Chery Malaysia announces the opening of a new showroom and service centre in Sabah, operated by dealer-partner Universal Chery Sdn Bhd. Located at Lot 7, Jalan Limau Manis Off Jalan Lintas Inanam, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, the expansive 3S centre spans 1,400 square meters, providing customers with a comprehensive experience in vehicle viewing, customer service, and maintenance.
Within the showroom, customers can explore the full fleet of Chery vehicles and enjoy the amenities of the customer lounge. The service centre features 8 service bays staffed by trained Chery technicians, capable of servicing up to 830 vehicles monthly.
Chery Malaysia Vice President Lee Wen Hsiang expressed excitement about expanding their network in Sabah, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and convenience to customers. He highlighted the opportunity for more Malaysians to experience the quality and reliability of Chery vehicles through the new showroom and service centre.
A Honda HR-V owner, who encountered issues with her car at a Honda service centre in Terengganu, has confirmed the return of her SUV in impeccable condition following a thorough inspection and repair process.
The owner disclosed that her SUV was returned to her last Monday after undergoing a 16-day assessment at Honda Malaysia to identify the root cause of the problems she had experienced.
According to her, Honda conducted a comprehensive examination of her car and determined that the misaligned headlights, flashing dashboard indicator lights, and activated emergency lights were attributed to a malfunction in the light sensor.
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has introduced Is Tayar Maju Sdn Bhd vehicle service centre under Pembangunan Usahawan Automotif MARA-PETRONAS (PUMP), the first in the state.
Aftersales support – providing regular maintenance and availability of replacements parts – is an important part of the auto business. Authorised distributors of new vehicles are expected to provide aftersales support to customers to ensure that they have a good ownership experience.
Buying a used vehicle is a different thing and aftersales support is not mandatory. This is, of course, to be expected and for most owners, there are many independent service centres (as well as the authorised ones handling the brand of their vehicles) to go to for periodic maintenance and repairs.
Although sales in the East Malaysian markets account for only 5% of Honda sales in Malaysia (January to September 2022), the attention given is no different from that in Peninsular Malaysia. Periodically, new dealersips are opened to expand the network or existing dealerships are upgraded to provide more services to customers.
The latest development is in Sarawak, where a new Honda 3S centre has been opened in the state capital of Kuching, bringing the total number of dealerships in East Malaysia to 14.
Operated by Northmont Capital Sdn. Bhd., the dealership is situated in Petra Jaya, an area which is easily accessible for customers residing in the many residential areas to the north and south of the Sarawak River.
The SDAC-Ford National Dealer Convention held annually by Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, aims to recognise top-performing Ford dealerships in the country across key business categories including sales, aftersales, service operation excellence and business performance.
For 2021, the SDAC-Ford Ara Damansara dealership outlet was recognised as Best Overall Ford Dealership Outlet, and won this top distinction based on overall performance in sales and aftersales services. The dealership outlet also won the greatest number of awards amongst all Ford dealership outlets nationwide.
Commitment to deliver
SDAC-Ford Ara Damansara’s performance was attributed to its commitment to delivering on overall sales and aftersales performance despite the challenges brought on by the ongoing pandemic. It was also recognised for Overall Sales Target Achievement, Best Overall Sales Outlet (Champion), Best Overall Aftersales Outlet (2nd Runner-Up), Aftersales CVP (Customer View Point) Excellence (Central region), and Parts Sales Target Achievement (Central region).
“We are truly honoured to be named the 2021 Best Overall Outlet despite being in operation for only 2 years. This recognition is a testament to our strong commitment in delivering outstanding business performance while ensuring service excellence throughout the entire ownership journey. We remain steadfast in pursuing excellence and in providing world-class service to all our Ford customers,” said Steven Kong, Dealer Principal of Sime Darby Auto Connexion-Ford which is located at the Sime Darby Motors City complex in Ara Damansara, Selangor.
