Malaysians would remember SsangYong, the Korean brand which was marketed during the 2000s. Like the other Korean carmakers, SsangYong Motor had been in existence for some time before it appeared in Malaysia. SsangYong’s management saw how the other carmakers in their country had already established themselves globally, so SsangYong decided it would move a bit more upmarket than them. In the 1990s, it got Mercedes-Benz technology to use under licence from Daimler-Benz and developed a SUV as well as a large sedan and adapted a Mercedes-Benz van to sell under its own brand.
SsangYong in Malaysia
The model that did well was the Rexton SUV, which was competitively priced and well equipped. Competitive Supreme, the importers and distributors, even had the second generation Rexton II assembled locally as it showed much potential. The company also offered other models in the SsangYong range, but market conditions changed and after a run of some 17 years, sales of SsangYong ceased and the brand faded away from the local market.
During the 2000s, Competitive Supreme, the SsangYong importers and distributors, were very active in building the Korean brand. They were encouraged by the response to the Rexton and decided to have the Rexton II assembled locally (below) at the DRB-HICOM manufacturing complex in Pahang.
From Chinese to Indian owners
SsangYong itself went through difficult times too, and ownership changed hands a few times. China’s SAIC had it for a while and then India’s Mahindra & Mahindra acquired it for US$463.6 million in 2011. It seemed to make steady progress under Mahindra & Mahindra but in December 2020, it was revealed that the company’s debts had accumulated to US$285 million, which it could not repay and therefore had to file for bankruptcy.
SsangYong applied for the court receivership procedure which saw a private rehabilitation program that allows the company to restructure the business while it works with creditors. It is allowed to remain fully operational, business as usual. The company aims to quickly end the rehabilitation procedures and create an environment that leads to a successful M&A (merger & acquisition) by looking for a new investor that will commit to continuous future investment.
Accelerating new vehicle development
Central to its self-rescue plan is a full-scale move towards meeting the future demands of the international automotive market. This involves accelerating new vehicle development in preparation for its future (and also to show potential investors what products can be available). This will also include cost-reduction and system efficiencies achieved through production and human resources management.
The first tangible result is the announcement of SsangYong’s first electric vehicle; developed under the project name of ‘E100’, the Korando e-Motion (shown above) went into full-scale production last Monday, June 14. This is the first mid-sized electric SUV in Korea and its name was the result of a competition run within the company. Brand experts who were consulted expect the name to work well in overseas markets.
Due to restricted supplies of semi-conductors, affecting all manufacturers, the Korando e-Motion is scheduled to be shipped in August for sale in Europe and the UK later in the year. Launch plans for the domestic market will be announced as soon as the availability of semi-conductors becomes clearer.
The company has also announced that it is accelerating the development of its next EV, a medium-sized SUV under the project name ‘J100’, This model (shown in concept for in the sketches above) will be launched in 2022. SsangYong has long been associated with SUVs and it promises to offer a ‘modern, authentic SUV’.
Even after you recover from COVID-19 infection, your quality of life may be affected and you will still suffer for a long period after that. Avoid being infected by taking the necessary measures to protect yourself as well as others – and get vaccinated.
The current ‘full lockdown’ imposed by the stricter Movement Control Order is expected to affect the retail operations of many businesses. In the auto sector, showrooms must remain closed although aftersales services at service centres are allowed to operate. This will certainly have an effect on the Total Industry Volume (TIV) again, as it did a year ago when sales plummeted to nearly zero.
Best export performance since 2013
Proton cannot escape such effects but it is counting on export sales to help offset the downturn. Its International Sales Division has been recording increased numbers, with May 2021 being the best export sales month since March 2013. A total of 669 vehicles was sent overseas and up to the end of May, the export volume is 174% of the target set and only 6% behind what was achieved for the whole of 2020.
Proton’s growth in export sales is due to growing demand in several key markets, some new and some having sold Protons for decades. For example, Pakistan is a new market for the company and in the first 5 months of 2021, it was by far the best performer.
New Proton models draw crowds at a showroom in Pakistan.
Brunei, which started selling Proton vehicles as far back as 1987, was the third biggest export market by volume this year and in May, importers PAD Motors had the best sales month in the company’s history. In Egypt too, Alpha Ezz El-Arab, the importer and distributor for Proton cars, ordered and received 350 units this year, making it Proton’s second largest export market.
