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Volvo Car Malaysia Marks Decade-Long Re-Entry Into Sarawak With New 3S Centre @ Kuching

Volvo Car Malaysia, together with its appointed dealer, Fotroende Automobile, marked a decade-long re-entry into Sarawak with the grand opening of Volvo Kuching – a full-fledged 3S centre (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts) prominently located along Jalan Tun Jugah in Kuching. The launch ceremony was officiated by the Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, Mr Lennart Stegland who impressed on the importance of Sarawak for the future growth of the brand said “Sarawak’s potential in the premium car market cannot be understated. It is vital that we regain a foothold in Kuching before expanding into other cities within the state. We have worked hard to ensure that the brand is represented by competent and passionate dealer partners that will serve our customers well.”

Like all Volvo dealerships, Volvo Kuching will adhere to the latest showroom and service standards which Volvo terms “Volvo Retail Experience” or VRE – a customer-centric, Scandinavian-inspired experience that is cool on the outside and warm on the inside. “VRE is based on Volvo’s brand philosophy which revolves around people and what’s important to them. I am confident that Fotroende Automobile will deliver the expected level of service to our loyal customers in Kuching,” Stegland adds.

The company’s name (Fotroende Automobile) is derived from the Swedish word “Förtroende” which means “confidence”; something that company’s Principal hopes to build, together with the brand in Kuching. “Demand for the brand is strong, especially with the arrival of exciting new models from Volvo. We are proud that have been chosen by Volvo Car Malaysia to represent the brand here in Kuching,” said David Lai, the Managing Director of Fotroende Automobile.

The Volvo showroom in Kuching opens from 8:30 am till 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and closes at 4:00 pm on Saturday. The showroom will also be open on Sundays and Public Holidays from 10:00 am till 3:00 pm. For further information about the showroom, please contact 07 4312222 or you can e-mail the Sales Manager, Brandon Linang Anak Albert Juan, at brandon.juan@fotroende.com.my.

FEATURE: What On Earth Happened To The Skoda Brand In Malaysia? We Reminisce In Light Of The New Skoda Skala!

When even the official local website for a bona-fide carmaker – not some fly-by-night kit-car – returns an Error 404 message, you just know something has gone terribly wrong, somewhere. And that’s a shame because I really like Skoda cars.

A Google search fares no better, the last search yielded an Autoworld (<–link) post from back in 2003, when a new Auto Praha showroom (below) opened in Bangsar, and its last Facebook update was in 2011. Auto Praha is (was?) the official importer, a company under the Berjaya Group, and the last vestiges of the Skoda brand can still be seen at the Bermaz Mazda HQ in Glenmarie, in addition to the odd smattering of actual Skoda cars.

It’s a shame really that the brand has been allowed to die a slow and painful death, the likes of which can be said about Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Chevrolet and to a point, even Opel here in Malaysia. The last two aforementioned brands are connected of course, and GM definitely made a mistake killing Opel in favour of Chevy, that much is widely whispered, even among GM management.

The last Skoda I personally reviewed was the Superb (above & below), and by all accounts it really did live-up to its nameplate. The Superb had a ‘dual’ boot, its rear-end could be used as a conventional boot, or transformed into a lift-back. It still remains one of the coolest cargo-carrying features I’ve ever come across.

It just wasn’t meant to be I guess, and thanks to AutoExpressUK, this might have been in the cards for us, had the brand survived, the Skoda Skala. This would have been a fun contender for the likes of the VW Golf, if only. – Chris Wee.

From AutoExpress:

The all-new Skoda Scala hatchback has arrived, sitting between the Fabia and Octavia in the Czech brand’s range

This is the all-new Skoda Scala, the Czech firm’s direct rival for the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. It’s due on sale in 2019 priced from around £16,500.

The Scala is based on the smallest version of the VW Group’s MQB platform, called A0. That means it shares some mechanicals with models such as the SEAT Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo – but it’s considerably bigger than those machines. Indeed, at 4,362mm, the Scala is still over 10cm longer than a Golf – but a full 30cm shorter than the Octavia.

Buyers will have four engines to choose from at launch. The core of the line-up will be a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol motor, offered with either 94bhp or 114bhp. There is also a more powerful 148bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit, complete with cylinder deactivation to boost efficiency, as well as a 1.6-litre diesel delivering 114bhp.

The base petrol unit gets a five-speed manual gearbox; all of the other engines are offered with a six-speed transmission, along with the option of a seven-ratio dual-clutch automatic. For the FULL article, click here.

