Tag Archives: production

NEWS

Audi Malaysia begins production of the Q7 SUV in Pekan

Audi Malaysia has recently started the assembly process for the Audi Q7 SUV model at its factory in Pekan, Pahang.

This means that the Audi Q7 is the only Audi model that is assembled locally for the Malaysian market and the Southeast Asian region.

According to Dr. Susanne Lehmann, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia, “This achievement is not just about the launch; it symbolizes vision, partnership, innovation, and progress.”

“Customers will continue to enjoy the same experience of quality, performance, and luxury that Audi is known for—now made in Malaysia,” she added.

In addition to the Q7 model, the Pekan factory is also expected to assemble other Audi models, with a production capacity of around 5,000 units per year.

Over RM12 million in initial investment has been made to realize this vision, further strengthening Audi’s presence in the premium luxury vehicle segment in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Denyu Bostandzhiev, Managing Director of PHS Automotive Malaysia, stated, “By assembling several key vehicles here, we can offer more competitive pricing and shorten delivery times for our customers.”

“With the increasing demand for D-segment SUVs, we believe this is the perfect time to add the locally assembled Q7 to our model lineup,” he explained.

The 2025 Audi Q7 is expected to be offered in the S line variant, with an estimated retail price ranging from RM469,000 to RM489,000.

It is a mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) powered by a 3.0-liter V6 TFSI engine that produces 340 PS and 500 Nm of torque, paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is achieved in just 5.6 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 250 km/h.

 

NEWS

Vehicle sales drop by 0.8% in August 2024 – MAA

The Automotive Association of Malaysia (MAA) has announced that between January and August 2024, the local automotive industry recorded sales of 533,301 units, representing a 6% increase compared to the 503,783 units sold during the same period last year.

According to the association, of this total, 488,277 units represented passenger vehicles, while the remaining 45,024 units were commercial vehicles, compared to 451,403 units and 52,380 units recorded for each category in the first eight months of 2023.

The MAA further noted that vehicle sales for August 2024 experienced a marginal decline of 0.8%, totaling 71,162 units compared to 71,730 units in the previous month; however, it remained above 70,000 units per month.

“In terms of month-to-month comparison, sales in August decreased from the 72,844 units recorded in August 2023,” MAA stated.

Breaking it down by categories, passenger and commercial vehicles recorded sales of 65,637 units and 5,525 units in August 2024, respectively, lower than the 65,709 units and 7,135 units registered in August last year.

In terms of production, a total of 73,966 vehicles were produced last month, an increase from the 67,912 units produced in August 2023.

Passenger vehicles constituted 69,624 units of the overall production in August, while commercial vehicles accounted for 4,342 units.

For the period from January to August 2024, a total of 536,313 vehicles were produced, a figure higher than the 497,309 units manufactured in the same period last year. This includes 506,374 units of passenger vehicles and 29,939 units of commercial vehicles.

EV, NEWS

Toyota lowers global EV production target by 30 percent for 2026

Like other manufacturers, Toyota has also been affected by the decline in demand for electric vehicles.

According to the latest report from the Japanese newspaper The Mainichi, Toyota has reduced its global production target for electric vehicles by 30 percent by the year 2026.

The company is now aiming to produce around 1 million units, compared to the original plan of 1.5 million EV units.

Toyota, previously characterized as a ‘stubborn’ manufacturer, changed their electrification strategy early last year when their president Koji Sato announced a sales target of 1.5 million EV units by 2026.

The global EV market initially experienced rapid growth, thanks to the popular models produced by Tesla and BYD.

However, sales in the zero-emission segment have been slow as they have failed to attract interest from other consumer groups beyond early adopters due to high costs and charging infrastructure issues.

Throughout 2023, Toyota managed to sell 104,000 EV units, a fourfold increase compared to the previous year.

This figure is significantly small when compared to the total vehicle sales exceeding 10 million units.

In comparison to EVs, Toyota’s hybrid vehicles have been well-received as they offer a more practical solution in driving carbon neutrality missions.

Despite the plans to decrease EV production, Toyota will respond to current market demand by increasing production numbers for plug-in hybrid vehicles.

