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Honda Connect advances Safety, Security and Convenience

‘Connected’ is a catchword in the auto industry today and advanced new technologies are providing this in cars. The advanced connectivity enables carmakers to provide even better safety, security and convenience and in many cases, interfacing with smartphones as well.

With Honda CONNECT, Honda Malaysia is bringing its latest innovative and advanced technology using smart Telematics Technology to allows the users to connect with their cars with a touch of their fingertips via a smartphone application.

New level of connectivity
Honda CONNECT is said to bring connectivity to a whole new level for owners. Key functions include Vehicle Diagnostics, Remote Applications, Security Applications, Vehicle Tracking and Support Services. All these are accessible from anywhere (via the smartphone), giving additional peace of mind.

“The technology within Honda CONNECT embodies Honda’s vision of value creation for mobility and people’s daily lives. Driven by the passion to share the 3 Joys of Honda through this intelligent and advanced technology, we seek to improve the daily lives of our customers with an innovative and advanced information platform that provides multiple benefits such as peace of mind, convenience and most importantly, fun!” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.

“This innovative technology is set to redefine safety, security and convenience for Honda car owners, allowing them to fully experience and enjoy their Honda car while enabling us to provide round-the-clock support to our valued customers,” said Mr. Ishiyama, adding that Honda CONNECT technology is available in the all-new City RS e:HEV variant which will be delivered to customers from this month.

Safety, Convenience and Security
Within the function of Safety and Security, Honda CONNECT is equipped with Automatic Collision Detection System, Security Alarm Detection, Speed Alert, Find My Car, Geo-Fencing Alert and Emergency Call. The Automatic Collision Detection System provides immediate support to the driver via Honda’s 24 Hours Roadside Assist Call Centre in case of an accident or airbag deployment in the car, when a notification will be sent to the Call Centre and emergency support will be dispatched.

Users of Honda CONNECT will also be notified via push notification on the application when collisions are detected with the car, and help will be at hand in case of any emergency.

The Security Alarm Detection feature remotely monitors the car situation from wherever the owner is and a push notification will be sent to the owner as well as the Call Centre when the car door, bootlid or bonnet are forcibly opened. This could mean attempted car theft and will trigger the security alarm accordingly. Ultimately, it offers the assurance of being able to park the car with more peace of mind.

Taking connectivity to another level, owners are also able to conveniently and safely locate their vehicle with the Find My Car function which allows owners to park with ease anywhere knowing that they can now easily locate their car on a map that is linked to their smartphone.

The Speed Alert and Geo-Fencing Alert function is to alert and notify the owner when the vehicle is being driven out of the set conditional parameters of driving radius and speed limit. The owner is also able to set the speed and location range in the system for monitoring purposes if the vehicle is being used by someone else. This will be a feature that parents will appreciate but their children who use the car might not…

Enhancing the ownership experience
Honda CONNECT also adds convenience to car ownership with multiple features such as Remote Vehicle Control; Car Status and Service Reminder; Vehicle Dashboard and Point of Interest search. One of the most useful and convenient functions is the Remote Vehicle Control function which is able to command remote locking/unlocking of the car even when the owner is away in order for a family member to retrieve an item left inside the cabin. An example might be if the owner is in Penang on business and the son wants to borrow the tollcard in the car but it is locked. With Honda CONNECT, the door can be unlocked to allow the son to get in and take the card, and then locked again – from Penang.

Similarly, owners can also request for the Call Centre to unlock the doors remotely if the car key is accidentally left inside. Besides the car lock, this intelligent feature can also remotely start or stop the car engine, switch on or off the air-conditioning to conveniently cool the cabin as well as remotely switch on the lights to help the owner locate the parked car at night.

Service support
The vehicle dashboard will show information such as Car Status and Service Reminder. This information will be connected and displayed on the Honda CONNECT application as alerts and reminders. An emergency call function enables users to quickly connect with emergency contacts who can provide prompt support and assistance in emergencies.

Driving behaviour and Trip logs can track and record driving styles with driving data from the connected vehicle. The Service Reminder function provides users with updates on all past service information including reminders for next required maintenance. Users can check Service History, Parts List and Estimation cost for future vehicle service as well as contact a Honda Dealer to make a service appointment.

