Volkswagen Archives

Volkswagen Group opens bigger Regional Parts Distribution Centre in Johor

Almost 5 years ago, Volkswagen AG moved its regional aftersales centre from Singapore to Malaysia, opening a new facility at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), a free trade area in Johor. It was the second major carmaker after BMW AG to use PTP as a regional facility for Asian markets. However, BMW, which had moved its facility from Sembawang in Singapore to PTP in 2003, shifted to an industrial zone next to Senai Airport in 2017.

Parts for four brands
Volkswagen’s facility would eventually serve 21 markets in the Asia-Pacific region, storing tens of thousands of parts for the Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen commercial vehicle brands of the German group. The idea of having a warehouse in Malaysia is to speed up deliveries of parts to distributors in Asia. By keeping parts in a strategic location, delivery times can be shortened compared to having them come all the way from Europe.

PTP Johor — *The Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor includes a Free Trade Zone (right) for companies using the strategic location as a regional hub to operate their warehouses.*

Enlarged facility
With its business continuing to grow in Asia, Volkswagen must see a need to stock more parts and has set up a new Regional Parts Distribution Centre in PTP with a larger area of 50,000 square metres.

The new and larger facility, with direct port connectivity, offers up to 15% improved distribution and process efficiency. It is customised to Volkswagen Group’s requirements, where storage systems like semi-automated paternoster and vertical narrow aisle are built for better warehouse space and process optimisation.

Improving parts delivery in the region
“Our new Parts Distribution Centre in Malaysia undoubtedly strengthens Volkswagen Group’s global aftersales supply chain, a key milestone in providing improved genuine parts delivery to our customers in Asia Pacific,” said Roman Havlasek, Head of Volkswagen Group’s After Sales.

“Malaysia offers a central and well-connected location which perfectly suits our plans to expand our foothold in the region,” added Head of Volkswagen Group Sales, Dr Christian Dahlheim.

“Our electric product range already consists of very attractive models like the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 as well as the Audi e-tron that is fast growing. Besides vehicles, a strong aftersales performance is key for customer satisfaction,” he said.

*Having a regional centre as well as a local hub means service centres can get parts faster.*

Contrary to what some parties in Malaysia suggest, this is not a factory making automotive parts. It is only a storage facility for completed parts shipped from Europe and then despatched to various markets.

Parts from the Regional Parts Distribution Centre will be shipped to distributors in the various markets by air or sea, or in the case of Malaysia and Singapore, by road. For the Malaysian market, Volkswagen has a Parts Hub in Shah Alam, Selangor, to serve the market. It has been in operation since 2016, initially getting parts from the regional centre in Singapore and then PTP in Johor.

It is unlikely that the facility at PTP serves the assembly plant in Pahang which makes Volkswagens for the Malaysian market. That plant, within the HICOM Automotive Manufacturers (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. complex in Pekan, would receive the CKD (completely knocked-down) packs of parts from Port Klang. Genuine parts come from the master depot in Kassel while CKD packs are prepared at Wolfsburg in Germany.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia introduces additional online aftersales services

Review: 5 Reasons You Should Get The VW Tiguan Allspace R-Line

Nowadays, size matters.

Well, at least for customers who need All that Space not just for a comfortable drive but also able to flash that made in Germany pride while carrying your family of seven along.

However, it is no secret that one need to splash the cash to be able to afford a full-blown German-made SUV, a seven-seater nonetheless.

Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Porsche will definitely burn a hole in your pocket (unless your pants are made out of kevlar that is) hence you have no choice but to turn to other options that might just get you there without having to sacrifice too much.

Meet, the All-New Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line (which we were given a chance to test out recently).

For those who seek that straight edge, high-tech, no-nonsense, proper, and made in Germany SUV that will cost you just RM200,000.

Here are five (5) things you need to know about one of the latest offerings by Volkswagen Malaysia.

1. Design

The overall look of the Tiguan Allspace R-Line is ravishing, especially those aggressive front bumpers and side skirts with a touch of black trims.

Those 19 inches sporty wheels just extend how good it looks on the road along with the unique design front and rear LED and Daytime Running Lights (DRL).

Compare to the standard Tiguan, the Allspace is 200mm longer and 100mm longer wheelbase which resulted in 230L of boot space that can be increased up to 1,775L with the 2nd and 3rd row folded.