EV, NEWS

‘Rolling Lab’ Hyundai N Vision 74 confirmed for production, launch expected by 2030

Despite an uncertain future for the electric vehicle (EV) segment, Hyundai remains steadfast in moving forward.

During the recently held CEO Investor Day 2024 event, Hyundai confirmed the launch of no less than 21 new EV expected by 2030, ranging from affordable models to high-performance ones.

Interestingly, Hyundai also plans to turn the N Vision 74 concept model into a reality.

The Hyundai N Vision 74 is a concept developed by Hyundai based on the 1974 Pony coupe model designed by the legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiario.

Unlike the Pony, the N Vision 74 presents a blend of retro and modern elements with a wedge-shaped body structure, a large rear spoiler, and digital light units at the front and rear.

At this stage, Hyundai has not disclosed the powertrain unit that will be used in the actual production version of the N Vision 74.

However, for your information, the N Vision 74 Concept is a hybrid vehicle combining a hydrogen fuel cell system and a battery electric powertrain.

The 800-volt electric propulsion unit includes two electric motors generating 670 hp/900 Nm powering the rear wheels.

A 62.4 kWh battery pack is utilized to supply the required power to these electric motors.

At the front, Hyundai incorporates a 114 hp hydrogen fuel cell system with two hydrogen tanks totaling 4.2 kg capacity that can be fully refilled in just five minutes.

Overall, the N Vision 74 can travel nearly 600 km and accelerate from 0-100 km/h in four seconds.

Apart from the official name, Hyundai has also not revealed a specific timeline for the production model launch of the N Vision 74.

As of now, the N Vision 74 is one of the 21 new EV models set to be released by Hyundai by 2030.

Hyundai is also aiming for total sales figures to reach 5.55 million units by the same year, with 2 million of them being EV models

NEWS

10 concept cars that should’ve made it to production

CAR manufacturers showcase exciting new designs and technologies that may make into the market in the future through concept cars.

Depending on various factors, usually financial and market-related, some concept cars managed to see the light of day but many did not.

Here are 10 concept cars that should have been made into production models:

Lamborghini Estoque

Designed to compete with the likes of the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide, the Estoque featured a striking four-door coupe design and a screaming V10 engine sourced from the Gallardo. Unfortunately, the project was canceled due to market uncertainties at that time.

Yamaha OX99-11

This concept car amassed all of Yamaha’s automobile technology and know-how gained over the years since first manufacturing the Toyota 2000GT. It had a 3.5-litre V12 engine capable of spinning up to 10,000 rpm and a motorcycle-like seating configuration. Yamaha had to cancel its plan to sell the OX99-11 in 1994 due to the global economic recession.

Saab Aero-X

Saab’s Aero-X concept car was rather interesting, featuring a a twin-turbo V8 engine producing 400 hp and a seven-speed manual transmission. Though its aircraft-like cockpit canopy garnered attention at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, Saab’s then-boss Victor Muller said its production was not a priority.

Nissan IDx

Unveiled some 11 years ago, Nissan presented the IDx concept as a basis for an affordable rear-wheel-drive coupe. Due to unfavourable market conditions and various other factors, the spiritual successor to the iconic Datsun 510 remained a concept car to this day.

Hyundai N Vision 74

This writer rarely wants a Hyundai concept car to make it to production but the N Vision 74’s modern retro styling and hydrogen fuel cell powertrain generating 671 hp was too compelling to ignore.

Chrysler ME Four-Twelve

It’s hard to believe that this sleek concept car was developed by the same company that made the PT Cruiser. The ‘ME’ in its name stands for ‘Mid-Engine’ while Four-Twelve refers to amount of turbochargers and engine cylinders. Sadly, the global financial crisis made it irrelevant.

Mitsubishi Concept-RA

Introduced at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January 2008, the Concept-RA was a unique all-wheel-drive sports coupe as it came with a diesel engine. Not only that, its bulbous body panels were made from plastic resin.

Lotus Eterne

The Eterne, a four-door grand tourer with a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, was one of the five concept cars that was proudly showcased by Lotus at the 2010 Paris Motor Show that never made it to production.

