The year 2024 marks a significant period for Lotus Cars Malaysia.
Over the past 12 months, Lotus Malaysia has successfully sold more than 200 units of the Lotus Eletre electric SUV, along with 20 units of the Lotus Emira sports car.
Not only that, the Lotus Eletre has triumphed in not one, but two categories at the 2024 Malaysia Car of the Year Awards, namely SUV of the Year (above RM500,000) and xEV of the Year 2024 (above RM300,000).
Officially launched in the Malaysian market in 2023, the Lotus Eletre is the brand’s first electric SUV, delivering a remarkable performance with up to 905 hp and 985 Nm of torque.
With a 112 kWh battery pack, the Lotus Eletre can achieve a driving range of 600 km, or 490 km for the Eletre R.
The Porsche production plant in Leipzig has been awarded the Factory of the Year by the consultancy firm Kearney, in collaboration with Süddeutscher Verlag Veranstaltungen and the magazine Produktion.
The sports car brand manufacturing facility has surpassed nearly 100 other factories worldwide. Last autumn, the jury panels visited this Leipzig plant.
Porsche utilizes the Smart Factory approach for a smart and connected plant. All processes are smart, efficient, and eco-friendly. For instance, the car ‘marriage’ process in the plant is intricate yet organized. The ‘marriage’ process involves the assembly of the chassis with the body of the car.
In Leipzig, this process can encompass three different powertrains – combustion engine, hybrid, or electric – in the same assembly line. Cameras are used for monitoring alongside automated measurement systems for checking screw threads.
In the painting section, whereas it was previously inspected by several individuals in a team, it now employs the Automatic Error Detection (AFE) process.
In just 70 seconds, two robots scan the entire outer surface of the car using light strips. Over 100,000 photos enable these robots to detect even minor errors.
Another aspect contributing to the Leipzig Porsche plant’s victory is sustainability and commitment to the local community. The Zero Impact Factory vision balances the economy, biodiversity, and air quality.
Since 2017, this plant has solely used electricity from renewable sources. It has been carbon-neutral since 2021, with part of the electric power being generated by the plant itself.
Porsche’s social commitment also contributes to education, culture, social issues, sports, and the environment. One strategy involves protecting various animal species in the plant’s vicinity for over 20 years. Species in the surrounding area include Heck cattle, Exmoor ponies, bees, and a variety of plants.
In 2002, the Leipzig plant commenced operations as Porsche’s second production center after Stuttgart. Currently, the Leipzig plant plays a pivotal role in the economy of central Germany, with over 4,600 employees building Macan and Panamera models here.
The Porsche Leipzig plant also houses the Porsche Experience Centre with an FIA-certified track and off-road courses.
THE 19th Malaysia Car of the Year (MCOTY) recently concluded, and the prestigious title of Overall Car of the Year was awarded to the Honda Civic e:HEV RS Hybrid.
The annual program which serves as a platform for automotive enthusiasts and experts to recognize and celebrate the best new cars in Malaysia, unanimously picked the Honda Civic e:HEV RS Hybrid for its technology which eliminates power-robbing gearboxes, whether CVT or hydraulic, and for providing the best energy regeneration of all current hybrids in Malaysia.
With 121 new cars nominated for this year’s award, the competition was fierce and represented a diverse range of vehicles. The judging panel consisted of 10 esteemed automotive journalists and two professionals from the legal and medical fields.
These judges evaluated the cars based on several criteria, including design, technology, safety, and value for money. As a result of their analysis, the 121 nominated cars were divided into seven main categories, with 13 winners emerging as the best in their respective segments.
One interesting aspect of the MCOTY program is the People’s Choice award, which is determined through online polling using smartphone to implement one person one vote from a list of 25 cars nominated by the judges and a team from the Malaysia Automotive Robotics IoT Institute.
This year, the Perodua Axia E took home the People’s Choice award in the mass market category, while the BMW iX1 xDrive30 M Sport won the hearts of the public in the premium market. Interesting to see that Malaysians selected an EV in the premium market segment.
In addition to the winners, the judges also made Honourable Mentions of three outstanding cars that defied convention.
The Ford Ranger Raptor 3.0 V6 petrol twin turbo was acknowledged for its outstanding performance, being described as a supercar in pick-up guise.
The Perodua Axia 1.0 E received recognition for its affordability, with its price tag of RM22,000 making it one of the best value-for-money cars in the world. Despite criticism regarding its safety standards, the judges argued that the Axia E is still much safer than motorcycles.
Third, the Chery Omoda 5 was commended for its warranty, as it was launched with an unprecedented 1 million km warranty for the first 3,000 buyers. This imaginative brand-building exercise caught the attention of the judging panel.
Winners of the 19th Malaysia Car of the Year Awards:
A) Sedan and Hatchback:
Below: RM110,000: Toyota Vios 1.5G
RM111,000 to RM249,000: Honda Civic e:HEV RS Hybrid
Above RM250,000: Mercedes-Benz C300 AMG Line
