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Cycle & Carriage Bintang sends the service centre to your home

Many service centres are resuming operations and welcoming owners who must be eager to have their vehicles serviced or repaired. However, some owners may be busy, especially with the sudden announcement that businesses can commence next week. Thus they may not be able to send their vehicles in for servicing.

For such customers, Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad (C&C) has a personalised service which brings the service centre to the home. Known as the Mercedes-Benz Star Mobile, it’s actually been available for the past two years. The service includes scheduled maintenance work, wiper blade replacement, oil filter, air filter, combi filter and dust filter replacement, key battery replacement and car battery replacement.

“We introduced this first-of-its-kind service to the Malaysian market in 2018 on a trial basis. Now, with the Movement Control Order and social distancing, the Mercedes-Benz Star Mobile service provides customers peace-of-mind as they are able to remain within the safety and comfort of their homes while our technicians care for their vehicle on-site,” explained C&C CEO, Wilfrid Foo.

Transparency with cost estimates
In compliance with the current health and safety requirements, all contact points in the vehicle (a Vito van) are sanitised after every service and C&C conducts temperature checks on its technicians daily. Along with added convenience and quality, customers are assured greater transparency with cost estimates provided ahead of services including itemised costs for required parts and labour cost. This enables the customer to make a more informed decision about the maintenance of their Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

“Cycle & Carriage is dedicated to providing Exceptional Journeys to customers. We are continually learning and understanding each customer’s needs and preferences. We aim to be a trusted dealer partner by translating our insights into innovative services and experiences that enhance the overall customer journey. The Mercedes-Benz Star Mobile is a shining example of a premium service that delivers greater convenience and peace of mind when it comes to caring for our customers’ cherished Mercedes-Benz vehicles,” said Mr. Foo.

The Mercedes-Benz Star Mobile travels with two qualified technicians and is fully equipped with the Xentry Diagnosis system, special tools and technician hand tools to perform the stipulated maintenance jobs.

It is available by appointment within the Klang Valley. During the MCO period, availability is daily (except Sundays and public holidays) from 9 am to 3 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 12 noon.pm.

Door-to-Door service as an alternative
Alternatively, Mercedes-Benz owners can also use C&C’s ‘Door to Door’ service. They can call their preferred C&C authorised service centre and their vehicle will be picked up for servicing and then returned when the work is completed. The service (for which there is a charge) is available up to 30 kms driving distance from the authorised Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. For the owner’s peace of mind, the vehicle will be covered by insurance between the home and service centre.

Cycle & Carriage Body & Paint facility gets 100% score again from Daimler AG

Fuel Prices For May 2 – May 8, 2020

Covid-19 — Fighting COVID-19 is our joint responsibility. Protect yourself and others: make these 6 simple precautions your new habits.

All authorised Volkswagen service centres open for business

Volkswagen owners in Malaysia who have been waiting to send their vehicles to the service centres for required maintenance, deferred during the Movement Control Period (MCO), can now do so. – Following the recent announcement by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), automotive service centres can resume operations at full capacity.

As such, all authorised Volkswagen service centres in the country will now resume their operations. Showrooms will, however, remain closed for the time being while the MCO is in effect.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) said that its service dealers will adhered to the strict guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) required by MITI. In connection with this, a ‘Safe Hands’ campaign is adopted taking customers’ and employees’ health into consideration.

The new standard operating procedure includes contactless vehicle acceptance, video walk-throughs, sanitization before and after repair, and cashless payments with e-invoicing during the contactless car pick-up. Additionally, selected dealers will offer vehicle pick-up and drop-off arrangements.

Customers need to make an appointment in advance and are advised to contact their respective service centres for this. Those Volkswagen owners and frontliners who had previously booked their appointments via the Welcome Back campaign will receive priority slots, depending on availability.

“As we prepare to attend to the aftersales needs of our customers, we do this keeping in mind that social distancing is the new normal, and that hygiene and sanitization is now an essential part of daily precautionary measures. I am pleased to say that our ‘Safe Hands‘ SOP adheres to these new standards and will apply to all aspects of our business operations, and not just at our service centres,“ said Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM.

Mr. Winter added that other safety precautions implemented at service centres will include regular sanitization of the premises and regular temperature screenings on all staff and customers.

For further information or contact information for authorised service centres, visit www.volkswagen.com.my.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia shows appreciation for efforts of frontliners

Banks change their mind about interest-free deferment of loans, will now charge extra interest

Just as many Malaysians can feel some relief that the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be diminishing, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Association of Banks Malaysia (ABM) have dampened the optimism with the announcement that there will be additional interest charges for what was to be a 6-month moratorium on loans.

This is a u-turn from what we were told on March 25. Back then, it seemed that, understanding the burden on many people during this period, BNM directed all banks to automatically allow a 6-month moratorium on loans from April 1, 2020. That meant instalments for the months of April, May, June, July, August and September 2020 need not be paid as scheduled. No application was needed as the deferment would be automatic (unless the customer did not wish to accept it) and interest/late penalty charges would not be incurred.

