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War against COVID-19: Toyota to make facemasks for its workers to reduce demand on commercial supplies

With demand by consumers falling, there is no point in making more cars at this time (apart from the fact that parts may also not be available) so many carmakers are using their manufacturing facilities to produce urgently needed items for the healthcare community.

Toyota is among the carmakers that is helping in many ways and one of the approaches it has taken to indirectly help in the issue of facemask supplies is to make its own. Rather than drawing on the limited supplies in the market and reducing availability to frontliners in hospitals who desperately need them, Toyota is producing facemasks at its Group factories for use by its own workforce.

Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) had earlier stated that facemasks are not necessary for those who are not ill, it has since changed that position. A senior WHO official said that ‘the use of masks, both home-made and cloth masks, at the community level may help with an overall comprehensive response to this disease’.

This change was based on increasing evidence that some people infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus show no symptoms (cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing). As such, they could possibly pass on the virus to others around them. This is why social distancing – standing at least 1 to 2 metres apart – is important if it is necessary to interact. The mask can help reduce the possibility of virus transmission.

Toyota Group factories to make facemasks
DENSO Corporation will self-produce face masks it requires for employees mainly at its production sites. With production of the face masks scheduled to commence during April, they have been working on a prototype. It is anticipated that if things proceed as scheduled, 100,000 face masks will be produced daily.

Toyota Boshoku Corporation’s Kariya Plant, which normally makes textile machinery andcar air-conditioning compressors, is scheduled to commence production of face masks shortly, at a rate of approximately 1,500 face masks per day.

Toyota worker — *Toyota will provide face masks made at its own factories for its workers’ protection. (File image)*

Along with measures to increase production, it is anticipated that production will gradually be transferred to the Sanage Plant from May. The aim is to boost production to eventually reach up to 12,000 face masks per day. In addition, Aisin Seiki, Daihatsu Motor, and Hino Motors are also considering their own production of face masks.

To help with the current shortage of medical face shields, Toyota will produce injection mold and 3D-printed medical face shields. Specifically, a Toyota plant in Japan is preparing to produce injection mold medical face shields with an anticipated starting production volume of 500 to 600 per week. The company is also starting to evaluate the possibility of other group companies also participating in the production.

Using decades-long production expertise
With Toyota’s decades-long experience in mass production, it should be able to develop efficient methods to maximise output of face masks, just as its Toyota Production System has done for making motor vehicles. Some ways that Toyota will help is by considering support measures from various angles by utilizing its global supply chain and utilizing its know-how of manufacturing and logistics in the fight against the coronavirus.

Toyota Mobility Foundation offers connected and sanitized mobility services

General Motors and Honda to jointly develop two all-new electric vehicles

General Motors and Honda have agreed to jointly develop two all-new electric vehicles for Honda, based on GM’s highly flexible global EV platform powered by proprietary Ultium batteries. The EVs will be manufactured at GM plants in North America with sales expected to begin in the 2024 model year in North America.

Production of these Honda electric vehicles will combine the development expertise of both companies. The exteriors and interiors of the new EVs will be exclusively designed by Honda, and the platform will be engineered to support Honda’s driving character.

Joint pursuit of electrification
GM and Honda already have an ongoing relationship around electrification, which both companies are pursuing in this decade. This includes work on fuel cells and the Cruise Origin, an electric, self-driving and shared vehicle, which was revealed in San Francisco earlier this year. Honda also joined GM’s battery module development efforts in 2018.

2020 Honda e — *Honda e is a new EV which the company developed primarily for the European market.*

“This collaboration will put together the strength of both companies, while combined scale and manufacturing efficiencies will ultimately provide greater value to customers,” said Rick Schostek, Executive Vice-President of American Honda Motor Co. “This expanded partnership will unlock economies of scale to accelerate our electrification roadmap and advance our industry-leading efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

According to Doug Parks, GM Executive Vice-President of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, the agreement builds on a proven relationship with Honda, and further validates the technical advancements and capabilities of our Ultium batteries and our all-new EV platform.

“Importantly, it is another step on our journey to an all-electric future and delivering a profitable EV business through increased scale and capacity utilization. We have a terrific history of working closely with Honda, and this new collaboration builds on our relationship and like-minded objectives,” he said.

