Proton has announced the appointment of Roslan Abdullah as its new Deputy Chief Executive Officer, effective from January 1, 2022. Encik Roslan takes over from Dato’ Radzaif Mohamed, who retired from the company at the end of December 2021.
Encik Roslan has been with Proton in other roles such as Vice-President, Sales and Marketing for Proton, and then Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar from June 2020.
A finance & accountancy degree holder from the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom, Encik Roslan has over 3 decades of experience in the automotive sector which included working with suppliers. His management roles have been at Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (MODENAS), and ISUZU HICOM Malaysia, as well as Honda Malaysia, where he was President & Chief Operating Officer.
Encik Roslan was also in Honda Malaysia as President/COO and was actively involved in the company’s efforts to get owners to replace the defective Takata airbag inflator module in their vehicles.
“Roslan Abdullah has played a key role in supporting the leadership of Proton and guiding the overall management of the business, particularly by strengthening the sales and marketing functions. I am confident we will be able to form a strong partnership to lead the company to greater heights,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.
“Proton would also like to place on record our appreciation to Dato’ Radzaif Mohamed for his invaluable contribution and unwavering commitment towards our success. The importance of getting it right in the early days of the partnership with Geely has been critical towards the company’s turnaround thus far and his leadership during this period was invaluable,” Dr. Li added.
Appointed to the role on 1 April 2016, Dato’ Radzaif was instrumental in overseeing the eventual partnership between DRB-HICOM and Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely) and helped steer the company to its current standing in the automotive industry today.
In the 1960s, James Bond’s Aston Martin had changing numberplates and in 2021, BMW’s iX Flow featuring E Ink has changing body colours. But just like the feature on James Bond’s car, don’t expect it to be offered on BMWs anytime soon. It is a demonstration of future technology for a model displayed this week at CES 2022 (the consumer electronics trade show in Las Vegas) to show how digitisation can be used to adapt the exterior of a vehicle to different situations and individual wishes.
The fluid colour changes are made possible by a specially developed body wrap that is tailored precisely to the contours of the all-electric Sports Activity Vehicle from BMW. When stimulated by electrical signals, the electrophoretic technology brings different colour pigments to the surface, causing the body skin to take on the desired colouration.
More sophisticated personalisation
The use of innovative E Ink technology opens completely new ways of changing the vehicle’s appearance in line with the driver’s aesthetic preferences, the environmental conditions or even functional requirements. The technology thus offers unprecedented potential for personalisation in the area of exterior design and the iX Flow demonstrates this potential to impressive effect.
Already today, the colour chosen for a car is an expression of the driver’s personality. The choice of exterior finishes available for current BMW models covers a wide colour spectrum. In this way, the longing for a wildly expressive, extravagant, or sporty appearance on the outside can be taken into account as well as the desire for an understated, subtle or elegant appearance.
Against this background, the BMW Group is driving the development of the technology so that a new form of personalisation can be experienced both on the outside and in the inside of future production vehicles. Apart from a greater degree of personalisation, a customer will also not have to settle for just one colour – he or she can have many more for different occasions!
“This gives the driver the freedom to express different facets of their personality or even their enjoyment of change outwardly, and to redefine this each time they sit into their car,” said Stella Clarke, Head of Project for the BMW iX Flow featuring E Ink. “Similar to fashion or the status ads on social media channels, the vehicle then becomes an expression of different moods and circumstances in daily life.”
Increased efficiency too
A variable exterior colour can also contribute to wellness in the interior and to the efficiency of the vehicle. This is done by taking account of the different abilities of light and dark colours when it comes to reflecting sunlight and the associated absorption of thermal energy. A white surface reflects a lot more sunlight than a black one. By implication, heating of the vehicle and passenger compartment as a result of strong sunlight and high outside temperatures can be reduced by changing the exterior to a light colour. In cooler weather, a dark outer skin will help the vehicle to absorb noticeably more warmth from the sun.
In both cases, selective colour changes can help to cut the amount of cooling and heating required from the vehicle’s air conditioning. This reduces the amount of energy the vehicle electrical system needs and with it also the vehicle’s fuel or electricity consumption. In an all-electric car, changing the colour in line with the weather can therefore also help to increase the range. In the interior, the technology could, for example, prevent the dashboard from heating up too much.
