According to a report published by NST, the demand for rental cars during the Hari Raya holidays has surged significantly, with some rental companies reporting full bookings since the start of Ramadan.
Mohd Shuib Bahari, the manager of Subcar car rental service, revealed that their fleet of 20 multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) has been completely reserved, with customers booking for a minimum duration of at least one week.
The booked MPVs include popular models such as the Perodua Alza, Toyota Wish, Hyundai Starex, Toyota Alphard, and Toyota Vellfire.
During the Hari Raya season, customers typically prefer MPVs, especially those with large families, as they offer ample seating capacity and storage space for long-distance travel. Mohd Shuib expressed gratitude for the encouraging response from customers.
Regarding pricing, Mohd Shuib explained that rental rates vary depending on the type of vehicle. For instance, the daily rental fee is RM200 for the Perodua Alza, RM450 for the Hyundai Starex, and between RM700 to RM800 for the Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire. However, prices may increase for last-minute bookings, with rates ranging from RM250 to RM350 per day for the Perodua Alza.
He observed that most customers booking rental cars are those returning to celebrate Hari Raya in the east coast and northern regions, reflecting the seasonal nature of the demand.
Social media can be an incredibly toxic place, but it also has its benefits. Facebook user JC Jess found the power of social media when she uploaded a video complaining about her car on April 6th.
The video, which has since received 1.4 million views, 13,000 likes and 49 comments, is about her experience with her Chery Omoda.
The caption is in Chinese (Mandarin we assume) and according to Google Translate says, “Never buy a Chery Omoda. My car is just over two months old and I have already gone to the service centre several times because of the brakes. I just came out of the service centre and suddenly there are no brakes on the highway!! This almost took my life!!”
From the post, it seems like the issue has been lingering and the service centre simply brushed it away. The video that she posted can be seen below:
Chery Malaysia was quick to respond though, and the company issued a press statement on Sunday afternoon clarifying that they have already been in touch with the complainant to resolve the issue. To ensure her safety, a courtesy car was offered while they looked into her car.
The complete statement from Chery Malaysia can be seen below:
Some comments on social media are chiding the company for reacting only when the issue became viral. However, it is important to note that customers only deal with the dealerships and service managers, who sometimes brush things under the carpet.
Occasionally, the distributor, which in this case is Chery Malaysia, will be informed, which does not seem to be the case here.
Chery Malaysia should be commended for reacting to the problem as quickly as they did, practically racing to resolving the issue.
As for what happened to the car, we are yet to find out as there is no further information. But this issue does bring to light that Malaysia badly needs “Lemon Laws” to protect consumers in the event of such issues. Here’s what a Minister had to say about the proposed law.
It is also important to take note that any vehicle that is mass produced is susceptible to problems. Out of 100 cars that are produced, manufacturers have an acceptable error rate, which can be as high as 3 out of every 100, or even as low as 1 out of every 1,000,000. So such things do happen, so it up to the car maker to fix it and fix it fast. In this case, Chery Malaysia should be commended.
Has It Happened Before?
Not in Malaysia but it has unfortunately happened before. We picked up on reports from Australia dating back to February of this year where a total of 5,901 cars were found to have defective brakes, resulting in a mass recall. The recall involved the Omoda 5 but it is important to note that not all Omoda 5’s sold were affected. The issue involved a brake fluid leak resulting from a screw that was not fastened properly. We are not sure if the Australian cars are the same as Malaysian ones, but since both drive on the same side of the road, they are unlikely to differ mechanically but perhaps some features might be different. You can read the full Australian recall involving the Omoda 5 here.
Have you ever wondered what people mean when they say that a car is nice to drive? What do they mean by that? How is it nice and what makes it nice?
To this writer, a car that is described as nice to drive could mean that the suspension is smooth, and you glide over anything without noticing much. It also could mean that the seats are soft, and you sink into them, and the comfort levels is better than most other cars, making the car nice to drive.
It could also mean big power. A big mighty V8 engine will always make a car nicer to drive than one than runs on a puny three-cylinder engine that huffs and puffs on its way to the top.
Handling though, is one part where most people miss out. To appreciate handling, there needs to be a prerequisite – you should have driven some crappy cars that handle like wooden tanks to be able to appreciate one that handles like it were on rails. Or vice versa. How else will you know that a car handles well?
The term “nice car” is often used with SUV’s, which is unsurprising since they are big, spacious, and more often than not, quite comfortable. It is difficult to get the recipe wrong for an SUV, but it sometimes happens.
This article though is about one of the nicest SUVs to come out of Japan in recent times – the Mazda CX-5.