More exports in 2021
“At the beginning of the year, our plan for 2021 was to aggressively grow Proton’s export sales volume. Despite international restrictions and the rising cost of shipping caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we were confident of being able to meet our goals due to the sales plans of our importers and the appeal of our products. After 5 months, however, we are close to doubling the volume target set, which hopefully is a sign for more success in 2021,” said Steven Xu, Director of International Sales.
Although the present situation has slowed down new orders in the domestic market, demand has been high, and Proton’s factory is ready to meet this demand. For export markets, its longer term goals will be met by having some models assembled in certain countries. It has begun local assembly for the Saga in Kenya, and the next market to assemble cars locally will be Pakistan.
X70 SUV will be assembled in Pakistan as well.
“If everything goes to plan our partner in Pakistan, Al-Haj Automotive will begin assembly operations with the Proton Saga by the end of July or early August at its new plant in Karachi. The Proton X70 will be added to their production line later, and we have high hopes this development will spur sales growth in the South Asian region,” said Mr. Xu.
ASEAN sales vital for future growth
While growing sales in export markets is a reassuring sign of wider acceptance of the Proton brand and its products, the key to achieving the company’s long-term goals remains sales growth in ASEAN. The region is hotly contested with many global brands having invested in production facilities that supply local and export markets as well as competition from local manufacturers.
Proton aims to be third bestselling brand in ASEAN and has plans to return to Indonesia and Thailand.
Currently, Proton’s presence in ASEAN is limited to Brunei but the company has plans to return to the two biggest markets in the region – Thailand and Indonesia, in the very near future. “For Proton to be the third best-selling brand in ASEAN, we need to have a major presence in Thailand and Indonesia. As the biggest automotive markets in the region, they offer enormous volume potential, but the level of competition is also very high. For both countries, we have been busy recruiting partners to build a network that ensures a viable business model and in the short term, our target is to return to Thailand in 2022,” Mr. Xu added.
Electrically-powered cars are not new to Volvo but the new C40 Recharge will be the first such vehicle that the public can buy. It’s the first Volvo model in history designed as pure electric only, spearheading the future of the Swedish brand. Its SUV elements and benefits combined with a lower profile means that Volvo Cars also enters a new segment – and it does so with cutting-edge design and features not previously seen on Volvo cars.
“The C40 is a car that symbolises electrification and delivers on it,” said Robin Page, head of design at Volvo Cars. “It has the personality of the XC40, which proved to be attractive to many, but it’s dialled up even more through its dynamic expression and sleek profile. It’s a really attractive product for people who are looking for the easy-to-live-with aspects of an SUV with more of a modern statement.”
Though it seems like a variation of the XC40, it is actually much more that than (apart from the fact that it has an electric powertrain), adopting only the fundamental building blocks of the XC40. Similar to the birth of the XC40, the C40 started as a spontaneous sketch by one of the designers in the team. It was Yury Zamkavenka’s sketch which ‘hit the ground running from the initial idea’, according to T. Jon Mayer, Head of Exterior Design.
“That doesn’t happen very frequently. When it does, it’s always some of the more characterful ideas that flourish, because it’s such a pure statement from that first sketch,” Mayer explained, adding that the uniqueness of the car – its commanding seating position combined with a streamlined form – becomes very clear when it’s on the road next to other cars.
“One of my favourite views of the car is the rear seven-eighths, which gives you a view of the side and the coupé line profile,” he said. “You see the SUV elements as it sits on these really big wheels, and it’s this tough little character but with a very sleek approach to the roof. It’s built upon the solidity of the XC40, but in a more dynamic way. These combinations give it a totally different expression, while still carrying on our DNA.”
Breaking new ground
The idea of breaking new ground with something familiar is mirrored in individual details. For example, the signature Thor’s Hammer headlights are augmented with new pixel LEDs, which automatically adjust to light conditions and switch on and off independently to optimise the light pattern. The equally emblematic vertical rear lights are segmented, providing a testament to the engineering challenge of extending one big lamp along the roofline, while also creating a modern take on a classic design.
