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Volvo & KidZania Celebrate 2-Years Of Keeping Children Safe On The Road

Volvo in collaboration with KidZania Kuala Lumpur, continues to bring road safety education to schools in Malaysia. The partnership between Volvo Trucks, Volvo Cars and KidZania began in 2017 and has helped educate over 90,000 children in two years. Through the partnership, KidZania features a Volvo Car Dealership in its child-friendly cityscape. As KidZania provides an opportunity for children to roleplay as adults in various professions, the collaboration allows children to not only have fun role-playing but learn the basics of road safety as well.

In line with Volvo’s vision that no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo Car by 2020, children in KidZania learn how to be seated correctly in a car, how to properly use a safety belt as well as the importance of child seats. Over the course of two years, a total of 32,294 children were taught the basics of road safety via the Volvo Car Dealership in KidZania.

“At Volvo, we strive to create a safer future for our children. The best solution we found was education, as the change it could bring in these children’s lives is truly incredible,” said Lennart Stegland, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia (below). Extending beyond the Volvo Car Dealership in KidZania, the partnership also incorporated Volvo Trucks’ hallmark road safety campaign, the ‘Stop, Look and Wave’ campaign. It was inducted into KidZania Go! and became an integral part of the mobile school outreach programme.

With Stop, Look and Wave, children around the nation experienced what it is like being behind the wheels of a Volvo Truck. They attended a classroom session in a specially converted Volvo Trucks trailer where they learn the importance of identifying blind spots and practice proper road etiquette. A total of 57,774 school children benefited from the campaign across 260 schools and 37 community events nationwide.

“Deaths caused by traffic accidents around the world are well over 1.2 million each year,” said Peden. “If nothing is done, this number is expected to increase by 45% in the next 15 years. Volvo is committed to our vision of ‘Zero Accidents’. Aside from pioneering technology that helps save lives, we also believe that road safety education, especially among children, can truly make a difference,” said Mitch Peden, Managing Director of Volvo Trucks Malaysia.

In addition to school visits, Volvo also helped underprivileged children by providing them an opportunity to learn outside the classroom. Together, Volvo Trucks and Volvo Cars sponsored a total of 1,600 people that were made up of kids and their teachers to Kidzania between January and November 2018. The most recent school visit concluded on October 23^rd2018, where Mitch Peden and Lennart Stegland as well as a representative from the Ministry of Education met with over 380 school children and their teachers when they made their maiden trip to Kidzania.

“We are proud to have found strong partners in Kidzania and the department of education for Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan, both of whom share the same vision for road safety as we do at Volvo Trucks. We continue to make education on safety a priority for the Volvo brand with our See and Be Seen and Stop, Look and Wave campaign as we head into 2019,” Peden added on. The emphasis on road safety initiatives conducted by Volvo Malaysia increased awareness from all walks of life. As a result of the school outreach, Volvo Malaysia has extended its efforts on road safety at the requests of communities, associations and collaborations with governmental agencies.

To request for Volvo road safety activities, please contact Volvo Trucks Malaysia or download the Stop Look and Wave teaching materials on www.volvotrucks.my.

Volvo Trucks Malaysia atur kempen keselamatan jalan raya

Semakin hari, semakin banyak berita sedih yang kami dengar dan lihat di berita dan juga laman media sosial berkenaan pelbagai jenis kemalangan jalan raya. Volvo Trucks Malaysia dengan kolaborasi bersama Petronas Carigali di Kerteh telah mengambil initiatif dalam mengaturkan dua kempen keselamatan jalan raya.

