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BMW Malaysia’s Child Safety Seat Subsidy program moves to Phase 2

With the compulsory use of Child Restraint Systems (CRS), typically childseats, having been imposed at the beginning of this year, parents have to buy such seats if they want to bring their small children out in the car. However, for those in the lower income group, it may be tough to purchase this item. To help this group, BMW Malaysia, Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation have announced the second phase of the child safety seat subsidy programme.

Helping the B40 group
The programme, aimed at the B40 group, will be supported by Shopee as its exclusive E-Commerce Partner alongside baby and children goods brands – KU.KU Duckbill and Otomo, educational toys and games distributor – Mideer, food storage sealing solutions provider – Ankou, and car performance parts and accessories provider – Kakimotor.

As part of the BMW Safety 360° initiative, the subsidy programme was first introduced in December 2019 with Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation where 150 units of infant carrier car seats were made available at a subsidised price of RM100 each. The initiative drew over 25,000 registrations from parents in the B40 income group.

“Our aim with this initiative has always been to make the use of child safety car seats instinctively mandatory; a basic practice as parents to ensure that children are always safe in cars. We are very pleased that these brands have come in to help us to not only advocate the importance of child safety seats but also to make more child safety seats accessible to those in the B40 income group. We hope more partners will continue to join us in taking ownership of this shared responsibility as we move towards collectively affecting change,” said Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications at BMW Group Malaysia.

Second phase
The second phase of the subsidy programme will focus on equipping the remaining registrants from the first phase with a range of child safety seats for newborns to children of up to 36 kgs. This includes the snskidz Ace infant carrier car seat (for newborn to 13 kgs), the snskidz Sport car seat (for newborn to 18 kgs) and the snskidz Proto (for 2 year-olds to 36 kgs). All snskidz child safety seats carry the ECE R44-04 certification.

Each of the snskidz child safety seats will be made available with the RM50 in subsidy amount, on top of a discounted price from Safe ‘n Sound that is exclusive for recipients of the subsidy programme. The snskidz Ace will be available at a subsidised price of RM99 (normally RM199) while the snskidz Sport and snskidz Proto will be priced at RM169 (RM269) and RM249 (RM349), respectively.

Recipients of the subsidy programme will receive a unique Shopee voucher worth RM113 which can be applied upon check-out at a dedicated microsite.

Raising additional funds
In hopes of accelerating the delivery of child safety seats amongst the first 25,000 registrants, BMW Malaysia, Safe ‘n Sound and Childline Foundation are also initiating a public fund-raiser on the microsite. There is no minimum amount of contributions required from individuals. All funds raised will be channelled to Childline Foundation to subsidise as many child safety seats as possible for the remaining registrants.

“The new partners coming in to help us with this programme could not arrive at a better time, especially in light of the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations. We want to continue to urge individuals, partners and companies who have the means to help subsidise these child safety seats to come together and take part in this movement to make child safety seats the first thing parents think about when they have their children in vehicles – whether by raising greater awareness on the topic through education, making child safety seats more accessible, or reaching out to us to be a part of the subsidy programme. We do hope to further accelerate delivery with the help and support from all Malaysians nationwide,” said Mr. Ambi.

BMW Group Malaysia invites other companies to join in childseat subsidy initiative

‘No’ means NO on interstate travel but there are people who insist on breaking the law

Hari Raya Aidilfitri (expected to fall on May 24) is approaching but this year, with the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to stop its spread, the government has declared that the traditional ‘balik kampung’ journeys cannot take place. There are great risks in allowing thousands to travel around the country as some may be carriers of the virus which has so far caused 114 deaths from almost 7,000 infected cases.

Malaysia is fortunate not to have the thousands of deaths that have occurred in some other countries and while the pandemic won’t completely end for some time, it is at least moderated to some extent in this country. That’s thanks, in a large part, to the hard work and sacrifices of the frontliners, especially those in hospitals.