It is not very spacious though, as families with growing children will fast realise their kids will be kicking the front seats in a matter of months. Space is one of the biggest prerequisites that defines a nice SUV, and unfortunately the CX-5 runs out of it quite fast.
The model you see on these pages is the latest CX-5 that was launched in Malaysia in February of this year. Specifically, it is the 2.5G High variant, and it sits just below the flagship – the 2.5G Turbo.
It took about two years for Bermaz Auto, the assembler and distributor of Mazda cars in Malaysia, to offer the updated version of the CX-5 after its global launch.
Priced from RM173,400, the 2.5G High is the fun-loving, thinking man’s choice. It’s 2.5-litre, naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder engine is not as powerful as the flagship, but still has quite to offer with 192hp and 258Nm of torque. The flagship and its turbocharged engine offer 228hp and 420Nm of torque, but because it runs on an all-wheel-drive powertrain, it seemingly has an unquenchable thirst for petrol.
The regular 2.5G High though has some impressive fuel efficiency. In fact, it is possible to travel well over 700km when it’s 56-litre tank is full, a distance that will make Turbo owners re-consider their purchase.
Visually, the new CX-5 can be distinguished by its new headlights with LED daytime running lights, LED taillamps, new 19-inch wheels and a new grille design.
Inside, it is business as usual, but there are some important updates. The front seats have been updated and are now ventilated, a much-welcomed feature to deal with our torrid Malaysian weather.
The other update is the wireless Apple Carplay while Android Auto users will still need to rely on a cable. The new CX-5 also gets a wireless charge pad.
Depending on how much you love to drive and how much control you like over your car, the new CX-5 also gets shifter pedals, which is great for those who like to indulge in the performance aspect of their car. All but the entry level model get this addition, and it lets you have better control over the power delivery of the car.
Besides that, everything about the interior of the new CX-5 is the same as the old. Placement of buttons and overall design is the same, and quality is still great. The CX-5 does not feel cheap inside, in fact, it is well thought out.
So, if the updates are few, what makes the CX-5 such a nice car then? A Mazda is a car that not only looks good, but it needs to be driven to appreciate that famous Mazda experience.
Just like every other manufacturer, Mazda spent a lot of time in ensuring that its cars were comfortable to drive, felt good, had all the latest safety tech and were easy on the eye.
But Mazda took it a step further by incorporating a tech that no other SUV in its category has, called the Mazda G-Vectoring Control Plus, or otherwise known as GVC Plus.
This simple but brilliant tech works by regulating engine torque and braking to provide effortless and seamless control over the car.
GVC Plus is basically a software algorithm that works by tying together the power steering control computer and the engine control computer.
Through super-fast calculations that is beyond what humans can feel, the software reduces engine power when the driver starts to turn the steering wheel during the entry of a corner.
This then moves the weight of the car forward very quickly and forces the front tyres to respond to the driver’s input more directly, making the car feel more obliging and consistent with minimal steering movement.
But that is only part of the story. The GVC Plus feature also works during the exit of a corner. To do this, the system applies a tiny amount of brake pressure to the outside front tyre of the car. So, if the car is turning left, very little brake pressure is applied to the front right tyre of the car. This helps to straighten the car during exit, which inadvertently makes the car feel more agile during entry and exit.
This also means that passengers get a more comfortable ride quality because the driver drives more smoothly and makes fewer steering inputs. Mazda says this also helps with reducing fatigue as the driver does not have to work the steering wheel as much.
This is all part of Mazda’s Jinba-Ittai concept, which translates to horse and rider as one. In this context, it basically means that driving Mazda cars should feel completely natural and intuitive where the car responds to the driver as it if was part of our own body.
The feeling that you ultimately get when you are behind the wheel of a Mazda is different from any other Japanese SUV. You don’t expect the Mazda to feel so good and effortless. The naturally-aspirated engine has a metallic rasp to it that frankly, sounds really good, better in fact than the whooshing sound of its turbocharged sibling. And this sometimes coxes you to get on the accelerator pedal just to indulge in that sound.
And if you are into tech, the new CX-5 might impress you again with the newly added adaptive cruise control and adaptive front-lighting system that automatically illuminates dark areas and sign boards. That is not to mention the armada of safety tech that includes an impressive ADAS suite.
This then brings us back to the original question then, what do people mean when they say that a car is nice? Nice is undeniably subjective and what is nice to one person may not be so for another, but the next time someone says that a Mazda CX-5 is nice to drive, believe them.