Hasrat mereka adalah untuk meningkatkan kesedaran mengenai risiko dan mewujudkan pemahaman tentang cara bertindak dengan selamat dalam lalu lintas kepada semua pengguna jalan raya terutamanya kanak-kanak dan juga penunggang. (more…)

Volvo Car Malaysia Marks Decade-Long Re-Entry Into Sarawak With New 3S Centre @ Kuching

Volvo Car Malaysia, together with its appointed dealer, Fotroende Automobile, marked a decade-long re-entry into Sarawak with the grand opening of Volvo Kuching – a full-fledged 3S centre (Sales, Service, and Spare Parts) prominently located along Jalan Tun Jugah in Kuching. The launch ceremony was officiated by the Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, Mr Lennart Stegland who impressed on the importance of Sarawak for the future growth of the brand said “Sarawak’s potential in the premium car market cannot be understated. It is vital that we regain a foothold in Kuching before expanding into other cities within the state. We have worked hard to ensure that the brand is represented by competent and passionate dealer partners that will serve our customers well.”

Like all Volvo dealerships, Volvo Kuching will adhere to the latest showroom and service standards which Volvo terms “Volvo Retail Experience” or VRE – a customer-centric, Scandinavian-inspired experience that is cool on the outside and warm on the inside. “VRE is based on Volvo’s brand philosophy which revolves around people and what’s important to them. I am confident that Fotroende Automobile will deliver the expected level of service to our loyal customers in Kuching,” Stegland adds.

The company’s name (Fotroende Automobile) is derived from the Swedish word “Förtroende” which means “confidence”; something that company’s Principal hopes to build, together with the brand in Kuching. “Demand for the brand is strong, especially with the arrival of exciting new models from Volvo. We are proud that have been chosen by Volvo Car Malaysia to represent the brand here in Kuching,” said David Lai, the Managing Director of Fotroende Automobile.

The Volvo showroom in Kuching opens from 8:30 am till 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and closes at 4:00 pm on Saturday. The showroom will also be open on Sundays and Public Holidays from 10:00 am till 3:00 pm. For further information about the showroom, please contact 07 4312222 or you can e-mail the Sales Manager, Brandon Linang Anak Albert Juan, at brandon.juan@fotroende.com.my.

Volvo Trucks appoints new Managing Director for Malaysia

Volvo Trucks has appointed Mitch Peden (above) as its new Managing Director for Malaysia, with an aim to further strengthen Volvo Trucks’ position in the commercial vehicle market, and to bring the company to greater heights than ever before. Hailing from Australia, Mitch started his career at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Mitch took his first step into the automotive sector in 1994 when he joined General Motors.

Since then, Mitch has worked in a number of automotive companies before joining Volvo Trucks in 2005. Mitch has been a member of the Volvo Trucks management team, helming a few positions in sales and marketing area throughout his career, prior to being appointed as Volvo Trucks Malaysia’s new MD.

Mitch will be taking over from his predecessor, Mats Nilsson, who after working in Volvo Trucks Malaysia for 5 years, will be moving to the Renault Organisation in France within the Volvo Group. As the new managing director, Mitch will be responsible for growing the trucks sales and aftermarket business in Malaysia and Brunei.

“It is an exciting time for Volvo Trucks today with so many new developments in Malaysia. Volvo Trucks will continue introducing new technology and innovation as we head into the future and to provide better quality services and products to our customers here. I am excited to continue on the footsteps of my predecessor and fellow colleague, Mats Nilsson, who has done a brilliant job in raising Volvo Trucks Malaysia to where it is today. I am very confident that, with the strong commitment of the team here in Malaysia, we will be able to continuously offer the best to our customers.” said Mitch.

With over two decades of industry experience, 13 years of which were with Volvo Trucks, Mitch is truly an industry veteran who is tasked to take Volvo Trucks Malaysia to greater heights. Mitch graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and also holds a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Bond University.

Volvo Trucks Malaysia Photo Gallery (Truck images from Volvo Trucks M’sia Webpage)

Volvo Car Malaysia Expands Dealer Network With New Batu Pahat 3S Centre

Volvo Car Malaysia recently launched Volvo Batu Pahat together with its newest dealer, AJ Premium Motors Sdn Bhd. The full-fledged 3S centre (Sales, Service and Spare Parts) will give customers in the Southern Region more options and greater access to the Volvo brand.

Since Volvo Car Malaysia had started its sales and aftersales transformation programme, Volvo’s network has grown from four to now nine dealerships, including this new Volvo Batu Pahat, with more dealerships slated within this year.

