WOLFSBURG: The Volkswagen Polo, a small car icon since its debut in 1975, will remain in production until at least 2030, Volkswagen has confirmed. A significant facelift is planned for 2025, coinciding with the models 50th anniversary. This decision is in tune with Volkswagens strategy to keep the Polo competitive through updates in safety and [...]

MUNICH: BMW Group topped the rankings in 2024 as the best employer ??? for the 13th time in a row, according to a survey. A leading study in gauging employer attractiveness, the Trendence survey questioned 15,000 university-educated employees in Germany to ascertain the best employers for professionals. This year also saw the BMW Group top [...]

File pic of Suzuki. He died of cancer on Dec 25. ??? AFP TOKYO: Osamu Suzuki, who ran Suzuki Motor Corp., known for its minicars and motorcycles, across several decades and drove the company???s global expansion, has died. He was 94. Suzuki died of lymphoma on Dec 25, the company said in a statement. Born [...]

AMSTERDAM: Building on the success of the Zeekr 001 shooting brake and Zeekr X compact urban SUV, Zeekr has launched a third all-electric vehicle in Europe: the Zeekr 7X five-seater SUV. It is available now for order in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway, with the first customer deliveries expected in summer 2025. Designed and developed [...]

HANGZHOU: Images of the Lynk & Co L946 plug-in hybrid flagship crossover in camouflage paint have been released before its official launch in China in 2025. carnewschina.com reported that Lynk & Co had shared the first official photos of the L946 crossover undergoing winter tests in China. From the side, the L946 looks similar to [...]

KUALA LUMPUR: Goodyear Malaysia has announced the winner of the Mercedes-Benz EQA grand prize in its ???Win A Car??? campaign, which ran from July to October 2024. The campaign saw the participation of thousands of customers, who bought two or more Goodyear premium tyres sized 17-inch or above to qualify for the chance to win. [...]

PETALING JAYA: One year is coming to an end and a new one is around the corner. We can look forward to more new car models making their way into Malaysia, and many are increasingly electrified or pure electric vehicles (EVs). The diversity and competition is exciting at least for the end consumers who [...]

SHANGHAI: It???s a wonder three little headlights can stir up such debate. But that???s what many netizens in China have been driven to comment on following the launch of Nio Inc.???s newest sub-brand, Firefly. The electric hatchback was unveiled last weekend at Nio???s annual gathering for its customers, partners and media. The compact car will [...]

THE Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 is a motorcycle that embodies the essence of minimalist design,??combined with modern performances, appealing to riders who seek style, agility, and functionality. Its striking aesthetics are inspired by Scandinavian simplicity, making it a standout in the neo-retro motorcycle segment. The Svartpilen 401 is not just about good looks; it offers a [...]

SEOUL: The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has set a new record by registering an altitude change of 5,802 metres in the Guinness World Records title attempt for the greatest altitude change by an electric car. The record attempt was organised by Hyundai Motor India Limited and driven by the professional team from Evo India. The journey [...]

SHAH ALAM: The all-electric Proton e.MAS 7 has received over 2,500 bookings. The e.MAS 7 is priced at RM109,800 (Prime variant) and RM123,800 (Premium) on-the-road without insurance. In its statement, Proton did not mention the number of orders received for the Prime and Premium variants. The first 3,000 buyers get a RM4,000 rebate, via a [...]

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) has called for the mandatory use of monitoring technologies such as the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and telematics in all heavy vehicles to detect mechanical issues promptly. Its vice-chairman, Manivanan Gowin, said that these technologies could provide an early warning of potential damage [...]

HANGZHOU: Geelys pickup truck marque Radar recently launched the all-electric King Kong with prices starting from 99,800 yuan (RM61,144). The King Kong replaces the RD6 (which apparently did not meet sales targets), and the single-motor, rear-wheel drive variant produces 180kW and 309Nm of torque. The rear-wheel drive King Kong is offered in four lithium iron [...]