2021 Honda City RS eHEV — *Honda CONNECT is available in the new City RS e:HEV. Deliveries of this top variant of the City range start this month.*

Remote Diagnostic Support provides initial assessment and necessary diagnosis by detect any issues with 11 main indicators. The Call Centre will arrange for necessary support, if requested by the owner. Similarly, with the other safety and security features, a push notification will be sent to users when trouble occurs with the vehicle.

The 11 indicators supported by the Remote Diagnostic Support are ABS, Supplemental Restraint System (airbags), Brake System, Engine Malfunction, Charging System, Vehicle Stability Assist System, Electric Power Steering System, Lane Keep Assist System, Adaptive Cruise Control System, Safety Support and Power System.

Social Network Services
Honda CONNECT also offers an advanced form of communication through the One-to-One Message function, Social Network Services (SNS) Posting and Customer Inquiry features. The One-to-One Message are reminders on service maintenance, insurance renewal and annual vehicle roadtax deadline, while SNS Posting allows users to share their vehicle trip logs with their community via social media. Additionally, the application connects and gives access for the owner to contact Honda directly for any enquiries as well as for Honda dealers to be in touch with customers.

More information on Honda CONNECT is available by calling Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or visiting www.honda.com.my.

Seven Special Edition models to be won in Honda’s ‘1 Million Dreams’ campaign

Honda SENSING Elite adds more advanced autonomous capabilities to Legend flagship

*Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my for more information.*

Honda is taking us one step closer to the day when cars will no longer need our involvement to reach the destination. That day is some way down the road and progressive steps will have to be taken as autonomous technologies continue to advance. Basically, the steps will follow those for autonomous vehicles formulated by the American Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and there are 5 ‘levels’, each increasing the degree of autonomy.

At this time, many vehicles can provide Level 2, which offers some autonomous operation such as adaptive cruise control where a safe gap will be automatically maintained from the vehicle in front. Automatic Emergency Braking is also a Level 2 capability where the vehicle’s brake will be activated automatically if the driver fails to respond correctly to an impending collision. Level 2 capability, which uses integrated Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), is moving down in the vehicle price ranges and even the recently-launched Perodua Ativa has it.

Honda now offers Level 3 in a version of its current Legend model which will be available for leasing only in Japan. As with the Clarity FCX Fuel Cell Vehicle produced between 2008 and 2014, Honda is only making a very limited number of units. Like the Clarity, of which only around 70 units were produced and leased, the same cautious approach is being taken for this advanced Legend variant. Honda says it will offer only 100 units for leasing, each based on a price of 11 million yen (about RM413,585). Limiting the model only to Japan will enable engineers to get to any car that has problems for quick examination, as compared to having to travel to other countries.

With Level 3, the amount of automation is greater and the driver can take his or her hands of the steering wheel for extended periods. With conditional automated driving in a limited area, it can perform more driving functions on its own. More advanced sensors constantly monitor the surroundings to ensure the car can proceed safely.

Honda SENSING Elite
The Level 3 capability is available with Honda SENSING Elite, the most advanced version of the Honda SENSING system that is already available in many Honda models sold in Malaysia. One of the ‘elite’ technologies is the Traffic Jam Pilot function, an advanced technology for which Honda has received type designation from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

Traffic Jam Pilot technology enables the automated driving system to drive the vehicle, instead of the driver, under certain conditions such as when the vehicle is in congested traffic on an expressway. For vehicle control, the system determines the position of the vehicle and road conditions using data from 3-dimensional high-definition maps and the global navigation satellite system (which includes GPS), while detecting the vehicle’s surroundings using several external sensors that provide 360-degree input. The automated driving sensors are around the bodywork, subtly integrated into the body panels of the flagship sedan model for a clean appearance.

*Locations of the many sensors on the bodywork. Inside the car, a camera also monitors the driver (below).*

At the same time, the system tracks the condition of the driver using a monitoring camera mounted inside the vehicle. Based on this wide range of information, the main electronic control unit recognizes current conditions, anticipates future conditions and applies a high-level of control to acceleration, braking and steering inputs to assist the driver and achieve high-quality and smooth driving.

1.3 million kms of testing
To ensure maximum safety and reliability, approximately 10 million patterns of possible real-world situations were simulated during system development, and real-world demonstration tests were conducted on expressways for a total of approximately 1.3 million kms. Moreover, the system incorporates a redundant system design to ensure safety and reliability in the event of a problem with any of the devices.