Also helping to ‘flatten the curve’ of infections was the introduction of the Movement Control Order on March 18. The aim of the MCO is to cut the transmission of the virus by restricting contact and interaction among the population. Overnight, the country was virtually shut down as people were told to stay at home and the police and army were ordered to enforce the regulation strictly.

The MCO included a prohibition on interstate travel because it makes things more difficult to trace the movements of virus carriers who may bring it to their hometowns that might not have been affected in the first place. Contact-tracing is a crucial part of suppressing the spread as people who have been in contact with the carrier will be quarantined so they do not pass it on to others.

The prohibition on interstate travel is still on and the only exception was during four days recently when special permission was given to allow those who had been trapped in other places to return to their homes in other states. And that too required application and approval by the police who checked for valid reasons. Other than that, only in emergency cases will permission be granted, and the police are firm on this.

On many occasions, announcements have been made to remind people that they should not make any ‘balik kampung’ trips. By now, no Malaysian should be unaware of this restriction and yet, it appears that there are people who are desperate to travel to their hometowns. But there are roadblocks and if they have no authorization letter, they will be made to turn around. If they make things difficult, they could also get charged for not complying with the MCO which carries a RM1,000 fine and/or a jail term.

In fact, the police have reported the number of people trying to cross state lines increasing and they must be getting fed up with such law-breakers. Now they have announced that they will also be conducting checks in certain areas where there are many vehicles outside homes (a sign that may suggest many returnees) and owners of vehicles with registration plates from other states. It is an unnecessary waste of time as they have many other more important duties to carry out.

According to the Health Ministry, around 14% (971) of the total number of Covid-19 cases have a history of inter-state travel, meaning the infected persons brought the virus from one state to another. “About 18 clusters, from a total of 48 clusters recorded in the country, are linked to activities which involved crossing state borders. Ten of these clusters are still active,” said the Director-General at the Ministry of Health, Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, who is troubled by the number.

The implications of carrying the virus to the homes of parents or relatives in another state just don’t seem to be understood enough. It is known that older people are more vulnerable and can be seriously affected by the virus. It is known that there are some people who may not show symptoms of the virus immediately but they are already spreading it. If these senseless people who insist on going to the homes of their elders cause them to be infected and die, how will they ever live with that?

Yes, it is understandable that the family should be together on Hari Raya but these are extraordinary circumstances and as many say, there will still be other years to celebrate together. Carry the virus home and you may never celebrate with some of those loved ones again.

As Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham has warned, unless there is good compliance with the MCO/CMCO, the restrictions will have to remain in place. In the eyes of the Health Ministry, there is still a lot of non-compliance when so many are trying to ‘balik kampung’ even though they are not allowed to. Because of these people, the rest of us have to continue to endure restricted movements. Please do not be selfish and just stay in your state.

Entire Perodua sales and aftersales network is ready to serve customers

As the leading car company in the country, Perodua has a huge network of sales and aftersales outlets – all of which had to be closed when the Movement Control Order (MCO) was activated on March 18 this year. Now that the situation regarding the COVID-19 virus has eased a bit – though it has not ended – the government is allowing businesses to resume operations.

However, for Perodua, there are 182 sales, 202 service and 68 Body & Paint outlets nationwide and with the Standard Operating Procedures stipulated by the Health Ministry for the protection of the public as well as employees, the facilities have required some reconfiguration. This is to meet important requirements like social distancing that should be 1 metre apart.

“We announce today that we have finally put in place the necessary safeguards at all our outlets nationwide to ensure that our valued customers and employees will be sufficiently protected in the light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Perodua outlets restarted operations on a staggered basis from May 12 and the company has been working hard to ensure all the sufficient health and safety measures are in place.

“We thank our valued customers for their patience and loyalty. We will ensure that all their motoring needs will be met as soon and as safely as possible,” he said.

