Chery Auto Malaysia has provided an update to customers and the public regarding a viral complaint (6 April 2024) circulating online from a Chery Omoda 5 customer. Since the initial report on 6 April 2024, Chery’s customer care team has maintained close communication with the customer, providing regular updates while their skilled technical team conducted a comprehensive investigation into her car’s alleged faulty brakes.
In addition to the internal investigation, the car was sent to Puspakom for an impartial assessment. At Puspakom, a thorough 10-point inspection, including a brake test, was conducted to evaluate various aspects such as efficiency, dynamic imbalance, run-out, residual force, and parking brake performance, ensuring optimal braking capability.
Reports state that all inspections carried out by both Chery Auto Malaysia’s team and Puspakom have yielded no adverse findings. The results confirm that the car is indeed safe, and the brake system meets satisfactory standards, as indicated in the Puspakom test result. The customer has been duly informed of these results, and the team has provided her with a comprehensive report detailing the findings of all inspections conducted.
His Royal Highness the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, held a meeting with His Highness Ouyang Yujing, the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, this morning (April 12), focusing on bilateral relations between Malaysia and China and addressing current issues affecting both nations.
During the face-to-face session, His Majesty provided insights on the direction of diplomatic ties between the two countries and emphasised the importance of identifying opportunities for broader cooperation. China holds significant economic influence globally and is a key trading partner for Malaysia. His Majesty expressed hope that Malaysia would capitalise on its unique strengths to enhance trade volume, foster technology exchange, and expand exports to China. Additionally, he encouraged increased investment from Chinese companies in Malaysia, aiming to create more employment opportunities for the nation’s citizens.
In a notable moment during the meeting, His Majesty was presented with the Hongqi L5, a luxury car manufactured in China, making him the first owner of this car worldwide. The Hongqi L5, produced by FAW Group, boasts a retro-style design and is utilised by China’s top leaders for state and diplomatic functions.
For those who may not know, Hongqi is a Chinese premium car brand owned by the FAW Group (First Automobile Works). It was founded in 1958, making it China’s oldest passenger automobile brand. Hongqi is a Chinese word that means “red flag.”
The L5 looks like a mix of a 1940s lowrider and a modern Rolls-Royce. This new version takes inspiration from the British-made Rolls-Royce and is said to be more imposing and pricier.
They made some updates to make the new L5 different from the 2014 model. It has a taller chrome grille, a new front bumper with different lights, and a lower black grille with a chrome piece in the middle. The retro-style headlights from the old model blend in nicely. The L5 has a cool two-tone white and blue paint job that grabs attention.
Inside, the L5 mixes old and new styles. The dashboard has three big screens, but the steering wheel only has two spokes. Even though there are lots of screens, Hongqi kept some traditional buttons on the console and dashboard.
It is equipped with a V8 4.0-litre turbocharged engine that delivers a maximum power of 382hp.
The driver of a garbage truck involved in an accident claims to have experienced brake problems before losing control of the heavy vehicle, which subsequently collided with 14 cars along the Federal Highway yesterday.
As reported by NST, Assistant Commissioner S. Vijaya Rao, the Klang Utara police chief, stated that to verify the 41-year-old driver’s claims, the lorry will be sent to Puspakom for inspection.
The incident occurred at 2:33 pm at the traffic lights of Federal Highway and Shahpadu Highway from Shah Alam towards Kapar. Initial investigations revealed that the heavy vehicle collided with the 14 cars that were queued at the traffic light junction.
In the 2024 Ops Hari Raya Aidilfitri implemented nationwide since April 1, a total of 42 buses have been issued Vehicle Use Prohibition Notices (PG1) for violating technical regulations. Datuk Lokman Jamaan, the senior enforcement director of the Road Transport Department (JPJ), announced that these buses were identified from 3,799 buses inspected at 54 bus depots and 28 bus terminals. The detected buses committed various dangerous technical offences and were prohibited from operating, ensuring the safety of passengers.