2. Performance

Although a full-fledged 7-seater, the Allspace R-Line comes with a 2.0L turbocharged engine that generates 220hp and 350Nm of torque which is paired to a 7-speed transmission 4Motion All-Wheel Drive.

The gearbox also offers four driving modes to match your needs in.

3. Interior

It looks good on the outside but also makes you feel good on the inside.

Especially the 9.2″ full colour touch-screen that combines your entertainment systems, navigation, and connectivity.

The display also shows selected smartphone apps that can be easily access using MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto.

The 2nd row is just filled with space with a lot of legroom that will assure a lot of comfort for every family members however, the 3rd row (as with other SUV’s) is a bit tight and cramped for adults.

4. Top-notch safety features

The Tiguan Allspace R-Line comes pack with the best safety features you can think of from Hill Descent Control, Automatic Post Collision Brake System (stops you from subsequent impact after involved in a crash), Drive Alert System, 6 Airbags, ISOFIX, Electronic Stability Control, and a Rearview Camera.

Even the seat grabs you in its place to make you feel as if you are driving in a safety net, especially for someone who is 1.75m and 88 kg, the seating ergonomics is on point.

5. The price

The Tiguan Allspace R-Line will only cost you RM209,575 and if you compare it to other carmakers that also reside in the Land of Ideas, the Allspace is much more value for money.

Not to mention, a cheaper option, the Tiguan Allspace Highline is price only at RM165,000.

The Allspace R-Line fulfills your every need not just as a family-friendly 7-seater SUV but also able to deliver 220hp when you need them.

Volkswagen Malaysia also offers 3-years free maintenance with 5-years unlimited mileage warranty and roadside assistance, hence you can enjoy the car without any worry, and I personally think the Tiguan Allspace R-Line is an excellent deal.

Money-saving offers for Volkswagen buyers until end of February

Though representing a German brand, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) ‘acts locally’ and is already preparing for the coming Chinese New Year. For those wanting to start the new year of The Ox with a new car, VPCM is offering special money-saving deals.

Authorised Volkswagen dealers around the country will offer a RM1,000 ang pao rebate for the Passat and Arteon sedans and Tiguan Allspace SUV. There are also additional savings of up to RM4,500 if the purchase is booked through the Volkswagen eShowroom.

Those interested in the Passat range will also enjoy free additional 1-year insurance or RM5,500 savings. For selected Tiguan Allspace and Arteon models, there are additional savings of up to RM3,500. And of course, with the sales tax exemption extended until June 2021, there are also extra savings.

Besides warranty coverage for the full 5 years after original registration, the owner will also not need to pay for scheduled maintenance for the first 3 years (terms and conditions apply). There will also be complimentary Roadside Assistance for the first 5 years, providing peace of mind on long journeys.

Existing owners not forgotten
VPCM doesn’t look at just selling a car but cares about making the entire ownership experience a good one. And during festive seasons like the coming Chinese New Year, Volkswagen owners can also enjoy special deals at authorised service centres. This year, the CNY Aftersales Service Campaign offers savings on replacement parts and genuine engine oil. The Aftersales offerings are listed below:

Additional offerings for owners include complimentary a 5-Star Service Check, up to 20% discount on batteries and tyres, and complimentary Volkswagen ang pao packets. Service appointments can be made online here.

Chinese New Year falls on February 12 this year, but the Volkswagen CNY Sales and Aftersales promotions will be on until February 28, 2021.

For more information or to locate a Volkswagen showroom in Malaysia, visit www.volkswagen.com.my .

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia introduces additional online aftersales services

Augmented Reality Head-Up Display starts to appear in compact segment

The Head-Up Display (HUD) was originally developed for use in fighter jets, providing pilots with important operating information without having to look down at instruments. This was important at the speeds they were flying, more so when in combat where they had to be looking ahead (or around) all the time.

The value of HUDs eventually saw them being installed in commercial aircraft, providing pilots with an additional ‘screen’ ahead of them so they could still view the runway ahead when landing. The system also caught the attention of engineers in the auto industry who thought it would be a good idea to use in cars. By projecting information on the windscreen, the driver could stay focussed on the road ahead and still be informed of things like speed and other functions.

The earliest use of the HUD in a car was in a Nissan Silvia in the mid-1980s and General Motors also put it in some of its models. However, the early HUDs were simple with just a few items of information. There were initial issues of visibility in bright sunlight which limited their wider use, apart from the cost. As such, while they continued to be offered, only very expensive models had them, usually as an option.

