KLIMS 2006

The Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow 2006 will be held from May 26 to June 4 at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

I am not sure why KLIMS 2006 and not KLIMS 2005.

DRB-HICOM to distribute and Assemble Indian Brand

DRB-HICOM Berhad's subsidiary USF-HICOM (M) Sdn. Bhd. will start assembling and distributing the Mahindra brand in Malaysia starting with the Scorpio range which was launched in Kuala Lumpur on 4th of this month.

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited is India’s largest manufacturer of 4x4 vehicles and tractors.

The Scorpio range range comprises of the 2.0 litre petrol 4x2 and the Scorpio 2.6 litre diesel double cab.

The Petrol version features a 2.0 litre DOHC 116bhp engine from Renault (used in the Renault Scenic and Laguna series) and is priced at RM79,913.13 (price on-the-road without insurance).

Other Specs:
- 7 seater
- 5 speed manual gearbox
- Standard leather seats
- wishbone suspension at the front
- leaf springs and a live axle at the rear
- disc brakes in front and drums at the rear
- Top speed : 165 kilometres/ hour.

Another Malaysian Car

Did you know that we have not 2 but 5 Malaysian car manufacturers and the numbers are increasing. I am not joking. Let me list them down for you (in alphabetical order):

1. Bufori Motor Car Company (M) Sdn. Bhd.

2. Esnasports Sdn Bhd

3. Perodua

4. Proton (Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd) (The big daddy)

5. TD Cars (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

According to a Bernama report yesterday, the Naza group is going to join the list as the latest to come out with a Malaysian made car.

Some information about this car (According to group managing director Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin):

- 1.2 litre car
- Launch scheduled in October this year.
- Designs done by 18 Naza engineers, 'mostly former employees of Proton and Perodua'.
- Secret project has been going on for the past two years (Went under the radar of all auto researchers).
- Total investment : Around half a million ringgit
- Estimated production /YEAR: 60,000 to 70,000 units

Read the full report here.

New BMW n Other Updates

New 3 Series Models Launched

Auto Bavaria Sdn Bhd has launched the new BMW 3 Series model today. The series comprises of the 320i 92.0-litre 150bhp 4-cylinder Valvetronic engine), 325i (6-cylinder 2.5-litre 218bhp Valvetronic engine)and the 330i (6-cylinder 258bhp Valvetronic engine).

The models available for immediate booking at Auto Bavaria branches nationwide are the 320i with a , the 325i with a and the 330i with a .

This series has been their constant best seller and accounts for very 2 BMW sold in the country.

NOTE:
BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a Joint venture between BMW AG and thr Sime Darby Group (51:49).
Auto Bavaria Sdn Bhd is the authorized delaer of BMW cars in Malaysia. It is a subsidiry of Tractors Malaysia Holdings Bhd, whihc is in turn a unit of the Sime Darby group.

Lamborghini Showroom Launched

ES Evolution Sdn Bhd, the local dealer of Lamborghini in Malaysia has opened its showroom in Kuala Lumpur.

The latest outler is the 67th in Automobil Lamborghini SpA's international network of dealers.

The models available here are V10 Gallardo, the V12 Murcielago and the Morcielago Roadster (open top). If the government agrees to lower the tariff rates, the cars will sell between RM1.4 million and Rm2 million each. A "house on wheels" as a friend once told me. Actually that's a lot of low cost houses.0

Some more Info:
Add:
ES Evolution Sdn bhd
No.2 Block B Lot 4900 Jalan SS13/7
Subang Jaya Industrial Estate
47500 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Tel: (603) 5637 1280
Fax: (603) 5634 4782


Suzuki to Assemble Cars in Malaysia

Global Worldtrade Sdn Bhd. may start assembling Suzuki cars in Malaysia.

The cars would be distributed by Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Bhd.

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn Bhd has signed a distributorship and an import agreement for completely built-up (CBU) Suzuki motor vehicles and spare parts.

They will distribute the Suzuki Swift 1.5L, Suzuki APV 1.6GLX and the 1.6GL, Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0L.

Proton Sports Car

Watch out for the Proton sports car. My friend in Proton informs me that it is based on the Lotus Elise and while he was reluctant to reveal the price, I gathered that it will cost somewhere around RM 150K. (1US$=RM3.8)

If it is released as planned, it would become Malaysia's first sports car and not the Esna Venera.

SOURCES: NST, The Star & personal communication.

New Perodua Model

In March, I had read in a news report about Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Kedua, or Perodua, launching a new model of the Perodua Kancil car in May this year.

I had also read earlier entries about the the soon-to-be-launched Myvi model in some other blogs. Namely, Gob.log and Wantan Productions and was wondering what the hell Myvi stands for. I got the answer today.

I read Paul Tan’s Journal entry about the Perodua Myvi yesterday. According to him, "My means Malaysia and the VI represents the sixth car that Perodua has come up with". However, according to the Edge Daily, “Myvi” signifies My Vehicle and My Vision, which also symbolises the Malaysian Vision.

It also reports the prices of the “Myvi” to be between RM41,500 and RM51,500 for the one litre and 1.3 litres variants respectively.

FYI, Perodua is Malaysia's second national car maker and was established in 1993.

According to their website, the joint venture partners/shareholders of Perodua and their respective shareholding are:
1. UMW Corporation Sdn Bhd (38%),
2. Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. (20%),
3. MBM Resources Berhad (20%),
4. PNB Equity Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd (10%),
5. Mitsui & Co. Ltd (7%) and
6. Daihatsu (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (5%).

However, I read elsewhere that MBM Resources Bhd., which is the largest dealer of Perodua, is also the 2nd largest single shareholder in Perodua with a 23.6% stake.

Proton No 2 in UK

The title is a bit misleading. Proton is not the 2nd best selling brand in UK.

The Dealer Attitude Survey, undertaken by the National Franchised Dealers Association placed Proton 2nd after Lexus on the helpfulness of parts staff and 2nd best (alongside Toyota) in terms of technical support hotline.

Proton dealers were clearly very happy with the company and it reveals a synergy between the manufacturer and the dealers.

Links:

1. Car Pages

2. The Star report

Auto News Updates

Have been neglecting this blog for quite sometime now. Well here are the latest updates:

1. Proton Holdings Bhd:

Proton chief executive officer Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff revealed in an interview that the company and its Chinese partner may start production in China this year if everything goes as planned. Read the whole story in the Star here.

2. HONDA Malaysia Sdn Bhd:

Yasuhide Mizuno (41) is now the company's 3rd managing director and chief executive officer. He was peviously general manager of Honda Taiwan Co Ltd.

Kenji Tanaka was appointed as new vice-president of Honda Malaysia's manufacturing plant.