successfully completed a self-driven 190-kilometer journey from Seoul to Pyeongchang. The NEXOs were equipped with level 4 self-driving technology, as defined by SAE international standards, and 5G network technology.

These NEXOs featured a number of advanced technologies that enabled them to recognize surrounding vehicles more accurately and make better judgments at junctions and at branching roads, navigate through toll gates by accurately calculating the toll gates’ width and position and precisely pinpoint the vehicle’s position on a map by using external sensors fitted for situations when the GPS signal was interrupted, such as going through long underground tunnels.

What is Metawave Technology?

Metawave is building next-generation wireless technology platforms to address major challenges facing the wireless sensing and communications industries operating at mm-wave frequencies. By using engineered metamaterial structures and AI algorithms, Metawave was able to simplify architectures and improve system performance while lowering cost to both providers and consumers using its electronically beamforming and steering WARLORD and SABER technologies. The company is initially focusing on delivering the WARLORD smart radar platforms for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving. In parallel, Metawave is building the SABER^TM (Smart Antenna for Beamforming Electromagnetic Radiation) smart antenna platforms for fixed wireless and the 5G cellular infrastructure to power dense point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and mesh configurations for backhaul and access networks.

The 5G market will benefit from Metawave’s SABER platform by reducing interference and increasing the reach of coverage of their base stations. Instead of the massive numbers of antennae and complex digital processing used in today’s 5G radios, SABER uses one antenna per transceiver port, which is able to focus the signal in narrow beams to extend the reach of base stations and service dense number of users with little interference.

Go Auto Sales Opens New Haval Dealership In Skudai & Announces 0% GST Raya Promotion

Go Auto Sales Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor for Haval SUV in Malaysia together with authorised dealer, Ang Trading and Motor Credit Sdn Bhd recently launched HAVAL Malaysia’s newest dealership in Skudai, Johor Bahru, Johor. The authorised dealership is located at Taman Perindustrian Ringan Pulai, Johor Bahru and shall provide easy access to HAVAL customers staying around Skudai and Johor Bahru area.

Speaking at the official launch, Executive Director of Go Auto Group, Dato’ SM Azli SM Nasimuddin Kamal, said, “It’s with great pleasure that we welcome and congratulate Ang Trading and Motor Credit to be part of the growing HAVAL Malaysia family and wish them success in both sales and after sales services. The Company continues to achieve the primary goal to always improved the quality and enhance customer satisfaction.”

“This new dealership adds a total of 7 dealership in South of Malaysia with 4 being from Johor – in total the Company now has 24 dealerships nationwide. Both of our current models are certified as EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) which the H1 comes with a seven-year unlimited mileage manufacturer warranty whereas, the H2 comes with 5-years warranty or 150,000km whichever comes first,” Dato’ Azli added.

In addition, with the recent announcement made on 16 May in regards of the Goods & Service Tax (GST) which would be zero rated commencing on 1 June 2018, Go Auto has announced a “NOW or NEVER Celebrating Raya with Zero GST” Promotion. The promotion will be from now until 30 June 2018 offers new and existing HAVAL customers with savings worth up to RM9,500 which will also include rebate up to RM3,000, ‘duit raya’ up to RM1,200 and petrol vouchers worth RM300 in addition to the zero-rated offerings.

Aside from the current promotion, Haval plans to carry out a roadshow nationwide as part of the ongoing “Reimagine Campaign” in Northern, Southern, East Coast and East Malaysia, which will be announced later nearing the event date.

“In line with the recent direction from the government, the zero-rated GST gives Go Auto the opportunity to add-on to the current promotion, we’re definitely excited for this new deal especially with the Raya festivities around the corner – we hope to continue to give customers to own SUVs at competitive prices and to celebrate Raya with a brand-new SUV at the same time,” Dato’ Azli added.

The Ferrari SP38 Is A Stunning New Creation From The Ferrari “One-Off” Programme

A confirmed future classic, the incredible Ferrari SP38 – the latest offering from Ferrari’s One-Off Programme – has been unveiled at Fiorano where, after the ceremonial handover to one of Ferrari’s most dedicated customers, (We weren’t told who, Nick Mason maybe? – Ed.) the car was immediately put through its paces in a series of hot laps.

Designed by the Ferrari Design Centre on the chassis and running gear of the 488 GTB, this unique car reflects the specific vision of a client with a deep passion for racing. The result is a model that can be driven both on road and on track, while at the same time expressing all the beauty and innovation inherent in Ferrari’s road cars.

The all-new bodywork, in a newly conceived three-layer metallic red, marks a radical departure from the language aesthetic of the donor car. The twin-turbo, twin-intercooler set-up of the award-winning 488 GTB inspired the team to reference the mighty F40 as an icon from which to instruct the project’s general direction.

Compared to the 488 chassis, the visual mass of SP38 appears concentrated over the rear wheels as the wedge design sharply stretches towards the front. In plan view, the strongly tapered nose expands towards muscular wheelarches, giving the car potency and agility. Specific inset headlights were designed to be as thin as possible, with the mandatory DRL (daytime running lights) units relocated to add character and functionality to a slim bumper lip reminiscent of the 308 GTB.

On the side, the defining air scoop of the 488 GTB is completely concealed where the sheet metal folds in on itself from the low belt-line on the door and into the rear wheel-arch and three-quarter light.

The effect is dramatic, as it reinforces the importance of the rear volume while, at the same time, maintaining the air flow to the intercoolers at the base of the side window. The dynamic styling continues over the engine cover, which sheds its rear glass and is treated as a flip-up assembly in carbon fibre with shutlines slashing the flanks in a gesture directly reminiscent of the F40’s.

Three transversal slats slash across the engine cover to evacuate engine heat, and the smooth integration of a substantial rear spoiler is a hint at the famous rear wing of the F40. The trailing edge of the spoiler links seamlessly with the wing and with the aerodynamic diffuser at the bottom, to create a suggestive frame surrounding the tail volume.

A full Tailor Made cabin trim puts the finished touches on this truly special Ferrari, which will be on public display for the first time at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Saturday 26^th May 2018.