(Skoda Skala images & info from www.autoexpress.co.uk, Skoda Superb & Octavia images from Skoda M’sia Facebook page, Auto Praha Image from www.autoworld.com.my)

BMW iCharging Facilities Increase As Electrified Vehicles Account For 57% Of 2018 BMW Sales

BMW Malaysia introduced two New BMW i Charging Facilities at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Melaka. Mr. Klaus Sennik, General Manager of Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Melaka (above, 2nd from left) said, “The New BMW i Charging Facilities at our hotel marks a significant step forward in enriching our hospitality offerings to our guests while empowering their sustainable lifestyles. With this invaluable partnership with BMW Malaysia and Seong Hoe Premium Motors, we can now look after the e-mobility needs of our guests with cutting-edge facilities, offering them peace of mind as they explore the fascinating City of Melaka and its surrounding areas in their electric vehicles.” Chief Engineer for the hotel, Hj Abdul Rahman who spearheads the hotel’s green initiatives added, “this is also part of our hotel’s ‘green’ efforts to ensure greater environmental sustainability which is line with the Wyndham group of hotel’s green objectives.”

Sharing Sennik’s sentiments, Mr. Loy Suan Chiow, Dealer Principal of Seong Hoe Premium Motors, meanwhile, said, “We are seeing a rising adoption of BMW electrified vehicles in the state and an increasing demand for the best-in-class charging facilities to power this shift to Electro-Mobility. Following the BMW i Charging Facilities introduced at Holiday Inn Melaka and Hotel Equatorial Melaka last year, the New Facilities at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Melaka once again attests to our fruitful partnership with BMW Malaysia in making Visionary Mobility more accessible in the state of Melaka.”

The New BMW i Charging Facilities at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Melaka join BMW Malaysia’s growing network of charging infrastructure, the most recent being the BMW i Charging Facilities at the Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh, and Iconic Hotel, Penang, as well as the first BMW i Charging Facilities in Perak earlier this year at WEIL Hotel, Ipoh.

Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications, BMW Group Malaysia, (above, left) meanwhile, said, “As the leading provider of premium electro-mobility in the country, we are committed to elevating the Sheer Driving Pleasure of our customers by ensuring state-of-the-art facilities are accessible at key strategic locations. We are excited to see how much our network of charging facilities has expanded, as we continue to drive e-mobility forward through innovation, awareness on new and clean technology for the automotive industry, as well as changing the infrastructure for premium electric vehicles in the country.”

BMW Group Malaysia continues to solidify its position as the leading brand for electro-mobility, with electrified vehicles accounting for over 57% of the total BMW and MINI delivery from January to November this year, while the number of electrified vehicles delivered year-on-year has also increased to more than 34% from over 5,100 to over 6,900 units.

BMW Group Malaysia’s portfolio of Visionary Mobility with the BMW iPerformance vehicles are also supported by the ChargEV platform through its partnership with the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation. The BMW ChargeNow service, which is offered as part of the BMW 360° ELECTRIC programme, also grants straightforward access to partner charging facilities like ChargEV, where customers can enjoy 24/7 support and access to all charging locations in ChargEV’s growing network nationwide.

Petronas Sponsors Jet Fuel On Air Asia Flights To Hanoi, Now Everybody Can Yell “Goal”! (Surprise At The End)

PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) is collaborating with AirAsia to bring Malaysian football fans to the second leg of AFF Suzuki Cup Final against Vietnam this Saturday. As the official fuel partner for AirAsia, PDB is sponsoring jet fuel for the discounted AirAsia flights for Harimau Malaya fans travelling to Hanoi, Vietnam to support our national football team. With this sponsorship, the cost is further reduced by RM50 per guest. AirAsia will refund the difference to all fans who purchased their seats earlier.

Speaking about the initiative, PDB’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal Abidin said, “The team had showcased a tremendous performance at the last match and PDB is proud to be part of this exciting, patriotic journey. This is one of the ways that we offer value-added services to Malaysians as the nation’s leading retailer. We are happy to be able to team up with AirAsia to realise the fans’ dreams of supporting Team Harimau Malaya in person and keep their spirits burning.”

He added, “I would like to urge all Malaysians to take this opportunity support the team and be part of the excitement. We wish Team Harimau Malaya the very best, and do make Malaysia proud!”

Now here’s a bit of trivia from Petronas: Today, our domestic retail arm, PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB), operates more than 1,000 service stations nationwide. But #DidYouKnow, our first flagship service station was opened in 1981 in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, where it still stands to this very day? (below)

(All images from the official Air Asia & PETRONAS Facebook pages)

Farewell Datuk Dr. Aminar Rashid Salleh, Terima Kasih For All You’ve Done For Perodua!

Our second national-car maker Perodua has seen its longest-serving President & Chief Executive Officer, Datuk (Dr) Aminar Rashid Salleh (below), 58, retire after nine years at the helm. Under Datuk (Dr) Aminar’s leadership, Perodua not only expanded its market share from 31.2% in 2010 to more than 37% as of year-to-date 2018, but also started the much-needed transformation initiative within the Perodua Group.