As part of the agreement to jointly develop electric vehicles, Honda will incorporate GM’s OnStar safety and security services into the two EVs, seamlessly integrating them with HondaLink. Additionally, Honda plans to make GM’s hands-free advanced driver-assist technology available.

Proton assures customers of warranty validity during MCO period

Like other companies nationwide, Proton will respect the rules of the Movement Control Order (MCO) that restricts operations of non-essential businesses. As such, its authorised service outlets remain closed until the end of the MCO period which is presently set at April 14, 2020.

Assistance for emergencies, eg breakdowns, is still available but normal servicing activities are suspended at this time. This may cause concern with some customers who are unable to visit a service centre to get vehicle maintenance at the scheduled interval to ensure the warranty is not invalidated. Apart from the service centre being closed, they are also required by the MCO to stay at home.

Proton gives assurance that new vehicle warranties expiring during the MCO period will be extended by 1,000 kms or 30 days following the final day of the MCO, whichever comes first. The warranties will remain valid even if the vehicle misses its recommended service period.

However, customers are advised to service their vehicle within 30 days of the end of the MCO period to keep their warranties active. Owners should contact a service outlet to book a service appointment within 15 days of the end of the MCO period.

Meanwhile, the carmaker offers the following tips for maintaining the cleanliness of your vehicle. Under normal circumstances (when there was no pandemic), it has always been a good idea to maintain the cabin as a clean and healthy space. Now with the threat of COVID-19 coronavirus transmission, it is even more crucial for the sake of yourself and your passengers.

SUPER GT event in Malaysia postponed due to uncertainty of pandemic outlook

Activities that have large gatherings of people have been stopped by governments all over the world. This is to prevent close contact among people so as to prevent and cut the chain of transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Major sports events worldwide – including the Tokyo Olympics 2020 – have been cancelled or postponed with the hope that the situation will change later on. However, the pandemic has so far not shown signs of slowing so no one can really see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’.

In view of this outlook, the GT Association Co. Ltd. (GTA) has today announced a postponement of the 2020 Autobacs SUPER GT Series. This was to have seen the return of SUPER GT racing to Malaysia after a 6-year absence, along with being the world’s first-ever GT night race.

The event was to have been the fifth round of the series, which was scheduled for July 16 – 19, 2020, and included the SUPER GT Malaysia Festival 2020 at the Sepang International Circuit.

In consultation with GTA and the relevant local authorities, HARO Sports & Entertainment Sdn Bhd said that the event will now be deferred to another date which will be announced later. HARO will continue to work with relevant authorities to closely monitor the pandemic and an alternative date will be announced as soon as it has been declared that the COVID-19 pandemic no longer poses any threat.

Safety first
“There is just too much of uncertainty with the threat of the pandemic growing exponentially over the last few weeks, resulting in widespread international travel restrictions. This is certainly not the way we had envisioned the return of the series to Malaysia but a postponement is nevertheless critical to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all stakeholders – local and international fans, spectators, racing teams, event partners, event vendors and event personnel,” said Fahrizal Hassan, the company’s Managing Partner.

He added that tickets purchased for the event will continue to be valid for use.

Super GT racing returns to Malaysia with the world’s first-ever night race!

Coming soon: World’s First Flying Electric Car Racing Series

“Electric flying cars are a coming reality that will liberate our cities and answer the long-term mobility challenges we face. Nothing drives technology as fast as competition. The F1 racers of the early 20th century possessed a pioneering spirit we are harnessing today to rapidly accelerate progress. This seed investment represents a significant leap forward in the next great mobility revolution,” says Matt Pearson, founder of the Alauda performance electric flying car company and its racing series, Airspeeder.

Alauda is poised to go racing following the successful completion of a seed investment round. This progress represents significant steps forward in their aim to accelerate the development of electric flying cars through sporting competition.

Airspeeder claims to deliver on the promise of a future proposed in science fiction and gaming. Inspiration from the latter will take the form of a cockpit, furnished with latest augmented reality technology to assist the pilot in navigating the course.

Races in the air
Set to be the most exciting and progressive form of motorsport on the planet, elite pilots will use the sky as their playground in intense head-to-head competition. Multiple teams and manufacturers will be provided the hardware by Alauda as a turnkey solution but afforded freedom to set strategy and draft pilots.