E Ink technology itself is extremely energy efficient (though, at this time, it would be very expensive technology). Unlike displays or projectors, the electrophoretic technology needs absolutely no energy to keep the chosen colour state constant. Current only flows during the short colour changing phase.
Millions of paint capsules
Electrophoretic colouring is based on a technology developed by E Ink that is most well-known from the displays used in eReaders like Kindle. The surface coating of the iX Flow contains many millions of microcapsules, with a diameter equivalent to the thickness of a human hair. Each of these microcapsules contains negatively charged white pigments and positively charged black pigments. Depending on the chosen setting, stimulation by means of an electrical field causes either the white or the black pigments to collect at the surface of the microcapsule, giving the car body the desired shade.
Achieving this effect on a vehicle body involves the application of many precisely fitted ePaper segments. Generative design processes are implemented to ensure the segments reflect the characteristic contours of the vehicle and the resulting variations in light and shadow. The generative design algorithms enable the necessary formability and flexibility required to tailor the ePaper exactly to the design lines of the vehicle.
Laser cutting technologies are used to guarantee high precision in generating each segment. After the segments are applied and the power supply for stimulating the electrical field is connected, the entire body is warmed and sealed to guarantee optimum and uniform colour reproduction during every colour change.
“Digital experiences won’t just be limited to displays [inside the car] in the future. There will be more and more melding of the real and virtual. With the BMW iX Flow, we are bringing the car body to life,” said Frank Weber, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development.
Growing popularity for the Mitsubishi Triton and XPANDER saw the total sales volume of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) increasing in 2021. The company today announced that 17,489 vehicles from January to December 2021, a 91% increase compared to the same period in 2020.
With 7,397 units delivered nationwide, the XPANDER MPV had its best sales performance since being launched. This volume also made it the best-selling 7-seater Japanese crossover in Malaysia. The model is assembled locally at the DRB-HICOM manufacturing complex in Pekan, Pahang.
“We are pleased that XPANDER has enjoyed strong sales performance thanks to the extension of the tax-free incentive period. This decision by the Malaysian government has certainly helped the industry to sustain itself during this challenging phase. At Mitsubishi Motors, we have now progressed to increase our production volume for XPANDER, to cater for higher production capacity, and to fulfill all booking demands,” said Shinya Ikeda, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.
The Triton, currently in its fifth generation, also continued to be among the more popular pick-up trucks in the country. In spite of the challenging market conditions, MMM’s dealers delivered 9,268 units in Peninsular and East Malaysia in 2021, 34% more than in 2020.
“The continued growth of Mitsubishi Motors market compared to last year is a sign that we are steadily moving towards recovery. As we look forward to advancing and progressing into 2022, we have heard every customer’s feedback regarding our products and services, and we will continue to improve for an ownership experience of the highest standard,” he added.
Owners of flood-damaged vehicles can obtain assistance from authorised Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia dealers nationwide.
Support for Mitsubishi owners
Mr. Ikeda also said that MMM is offering support to Mitsubishi owners whose vehicles were damaged by the floods. “We would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt sympathy to all who were affected by the recent flood incidents. We are here to support them, and they can get assistance by contacting our Customer Careline,” he said.
MMM is offering a 30% discount on Mitsubishi genuine spare parts and a 50% discount on labour costs (for flood-damaged vehicles serviced at authorised Mitsubishi Motors dealerships) until January 20, 2022. In addition, the company will also support owners by offering free towing service. All customers need to do is to contact Mitsubishi Assist 24Hrs customer careline (MA24) at 1-800-88-2166 to request for this service. Mitsubishi owners who arrange for their vehicle towing, without the assistance of MA24 and insurance coverage, are also entitled to rebates worth up to RM300.
At CES 2020 (the major consumer electronics trade show in Las Vegas), the Sony Group announced that it would be venturing further into the mobility business, with a sleek prototype car called the VISION-S. At that time, though, what it displayed seemed to be a concept car to show off various technologies, which is also done by other electronics companies
However, the company was actually going further with the concept car and began quietly developing it into a running prototype. By CES 2021, it revealed that there was a running prototype and it was being tested on public roads and on a test track in Austria. Engineers also started verification tests of the safety and user experience of the imaging and sensing technology installed inside and outside the vehicle, along with the human-machine interface (HMI) system.
