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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.

Proton In 2018 – Part 21: Proton X70 SUV Officially Launched, Prices Announced! [+Videos]

FINALLY! After the longest “long lead-in” teaser in the history of motoring in Malaysia, the Proton X70 was officially launched last night by the father of Proton, Tun Dr. Mahathir himself! 35-years ago he did the same with the Saga, and it was fitting that he launched the latest model, Proton’s first SUV, the X70. Here’s the launch gambit video:

Possibly the biggest surprise was the price announcement that everyone had been waiting for, and as we’d expected, of the 4 variants launched, the introductory variant is priced BELOW RM100,000!

The price announcement was made by Dr. Li Chunrong, the CEO of Proton, along with the ‘special packages’ that will come with the new X70, here’s the video:

Following the launch, and once the thousand-plus attendees had mostly dissipated, Piston.my managed to grab some alone-time with the new Proton X70, and here’s what we thought:

For more info on the Proton X70 launch, check out the press release below the photo gallery!

FULL PRESS RELEASE:

PROTON X70 LAUNCHED

– Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad officially launches PROTON’s first SUV
– Special ownership packages and national price scheme announced

Kuala Lumpur, 12 December 2018 – PROTON officially launched the Proton X70 at a glittering ceremony officiated by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Full details of the flagship SUV were also revealed at the event including the selling price, service, financing and warranty packages.

The first premium SUV by a Malaysian automotive brand
The Proton X70 is the first vehicle to be jointly developed by PROTON and its partner Geely, and is the first premium SUV by a Malaysian automotive brand. It also introduces PROTON to a new market segment and is the key catalyst for the total rejuvenation of the brand. When developing the Proton X70, both PROTON and Geely collaborated on multiple levels. From the cross deployment of staff in China and Malaysia, to testing in Malaysia’s hot and humid climate to the collaboration between local and international vendors, the goal was to ensure a product that is perfectly suited to the needs of Malaysian and ASEAN car buyers.

To prepare for its introduction, PROTON embarked on a comprehensive marketing plan to build an unprecedented level of excitement amongst car buyers via on-ground events, the launch of an online booking portal and giving the SUV its public debut at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). These efforts began in September and were further strengthened by social media campaigns that included a naming contest and numerous teaser videos on Facebook and YouTube.

At the same time, significant investments to PROTON’s network were made for the arrival of the Proton X70. Training activities for sales and service staff and the launch of the inaugural PROTON After Sales Service Competition (PASSC) were part of efforts to ensure everyone had sufficient knowledge of the new vehicle. The Company also embarked on an ambitious network expansion plan by inviting new investors to start PROTON outlets and offering generous incentives for existing dealers to upgrade their facilities to 3S and 4S centres. To date 115 plans for such centres have been approved with 71 already launched thus far this year.

“The Proton X70 is the result of more than one year of hard work by PROTON and Geely engineers, designers and hundreds of other people working together to develop the first premium SUV by a Malaysian car manufacturer. PROTON is proud of our achievement and it is our belief Malaysian car buyers will be equally proud to own an SUV that will help to transform the Proton brand. With over 10,000 bookings, it already has a good start so we will work hard to deliver on our product and brand promise,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer, PROTON.

“Deliveries of the Proton X70 will commence over the coming weeks as we want customers to get their cars as soon as possible. Some have had to wait for over six months, having given their name to dealers before bookings were even officially opened, so PROTON is thankful to them for their patience and incredible brand loyalty,” he added.

Special packages and one price for all Malaysians
To enhance the ownership experience of the Proton X70, special value added packages were announced at the launch event. Defined as Xtra packages, they affect four distinct areas. The Xtra Service Package offers free parts and labour for the first service as well as free labour for five scheduled service appointments within 100,000km or five years. Next, there is the Xtra Low Financing Package, offering low interest rates that start from 2.34% p.a. for qualified buyers.

PROTON will be the first national automotive brand to offer an unlimited mileage warranty as the Xtra Warranty Coverage Package will cover the Proton X70 for up to five years regardless of mileage. Finally, to ensure owners enjoy a premium connectivity experience the Xtra Data Package offers free internet data for five years (capped at 1GB per month).

