Local News Archives

Diesel Vehicle Sales Anticipated to Drop by 50%

The sales of diesel vehicles, particularly pickup trucks, are anticipated to drop by over 50% due to the introduction of floating fuel prices. Used car sales advisor Khairil Anwar Jaafar, 45, noted a significant slowdown in sales over the past month, with potential buyers adopting a wait-and-see approach.

As a result, Khairil’s company has decided to temporarily stop accepting diesel-engine vehicles. “The decline in sales has been noticeable for more than a month, even before the announcement of targeted diesel subsidies. We have about 15 to 20 diesel vehicles that remain unsold,” he said.

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UMW Toyota Motor Sees Strong Sales and Community Engagement in May 2024

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) reported a successful month in May 2024, achieving total monthly sales of 8,422 units for both Toyota and Lexus brands with the Toyota Vios and Corolla Cross being the two best-selling models. This brings the total year-to-date sales to 39,211 units.

Commitment to Community and Environmental Sustainability

UMWT remains dedicated to community engagement and environmental sustainability, as demonstrated by its various initiatives. The 23rd Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) program, launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, is a key example. This national-level program empowers students aged 13 to 17 from 16 schools across Malaysia. The initiative promotes Toyota’s 8 Steps Problem-Solving Method (PSM) to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Since its inception in 2001, the TEY program has engaged over 300,000 students from 521 schools, fostering a legacy of environmental stewardship. TEY 2024/2025 offers cash prizes totalling up to RM80,000, incentivising innovative solutions and aligning with UMWT’s environmental action plan to achieve zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

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Tow Truck Operators Are Already Increasing Prices Due To Removal of Diesel Subsidies

Despite assurances that there will be no increase in the cost of living and day to day expenses, it seems like the increase in diesel has had immediate effects on the market.

Some businesses have started posting notices about an immediate increase in price of their services.

One such business is from the tow truck industry, with one business sharing that their business will be increasing the price of their services immediately as they did not qualify for subsidies.

A quick check with the business revealed that towing a car on a flatbed from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur used to cost RM700 but now costs RM1,000.

The increase in prices is expected to have far reaching ripples with this being just the tip of the iceberg.

According to reports, over 300,000 people are expected to benefit from subsidies but the total number of diesel users far exceeds that.

The government has also outlined the type of vehicles that qualify for subsidies and sadly private vehicles that have been registered to be used by companies and organisations do not qualify for that, and that is the category where some tow trucks fall under.

Diesel vehicles that have been registered for e-hailing as well as tourist vans and busses do not qualify for subsidies.

It is unlikely that those operating within this industry will simply absorb the increase in price. This increase in cost will unfortunately be passed on to the paying consumer, inadvertently making daily life more expensive.

Sarawak Premier Calls for Sustainable Energy Alternatives to Replace Diesel

Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg has urged the federal government to seek out affordable and sustainable energy alternatives to replace diesel consumption nationwide. He suggested that such alternatives could eliminate the reliance on government-funded diesel subsidies.

Abang Johari made these remarks following the Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference and Exhibition (APGH) 2024, where he emphasised the unsustainable nature of continuous diesel subsidies. “If people keep relying on diesel and demanding subsidies whenever diesel prices rise, they’ll just keep asking for subsidies,” he stated.

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Nationwide Peugeot 408 Roadshow: Enjoy Exclusive Rebates and Test Drives

Peugeot Malaysia is embarking on a nationwide roadshow tour and will be visiting the major cities to showcase the newly launched all-new Peugeot 408. Since its launch at the end of April, the Peugeot 408 has received close to 400 bookings and counting, with the GT variant being the top choice.

Peugeot Malaysia is bringing the all-new 408 to major shopping malls for customers to get up close and personal and behind the wheel to test it for themselves at the locations listed below:

Location	State	Dates	Venue
AEON Ipoh Station 18	Ipoh	14 June – 16 June	South Court
AEON Tebrau City	Johor Bahru	28 June – 30 June	Ground Floor Concourse
1 Utama Shopping Centre	KL	11 July – 14 July	Ground Floor, Luxe Wing

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BMW Malaysia Unveils Official Pricing for New BMW 520i – RM333k

BMW Malaysia has announced the official pricing for the new BMW 520i, now available at authorised dealerships nationwide. The locally assembled premium executive sedan is priced at RM332,800.00.

