teamcar headline
Industry expert: Proton-Perodua merger inevitable
TEAMCAR - MOTOR industry analyst Professor Garel Rhys sees a merger between national carmakers Proton Holdings Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) as inevitable in the future to achieve success.
“I don’t think having two Malaysian car companies can be sustainable. Proton and Perodua have to become one company. A merger will create a strong company and help it to better compete with bigger, foreign rivals,” he told Business Times yesterday.
Rhys, a renowned motor industry expert and director of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at the UK’s Cardiff University, is currently in Kuala Lumpur on a brief visit.
ALADO Launches CHERRY QQ Next Month
TEAMCAR - Chinese car manufacturer Chery Automobile Co Ltd's Malaysian distributor Alado Corp Sdn Bhd will launch 800cc compact car, Chery QQ next month, said Alado executive chairman Tan Sri Cam Soh Thiam Hong.
The QQ, priced at about RM40,000, is the second Chery model to be introduced to the domestic market after the 1.6-litre sedan A160 made its debut in December.
“We expect pretty good response to the QQ and are targeting to sell a total 1,000 units of the two Chery models this year,” Soh told StarBiz, adding that the company had sold about 200 A160 to-date.
Soh's other motor vehicle arm, Information Gateway Corp Sdn Bhd (IGC), which is the franchise holder of Geely cars in the country, is also expected to launch new models this year.
“We plan to use Malaysia as a hub to export the vehicles to Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei. Demand is also expected to be high from countries like Britain, Australia, Pakistan and India,” he said. (
THE STAR)
Elderly man drives 30km against the traffic on highway
TEAMCAR - A villager drove his vintage car against the flow of traffic on Malaysia's main freeway for 30km, apparently unaware he was on the wrong side, a news report said yesterday.
When stopped by officials, the 80-year-old man had two questions: why there were so many cars on the road these days, and why they were all flashing their headlights at him, the New Straits Times newspaper said.
It said the man, identified as Ah Pee, had made a wrong turn on his way home in the northern state of Kedah and got into the North-South Expressway -- the first time he'd ever been on the six-lane road running the length of the country.
When he realized he was going in the wrong direction, he made a U-turn but stayed his side of the road divider, putting him in the fast lane and heading into oncoming traffic, the newspaper said.
It said police stopped Ah Pee about 30km after he'd made the U-turn, and his vintage Morris Minor car was steered into the emergency lane.
"He was driving between 60 and 70kph, and I could see the befuddled look in his eyes as the oncoming vehicles flashed their headlights at him," the Times quoted an unidentified policeman as saying.
Petrol levy another blunder
TEAMCAR - Since time immemorial, Singaporeans and Malaysians have been crossing the Causeway in search for leisure, shopping, business and employment to find a better life or to reduce their high cost of living.
However, this was rudely disrupted suddenly, when the Malaysian government decided to implement the 'petrol surcharge' to curb the surge in petrol usage by foreign vehicles from Singapore.
Although, the plan was marvelous, as it will instantly cause the influx of of Singaporeans to stop and it has not crossed the minds of the Malaysian politicians that such a move will be counter- productive.
By implementing the petrol levy the Malaysian government has unwittingly fallen into a trap laid by the Singapore government to preventing Singaporeans from coming into Malaysia.
MORE ON
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/53055
RALPH FIRMAN NO 1!
TEAMCAR - Ralph Firman became the first two-time winner of the Malaysian leg of theJapan Super GT Championship after guiding Team Honda Racing to victory inclinical fashion in the GT500cc race at Sepang F1 Circuit today.
Similar to last year, Firman started from pole position in the Honda NSX carbut with a happier ending. The factory backed outfit went through thedisappointment of partner Daisuke Ito having to surrender their lead withwith two laps to go, eventually finishing second to Richard Lyons-SatoshiMotoyama from the Nissan Xanavi Nismo team.
But the Honda car had no reliability problems and coped well with the humid conditions this time.Firman established a good lead before going into the pits after 21 laps tohand over driving duties to Daisuke.As the chasing pack changed drivers,Daisuke slowly made his way up the grid and regained the lead nine lapslater.
Daisuke eventually took the chequered flag for the team in 1'51:41.405.Finishing second and more than five seconds adrift was the partnership of Micheal Krumm and Lyons on a Nissan Fairlady Z car (1'51:47.068).
