PARIS: Renault executives travelled to Japan this week to meet counterparts at Nissan in an effort to maximise the value of the French automakers stake in the Japanese firm ahead of its merger with Honda, a source close to the matter said. Nissan and Honda said late last year they would begin formal talks on [...]

NEW ORLEANS: Sime Darby Auto Connexion managing director Turse Zuhair Nahason Affan has been honoured by Ford recently for leading community-focused initiatives. His efforts included upgrading rural school infrastructure, distributing food supplies, and implementing clean water projects for 200 indigenous families. Ford distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion also backs welfare programmes for senior citizens and [...]

STUTTGART: Porsche has set a new Guinness World Records title for the longest continuous vehicle drift on ice by an electric car. Porsche Experience instructor Jens Richter completed 132 laps, covering 17.503km in 46 minutes using a Taycan GTS on Jan 14. The record attempt took place at the Porsche Arctic Center in Levi, Finland, [...]

LONDON: Auction platform Collecting Cars has sold a 1:1 scale wireframe artwork of the Porsche 934, created by artist Benedict Radcliffe, for ??201,000 (RM1.1mil) last week. This final sale price is over three times that of an iconic 930-series 911 Turbo**, underscoring the global appeal of this extraordinary artwork. Reaching international bidders, the 1:1 wireframe [...]

MUNICH: BMWs iX model has been refreshed for 2025 with improved performance, increased ran

MUNICH/PARIS: The new airless Uptis tyre from French manufacturer Michelin is made from rubber and fibreglass and has been hailed as a potential game-changer. Yet it has still not gone on general sale. The Unique Puncture-Proof Tyre System (Uptis) technology was first announced in 2017 and public tests in real-life traffic conditions at the Munich [...]

LONDON: Global sales of fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will rise by at least 17% this year to over 20 million cars, helped by an extension of Chinas auto trade-in subsidies, research firm Rho Motion forecast on Tuesday. Europe, the worlds second-biggest EV market, will return to sales growth as CO2 emission targets come [...]

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 635 notices have been issued for various offences following inspections involving 6,605 buses nationwide, says Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli. The Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general said the inspections were conducted in a special operation held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations. Some of the offences detected were driving [...]

KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic flow on several main expressways on Tuesday night was reported to be smooth despite slow movement towards the southern region and east coast due to the higher volume of vehicles. A spokesman from the Malaysian Highway Authority, when contacted by Bernama, said that as of 11.15pm, traffic was slow moving on the [...]

SUBANG JAYA: Pro-Net, the subsidiary of national automaker Proton, is offering a 30% discount on public charging fees for Proton e.MAS 7 and smart electric vehicle (EV) owners from Jan 25 to Feb 3. Held in conjunction with Chinese New Year and the delivery of the first e.MAS 7 to customers, the e.MAS 7 and [...]

CYBERJAYA: Dongfeng Cars Malaysia, through its exclusive distributor and importer Central Auto Distributors Bhd (CADB), continues to strengthen the capabilities of its sales and service teams through intensive technical training sessions. This initiative aims to ensure that staff and appointed dealers have the in-depth knowledge and skills necessary to support the needs of electric vehicle [...]

PETALING JAYA: A vehicle gets involved in an accident, is written off as a total loss, and the owner receives compensation. Yet, the vehicle somehow finds its way back on the road. These vehicles, declared by insurance companies as beyond economic repair (BER), are successfully registered with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and sold to [...]

KUANTAN: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is planning to set up a special task force that will focus on special operations, intelligence gathering and assisting states in resolving specific issues. Its director-general, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli, said the proposal, which includes training its members, would be submitted to the Public Service Department (JPA) this year [...]

PETALING JAYA: Puspakom has suspended its free safety inspection for private vehicles provided by the company before major festivals, targeted especially for those returning to their hometowns. In a statement to The Star, Puspakom confirmed that it will not be conducting its Festive Voluntary Vehicle Inspection (VVI) programme for this Chinese New Year and is [...]

NEW YORK: That sticker shock you got the last time you compared prices on a new BMW or Mercedes-Benz sedan? You???re not alone. Cars today are getting way more expensive. The average transaction price for a new vehicle hit US$49,740 (RM219,000) in December, up 1.3% year over year, according to Kelley Blue Book. It was [...]

LONDON: British autocatalyst maker Johnson Matthey said today it would review its executive pay and cut its capital expenditure in its hydrogen technologies business to boost its cash following pressure from its top investor. The company, which manufactures catalytic converters and pollution filters for cars, missed analysts expectations for first-half revenue and underlying profit late [...]