Specific to this model are Honda SENSING Elite indicator lights with carefully selected and visible positions, sizes, colours, brightness and other details, as well as a 12.3-inch full-LCD graphic meter. The equipment provides an intuitive understanding of system operation status, current driving situation and any requests to transfer control back to the driver.

More advanced autonomous systems
While owners of the Civic and Accord would be familiar with Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), the Honda SENSING Elite system has Adaptive in Lane Driving which assists with the driving of the vehicle and following of vehicles detected ahead within a recognized lane. The system drives the vehicle along the middle of the detected lane while maintaining the pre-set vehicle speed.

Active Lane Change Assist with Hands-off Function is also available, and when activated, the system provides throttle, braking and steering inputs necessary to accomplish the lane change. However, the driver must confirm that this is safe to do so, and also activate the relevant turn indicator. If required and conditions are safe, the system can also guide the car to overtaken a slower vehicle.

While driving using the Adaptive in Lane Driving, if the car is in traffic congestion, the system (under certain slow speed conditions) can take control of acceleration, braking and steering while monitoring the surroundings on behalf of the driver. The system will drive, stop, and resume driving within the same lane while maintaining a proper following interval in accordance with the speed of the vehicle detected ahead.

The benefit to the driver is that while the car is under the control of the system, he or she can watch entertainment on the display screen or do other things, instead of having to stay focussed on the road and other vehicles. This will reduce fatigue and stress while driving in a traffic jam and it is likely that once a driver experiences the benefit, he may never want to be without it!

Emergency stopping
In the event that the driver falls asleep or just does not respond to multiple system requests for a handover (the transfer of control back to the driver), the system will initiate deceleration and stopping of the vehicle by making lane change(s) to the outermost lane or the shoulder of the road. The Traffic Jam Pilot/Hands-off Function will be disengaged, and the system will further urge the driver to respond to the handover request using visual, auditory and tactile alerts including escalated alarm sounds and vibration on the driver’s seatbelt.

If the driver continues to be unresponsive, the system will assist deceleration and stopping of the vehicle while alerting other vehicles around using hazard lights and the horn. When there is a road shoulder, the system assists deceleration and lane changes until the vehicle reaches the shoulder of the road for a safe stop.

To know more about Honda models, technology and services available in Malaysia, visit www.honda.com.my.

Seven Special Edition models to be won in Honda’s ‘1 Million Dreams’ campaign

Seven Special Edition models to be won in Honda’s ‘1 Million Dreams’ campaign

Just two years after crossing the 900,000th vehicle milestone, Honda Malaysia has now crossed the 1 million mark. To celebrate this significant milestone, the company has prepared Special Edition models to be given away in the ‘1 Million Dreams’ campaign’.

“We wish to express our sincere gratitude to members of the media for their ongoing support and honest reviews of Honda products as well as our dealer partners for their strong commitment to uphold the Honda brand. The ‘1 Million Dreams Campaign’ is an initiative for us to say ‘thank you’ to all our customers as it is their strong support that has enabled us to come a long way and experience this inspiring journey. As our heartfelt appreciation, we are giving away seven Special Edition models of the Jazz, All-New City, BR-V, HR-V, Civic, New CR-V and Accord,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.

“We wish to express our sincere gratitude to members of the media for their ongoing support and honest reviews of Honda products as well as our dealer partners for their strong commitment to uphold the Honda brand. We would also like to thank the Malaysian government for their continuous support throughout the years as well as introducing the Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) during the pandemic. Tis provides substantial support to the automotive industry,” he said.

Unique feature for Special Editions
The seven Special Edition models to be given have been specially designed with unique features, making them one-of-a-kind models in Malaysia. The exterior has a Dual Tone, with Front Fascia having Red Highlights; Sporty Red Line Side Mirrors, Black Painted Alloy Wheels with Red Highlights as well as 1 Million Dreams Signature Emblem to signify them as Special Edition models.

Inside each of the models, there are ‘1 Million Dreams’ Embossed Leather Headrests for both driver and front passenger seats as well as a Leather Steering Wheel with Red Stitching and Centre Mark. The owner of each unit will receive a Special Edition Leather Key Pouch.