Some manufacturers came up with a low-cost approach which did not need any special windscreen glass. Instead, a flip-up see-through panel was installed on top of the dashboard ahead of the steering wheel. Information was projected onto this from inside the dashboard, which was visible to the driver. In a way, it was a return to the earliest concept of the HUD which was basically a reflector sight installed in fighter planes in World War II.

A genuine innovation
With advancements in electronics and other technologies, the HUD for cars has also evolved and with costs dropping as volume increases, it is slowly becoming available in lower segments. Volkswagen is the first car manufacturer in the world to introduce this technology in the compact segment (initially in the new ID.3 and ID.4 electric models), and it includes augmented reality (AR) as well.

With AR, the virtual and real worlds are merged in the HUD panel. The innovative system superimposes selected symbols onto the outside world and displays them dynamically. It’s a new chapter in driver information displays and a genuine global innovation.

Two fields, two levels.
The AR HUD projects important information onto the windscreen – separated into two fields and levels. The large window for the dynamic displays is located in the driver’s field of view at a virtual distance of around 10 metres and has a diagonal measuring around 1.8 metres. Information from the driver assist systems as well as the turn arrows and starting points and destinations of the navigation system are displayed in this far-range window.

The close-range window is located as a flat band under the large far-range window. This shows the driving speed, road signs, and assist and navigation symbols as static displays. They appear to ‘float’ around 3 metres in front of the driver.

All displays are positioned perfectly in line with the real world outside the vehicle and are shown dynamically. When the vehicle approaches a junction where it should turn off according to the navigation route, the driver sees two indications: in the first step, an advance notification on the road level, and then three arrows located at the junction.

The closer the driver gets to the junction, the larger the arrows become. At the same time, their textures fade in order to ensure a clear view of the road. When developing all displays, Volkswagen followed the basic concept of “Less is more”. This ensures that the driver is not overwhelmed with distracting information under any circumstances.

The Lane Assist function is also visualised in the far-range window. If the vehicle moves closer to a boundary line at the edge of the road without indicating, this line is displayed in orange. Two green lines appear after switching on Travel Assist, which keeps the car in the middle of the lane. When following another vehicle, the display marks the vehicle in front with a coloured stripe as soon as Adaptive Cruise Control or Travel Assist is activated. When the assist systems are switched off, the driver sees a red warning signal if they drive dangerously close to the vehicle in front.

The technical heart
The technical heart of the AR HUD is the picture generation unit display located deep inside the dash panel. The beam bundles generated by an especially bright LCD display are transmitted onto two flat mirrors, and special lenses separate the portions for the close and far range display levels. The flat mirrors deflect the beams onto a large, electrically adjustable concave mirror. From here, the beams reach the windscreen and thus enter the driver’s field of view. The driver sees the symbols with the same sharp definition as the real world at an apparent distance of just under 10 metres.

The images are generated by an AR creator located in one of the two central computers in the ID. models. The AR creator calculates the positioning of the symbols corresponding to the surroundings. To make these calculations, it receives information from the raw data of the front camera, radar sensor and navigation map. The displays that appear in the large window are stabilised with respect to the vehicle’s movements and adapted to the geometry of the optical projection system.

*The ID.3 (left) and ID.4 are the first members of Volkswagen’s all-electric ID. family to go on sale.*

“We have introduced a genuine innovation not in a premium vehicle, but in the compact models of the all-electric ID. family. Making pioneering technologies available to a large number of customers is a core competency of Volkswagen,” said Frank Welsch, Member of the Board of Management for Development at Volkswagen.

ID.4 – first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen

How the Volkswagen ID.R can still go around the world in the COVID-19 era

Volkswagen Motorsport’s team has been in many places around the world – at famous racetracks and locations, like the Nurburgring Nordschleife, Goodwood, Pikes Peak and Tianmen Mountain. Despite everything being very different this year, the ID.R super electric car has still been on the road. However, the soundtrack for the first stop of the world tour for the 671-bhp electric racing car was the roar of jet engines, not the sound of powerful electric motors.

That’s because the car was visiting Knuffingen Airport, an airport in the south of Germany which is one of the few that is currently operating as usual. After extensive reconstruction, aircraft like the Airbus A380 are taking to the air again.