Full range of services
The outlet offers a complete range of services and has a showroom displaying the latest Ford models available in the Malaysian market, as well a fully-equipped service centre on the upper levels of the building. For customers waiting for their vehicles being serviced, there is a comfortable and spacious area with refreshments and light snacks available, as well as complimentary wifi service.
To know more about the services offered at SDAC-Ford Damansara and other Ford outlets in Malaysia, visit www.sdacford.com.my.
Malaysians are on the roads again, motoring all over the country after having been stuck in their own states for a long time due to cross-border travelling not being permitted. While it was unpleasant and even distressing, it was necessary to try to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
With the end of restrictions, we can now go anywhere we want (unless a specific area is under an Enhanced Movement Control Order) and with the end of the year coming up as well as the festive season starting, many will be on the highways.
Such long-distance travelling means that the vehicle should be in a proper running condition to avoid breakdowns that can really spoil a holiday or balik kampung journey. A breakdown will cause delays and inconvenience, but failure of brakes could result in an accident, which will be serious.
To ensure that the vehicle is in good running condition and for peace of mind, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC) is having its year-end and Chinese New Year service promotion for Ford owners. The promotion starts from December 1, 2021 and continues until February 15, 2022.
Up to 20% Savings
Ford owners who book a service during the campaign period will enjoy savings of up to 20% on parts and 10% on labour fees for lubricants, brake and timing belt packages in addition to selected parts.
All vehicles brought to the authorised service centre for servicing will go through a 27-point inspection, conducted by Ford-certified technicians. This inspection covers many areas related to safety and will ensure that the vehicles are in tip-top condition for the long journey.
Genuine Ford Parts with warranty
When servicing at any Authorised Ford Service Centre nationwide, vehicle owners can rest assured that only original genuine Ford parts are used. These parts are made to the highest standards of quality, fit and finish and designed specifically for Ford vehicles. In the event of problems with the parts installed, there is a warranty of 12 months or 20,000 kms (whichever occurs first), excluding wear and tear parts.
Free merchandise
Vehicle owners who top up on lubricant packages with an additional RM40 spend on any parts or service will receive a free exclusive Ford-branded face mask. For brake and timing belt packages, those who spend an extra RM500 on parts or service will get an exclusive denim woven bag in addition to a Ford face mask. All merchandise will be available while stocks last.
“With travel restrictions now eased, people are looking forward to travelling back to their hometowns or taking weekend trips this holiday season. Our service promotion is timely for this occasion and Ford customers can take advantage of this service and maintenance promotion to stay safe on the roads while enjoying more savings,” said Turse Zuhair, Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto ConneXion.
How to make an appointment
Ford owners can easily book a service appointment online via the Ford website at their convenience, anytime and from anywhere. They can specify an authorised dealership or choose one closest to them anywhere in Malaysia. The real-time e-Service appointment booking option available allows owners to immediately know available time slots as well as select and confirm their preferred schedule (up to one month in advance).
The authorised service centres are Ford Ara Damansara, Ford Petaling Jaya, Ford Juru, Ford Butterworth and Ford Kuching. To make a service appointment booking online, click here.
For more information regarding the promotion or about Ford vehicles and services in Malaysia, visit www.sdacford.com.my
GoCar Malaysia – an on-demand app-based platform that offers ‘mobility-as-a-service’ – is running the GOLADIES campaign which provides free GoCar Garage trials with upgrade options to encourage more women drivers to experience the benefits of its digital car service and maintenance solution.
Using the GoCar App, the first 300 women customers to apply the relevant promo codes will receive a free or upgradable pit-stop oil change service (only premium Total or Shell branded oils).
The promo codes are as follow: “PITSTOP1” for Mineral Oil service package, totally free (normal price RM98) “PITSTOP2” for Semi-Synthetic Oil service package for only RM30 (normal price RM128) “PITSTOP3” for Fully-Synthetic Oil service package for only RM100 (normal price RM198)
They can also enjoy having their car serviced without needing to take time off work or leave their homes. GoCar’s GoValet door-to-door delivery service will be available for free during the campaign period. Other benefits include free 2-hour use of a GoCar vehicle, free car wash and sanitisation and a free 31-point vehicle inspection to ensure their vehicle is in tip-top condition. This would be particularly useful now that many people are keen on making long trips after over a year of restrictions.
