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MIROS and Lazada Malaysia to work together on Child Restraint System Awareness

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Lazada Malaysia today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to raise awareness on the importance of child restraint systems (CRS) in reducing road fatalities. As part of the initiatives under the MoU, Lazada Malaysia has launched its Car Seat Assurance programme – a curation of CRS products on LazMall – which currently offers over 40 product models from 6 local and international brands.

Prices range from RM100 to RM1,599 and Lazada gives assurance that each childseat bearing the Car Seat Assurance icon are sold by companies which have submitted to Lazada copies of UNR44 or UNR129 certificates (which are strict and comprehensive sets of child carseat safety regulations by the UN) as well as crash test reports. This product documentation has also been submitted to MIROS for further evaluation as part of an ongoing process to ensure that product safety is not compromised.

Compulsory use of child restraint systems, ie childseats, will come into effect from January 1, 2020. All childseats must meet the United Nations’ ECE R44/04 and ECE R129 specifications.

“We are delighted to have Lazada on board to carry out this initiative which will contribute to the government’s objectives to reduce serious road traffic injuries and fatalities. Through the Lazada Car Seat Assurance programme, we hope to educate more parents on the importance of CRS use and choosing the appropriate CRS for their children which meets the requirements detailed in the Guidelines for Child Restraint System in Malaysia,” said Dr. Siti Zaharah Ishak, Director-General of MIROS.

“We also need to change the perception that regulation-compliant childseats are unaffordable and make it easier for Malaysians to purchase childseats from wherever they may be and accessible throughout Malaysia,” Dr. Siti added.

MIROS GUIDELINES — *Visit **www.miros.gov.my** to download a free copy of the MIROS guidelines on childseats.*

During the first 6 months of 2020 when the law is in effect, summonses will not be issued to motorists who do not place their small children in childseats. Enforcement officers will give warnings and advice instead. The firm decision to introduce the law comes from the fact that less than 30% of motorists have been found to provide childseats, while a MIROS study found that 31 out of 53 (58 per cent) children and infants died due to road accidents.

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Thieves using WhatsApp to steal cars

Car thefts have always been an epidemic issue despite car manufacturers amping up their safety features. Statistics in the UK have shown that over 112,00 cars were stolen between 2017-2018, which is up by 50%. It turns out that UK thieves have been exploiting WhatsApp in order to complete their dirty deeds. (more…)

New vehicle sales start final quarter on high note with 21% increase in Total Industry Volume

New vehicle sales for October – the first month of the final quarter of 2019 – began on a high note with a 21% increase over the Total Industry Volume (TIV) in September to 53,870 units. This volume was also 14% higher than for the same month in 2018 although a comparison may not be right since it was after the GST-free period when sales had seen a huge boost and the market slowed down in the first few months after that.

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) attributed the increased TIV to more selling days as well as more working days. When there are many holidays, there is also disruption in processes such as registration and loan approvals, delaying completion and affecting deliveries.

Oct 2018 - Oct 2019 Sales — *Source: Monthly reports of Malaysian Automotive Association*

By segment, passenger vehicles (excluding pick-up trucks for personal use) accounted for 93% of the TIV in October, a 16% increase over the same month in 2018. However, commercial vehicle sales were virtually unchanged with 4,883 units (including pick-up trucks) delivered.

The cumulative TIV after 10 months of this year reached 496,861 units which was 5,267 units lower than for the same period in 2018. The higher TIV last year was due to the 3-month GST-free period which saw an above-average surge in monthly sales as buyers could enjoy significant savings (especially for the more expensive models).

Production
The assembly plants collectively produced 55,775 vehicles in October, compared to 51,789 vehicles in the same month in 2018. The increase was largely in the passenger vehicle segment while the commercial vehicle segment declined.

Cumulative production for 10 months was 481,816 units which was 97% of the cumulative sales volume but this direct comparison may not be entirely accurate as there would be an overlap in stocks and imports. Popular models may leave the plants within days of being completed but there may also be vehicles which don’t move out so fast (although the plants would not want them around too long either as they take up parking space).

With two months left to the year and a forecast of 600,000 units for the year by the MAA, it means that sales in November and December must average 51,569 units. This year, 5 months have seen the TIV above 50,000 units and it’s often the case that there is such a big boost in December that the forecast is met.

Hyundai to open first manufacturing plant in Indonesia

Hyundai Motor Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government of Indonesia to build its very first manufacturing plant in the country. Why Indonesia? Hyundai sees the country as a potential growth into the ASEAN markets as well as securing future growth engines in the global automotive market. (more…)

Audi designs first animated virtual car for movie

Audi has had a long and successful career in the movie franchise with some of the biggest names in cinematic history, especially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Now, they’ve teamed up with Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios to create the first-ever Audi animated virtual concept car for the latest animated film, Spies in Disguise. (more…)

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition unveiled

The Aston Martin Wings Series have produced some of the world’s most beautiful limited-edition models and its latest member is no exception. Inspired by the world’s first and only supersonic passenger jet, this is the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition. How special? Only 10 units are available. (more…)