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Perodua has contributed RM2 million to the National Disaster Management Agency’s (NADMA) COVID-19 fund to provide support in the ongoing war against COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the cash contribution, the Malaysian carmaker had earlier donated 150 mattresses, 200 pillows, 105 boxes of mineral water, 15 industrial fans and 300 pairs of rubber boots to Hospital Sungai Buloh.


Related: Perodua contributes to ‘war effort’ against COVID-19


“This war against COVID-19 is our shared responsibility. The funds and items contributed by Perodua are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure Malaysia will recover as fast as it can,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Perodua
Fans for our dedicated frontliners at Hospital Sg. Buloh to be more comfortable as they carry out their vital duties.

According to media reports, the NADMA-COVID 19 fund was launched by the Prime Minister on March 11, 2020 with the objective of aiding citizens who are most vulnerable to the impact of the Movement Control Order (MCO), which came into force on March 18, 2020. Based on reports, the fund’s target groups include the unemployed and others affected by the MCO.

The government also recently introduced the Prihatin Rakyat Stimulus Package to further help Malaysians impacted by COVID-19.

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“We thank the government for these measures. Perodua, in solidarity with all Malaysians, hopes this pandemic will be resolved in the shortest time and with minimal infections and fatalities. To those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, we extend our sincere condolences,” Dato’ Zainal said.

“As for Perodua, we have also directed all our staff, the greater automotive supply chain and our authorised dealers to pay keen attention to their staff’s needs and welfare during this MCO. To this end, we are monitoring the situation closely to ensure that our ecosystem’s livelihoods, like wage, benefits and especially employment, are not impacted,” he added.

“We are committed to the social distancing measures enforced by the authorities to ensure the spread of the virus is contained. To our customers in particular and all Malaysians in general, please stay indoors and stay healthy,” Dato’ Zainal urged.

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Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd. (ETCM) today announced that the warranty of all Nissan vehicles distributed and sold by the company will have an extension of 30 days from the last day of the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, if the warranty expiry date falls within the period that the MCO is on.

The existing warranties will remain valid, even if the preventive maintenance service schedule intervals cannot be performed during this MCO period.

Nissan engine

Customers are encouraged to reschedule service appointments within 30 days after MCO is lifted in order to keep their vehicle warranty active. Appointment rescheduling can be done via the DriveOn mobile app, Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Sdn. Bhd. (TCEAS) website, Call Centre or direct booking with TCEAS Service Centres (after the MCO expires).

To cater to the anticipated surge of service appointments after the MCO period, TCEAS will extend its business operation hours from Monday to Friday, 8.30 am up to 8.00 pm. In Kelantan and Terengganu, the operating days will be from Sunday to Thursday.

Nissan

ETCM had also earlier informed its customers that while all its sales and aftersales outlets will remain closed in accordance with the MCO, Roadside Assistance and Towing services will still be available to assist in an emergency. However, if the vehicle is towed to a service centre, it will have the remain there as repair work cannot be undertaken during the MCO period.

For more information, roadside assistance or towing services, members of the public may call 1800-88-3838, or visit www.nissan.com.my.

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This is a serious and challenging time and many must be getting increasingly stressed with lockdowns and fear of getting infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus. That’s understandable but hopefully, being able to laugh is not lost yet because it can be therapeutic and provide some relief, if just for a while.

April Fool’s Day, an annual date on the calendar when people and companies have a bit of fun playing pranks, passed rather quietly this year. Perhaps few were in the mood for pranks. So MINI USA decided to compile some of the brand’s most memorable and humorous past April Fools’ moments over the past 18 years the modern MINI has been sold in America.

MINI had fun on April Fools’ Day with unique models, concepts and accessories that were never intended to make it to reality. While most were simply ideas to celebrate a day dedicated to jokes and pranks that dates back to the 1500s, MINI did go as far to create one and launch it at a major international autoshow in 2012.

“MINI has always had the ability to make people smile, whether through our humorous advertising and guerrilla marketing stunts, or simply by the appearance of the familiar, smiling face that people see in the front grille of a MINI.” said Andrew Cutler, Head of Corporate Communications, MINI USA. “We hope that during these difficult times, reminiscing about some of our past April Fools’ Day moments will make people smile. It’s an important part of helping us all get through this together.”