The next stop on the tour is Venice. The legendary city is not the kind of place you would expect to see a record-holder alongside the gondolas and between the historic buildings at Piazza San Marco. A few hundred kilometres further south, the lack of tourists mean there is not a lot going on at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

Back in Germany, a traditional parade can be seen near Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. In other parts of Germany, the car visits a fair close to the home of Volkswagen Motorsport in Central Germany and the Elbe Philharmonic Hall that towers above the Port of Hamburg.

Across the Atlantic, the spectacular, brightly-lit hotels in Las Vegas are obviously particularly inviting for a ‘star’ like the ID.R, which can be right at home on the Strip with its electric atmosphere of neon signs. From here, it is not far to the Grand Canyon, where the car has a glorious view of the national park and a nice long ride the next day.

A miniature world tour
Even the ambitious engineers at Volkswagen Motorsport would have struggled to imagine the Volkswagen racing visiting so many locations, or other stops in Scandinavia and Provence—particularly not in 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made the world a little smaller and forced Volkswagen to rethink its plans accordingly.

The Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg
Because long-distance travel was made virtually impossible, the powerful member of Volkswagen’s EV family instead visited Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg… in 1/87th scale. Like the ID.R, Miniatur Wunderland is a record-breaker and constantly striving for new superlatives. The biggest model railway in the world has 15 kms of track, which equates to more than 1,368 kms of real rail, and more than 1,000 trains with more than 10,000 carriages travel around the more than 1,330 square-metre facility.

The exhibition also features over 9,000 cars and 130,000 trees, while almost half a million LEDs illuminate the little wonderland. More than 300 employees have invested almost a million hours of work so far.

How it began
The idea of building Miniatur Wunderland came about on a journey.: “About 20 years ago, I was in a model railway shop in Switzerland,” recalled one of the founding members, Frederik Braun. “It brought back childhood memories and the dream of building the biggest model railway in the world was reborn. When I told my brother, he initially thought I had lost the plot completely.”

“That is true,” confirmed Gerrit Braun. “But it then ignited a spark in me too, and we started to consider how we would go about doing it. It was clear that we did not simply want to build another display, but something totally new.”

Work began on Miniatur Wunderland in December 2000. One year later, the first part was ready to open, and construction on the model railway continues to this day. It is definitely well worth a visit – and somewhere in there, you will find a record-breaking Volkswagen.

*The full-sized record-breaking ID.R racing in the Tianmen Mountain region in China.*

All-electric Volkswagen ID. R breaks Goodwood Hillclimb record set by McLaren F1 racing car

CKD and why carmakers choose to use it

‘CKD’ is something which car-buyers may read about and some may wonder what it means. The initials stand for ‘Complete Knocked Down’ and refer to the way a vehicle is shipped to Malaysia. If it comes in a completed form, ready to be driven, then it is referred to as ‘Completely Built Up’ or ‘CBU’. If it comes in a disassembled form with many parts in boxes, and the parts are then assembled to form the vehicle, then it is a CKD model.

The concept of CKD began many decades ago when manufacturers wanted to be able to produce more vehicles for a market. Sometimes shipping vehicles in CBU form was not practical or feasible, or restrictive regulations made it difficult to sell CBU models. So vehicles were sent in parts in a box – like a Tamiya model – which could then be assembled in another country. The investment was lower than to build a factory and governments also liked it because there would be employment and transfer of technology.

*Workers packing parts for the Beetle in 1955. More vehicles can be sent in CKD form than CBU form.*

Assembly in Malaysia started in 1960s
In fact, in the mid-1960s, the Malaysian government decided to encourage the assembly of vehicles locally as a means to industrialize and also create more jobs, as well as benefit from transfer of technology. While it would have wished that factories could be built, the market size was too small, so the first step was an assembly plant and as an incentive, the tax rates for models assembled in Malaysia would be lower than for CBU models.

A number of manufacturers responded positively, especially as Malaysia then was a very good place for a carmaker to carry out such activities. It was developing rapidly, had a stable economy and society and the workforce was also well educated. Additionally, more vehicles can be sent in CKD than CBU form.

*CKD packs are put into containers and then shipped by land, air, sea or rail to countries around the world.*

The first assembly plants were opened in the second half of the 1960s, mostly situated in Shah Alam. Selangor. Carmakers in Europe, Japan and Australia began sending over CKD packs for their models to be assembled locally. To encourage the development of a local auto industry, the government also specified a list of parts which should be sourced locally. These were things like paint, windscreen glass, tyres, batteries and wire harnesses.