After-sales improved significantly, as well as cost efficiency, quality and delivery. Most importantly, Perodua embarked on a RM1.3 billion investment to build Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, Malaysia’s first Energy-Efficient Vehicle (EEV) Plant as certified by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

“The Perodua Board of Directors wishes to thank Datuk (Dr) Aminar for his contributions to Perodua and to the Malaysian automotive industry as a whole,” Perodua Chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin (above) said.

Datuk (Dr) Aminar is to be succeeded by Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad (below), previously Vice-President of Perodua Auto Corporation Sdn Bhd. He is expected to further efforts to work on improvements in efficiency and competitiveness, with the aim of expanding Perodua’s export business.

“To this end, the Perodua Board of Directors looks to Dato’ Zainal to lead the charge as he has the capability in managing Perodua as well as its vendors, suppliers and dealers to become regional players. Taking Perodua regional requires someone that can not only lead but who can also effectively engage the government and together navigate the ever-challenging automotive industry.” Tan Sri Asmat said.

“Dato’ Zainal has also proven his ability to work well with all shareholders, including Daihatsu Motor Company of Japan in bringing new technology to Perodua and encouraging investment within the country,” he added. Tan Sri Asmat said,

“The future of Perodua depends on our ability to work more harmoniously with Daihatsu as they have always been very supportive of us. Dato’ Zainal has proven that he is well-suited for this task.”

“With the manufacturing knowledge shared by Daihatsu, we were able to stay competitive domestically, and with their guidance, we are looking to further grow our business beyond Malaysia,” he added.

Datuk (Dr) Aminar’s tenure as Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer ends 31 December 2018, and Dato’ Zainal will take the helm from 1 January 2019. “We look forward to further progress under his leadership,” said Tan Sri Asmat.

About the new Perodua President & CEO…

Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, 52, (above) holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems and Accounting from the Pacific Lutheran University, Washington, USA. He began his career in Perodua in 1995 in the cost control department, and was directly involved in creating Perodua’s manufacturing cost structure.

Dato’ Zainal will be the first President and Chief Executive Officer selected from within Perodua. He participated in the formulation of the National Automotive Policy (NAP) and is working closely with the government through the various bodies under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry to further improve the policy.

Dato’ Zainal was also instrumental in establishing the Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan powertrain hub, which incorporates Daihatsu Perodua Engine Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (opened 2016) and transmission plant Akashi Kikai Sdn Bhd (opened in 2015).

Ford Ranger 2.2L Wildtrak Wins ‘Pick-up Truck of the Year’ @ Malaysia COTY 2018!

The “tougher, smarter, more efficient” Ford Ranger 2.2L Wildtrak has been named as the ‘Pickup Truck of the Year (Twin Cab)’ at the Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) 2018 Awards, further reinforcing the Ranger’s top position in Malaysia’s pickup truck segment.

Hosted by the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics & IoT Institute a.k.a. MARII (formerly Malaysia Automotive Institute, MAI), winners of the awards were assessed based on five criteria: exterior and interior design, technical specifications and engineering innovations, safety features, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness, as well as best overall value for money.

“We are honoured that the Ranger has received yet another prestigious endorsement. With its unmatched versatility, comfort and advanced technology and features, Ford Ranger has proven itself as the toughest and smartest truck that customers can count on to help them achieve more, whether at work or with their families,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (above, at an earlier VOTY Car Awards event)

The Ranger 2.2L Wildtrak delivers robust capability with unbeatable towing ability of 3,500kg, class-leading water-wading capability of up to 800mm and exceptional payload capacity while adding a level of refinement unseen in the pickup truck segment. The Ranger continues to be Ford’s best-selling nameplate in Malaysia and one of the best-selling pickups in the market. In the third quarter of 2018, sales of the Ranger jumped 61% to 2,245 units sold.

For more information on Ford, visit SDAC’s multilingual website (www.sdacford.com.my), which also features a chatbot now available in three languages – English, Bahasa Malaysia and Simplified Chinese – to provide a better customer engagement experience.

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Latest News

Volvo Car Malaysia Marks Decade-Long Re-Entry Into Sarawak With New 3S Centre @ Kuching

FEATURE: What On Earth Happened To The Skoda Brand In Malaysia? We Reminisce In Light Of The New Skoda Skala!

The all-new Skoda Scala hatchback has arrived, sitting between the Fabia and Octavia in the Czech brand’s range

BMW iCharging Facilities Increase As Electrified Vehicles Account For 57% Of 2018 BMW Sales

Petronas Sponsors Jet Fuel On Air Asia Flights To Hanoi, Now Everybody Can Yell “Goal”! (Surprise At The End)

Farewell Datuk Dr. Aminar Rashid Salleh, Terima Kasih For All You’ve Done For Perodua!

About the new Perodua President & CEO…

Ford Ranger 2.2L Wildtrak Wins ‘Pick-up Truck of the Year’ @ Malaysia COTY 2018!

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