Angka-Tan Motor Sdn Bhd (ATM), the official distributor of JMC vehicles in Malaysia has introduced the JMC Vigus Pro White Series for its pickup truck lineup.
According to ATM, the JMC Vigus Pro White Series is the most affordable automatic transmission 4×4 workhorse in the 1-tonne pick-up segment, making it the all-essential workhorse for corporates and SMEs. The JMC Vigus Pro White Series is the extension of the JMC Vigus Pro Premium Series. The Vigus Pro lineup now offers two alternatives to consumers with the most recent release: the White Series and the Premium Series.
Commercial vehicles from China have been around for some time although their presence has not been so noticeable as they have sold in small volumes and in areas outside the usual business centres. Now it seems that is changing, perhaps inspired by Geely being a dominant player through Proton.
Angka-Tan Motor Sdn Bhd (ATM), a subsidiary of Warisan TC Holdings and member of Tan Chong Group, is one of the companies that is now focusing on products from China and among the brands it represents is Foton. Headquartered in Beijing, the Foton Motor Group was established in1996 and produces light and heavy commercial vehicles as well as construction machinery. Its cumulative production and sales volume since 1996 is more than 10,000,000 vehicles.
As sole distributor of Foton Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) and Foton Auman in Malaysia, ATM aims to make deeper inroads into the commercial vehicle segment. It is now introducing the Aumark S City Flyer 4-Wheeler BJ1065 light-duty truck which can cater to the logistics industry in the country. This new model joins the Aumark S Super Truck 6-wheeler which was launched in Malaysia in December 2020.
The Aumark S City Flyer is said to offer fleet owners high productivity and efficiency in their business operations. The model is available in two versions – the VDJD4 and VDJD6 – with wheelbases of 2800mm and 3360mm, respectively.
Power comes from a 2.8-litre Euro-3 turbodiesel engine. The engine is one of the latest generation powertrains from Cummins and produces 129 bhp/310 Nm for speed and agility. Matched to the engine is a 5-speed manual transmission by ZF. With its aluminium alloy casing and optimized gear ratios, it has high transmission efficiency and low fuel consumption, The optimized turbinate gear design also effectively reduces noise, which will have a positive effect on the driver.
The City Flyer has a light and flexible bodywork with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 5.6 tonnes. This is a top feature in the 4-wheeler category and is ideal for inner-city and intra-city trips, allowing operators to carry more payload per trip.
The cabin has been designed to give the driver and co-driver more comfort and reduce fatigue during long driving journeys, improving safety. The seats are enhanced with an extended foaming life and wear-resistant fabric. There’s also a platform water cupholder and overhead file cabinet.
Even truck drivers deserve good protection when they operate their vehicle and the Aumark S City Flyer is engineered to meet European safety standards, particularly the stringent ECE R29 regulations. Tests have been conducted and it fully complies with the safety requirements.
For stable braking, there ABS to prevent the wheels from locking up during heavy braking. Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist help to enhance braking performance, especially in emergencies.
“Safety and reliability are paramount; all Foton trucks are manufactured according to the most stringent of standards and are also in line with Foton’s ‘SUPER’ promise. Ensuring this, the Aumark S City Flyer development work has gone through a 1.6 million kilometre extreme environmental durability testing to guarantee exceptional ability in weathering the harshest of environments,” said Danny Ng, Senior General Manager of ATM.
At this time, there are no airbags fitted although Foton does provide them in some markets. For now, the view is that cost considerations are of a high priority to customers and therefore, the added cost of airbags may not be agreeable. Nevertheless, ATM will keep the safety feature in mind and consider its inclusion in future.
“As inflationary factors creep in, eg fuel price increases, we are seeing increasing demand from business owners looking out for vehicles that are able to deliver efficiency, productivity and uptime. The all-new Foton Aumark S City Flyer 4-Wheeler BJ1065 series meet these criteria and is able to help them swiftly achieve their business objectives,” said Tan Keng Meng, CEO of Warisan TC Holdings Bhd.