Volkswagen was one of the early carmakers to assemble its cars in Malaysia, starting with the Beetle. In fact, the German company had been exporting the Beetle in CKD form since 1950. In Malaysia, the packs which arrived in Port Klang were sent to the Assembly Services plant in Shah Alam. This plant was huge in its early days and assembled a variety of models from different brands as well as large commercial vehicles. With a CKD operation in place, Malaysia was added to Volkswagen global production network.

*The CKD packs are usually wooden boxes and contain a number of parts, big and small, which are then transferred to the assembly line within the HICOM Automotive Manufacturers complex.*

How the process works
The CKD process is slightly different from the CBU one which is pretty much just ordering whole vehicles with the required specifications. With CKD, thousands of parts must be collected and in the case of Volkswagen, the coordination is done at Wolfsburg, its home city in Germany. Orders received from all over the world are processed centrally in Wolfsburg and a supply management team ensures that the parts required are available from the different European plants and suppliers.

The source for the type of item will be different; body panels and engines, for example, may come from Volkswagen’s own factories but parts like instrument panels and seats might be from suppliers. The parts used to be packed in the boxes manually, but high-tech systems are now used. The parts are bundled and packaged at one of the 8 distribution centres, loaded into containers and shipped by sea, rail or air to the different countries.

These 8 centres handle a total of about 1.7 million cubic metres of goods every year, corresponding to about 25,000 overseas containers. From the receipt of an order, it takes about 8 weeks before the CKD packs for a vehicle is delivered in the destination country. All in all, about 90 different vehicle projects of overseas plants are supplied via CKD from Europe.

Today, Volkswagen has 27 assembly locations in 10 countries. The largest CKD assembly plant is located in South Africa and it not only serves that market but some of its output is also exported to other countries. So it is also a production hub for certain models.

*A Volkswagen Polo being assembled at the plant in Pekan, Pahang.*

Quality assured even with local assembly
There are also plants located in the USA, China, Brazil, Argentina, India, Malaysia and Indonesia. In some cases, the assembly may be carried out by a local business partner. In Malaysia, Volkswagen works with HICOM Automotive Manufacturers which has a manufacturing complex in Pekan, Pahang. Of course, quality is assured as Volkswagen personnel are also present to assist and conduct inspections on every vehicle.

“We used to need only one or two faxes per week for coordination with the overseas plants. Nowadays, we work with our production plants on a real-time basis and manage about 9,000 part numbers for worldwide shipment. The tasks of our employees have changed fundamentally – they are no longer simply box-packers but are now logistics data experts,” noted Burkhard Husken, Head of CKD of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand.

Click here to know more about Volkswagen models available in Malaysia.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia and Facebook have Instagram ‘Live With’ event

Businesses are always looking for new ways to draw the attention of consumers to their brand and products and with the present situation where the virtual world is the dominant ‘hang-out’ for a lot more people than before, ,many online activities are going on, especially on social media.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM), one of the early companies to make use of social media and online sales, today scored another historical first with Instagram ‘Live With’, a collaboration between Facebook Malaysia and VPCM.

The inaugural event this afternoon saw Instagram influencers doing virtual walk-throughs of three Volkswagen models, while highlighting key USPs and answering viewers questions live. Those who tuned in to watch also had a chance to win an Apple iPhone 12.

Increased digital presence
Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM said: “In efforts to adapt to the new normal, Volkswagen has evolved and increased our digital presence. This is evident in our new sales and aftersales offerings. We need to be where our customers are and that is in the palm of their hands. With new formats such as Instagram LIVE With, this will allow us to connect and reach a wider audience regardless of location. This pilot collaboration with Facebook will be the first of many to come.”

The offers continue for existing Volkswagen owners as well as those who book their service appointment online today (December 11, 2020) will receive exclusive merchandise worth RM170 and enjoy discounts under the 5-Star Service Campaign. This is applicable for service appointments made between December 15 – 31, 2020.

Online with VW dealerships this weekend
Tomorrow and Sunday (December 12 & 13), authorised Volkswagen dealerships around the country will be holding their own celebrations with an online showroom event from 11 am to 5 pm. This will provide interested customers a chance to get to know more about Volkswagen models as there will be detailed walk-throughs. They can also interact with the Sales Consultants from the comfort and safety of their own home.

The event will be on the respective Facebook pages of each dealership which you can get by clicking on your preferred dealership on this page.