The campaign runs from February 26 to March 24, 2021 and during that period, there will also be a variety of exciting activities in store. Honda Malaysia’s President & COO, Sarly Adle Sarkum, said the activities will be at all showrooms nationwide and include a ‘1 Million Dreams’ exhibition. “We are also delighted to have special collaborations with our brand partners CUCKOO, Shopee and Watsons,” he said.

“In addition, we want to express our appreciation to all the frontliners for their hard work and dedication. Hence, we have allocated one of the seven Special Edition cars specially for them to win through this campaign. On top of the seven Special Edition cars, we have prizes worth 1 Million Shopee coins to be given out to 150 lucky winners on a weekly basis; throughout the campaign, we will also have prizes worth 5 Million Shopee coins,” he added.

Various ways to enter and win
Malaysians can stand a chance to win these seven Special Edition models just by completing a few easy steps to participate in the contest. Participants can take part in any of the 6 activities prepared by Honda Malaysia to earn as many entries as they can and submit the entries at authorised Honda dealers or via Honda Malaysia’s official website.

Participants can collect the entries by downloading and signing up for the HondaTouch application, playing the ‘1 Million Dreams’ Quiz Game at Honda Malaysia’s official website, test driving a new Honda vehicle, booking a new Honda vehicle, servicing or repairing a Honda vehicle, or registering a new Honda vehicle within the campaign period.

The more entries collected, the higher the chance of winning the Special Edition cars. The lucky winners of the Special Edition cars will be announced at the Grand Finale which is scheduled for the end of March 2021.

Partners collaborate with Honda Malaysia
”Sharing our passion as a Healthy Home Creator to constantly bring value and enhancing the lives of all Malaysians, we are proud to be partnering with Honda Malaysia through their ‘1 Million Dreams Campaign’. Through this collaboration, we will be offering our customers and fans who purchase any of our selected Beyond Standards CUCKOO, or our newly launched and astoundingly comfortable A-Series Mattresses in March, a chance to drive home a Honda car. We welcome all our CUCKOO customers and fans to grab this opportunity to complete their dream homes with us,” said CUCKOO International Founder & CEO, Hoe Kian Choon.

Shopee’s Regional Managing Director, Ian Ho said Shopee will be giving away a special edition Honda HR-V on Shopee and be part of making a dream come true for that one lucky user. “We are honoured to be partnering Honda Malaysia in this celebration of having sold one million units of their vehicles here in Malaysia. Apart from Honda Malaysia showing its appreciation to its customers for their trust in the brand, this partnership speaks volumes of Honda’s digitalisation journey whilst giving us the chance to help it gain further success through e-commerce. Here’s to many more milestones to come and we look forward to driving meaningful experiences with Honda Malaysia!” Mr. Ho said.

Watsons Malaysia has put together an exclusive contest for its loyalty members to stand a chance of winning the Special Edition BR-V. Watsons members can participate in the contest by spending more than RM50 in a single receipt at any Watsons store or online.

“Congratulations to Honda Malaysia for the remarkable achievement! We are glad to be part of the ‘1 Million Dreams Campaign’ to commemorate this milestone with Honda Malaysia. I encourage all our members to grab this opportunity to join this contest!” said Caryn Loh, Managing Director of Watsons Malaysia.

Speeding forward in digitalisation
”This year, Honda Malaysia is set to excite the Malaysian market,” said Mr. Ishiyama. “In the era of digitalisation where its development and uptake are further accelerated by the new normal, Honda Malaysia strives to provide a comprehensive digital platform for its customers by enhancing its HondaTouch application and digital pre-booking platform.”

For more information on the ‘1 Million Dreams Campaign’, visit the campaign’s website at honda.com.my/1milliondreams/entry or any of the 102 authorised Honda dealerships nationwide. Alternatively, you can call Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020, or visit www.honda.com.my.

Honda stays at No.1 position in Non-National segment for 6th year

Honda Malaysia continues to provide assistance to local communities

Honda Malaysia continues to provide assistance to local communities, particularly those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and flood disaster. Its latest initiatives are Flood Safety Kits for the recent flood victims in Pahang, facemasks for schoolchildren, and laptops for underprivileged students. The distribution of the items by Honda Malaysia were conducted in compliance with all health and safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The laptops, in particular, are greatly needed in view of the increase in online learning sessions due to the Movement Control Order affecting school activities. To address this urgent need, Honda Malaysia arranged for laptops to be delivered to four secondary schools in Melaka. The laptops were given to students who come from low-income families who lack devices for Home-Based Teaching and Learning classes.