“There is growing interest for our models in Malaysia and we are actively setting-up dealerships in strategic areas around Malaysia to better service this need,” said Lennart Stegland, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia.

Stegland adds that the sales and aftersales transformation programme is not just about expanding Volvo’s dealership network but also to improve the competency level of its current dealerships to better service its growing customer base.

“It is an absolute requirement for all new dealerships to adhere to the Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) standards, consistent with our dealership standards in Europe – it is not just an aesthetical guideline but also dictates the level of service rendered in our dealerships,” said Stegland.

Volvo Batu Pahat is no exception – with a showroom built in adherence to VRE and fully-equipped service centre, it will surely bring great value to Volvo owners and fans in that region. “Our presence in Batu Pahat makes it more convenient for owners from the surrounding areas of Muar, Kluang and Segamat to service their cars or for prospective customers to view new Volvo models,” said Jacky Ong, Managing Director of AJ Premium Motors Sdn Bhd.

True to VRE, the 3S centre will feature a Scandinavian-inspired ‘living room’ where customers can relax in the cosy ambience filled with warm lighting and clean air while being attended by a sales representative or while waiting for the vehicles to be serviced.

The Volvo Showroom in Batu Pahat opens from 9:00 am till 6:00 pm on Monday to Saturday and from 11:00 am till 5:00 pm on Sundays and Public Holidays. For further information about the showroom, contact 07 4312222 or you can e-mail the Branch Manager, Patrick Teo, at patrick@ajpremium.com.

The New 2019 Volvo S60 – Thor’s Hammer Strikes Again! [+Videos]

Does anyone remember the Volvo S60 of the new millennium? If you’re a car freak like me, you should. Debuting in 2000, there was one variant brought in by (then) Federal Auto Cars called the S60 T5 and it looked like this:

Well, unbeknownst to many, this was one of the cars that actually began the widespread use of the term ‘sleeper’ among car enthusiasts because below that unassuming bonnet up front lay a 2.3-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that produced 247bhp and 330Nm of torque. No, really.

Top speed was a governed 250kmh, and 0-100kmh was achieved in 6.8sec. Those figures are impressive even today, so let’s not forget that this was almost 20-years ago!

Carrying on this fine ‘sleeper’ tradition, the new Volvo S60 has made its debut recently in the USA, and it’s a stunner! Here’s what The Car Connection had to say about the new 2019 S60’s powertrains…

“A trio of engines lie under the 2019 S60’s hood, each with its own name: T5, T6, and T8. In the T5, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 cranks out 250 horsepower, which is sent via an 8-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. The T6 adds a supercharger for a total of 316 hp delivered to all four corners. Topping the line is the T8 plug-in hybrid that adds an electric motor for a combined output of 400 horsepower.”

Here’s the product walk-around video…

And from Auto Express UK, here’s the latest regarding the 2019 Volvo S60…

Volvo’s journey to fully-fledged premium car maker is now complete. With its XC SUV models matching or beating anything BMW, Audi or Mercedes can offer, and its S and V 90 models providing stiff competition for the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Merc E-Class, now it’s the turn of an all-new compact executive – the S60.

This model, though, has the toughest task of them all. When it arrives in UK showrooms next year, it’ll line up against an all-new 3 Series, not to mention Mercedes’ revised C-Class, Audi’s A4 and Jaguar’s XE.

Volvo’s President and CEO Håkan Samuelsson calls the S60 “one of the most exciting Volvo cars we’ve ever made” and “a true driver’s car.” Big claims. It’ll be made at an all-new plant in the US in Charleston, South Carolina with a clear leaning to the big and lucrative US and Chinese markets.

2019 Volvo S60 Photo Gallery (photos from Auto Express UK)…

Volvo Car Malaysia Launches Volvo Car Leasing With MyMotor

Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has signed a Leasing Service Agreement with MyMotor (MYEG Fintech) to introduce Volvo Car Leasing – a service that will let customers enjoy stress-free Volvo ownership, minus the usual financial strain of a hire-purchase agreement.The closed-door signing ceremony was held at the Volvo Car Malaysia headquarters and was attended by Lennart Stegland, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia, and Justin Cheah, Chief Executive Officer of MyMotor.

