Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has announced a significant increase in rental rates for the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, effective April 1. The FIA grade one circuit, renowned for hosting events like the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, will witness rental hikes of up to 45%, emphasising the circuit’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards.
As reported by NST, under the new rate card, weekday day sessions will experience a 27% increase, rising from RM55,000 to RM70,000. Weekend rates for day sessions will see a 32% hike, moving from RM60,500 to RM80,000. Night sessions during weekdays will undergo a 41% increase, from RM55,000 to RM78,000, while weekend night sessions will face the highest surge at 45%, climbing from RM60,500 to RM88,000.
These rates include technical and medical officials, ambulance and fire car services, cleaners, security personnel, and access to relevant facilities. SIC CEO Azhan Shafriman Hanif highlighted that the price adjustment aims to ensure the continued operation of the circuit at the highest standards, supporting ongoing improvements for an enhanced customer experience.
The decision to raise rental rates comes after careful consideration of increasing operational and maintenance costs. SIC emphasises its commitment to facilitating a smooth transition for clients and stakeholders, providing advance notice for transparency and preparation. This adjustment marks the first increase in rental prices since 2013, reflecting the circuit’s dedication to sustaining quality facilities and services in the highly competitive racing environment.
NexV Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Careplus Group Berhad and GoAuto Group Sdn Bhd, is set to pioneer Malaysia’s first green technology facility dedicated to the manufacture and assembling of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), including electric vehicles (EVs). The groundbreaking ceremony, officiated by Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar YAB Dato’ Seri Haji Aminuddin bin Harun in the Chembong Industrial Area, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, marks a significant step toward creating employment opportunities and driving investments in the region.
Scheduled to commence operations in Q1 2025, the plant will boast an annual capacity of 30,000 vehicles. A key highlight is the assembly of NETA models through the joint venture between Careplus and Intro Synergy Sdn Bhd, a GoAuto subsidiary. However, the plant won’t be limited to NETA vehicles; it will also offer opportunities for other New Energy Vehicle (NEV) brands interested in Completely Knocked Down (CKD) assembly of passenger and commercial EVs or electric motorcycles.
Japanese state-owned company, including East Japan Railway Co, have reportedly abandoned their plans to participate in the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project, citing concerns about financial risks without support from the Malaysian government.
The company had initially intended to use the Japanese Shinkansen bullet train system for the project. This decision is seen as an opportunity for Chinese firms to strengthen their presence in East Asian infrastructure projects, especially after their involvement in completing a high-speed rail project in Indonesia in 2023, with another project ongoing in Thailand.
According to sources, with the Japanese company’s withdrawal, local firms are now considering partnerships with Chinese and European companies to submit bids for the KL-Singapore HSR project. The Request for Information (RFI) process initiated by MyHSR Corporation Sdn Bhd to allow private sector proposals for the HSR project has extended its deadline to January 15, 2024.
The Malaysian government aims to re-implement the project through new financing mechanisms and implementation models to enhance rail transport infrastructure and stimulate the country’s economy.
The KL-Singapore HSR project, initially estimated at approximately RM110 billion, was terminated on January 1, 2021, as both Malaysia and Singapore failed to reach an agreement on proposed changes before the project agreement’s expiration on December 31, 2020. The termination led to Malaysia agreeing to pay SG$102.8 million to Singapore for the costs incurred during the HSR project development and related extension delays.
A video of a frustrated local resident taking matters into his own hands to address potholes in Taman Sentosa, Klang, has gone viral, drawing attention to the ongoing road condition issues in the area. In the 30-second video, the man can be seen painting over a recently tarred section of Jalan Hulubalang, expressing his dissatisfaction with the lack of action from the elected representative.
The video, posted by @NaratifRakyat two days ago on social media platform X, has garnered 264,000 views, sparking supportive comments from netizens praising the man’s initiative. Many residents shared their experiences of motorcyclists falling due to the poor road conditions.
The resident, frustrated with the unaddressed potholes, took it upon himself to use his own funds to fix the road, highlighting the urgency of the matter. In the video, he emphasises that the money used is from the public, not the elected representatives, to prevent any unwarranted claims.