The VISION-S 02 concept (left) joins the original VISION-S 01 prototype.
Second prototype displayed
At CES 2022 this week, Sony has not only provided an update on the progress of the project but is also displaying a second prototype, the VISION-S 02. This has a SUV design as a new form factor and rides on the same EV/cloud platform as the original VISION-S 01 prototype. By offering entertainment experiences utilizing the large interior space and variations of a 7-seater, this new prototype will promote the accommodation of a large variety of lifestyles within a society where values are becoming increasingly diversified.
The VISION-S 02 measures almost 4900 mm long and 1930 mm wide, which is about the size of a Lexus RX300. It has 200 kW electric motors powering the front and rear wheels so there’s all-wheel drive and the claimed top speed is expected to be over 180 km/h.
Advanced sensor system
Electronics are obviously one of Sony’s strengths and it has been developing a sensors system to support the driver. The system recognizes and analyzes the surrounding environment in real-time, using sensors installed to cover all around the vehicle. These sensors include high-sensitivity, high-resolution, wide dynamic range CMOS image sensors and LiDAR sensors that accurately sense 3-dimensional space.
In addition, the system provides intuitive driver interaction in conjunction with the vehicle’s sound system and HMI system, so that the driver can accurately judge the status of the surrounding environment, such as the presence of emergency vehicles, even from inside the vehicle.
Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors are used to provide monitoring functions for driver authentication and to watch over passengers. They also support intuitive gesture and voice commands that are intended to enhance usability of the car interface. Additionally, in order to deliver an environment that suits each user’s preferences, the vehicle will include a new function that allows users to customize the display theme and the acceleration and deceleration sounds of the vehicle.
Vehicle settings, key locks, and user settings can be synchronized by linking the vehicle to the cloud using mobile communication, including 5G communication, which features low-latency, high-capacity, and high-speed capabilities. In addition, since updates are reflected in the vehicle via over the air (OTA), it is possible to provide security and evolve service functions and value-added offerings continuously.
5G connectivity
5G driving tests were also conducted from April 2021, the next-generation network connectivity enabling a continuous connection between the in-vehicle systems and the cloud, in order to synchronize data and control signals, and update the systems OTA (Over The Air).
“Real time mobile communication turns cars into databases on wheels. In our 5G Mobility Lab, the VISION-S Prototype learns to communicate in real time. Together with Sony, we are preparing the first prototype for 5G so that in the future new features can be imported into the car over the air and with a simple software update,” said Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO of Vodafone Germany, which is collaborating with the Japanese company.
Utilizing Sony’s in-house technologies and knowledge of communication technology and security cultivated through the development of smartphones, it has positioned remote operation as an important technology in anticipation of the arrival of the autonomous driving era.
Enriching the mobility entertainment space
The seat speakers, which create a three-dimensional sound field, and the streaming service compatible with ‘360 Reality Audio’ provide an immersive music experience. The high quality would only be expected from Sony, which has a strong reputation in this field.
In addition, to provide a high-quality movie experience, the VISION-S models include the fully integrated digital video service ‘BRAVIA CORE for VISION-S’. The service enables shared or individual video playback on the front panoramic screen and individual rear-seat displays. Further extending the possibilities of in-vehicle entertainment, gaming capabilities have expanded to being able to play PlayStation games through a remote connection to a console at home, in addition to the ability to play streaming games through the cloud.
To make the best use of AI and robotics technologies, Sony will soon establish an operating company called Sony Mobility Inc., through which the company intends to explore entry into the EV market.
Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected and although you may not show symptoms, you could spread the coronavirus to others. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.
General Motors (GM) was the market leader in the US market since 1931 but last year, its place was taken not by Ford, Chrysler or even Tesla but by a foreign brand – Toyota. The Japanese carmaker reported sales of 2.332 million vehicles in 2021, beating the 2.218 million units that GM announced the same day. A year earlier, GM had still held No.1 spot with 2.55 million units while Toyota did 2.11 million units, and Ford reported 2.04 million units.
