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Proton Hits 3 Record Highs In January 2019, February Promo Announced [+Video]

PROTON has kicked-off 2019 on a high note as total registrations climbed to 7,007 units for January 2019. The 3 highs include:

– Sales growth rate highest among Top-3 automotive brands
– Proton X70 breaks single month registration record for C-segment SUVs
– 74 3S/4S outlets now open to support SSI and CSI targets

The estimated market share is 14.5%, though the final figure will only be confirmed following the publication of industry sales data by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

Following its launch on 12 December 2018, deliveries of the Proton X70 have gathered pace as more units of PROTON’s first SUV become available. Having set a Malaysia market record for most registrations by an SUV in its launch month, the trend continued in the new year with 2,777 units registered in January 2019. The amount means the Proton X70 has set a new record for the most C-segment SUV registrations in a single calendar month.

Here’s our video of the new Proton X70 during the official media drive:

The large number of SUVs registered were instrumental in PROTON posting impressive sales growth figures. Compared to the previous month sales increased by 33.6% while year-on-year, the figure represents a 46.5% growth over January 2018, easily making PROTON the market leader in growth rate for the Top-3 automotive brands.

Another area where the Company leads the industry is in the number of 3S/4S facilities in its network. There are currently 74 PROTON 3S/4S outlets and dealers in operation as at the end of the month with more set to open throughout the year. Together they will assist PROTON in achieving their Sales Service Index (SSI) and Customer Service Index (CSI) target scores.

“PROTON is thankful to be able to start 2019 on a positive note. We already knew we would end the month with the most 3S/4S outlets in the industry but the market leading sales growth rate figure and the record setting number of SUV registrations is due to the humbling support we have received from Malaysian car buyers. There is still a long way to go for the brand to fully recover but we will strive to continue to deliver a premium experience at our outlets while improving our model offerings,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON (above).

For the month of February, PROTON is looking to maintain its sales momentum by running an Ang Pow promotion. Buyers of Proton vehicles are eligible for savings worth up to RM4,000 dependant on the model they choose.

“In conjunction with Chinese New Year, PROTON would like to continue to reward its customers with extra incentives for buying a brand new Proton car. The Company would also like to wish all Malaysians a Happy Chinese New Year and remind them to drive safely during the festive period,” added Dr Li.

Mazda Celebrates 30-Years Of The Iconic MX-5 With Special Edition, Malaysia To Get All-New CX-8 Soon!

Bermaz Mazda recently previewed an all-new CX-8 SUV at its headquarters in Glenmarie, and while the units on display were pre-production ones from Japan, it closely resembles the eventual model to be sold here in the near future. A likely choice of 2 powertrains will be offered, a 2.5 Petrol and 2.2 Turbodiesel, both with varied seating arrangements including a 2+2+2 six-seater.

Aimed to sit squarely between the CX-5 and gargantuan CX-9, on-the-road prices are far from established so stay tuned to Piston.my!

In the meantime, our friends at AutoExpress (<–link) have revealed yet another special edition MX-5 from Mazda, which was revealed at this year’s Chicago Auto Show, marking 30 years of the popular roadster. Only 3,000 examples of this celebratory model will be sold worldwide, with production being divided between soft-top and convertible hard-top ‘RF’ body styles.

“The MX-5 Anniversary Edition is finished in an exclusive ‘Racing orange’ paint colour and features forged aluminium wheels (commissioned by specialists RAYS), Brembo front brakes with calipers finished in orange, Bilstein dampers and a host of numbered “30th Anniversary Edition” badges…” – AutoExpress.

Inside, this limited edition MX-5 gets orange accents and Alcantara swathing around the cabin, dashboard and gear stick, Recaro seats, a nine-speaker Bose sound system and support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

This new model’s debut follows in the footsteps of the original MX-5, which was also revealed at the Chicago Auto Show back in 1989. Since its conception, the MX-5 has sold more than 1 million units worldwide, over 130,000 of which have found UK homes.

Mazda CX-8 & MX-5 Photo Gallery (MX-5 photos courtesy of AutoExpress UK)

Lucky Caltex Customers Fly Away With Awesome Holiday Packages Worth RM 125,000!