Perodua factory — *Vehicle production resumed on May 11 and the company is now doing its best to fulfil demand as quickly as possible.*

Customers looking to service their vehicles are required to secure an appointment slot beforehand with their service centre of choice. Walk-ins will not be accepted at present to avoid crowding.

All visitors to any outlet must undergo temperature checks before entering the outlets, register their details and adhere to social distancing markers within the outlets at all times. Hand sanitisers are placed at key locations, while the outlets themselves are sanitised regularly.

“These safeguards are part and parcel of our commitment to our collective health and safety, towards making the Perodua Experience the best it can be,” said Dato’ Zainal.

To locate a showroom or service centre near you, visit www.perodua.com.my.

War on COVID-19 – Perodua contributes RM2 million to NADMA-COVID 19 Fund

New Ford Ranger FX4 to be unveiled on June 3 and you’re invited to the launch event!

Malaysians throughout the country are invited to the launch of the new Ford Ranger FX4 scheduled on this June 3 at 11 am. Of course, with the restriction on gatherings due to the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), a public event is not possible at this time so Sime Darby Auto ConneXion, the sole distributor of Ford in Malaysia, will unveil the new model online.

“The Ranger FX4 will be the first pick-up truck in the country to be launched simultaneously online via YouTube and Facebook,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, MD of Sime Darby Auto ConneXion. “As we embrace the new normal, we also embrace in new ways to bring excitement to our customers.”

Ford Ranger range — *The Ford Ranger family in Malaysia will soon get a new member.*

While retaining the tough and bold exterior, the new Ranger FX4 has a host of new and unique features which are apparent from first glance. Additionally, it has the Smart Technologies seen in various current Ranger versions. These include 4X4 Shift-On-The-Fly (no need to stop to engage 4×4), Limited Slip Differential, rain-sensing wipers, Electric Power Assisted Steering and Daytime running lights.

Safety systems include SRS airbags, Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, ABS with Emergency Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution, ISOFIX child seat mounts, Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control, Rollover Mitigation, Trailer Sway Control and Adaptive Load Control.

To celebrate the launch, the first 150 customers who purchase the Ranger FX4 will receive complimentary accessories worth RM5,398. These are a matte black sports bar and executive tinting, along with a built-in Digital Video Recorder with an 8GB memory card.

If you already know about the Ranger and that it’s ‘Built Ford Tough’, and want to be among the first owners of the new FX4 version, you can place a booking ahead of the launch to take advantage of the free accessories offer.

To do so, contact the Ford Digital Salesperson at +6019-204 1200 from 9 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday (excluding public holidays) and through this dedicated WhatsApp channel, customers can be linked with an authorised Ford salesperson at a dealership located nearest to them. This would allow customers to transact at their own convenience and pay the deposit for their vehicle from wherever they are.

“For customers visiting our showrooms and service centres nationwide, we would like to welcome and assure you that the necessary precautions are in place to ensure the health and safety of our visitors and staff as outlined by the government. This includes the practice of social distancing, temperature checks upon entering the premise, and hand sanitiser dispensers located at common areas. In addition, there is frequent sanitising of high contact points throughout the premises, including service and display vehicles,” said Jeffrey Gan, MD for Retail and Distribution, Malaysia, Sime Darby Motors.

For more information on Ford vehicles or to locate a showroom in Malaysia, visit www. sdacford.com.my.

Ford Ranger wins International Pick-up Award 2020

Isuzu Malaysia to expedite delivery of new vehicles to customers

As the country continues to transition towards the recovery phase of the pandemic, Isuzu Malaysia is doing its best to fulfil customer orders, particularly those that were placed before the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into effect in March. Efforts are underway to ensure vehicles are speedily processed from the plant in Pekan, Pahang to be dispatched to dealerships around the country.

The company had received some 300 orders for various Isuzu D-Max models but as movements were restricted and the JPJ also closed its branches so registration and application for roadtax could not be done, customers could not get their vehicles.