Understandably, Toyota has not played up on its ascent to No.1 position – the first foreign carmaker to do so – since it can be a sensitive issue among Americans. Although it imports many vehicles, it also has huge factories in America that manufacture a number of models there, so they are as American as those from the Big Three with substantial local sourcing of parts as well, not to mention being made by American workers.
But Toyota, like other Japanese carmakers, has been through periods of consumer resentment for their products and at one time, were even forced to voluntarily limit exports from Japan in the 1980s. Starting with a limit of 1.68 million cars (total for all makes) in 1981, the voluntary export restraint brought on by US political pressure remained for some 9 years. While it relieved some pressure on the American carmakers, it also resulted in foreign carmakers setting up factories in America so they could build their cars there, behind the ‘barrier’ and unrestricted by quotas.
The Crown was the first Toyota to appear in the USA in 1958. The carmaker established its first operations in California, from where it would spread across the country and then begin setting up factories to make its cars there as well. 63 years later, it has become the No.1 carmaker in the country, displacing GM which held the title for 31 years.
Besides the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the whole auto industry, there were also serious supply chain issues and more disrupting, a shortage of semiconductors for the many electronic systems in today’s motor vehicles. Every manufacturer was affected but some, like Toyota, had managed to plan well, which the Japanese are good at. Lessons learnt from the tsunami/earthquake disaster in Japan in 2011 also helped Toyota to have good management of its supply chain and to ensure sufficient buffer stocks for any major disruption.
No plans to boast about title
Toyota doesn’t plan to use its achievement in promotions and instead highlights other sales achievements in 2021 (in the US market) like selling the most electrified vehicles for the 22nd consecutive year, being the No.1 retail brand (which excludes leasing and fleet sales) for the 10th consecutive year, No. 1 in passenger car market share for 10th consecutive year, and the bestselling models in the passenger car category (Camry), midsize SUV category (Highlander), SUV category (RAV4) and small van category (Sienna).
The Honda Accord was the first foreign model to become the No.1 passenger car sold in America in 1989. But the Camry has taken the position most years since 1994, and has been No.1 for the past 20 consecutive years. The success of the model was, in part, due to the refusal of the top guys at Toyota USA to take the model designed in Japan which was too conservative. With the support of the Toyodas, they managed to get the chief engineer to come up with a completely different design which, in some ways, mirrored the Lexus LS400 that had become a benchmark in the US premium luxury class from 1989.
While the Honda Accord was the first foreign model to be the bestselling car in America in 1989, it’s been the Toyota Camry (1994 model shown below) which has been No.1 for the past 20 consecutive years.
The RAV4 is also another great success story for Toyota in America. It appeared at just the right time as Americans had a growing love for SUVs. Small and as easy to drive as a passenger car, it was ideal for the transition from a passenger car to SUV. It virtually created a new category overnight which would influence the rest of the industry to start following. Three years after the RAV4 appeared, Lexus also did a similar thing in the premium segment with the RX300.
The RAV4 created a new market segment almost overnight when it appeared in 1995. Since then, it has been a top-seller in its class.
Electrified models fuel sales
In recent times, Toyota’s growth has been fuelled by electrified vehicles, which it has been selling since the late 1980s when it introduced the Prius as the world’s first mass-produced vehicles with a hybrid powertrain. Since then, the range of hybrid models has expanded and it has even started selling a fuel-cell electric vehicle called the Mirai. Last year, electrified models accounted for about 25% of the total vehicles Toyota sold, up 73.2% in volume from a year before.
The Prius was the first mass-produced vehicle in the world with a hybrid powertrain when it was launched in 1989. Since then, Toyota has expanded its range of electrified models with hybrid powertrains and the picture below shows the models sold in the USA in 2013.
The total industry volume was just under 15 million vehicles in 2021 and 2022 is expected to see growth. Some forecasts put it at just over 15 million, but Toyota is more optimistic and thinks it could reach 16.5 million units, of which it is aiming to contribute 2.4 million. Whether GM will regain its crown remains to be seen although, like Ford long ago, the carmaker realizes that it is not much point chasing a No.1 title at the expense of profitability. Toyota somehow has managed to grab the No.1 position while still remaining profitable, though, but the Japanese are always conscious of a rival overtaking them so they never stop looking in the mirror.