In addition to the laptops, the company provided 500 boxes of facemasks to 10 primary schools and 10 secondary schools in Melaka. Each school was allocated with 1,000 pieces of facemasks for the students to remain protected and adhere to the SOPs.

East Malaysia was not forgotten as Honda Malaysia sent essential items such as 1,000 pieces of face shields to frontliners at the Hospital Queen Elizabeth in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

“The on-going battle with COVID-19 has been a great challenge for students to keep up with their studies, especially those from low-income backgrounds. With the New Normal, students have no choice but to opt for online schooling. Devices such as computers become a necessity for students to cope with distance learning and this has affected students who have limited access to technology devices. We hope through our contribution the students will have a better study environment and be more motivated to continue their education,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.

“Honda strives to be a company that society wants to exist,” he added. ”Thus, Honda wants to be with the community always, during good and bad times, coming ‘Together As One’ with Malaysians.”

Safe practices implemented at all authorised Honda dealerships for customers’ peace of mind

All-new Honda HR-V (Vezel) revealed

The Honda HR-V (also known as Vezel in Japan and some other markets) was a hit the moment it arrived in showrooms. As always, Honda somehow got it right first time and in just about every market it was launched – including Malaysia – waiting lists quickly built up.

But no matter how good a product is, there comes a time when competitors have new offerings which start to draw customers away. It’s then time to do a model change and that time has come for the HR-V 5 years after the first generation was launched. Actually, to some, it is considered the second generation because there was a HR-V back in the late 1990s, but that was really a different model concept.

*Preview of HR-V prior to its Malaysian launch in 2015 attracted a lot of attention.*

Hybrid e:HEV powertrain
This time round, the new HR-V gets Honda’s advanced e:HEV hybrid powertrain as standard in most markets. This powertrain is a 2-motor hybrid powertrain which first appeared in the latest Jazz. Unlike the earlier hybrid systems Honda had, the e:HEV powertrain uses on electric motor as a generator and the other as a propulsion motor.

Specific details of the powertrain for the new HR-V are still not available. While it may be an improved version from that in the Jazz, it still has a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine and the system output would probably be around 200 ps.

Cleaner appearance
Honda’s designers have maintained the coupe-inspired profile for the crossover SUV. They aimed for ‘seamless, clean, modern design’ but some may find the overall appearance rather bland compared to the current model. But with car designs, time can sometimes change perceptions and as one designer (not from Honda) once said: “If the design of a new car is a great hit right away, we may have a problem as it can also age quickly”.

Interior space has also been a strong point of the HR-V, and with this new generation, exceptional spaciousness is claimed. Intelligent packaging of the hybrid powertrain and its components, which include the battery pack, has liberated more usable space in the cabin.

Thanks to Honda’s compact, integrated powertrain technology and centre fuel tank layout, the new HR-V also retains the Magic Seats that more versatility than conventional folding seats.

Premium SUV feel
As with the exterior, the interior has a premium SUV feel, but with contemporary fabrics and soft-touch materials. The modern minimalist aesthetic, which is initiated by the horizontal sweep of the instrument panel, is the result of an uncluttered interior and dashboard, with each element carefully positioned to contribute to the sense of space.

The feeling of airiness and space is elevated by a new air diffusion system that creates a curtain of fresh air beside and above passengers, flowing from unique L-shaped vents positioned in the top corners of the dashboard.

The first market that will get the new HR-V will be Japan, from April, with export markets around Asia possibly getting it by mid-year. European markets will have the model in showrooms towards the end of the year. As for Malaysia, a year-end debut might be possible if the supply chain is not disrupted as the model is assembled locally at Honda’s own plant in Melaka.

Prefer the current HR-V? Visit www.honda.com.my to locate an authorised dealer to buy one.

Winners of 4th ASEAN NCAP Grand Prix Awards announced

*Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my to find out more about other promotions at BHPetromart.*

With restrictions in many countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, event organisers have found it difficult to have the usual live events since there are social distancing requirements and invited guests may have concerns about being in a crowded environment. Nevertheless, the pandemic should not be allowed to impact our lives so greatly that annual events cannot be held at all, and the solution has been to have them online.