Alternatively, you can also visit www.volkswagen.com.my for information on Volkswagen products and services available in Malaysia. For news and articles about Volkswagen, click here.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia and PichaEats drive kindness this festive season

A festive season usually includes giving to those less fortunate and this year, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) and PichaEats teamed up to deliver a total of 280 meals to the less fortunate, in efforts to drive kindness this festive season.

The ‘Driving Kindness’ convoy consisted of employees from VPCM and PichaEats, a catering company that specializes in preparing meals from the homeland of its chefs who come from Syria, Palestine, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Recipients of the Driving Kindness campaign were Hiichiikok Foundation, Trinity Community Children’s Home, Lighthouse Children’s Welfare Home, Sunteck Handicap Welfare Home and Charis Sheep Pen Shelter, all located in Klang Valley.

Additionally, as a show of support to frontliners, a total of 100 meals were delivered to the doctors and nurses at the COVID-19 testing station at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

In the spirit of giving, five families and individuals were also presented with a PichaEats Christmas Family set. The respective parties were selected through a Facebook contest held last month which invited netizens to nominate those going through tough times and deserved a special meal as a show of love and appreciation.

“Christmas is the season of giving, and it is a privilege to be able to give back to the community and to the less fortunate. The year has been extremely challenging for everyone, and it is so important to stay connected, be kind and to give back whenever possible,” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM.

“The Volkswagen group has been committed to aiding refugees via numerous social platforms since 2015, and here we are honoured to partner with the charismatic team at PichaEats, who are doing an amazing job creating opportunities for refugees in Malaysia,” he added.

“At PichaEats, we are all about making an impact. For this Christmas and year-end season, we especially wanted to emphasize the idea of bringing joy and spreading kindness to the community at large. It was a pleasure working with Volkswagen Malaysia to realize this, who were all for putting a smile on the faces of those who needed some good cheer,” said Kim Lim, CEO and co-founder of PichaEats.

The meals were delivered by volunteers who used their own Volkswagen vehicles – two Beetles and two Kombi vans – as well as vehicles provided by VPCM.

Click here for other news and articles about Volkswagen.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia is giving RM1,000 off on any new vehicle purchased by December 7, 2020

This month is a good time if you’re shopping for a new car this month as some companies are offering special deals that can save money. One of them is Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) which is giving another RM1,000 off for all new Volkswagen models booked through authorised dealers from today till December 7, 2020.

This offer is valid for bookings made at all Volkswagen dealerships nationwide or if you prefer to do so from the comfort of your home, you can use the eShowoom. This online facility has a Vehicle Configurator so you can be more specific about your requirements with the vehicle you want to buy.

*Passat R-Line – one of the models that you can get the discount for.*

The Volkswagen range in Malaysia currently consists of the Vento, Golf, Passat, Tiguan and Arteon. Customers enjoy a 5-year warranty (unlimited mileage), 3 years of free scheduled maintenance and complimentary Roadside Assistance for the first 5 years.

Milestone number for mobile app
Two years after its launch, the Volkswagen Cares mobile app has reached the milestone achievement of 30,000 downloads and members. The app is part of the Volkswagen Cares aftersales initiative to provide the best for Volkswagen owners in the country.

A completely local initiative, the Volkswagen Cares app was developed and is managed locally for the Malaysian market. It is an essential tool for owners who can stay in touch with VPCM and its dealers easily.

Improving overall ownership experience
“The app was created to make our services more accessible to our customers, and further improve their overall ownership experience. The convenience of accessing the Volkswagen world via mobile app is offered in different Volkswagen markets around the world, and what we are also delighted to note is that our app has seen an unparalleled take-up rate compared to other markets managed by the Porsche Holdings Group,” said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM, adding that a revamp in 2021 will see enhancements being made to the app.

Free vouchers for service and service package vouchers are offered through the app. Those with vehicles five years and older under the Volkswagen Care Plus programme may also view and access their benefits through the app. Roadside assistance is also available via the app.

Non-Volkswagen owners can also use the mobile app at no charge. They can find out about sales offers, view videos and receive sales and event updates. It is available for IOS and Android devices and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store.

Click here for other news and articles about Volkswagen.

320 ps makes the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R the most powerful Tiguan ever

Volkswagen has announced the most powerful Tiguan to date: the Tiguan R. With a power output of 320 ps, the SUV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, it is claimed. The capability comes from the EA888 evo4 TSI turbocharged engine which also generates up to 420 Nm between 2,100 rpm and 5,350 rpm.