Volvo Car Leasing, a first for Volvo Cars in the Southeast Asia region, offers customers an opportunity to drive a Volvo, worry-free, with the insurance, road tax, maintenance cost, and warranty covered. Additionally, at the end of the leasing agreement, customers could either choose to select a new model to drive home, purchase the car at market rate or Future Guaranteed Value (FGV), or simply return the car to the dealership.

“Our company philosophy is centred around people, their needs and what they care about. Now with Volvo Car Leasing, our customers are able to choose an appropriate model based on their current need or station in life and change it when the need arises,” said Stegland.

The programme will be available for all Volvo models sold in Malaysia, at all participating dealerships. Customers can drive home a new Volvo from as low as RM2,762 per month which is inclusive of a comprehensive insurance package, road tax, and maintenance cost.

“Every Volvo leased under this programme comes complete with our Volvo Service Agreement Plus (VSA+) which covers a list of service actions including a wide range of wear and tear items, giving the customer peace of mind in when it comes to his or her Volvo ownership experience,” added Stegland.

Volvo Car Leasing also allows customers greater financial flexibility when compared to a typical hire-purchase agreement, freeing up valuable credit to purchase other assets on top of not having to worry about incidentals related to car ownership.

“Based on our calculation, a customer could potentially save more with this leasing programme when compared to a hire-purchase agreement. At the end of the lease, the customer could renew the agreement and drive home a brand-new unit of the same model or opt to upgrade his lease agreement with a different model,” said Cheah.

“In comparison to a traditional hire-purchase agreement, Volvo Car Leasing encompasses most of the cost involved with car ownership. This convenience should also prove to be very appealing to company or fleet purchasers,” Cheah added.

Cheah explained that with Volvo Car Leasing, customer would not have to be concerned about disposing or selling the cars at the end of the agreement – something which is a given when it comes to a hire-purchase agreement.

In conjunction with the launch of Volvo Car Leasing all models will be offered with a promotional rate that is applicable from today till 31 August 2018. Volvo Car Leasing will also be offering free petrol vouchers worth RM300 for all bookings received within this promotional period.

For more information on the available models, applicable rates, VSA+, and Volvo Car Leasing and any current promotions, please visit Volvo Car Malaysia’s webpage at: volvocars.com/my. Alternatively, contact your preferred Volvo dealership for further assistance.

FEATURE: Malaysians, Why Do You Hate Wagons So Much?! They’re Super-Cool! [+Videos]

Wagons. Estates. Stationwagons. Touringwagen. Sportwagen. Shooting Brake. Sports Wagons. Call them what you will, but they have never been popular here in Malaysia, and that folks is a crying shame, because wagons are uber cool.

To make matters worse for the dwindling wagon market, Volvo Car Malaysia recently announced that they will cease offering the incredible V90 T5 & T6 R-Design wagons locally solely due to poor demand. As can be seen from this recent 0% GST news release from VCM, all iterations of the V90 wagon are indeed already missing from their line-up…

This of course didn’t sit too well with many of us, seeing as how we (i.e. the Malaysian motoring media) absolutely adored the V90, to the point where when its wheels got stolen right-off the car at VCM’s own parking lot, many of us took it personally and proceeded to post notifications of the theft on our own personal social media pages (we were pissed!). For the record the wheels were never recovered and it cost VCM RM17k to replace them and subsequently de-fleet the said unit, so whoever you are (wheel thief and also buyer) I personally hope you rot in hell…

It’s the weirdest thing really; Malaysians won’t buy wagons new, but actively seek-out used ones voraciously. As such, a used Mercedes-Benz W124 wagon will typically cost at least three to four times more than its sedan counterpart in the second-hand car market, as would a Volvo 245, 850 T5 & 945 wagon, BMW E30, E34 & E39 wagon, etc. Even a Toyota KE70 wagon will cost at least three times more than a KE70 sedan. In fact any wagon from the same lineage will always cost more than its sedan counterpart, even a freaking Nissan Sunny. The Mercedes-Benz W123 wagon (below) now costs about seven times more than its sedan variant locally. No, really.