Maserati Birdcage

Designed by Pininfarina, which took inspiration from the Tipo 63 race car, the Birdcage had a carbon fiber frame from the MC12 GT1 race car and a 700 hp V12 engine. As it lacked doors, the driver had to use the roof to get into the cabin.

Mazda Furai

Developed to be a street-legal race car, the Furai had a three-rotor rotary engine running exclusively on ethanol to produce 450 hp. Sounds interesting, but what happened to it? The gorgeous car burned to a crisp during a Top Gear test drive in 2008.

NEWS

Mitsubishi Xpander reaches 40,000-unit CKD production in 4 years

MITSUBISHI Motors Malaysia (MMM) has announced that the Xpander has hit a significant milestone of reaching 40,000 units of production in the country.

The seven-seater MPV was launched in Malaysia back in November 2020.

In celebration of the remarkable feat, MMM has launched a campaign to hunt for the lucky 40,000th Xpander customer. The winner will take home the grand prize of a RM10,000 travel voucher to a destination of their choice.

MMM’s Chief Executive Officer, Shinya Ikeda, said that reaching the 40,000th unit sales milestone for the Xpander is a testament to the trust and loyalty of their customers.

“Since the Xpander’s introduction to Malaysian roads in 2020, the locally assembled MPV has consistently captivated customers with its stylish design, good handling, and superior drivability.

“We hope that the Xpander has brought many enjoyable adventures for our customers and that they continue to Live Life Beyond Limits with the Xpander,” he added.

According to MMM, the Xpander retains its position as Malaysia’s No. 1 non-national MPV for the first half of the year (January – June 2024).

From July 13 to 28, 2024, MMM’s authorized dealers will be having a nationwide showroom event from 10 am to 4 pm where visitors can expect special rebates and bonuses.

NEWS

Chery Malaysia assembled 10,000 CKD vehicles in 8 months

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CHERY Auto Malaysia marks a significant milestone with the roll-out of its 10,000th vehicle since partnering with Inokom Corporation Sdn Bhd.

The accomplishment achieved within just 8 months of commencing operations at Inokom’s state-of-the-art 200-acre facility in Kulim, Kedah, underscores Chery Auto Malaysia’s commitment to growth and excellence in the local automotive industry.

Chery Auto Malaysia and Inokom Corporation formalised their partnership in May 2023 and the first batch of the locally assembled OMODA 5 and TIGGO 8 PRO were delivered in August the same year.

Chery’s soon-to-be launched TIGGO 7 PRO has also commenced assembly at the plant this month with the brand’s all-electric vehicle, the OMODA E5 to join the line-up soon.

With the increasing demand and favourable market reception, Chery Auto Malaysia is enhancing its operations by introducing a second assembly line to increase production efficiency at the plant.

The expansion will boost assembly capacity and better meet the growing needs of Malaysian consumers while also upholding the highest standards of quality control for its products and services.

“Our focus has always been on delivering safe, reliable products to our customers,” said Leo Chen, President of Chery Auto Malaysia.

Chery Auto Malaysia, he adds is dedicated to delivering safe, high-quality, and reliable vehicles for Malaysian consumers.

Chen who was in Kulim to launch the new production line with Andrew Basham, Managing Director of Sime Darby Motors said, “We are committed to maintaining strict quality assurance processes as we expand our operations here in Malaysia.”

Chen said the collaboration with Inokom has been an exhilarating journey and he hopes the partnership remains strong.

“We want to continue offering the best driving and ownership experience to our customers,” he said.

For information on Chery’s full range of vehicles, visit www.chery.my .

Follow Chery Malaysia’s Official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cherymalaysiaofficial.

NEWS

Perodua might need a third factory for its EV production

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PERODUA is currently evaluating the construction of a new plant by 2025 to support the production of the new generation Myvi, as reported by Wapcar.

As you might have known, the new generation Myvi will also feature a fully electric (EV) variant.

At present, Perodua operates two plants located in Rawang. The first plant, Perodua Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (PMSB), currently produces Alza, Aruz, and Myvi, along with the Toyota Veloz under contract.

The second plant, Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (PGMSB), currently manufactures Axia, Bezza, and Ativa. The third plant is referred to as the ‘BEV plant’ for electric battery vehicles.

