Sime Darby Motors, which began with just a few brands, today handles 8 passenger vehicle brands, as well as sells pre-owned vehicles (through Sime Darby Auto Selection). The brands are BMW, MINI, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Ford, Hyundai and more recently, BYD.
While each of these brands has their own authorised aftersales centres around the country to serve their customers, Sime Darby Motors has also invested in its own centralised aftersales service facilities. For example, it has a Body & Paint (B&P) centre in Bukit Jelutong, Selangor to serve customers in the Klang Valley and the Sime Darby Auto Selection Service Centre provides services for post-warranty vehicles.
Now it has also opened a B&P centre on Penang island to serve customers in the northern region. Costing RM3 million, the facility covers approximately 20,000 sq ft and can service and repair up to 80 vehicles a month which require body repair or refinishing work.
No one wants to have an accident and even small dents can be ‘painful’. While there are many places where repairs can be done, it’s always best to use the services of a repair centre of an authorised dealership of the vehicle’s brand. This is not only because professional and qualified services are assured but the facility will be able to get technical information from the manufacturer, if necessary, to ensure that repairs are done properly. Furthermore, there is the assurance of genuine parts being used.
Volvo Car Malaysia has been establishing a network of Volvo Car Damage Repair Centres since last year to offer high quality body repair and paint service to Volvo owners. The latest one is in Juru, Penang, and it is the largest one to date in the country.
Today’s cars have advanced construction techniques and engineering to not only make them more lasting but also provide better resistance against impact forces during accidents. The materials used are also a mixture of steel, aluminium as well as others like carbonfibre and even titanium. Therefore when it comes to repairs, no longer can the ‘milo tin’ method be used where sheets of scrap steel are just welded onto damaged body.
For this reason, carmakers like Mercedes-Benz have very specific repair techniques using sophisticated equipment to repair damaged vehicles. This ensures that they will be safe to use after repairs and continue to be reliable.
Of course, even the best equipment still requires human operation. Robots could be used but repairing a damaged car also requires human judgement because of the many variables, so fully automated repairs are something in the distant future.
With the monsoon season still ongoing and the risk of floods, especially in the East Coast areas, motorists unlucky enough to have their vehicles caught in deep water may find themselves having a big bill for repairs. Unless they have included insurance coverage for floods, compensation will not be given by the insurance company.
Over the years, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn. Bhd. (ETCM), together with Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Servis Sdn. Bhd. (TCEAS), have been offering various forms of assistance to Nissan owner who have flood-damaged vehicles. This year, they are again announcing a special Nissan Flood Relief Assistance program for owners of Nissan vehicles nationwide.
Sime Darby Motors represents (through its subsidiaries) a number of different automotive brands and as part of its commitment to principals, it has to provide a high standard of sales and aftersales support. Besides showrooms, Sime Darby Motors also has a Centralised Body and Paint Centre located in Bukit Jelutong, Selangor, to provide repair and refinishing services.
The Sime Darby Motors centre was recently accredited to the Volvo Certified Damage Repair (VCDR) standard for such facilities. This means it meets the high standards set and required by the Swedish carmaker for such services. The VCDR standard involves the use of a state-of-the-art body repair system and advanced tools, including a fast and highly accurate 3D sensor-equipped measuring system. An efficient paint booth setup was also put in place, creating a well-ventilated and dust-free environment.
Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad (Allianz General) is seeking PIAM Approved Repairers Scheme (PARS) workshops nationwide via open tender to join its panel of Allianz Authorised Repairers for 2023 and 2024.
The last time the company revamped its panel workshops was in 2020, during which time 195 PARS workshops were engaged through an open tender process.
The Allianz Authorised Repairers are an integral part of the company’s Allianz Road Rangers 24-hour accident service, which has served over 330,000 customers since its launch in 2017.
Every little bit helps and although the cost of repairing flood-damaged vehicles will run into the tens of thousands of ringgit, the RM1,000 Keluarga Malaysia Automotive Discount Voucher initiative arranged by the government for affected vehicle owners will still save RM1,000. The ‘voucher’ is basically a discount given so no application is needed and vehicle owners just need to state they are using the ‘voucher’ when their vehicles are being repaired.
There is a condition though – to be entitled to the assistance, the vehicle must be repaired only at authorized service centres of 19 car companies, which have a combined total of over 1,000 outlets around the country. The RM1,000 discount will be available only up to March 31, 2022.