The move was welcome because many people have faced financial challenges since the Movement Control Order (MCO) started and their incomes have been disrupted. Therefore being able to defer their loan repayments at least gave them some breathing space.

Sa;es — The total amount of the H-P loan and the interest to be charged for the entire period of the loan will have been agreed upon at the time of purchase. Now, if you decide to defer instalments for 6 months, you will be charged additional interest.

Click here for the FAQ from Bank Negara Malaysia

With the change which comes into effect from May 1, customers will not have an interest-free payment holiday from April to September 2020. Also important to note is that the banks now say that deferment will no longer be automatic H-P loans. Customers will be informed of the change and asked to confirm whether they want the deferment with the additional interest, or opt out and continue paying.

There is no penalty for opting out from May 2020. All the customer needs to do is inform the bank that payment of instalments will resume as scheduled in the agreement. BNM expects the banking institutions to allow borrowers ‘reasonable time’ to regularise any outstanding scheduled payments that were earlier deferred under the moratorium.

“BNM requires banking institutions to take appropriate steps to ensure that borrowers/customers are provided with clear information on the process and changes to the terms of their agreements, as well as convenient means to conclude these agreements in view of the movement control order.,” said a statement from BNM.

The ABM’s statement said borrowers will have two options at the end of the moratorium. The first is to pay the accumulated 6 months’ deferred instalments together with their October 2020 instalment and no additional interest will be charged. That’s going to be very tough for most people to pay 7 months of instalments at one go.

The second option is to continue the repayment of instalments post-October 2020 through an extension of 6 months in the repayment period after the original date the loan repayment period ends. In this case, interest based on the contractual rate will be charged on the amount of the deferred instalments that remains outstanding until these instalments are fully repaid, which should be by the end of the extended 6-month tenure.

The additional interest will be spread out over the monthly instalments from October 2020 which may not be too bad if you have a few more years left to your loan. It is an unusual approach since H-P loans have a fixed amount of interest for the entire period.

The banks are already notifying customers tonight via SMS or e-mail (or registered postal mail) and if you do not get any notification, check their website or visit the branch managing your H-P loan for clarification. Banks are essential services so they are open even during the MCO.

Nissan owners can now go to 10 TCEAS outlets for service

Nissan owners who require maintenance service or other work done on their vehicles can now visit their nearest Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis (TCEAS) outlet. According to Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), 10 of the authorised Nissan service centres have received approval from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and relevant local councils to resume operations.

The company stresses that appointments must be made beforehand. Once an appointment is confirmed, owners can drop off their vehicle at the service centre. They are not allowed to wait at the service centre.

Appointments can be made using the Nissan DriveOn mobile app, TCEAS website, Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline at 1800-88-3838, or directly calling the service centres listed below. Owners are also advised to select the nearest service centre to them abide by the travelling regulations of the Movement Control Order.

The following are the TCEAS outlets which are now operating:

As a health and safety precaution, TCEAS will practise temperature checking and social distancing for all service centre staff as well as customers. Face masks and gloves and hand sanitizers will also be freely available to customers. Frequent disinfecting will be carried out at the service centres and all vehicles will undergo disinfecting before and after service. Contactless payments are encouraged.

ETCM says that TCEAS service centres in other locations will resume operations in stages. Owners can find the latest information at www.tceas.com.my or by calling 1800-88-3838.

Use the new Nissan Online Showroom to start your purchase process today

How to get three Infiniti cars for your home – free of charge

Running out of things to do during this #stayathome period which the Movement Control Order (MCO) requires you to do? Here’s something from Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury brand, which could help you discover a new hobby.

Drawing on its Japanese heritage and dramatic designs, Infiniti is releasing a collection of ‘Carigami’ models as part of the #ParkitforNow campaign in the USA. The project is part of the brand’s effort to encourage people to stay at home to contain the spread of COVID-19, by providing a free creative outlet for customers and fans.

Combining two elements of Infiniti brand DNA – powerfully elegant design with Japanese inspired craftsmanship – the aim is to create designs like origami. This art of folding paper is said to have its origins in China and Europe though today it is usually associated with Japanese culture.

A series of three different Infiniti models can be produced in 1:27 scale, replicating the design of the Q50, QX80, and the FX crossover. They can be downloaded for free from www.infiniti.com and printed on paper (the thicker, the better). Using a hobby knife or cutter and some glue, the templates can then be assembled into the cars.

“In this unprecedented time where citizens of the world are doing their part to fight COVID-19 by staying at home, we wanted to develop something that will help ease the boredom, while having a bit of fun” said Phil York, General Manager of Infiniti Global Brand and Marketing. He continued, “Our hope is that lovers of cars and crafts alike will enjoy Carigami.”

The team who created the project embraced the playful spirit of the concept when producing content, including capturing a scaled-down ‘at home reveal’ of the models on a record turntable (in place of the typical design revolve). The aim is to inspire users who are seeking for a creative outlet as they practice social distancing at home.

Starting with the Q50, the QX80 and the FX, Carigami model templates will be progressively available. After assembly, you can upload images of your efforts to social media and add the hashtags #ParkitforNow #Carigami.

Have fun!

Click here to get the Carigami templates