“The Xtra packages offered will enhance the experience for owners by offering peace of mind, savings for servicing and financing as well as free data. PROTON will also create history by offering the Proton X70 at one price for one nation. This means East and West Malaysia car buyers will pay the same price for the same vehicle, making PROTON the first automotive brand to offer such a deal. It is our hope that by doing this, PROTON proves that a Malaysian product can be offered at the same price for all Malaysians regardless of where they live,” added Dr Li Chunrong.

Porsche Expands SUV Range With New V6 Turbocharged Macan S! [+Video]

Porsche has expanded its range of compact SUVs with the addition of the powerful Macan S. The new model from the sports car manufacturer features a new three-litre V6 turbocharged petrol engine. It delivers 260 kW (354 PS) and has a maximum torque of 480 Nm, representing an increase of 10 kW (14 PS) and 20 Nm compared with the previous model. When equipped with the optional Sport Chrono Package, the new Macan S accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds quicker than the previous model. The vehicle’s top speed is 254 km/h. The new Macan S enjoys all the product innovations of the latest generation Macan model range. These include the LED lightbar at the rear and the new Porsche Communication Management system with a 10.9-inch touchscreen.

New V6 engine with central turbo layout
The Porsche Macan S is now equipped with a newly developed three-litre V6 turbo engine. Using the central turbo layout, the turbocharger is located in the inner V; this results in short exhaust gas paths between the combustion chambers and the turbocharger, to ensure outstanding and immediate responsiveness. The new twin-scroll turbocharger provides high torque at low engine speeds. With twin-scroll technology, the exhaust gas flows are continuously fed to the turbine wheel as separate streams significantly reducing any charge cycle disadvantages. The further-developed combustion chamber geometry with a central injector promotes efficient fuel mixture preparation. In addition to the increase in the power output per litre, from 113 to 118 PS, the emissions have also been reduced.

Newly tuned chassis for enhanced balance
As distinctively sporty as ever, the Macan’s chassis features staggered tyres and Porsche Traction Management (PTM) four-wheel drive, and has been overhauled and optimised once again as part of this model’s facelift. On the front axle, spring forks made from aluminium replace the previous steel components. The new light alloy design is more rigid and reduces unsprung mass, making the steering on the Macan more precise and improving ride comfort. Newly tuned sway bars also ensure more neutral handling. As before, the Porsche Active Stability Management (PASM) active damper control system, height-adjustable air suspension with optimised rolling pistons and new shock absorber hydraulics and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) are optionally available to improve the model’s driving dynamics and handling even further.

Enhanced brakes with more precise pressure point
A lot of detailed work has also gone into the brakes of the new Macan, and the driver will notice this most of all in the form of a changed pedal feel. The pedal in question weighs around 300 g less than the previous steel part, and acts on the brake master cylinder via a shortened lever arm. This results in a more immediate brake response, and the driver can also feel a very precise pressure point because of the firm connection. The even more sporty approach in the new Macan S is reflected in the larger front brake discs, with disc diameter increased by 10 mm to 360 mm, and disc thickness growing 2 mm to 36 mm. All new brake pads are copper-free. The Macan S can also be equipped with the optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB).

A more streamlined design with full LED lights and new digital functions
The Macan S also benefits from all the innovations included in the latest facelift, including a three-dimensional rear LED lightbar. The headlights are LED as standard, and the optional Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS Plus) system can be used to control light distribution adaptively. The new Porsche Communication Management (PCM), which now features a 10.9-inch full-HD touchscreen, includes mobile phone connection, two audio interfaces and intelligent voice control.

New options: GT sports steering wheel and ioniser
The optional GT sports steering wheel, which appears in the 911, bolsters the sporty interior design of the Macan S. The mode switch integrated into the steering wheel – including the Sport Response button – is part of the optional Sport Chrono Package. For added comfort and convenience, it is possible to optionally a heated windshield and an ioniser which, in conjunction with the fine particulate air filter fitted as standard, improves the quality of the air inside the vehicle. Check out the video on the new Porsche Macan S below!

The new Macan is available for booking now. To register interest, visit the following Porsche Centres:
Porsche Centre Glenmarie +60(3) 5030 9911
Porsche Centre Sungai Besi +60(19) 675 9911
Porsche Centre Penang +60(19) 400 9911

Macan S: Fuel consumption combined 8.9 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined 204 g/km

Piston.my

Latest News

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!

Proton In 2018 – Part 21: Proton X70 SUV Officially Launched, Prices Announced! [+Videos]

For more info on the Proton X70 launch, check out the press release below the photo gallery!

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