The one-time-only promo codes must be used between October 21 and November 30, 2021, but customers will have until December 31, 2021 to make their service appointments. The GOLADIES campaign is available only within the Klang Valley area. Vehicles will be serviced at the GoCar Garage Hub in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
“GoCar Garage is the latest offering in our increasing focus on mobility-as-a-service to harness technology to improve customer experiences. We understand that car servicing is generally not an enjoyable experience, and the prospect of unexpected costs can be unsettling. For women, there also tends to be greater concerns about being overcharged or taken advantage of, which is why our GoCar Garage solution is ideal for them,” said Wong Hoe Mun, CEO of GoCar Malaysia.
“With our seamless end-to-end platform, they can complete the entire servicing process with just their mobilephones. Furthermore, they can be assured of OEM-level service excellence as our technicians are trained to work on any make and model of passenger vehicle,” Mr. Wong added. “More importantly, we are the only third-party car service centre to provide upfront quotations for pre-approval so they can rest assured of full transparency in our pricing.”
Through the GoCar mobile app, customers can easily schedule and confirm their service appointments, select or request required services, make payments and arrange for door-to-door delivery, anytime and from anywhere. In addition to the 45-minute oil change, other services include battery inspection and replacement, tyre services, air conditioning repair and maintenance, brake repair and maintenance, engine cooling system and replacement, electrical diagnosis as well as body and paint repairs.
The mobile app tracks all requested services and generates quotations to mitigate any possibilities of unapproved mark-ups. Furthermore, these cost breakdowns will only be generated if the technicians think a procedure is required after inspection. Work will only begin after customers give their confirmation and approval.
There are many brands of engine oil in the market and all the reputable ones can do a good job of lubricating and protecting the engine. With Genuine Oils, however, the specifications and formulation of the oils are specially tailored for the carmaker’s vehicles and therefore should provide optimum performance. Each manufacturer can claim that their Genuine Oil offers the best performance and this may be true too because the engineers who may have worked on the engines know exactly what is needed.
Proton has just launched a new range of Genuine Oils (PGO) which have been developed in collaboration with its technical partner, Petronas. The oils meet the most recent standards specified by the American Petroleum Institute (API), which motorists would be familiar with. The top fully synthetic grade meets the latest API SP standard (5-litre pack only), while the others meet API SN.
In terms of viscosity, the fully synthetic PGO has a viscosity of SAE 5W-30 and 10W-30, the latter meeting the API SN service standard and available only in a 4-litre pack. Then there is a semi-synthetic grade which has passed the API SN standard and has a 10W-30 viscosity, while the mineral oil is 15W-40 and also meets the API SN standard.
The new Genuine Oils are available at all authorised Proton service centres and will also be available from parts stockists. However, for the time being, the parts stockists will carry only the semi-synthetic and mineral PGO.
“The launch of PGO lubricants is another step in Proton’s journey to being a premium Malaysian automotive brand. We worked closely with our partners on the formulation to ensure it met our exacting requirements and offers our customers the engine protection their Proton models deserve at an affordable price. By having a full list of products, we are also able to cover our entire model range including the latest TGDI engines used by our SUVs,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.
The advantage of Genuine Oils
Many authorised service centres of the various brands have a policy that the only oil that can be used is what they supply, which is often a Genuine Oil of the brand or one approved by the carmaker. Customers might not be allowed to bring their own oil to use. Furthermore, warranty conditions may also force owners to use the oil supplied by the service centre and could become void if an ‘unauthorised’ oil is used.
Understandably, this is something that not all owners may agree with. They may feel it is their right to choose their own oil, and they might even be able to buy it for less and save money. However, there are also valid reasons why service centres insist on their oil being used and why the warranty can be at risk if another oil is used.