The DNA is distinguished by a Scandinavian approach in the form language: sections are shaved and carved out of the solid form, creating a sense of purity and refinement; an understated confidence. “It communicates a solidity, which can also link to a feeling of safety,” Mayer said. “Subconsciously, this is a powerful beast that’s protective, yet we sculpt it in a way to make it as lightweight and efficient as possible.”
Rear ends of C40 Recharge (blue car) and XC40 (silver car).
Nature and light
Using these design principles – as well as inspiration from the Scandinavian landscapes with their quiet atmospheres, light and freedom of space – the confidence of the exterior design is tied together with an interior design characterised by the calming effects of nature. There’s the large, panoramic glass roof that enhances the airiness of the cabin, making the most out of short winter days, while blurring the line between outside and inside during bright summer nights.
“In Sweden, it’s dark and grey most of the year – but when the sun shines, the colours come to life much more vibrantly than anywhere else,” said Lisa Reeves, Head of Interior Design. “The grass looks greener, the sea looks bluer. You see this reflected in the architecture here: houses have a lot of glass, designed to really let in the light and the open floor plans spread the light within the house. Light and nature are strong parts of the culture and are important themes for the C40 interior.”
The Fjord Blue colour, inspired by the deep inlets on the Scandinavian west coast, flows from the exterior and creates a continuation inside by colouring the large swathes of carpet that extends up from the floor to the sides of the tunnel console and the front doors. This provides a foundation for the backlit translucent graphics on the dashboard and front door panels, which are a nod to the dramatic, yet serene mountain sceneries in Sweden’s Abisko national park.
“We traced the topography of the park and used the contours to create an abstract digitalised design with a layered pattern,” explained Rekha Meena, Senior Design Manager, colour and material. “When the light from LED lamps comes through across the surface, it creates this really nice, atmospheric three-dimensional effect.”
Sustainable materials
Hand-in-hand with nature as a source of inspiration is the high amount of sustainable materials used for the interior. The topography trim panels are partly made of recycled plastic, while the carpet is made of 100 per cent recycled PET plastic bottles. The C40 offers Volvo Cars’ first leather-free interior, with one upholstery option containing naturally renewable wool fibres, and a second option using a combination of suede textile (also made of recycled plastic) and micro-tech material.
The layout of the interior gives a sense of organisation and thoughtfulness, where functionality is key. The C40 repeats the XC40’s ‘uncluttering’ approach, providing smart and thoughtful ways to store all important belongings within arm’s length. Minimalism is an overarching theme, which becomes even more evident when looking at the instrument panel.
Symbolism and function
Using renewable and recycled material is one part of the sustainability equation, and the car being fully electric is another. But to really get the message of electrification across, the C40 needs to look the part as well, and it does so with features that blend symbolism and function together.
The new wheel design, influenced by the Volvo 360c concept car from 2018, helps with aerodynamics while creating a dynamic look fitting the driveline; the rear spoiler both characterises and supports downforce on the car; and the roofline boosts aerodynamic efficiency, giving it a functional as well as a visual relationship to range. And then there are the elements where messaging slightly takes the upper hand, like the closed grill and the contrast roof.
“To symbolise the electric car, the face is really important,” said Page. “Part of our design language is about honesty, and the reality is that we don’t need a large air intake for an electric car. This car originates from the XC40 – which does have a grill – so it’s not a case where we can just ignore that and do a super low, fully moulded front. And we wouldn’t want to do that on this car anyway, because the C40 has a characterful face. We achieved a good solution, with strong, pure graphical lines. Together with the contrast roof, which we’ll use to distinguish our 40 cluster electric cars, it’s one of the ingredients that communicates our journey towards full electrification.”
The War on COVID-19 involves everyone – in fact, it is a global fight – and many companies are helping in various ways. Those with resources like factories have used their manufacturing facilities to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) instead of their usual products. Carmakers, with lots of cars available, have also provided vehicles for use by healthcare personnel to get around and do their important work.
Recently, Perodua provided an Aruz and a Bezza to the Pusat Kuarantin dan Rawatan COVID-19 Berisiko Rendah 2.0 (PKRC) at MAEPS, Serdang in Selangor. The facility is presently used as a quarantine centre for those infected with COVID-19. The cars were provided through Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Malaysia (NADMA) which is responsible for emergency management. They will be used to transport essential items sent by families or friends of those who are in quarantine.