Specifications:
Engine: 2.5-litre, naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC
Power: 192hp @ 6000rpm
Torque: 420Nm @ 2000rpm
Transmission: SKYACTIV DRIVE 6 speed automatic with manual paddle shifters
Suspension: MacPherson Struts (Front) Multi-link (Rear)
Price (as tested): RM178,260.40 (On the road without insurance with Premium paint)
We like: Driving experience, efficiency, comfort
We don’t like: Can feel small after a while
In a significant move that provides stability for growth and capturing of market share, Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (Pro-Net), a wholly owned subsidiary of Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd, has announced that it has obtained RM200 million in financing from CIMB Bank Berhad.
The funds are for its green mobility initiative and the importation and distribution of the smart #1 EV for the Malaysian market.
PRO-NET is the exclusive authorised importer and distributor for smart vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand, particularly the smart #1 for now with more models in the pipeline.
With a comprehensive ecosystem spanning 13 dealer locations, aftersales services, as well as a user-friendly digital app known as ‘Hello smart’ to provide access to over 70% of the public charging network, PRO-NET offers a holistic electric mobility solution together with the reassurance of a robust customer service plan.
The company is also charged with fulfilling national carmaker PROTON’s commitment to its electric vehicle agenda and is set to play a pivotal role as it leads the transition towards the production of New Energy Vehicles (NEV) and the development of the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim.
CIMB on the other hand provides an array of solutions for the consumer EV segment with the introduction of its comprehensive suite of EV financial solutions to drive the adoption of EVs and support the shift towards sustainable mobility across ASEAN. These include preferential auto financing rates, insurance protection and a range of other exclusive privileges, facilitating consumer needs across every aspect of owning an EV.
After enjoying a bull run, sales for UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) seems to have stabilised as the company ended March 2204 with total sales of 9,688 units for Toyota and Lexus models combined. This comprises 9,471 units for Toyota and 217 units for Lexus and a total year-to-date sales as of March 2024 of 23,444.
This figure is down from the 25,219 units sold in the same period of 2023, which can be attributed to the rush to register cars before the SST exemption expired, and perhaps even the pent up demand from the post pandemic era.
UMW Toyota (UMWT) does not reveal sales by model so there is no telling which model took the lead in sales.
Complementing that is the new Toyota HiAce Super Long Wheelbase (SLWB), which boasts significant size enhancements for increased interior space, offering unparalleled comfort for passengers and cargo. Equipped with a powerful 2.7-litre turbo-diesel engine, the HiAce SLWB promises robust performance with 177 PS and 450 Nm of torque.
It has been almost a year since Proton DX, the country’s first automotive digital centre that houses a blend of interactive technology, leisure and lifestyle elements, was launched.
With an aim to be the centre for automotive and technological learning for all ages, Proton DX also wants to spark interest in STEM learning among the younger generation.
STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, is considered an important aspect in human capital development for Malaysia, and recently received an allocation of RM100 million in the 2024 budget for the empowerment of STEM. The budget is for the maintenance and upgrading of existing facilities and the purchase of equipment.
To cultivate interest and foster understanding of STEM, Proton DX, an ACO Tech development in collaboration with Proton and China Construction Bank (CCB), announced its availability as a community engagement platform for STEM exploration.
The centre hosts a monthly Student Robotic Car Workshop targeting secondary school students. At the workshop, students learn the basics of assembling and programming their own mini autonomous vehicle using an Arduino platform.
Over 50 Malaysian youths across the Klang Valley, including a group of 20 students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, have participated in the workshop. Students who complete this workshop receive a certificate and goodie bag.
ACO Tech is targeting to engage with at least 200 Malaysian youths through this workshop and other upcoming STEM activities by the end of 2024.
In order to maximise the facilities on offer, Proton DX is also actively welcoming collaborations from local companies in search of a platform to conduct events and workshops promoting STEM awareness and education among Malaysian youths. Activities that can foster unity among local communities are also welcome.
PROTON DX also welcomes visitors of all ages to visit the centre. Visitors get to learn about ACO Tech’s technologies and products, and experience engaging activities available in Proton DX such as the Virtual Cockpit, a virtual drive in a purpose- built enclosed theatre-like dome to experience smart mobility. Proton DX is also able to model a bespoke virtual cockpit experience for partners at trade shows such as E-Mobility Asia.
Proton DX has a carefully laid out floor plan that allows it to be a space for community engagements such as networking sessions and barista classes by Proton DX’s very own certified barista.
The centre, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, has a space spanning over 5,000 square feet that can fit around 40 guests comfortably at any given time, including a private VIP lounge equipped with an 86-inch TV for meetings.
The centre opens daily from 10:00AM to 10:00PM and is located at Ground Floor, Quill City Mall, 1018, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
For collaborative events, schools, universities, local businesses, and potential partners can reach out via protondx@acotech.my or its Facebook or Instagram pages.