Many companies have been doing this and so has ASEAN NCAP for its 4^th Grand Prix Awards announcement. ASEAN NCAP is the New Car Assessment Programme for Southeast Asian Countries, a regional organisation affiliated to Global NCAP which was initiated and established by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) in response to the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety.

*In 2012, the City was among the very first cars tested by ASEAN NCAP at its crash-test facility in Melaka.*

MIROS PC3 — *Aerial view of ASEAN NCAP’s facility in Melaka, one of the sites where crash tests are conducted.*

The ASEAN NCAP Grand Prix Awards event recognizes and commemorates high achievers in car safety in the ASEAN region. The event was first held in 2014 in Sarawak, followed by the second in 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, and the third was held in Indonesia in 2018.

Two main awards
The 4th edition was initially planned in 2020 but due to COVID-19 pandemic, it had to be postponed to February 2021. There are two main awards given out – the Excellent Award and the Best Safety Performance Award – which have a number of categories each.

Under the Excellent Award, 12 winners were identified in which the award criteria were for the company/vehicle/organization/individual that contributed towards the improvement of vehicle safety in the ASEAN market.

*Toyota Corolla Altis – one of the models which contributed to the carmaker receiving the most 5-star awards since 2019.*

*Latest Isuzu D-MAX recognised for Continuous Safety Improvement.*

As for the Best Safety Performance Award, there were 4 categories and selection was based on the highest scoring points during the 2019-2020 assessments.

*Top scores in occupant protection made the Honda Accord stand out for safety performance.*

Commenting on the awards, ASEAN NCAP Secretary-General and Acting Chairman, Adjunct Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Khairil Anwar Abu Kassim (also MIROS Director-General) said: “Over the years, we saw great efforts have been put forward by vehicle manufacturers to ensure their vehicles are offered with the best safety features for the road-users. As such, the awards will provide them with a competitive edge against other models that do not offer such safety technologies albeit better passive safety technologies or advanced safety assist.”

Recognition for individuals and organizations
“Furthermore, as ASEAN NCAP has been in existence for 10 years now, we would like to recognize not only vehicle models but also organizations or individuals who have worked hand-in-hand with ASEAN NCAP and continuously strived to ensure the significance of vehicle safety. I look forward to work together with these important individuals and organizations as well future vehicle models under the new ASEAN NCAP assessment protocol for 2021-2025,” he added.

To know more about ASEAN NCAP and read the reports of the various models it has assessed, visit www.aseancap.org.

ASEAN NCAP’s efforts recognised at 2019 Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards

Cruise, with GM and Honda, team up with Microsoft for commercialization of self-driving vehicles

*To know more about promotions at BHPetrol stations, visit www.bhpetrol.com.my.*

Cruise, a company specialising in autonomous vehicle technology, and General Motors have entered a long-term strategic relationship with Microsoft to accelerate the commercialization of self-driving vehicles. The companies will bring together their software and hardware engineering skills, cloud computing capabilities, manufacturing know-how and partner ecosystem to transform transportation to create a safer, cleaner and more accessible world for everyone.

To unlock the potential of cloud computing for self-driving vehicles, Cruise will leverage Azure, Microsoft’s cloud and edge computing platform, to commercialize its unique autonomous vehicle solutions at scale. Microsoft, as Cruise’s preferred cloud provider, will also tap into Cruise’s deep industry expertise to enhance its customer-driven product innovation and serve transportation companies across the globe through continued investment in Azure.

*Cruise test vehicles are adapted from the Chevrolet Bolt EV.*

Accelerating digitization initiatives
In addition, GM will work with Microsoft as its preferred public cloud provider to accelerate its digitization initiatives, including collaboration, storage, artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. GM will explore opportunities with Microsoft to streamline operations across digital supply chains, foster productivity and bring new mobility services to customers faster.

Cruise will also send its self-driving vehicles to Japan and start development for testing this year as part of Honda’s new mobility business. This is a collaborative venture with Cruise and GM on self-driving vehicles for its autonomous vehicle mobility service (MaaS) business in Japan,

Autonomous vehicle mobility service
In due course, Honda aims to launch its MaaS business using the Cruise Origin, a vehicle the three companies are jointly developing exclusively for autonomous vehicle mobility service businesses. Honda Mobility Solutions Co., Ltd., will be the operator of the business in Japan.