At the same time, Perodua is exploring other options. An alternate plan is to collaborate with other manufacturers on a contract basis.

Speaking during the public unveiling of the Perodua EMO-1 concept last week, its President and CEO, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, said, “I cannot disrupt the current plants. They are operating at over 300,000 units (per year).”

“As I mentioned earlier, our target is to produce around 340,000 to 350,000 units. This already exceeds our normal capacity.

“So, I cannot disrupt the current plants. This EV (battery) is something we have to consider to build a new plant, or seek a partner, who has the capability in Malaysia to enable us to carry out the installations,” he added.

The new generation Perodua BEV is being developed independently, without technical assistance from Daihatsu.

Starting from scratch, this project is being carried out in collaboration with three local universities and electric vehicle conversion experts from Australia, namely EV North.

Led by chief engineer, Puan Jehan Adnan, this project utilizes a prototype with support from 60 local vendors, ensuring that Malaysia has a supply chain for domestic EV production.

Based on the Myvi, this prototype is equipped with a 55.7kWh battery pack giving it a driving range of up to 350km.

It features a single electric motor at the front wheel with an output of 161hp and 220Nm of torque.

It is understood that the first Perodua EV model is planned to be launched by the end of 2025 with a price not exceeding RM100,000.

NEWS

Toyota GR Supra production to end in 2026, Magna Steyr plant lays off 500 workers – report

THIS is an unpleasant news, as you only have a two-year window to acquire a Toyota GR Supra grand tourer model before production ceases in 2026.

This is due to reports from Automobilwoche stating that vehicle manufacturer Magna Steyr, based in Graz, Austria, will lay off approximately 500 workers after the production of several key models like the BMW 5 Series, Jaguar E-Pace and I-Pace, and the Fisker Ocean comes to an end.

For your information, the same factory is also utilized to assemble the non-identical twin models BMW Z4 and Toyota GR Supra since 2019. Carscoops quoted Vice President of Toyota Motor North America, Dave Christ, who explained, “we collaborated with BMW, and it has been a success.”

He further added, “we will reassess the situation going forward. I think, if we want to build something, we will think about how to do it.” These statements suggest that Toyota is likely to develop a new generation of the GR Supra independently or potentially engage in a partnership with a different manufacturer.

The Toyota GR Supra is a high-performance mass-produced car created by Toyota Gazoo Racing, following its previous offerings of limited production models under the sub-brand GRMN (Gazoo Racing Meister of Nurburgring).

It comes in two engine versions, a 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 258 hp and 400 Nm, or a 3.0-liter inline-six engine generating up to 382 hp and 500 Nm, powering the rear wheels.

Initially, the GR Supra was only available in an automatic version, with a specially developed manual transmission becoming available in 2022, limited to inline-6 engine Supra models.

NEWS

Perodua to ramp up exports by 79% for 2024, Brunei the first foreign market expansion this year

PERODUA will ramp up its exports by 79% to 1,960 units this year from 1,094 units in 2023 as the compact car company aims to broaden its overseas markets.

On 3 May 2024, the compact car company introduced the Alza AV and H, as well as the Axia AV and G to Brunei with sales target of 120 units and 40 units respectively.

Perodua also exports the Bezza 1.0L G to Brunei, where it aims to sell 300 units, bringing the expected total sales units sold in Brunei to 460 units in 2024.

For 2023, Perodua sold 300 Bezza 1.0L G to Brunei, making it Perodua’s highest export market of 2023.

“We foresee 2024 to be our first year of our export expansion as we are now at a point where the Malaysian automotive ecosystem would be able to cope with the ever-growing demand of our vehicles both within and outside the country,” Perodua President and Chief Executive Offer, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said.

He expects the growth in Perodua’s exports to continue as the company will be aggressively expanding its operations and its vendors’ production capabilities.

“Brunei is the first export market we are expanding to without compromising domestic allocation of our vehicles. In fact, we have significantly reduced the waiting period for most of our popular models and even have ready stock for selected models.”

“In addition, our targeted increase in exports will also give greater opportunities for our vendors to grow their sales volume in tandem with the need for spare parts,” Dato’ Sri Zainal said.

