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Honda Malaysia Hands Over Civic and CR-V to November Winners as Anniversary Celebrations Continue

Honda Malaysia has kept the momentum going in its 25th anniversary celebrations by announcing and presenting the November winners of its “Because of You” campaign, with a Civic 1.5L RS and a CR-V 2.0L e:HEV RS finding new homes. The prize handovers took place at authorised dealerships, marking another milestone in the year-long customer appreciation programme.

One of the winners, Negeri Sembilan resident Zulkeffli bin Abdul Rahman, had purchased an HR-V 1.5T V as a second vehicle for his family when he was selected for the Civic prize. Unable to attend the handover in person, the keys were received on his behalf by his daughters, Nuramirah and Nuratikah.

As a long-time Honda owner, Zulkeffli highlighted his trust in the brand, citing reliability, safety and the ease of maintenance through Honda’s extensive authorised service network. His household now counts a City, an HR-V and a newly won Civic in the driveway, turning what began as a practical purchase into an unexpected family celebration and plans for future road trips.

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CATL Brings Humanoid Robots to the Heart of Battery Production

CATL has taken a significant step in intelligent manufacturing by putting humanoid robots to work on its battery production lines, becoming the first company to deploy them at scale in new energy battery pack assembly. The breakthrough is now live at CATL’s Zhongzhou facility, where the robots are already operating in real-world production conditions.

At the centre of this move is a humanoid robot known as Moz, designed to handle demanding and delicate tasks that were previously carried out by human workers. One of its key roles involves precisely connecting high-voltage battery connectors, a process that requires accuracy and steady control due to the risks associated with handling hundreds of volts during final testing stages.

Moz has been integrated into End of Line and Direct Current Resistance testing, two critical checks performed on battery packs before they are shipped. These stages once posed safety concerns and efficiency challenges, as workers had to manually connect high-voltage test plugs with absolute precision. By taking over these operations, the robot has reduced spark risks while delivering more consistent quality and output.

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Nissan Bets on Motorsport, NISMO and Heritage to Reinforce Brand Identity

Nissan is stepping up efforts to strengthen its global brand image by placing renewed emphasis on motorsport, expanding its NISMO performance range and tapping into the growing heritage and restoration scene. The initiatives, announced by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. together with Nissan Motorsports & Customisation Co., Ltd. (NMC), form part of the wider Re:Nissan product strategy, where so-called “heartbeat models” are positioned as emotional flag-bearers that reflect the company’s performance-focused DNA.

Motorsport remains central to this approach, with Nissan continuing to treat racing as both a proving ground and a development platform. Technologies and driving know-how honed in top-level competitions such as Super GT and Formula E will continue to flow directly into road cars under the long-standing philosophy of transferring lessons from the track back to everyday driving. Nissan also plans to maintain its presence in endurance racing series like Super Taikyu while exploring opportunities in new racing categories to broaden its technical and competitive experience.

Alongside this, the NISMO brand is set for significant growth. Nissan intends to double the size of its global NISMO lineup from five models to ten, while also widening their market availability. Annual NISMO vehicle shipments are targeted to rise from around 100,000 units today to 150,000 units by 2028, with overseas markets expected to account for roughly 60 per cent of sales, up from about 40 per cent currently. To add further value and variety, Nissan is open to working with external partners as it expands the scope of the NISMO business.

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TQ WULING Bingo EV Arrives in Malaysia – Prices Start from RM67,800

TQ WULING has officially entered the Malaysian electric vehicle space with the launch of the locally assembled Bingo EV, a compact electric hatchback aimed squarely at everyday urban drivers. Introduced as the first model under the TQ WULING brand, the Bingo EV is the result of a strategic collaboration between Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad and SAIC-GM-Wuling, combining decades of local manufacturing experience with proven global EV technology.

The Bingo EV is offered in two variants, with the Bingo PRO priced at RM67,800 and the Bingo MAX at RM72,800, making it one of the most accessible EVs currently available in Malaysia. As part of its launch campaign, TQ WULING is rolling out Bingo’s Fabulous Five Perks, which include a RM5,000 cash rebate. With this incentive applied, on-the-road prices drop to RM62,800 for the PRO and RM67,800 for the MAX, significantly lowering the barrier to EV ownership. Early customers are also encouraged by a low booking fee of RM50 via the tqwuling.my website.

The partnership behind the Bingo EV brings together Tan Chong’s nearly 50 years of local automotive manufacturing heritage and nationwide distribution strength with SAIC-GM-Wuling’s extensive EV expertise. The Bingo EV is also the first electric vehicle to be locally assembled at the Tan Chong plant, marking a notable step in expanding Malaysia’s EV manufacturing capabilities. Both partners have highlighted the model as part of a broader effort to support the country’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable mobility.

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DENZA Crosses 1,000 Deliveries in Malaysia as Brand Gears Up for Expansion

DENZA has passed a significant milestone in Malaysia, recording 1,002 vehicle deliveries since making its local debut in February, a result that underlines the strong reception for the brand’s luxury electric offering. The achievement places the DENZA D9 firmly among the most sought-after premium electric MPVs in the country, reflecting growing confidence in the brand within the high-end EV space.

The pace of deliveries in less than a year highlights the appeal of the D9’s combination of luxury, technology and electric mobility, as well as the increasing acceptance of premium EVs among Malaysian buyers. The result also signals a solid foundation for DENZA as it looks beyond a single-model strategy.

Building on this momentum, DENZA is already preparing to broaden its local line-up, with several new models planned for introduction in 2026. The expansion is expected to further strengthen the brand’s position in Malaysia’s premium electric vehicle segment and offer customers a wider range of choices under the DENZA badge.

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Mercedes-Benz Details Hybrid Powertrain for 2026 CLA 220

Mercedes-Benz has shed more light on the technical make-up of the 2026 CLA 220 hybrid, offering a clearer picture of how the new sedan is put together as it edges closer to production. The latest information pulls together previously revealed details and confirms that the hybrid powertrain, including the jointly developed engine with Geely, will be built in China, marking another milestone in the partnership between the two automotive groups.

At the heart of the CLA 220 sits the M252 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, developed under Mercedes-Benz’s Family of Modular Engines programme. While Mercedes-Benz led the engine’s architecture and design philosophy, Geely played a key role in engineering development and will handle production duties.

The engine uses Miller-cycle combustion and features an exhaust manifold integrated directly into the cylinder head, a setup intended to improve turbo response, speed up catalyst warm-up and support lean-burn operation without sacrificing performance. On its own, the petrol unit produces 188hp and works in tandem with an electric motor as part of the hybrid system.

That hybrid setup is based around a 48-volt electrical architecture, with a 30hp electric motor delivering 200 Nm of torque. The motor is integrated into the 8F-eDCT dual-clutch transmission and draws power from a compact 1.3 kWh battery. This configuration allows the CLA 220 to drive on electric power alone when demand stays below 27 horsepower, while coasting is possible at speeds of up to 97 km/h. Regenerative braking operates across all eight gears and can recover energy at rates of up to 25 kW, helping to boost overall efficiency.

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