@NaratifRakyat, who uploaded the video, pointed out that despite previous complaints to the local representative, no action was taken to repair the potholed road. The video prompted a discussion on the effectiveness of the local government in addressing residents’ concerns.
A fire that broke out on December 31 at an Electric Vehicle Charging Systems (EVCS) bay in Johor has prompted an investigation by the Energy Commission (ST), revealing that the company operating the EVCS was operating without the required licence.
The Energy Commission emphasised that according to the Electricity Supply Act 1990 (Act 447) and the Electricity Regulations 1994, any entity involved in energy supply activities must obtain a valid licence from the Energy Commission.
The incident occurred at a car showroom in Tampoi, Johor, where a Mercedes Benz EQB model caught fire while charging. As stated by reports, the fire caused significant damage, destroying approximately five per cent of the premises and 20 per cent of the EVCS bay. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
In response to the unlicensed operation, the Energy Commission stated that the responsible party and the company would be called to assist in the investigation. The commission aims to determine the true cause of the incident.
This revelation follows the commission’s earlier proposal, reported on December 16, 2022, urging Charging Point Operators involved in the development of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure to obtain a valid public distribution licence for EVCS installations. The directive applied to installations across the country, including those already in operation, with a deadline set for March 31 of the following year.
The investigation sheds light on the importance of adhering to regulatory frameworks to ensure the safety and reliability of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Energy Commission remains committed to upholding standards in the rapidly growing electric vehicle industry in Malaysia.
Honda Malaysia introduced the highly-anticipated all-new CRV at the end of 2023, and it created quite a stir.
The all-new CRV is better in every sense of the word – bigger, more intelligent, better looking and safer than ever.
However, during the launch last year, Honda Malaysia only introduced three variants:
1. The V variant
This sits below the flagship model and is priced at RM181,900.
2. The E variant
This is the mid spec model is priced at RM169,900.
3. The S variant
This is the entry level model that is priced at RM159,900.
The one model that was missing during the launch was the model that everyone was looking forward to, the e:HEV RS.
Honda Malaysia said that it will announce the price of the e:HEV RS in early 2024, and now the time has come.
The highly-anticipated e:HEV RS model is priced at RM195,900, which is a shockingly good price for a car that many expected to cost upwards of RM210,000.
You also get quite a lot for the price.
The all-new CRV e:HEV RS is powered by a 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain that makes 184PS and 335Nm of torque.
It sends power to the front wheels through a e-CVT transmission, but that is just Honda speak for “there’s no transmission in the traditional sense and power is sent directly to the motors”.
In terms of aesthetics, the all-new CRV is quite a looker, especially in this RS trim.
The LED headlights and tail-lights are to be expected and are complemented by LED sequential turn signals at the front, and active cornering lights that illuminate blind spots when cornering.
Inside, it is completely unrecognisable as a CRV but stays in line with the current Honda design language. The dashboard, placement of buttons and even the steering wheel is similar to the Honda Civic.
A nine-inch infotainment screen dominates the centre of the dash and gives you access to Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And for the first time for a Honda in Malaysia, music is played back to the cabin via a 12-speaker Bose sound system, which is only available in the flagship e:HEV RS model.
The driver also enjoys a eight-way powered seat with memory function, head-up display, a wireless charger, two USB ports in the front and rear while the rear passengers can get comfortable with ample legroom and sliding seats that can recline with eight different angles.
Safety is of course the name of the game for any family mover and the CRV e:HEV RS delivers in this aspect as well. The comprehensive safety package includes eight airbags with two knee airbags, a 360-degree camera, Honda LaneWatch and Honda Connect.
The new CRV e:HEV RS also boasts nine Honda Sensing functions including Adaptive Driving Beam.
And being well-adapted for families, the all-new Honda CRV also offers great practicality with a class-leading 598-litres boot capacity. There is also a hands-free powered tailgate with Walkaway Close function, which basically means you can simply walk away from the car, and as long as the key is with you, the tail-gate will close automatically.
We drove the all-new Honda CRV e:HEV RS in Thailand before its launch and were particularly impressed with how smooth it was. We later found out that this was down to new body stabilising seats that are more comfortable than ever, and the new CRV also has wheel resonators that practically munch all vibrations before they reach the cabin, giving you an impressively smooth ride.