Isuzu vehicles for the Malaysia market are assembled at its plant in Pekan, Pahang. — *Isuzu vehicles for the Malaysian market are assembled at its plant in Pekan, Pahang.*

“While our customers do understand the circumstances for the delay, we empathise that during these trying times, our customers require Isuzu vehicles even more as these robust and versatile trucks play a key role in keeping them moving dependably and efficiently. It is therefore our aim to ensure that customers are able to take delivery of their new Isuzu D-Max pick-up trucks as quickly as possible,” said the Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Malaysia, Masayuki Suzuki.

No procedures at dealerships
At the dealerships, a new delivery process has been put in place to ensure customers and staff are well-protected in line with the government’s call to effectively curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Standard operating procedures include a temperature record of every staff member prior to the start of each work day, compulsory use of surgical masks, disinfecting of all touch-points in the outlets three times daily, while demonstration vehicles and customer vehicles are disinfected after each human contact.

All visitors to Isuzu outlets are also required to have their temperatures while hand sanitizing liquid and if required, a face mask, will be made available at all facilities. Customers collecting their new vehicles will be informed of the delivery dates by their sales advisor and provided an appointed time of the hand-over in order to avoid crowding or prolonged exposure in the outlet.

“The procedures in the Isuzu Delivery System have been revised somewhat to incorporate the recommendations of the Malaysian government where dealing with the pandemic is concerned. We remain mindful that customers will continue to seek high-value Isuzu vehicles to serve their daily needs thus we endeavour to create the most conducive and safe environment for prospects, customers and our frontline teams,” added Mr. Suzuki.

Warranty extension
Isuzu vehicle owners whose vehicle warranties were to have expired during the MCO period will automatically enjoy a further 30-day extension from May 13, 2020 while those whose vehicles were also overdue for scheduled maintenance during this period can rest assured that their warranty will not be affected by the delay.

Customers intending to bring their vehicles in for service are advised to make prior appointments with their respective Isuzu Authorised Service Centres as each outlet is operating according to CMCO regulations in their respective states. They now practice social distancing and therefore have to limit the daily intakes based on the capacity of the individual service facility.

To arrange for viewing or test drive of Isuzu vehicles, customers may make an appointment via Isuzu Malaysia’s Facebook page.

Isuzu Dura Miles Challenge shows fuel efficiency of 1.9-litre Blue Power engine

Volvo S60 T8 now assembled locally, still priced at RM295,888

In view of the Conditional Movement Control Order limiting gatherings, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) today launched the locally-assembled (CKD) version of the Volvo S60 T8 online. This is essentially a follow-up from the earlier launch in October last year of the CBU (imported completely built-up) model which is now in its third generation.

The model is assembled at Volvo’s own plant in Shah Alam, Selangor, the first vehicle assembly plant in Malaysia. Rather surprisingly, even though the car is assembled locally, the price of RM295,888 (without insurance) is not lower than that of the CBU model (which was said to be ‘under-priced). Normally, the CKD model can be cheaper due to the different taxation rate applied which favours locally-assembled vehicles and the car companies pass on the savings to customers.

For exterior colour choices are available (one less than the CBU model) – Fusion Red (Metallic), Onyx Black (Metallic), Pebble Grey (Metallic) and Crystal White (Pearl). This is one less than what was available with the CBU model, the missing colour being Metallic Birch. A 5-year warranty comes with the car while service intervals are set at 20,000 kms.

The 2020 S60 T8 is pretty much the same as the CBU model, specs-wise, and as assured by VCM, the quality is also similarly high. After all, the plant has also been a regional hub for the Swedish carmaker for some time. It has received investments to upgrade its manufacturing capabilities, including laser welding equipment.

The S60 rides on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform which is used across the current Volvo range. Being modular in concept, SPA allows the engineers to develop a variety of models on the same platform, which saves R&D costs. In the case of the S60 T8, the powertrain is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) which consists of a 2-litre twin-charged (turbocharger + supercharger) 4-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor.

