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Uber Pays Nearly RM1.2 billion to Compensate Taxi and Hire Car Drivers

Uber has agreed to pay nearly $272 million (RM1,284,520 000) to compensate taxi and hire car drivers affected by its aggressive entry into the Australian market. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers announced that the class action against Uber, expected to go to trial at the Supreme Court of Victoria, would be abandoned after the rideshare company agreed to the substantial settlement.

This settlement, the fifth-largest in Australia’s history, represents a significant victory for more than 8000 taxi and hire car owners and drivers who suffered financial losses due to Uber’s market entry. Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer Michael Donelly described the five-year legal battle as “gruelling” and emphasised how Uber had attempted to deny compensation to those affected.

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Chery Malaysia Enhances Customer Experience with New Sabah Facility

Chery Malaysia announces the opening of a new showroom and service centre in Sabah, operated by dealer-partner Universal Chery Sdn Bhd. Located at Lot 7, Jalan Limau Manis Off Jalan Lintas Inanam, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, the expansive 3S centre spans 1,400 square meters, providing customers with a comprehensive experience in vehicle viewing, customer service, and maintenance.

Within the showroom, customers can explore the full fleet of Chery vehicles and enjoy the amenities of the customer lounge. The service centre features 8 service bays staffed by trained Chery technicians, capable of servicing up to 830 vehicles monthly.

Chery Malaysia Vice President Lee Wen Hsiang expressed excitement about expanding their network in Sabah, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and convenience to customers. He highlighted the opportunity for more Malaysians to experience the quality and reliability of Chery vehicles through the new showroom and service centre.

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SDAC-Ford Supports Orang Asli Empowerment with Global Peace Foundation Malaysia

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the exclusive distributor for Ford in Malaysia, has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Orang Asli communities through a second collaboration with Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Malaysia. This partnership focuses on supporting GPF’s OA-Eco Farm program in four Orang Asli Villages in Kuala Rompin, Pahang.

The OA-Eco Farm program is a food farming initiative aimed at fostering self-sufficiency and sustainable income among Orang Asli families. It provides hands-on training, coaching, and subsidies for tools and seedlings.

With a generous contribution of US$10,000 (RM45,745) from Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, 22 staff volunteers from SDAC joined forces with the GPF team to visit the villages on March 9th. They brought donations of seedlings, farming equipment, kitchen tools, and enthusiasm.

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Hertz’s Electric Vehicle Ventures: Leadership Change and Strategic Reevaluation

Hertz Global Holdings Inc. is making a change in leadership following challenges stemming from its investments in electric vehicles. Stephen Scherr, who has been serving as CEO for just over two years, has decided to step down. He will be replaced by Gil West, the former chief operating officer of General Motors Co.’s Cruise Robotaxi unit, effective April 1.

Scherr’s tenure at Hertz coincided with the company’s ambitious foray into electric vehicles, which began shortly after emerging from bankruptcy. Hertz made significant investments in EVs, including placing orders for 100,000 vehicles from Tesla Inc., as part of its strategy to modernise its fleet and capitalise on the growing demand for electric mobility.

However, these bets on EVs did not yield the expected results. Last year, Tesla’s price cuts significantly reduced the resale value of Hertz’s used EVs, leading to challenges related to depreciation and demand. As a result, Hertz announced plans to sell off a substantial portion of its EV fleet, citing lacklustre demand and costly depreciation.

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Xpeng’s Strategy to Capture the Mass EV Market

Xpeng, a prominent Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, has unveiled plans to enter the highly competitive EV market segment with a new, more affordable brand. During an industry event in Beijing, Xpeng’s Chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng, announced that the new brand’s models will be priced between 100,000 yuan and 150,000 yuan (RM65,536-RM98,304). This pricing strategy aims to target a wider consumer base by offering EVs at a lower price point compared to premium EV makers, whose vehicles typically fall in the 200,000-300,000 yuan (RM131,072 – RM196,608) range.

The decision to introduce a cheaper brand comes amid heightened competition in China’s EV market, with companies like BYD leading efforts to reduce prices. Xpeng’s move reflects the industry’s trend toward affordability and accessibility, as companies seek to attract more customers by offering more competitively priced EVs.

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Nissan and Honda Explore Partnership Amid Changing Automotive Dynamics

The revelation of potential talks between Nissan Motor and Honda Motor regarding a strategic partnership signifies a significant development in the automotive industry. Faced with mounting competition from new market players, both companies acknowledge the imperative to capitalise on their individual strengths and delve into collaborative ventures, particularly within the realms of electric vehicles (EVs) and automotive software.

During a joint press conference, Honda’s President and CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, underscored the necessity of collaboration in tackling the evolving challenges within the industry. He outlined broad areas of potential cooperation, spanning automotive software, EV batteries, and synergistic product development. While specifics were not disclosed owing to the nascent stage of discussions, the establishment of multiple working groups was announced to thoroughly explore collaboration opportunities.

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