All Foton commercial vehicles in Malaysia come with Foton Total Care. Fleet owners will be supported by the Tan Chong Group’s service centre network which has been extensive established nationwide since the late 1950s. ATM will ensure that Foton genuine parts are stocked to ensure that fleet owners can keep their vehicles running optimally and productively.
Additionally, customers can opt for the TC Trust. This is a service agreement that is designed to optimize Foton trucks’ total cost of ownership and provide a hassle-free fleet maintenance management.
In addition, there is also driver training and development to enhance the drivers’ skills and become more fuel-efficient in the way they drive, translating to higher uptime and lower operational costs. In case of emergency, there are also the 24-hour Res-Q service and the One-Stop Repair and Insurance Service available.
The Aumark S City Flyer 4-Wheeler BJ1065VDJD4 (2800 mm) is priced at a recommended retail price from RM93,900 and the BJ1065VDJD6 (3360mm) is priced from RM95,900 for Peninsular Malaysia. For East Malaysia, the prices are RM100,900 and RM102,900, respectively. A 5-year/200,000 km (whichever comes first) warranty is provided with each new unit.
It’s been a while since the pick-up truck segment saw a new competitor appearing. Although there have been some models from China and India purely for commercial use, there have been few targeted at the larger ‘lifestyle’ market that was born in the late 1990s when the regulations on ownership changed.
Now Angka-Tan Motor Sdn Bhd (ATM) will challenge the status quo with its new Vigus Pro from Jiangling Motors Company Ltd (JMC). Unlike other pick-ups from China, the Vigus Pro is stylishly designed and equipped like a passenger car. It is a full-fledged truck with 4×4 and the load-carrying capabilities if needed.
Assembled locally
ATM is not testing the market and seems to have enough confidence to jump straight in with the new model by committing it to local assembly. As ATM is affiliated with the Tan Chong Group, it is only natural that the vehicles will be assembled at Tan Chong’s plant. In this case, it is the younger one in Serendah, just off the North-South Highway after Rawang, Selangor. This is also where most of the Nissan models are assembled.
For now, the Vigus Pro is available in just one variant which is priced from RM98,888 (without insurance) in Peninsular Malaysia. It will be sold through a network of dealerships which presently number 13, with an equal number of aftersales outlets also established. A warranty of 3-years or 100,000-km (whichever comes first after registration) is provided.
Speaking at today’s launch, Tan Keng Meng, CEO of Warisan TC Holdings Bhd and Executive Director of ATM, said: “The JMC Vigus Pro is a stylish and versatile pick-up truck developed with premium engineering. Whether it’s for work or play, the Vigus Pro is ready to meet the demanding requirements of pick-up truck users in Malaysia after proving itself as the second best-selling pick-up truck in the Chinese market.”
Bold, distinctive looks
The styling of the Vigus Pro is certainly bold and distinctive, and it should stand out in a crowd of pick-ups. It has all the modern design elements like slim headlamps, LED daytime running lights and 3D taillamps. A sports bar in fitted behind the double cab and incorporates the third brake light.
Size-wise, it’s about the same as the Toyota Hilux, which has been the market leader for years. It has a bit more width, which could mean a bit more comfort within. It has traditional construction, meaning body-on-chassis, with the ladder frame chassis providing durability.
Ford-based TDCi engine?
While most of the vehicle has been developed by JMC, the Puma engine appears to have Ford involvement. It even has a ‘TDCi’ badge on it, which would be familiar to Ford Ranger owners. Ford is in the picture because the American carmaker has had a share in JMC since the mid-1990s, so there would be some technology-sharing and engines may be among them.
The engine in the Vigus Pro is a 2-litre unit with high-pressure common-rail fuel injection system and a variable geometry turbocharger and intercooler. It develops 141 ps/340 Nm and is mated to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission with manual shift option and paddle shifters. The fuel consumption claim is pretty good at 12.8 kms/litre which should give a range of almost 900 kms with the 68-litre fuel tank.