According to Bernama, action was taken against 77 buses, with 47 receiving summonses for various offences, including lacking a Competent Driving Licence (CDL) and driver misconduct such as using mobile phones while driving. Additionally, six bus drivers from Sarawak, Kelantan, Perak, and Kedah were suspected of consuming prohibited substances based on failed urine tests and were consequently banned from driving.
On April 2, the Federal government allocated RM83.5 million to Kelantan for road infrastructure maintenance works. Datuk Dr. Izani Husin, the chairman of Kelantan Public Works, Infrastructure, Water, and Rural Development committee, announced that the allocation would be utilised to repair damaged roads identified throughout the state, with the project expected to be completed by June.
According to Bernama, Dr. Izani mentioned that although the allocation was slightly lower than last year’s RM104.4 million, it would still be effectively utilised to repair damaged roads across all districts following Aidilfitri. The allocation would particularly focus on periodic paving in the Gua Musang district, with an estimated cost of about RM10.7 million covering 11 roads.
It is officially official, the order books for the Jaecoo J7 will be open on April 10. In a statement issued to the media today, Jaecoo Malaysia announced that the company will begin accepting orders in two days.
For those interested in the newest brand to hit Malaysian shores, registrations can be locked in at the Jaecoo Premier Experience roadshow located the 1Utama Shopping Centre, Level LG, Highstreet.
If visiting shopping centres is now your thing, you can also register via the company’s official Malaysian website.
But what about the price? Jaecoo has not confirmed anything yet but rather has simply teased us by saying that the C-Segment SUV will have a price tag of below RM200,000.
There will also be two variants – the Jaecoo J7 all-wheel-drive that is estimated to be priced at RM160,000, where else the two wheel drive variant will be priced at RM150,000.
As for colour, there are four options – Moonlight Silver, Carbon Crystal Black, Khaki White and Model Green.
Delivery time will depend on the volume of registration, but are expected to begin in the third quarter of this year. Test drives will be rolled out later in May.
The Jaecoo J7 is powered by a 1.6 TGDI engine that produces 194hp and 290Nm of torque. Power is sent to the wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Jaecoo positions itself as a “prominent player in the off-road market worldwide”, and has earlier said that it has amassed a devoted following in over a dozen countries in just nine months.
Since the commencement of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2024 special operations on April 1, the Road Transport Department (RTD) has identified 16,142 instances of speeding through the Automated Awareness Safety System cameras.
Datuk Lokman Jamaan, the RTD senior enforcement director, revealed that a staggering 95 percent of these violations involved drivers traveling at speeds ranging from 130 km/hour to 170 km/hour, while the remaining five percent exceeded 170 km/hour.
Expressing concern over these findings, Lokman emphasized the crucial role of drivers in ensuring their safety as well as that of fellow road users by adhering to prescribed speed limits.
“Drivers must take more responsibility for their safety and the safety of other road users by observing the prescribed speed limits,” he emphasized during a press briefing held at the Integrated Motorcycle Operations event in Meru Raya.
Highlighting the potential impact of responsible driving on accident rates and fatalities, Lokman stressed the importance of maintaining vigilance, particularly during festive seasons. He further disclosed that the RTD had issued 26,313 notices to road users for various violations of road safety regulations and laws during the nationwide Special Motorcycle Ops conducted from April 1 to 6.
Additionally, as part of these operations, 1,464 motorcycles were seized for non-compliance with regulations.
According to a report published by NST, the demand for rental cars during the Hari Raya holidays has surged significantly, with some rental companies reporting full bookings since the start of Ramadan.
Mohd Shuib Bahari, the manager of Subcar car rental service, revealed that their fleet of 20 multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) has been completely reserved, with customers booking for a minimum duration of at least one week.
The booked MPVs include popular models such as the Perodua Alza, Toyota Wish, Hyundai Starex, Toyota Alphard, and Toyota Vellfire.
During the Hari Raya season, customers typically prefer MPVs, especially those with large families, as they offer ample seating capacity and storage space for long-distance travel. Mohd Shuib expressed gratitude for the encouraging response from customers.