The companies participating in the relief program handle most of the brands in the market, They are: Perodua; Proton; Edaran Tan Chong Motor/Tan Chong Auto Expres Servis (Nissan); Honda Malaysia; UMW Toyota Motor; Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia; Sime Darby Motor Group (Ford, Hyundai and others); Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia; Bermaz Motor (Mazda), Dinamikjaya Motors (Kia); Berjaya Auto Alliance (Peugeot); Mercedes-Benz Malaysia; TC Euro Cars (Renault); BMW Group Malaysia (including MINI); TC Subaru; and Volvo Car Malaysia.
Besides this RM1,000 individual companies are also offering discounts for labour and selected parts, towing services and other forms of assistance to ease the financial burden of those affected by the floods. Perodua, for example, is offering up to 50% discount on selected parts as well as covering towing service charges up to a maximum of RM300 to the nearest Perodua service outlets (terms and conditions apply). Those who are covered by Perodua Total Protect Plus (PTPP) can obtain the towing services free of charge.
“Over 1,987 Perodua vehicles have been towed to Perodua’s 200 service centres located across Malaysia for evaluation and so far, 323 units have been repaired,” said Perodua President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad
“In fact, we have dedicated a flood repair hub in Shah Alam just to repair and restore Perodua vehicles that were damaged due to the recent flood. Our immediate goal is to repair the flood damaged vehicles as quickly as possible as we understand that our customers truly need their Perodua vehicle for their day-to-day needs,” he added.
The recent flooding has had a severe impact on thousands of lives in Malaysia, and sadly, lives have been lost too. Properties have been heavily damaged and thousands of vehicles will require extensive repairs and replacement of parts, not to mention a thorough cleaning.
Many carmakers were quick to come forward and offer various forms of assistance to their customers so as to help ease the financial burden. As the scale of the damage becomes more apparent, it is clear that more help is needed and Proton has announced an enhanced assistance package for its customers whose cars were damaged in the floods.
The enhanced package now offers a 50% discount on selected replacement parts for all models, except for the X50 and X70. Towing services and cleaning of vehicles (exterior and engine bay) will also be done at no charge at authorised Proton 3S/4S service centres.
“Proton is deeply sympathetic to the plight of the victims of the recent floods as many of them consist of B40 households. To date, our service centres have received approximately 600 cars and we estimate there to be many more that will arrive in the coming days and weeks. Therefore, we have enhanced our assistance package in the hope that it will provide some financial relief to these families,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.
For owners of the X50 and X70 SUVs, the discount for selected parts has been increased to 25% from the 20% that was previously announced. The discount for labour charges has also been boosted to 25%, which is applicable to all models (terms and conditions apply).
Additionally, customers insured under the Proton Insurance Programme (PIP) can also claim RM1,000 in flood relief benefits.
“Aside from the assistance package, the company is also negotiating with the banks to allow customers to pay for their repairs via instalment using their credit cards. This will further assist their cashflow as they will neither be charged interest fees nor have to come up with a lump sum payment,” added Encik Roslan.
Click here to locate the nearest authorised Proton Service Centre or call the Customer Care hotline at 1800-888-398.
Floods do not discriminate, affecting lives in every community and damaging motor vehicles of every kind and brand that are unlucky to be parked where they are submerged as the waters rise. A big bill awaits owners of the vehicles when they finally get them to service centres as it is not a matter of just cleaning the mud and dirt out, but many parts will still have to be replaced.
The bill could come to tens of thousands of ringgit and with other stresses caused from being impacted by the floods, every little bit of help will be meaningful. For those who own Porsches, Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) is offering a helping hand.
The company will assist in having the vehicles towed at no charge to to the nearest Porsche Centre in Malaysia. Porsche Roadside Assistance, which includes towing services, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide towing and roadside assistance.
Once at the service centre, a thorough and detailed assessment will be done along with personalised consultation with certified specialists to evaluate the damages and repairs required and the cost involved. This cost will be lower than usual as SDAP is offering a 30% discount on parts and labour for flood-affected vehicles brought to the authorised service centres up till January 31, 2022. Only Porsche Genuine Parts are used in all repairs which include a 2-year parts warranty.
“We are committed to our customers by offering a thorough and detailed check of their vehicle as well as discounts on parts and labour costs to ensure all Porsche cars run at optimal performance. With this gesture, we hope to provide some consolation during these trying times,” said Christopher Hunter, CEO of Sime Darby Auto Performance.