The French-Japanese partnership of Benoit Treluyer-Kazuki Hoshino finished third for team Calsonic Impul in 1'52:06.525.
MICHAEL KRUMM FASTEST IN FREE PRACTICE IN SUPER GT AT SEPANG
TEAMCAR - Winner in the inaugural race in 2000, Germany's Michael Krumm sets the fastest time in free practice for the Super GT race at Sepang Circuit; signaling his sheer determination to end his long drought in Malaysia.
Driving a Nissan Fairlady Z for Nismo Racing Team, Krumm, who would be partnering Ireland's Richard Lyons for the race on Sunday, became the only driver to clock below the two-minute mark with a time of 1 minute 59.614 seconds in the first practice session around the 5.543-km circuit.
Daisuke Ito of ARTA NSX was second fastest in his Honda machine with a time 2 minute 0.029 seconds among the GT500 drivers throughout the 90-minute session, which was conducted under cloudy weather.
Third fastest among the 70 drivers - 30 in GT 500 and 40 in GT300 - taking part in the Round 4 of the Super GT Series in Sepang was Juichi Wakisaka, who clocked 2 minutes 0.095 seconds in his Toyota Lexus SC430.
Opened at 4.15pm, the second 90-minute session was interrupted by rain as some of the cars spinned into the gravel bed at certain parts of the track as the stewards called for a five-minute stop just before 5pm to allow the track marshals pulled out the cars.
With the track wet and heavy, none of the drivers managed to better the times clocked in the afternoon session.
MAY - Vehicle sales in Malaysia Falls
TEAMCAR - Malaysia's total vehicle sales fell 0.6 per cent to 43,510 units in May from 43,755 units for the same month last year.
Month-on-month, sales was up 7.5 per cent when compared with the figures in April this year, the Malaysian Automotive Association said in a statement.
For January to May this year, sales dropped to 207,944 units from 213,636 units recorded during the same period last year.
Passenger car sales rose 3.7 per cent to 33,706 units in May from 32,517 a year ago.
(more news on
www.btimes.com.my)
DO NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE!
TEAMCAR - WILL we ever learn? This picture (above) shows a child waiting for her mother in a car near some shops in Subang Jaya.
Sadly, it is a common sight in Malaysia, says anti-crime activist Kamal Affandi Hashim. "I have seen parents leaving their kids in the car at petrol stations with the engine running and doors unlocked so many times while they pay at the counter."
He said parents should always bring their children along with them, even for a few minutes.
"If you leave your children alone in the car, they could either die of heat stroke, carbon monoxide poisoning or be kidnapped.
Yesterday, Malay Mail front-paged the story of two sisters who were taken on a terror ride by a stranger in their father’s new Naza Citra.Their father, financial adviser Abdul Khudus Mahmud, had left the girls in the MPV while he performed Friday prayers in Sentul last week.
The stranger had apparently told the girls that he needed to move their MPV which he claimed was blocking his car. The frightened girls were found unharmed in Taman Melawati, 30 minutes later, after the robber abandoned them in their vehicle. (more story in
www.mmail.com.my)
TEAMCAR coverage of JAPAN SUPER GT4
TEAMCAR - TEAMCAR Team will provide full 3 days coverage on the Japan GT Championship 4 in Sepang start from 23rd - 25th June.
The "JAPAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP MALAYSIA" event, the fourth round of the 2006 AUTOBACS SUPER GT and the series' annual overseas race, will be held at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit from the 24th to 25th of June. A fixture on the calendar since 2000, this year marks the sixth time the race has been run at the equatorial circuit (In 2003, the race was held at Fuji Speedway due to the SARS scare). The race has established itself as Malaysia's "Big Event" in June.
Ticket can be purchased via internet at
http://www.malaysiangp.com.my/ or by calling TICKET HOTLINE at 03-87782222.
Yoong Experiences Highs and Lows in Maiden Le Mans
TEAMCAR - A1 Team Malaysia driver, Alex Yoong, competed in his first Le Mans 24 hour race, the blue riband event of global sportscar racing, this past weekend, joining Stefan Johansson and A1 Team Netherlands boss, Jan Lammers, in the RfH Dome Judd car.
The team rang strongly for over 12 hours and were lying third in the race until an accident put them out of the race. Although the RfH team were unable to complete this gruelling challenge they fought hard every lap and despite a few problems, showed that they are strong competitors.