And that’s the greatest irony; if no one wants them in the first place when they’re new, how is it that they are able to command a much, much higher price in the used car market? They should be borderline un-sellable in the second-hand car market, since no one wants them even when they’re brand-spanking-new right? Speaking of brand new, here’s one that’s still available locally, the Mazda6 wagon…

Now tell me honestly that isn’t simply amazing looking. Look at the lines, simply gorgeous. Defy convention folks, thumb your nose at the norm, and buy a wagon, you won’t regret it. At the very least, you’ll know it’s going to be worth more in the second-hand market than its sedan sibling.

Now have a look at this video from Volvo and judge for yourself why wagons are so cool.

In addition to the Volvo V90 above, thanks to AutoExpressUK, here’s a look at some of the nicest, sportiest and most desirable wagons out there… but first, a bit more eye-candy on the Volvo V90, this time in the latest Cross-Country guise. And no, we won’t be getting it here… no demand, remember? – Chris Wee.

And now, the coolest wagons according to AutoExpressUK, starting with the…

Audi RS 4

Fans will moan about Audi replacing the 4.2-litre V8 engine used in the previous RS 4, with a less enjoyable 2.9-litre unit, but with 444bhp, 600Nm of torque and a top speed of 174mph (280kmh) in the new car, there are worse problems to have. The interior compliments a car that has a split personality between sensible and ludicrous, but lacks the sense of theatre that some of its rivals bring. At over £60,000 it is by no means cheap – not that that is untoward in present company.

Audi RS 6

The Audi RS 6 is one of the leading lights in the fast estate world. Partly thanks to its looks, but also helped a its 552bhp twin-turbocharged V8 which will rocket you and four other passengers from 0-100kmh in just 3.9 seconds, and on to a limited top speed of 155mph (250kmh). Prices start from just over £81,000, but for that you do get a comfortable, quiet cabin (most of the time) and 565-litres of boot capacity.

Ferrari GTC4Lusso

Some will argue the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso isn’t a ‘proper’ estate, but if you consider that it is just leaning a little harder on the left of the performance-practicality balance, it becomes easy to see why it made this list. The Ferrari has a 6.3-litre V12 under the bonnet which pumps out 681bhp and 697Nm of torque, which allows it to obliterate most of this list with a 0-100kmh time of 3.4 seconds and a claimed top speed of 208mph (335kmh).

Ford Focus ST

While the petrol version of the Focus ST wagon is a great fast estate, the 2.0 TDCi is our pick of the bunch. This is largely down to the delivery of the power, with the diesel’s get up and go being less unruly and easier to put down on UK roads, but that does not mean the diesel is a slouch – the performance stats of 182bhp, 400Nm of torque and a 0-100kmh time of 8.3secs proves as much. Add to this a claimed economy of 67.3mpg – high 40s low 50s are more realistic – and the diesel Focus ST estate becomes incredible alluring.

Mercedes-AMG C63

The Mercedes-AMG C63 is a full-blown muscle car. Under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 which produces a thunderous 469bhp and 650Nm of torque (increasing to 503bhp and 700Nm if you opt for the S model). S or not, both models feel astonishingly quick and of course offer impressive levels of practicality, with the only real issue for everyday use being the firm ride. The interior is a comfortable place to be, even if it is not quite on the same level as the E-Class.

Mercedes-AMG E63

You are going to need deep pockets to drive away in an E63 estate as they start north of £84,000 – which is slightly more expensive than the starting price of the Audi RS 6. That said, the E63 is one of the fastest cars on the road, never mind estates. The latest generation is all-wheel drive and in S guise packs 604bhp and 850Nm of torque. Plus, owners get a drift mode. From a standing start it will hit 100kmh in just 3.6 seconds and go on to a limited top speed of 155mph (250kmh) – these figures change to 3.5 seconds and 186mph (300kmh) in the S version.