More information on the flood relief support initiative and scheduling of service appointments can be obtained by contacting the following Porsche Centres:
Victims of the recent floods will face major expenses on repairs and replacing many things. It is going to be a stressful time for everyone, and each will have suffered in varying degrees. Both the government and private sector are doing whatever they can to ease the burden. Apart from providing financial and other forms of aid for the affected, there are also special provisions made for motorists whose vehicles or documents were damaged or lost.
Free replacement of JPJ documents
The JPJ will not charge for replacement of driving licences, Motor Vehicle Licences and Vehicle Ownership Certificates for those affected by the floods. They must however make a police report first which must then accompany their application. Anyone who loses the original documents will need to bring a copy of the police report or Disaster Victim Registration Form issued by the District Office or the Social Welfare Department as evidence.
JPJ Mobile Service van
Meanwhile, the police advise owners of flood-damaged vehicles to make the police reports themselves and not use third parties (such as workshop or tow-truck representatives). They should make sure they have pictures of their vehicles to show the condition as well as the details of the tow-truck company and where the vehicle was taken to.
Specific coverage for floods necessary
While specific flood coverage is needed to make a claim from insurance companies, a police report will protect a vehicle owner so that the workshop and tow-truck company are on record.
Regarding insurance claims, many will not be able to claim from insurance companies if they do not have specific coverage for flood damage. Such cover is not typically included in comprehensive insurance policies and is an optional add-on for an extra charge. In many cases, motorists regret not doing so and then make sure they add it but unfortunately, the damage is already done this time. So do give serious thought to this additional coverage. It used to be thought that living on the west coast is fairly safe as the major floods are on the East Coast but with climate change and other new conditions, it appears that even the west coast is likely to see flooding in future.
Standard insurance coverage does not cover floods and motorists can add on such coverage (including windscreen damage) for an extra charge.
ETIQA waives police report requirement
With any insurance claim, a police report is required to confirm damage and other details which the police will investigate. The same applies to claims for flood damage repairs. However, for motorists who have ETIQA as their insurance company and have Special Peril coverage (which includes floods) with their insurance policy, the police report requirement is not necessary. The owner should take pictures of the vehicle at the scene of flooding and the numberplate must be visible.
This waiver came into effect from December 18, 2021 and will remain effective until further notice. So that’s one less headache if you are an ETIQA policyholder but it is only for those affected by floods.
Allianz goes to affected areas
As for other companies, many have assured their policyholders that they will process claims as fast as possible. Allianz, for example, has positioned Allianz-branded 4x4s and a team of adjusters on stand-by in Selangor and Pahang to attend to customers promptly. The 4x4s and Claims Caravan will be routinely deployed to other locations in other affected states to enable a swift and seamless claims process.
A Ford Ranger used by the Allianz team enables personnel to reach many areas in affected states to help process claims faster.
While most will think motorists with passenger cars suffering flood damage, commercial vehicles are also affected. Perhaps the bigger ones might not be damaged but there will be many vans and lorries at depots which are likely to have been flooded. They will need repairs too and being important in the logistics industry, they need to be back in operation as quickly as possible so that much-needed food and other items to help victims can be transported.
Keeping transportation industry moving
“The transportation industry is essential and among the more vital economic activities for a business; having a single vehicle off the road for a period of time would cause some sizeable impact,“ said Arman Mahadi, Managing Director of the Daihatsu Malaysia Group which sells a large number of commercial vehicles.
For this reason, the company has initiated the Daihatsu Flood Relief Program which aims to increase fleet uptime in running an efficient operation and ensuring business remains profitable. “The company is deeply saddened and concerned over the well-being of those hit by the disaster. Therefore, we have a business operation recovery process specifically for our Daihatsu owners and corporate fleet customers,“ he said.
Available to all owners of Daihatsu vehicles affected and damaged by the floods, the Daihatsu Flood Relief Program started on December 22 and will be on till February 28, 2022. Available at all authorized Daihatsu service centres nationwide, owners can get a Towing Service Subsidy of up to RM100, up to 40% off selected spare parts with a 1-year /20,000-km warranty (whichever comes first), 20% off on labour services and free vehicle inspection and Door-to-door Daihatsu Mobile Service. Some terms and conditions apply, and the Mobile Service team is subject to availability and location.