“This collaboration with Cruise will enable the creation of new value for mobility and people’s daily lives, which we strive for under Honda’s 2030 Vision of serving people worldwide with the joy of expanding their life’s potential. Through active collaboration with partners who share the same interests and aspirations, Honda will continue to accelerate the realization of our autonomous vehicle MaaS business in Japan,” said Takahiro Hachigo, President & Representative Director of Honda Motor.

“Cruise’s mission to provide safer, cleaner and more accessible transportation is not limited to the USA. These are major changes that are needed almost everywhere in the world, and this is a small, but symbolic step with Honda on our global journey,” added Dan Ammann, CEO of Cruise.

Cruise was established in 2013 and has fully integrated manufacturing resources at scale, building all-electric, zero-emission, self-driving vehicles, especially for dense urban settings.

Human drivers use two eyes, autonomous cars need three eyes

(more…)

2020 new vehicle sales – the Top 5 brands in Malaysia

The Total Industry Volume (TIV) for 2020 was expected to be lower than the 604,281 units recorded in 2019 and in the first half of the year, many would have expected it to be significantly lower. However, with the consistently high numbers in the second half of the year, the TIV closed at 529,434 units, 12% lower than 2019 but well past the forecast of 470,000 made by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

When the year had started, the MAA had actually forecast 607,000 units for the year, but revised it substantially downwards by 23% as the seriousness of the pandemic and its impact on the industry became clear. The nationwide shutdown naturally resulted in lost sales, with April seeing the most dramatic drop to virtually zero as no business could be conducted.

*Proton sales rose in 2020 and its overall market share went above 20% for the first time since 2013.*

When the commercial sector was progressively allowed to resume, there was some consumer hesitance but then the government came out with its PENJANA program to help the economy recover and for the auto industry, the help was in the form of sales tax exemption for 6 months (extended a further 6 months until June 2021). This would lower retail prices and Malaysians always love it when they can escape paying tax, of course. The exemption applied to both locally-assembled and CBU models, except that the exemption for the latter was half and not the full 10%. Still, it made a difference, especially for the expensive models that are mostly CBU anyway.

Proton sales increased
It was expected that the sales volumes would be lower in 2020 but Proton didn’t suffer such a decline. The carmaker already had a healthy order bank and during the year, total vehicle deliveries were 8,524 units higher than in 2019, finishing off at 108,524 units. The volume was an increase of 8.8% over the 100,821 units sold in 2019.

Perodua, in spite of a big backlog of orders, still saw a reduction in volume of 20,178 units, 8.4% lower than the 240,341 units delivered in 2019. But it still retained the No. 1 position which it has had since 2006.

Among the non-national brands, Honda was in the lead but sold almost 25,000 fewer vehicles. Next was Toyota which sold 58,501 vehicles, while Nissan reported 14,160 vehicles. For the rest of the brands, the reduction in sales volume amounted to 20,451 units.

Malaysian makes gain in market share
In terms of market share, both Malaysian makes gained at the expense of the main rivals. Reflecting its higher sales, Proton’s share rose to 20.5%, an increase of 3.9%. The last time the carmaker had a share of 20% or more was in 2013 and the years before. Perodua, in spite of less deliveries, saw a 1.8% increase in its share to just above 41%. In most years, its share has been around 30%+.

Optimistic forecast for 2021
For 2021, the MAA is forecasting 570,000 units – an increase of 100,000 units from its 2020 forecast, which is 8% higher than the actual TIV achieved. Strong growth (18%) is expected in the commercial vehicle segment which will continue to require vehicles for the various projects underway around the country. If the pandemic doesn’t worsen, the association and its members expect the high demand to continue into 2022 before settling down to a 3% rate of increase annually.

New vehicle sales in 2020 declined by 12% but exceeded 470,000-unit forecast

2021 Honda HR-V range receives enhancements

The Honda HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD is being enhanced for 2021 with a new feature and exterior upgrades. While not announcing the price, Honda Malaysia said that customers can make a pre-booking at any authorised Honda dealership or by using the online pre-booking platform.

The refreshed appearance encompasses the LED Headlights, LED Guide Taillights and LED Front foglights, with new chrome door handles and a 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel. A new Platinum White Pearl colour replaces the existing White Orchid Pearl finish.