GUANGZHOU: The NIO ET9 four-seater executive luxury flagship was launched recently in China at 788,000 (RM482,464) yuan. A limited First Edition run of 999 units priced at 818,000 (RM500,832) yuan was instantly sold out at launch, and deliveries will start in March 2025. The ET9 features a 5.325-metre ultra-long body and class-Leading width (2,017mm), suspension [...]

TOKYO: A Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. combination could give the two struggling Japanese brands the scale to take on China???s BYD Co., sales figures released Wednesday show. Honda, which earlier this week sketched out plans for a deal that amounts to an acquisition of Nissan, sold 3.43 million cars globally in the [...]

BEIJING: Chinese upstart electric vehicle (EV) maker Xiaomi announced partnerships on Wednesday with local EV specialists Nio, Li Auto and Xpeng on charging services. More than 6,000 charging piles from Li Auto, over 9,000 from Xp

LONDON: The UK government is giving carmakers eight weeks to submit views on the phase-out of new gasoline and diesel cars, as ministers consider easing sales quotas that electric vehicle manufacturers are struggling to hit. The Department for Transport has committed to removing combustion engine cars from sale by 2030, but is now asking the [...]

BANGALORE: Ola Electric Mobility Ltd. announced opening of 3,200 new stores in a single day, as India???s biggest e-scooter maker seeks to expand its local footprint and address customer frustration related to shortcomings in service. The Bengaluru-based Ola Electric has increased the number of showrooms and service centres to 4,000, Ankush Aggarwal, group head of [...]

KUALA LUMPUR: Liberty General Insurance Bhd, the second largest motor insurer and leading property and casualty insurer in Malaysia, offers digital platforms to support policyholders for fas

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman encourages information on offences involving drivers of heavy vehicles, says Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri. The Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director said the police should be informed if heavy vehicle drivers actions endanger other road users. We strongly encourage people to come forward and pass [...]

KUALA LUMPUR: Using trains to transport goods is a good way to reduce reliance on heavy vehicles, says Datuk Meor Chek Hussien Mahayuddin. The Retired Senior Police Officers Association (Respa) president suggests considering this alternative due to recent heavy vehicle accidents. One such accident at KM204 of the Plus Highway killed seven people and injured [...]

KUALA LUMPUR: The total industry volume (TIV) for new vehicle sales is expected to decline by four per cent year-on-year to 755,000 units in 2025, compared with 790,000 units in 2024, according to CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd. In a research note, it said the decline is impacted by headwinds such as the potential removal of [...]

DUBAI: Chery International marked two major milestones in its Middle East operations on Dec 19 with the simultaneous launch of the Tiggo 9 SUV in the UAE and Kuwait and the opening of its Middle East Regional Spare Parts Distribution Centre here. At the launch, Chery showcased the SUV???s advanced features, including a new family [...]

BEIJING: Audi FAW NEV Company, a cooperation project between Audi and long-standing partner FAW, has started production of all-electric Audi models. The company and its new state-of-the-art plant form a key component of the strategy Audi has adopted for the Chinese market. The new production site in Changchun is the first in China to exclusively [...]

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) issued summonses to 25 express and tour buses for not having a second driver for trips exceeding 300km or four hours continuously during a special operation at three toll plazas in Penang. JPJ said the operation started at 10pm on Christmas Eve and ended at 7am, and was [...]

Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida and Mibe. ??? Reuters TOKYO: Honda and Nissan expect big benefits from their potential merger to create the worlds third-largest auto group but intense competition from China raises questions about whether they can make it work in time. The Japanese automakers said on Monday they had agreed to begin formal talks [...]

LAS VEGAS/SEOUL: Come January 2025, South Korean company Gaudio Lab will be showing off a number of innovations at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas. One of the more intriguing innovations by this audio solutions company is its AI-powered automotive audio infotainment solution. This technology allows users to separate instruments such as vocals, [...]