Firstly, the oil supplied will be the one that meets the requirements of the manufacturer, especially if it is a genuine oil. These requirements, in simplified form, are usually found in the Owner’s Manual and focus on two things – the API standard and the viscosity. If the customer can meet both requirements, there shouldn’t be an issue.
But then there is the question of quality of the oil brought in by the customer. Some may unknowingly buy recycled oil or oil that is of a poor quality but sold as if it meets all the standards. They may not be aware and think that they are saving money. If this inferior oil goes into their engine because they insist on using it, who will be responsible if the engine has problems or even gets damaged? Would it be fair on the manufacturer to accept responsibility when the oil used was not one they were assured of quality?
For this reason, manufacturers want to have control on the products used and if something does go wrong, then they can justifiably provide compensation. Many consumers may not understand this point but it is one of the reasons why, during the warranty period, you need to comply with the requirements.
Once the warranty period is over, then you are free to use whatever oil you wish and go to whichever service centre you to go to. So it is best to be patient and abide by the requirements. Besides, many authorised service centres today have amenities for owners, like complimentary food and drink, so you can have a good ownership experience.
While owners of new vehicles which are under warranty should (in fact, they are required to) visit authorised service centres of the brand of their vehicle while it is under warranty, there are those who may prefer to have independent workshops look after their vehicle in later years. They may feel that some of these workshops have more personalised services and may also have the perception that the charges are different.
In the old days, before the increased presence of electronic systems in cars, most workshops could service almost any car. The mechanical operation was essentially the same and what counted more was experience than the hardware used. Often, the older the mechanic, the better he seemed to be, probably because he had come across thousands of different problems and found solutions to them in his own way!
Today, however, cars are more complex with computerised systems and advanced engine technology. Diagnostic equipment is needed to properly service the car and a higher level of skill is needed. The days of the young apprentice ‘learning on the job’ and then going on to start his own workshop are gone because of the need for greater technical proficiency and investments in equipment too.
New generation of service centres
This has led to a new generation of service centres which have high level of competence and one of the new ones is Munich Precision Sdn. Bhd. which is located in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. As the name suggests, the company’s focus is on Germany brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, with ability and equipment to support Porsche, Audi and other continental cars.
Claiming to be ‘uniquely positioned as Malaysia’s most qualified independent operation’, the background of the team members is from the premium automotive industry, with graduate level engineering competence. They offer well over 50 years of combined expertise and considerable practical experience.
Good value services
Munich Precision believes the automotive services industry must be professionally run to ensure the safety and reliability of vehicles, to provide a credible, trustworthy and good value service to customers. It aims to uphold this belief by how it operates and, at the same time, contribute positively and significantly to upgrading the reputation of the independent automotive service industry.
“We believe Malaysian premium car owners are looking for credible service centres where they rightly expect good advice, complete honesty, excellent work quality and competitive pricing,” said Owen Riley, MD of Munich Precision. “Both directors of Munich Precision are already well known in the premium automotive sector in Malaysia and our commitment to authentic customer relations is on record. Now, with Munich Precision we promise to work hard every day to support our customers to the fullest and win their trust.”
Differentiating factors
With an increasing number of electrified vehicles being sold, the time has come for service centres to also be suitable qualified to handle such vehicle. Munich Precision says it is ‘e-Drive Ready’ and is ‘Malaysia’s first true competence centre’ for premium hybrid and electric drive vehicles.
For the convenience of busy customers, the company has a Mobility Service where two of its own cars are available for customers to use in the event their vehicle has to be in the workshop for a while. There are also extended hours up to 8 pm on weekdays for collecting vehicles.
Munich Precision will use genuine parts or OEM parts and provide a warranty after installation – 18 months for genuine parts, 12 months for OEM parts. “We can offer cost options for customers with Original, OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or sometimes even carefully selected refurbished parts. We can do diagnosis, recoding and other advanced work,” said Operations Director, Weng Ho.