Chery Auto Malaysia is on a roll ever since it announced its re-entry into the Malaysian market in 2022. Since then it has been aggressively opening dealerships, service centres and introducing new models.
Chery Auto Malaysia’s Vice President, Lee Wen Hsiang, said in a recent media briefing that the company delivered more than 4,500 cars in 2023.
The company has also conducted a sales satisfaction survey from more than 1000 customers who had given the brand an exceptionally high score of 94 over 100.
Lee also pointed out that although Chery faced some initial comments upon its re-introduction, the brand is steadfast in prioritising customer issues.
Besides that, Chery Auto Malaysia is also committed to an aggressive nationwide expansion.
The brand currently has 32 outlets in operation across Malaysia with a workforce of 550 personnel. However by the end of 2024, Chery wants to increase its presence to at least 48 outlets with a 70% increase in its 3S and 4S outlets.
In terms of products, Chery has confirmed that the Omoda E5 will be introduced by the end of quarter one of 2024, but it also confirmed that the Tiggo 7 Pro will be introduced this year as well.
The C-segment SUV will compete against the Proton X70 and is powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and makes a healthy 197hp and 290Nm of torque.
The Tiggo 7 Pro will come equipped with an ADAS suite, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, eight-speaker Sony sound system, a 540-degree camera, and a massive 24.6-inch dual screen.
The final feather in Chery’s cap as far as the Tiggo 7 Pro is concerned is that the SUV is expected to be locally assembled and its pricing is expected to be very close to the X70.
According to a recent post on the Proton S70 owners group on Facebook, the waiting period for the delivery of the S70 model now takes between two to three months.
The best-selling variant for this model is the S70 Flagship, while the body color with the highest orders is Marine Blue. Therefore, customers who have ordered this variant and body color need to wait for about three months from the date the hire-purchase loan is approved.
The Proton S70 was officially launched at the end of November last year. This segment-C sedan model comes with four variant options, starting at a price of RM73,800.
Last month, Proton announced that S70 orders were reaching 900 units per week, totaling more than 3,000 units. The delivery of this sedan model will commence this month, with 109 units registered last year.
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has kicked off its Chinese New Year campaign, featuring a range of enticing deals across its entire model lineup. Running until the 29th of February, the campaign presents substantial savings of up to RM18,888 on various Volkswagen models, including the Golf GTI, Tiguan Allspace range, and the Arteon R-Line.
Here are the details of the savings offered during the campaign:
Tiguan Allspace Life (IQ.Drive): RM2,888 savings, priced at RM174,102
Tiguan Allspace Elegance (IQ.Drive): RM8,888 savings, priced at RM197,102
Tiguan Allspace R-Line (IQ.Drive): RM8,888 savings, priced at RM250,102
Arteon R-Line (IQ.Drive): RM18,888 savings, priced at RM281,102
Golf GTI (IQ.Drive): RM3,888 savings, priced at RM249,102
As part of the campaign, Volkswagen is offering a comprehensive ownership package for all its models. This includes 5 years of free maintenance, a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, and 5 years of roadside assistance. The Chinese New Year campaign not only brings exclusive savings but also enhances the overall ownership experience for Volkswagen customers.
In a remarkable turnout, more than 3,400 runners participated in the inaugural Chery Eco Run 2024, themed ‘A New Journey To A New Green Life.’ The fun run event kicked off at Dataran Wawasan in Putrajaya and featured two categories: the 5KM and a more challenging 10KM category for seasoned runners.
YB Senator Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), flagged off the 10km category runners alongside Chery Malaysia President Leo Chen. Notably, Tengku Zafrul actively participated in the run. The 5km category runners were flagged off by MITI Secretary-General Dato’ Hairil Yahri Yaacob.
Chery Malaysia President Leo Chen highlighted the significance of the Chery Eco Run, stating, “Chery Eco Run serves as a significant stepping stone for us as we stride towards a future where electric vehicles and green technology seamlessly integrate with today’s active lifestyle, fostering a healthier living environment.”