Yoong drove three stints, alternating time in the car with his team mates, and was in the car, running in third place, at the time of the accident. He had left the pits and was braking for the chicane, but went off into the gravel. It is thought that a throttle problem caused this, but the team will not be able to confirm this until the car is inspected fully.
Despite his disappointment, Yoong enjoyed his maiden Le Mans event, reporting, “It’s such a unique experience, with a very long lap and a challenging circuit to master. I drove in darkness which I’ve never done before and that took a while to get used to. It’s quite difficult as you can’t really see where you’re going and need to find reference points all around the circuit to get the right braking points.”
Car Sales to Stay Flat
TEAMCAR - NEW car sales figure will either stay flat or decline slightly this year, the sole distributor of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia expects.
Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) executive director Dr Ang Bon Beng expects the company to maintain its performance for 2006 but it should enjoy a better run next year with the launch of three new models.
He noted that there was still hangover from the outcome of the National Automotive Policy, hence dampening industry sales so far this year.The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has forecast a 3 per cent growth to 565,000 units this year.
In 2005, sales jumped 13 per cent to an all-time high of 551,042 units.ETCM had another great year in 2005, selling 24,553 Nissan vehicles for a growth of 12 per cent based on the figures released by the MAA.
Success is PROTON only choice
TEAMCAR - Failure is not an option for national car company Proton Holdings Bhd, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
Proton Holdings Bhd must forge strategic collaborations with foreign manufacturers and seek out new export markets like China, India and the Middle East if it wants to succeed in both the domestic and international markets, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
He also said that to make Proton more competitive, all the necessary steps should be taken to ensure that the cars produced are of high standard and quality, and available at reasonable prices.In related news, Proton said itexpected to sell a modest 2,000 to 2,500 units of the Satria Neo per month as the new model was tailored for a niche segment of the market.
The Satria Neo, which is sold in six variants with engine capacities of 1.3 and 1.6 litres, is priced between RM43,500 and RM54,800 (including insurance in peninsular Malaysia), depending on specifications.
GT CAR ON PARADE IN KUALA LUMPUR THIS SUNDAY
TEAMCAR - In a truly grand style to promote the 2006 Japan GT Championship Malaysia, Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will be organising a GT car parade around Kuala Lumpur this Sunday (June 18) with last year's winner in Sepang, Richard Lyons leading the way.
Driving the winning Xanavi Nismo Nissan Skyline GTR machine, Lyons, who is making his first start this season in Sepang, will lead a parade of 45 sports cars with many of them looking like real GT mean racing machines after extensive facelift and expensive modification.
To be flagged off from Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur at 3.30pm, the parade would make their way to Dataran Merdeka via Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Kia Peng, Jalan Pinang, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Raja Laut before returning to Berjaya Times Square where SIC is organising its final leg of its Japan GT roadshow.
Kancil, Kelisa to be Replace
TEAMCAR - A replacement model will be introduced for Kancil and Kelisa in March next year under a rationalisation of Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd’s (Perodua) existing model line-up.
UMW group chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin said the production of Kancil and Kelisa would be phased out gradually after the replacement model was introduced. UMW Holdings Bhd is the major shareholder of Perodua with a 38% stake.
Asmat said the more fuel-efficient replacement model would come in different engine capacities but still below the 1-litre segment. In the past, Perodua had introduced face-lifts for Kancil and Kelisa.
Last March, Perodua launched an upgraded Kelisa model that was renamed Imago in an effort to attract urban and women drivers.
GT KIT TO ENJOY THE JAPAN GT RACE IN SEPANG
TEAMCAR - For full enjoyment of the upcoming Japan GT Championship Malaysia 2006 at Sepang Circuit next weekend, fans are recommended to get their GT Kit.
Currently being offered at RM320, the GT Kit comprises a package of a RM150 Main Grandstand ticket; a RM100 pitwalkabout and a unique exclusive Sepang Circuit headphone radio priced at RM100 that provides live commentary of the race.
"Despite Sepang being the most spectator-friendly circuit in the world; allowing no less than 50 percent viewing wherever you sit, having a full live commentary of the race helps a lot in following the race," says Azhar Ghazali, the Press Officer of Sepang Circuit.
A total of 35 cars and 70 drivers would be competing the Super GT race, which is also Round 4 of its nine-round championship this season. The drivers would be joined by more than 70 GT Queens representing their respective teams; adding colour and excitement to the thrilling event.