MINI Centrelite
2002: MINI introduces the revolutionary third headlight called CENTRELITE. It was a groundbreaking idea specifically for foggy English weather. The press release also revealed that “this revolutionary new technology emits a super-heated beam that dries out fog up to 30 metres ahead of the car and dramatically improves visibility.”
Remote Control Steering System
2003: Remote control steering system sets new standards in convenience. MINI produced the world’s first commercially-available full-sized remote control car. Based on the proven ‘Tamiy-ah-hah’ model racing technology, the new system allowed owners to remotely operate their cars up to 50 metres.

2004: 8-speed gearbox introduced. MINI’s forward thinking added more fun with 2 speeds in reverse. Remember it was 2004 so 8 speeds was still unique and MINI engineers felt that 2 extra speeds in reverse would give owners ‘more fun going backwards’.


2005: The flexible transportation initiative. MINI cars, already known for cornering as if they were on rails, offered a special edition that will actually corner on rails. Considering the growing problem of gridlock and rush-hour traffic, this special model was adapted to ride on all rail lines throughout North America.


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2006:  Build your own MINI program. Virtual reality for consumers was still many years away but MINI USA was already able to offer customers a program that gave them hands-on experience to build their own car. All of the car’s components could be ordered online and the parts, including the chassis and engine, would delivered in instalments. It was to take about 6 weeks to complete the car and customers would also receive a can of spraypaint each week.


2009: Perpetual motion magnetic propulsion system. Announced on April 1, MINI USA looked set to take a world lead in fuel efficiency with the announcement of a revolutionary magnetic propulsion system that will allow its cars to drive to several hundred, possibly even thousands of kilometres with little charge and no need for fuel. Professor Lirpa Loof, who led the development team, explained that a series of magnets in the wheel hubs would both pull and push the wheels in the desired direction, exploiting the magnets’ natural tendency to attract and repel.


2010: A new level of automobile personalisation. A revolutionary paint system for the Clubman allowed owners to change the exterior colour of their car as often as they changed their mood. With the new, innovative range of MINIMagic paint finishes, all a customer has to do to activate an on-demand colour change was quick wipe over the painted surfaces with the patented MINIMagic paint polish. In minutes, the transformation – from Light Coffee to Cosmic Blue, for example – would be completed.


MINI Yachtsman
2012: Amphibious MINI Yachtsman launched. MINI customers could boldly go where no motorer has gone before and travel on the 70% of the earth’s surface covered by water. The new model, the company said in its release, “comes with a fully incomprehensible warranty that includes 3-year no-cost moorage, annual dry-docking and free barnacle removal, for the original captain.”
MINI Hipster
2016: The Hipster Hatch. Featuring Instagram filtered windows, twin-deck cassette player and a fixed-gear drivetrain, the MINI Hipster Hatch was avant-garde and upcycled. It was ‘effortlessly stylish’ and the perfect companion for a spot of vintage clothes shopping. It was inspired by the kind of innovative thinking only found when you ignore the script and ask what those who refuse to be categorized want from a car,” explained MINI USA.
John Cooker Works
2017: The John Cooker Works Package. This was aimed at the culinary entrepreneur who could turn his MINI Convertible into a mobile street vendor stall. Should the rain come down suddenly, the convertible roof could be closed in just 18 seconds without having to remove the food preparation surface. Be it on the streets of Shanghai, in front of Barcelona’s office blocks or whipping around tourist hotspots in London, the MINI Convertible with John Cooker Works Package would be an eye-catcher as the world’s smallest multifunctional food truck.

Click here for other new and articles about MINI on PISTON.MY.

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One thing is for sure – things will not be the same again when this COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end (hopefully that will not take too long). With the restrictions imposed by the Movement Control Order (MCO) and the need for better hygiene and social distancing, our lifestyle will have to change. Likewise for businesses, big and small, which will have to be mindful of protecting both their employees as well as their customers and the public.

While seeking to ensure its daily operations continue to run smoothly, Proton has adhered to the requirements of the MCO in order to help break the COVID-19 chain of infection in Malaysia. At the same time, the company has also obtained approval from the relevant agencies for essential operations to be carried out by essential employees.

Proton

Main priority – safety of employees
The health and safety of Proton’s employees is of utmost importance. With a workforce of close to 10,000 people, monitoring the health status of everybody is a daily task requiring cooperation from all levels. During the MCO, the health status of every employee is monitored twice daily with plans in place to isolate and treat those suspected of being infected with the virus. This includes weekends and takes into account where the staff are based during the MCO as well as their active work status.