TOKYO: Toyota Motors global production decreased for a 10th straight month in November, the Japanese carmaker said today, although its worldwide sales grew for the second consecutive month on solid demand in the United States and China. The worlds biggest automaker manufactured 869,230 vehicles globally in November, down 6.2% from the same month last year, [...]

PARIS: Chinese automakers captured their smallest share of Europe???s electric-vehicle market in eight months, after new tariffs added as much as 35% to the cost of importing cars to the region. Manufacturers such as BYD Co. and SAIC Motor Corp.???s MG accounted for 7.4% of EV registrations across the European Union in November, down from [...]

STUTTGART: Germany???s Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik GmbH weathered Napoleon???s invasion, the Great Depression and two world wars. But Europe???s current auto slump has brought the plastics manufacturer to its knees. Founded in 1796, Gerhardi started out making metal products before riding Germany???s postwar automotive boom. Its mastery of injection molding and hot stamping made it a trusted [...]

TAIPEI: XING Mobility and ENEOS Corp have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly promote immersion-cooling battery systems across energy storage and vehicle market applications. This strategic partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of safe and efficient immersion-cooling technology. In the pursuit of global sustainability, ENEOS, Japan???s energy giant, launches advanced immersion cooling fluids [...]

SHANGHAI: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) unveiled a new car chassis with an integrated battery strong enough to withstand fires or explosions from high-impact collisions. The world???s largest maker of electric vehicle batteries said it has signed up Chinese EV brand Avatr, which it part owns with Chongqing Changan automobile Co., to jointly develop [...]

GUANGZHOU: Honda has officially opened its new electric vehicle (EV) production plant in Guangzhou???s Economic and Technological Development District, marking a major step in its push towards a greener future. The Development District NEV Factory, a collaboration between Honda and the Guangzhou Automobile Group, is designed to produce next-generation EVs. By 2027, Honda plans to [...]

PETALING JAYA: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) has entered a strategic partnership with Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) to drive advancements in electric vehicle (EV) development, digital innovation and sustainable growth. The move is said to be in line with the nation???s vision to create a high-value, competitive automotive sector under the New Industrial Master [...]

LONDON: Britains AC Cars will offer a new, high-performance 2.0-litre engine option for the AC Cobra GT Roadster and GT Coupe (both the open and fixed-top models) from 2026. This new engine option is joining the normally aspirated and supercharged V8 models already developed, for the sensational family of sports cars. Retaining the same aluminium [...]

LOS ANGELES: Starting in the first quarter of 2025, current and new Hyundai EV owners who have purchased or leased their vehicle on or before Jan 31, 2025 will be able to request a free North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter (shipping included) through the MyHyundai owner portal. This Hyundai-authorized adapter will give CCS-port-equipped Hyundai [...]

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) has launched Op Lancar, running until Jan 2 next year, to address increased traffic during the festive season and year-end school holidays. Its director, Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, said the operation aims to reduce congestion through traffic dispersal measures on major routes [...]

LONDON: The Farizon SV, the electric commercial van from Chinas Farizon Auto, received a Platinum safety award from Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Program) with a score of 85 points, placing it amongst the best options for safe and reliable commercial vehicles. The award also makes Farizon the top-ranked Chinese electric commercial vehicle brand [...]

TOKYO: Honda Motor Co. sketched plans for a drawn-out deal that amounts to an acquisition of Nissan Motor Co., as Japan???s automakers struggle to keep up in an increasingly competitive global car industry. The two announced a tentative agreement Monday to set up a joint holding company that will aim to list shares in August [...]

NEW YORK: Auto sales around the world are expected to grow marginally next year on increased supplies of vehicles, but production levels are likely to fall as carmakers seek to rein in inventory levels, according to S Global Mobility estimates. Global sales of light vehicles, which include passenger cars, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, [...]