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

The Porsche Panamera is no longer the ugly duckling it once was, and the Sport Turismo is no exception. If you go for the range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid, flat out you will be doing 193mph (310kmh)and 0-100kmh is over in a meger 3.4 seconds – wiping the floor with all but the Ferrari on this list. Even if you drop down to the Panamera 4 Sport Turismo, the 6-cylinder turbocharged engine allows the big German to reach 160mph (257kmh)flat-out and sprint from rest to 100kmh in 5.5 seconds. While the performance is strong here, practicality is not. The rear is just about big enough to get two adults and a smaller human buckled in, and 520-litres of boot space is a tad underwhelming.

Volkswagen Golf R

The Golf R estate is related to both the Skoda and SEAT mentioned in the link below (but comes with four-wheel drive), and offers one of the finest all-round driving packages you can get for the money – the R starts at around £36k. Under the hood there is the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 296bhp as found in the Leon, but here it is only available with VW’s seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The exhaust note sounds good with a nice deep burble, which helps keep up the fun even when you aren’t exploiting the strong chassis.

For the FULL article from AutoExpress, which features a few more estates from brands unavailable here, click this link.

Wagon Photo Gallery (all images from AutoExpressUK)

VCM Umumkan Harga GST 0% Bagi Kereta Volvo Di Malaysia

Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) telah mengumumkan senarai harga bagi kereta Volvo di Malaysia dengan kadar GST 0%.
Pengumuman ini bersempena dengan arahan penetapan kadar GST pada 0% oleh Kementerian Kewangan Malaysia yang akan mula dikuatkuasa pada tarikh 1 Jun 2018.
Bukan sekadar harga kereta sahaja yang telah ditetapkan pada GST 0%, harga bagi perkhidmatan penyelenggaraan dan alat ganti, serta pakej ‘Volvo Service Agreement’ (VSA) juga telah turut dikaji semula

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VCM Releases 0% GST Prices Of Volvo Cars In Malaysia

Following the Ministry of Finance Malaysia’s announcement that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is set to be standard-rated 0% from 1 June 2018, Volvo Car Malaysia has updated its model range price list to reflect this fiscal measure:

Models	*With 6% GST*	*With 0% GST*	*Savings*
V40 T4	RM163,888.00	RM154,648.93	RM9,239.07
V40 T5 Inscription	RM180,888.00	RM170,686.67	RM10,201.33
S60 T6	RM238,888.00	RM225,403.65	RM13,484.35
XC60 T5	RM298,888.00	RM282,011.00	RM16,877.00
XC60 T8 Twin Engine Inscription	RM333,888.00	RM315,029.86	RM18,858.14
XC60 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus	RM343,888.00	RM324,463.83	RM19,424.17
S90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription	RM368,888.00	RM348,045.16	RM20,842.84
S90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus	RM388,888.00	RM366,913.08	RM21,974.92
XC90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription	RM403,888.00	RM381,067.60	RM22,820.40
XC90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription Plus	RM413,888.00	RM390,501.56	RM23,386.44

* Please note that the prices quoted above are on-the-road (private registration for Peninsular Malaysia) without insurance.

This revised pricing will take into effect starting 1 June 2018 and will remain until further notice or announcement from the Ministry of Finance Malaysia.

Standard-rated 0% will also be applicable for parts and servicing prices at all of Volvo Car Malaysia’s authorised dealers, this includes purchases of all Volvo Service Agreement (VSA) packages as outlined below:

You may find more information about VSA in this attached brochure: VOLVO Service Contract Plus

*VSA Packages*	*With 6% GST*	*With 0% GST*	*Savings*
VSA 3+: Scheduled Maintenance and Wear & Tear Parts	RM6,254.00	RM5,900.00	RM354.00
VSA 5+: Scheduled Maintenance and Wear & Tear Parts	RM9,752.00	RM9,200.00	RM552.00