Chevron Malaysia Limited, which markets the brand Caltex®, recently concluded its “Awesome Holiday Package” campaign in conjunction with the final episode of its sponsored reality TV show, Celebrity Car Wars Season 3. The show saw popular Malaysian celebrity Dato’ Hans Isaac driving home as the champion, who was recently announced as Chevron’s partner.

Five lucky persons were awarded all-expenses paid trips to Japan, China, Australia, Istanbul and Dubai for spending a minimum of RM40 at Caltex service stations. The lucky winners were Sia Lee Ping, Amiruzairie Bin Roskushairi, Mohamad Nazlishah Bin Othman, Nurhanani Binti A Rasid @ Ab. Durasid and Daniel Khaw Tze Ming.

“On behalf of the team at Chevron, I want to congratulate the line-up of winners and thank them for their support. Chevron is committed towards ensuring the quality of our customers’ journeys and this campaign is to reward them for their never-ending loyalty towards the Caltex® brand. We hope to continuously engage and reward our customers in the near future so stay tuned to our social media for updates on other exciting activities,” said Shahid Ahmed, Chevron Malaysia Country Chairman.

“The “Awesome Holiday Package” campaign caught my attention; it stood out from the rest of the contests because I have been a Caltex® user and decided to try my luck while I was fuelling up one day. Winning an all-expenses paid trip as the grand prize was definitely something I appreciate being rewarded for as a loyal customer,” commented Nurhanani Binti A Rasid @ Ab. Durasid, one of the winners.

“Caltex has definitely made my journey a truly memorable one. Since I started driving, Caltex has been my fuel of choice. Its commitment to providing convenience to consumers is an assurance to me when it comes to choosing fuel for my vehicle,” she added.

Throughout the “Awesome Holiday Package” campaign period, in addition to the all-expenses paid trips to great locations, Caltex customers also walked away with cash prizes and more.

More! Caltex announces Spend & Sweep Promotion…

Maintaining the positive relationship with its customers, Chevron also announced its latest exciting initiative – the “Spend & Sweep” promo campaign, in partnership with local hypermarket chain MYDIN.

Shahid added, “Due to the positive and encouraging response we had for the “Awesome Holiday Package” campaign, we partnered up with MYDIN to give our customers a reason to start 2019 on a happy note.”

From now until 15^th March 2019, Caltex customers stand a chance to be one of the lucky 35 customers to win a shopping spree at MYDIN worth RM 3,000 when they Spend RM30.00 and above in a single receipt on fuel purchases (RON97, RON95 & Diesel) at any Caltex Stations with Caltex JOURNEY™ Card and B Infinite Card, which is equivalent to 1 entry; and/or Spend RM30.00 and above in a single receipt on any purchases at any MYDIN outlets, which is equivalent to 1 entry; and/or* Combine both receipts from Caltex and MYDIN, which brings a bonus entry (i.e. a total of 3 entries).*

Just like how Caltex speeds through challenges, participants will only be given three (3) minutes to grab as many items as they can if selected as a winner for the shopping sweep.

Caltex is calling out to all Malaysians to stand a chance to grab the highest amount in just 180 seconds by heading over to the nearest Caltex service station and/or MYDIN outlet to take part now! To ensure no one is left behind, Caltex will be organizing the sweep once a month up until March 2019, with the first session to be held in MYDIN Bukit Mertajam, the second session in MYDIN Gong Badak and the final session to be held in MYDIN USJ!

For more information on the Caltex® Spend & Sweep Promotion, please visit www.caltex.com/my or follow their official Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/Caltex.Malaysia/ for the latest updates.

BMW Product Geniuses Deliver Personalised Customer Care To BMW Owners

BMW Malaysia has introduced the BMW Product Genius Programme for the first time in the country, with seven BMW Product Geniuses having been trained and deployed successfully to three dealerships in Klang Valley.

Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director for BMW Group Malaysia said: “Conventionally, stepping into a car dealership can be an intimidating experience for customers, as they may feel pressured into making purchasing decisions before being allowed to familiarise themselves fully with the products. With this in mind, our BMW Product Geniuses are on hand to provide customers with a pressure-free experience. From these highly personalised interactions, we aim for customers to derive Sheer Driving Pleasure from the very beginning of their BMW Ownership Experience.”