Petrol engine or hybrid choices
The HR-V Sport Hybrid is one of four variants in the HR-V range, the others being the RS, V and E (priced from RM104,000.21). While the other variants have a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine and CVT, the HR-V Sport Hybrid uses a powertrain consisting of a 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine (with direct fuel injection) and Integrated high-power electric motor. Coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, its output is comparable to that of a conventional 2-litre engine.

Besides the exterior changes, all variants also come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as well as 2 new USB ports. There is also a new 7-inch display panel for the infotainment system in the dashboard.

Other standard features of the enhanced HR-V include (depending on variant) a multi-angle rearview camera, cruise control, paddle shifters, 8-way powered driver’s seat, leather upholstery.

Comprehensive safety systems
The occupants are well protected with Passive Safety systems such as 6 SRS airbags and a computer-engineered ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) structural design by Honda which effectively dissipates collision forces.

Active Safety systems to help the driver avoid accidents include Honda LaneWatch to monitor blind spots, Emergency Stop Signal, Automatic Brake Hold, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Hill Start Assist.

“Honda Malaysia is excited to introduce the enhanced HR-V to Malaysians. Being one of the top three best-selling Honda models, the HR-V has contributed greatly to our achievement as No.1 in the Non-National segment in 2020. This enhanced model is a result of customers’ feedback as we continuously strive to introduce products that meet the needs of customers,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.

Third bestselling Honda model in Malaysia
The HR-V was first introduced in Malaysia in 2015 and there are currently over 98,600 units on Malaysian roads. The facelifted model was launched in January 2019 and was expanded with the RS and Sport Hybrid variants. Last year, the HR-V was Honda Malaysia’s third bestselling model, contributing 17% to its total sales volume.

For more information or to locate an authorised dealership in Malaysia, visit www.honda.com.my.

Pre-Booking of Honda models can now be done online for just RM99

Honda stays at No.1 position in Non-National segment for 6th year

Honda Malaysia has again claimed the No.1 position in the Non-National segment of the Malaysian car market, with a total of 60,469 vehicle delivered in 2020. This is the sixth consecutive year that the company has been in the lead position after the two Malaysian makes.

Announcing the achievement, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama, said: “The year 2020 may have been challenging but we have managed to maintain our undisputed No.1 position in the Non-National Segment for the sixth consecutive and for that, we are truly humbled by the support we have received.”

City accounted for 34% of sales
Mr. Ishiyama said that the City, being the most popular Non-National B-segment model among Malaysians, was the biggest contributor (34%) to the total volume. “Officially launched in October 2020, the all-new City recorded highest monthly sales in its history with over 5,500 units sold in the month of December 2020. It also received positive response from the market with more than 15,200 bookings to date, making it one of the highest booking figures for a newly launched model in Honda Malaysia in the second half of 2020.

The second best-selling model was the Civic, followed by the HR-V, which contributed 20% and 17% to the total sales volume, respectively.

Mr. Ishiyama also expressed gratitude to the Malaysian government extending the sales tax exemption incentive. “We sincerely thank the Malaysian government for the extension of sales tax exemption until June 30, 2021 which will allow many Malaysians to purchase cars with extra savings. As we move on in 2021, we will continue to support the government’s efforts to curb the pandemic which is still active nationwide,” he said.

City RS e:HEV due this month
While the City S, V and E variants (priced from RM74,191.27, excluding 10% sales tax) with the new 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC powertrain have been on sale since October, the all-new City RS e:HEV variant will be available from this month. The RS e:HEV variant is a world-first with its intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain.

*The new City RS e:HEV will be available this month.*

This electrified powertrain is an advanced hybrid powertrain with 2 motors and an Electric Continuous Variable Transmission (e-CVT). Together with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, the i-MMD powertrain can generate up to 253 Nm of torque, an exceptional output for its size. Maximum power output is 108 ps which can take the City beyond 170 km/h and yet consume fuel at a claimed rate of 26.5 kms/litre.

Test-drives and viewing of the new City can be done at all authorised Honda dealerships nationwide. To locate a dealership, visit www.honda.com.my and bookings can also be made online.

The Game-Changer Strikes Again with the 5th Generation Honda City

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