Together with the cars, RM300 per month of petrol vouchers have been provided and the Malaysian carmaker also contributed 5 laptops for NADMA’s use.
Various other forms of support
This support follows many other contributions made to key public institutions nationwide, especially the frontliners. The contributions have been in cash and supplies to help in fighting the pandemic. For example, last month, Perodua contributed an additional RM80,000 worth of medical supplies to Hospital Sungai Buloh, a key medical facility that handles a large number of COVID-19 cases.
Perodua has also supplied face shields, manufactured by an associate company, to various organisations in Malaysia over the past year. The recipients have been schools, clinics, local government offices and councils, and even hawkers at markets in Perodua’s surrounding community.
Perodua was among the companies that made a contribution to the NADMA COVID-19 Fund as the pandemic began in 2020.
East Malaysia not forgotten
While a large proportion of Perodua’s sales are in Peninsular Malaysia, the carmaker does not also forget that the East Malaysian markets have also contribute to its ascent to being the No. 1 brand in the country. And like a good corporate citizen, the company has been giving back to the local community there.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities last year, it provided the Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital with a portable flexible videoscope set, while 250 underprivileged paediatric patients received contributions ranging from school supplies to prescription glasses. These contributions were a follow-up from an earlier initiative in 2018 which saw the contribution of two laryngoscope blade sets and 40 bed pillows, and toys for some 250 child patients.
Aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2039, in line with the Reimagine strategy announced last month, Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) aim includes zero tailpipe emissions from its vehicles by 2036. This means that internal combustion engines will no longer be used. Electrical power is the most viable solution for future powertrains as they will have zero emissions, and JLR is developing various prototypes.
Fuel cells, spin-offs from the space program, are being considered by a number of manufacturers, some of whom already have commercialised fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). JLR is also looking to use a hydrogen fuel cell and is developing a prototype FCEV based on the latest Land Rover Defender.
Advantages of hydrogen FCEV
FCEVs, which generate electricity from hydrogen to power an electric motor, are complimentary to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the journey to net zero vehicle emissions. Hydrogen-powered FCEVs provide high energy density and rapid refuelling, and minimal loss of range in low temperatures, making the technology ideal for larger, longer-range vehicles, or those operated in hot or cold environments.
Since 2018, the global number of FCEVs on the road has nearly doubled while hydrogen refuelling stations have increased by more than 20%. By 2030, forecasts predict hydrogen-powered FCEV deployment could top 10 million with 10,000 refuelling stations worldwide.
JLR’s advanced engineering project, known as Project Zeus, is partly funded by the government-backed Advanced Propulsion Centre, and will allow engineers to understand how a hydrogen powertrain can be optimised to deliver the performance and capability expected by its customers: from range to refuelling, and towing to off-road ability.
The Defender’s platform, which can accommodate combustion engines as well as hybrid powertrains, is also being used for the development of a fuel cell electric vehicle.
The project also has other partners involved such as Delta Motorsport, AVL, Marelli Automotive Systems and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) to research, develop and create the prototype FCEV with testing scheduled to begin this year. The testing, in the UK, will verify key attributes such as off-road capability and fuel consumption.
“We know hydrogen has a role to play in the future powertrain mix across the whole transport industry, and alongside battery electric vehicles, it offers another zero tailpipe emission solution for the specific capabilities and requirements of Jaguar Land Rover’s world class line-up of vehicles. The work done alongside our partners in Project Zeus will help us on our journey to become a net zero carbon business by 2039, as we prepare for the next generation of zero tailpipe emissions vehicles,” said Ralph Clague, Head of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells for Jaguar Land Rover.
A Land Rover factory in the UK.
Producton facilities are carbon neutral
JLR was the first UK automotive manufacturer to have met the internationally recognised PAS 2060 standard for carbon neutrality across its vehicle manufacturing assembly operations and product development sites. In January last year, its facilities completed a second consecutive year being certified as carbon-neutral by the Carbon Trust. Together, these sites represent 77% of JLR’S global vehicle production.
The Carbon Trust re-certification is part of the carmaker’s journey to ‘Destination Zero’, after it was originally achieved two years ahead of a commitment to operate carbon-neutral UK manufacturing by 2020.