The latter is powered by an 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and total system output is 407 bhp/640 Nm, with maximum torque available from 1,200 rpm. Engine power goes to the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission by Aisin while the rear wheels are powered by the electric drive so the S60 has all-wheel drive.

The output numbers suggest brisk performance and indeed, this Volvo has a claimed 0 – 100 km/h time of 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 250 km/h (probably limited). However, because of the PHEV capability, it also uses less fuel and Volvo claims 50 kms/litre which is really quite amazing when you consider the performance. With a 60-litre fuel tank, that means the S60 should be good for 3,000 kms before going empty!

Like other PHEVs, the S60 T8 can run on just the electric motor alone and in this zero emissions mode, it should be able to travel up to 49 kms. Depending on the charging outlet available, recharging the battery pack to full takes around 3 hours.

For the Malaysian market, VCM includes R-Design styling features and accessories to give a sportier image to the S60. The looks are more aggressive with black-out treatment for various elements and dual tailpipes. Like all the latest Volvos, the distinctive ‘Thor’s Hammer’ graphic in the headlights provides instant identification.

The cabin has the typical Scandinavian ambience that Volvo is noted for although the interior colour theme is not light-coloured but dark. The contoured seats are wrapped in exclusive Charcoal Fine Nappa Leather with Open Grid Textile upholstery. The Digital Instrument Cluster with 12.3-inch TFT Adaptive Digital Display is complemented by a Head-Up Display (HUD) which shows important running information on the windscreen ahead of the steering wheel.

An immersive 14-speaker audio system powered by Harman Kardon is part of the Sensus Connect infotainment system. This system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so smartphones can be easily linked.

An additional feature for the CKD model is the handsfree operation to open the bootlid. This is a nice feature to have and once you have a car with it, you don’t want to not have it in the next car.

Volvo has been a leader in safety and its Intellisafe suite of integrated high-tech systems is adopted in the S60. This includes City Safety with Autobrake technology, which assists the driver in avoiding potential collisions and is the only system in the market to recognise pedestrians, cyclists and large animals. In a world-first for the mid-size sedan segment. City Safety now also engages auto braking to mitigate oncoming collisions.

Volvo S60 safety — *The S60 has Volvo’s Intellisafe suite of driver-assistance systems*.

The Pilot Assist system – which supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130 km/h – has been upgraded with improved cornering performance. There’s also Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and other driver assistance systems, now including Park Assist to make positioning the car in a parking bay much easier.

Click here for other news and articles about Volvo.

Winners of Toyota Vios Challenge Season 3 confirmed after decision to conclude series after 3 rounds

The COVID-19 pandemic and Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia brought many activities to a standstill and this including the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Toyota Vios Challenge which had been scheduled for the weekend of April 17 – 19 at the Sepang International Circuit. As the government indicated that public activities and gatherings should not be held till at least the end of the year, the organizers, UMW Toyota Motor have had no choice but to conclude the season after three of the four rounds were run.

Season 3 champions
With this decision, the three champions of Season 3 are Tengku Djan Ley Tengku Mahaleel as overall champion of the Super Sporting class for professional drivers; Hayden Haikal takes the crown for winning the Sporting class for amateur drivers; and musician and TV personality Shawn Lee topped the list of celebrity racers in the Promotional class.

This is Tengku Djan’s second title after being champion in the first season of the Toyota Vios Challenge. He took a break from racing to assume responsibility as Team Manager in Season 2. Driving for Team 23 Motors, Tengku Djan finished the third season 11 points ahead of runner-up Mark Darwin of Laser Motor Racing, with Telagamas Toyota’s Freddie Ang a further 14 points behind.

“The season has been nothing short of intense from start to finish. Competing in a one-make series where you are essentially limited to only your driving skills, there’s only so much you can do in the company of so many experienced and talented elite drivers on the grid and I am fortunate enough to have finished every race consistently in the points,” said Tengku Djan, who won two of the season’s six races.