Debut at Malaysia Autoshow 2024

The new BMW 520i made its debut at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024, joining the BMW 5 Series family. It features a sleek, sporty exterior design and a sophisticated interior that seamlessly blends functionality and elegance.

Flexible Financing Options

With the Easy Drive Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the new BMW 520i can be owned with a monthly installment starting from RM3,881.00, based on an 80% loan over five years. Customers registering for the Easy Drive Financing by June 30, 2024, will also receive a RM10,000 cash rebate.

Alternatively, the Straight-Line Financing Plan offers ownership with a monthly installment from RM3,942.00, based on an 80% loan over seven years. Terms and conditions apply.

Comprehensive Ownership Benefits

Owners of the new BMW 520i will enjoy a complete premium ownership experience from BMW Group Malaysia, which includes:

BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
BMW Service Online

Retail Pricing

The retail price for the new BMW 520i, excluding insurance, is as follows:

The New BMW 520i: RM332,800.00
Add-On for BMW Service & Repair Inclusive: RM26,900.00 (includes a 5-Year Extended Warranty and Service Package)

PRO-NET Honoured with “Best Oversea Pioneer Partner” Award by Smart Automobile

PRO-NET has been awarded the prestigious “Best Oversea Pioneer Partner” by smart Automobile, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely Holding, during the recent smart Global Forum held in Beijing. This accolade highlights PRO-NET’s remarkable performance and leadership in the electric vehicle (EV) market.

Selected from a pool of companies across 22 countries, PRO-NET emerged as one of the top three candidates for this award. The recognition from smart Global is attributed to PRO-NET’s outstanding network construction quality, significant EV market share, and innovative marketing efforts, all of which have greatly advanced sustainable mobility solutions.

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New Generation Chinese Metre-Gauge Trains to Enhance West Coast’s Electric Train Service

In a significant development for Malaysia’s rail transit, a cutting-edge third-generation of metre-gauge trains from China is primed to elevate the Electric Train Service (ETS) experience along the West Coast as reported by The Star.

Fresh off the production line at the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd in Hunan province, this state-of-the-art train was unveiled on Friday.

Ren Zewen, an electrical designer with CRRC, expressed optimism about the game-changing potential of the ETS3 in revolutionising local train transit networks. “The ETS3 promises a substantial boost in passenger capacity and operational efficiency,” Ren emphasised.

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Government’s Diesel Subsidy Rationalisation Expected to Boost GDP and Savings

Experts foresee a notable impact on Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and substantial savings following the recent adjustment of diesel subsidies by the government, setting the pump price at RM3.35 per litre.

According to NST, Prof Emeritus Dr. Barjoyai Bardai of Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST) pointed out a significant surge in Malaysia’s diesel consumption, reaching 10.8 billion litres last year from 6.2 billion litres previously.

He emphasised that despite the new price, Malaysia’s diesel remains competitively priced compared to neighbouring countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore. Dr. Barjoyai also highlighted the government’s Budi Madani assistance initiative, aimed at easing the burden on individuals, particularly private diesel vehicle users.

Dr. Barjoyai expressed confidence in the government’s subsidy initiative for those in need, expecting it to help regulate commodity prices, although he stressed the importance of active price monitoring.

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GWM Malaysia Announces Arrival of GWM ORA 07’s Performance Variant

GWM Malaysia is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated GWM ORA 07 Performance variant, marking a significant advancement in the company’s mission to provide environmentally conscious transportation solutions. This new variant seamlessly blends a sleek, stylish design with exceptional performance, setting a new benchmark for electric coupes.

Performance and Design

The GWM ORA 07 Performance variant promises an unparalleled driving experience with its impressive acceleration, reaching 0 to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds. The car’s sophisticated design and cutting-edge features are designed to exceed customer expectations, offering both luxury and intelligence in one package.

Arrival and Availability

GWM Malaysia informs its valued customers that the first batch of the GWM ORA 07 Performance variant is expected to arrive by the end of June 2024. This timely arrival ensures that customers will soon be able to enjoy the luxurious and elegant design, along with the car’s advanced intelligent features.

Commitment to Sustainability

The introduction of the GWM ORA 07 Performance variant underscores GWM Malaysia’s commitment to sustainability and the future of eco-friendly transportation. This model represents a significant step forward in providing high-performance electric vehicles to the Malaysian market.