Proton

Prior to the MCO, all staff movement outside the company was limited from the beginning of February 2020. Furthermore, those who travelled were required to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine upon their return including being screened for the virus before and after the quarantine period.

“When the news of the COVID-19 virus made headlines, Proton put into effect an action plan to mitigate against infection. We have been diligent in our efforts and even before the MCO was announced, we cancelled all overseas business travel and enforced work from home operations for a few departments with staff who were quarantined for possible infections. Our main priority is the health and safety of our staff and we are hopeful of emerging from this situation unscathed,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.

Proton

Essential company operations to continue
Adhering to the strict conditions of the MCO means all Proton facilities have been shut down from March 18. However, certain job functions have still to be performed on-site. For instance, maintenance of Proton’s production facilities needs to be kept going while a few service centres designated to service the fleet of Proton vehicles used by government agencies remain operational.

In accordance with the requirements of the MCO, Proton has obtained approvals to issue letters for specific people who are performing limited company operations.

Proton staff

Operations for other areas within the company continue and individual departments are required to have daily meetings with department heads updating their team members on management decisions and apportioning work with daily deliverables.

“While we are cognisant of the need to adhere to the MCO, Proton has obtained approval from the authorities for a small number of its staff to continue working at specific locations to perform essential services. As for our other staff members, we have asked them to adapt their work practices to the MCO rules. Thanks to video-conferencing and messaging technology, meetings and discussions can be held from anywhere with an Internet connection so we are hopeful of keeping disruptions to our business operations to a minimum level,” said Dato’ Radzaif Mohamed, Deputy CEO of Proton.


Related story: Proton provides 50 units of X70 to Ministry of Health


The company, while acknowledging the scale of the crisis, is confident the country will be able to navigate itself to a safe outcome. “These are trying times but we are certain that if we pull together, Malaysia will come out of this strong. Proton will be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with all Malaysians as we see this through,” added Dr. Li.

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The ‘Red Dot’ Award, which originated in Germany, has become established internationally as one of the most sought-after seals of quality for good design. Initiated in 1955, it is one of the world’s largest design competitions.

This year, two Mazda models received Red Dot: Product Design 2020 awards – the CX-30 and MX-30. Reflecting Mazda’s excellence in vehicle design, these are the eighth and ninth Red Dot awards won by Mazda’s models incorporating KODO design to date. Prior to this were the Mazda3 (2019), MX-5 RF (2017), MX-5 soft top, CX-3 and Mazda2 (all 2015), Mazda3 (2014) and Mazda6 (2013).

Mazdea CX-30

Mazda CX-30
The CX-30 is the second production model created with the latest evolution of the KODO design philosophy – artful design, rooted in traditional Japanese aesthetics. The honing of every element according to the ‘less is more’ principle has resulted in clean, beautiful surfaces on the CX-30 and brought an entirely original look to the compact crossover SUV segment.

“The Japanese master craftsmen have always prized simplicity of form, of being beautifully pure,” said Jo Stenuit, Mazda’s European Design Director. “This inspired our designers to trim back elements and create something dynamic yet elegant, restrained yet vital. This is how we perceive Japanese aesthetics – a sensibility that has created emotionally moving cars.”

Mazda CX-30

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Mazda MX-30

Mazda MX-30
Though retaining the beautiful, handcrafted forms of KODO design, the styling of the Mazda MX-30 represents an exploration of a more modern aesthetic which focuses on the futuristic values and lifestyles that are beginning to emerge.

“This new approach has resulted in an original design that embodies the expansion of KODO’s expressive range,” explained MX-30 Chief Designer, Youichi Matsuda. “The exterior is uncompromisingly simple to emphasise its beauty as a solid mass, and the cabin design – with its framed top and freestyle doors – embodies an image of lightness while proactively incorporating sustainability as an element for the interior materials. As we begin an era of great change, we want the Mazda MX-30 to show people that our cars can still deliver pure joy of driving.”


Related article: Mazda’s first all-electric model – the MX-30


MAZDA MX-30

The MX-30 is currently only available for the European market. It is equipped with e-SKACTIV, Mazda’s new electric drive technology, which uses a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that gives a claimed range of approximately 200 kms. The driving range far exceeds the 48-km average daily drive of European customers, Mazda believes.

The Mazda CX-30 is available in Malaysia and to find out more about it, visit www.mazda.com.my.

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