He added: “The Toyota Vios Challenge has been an incredibly rewarding series for drivers as much as it is a tough proving ground because not only are you driving on a street circuit which requires you to be extremely precise, but everyone competes on a level playing field by driving identical race machines. It builds character, confidence, accelerates a driver’s learning curve and teaches drivers to become more technical and tactical by making minute changes to the car’s set-up with the hope of gaining some advantage.”

16-year-old Hayden Haikal, the youngest ever individual to win a race in the Toyota Vios Challenge, joined the series in Season 2 and at 15 then, was the youngest rookie driver to compete in the series as he transitioned from karting to saloon car racing. Not only was the teenager forced into a steep learning curve (having to learn how to manually change gears and to assimilate himself with the dynamics of a saloon car), but he unexpectedly improved and excelled with every race. Hayden’s track record in Season 3 included two race victories for S&D Motorsports, allowing him to end his campaign ahead of another teenage driver, Bradley Benedict Anthony (Dream Chaser team) who was 12 points behind.

Looking back on his two seasons, he added that his participation in the series was timely given his move from karting and that the Toyota Vios Challenge not only provided a level playing field for first time racers, but was also cost effective. “In the end, the series addressed what mattered most to my parents and I and that was to enhance my racing skills and it wasn’t about how much money one can afford to spend on the cars we compete in,” said Hayden.

Toyota Vios Challenge Season 3 celebrities — *The celebrity racers in Season 3 included Akio Takeyama (third from right), Chief Motorsports Officer of Toyota GAZOO Racing Malaysia and also Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor.*

Meanwhile, also claiming his second overall championship win in the Promotional class, Shawn Lee clearly demonstrated a more composed and confident drive throughout the season. Lee had been crowned Promotional class champion in season 1 and was promoted to race the following season in the more competitive Sporting class. Returning to the Promotional class in Season 3, he drove to three race wins and clearly emerged as the most dominant driver on the grid. Finishing second overall was actor Shukri Yahaya, 15 points adrift, while in third was TV personality Nabil Ahmad.

Season 3 of the street racing series had started off in Kuala Terengganu last September before moving to Bandar Malaysia (the old TUDM airbase in Kuala Lumpur) in November, and Batu Kawan in Penang in February this year.

“It is certainly not the most ideal way to conclude what has traditionally been a closely-contested championship. Like the previous two seasons, the Toyota Vios Challenge is unique in that as a one-make series, emphasis has always been on a level playing field, driving skills and experience which ultimately resulted in no clear winner emerging until the very last race. Season 3 had again demonstrated this spirit of competition, but inevitably the final race must yield to an even greater agenda which is to place national interest and public safety ahead of all other matters,” said Akio Takeyama, Chief Motorsports Officer of Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia.

Mr. Takeyama, who is also Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor, said the final results were made after careful deliberation in adherence to and consistent with all provisions underlined by the technical and sporting regulations of the championship, and in discussion with the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), Malaysia’s governing body for motorsports. The decision was also consistent with the best practices of other international motorsports events.

Looking ahead
Moving forward, Mr. Takeyama revealed that the company is currently in the advanced stages of preparing for an even more exciting fourth season of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Toyota Vios Challenge.

“Season 4 will be an entirely different experience, offering racers, teams and participating dealers not only an enhanced racing format but also prize and reward structure. Without revealing too much too soon, I would also like to announce that the Toyota Gazoo Racing spirit will extend beyond the Toyota Vios Challenge and provide racers with additional racing programs to compete in. Another element we are closely looking into is talent development and expansion of TGR e-Racing.”

Toyota eSports — *The TGR program of activities in Malaysia will give more attention to eSports.*

Summing up the season, President of UMW Toyota Motor, Ravindran K. said that the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival and Toyota Vios Challenge has grown from strength to strength to fulfill the company’s three key objectives: to bring motorsports and Toyota’s racing spirit to the masses; to elevate Malaysian motorsports by introducing the concept of racing on street circuits; and successfully demonstrating the performance, reliability and durability of its vehicle to perform under extreme conditions.