You can buy your ticket at
www.malaysiangp.com.my
Cheaper Japanese Spare Parts
TEAMCAR - Tokyo, June. 14, (BNA) The Free Trade Agreement signed end of last year between Japan and Malaysia will be implemented July 13.
The agreement includes negation of taxes on industrial goods and a majority of agriculture products and fisheries during a period of ten years. According to this agreement customs related to Japanese car spare parts used in Malaysian factories will be canceled and also on imported cars.
This will be undertaken in various phases until 2015 when customs are completely removed Tokyo Radio stated that the Japanese government expect returns of $3.5 billion from this agreement.
Nissan Motor Recalls 155,452 Vehicles
TEAMCAR - TOKYO (AP): Nissan Motor Co. said Tuesday it is recalling over 155,000 vehicles in two models to replace faulty disk brakes and backup lights.
Subject to the recall are 144,298 Elgrand luxury vans, produced between Feb. 24, 2002, and May 20, 2005, and 11,154 March cars, manufactured between Feb. 16, 2002, and March 1, 2004, the Tokyo-based Nissan said on it Web site.
Nissan said the defective configuration of a front disk brake in some Elgrands will heat up if used repeatedly, and could break, while backup lights in the March model might not always light up.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the recall affected cars sold outside Japan.
Unpaid summonses for PM
'THANK you for letting me know'.
That's what Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said when he was informed of his unpaid parking summonses.
According to a report in The Star, the prime minister responded to an opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) allegation that he has 11 unpaid traffic summonses ranging from speeding to illegal parking.
Datuk Abdullah said he was informed of the outstanding fines by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, and that he would settle the outstanding fines today, reported New Straits Times.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also claimed that police had given the PM discounts worth 70 per cent on his 11 summonses.
Racing For Children
TEAMCAR - Presented by the High Performance Challenge (HPC), Team HPC Racing and MyKart, the Racing for Children Programme is created to use the thrill, exposure and participation of motorsports as a basis to raise funds in benefit of the worthwhile causes of the Ronald McDonald Children's Charities^(TM) Fund of Malaysia (RMCC).
Built around the Merdeka Millennium Endurance (MME) Race, organized and held by the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) in August, the Racing For Children Programme is a series of events that will encourage participation of a number of race teams, corporate sponsors and the general public in support of the RMCC.
8 Teams have confirmed their participation in this programme, to be spearheaded by Team HPC Racing. Among them Team X-1R Redbull Racing, lead by Deanna Yusoff.
New sport concept car from Tan Chong
TEAMCAR - Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, expects to introduce its sport concept car in Malaysia next year, said its executive director, Dr Ang Bon Beng.
“The car, which is aimed at younger segment, will be in production in the first quarter of 2007,” Dr Ang told Bernama at the sidelines of the Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow 2006 (KLIMs), here recently.
The company, which holds between 4% and 4.5% market share in terms of total industry volume, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd.
Ang said the company would build a second plant in Serendah to boost its production capacity.
Petronas Primax 3
TEAMCAR - PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd, the domestic marketing arm of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), is targeting double-digit growth in sales of petrol for the current financial year ending March 31 2007.
The target will be realised with the introduction of Petronas Primax 3, which replaces Petronas’ existing petrol brand, Primax.
Petronas Dagangan chief executive officer and managing director Ibrahim Marsidi said the company sold 3.5 billion litres of petrol in the last financial year.
The homegrown Primax 3, developed together with international technical partners, has been formulated and blended with a unique Petronas-developed additive, SINAR G-05, to ensure vehicles operate at peak performance and maximum efficiency, Petronas Dagangan said.
Higher new car sales in May seen
TEAMCAR - SALES of new cars in May are expected to be higher than April, suggesting that the toughest period for the automotive industry this year may be over.
“Some people say the (sales) situation has improved slightly after four months. (The industry number for) May should be better than April,” Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmah told Business Times in an interview.
A total of 40,482 vehicles were sold in April, compared with 42,762 units sold in the same month last year, and 45,831 units in March this year. (Business Times)
JAPAN GT BABES DO THEIR BIT FOR INDONESIAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIM
TEAMCAR - Like others around the world, the visiting Japan GT Babes – Aki Oguchi,Kaoru Sumiya and Hasami Asakura – too, are doing their bit to ease thesufferings of the Indonesian earthquake survivors in Yogjakarta.