Full-fledged 4×4 BorgWarner system
The Vigus Pro has a transfer case to direct power to the front and rear axles. The 4×4 system comes from BorgWarner, one of the leading companies in drivetrains. There are High and Low ranges as well as 2WD which can all be selected with an electronic rotary dial – no more having to struggle with a secondary lever. The rear axle is also fitted with an Eaton limited-slip differential (LSD) lock for better traction in very slippery conditions.
Additionally, there’s Hill Descent Control which is like having an experienced off-road driver handle driving downhill (which is not always easy in off-road terrain). The system maintains a safe speed by applying brakes when necessary and also adjusting engine power. All the driver has to do is watch the ground ahead and steer to avoid obstacles.
Other assistance features include Hill Start Assist, ABS with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution and Electronic Stability Program with Traction Control. So in as far as active safety is concerned, the Vigus Pro is comparable to an average passenger car of today.
To ensure that it appeals to its target customers, ATM has specified a high standard for the cabin. There’s a leather-wrapped multi-functional steering with steering controls for the infotainment system, cruise control and voice calls via Bluetooth connection. The infotainment system has an 8-inch colour touchscreen which also displays real-time images from the reverse camera.
First fleet customer
The first major customer to order the new model is Mayflower Car Rental Sdn Bhd, which will take 30 units of the Vigus Pro to add to its fleet of over 2,800 vehicles. The 30 units are about a tenth of the total number ATM expects to sell in the remaining months of 2021.
Angka-Tan Motor Sdn Bhd (ATM), a subsidiary of Warisan TC Holdings Berhad, has been appointed as the distributor of the Vigus Pro 4×4 pick-up truck made by Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd (JMC). This follows the signing of a Vehicle Technology Licensing agreement between the two companies in July last year.
Under the agreement, ATM has the sole right to manufacture, assemble and sell the JMC Vigus Pro 4×4 pick-up truck and related parts and components in Malaysia. For assembly, ATM would naturally use Tan Chong Motor Assemblies, which has already begun assembling the first batch of vehicles.
“We are pleased to announce that after more than 12 months of hard work, Angka-Tan Motor, in collaboration with Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd, is ready to introduce an exciting contender in the popular pick-up segment. The stylish and technologically advanced JMC Vigus Pro 4×4 pick-up truck has proven its mettle in the Chinese market and we can’t wait to share this new product with pick-up fans across Malaysia,” said Tan Keng Meng, CEO of Warisan TC Holdings Bhd.
“As a leading manufacturer and exporter of light commercial vehicles in China, we are thrilled to offer Malaysian consumers a versatile yet attractive pick-up truck engineered with the latest technologies. JMC has been standing as the second best-selling brand in the pick-up segment in China for many consecutive years. We would like to congratulate Angka-Tan Motor’s appointment as the official distributor of the JMC Vigus Pro 4×4 and to also express our appreciation to Warisan TC for their support in making this a reality,” said Xiong Chunying, President of Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd.
2-litre turbodiesel with 8-speed transmission
The Vigus Pro is powered by a 2-litre 4-cylinder VGT turbodiesel engine which has an output of 141 ps/340 Nm with claimed consumption of 12.8 kms/litre. Its drivetrain consists of an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission and BorgWarner 4WD System with High and Low ranges, as well as an Eaton Rear Differential Lock.
For safety, there are active systems such as Bosch ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Traction Control, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control, and for safer reversing, a rearview camera is provided.
ATM plans to offer the Vigus Pro 4×4 at 13 sales and service outlets nationwide. Prices and specifications of the vehicle will be released later this month. Aftersales support is assured by a nationwide service network offering dedicated mobile service and 24/7 Res-Q response, backed by the resources of Tan Chong Group.
In the meantime, display units are available at ATM’s flagship showroom in Klang, Selangor. Bookings are also being accepted by authorised dealers which can be found at the JMC Malaysia website or by calling 03-3359 6068.