The roster of teams will include established names in racing and entirely new entrants to motorsport who are enticed by the fusion of intense sporting competition and next generation technology. This approach is expected to create the close and intense sporting competition traditional motorsport fans crave.

The Speeders are propelled by the latest electric powertrains co-developed with technical partners drawn from the elite motorsport world. This state-of-the-art form of propulsion will accelerate a zero-emissions future. Rapid electric pitstops and short, intense head-to-head competition will serve the requirements of a generation, native to Esports.

Final ‘manned’ tests of the Speeders are technically ready. These flights will take place in the desert surrounding the firm’s headquarters in South Australia once restrictions relating to the global health crisis are lifted. The first head-to-head dual races are planned to take place in late 2020 with first locations to be announced soon.

Taking a giant leap
A technical facility has been established in Adelaide, South Australia, a region rapidly becoming a global centre of space and aerospace technology with its surrounding deserts the perfect place to test both manned and unmanned flights.

The facility will be both company’s technical base and will house a growing team of engineers and technical specialists drawn from the leading names in aerospace, motorsport and engineering including Rolls-Royce and Babcock Aviation.

A global commercial base in London, England has also been established. It provides important proximity to key technical expertise in motorsport, aviation and the UK’s furtive and rapidly expanding electric powertrain development industry.

Now testing
The firm is currently at a stage of advanced testing as its MK2 electric flying multicopters successfully completed trials throughout 2019. A team of test pilots recruited from the US Air Force and Martin Aviation will test the MK3 advanced development prototype in California’s Mojave desert elite pilots Eventually, they will be able to go up to speeds of 200 km/h in the largest, most powerful octocopters on the planet.

The MK4, first shown as a concept last year will be co-developed in the UK and South Australia, with the latter proving the perfect testing ground for both ground control and manned flights as the sport nears its inaugural ‘Beta Season’. This will include public manned test flights that will demonstrate Airspeeder’s potential.

PLUS urges motorists to ensure sufficient balance in tollcard, especially at Penang Bridge

During the period of the Movement Control Order (MCO) which will last until April 14 (unless extended, which we will know after April 10), the general public is required to remain at home. They are not totally ‘locked down’ and can still travel to buy essential items, medical supplies or visit hospitals and clinics. But no makan angin drives and no dining at eating places, only takeaway.

The aim is to ‘flatten the curve’, which refers to bringing down the number of cases of COVID-19 so that our hospitals and healthcare system can cope. You will have read that in some countries, the number of cases has grown to such a huge, unexpected number that the hospitals do not have sufficient capacity and vital medical equipment is insufficient.

We are fortunate that we have not reach such a critical level but if we do not do our part – staying at home is what the general public can do to help – then we too could end up like Italy. And if the curve does not flatten, the government may most likely maintain the MCO longer which does no one any good.

Flattening the curve — *By flattening the curve, the number of cases will be less and the hospitals will be able to help more infected people.*

For those living in Penang and use the Penang Bridge, PLUS is urging motorists to ensure that they have enough balance in their Touch‘nGo card before they cross the bridge which the concessionaire manages. Topping-up needs to be done at locations other than the toll plaza which no longer does reloads to avoid the possibility of COVID-19 transmission.

It is believed that many hundreds of vehicles approach the toll plaza daily with insufficient balance in their tollcard. This causes a jam which affects the flow of commercial vehicles that are bringing essential items to the island.

Petrol station — *The convenience stores at petrol stations can do tollcard reloads or there are ATM machines that also do it.*

“We urge highway users to always ensure that they have sufficient balance in their Touch‘nGo card. They may do reload at numerous top-up zones such as bank ATM machines, convenience stores and petrol stations which are conveniently located around the island and the mainland. Self-service kiosks are also available at various points along the PLUS highway,” said PLUS Chief Operating Officer, Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi.

“Above all, the best move to curb the spread COVID-19 is to stay home and practise social distancing. By ensuring your Touch‘nGo card has sufficient balance for toll transactions, it eliminates the need to physically interact with our Customer Service Assistants and at the same time, ensure social distancing is observed,” Encik Zakaria added.