“It has been a monumental task, but one that has been well worth the effort and an initiative we intend on pursuing further. I would like to convey our highest appreciation to all the participating teams, drivers, dealers, fans, spectators, sponsors and officials who have been instrumental in making this Series a success,” said Mr. Ravindran.

“Our decision to venture into motorsports was with the intent of injecting greater excitement into Malaysian motor-racing and in three season, we have not only successfully established a one-make series offering a greater level playing field and is much more affordable and accessible to the masses, but also contributed to the development of new, young and talented drivers.”

Vios Challenge delivers masterclass racing in Penang

Volkswagen’s ‘Buckle Up’ campaign educates children on importance of road and car safety

In these times of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of messages to the public focus on social distancing and personal hygiene to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. However, traffic accidents still happen and road and car safety are still important.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has not forgotten this and is taking an initiative to educate the younger generation on the importance of road and car safety. The company has created the ‘Buckle Up’ animation series on YouTube for children.

Targeting children 3 – 7 years old
Part of the brand’s social responsibility here in Malaysia, the entertaining series brings online the much-loved Volkswagen mascot, a familiar face and adored by children at roadshows and events. Specifically targeting children aged between 3 to 7 years old, the content is communicated in a fun and entertaining way and covers topics such as how to cross the road, understanding traffic lights and the importance of wearing a seatbelt.

“As a responsible brand, we are socially accountable to our stakeholders and the public – at the same time not forgetting the little ones. It is never too early for us to teach children how to keep safe, and we believe that in the long run, this will help them develop the right attitude and behaviour on the road. Of course, with children being more internet-savvy, the perfect avenue to communicate this is online” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM.

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research reported that road accidents are the fourth common cause of death in Malaysia, and more than 1,500 children under the age of 10 died in road accidents from 2007 to 2017. Last year, Malaysia had the third highest fatality rate from road accidents in Asia, behind Thailand and Vietnam.

A follow-up campaign
Volkswagen first launched the ‘Buckle Up’ campaign in 2015 and partnered with the Association of Registered Child Care Providers Malaysia or PPBM to educate the general public on the importance of child passenger safety through training modules across 280 childcare centres nationwide.

Since then, Volkswagen has constantly communicated child safety through training modules to dealers at the Volkswagen Academy in Selangor, to customers and owners via dealership events, and on social media platforms.

The Volkswagen ‘Buckle Up’ campaign series is available on Volkswagen’s YouTube channel here. Parents are encouraged to subscribe to receive the latest updates and notifications when new episodes are added.

Volkswagen and Tarik Jeans collaborate to save the Malayan Tapir

How one car dealership is adapting its business to the ‘new normal’

Like most businesses around Malaysia, Atiara Johan Sdn Bhd had to suspend all operations from March 18, 2020 in accordance to the government’s Movement Control Order (MCO). The Proton dealership in Puchong, Selangor, was faced with an unusual business challenge where business could not be conducted for many weeks.

“The biggest challenge will be the temporary closure of the showroom and service centre which affects the overall performance for this year. However, I strongly believe that with the excellent products and services provided by Proton, and the strong team we have, we will be able to recover soon,” says Judith Yam, Managing Director of Atiara Johan.

Atiara Johan Proton dealership — *Judith Yam (front left) and her team at Atiara Johan Sdn Bhd.*

“Although we were unable to operate during the MCO period, it gave me sufficient amount of time to revise and improvise the sales and marketing strategies. For our sales advisors, they have been utilising social media as one of the platforms to expand their prospects. As for our service team, they have been managing and rescheduling customers’ service appointments and keeping them up to date,” she said.

“We prioritise the well-being of our employees, therefore we stay connected with our employees by communicating frequently through video conferences and messaging apps to make sure everyone is doing well,” Judith revealed.