On the newly launched Alza AV, H and Axia AV and G, the price offered are B$30,900 for the AV, B$27,900 for the H, while the Axia AV is priced at B$21,900 while the Axia G is priced at B$17,900. The Bezza 1.0L G is priced at B$16,900.

Prices listed above include road tax and insurance.

NEWS

Ducati aspires to make Thailand as export hub

Ducati Motor Holding, a leading Italian motorcycle manufacturer, aims to establish Thailand as a key export hub following the opening of a production plant in Rayong. This marks Ducati’s first assembly plant in Asia.

With an investment of 400 million Baht (RM51.6 million), the facility is capable of producing 10,000 motorcycles annually in its initial phase.

“Thailand is a crucial market for big or premium motorcycles, and we aspire to make Thailand our export base,” stated Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding.

“We manufacture all Ducati models at the Rayong plant, ensuring that our products meet the high standards set by the company in Italy,” he added.

The company aims to export its production to the Asia-Pacific region. Its current primary markets outside of Asia include Italy, Germany, the UK, and the United States.

In Thailand, the high-performance motorcycle market is expected to grow, driven by the lifestyles of riders.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) forecasts an overall sales of high-performance motorcycles to reach approximately 15,000 units in Thailand this year.

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Production and sales of cars in Malaysia for 2024 have decreased compared to 2023

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The production and sales of vehicles in Malaysia have generally decreased for both the passenger and commercial vehicle segments.

Passenger vehicles

According to a report released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) today, the production of passenger vehicles for the month of March 2024 was 63,778 units, a decrease of 11 percent compared to 71,731 units in the same month last year.

Meanwhile, the sales of passenger vehicles in March 2024 were 64,760 units, down from 70,940 units in March 2023, representing a nine percent decrease.

The year-to-date production for 2024 has reached 199,199 units, a seven percent increase compared to 186,237 units from January to March 2023.

Overall year-to-date sales of passenger vehicles have also increased by seven percent, reaching 184,994 units compared to 171,964 units.

Commercial vehicles

On the other hand, in the commercial vehicle category, the production in March 2024 was only 3,145 units, a 28 percent decrease from 4,338 units in the same month in 2023.

Sales also decreased by 21 percent, with 6,292 units in March 2024 compared to 7,941 units in March 2023.

The year-to-date production of commercial vehicles has decreased by eight percent, with 11,232 units for the first three months of 2024 compared to 12,157 units in the previous year.

First quarter sales for 2024 have also decreased by 16 percent, with 17,251 units compared to 20,651 in 2023. MAA stated that the total industry volume (TIV) for March 2024 increased by 10 percent compared to February 2024.

This is attributed to manufacturers rushing to close their financial year by March 31, 2024, as well as promotional campaigns in conjunction with Hari Raya. MAA expects vehicle sales in April 2024 to be lower due to fewer working days as a result of the holiday season.

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Tesla sold 1.8 million cars in 2023, 38 percent jump over previous year

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TESLA has just released the production and delivery numbers for 2023. For the fourth quarter of 2023, they produced 494,989 vehicles and delivered 484,507 vehicles to customers.

This brings Tesla’s total production for 2023 to 1,845,985 vehicles, while deliveries amounted to 1,808,581 units. In 2022, the electric vehicle (EV) maker reported production of 1.37 million vehicles and deliveries of 1.31 million units.

So, the new 2023 figures show a 35 percent increase in production and a 38 percent increase in deliveries year over year. In a report in October 2023, Tesla executives forecasted that the company would produce at least 1.8 million vehicles for the year. However, this figure represents a change from the previously expected 2 million.

Tesla produced 476,777 units of the Model 3 and Model Y in the fourth quarter, with 461,538 deliveries for these models.

They did not disclose figures for the Model S and X but categorized them as “other models.”

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Tesla also sold the updated version of the Model 3 sedan, the Highland, in several markets. Then in December, they also began deliveries of the newest EV, the Cybertruck, in the United States (US).

There were also no figures disclosed for the Cybertruck and Semi, the heavy-duty commercial truck produced in small numbers at the battery plant near Reno.

Tesla’s closest global competitor is BYD, which sold 3.02 million new energy vehicles in 2023, with 1.6 million being battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 1.4 million being hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).