Developed by Volkswagen R
The Tiguan flagship was developed by Volkswagen R, the carmaker’s high-performance division. It’s not just the impressive performance that characterises the Tiguan R but also the extensively customised equipment. The exterior has R-designed bumpers with aerodynamic elements in high-gloss black or matching the body colour chosen by the customer.

The exterior mirror covers are in matt chrome and there is a unique and also high-gloss black rear diffuser, black wheel housing extensions and 20-inch Misano alloy wheels (21-inch available as option). The exterior of the Tiguan R can also be personalised with the Black Style design package.

Exclusive interior fittings
Inside, the Tiguan R sets presents a sportier ambience with features such as stainless steel pedals, premium sport seats that have integrated head restraints and R logo developed exclusively for this version. The Digital Cockpit, a highlight of the latest generation of Volkswagens, is additionally customised with an integrated lap timer and sports R-specific decorative trim in Carbon Grey. The decorative trim elements are illuminated via the background lighting.

New 4MOTION all-wheel drive system
Power from the 4-cylinder engine, with a 7-speed DSG, is distributed to four wheels by the new all-wheel drive system. This is the 4MOTION system with R-Performance Torque Vectoring. Volkswagen engineers have incorporated a rear final drive with two multiplate clutches for the first time which not only distributes power between the front and rear axles but also variably between the left and right rear wheels.

With the new all-wheel drive system, Volkswagen claims that there is noticeably improved handling agility when cornering, making the Tiguan R’s driving dynamics a new benchmark for SUVs.

Other technical R equipment includes a powerful 18-inch brake system with blue brake calipers, a DCC chassis (with adaptively controlled shock absorbers) lowered by 10 mm, and a driving profile selection enhanced for the Tiguan R with an additional R profile. This particularly sporty mode can be activated directly by means of a blue R button on the new multifunction sports steering wheel. The ESC (Electronic Stability Control) can be deactivated by drivers who are skilled and want to explore the performance limits.

As standard, the Tiguan R comes with a 4-branch sports exhaust system but customers can also choose the optionally available titanium exhaust system from Akrapovic and 21-inch Estoril alloy wheels.

Volkswagen’s bestseller globally
While many may think the Golf is Volkswagen’s bestselling model, that is not so and the Tiguan is its bestselling model today. It is relatively young in the carmaker’s range, having been introduced in 2007. However, that coincided with the rapid growth in the SUV segment globally, and with the timing being right, sales rocketed.

The annual volumes have increased almost eightfold since the first full year of production. In 2019, one in seven of the 6.18 million Volkswagen vehicles manufactured was a Tiguan, for a total of 910,926 units. In fact, a Tiguan left the production line every 35 seconds last year – a new record for the model.

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group opens bigger Regional Parts Distribution Centre in Johor

Review: 5 Reasons You Should Get The VW Tiguan Allspace R-Line

1. Design

2. Performance

3. Interior

4. Top-notch safety features

5. The price

Money-saving offers for Volkswagen buyers until end of February

Augmented Reality Head-Up Display starts to appear in compact segment

How the Volkswagen ID.R can still go around the world in the COVID-19 era

CKD and why carmakers choose to use it

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia and PichaEats drive kindness this festive season

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia is giving RM1,000 off on any new vehicle purchased by December 7, 2020

320 ps makes the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R the most powerful Tiguan ever

2024 Volkswagen Passat; Wagon-Only Model, First Specs Released

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Family Now Available With IQ.Drive

Volkswagen Beetle: End Of An Era With No Future Model Planned

No Maintenance Costs For An Extra 2 Years With Certain Volkswagen Models

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Unveiled With Advanced Driver Aids

Low-Cost Volkswagen EV To Go On Sale in 2025, Priced Under 25,000 Euros (RM120,000)

‘New’ Volkswagen ID.3 Unveiled As Second Generation Model

First Look At The Volkswagen ID.7… But It’s Still Camouflaged (w/VIDEO)

Special Offers From Volkswagen For Chinese New Year Of The Rabbit

Increased Autonomous Capabilities For Volkswagen Travel Assist System

Archive

Debate Heats Up: Concessionaires vs. Government on MLFF Traffic Project

JPJ Extends Counter Operating Hours in Selected States

Ukrainian Fighters Turn Toyota Mirai Into a Hydrogen Explosive Device

Reduction of Speed Limits in School Zones to 30km/h Proposed to Enhance Safety

Art of Speed Malaysia 2024: Stop The Violence

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