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Chery Sales Indonesia (CSI) has issued a recall for the Omoda 5 model in Indonesia due to concerns regarding the rear axle component. Similar to the issue here in Malaysia.

In the statement, Chery emphasised its commitment to ensuring the safety of its customers and providing the best service possible. The decision to recall the Omoda 5 was made following an in-depth investigation conducted by Chery International, which identified issues with the rear axle shell component from a specific vendor.

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When people talk about smart nowadays, they aren’t referring to the smart fortwo or the forfour, you know the one where in the movie Expendables, Arnold Schwarzenegger rips the door open and says “my shoe is bigger than this car.” Well because no one really remembers those cars because of the recent impact that smart has made in the Malaysian market with the smart #1. 

Designed by Mercedes, built on Geelys sustainable electric architecture and is under Pro Net, a subsidiary of Proton.  Just over a 100 days in the Malaysian market and the Smart #1 sold 100 units within a month which set a new sales record.  They have been offering the smart #1 in 3 variants, the Pro, Premium and top of the line Brabus. 

Pretty impressive. But they are not done yet. To extend their lineup, smart has introduced the new smart #3. We attended an exclusive preview event held at Proton’s headquarters in Subang Jaya. Spanning three days, the event provided attendees with an immersive experience, offering a firsthand look and driving impression of smart’s latest addition to its product portfolio: the all-electric smart #3 SUV Coupe.

Power

Just like the #1, the #3 also comes in different specs and configurations, including the top-of-the-line Brabus version. The Premium variant gets a single motor driving the rear wheels which puts out 268hp and 343Nm of torque. It can go from 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds, up to a top speed of 180km/h.

Meanwhile, the Smart #3 Brabus gets a twin motor setup putting out 422hp and 543Nm of torque. 0-100km/h takes just 3.7 seconds, up to a top speed of 180km/h.

These specifications are similar to the #1, therefore the power delivery seemed very identical. However, the #3 is a more mature version in the sense that the throttle response is slightly better and the pickup efficiency along with a new launch control system, allows it to hit the 3.7 seconds mark, compared to the #1’s 3.9 seconds. Due to this tuning, shooting out of corners is a little more satisfying.

Handling

The #3 has a front MacPherson and rear five-link suspension structure which translates to controllability and a more precise steering response which gives you a more flexible control of the car. The AWD version uses a thicker front and rear stabiliser bar which effectively reduces body roll and improves on the cornering limit. 

The slalom-like test made it seem like we were not even driving an SUV. It felt more refined due to the 5.5 minimum turning radius. This gives you more manoeuvrability control if you ever need to swing away from a real-life scenario.

Because the smart #3 is longer and wider than the #1, it was planted to the ground during corners at 100km/h. We felt confident and we just kept wanting more because, like we said, shooting out of corners is so much fun. 

Comfort

This writer has a rather bigger build compared to the average human size so comfort plays a big role in every car. The #3 does not compromise on that. Yes, the #1 was comfortable too but in the #3, we felt a little bit more comfortable because of the wider stance. 

Drivers get plenty of legroom and for those who are sitting at the back, don’t worry because there is ample legroom for you too. We thought headroom would be an issue due to the coupe-like shape but we were wrong. There is plenty of space to move your head around which makes it easy to get in and out of the car. 

Just like the #1, the driver and front passenger get ventilated seats (Premium and Brabus) which adds to the comfort experience due to our “beautiful” Malaysian weather. 

Battery

The higher-spec variants support 22kW of AC Charging and up to 150kW for DC charging. The base “Pro” model only supports a slower 7kW of AC charging and DC charging up to 130kW. This gives us a  455km driving range for the Premium and 415km for the Brabus. With a 0.27 ultra-low drag coefficient thanks to aerodynamic optimisations, the #3 has a 15km driving range more than the #1.

Speaking of aerodynamics, the optimisations include aerodynamic rims, front and rear wheel wind deflectors, active air intake grille and wind blade air curtains.

The #3 is launching here soon and further details will be provided very soon.

Toyota is gearing up to produce electric vehicle (EV) batteries at its new factory in North Carolina, USA, with plans to commence production in the first quarter of next year. The facility, which received increased investment totalling $13.9 billion last year, is making significant progress since its groundbreaking in late 2022.

According to reports, Sean Suggs, President of Toyota Battery Manufacturing at the North Carolina complex, revealed that trial activities are currently underway in the first building of the factory. With approximately 300 team members on-site daily and around 500 more at the headquarters location in Greensboro, the plant is set to employ a total of 5,100 people upon completion in 2028.

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The Petronas Automotive Entrepreneur Development Program (PUMP) has earmarked RM2.5 million to support seven automotive entrepreneurs in establishing vehicle service centres in Terengganu.

PUMP is a structured initiative encompassing entrepreneurship training, business financing, advisory services, and periodic monitoring by the People’s Trust Council (MARA) and Petronas. Through collaboration between MARA and Petronas Lubricants Marketing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (PLMM), the program has significantly contributed to empowering the Bumiputera economy, particularly in the automotive sector.

From a pool of 120 entrepreneurs who attended briefings and interviews in August 2022 for the East Coast zone, 55 were selected. This selection process covered three states: Terengganu, Kelantan, and Pahang. In Terengganu alone, MARA aims to establish 10 operational branches, with three already operational in Kuala Nerus, Kemaman, and Dungun, while seven more are currently under development and expected to start operating this year.

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The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has announced that buses from Thailand are now permitted to enter all states in Malaysia, subject to approval from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). Transport Minister Anthony Loke clarified that this permission is not limited to states near the border.

According to Berita Harian, Loke stated that this decision was made recently, allowing buses from Thailand to enter Malaysia. They simply need to apply to APAD, and upon approval, a temporary permit will be issued.

However, buses from Thailand must provide specific information, including details of tour packages, the number of passengers, and accommodation locations.

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The estimated overall cost of providing Light Rail Transit (LRT) infrastructure in Johor is projected to be RM16.7 billion, whereas the provision of Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) infrastructure is estimated to cost RM7 billion. Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, the state executive councillor for Transport, Infrastructure, and Communications, revealed this valuation after a detailed comparison analysis between the LRT and ART systems, following presentations from two consortia proposing these public transport systems, as reported by Bernama.

Regarding the LRT system, Mohamad Fazli mentioned that it necessitates a new design for the elevated section and requires approval of the railway scheme. Additionally, infrastructure for depots and LRT stations would involve land acquisition for the depot in Desa Jaya and five acres of land for track switching/shunting.

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