BMW Product Geniuses are meticulously selected and trained within select dealerships under the close guidance of BMW Malaysia, before qualifying as BMW product and brand experts. Their role complements that of a Sales Advisor, as they are focused on acquainting customers with every aspect of the BMW vehicle portfolio, from conducting needs analyses, product presentations to facilitating test drives.

“In addition to being a friendly face, the Product Genius is equipped with the expertise to explain and demonstrate the use of each feature and function of a BMW vehicle, and offer insights on product benefits suited to a particular customer’s specific needs. Overall, BMW Product Geniuses occupy a key role as neutral customer consultants, ambassadors for the brand, and knowledge touchpoints within the dealership,” added Hoelzl.

In the pilot programme last year, the first batch of BMW Product Geniuses were successfully trained and deployed in early December to three dealerships in Klang Valley: Auto Bavaria Kuala Lumpur, Auto Bavaria Glenmarie, and Ingress Auto Damansara.

BLACKPINK All Set for ‘In Your Area’ Kuala Lumpur – Their First Malaysian Tour Presented by KIA!

Attention to all BLINKs in Malaysia: BLACKPINK is finally ‘In Your Area’ where Kuala Lumpur will play host this weekend of 23^rd and 24^th February 2019 to the revolutionary Korean super girl group’s concert! The 2-day concerts are presented by KIA Motors, who announced the partnership with BLACKPINK for their 2019 World Tour earlier this month sending the K-Pop scene in Malaysia abuzz.

Kia Malaysia will also be showcasing a booth at the concert grounds where BLINKs can stand a chance to win exclusive BLACKPINK autographed CDs! All you need to do is show off your best BLACKPINK-inspired dance choreography or carpool karaoke skill to your favourite BLACKPINK songs, and post a video or photo of it on Facebook or Instagram with the official hashtag #MovewithKiaMalaysia to be noticed*! So BLINKs, only a limited few BLACKPINK autographed CDs are up for grabs – are you ready to practise your moves As If It’s Your Last and party like you’re Forever Young?

Malaysia’s own Alvin Chong is also set to make an appearance at the Kia booth on Sunday, 24^th February 2019 from 3:00pm onwards before BLACKPINK’s performance starts. Fans attending the concert will get the opportunity to meet Alvin Chong in person for a photo or two. The partnership between Kia Motors Corporation and BLACKPINK marks the first of many K-pop collaborations to be announced in 2019 by the Korean automotive manufacturer aimed at establishing a closer connection to the younger generation through a new K-Pop-inspired outreach campaign. Follow @kia_onbeat Instagram account to be the first to hear about collaborative content between Kia and K-pop artists.

BLACKPINK 2019 World Tour [IN YOUR AREA] Kuala Lumpur will be held on 23^rd and 24^th February 2019 at Malawati Indoor Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.

SDAC Announces Ford Ranger “Explore & Experience” Roadshow With Great Deals & Fun Family Activities For The Weekend

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), the sole distributor of Ford in Malaysia, has announced the ‘Ford Ranger Explore & Experience Roadshow’ which will run in February until March.

Held at participating Ford showrooms, visitors will be able to explore and experience the Ranger’s smart and safe technologies which has helped the Ranger continue to set industry benchmarks and win multiple accolades, such as being awarded Pickup Truck of the Year in 2018. Opportunity on exciting promotions on selected Ford models will also be made available.

The roadshow also comprises various family-friendly activities such as plinko, rubber duck and a kids colouring corner to keep children entertained. Those who perform a test drive during the roadshow will stand a chance to enter the Ford wind tunnel to win attractive and exclusive Ford merchandise.

Available in Malaysia in nine variants – including the high-speed, off-road performance Ranger Raptor, the high-series Ranger Wildtrak, XLT+, XLT and XL, the line-up features Ford’s latest generation 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine which is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission on selected variants to deliver incredible performance, unchallenged responsiveness and improved fuel efficiency.

Dates and locations of the ‘Ford Ranger Explore & Experience Roadshow’ are as follows:

Dates	Location

22-23 February 2019	Tesco Kota Bharu
9-10 March 2019	Auto Lumina Showroom Lot 51699, Jalan Persisiran Perling 2, Bukit Indah 81200 Johor Bahru
22-23 March 2019	SDAC Juru Showroom 1679-G2, Highway Auto City, North – South Highway Juru Interchange, 13600 Prai, Penang