Judith and her team conduct video conferences frequently to discuss business strategies and formulate marketing ideas. “We are prepared to get the business moving when the MCO is lifted later. The recovery on sales is still very much dependent on the condition of the market. Nevertheless, we will proceed with our revitalisation plan to expand our sales coverage and to attract potential customers by utilising online platforms,” she added.

Staying in touch with customers
Since the implementation of the MCO, Atiara Johan has been communicating with customers via online platforms and messaging apps, as well as keeping their Facebook page updated at all times. “Our customers are able to get the latest information from our Facebook page and we have been communicating with our customers for after sales service and updates on product information via messaging apps.

Develop a recovery plan
The chain reaction caused by the pandemic is clearly painful for many individuals and businesses. The majority of the businesses are facing the challenge of temporary closure that has led to revenue loss. Thus, Judith advises all business owners to develop a recovery plan and standard operating procedure for future reference.

“It is important to be always prepared, so we need to have a contingency plan in case of unexpected events,” she advised.

Like all Malaysians, Judith and her team are grateful to all frontliners who sacrifice their personal safety to safeguard the country and community. She also hopes all Malaysians will cooperate and obey the MCO regulations until our country is clear from COVID-19.

Click here for other news and articles about Proton.

TC Euro Cars offers a Renault Subscription 1-month Trial Plan for RM996

Hesitant about making a long-term commitment on a car purchase? It’s understandable in these challenging times and uncertainty about the future. But if you do need to have a car, TC Euro Cars (TCEC) is offering a new Renault Subscription 1-Month Trial Plan for RM996.

“The impact of the Movement Control Order and COVID-19 will continue for some time and we at TCEC are mindful that keeping costs manageable and staying safe will remain top priorities for many Malaysians,” said Wong Hoe Mun, CEO of TC Euro Cars.

“The new Renault Subscription 1-Month Trial Plan is a great option for those wanting shorter-term plans of less than one year but more than the one week offered through our 7-day trial plan, “Mr. Wong explained.

For a limited time, customers can save 35% more with the new trial plan and bookings made before May 18, 2020 will be ready before the Hari Raya period. The 1-Month Trial Plan expands on available Renault Subscription offerings and offers pre-owned Capturs that are no more than 2 years old and have passed thorough inspection to meet Renault’s quality and safety standards.

Interested customers do not need to pay a booking fee or security deposit and only make an up-front payment of RM996. The fee is inclusive of roadtax, insurance, regular servicing and unlimited mileage. For additional safety, all customers within the Klang Valley can also request for free door-to-door delivery.

More importantly, those who choose the Trial Plan can choose to utilise their subscription in 4 one-week blocks according to their needs, which makes it more convenient and affordable than taking the Renault Subscription 7-Day Trial Plan multiple times.

Thorough sanitisation and disinfection
TCEC has also launched the Renault Sanitisation Campaign for existing owners who service their vehicles at the Renault 4S Centre in Petaling Jaya. The campaign offers a complimentary sanitisation package with two additional top-up options.

The complimentary package covers sanitisation of high-touch contact points, fogging of the cabin and air-conditioner evaporator as well as disinfection to kill bacteria in the air and surfaces.

For an additional RM168, customers will benefit from further disinfection with fogging that penetrates deeper into the air-conditioner evaporator as well as 99% COVID-19 elimination. The second top-up option under the Renault Sanitisation Campaign offers additional odour elimination for RM228. From now until June 30, 2020, customers can enjoy a 20% introductory discount offer on either package (to be redeemed within 3 months from the purchase date).

Renault Sanitisation Ozone Treatment — *Ozone fogging is used during the sanitisation process.*

“This campaign is in line with the government’s call for a ‘new normal’ where sanitisation and disinfection is now paramount in keeping ourselves safe from COVID-19. With this Sanitisation Campaign, Renault customers can rest assured that their health and safety is protected when they send their vehicles in for servicing,” said Mr. Wong.