Regarding pricing, Mohd Shuib explained that rental rates vary depending on the type of vehicle. For instance, the daily rental fee is RM200 for the Perodua Alza, RM450 for the Hyundai Starex, and between RM700 to RM800 for the Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire. However, prices may increase for last-minute bookings, with rates ranging from RM250 to RM350 per day for the Perodua Alza.
He observed that most customers booking rental cars are those returning to celebrate Hari Raya in the east coast and northern regions, reflecting the seasonal nature of the demand.
Social media can be an incredibly toxic place, but it also has its benefits. Facebook user JC Jess found the power of social media when she uploaded a video complaining about her car on April 6th.
The video, which has since received 1.4 million views, 13,000 likes and 49 comments, is about her experience with her Chery Omoda.
The caption is in Chinese (Mandarin we assume) and according to Google Translate says, “Never buy a Chery Omoda. My car is just over two months old and I have already gone to the service centre several times because of the brakes. I just came out of the service centre and suddenly there are no brakes on the highway!! This almost took my life!!”
From the post, it seems like the issue has been lingering and the service centre simply brushed it away. The video that she posted can be seen below:
Chery Malaysia was quick to respond though, and the company issued a press statement on Sunday afternoon clarifying that they have already been in touch with the complainant to resolve the issue. To ensure her safety, a courtesy car was offered while they looked into her car.
The complete statement from Chery Malaysia can be seen below:
Some comments on social media are chiding the company for reacting only when the issue became viral. However, it is important to note that customers only deal with the dealerships and service managers, who sometimes brush things under the carpet.
Occasionally, the distributor, which in this case is Chery Malaysia, will be informed, which does not seem to be the case here.
Chery Malaysia should be commended for reacting to the problem as quickly as they did, practically racing to resolving the issue.
As for what happened to the car, we are yet to find out as there is no further information. But this issue does bring to light that Malaysia badly needs “Lemon Laws” to protect consumers in the event of such issues. Here’s what a Minister had to say about the proposed law.
It is also important to take note that any vehicle that is mass produced is susceptible to problems. Out of 100 cars that are produced, manufacturers have an acceptable error rate, which can be as high as 3 out of every 100, or even as low as 1 out of every 1,000,000. So such things do happen, so it up to the car maker to fix it and fix it fast. In this case, Chery Malaysia should be commended.
Has It Happened Before?
Not in Malaysia but it has unfortunately happened before. We picked up on reports from Australia dating back to February of this year where a total of 5,901 cars were found to have defective brakes, resulting in a mass recall. The recall involved the Omoda 5 but it is important to note that not all Omoda 5’s sold were affected. The issue involved a brake fluid leak resulting from a screw that was not fastened properly. We are not sure if the Australian cars are the same as Malaysian ones, but since both drive on the same side of the road, they are unlikely to differ mechanically but perhaps some features might be different. You can read the full Australian recall involving the Omoda 5 here.
In a significant move that provides stability for growth and capturing of market share, Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (Pro-Net), a wholly owned subsidiary of Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd, has announced that it has obtained RM200 million in financing from CIMB Bank Berhad.
The funds are for its green mobility initiative and the importation and distribution of the smart #1 EV for the Malaysian market.
PRO-NET is the exclusive authorised importer and distributor for smart vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand, particularly the smart #1 for now with more models in the pipeline.
With a comprehensive ecosystem spanning 13 dealer locations, aftersales services, as well as a user-friendly digital app known as ‘Hello smart’ to provide access to over 70% of the public charging network, PRO-NET offers a holistic electric mobility solution together with the reassurance of a robust customer service plan.
The company is also charged with fulfilling national carmaker PROTON’s commitment to its electric vehicle agenda and is set to play a pivotal role as it leads the transition towards the production of New Energy Vehicles (NEV) and the development of the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim.
CIMB on the other hand provides an array of solutions for the consumer EV segment with the introduction of its comprehensive suite of EV financial solutions to drive the adoption of EVs and support the shift towards sustainable mobility across ASEAN. These include preferential auto financing rates, insurance protection and a range of other exclusive privileges, facilitating consumer needs across every aspect of owning an EV.