Selling off autographed caps of Sepang Circuit’s to raise funds for the earthquake victims, the trio were seen going around the Sony Xplod Carnival at Highway Autocity in Juru, Seberang Prai doing charity work inbetween their promotional duty.
Priced at RM50, proceeds from the sale of the caps would be channeled to the Malaysian Government Fund Aid for Indonesian Earthquake victims.
To be held at Sepang Circuit from 23rd to 25th June, the Japan GT Championship Malaysia would feature Round 4 of the Super GT series, whichis Japan’s biggest racing series featuring world class drivers, mean racing machines and beautiful GT Queens from Japan.
Tickets are priced as low as RM30 and they can be purchased at theAutocity Carnival. They can also be purchased via internet at
www.malaysiangp.com.my or by calling TICKET HOTLINE at 03-87782222.
The Cars of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
TEAMCAR - The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, the third film in Universal's street racing franchise, is revving up for a June 16th release. How about a sneak peek at the hot cars from the flick? The Nissan 350Z, Ford Mustang, Mazda RX7 and Mazda RX8...
VIEW TRAILER
In the land that gave birth to the majority of modified racers on the road, the simple street race has been replaced by the ultimate pedal-to-the-metal, gravity-defying automotive challenge -- drift racing, a deadly combination of brutal speed on heart-stopping courses with hairpin turns and switchbacks.
TEAMCAR - Chinese car manufacturer Chery Automobile Co Ltd's Malaysian distributor Alado Corp Sdn Bhd will launch 800cc compact car, Chery QQ next month, said Alado executive chairman Tan Sri Cam Soh Thiam Hong.
TEAMCAR - Ralph Firman became the first two-time winner of the Malaysian leg of theJapan Super GT Championship after guiding Team Honda Racing to victory inclinical fashion in the GT500cc race at Sepang F1 Circuit today.
TEAMCAR - Winner in the inaugural race in 2000, Germany's Michael Krumm sets the fastest time in free practice for the Super GT race at Sepang Circuit; signaling his sheer determination to end his long drought in Malaysia.
TEAMCAR - Malaysia's total vehicle sales fell 0.6 per cent to 43,510 units in May from 43,755 units for the same month last year.
TEAMCAR - WILL we ever learn? This picture (above) shows a child waiting for her mother in a car near some shops in Subang Jaya.
TEAMCAR - TEAMCAR Team will provide full 3 days coverage on the Japan GT Championship 4 in Sepang start from 23rd - 25th June.
TEAMCAR - A1 Team Malaysia driver, Alex Yoong, competed in his first Le Mans 24 hour race, the blue riband event of global sportscar racing, this past weekend, joining Stefan Johansson and A1 Team Netherlands boss, Jan Lammers, in the RfH Dome Judd car.
TEAMCAR - Failure is not an option for national car company Proton Holdings Bhd, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
TEAMCAR - In a truly grand style to promote the 2006 Japan GT Championship Malaysia, Sepang International Circuit (SIC) will be organising a GT car parade around Kuala Lumpur this Sunday (June 18) with last year's winner in Sepang, Richard Lyons leading the way.
TEAMCAR - For full enjoyment of the upcoming Japan GT Championship Malaysia 2006 at Sepang Circuit next weekend, fans are recommended to get their GT Kit.
TEAMCAR - Presented by the High Performance Challenge (HPC), Team HPC Racing and MyKart, the Racing for Children Programme is created to use the thrill, exposure and participation of motorsports as a basis to raise funds in benefit of the worthwhile causes of the Ronald McDonald Children's Charities^(TM) Fund of Malaysia (RMCC).
TEAMCAR - Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Nissan vehicles in Malaysia, expects to introduce its sport concept car in Malaysia next year, said its executive director, Dr Ang Bon Beng.
TEAMCAR - Like others around the world, the visiting Japan GT Babes – Aki Oguchi,Kaoru Sumiya and Hasami Asakura – too, are doing their bit to ease thesufferings of the Indonesian earthquake survivors in Yogjakarta.
TEAMCAR - The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, the third film in Universal's street racing franchise, is revving up for a June 16th release. How about a sneak peek at the hot cars from the flick? The Nissan 350Z, Ford Mustang, Mazda RX7 and Mazda RX8... VIEW TRAILER