LONDON: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will invest ??65 million (RM356mil/US$80mil) to expand its luxury paint services in the UK and Slovakia to meet increased demand for personalised cars from high-end clients, it said today. The luxury car maker joins rival Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a unit of BMW in trying to cash in on the trend. [...]

PETALING JAYA: With about 2.6 million vehicles expected on the main highways during the peak hours of Chinese New Year balik kampung euphoria, drivers and passengers should adhere to travel advice to ensure they reach their destinations safely, says the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM). Its director-general, Datuk Sazali Harun, advised the public to plan their [...]

PETALING JAYA: Taking a rest in the car during a long drive is a good habit as it can revitalise a driver. However, napping in a vehicle should be done with precautions to avoid untoward incidents, say road safety experts. Sleeping in a car with all windows closed and the engine running can be fatal [...]

INGOLSTADT: This is the Audi Q6 e-tron offroad concept, a newly developed prototype, that features two electric motors with a combined power output of 380kW/510hp and can climb gradients of up to 100 percent, thanks to its newly designed portal axles. The Q6 gives a taste of a potential vehicle in the off-road segment. An [...]

DETROIT: Cadillac is putting the V in EV. General Motors Co.s luxury brand is rolling out the first performance V-Series model in its electric lineup with the midsize, 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V. Like its gasoline predecessors, the CT5-V and CT4-V sedans and Escalade-V SUV, the Lyriq-V will bring higher horsepower and a higher sticker price to [...]

The shift from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles marks a significant change in the automotive industry. STARPICKS With rising concerns about environmental sustainability and economics, families are increasingly eyeing electric vehicles (EVs) as their second car. The Proton e.MAS 7 Prime, with its mix of innovation and practicality, is an ideal candidate for [...]

PETALING JAYA: The 50% toll reduction for the Chinese New Year period is a compromise from the government which serves little purpose, say experts. The government might as well have not offered a discount, they say. The original purpose of the toll-free gesture was to allow freer travel during the festivities without traffic congestion at [...]

TANAH MERAH: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has collected RM12.5mil in outstanding summonses following a special compound initiative offering a flat rate of RM150 since early January. JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the special compound offer applies to three types of offences, namely the Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas Summons 53A), Notice [...]

SHANGHAI: Tesla Inc. will release a software update to about 1.2 million cars in China around half the fleet it???s sold in the country to fix issues with the vehicles??? power steering and rear-view cameras that may pose safety risks. The steering issue stems from a software problem that can cause the electronic [...]

PENANG: Naza Eastern Motors, the exclusive distributor of Suzuki Cars in Malaysia, has opened a new showroom in Penang. This marks the third Suzuki Cars outlet in the country, following the success of the marques flagship showrooms in Petaling Jaya and Johor Bahru. The new showroom, located in Jalan Anson, Georgetown, showcases the Suzuki Jimny [...]

SINGAPORE: The 2025 refreshed Tesla Model Y has made its Asia-Pacific debut at Level 1 Atrium, ION Orchard in Singapore, where it is on display till Feb 15, 2025. It has a new cross car lightbar at the front, and the new rear light bar and tailgate are inspired by the Cybercab and Cybertruck respectively. [...]

TOKYO: Nissan Motor plans to procure batteries for electric vehicles sold in the US from South Koreas SK On from around 2028 onwards, the Nikkei newspaper said on Thursday, as the troubled Japanese automaker looks to ramp up its EV business as part of a planned turnaround. Separately, a Nissan executive said the automaker was [...]

SHAH ALAM: Bermaz Auto group has previewed two all-new electric models that is slated for launch in the first half of the year. The Xpeng X9 luxury seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) is scheduled for introduction in March, while the Changan Deepal S07 mid-size sports utility vehicle (SUV) will arrive in June. The futuristic and sleek [...]

SAN FRANCISCO: A joint venture between US electric pickup and SUV maker Rivian and Volkswagen is in talks with other automakers about supplying their software and electrical architecture, a senior Rivian executive said on Thursday. The German automaker agreed in November to invest US$5.8 billion (RM25.4bil) in the joint venture, which will integrate advanced electrical [...]

PETALING JAYA: Highway users will benefit from a 50% toll discount nationwide from Jan 27 until midnight on Jan 28 in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi announced that the discount applies to Class One personal vehicles at all toll plazas, except at national border tolls, namely [...]

BERLIN: BMW chief executive Oliver Zipse will not extend his contract beyond the summer of next year, when it expires, Germanys manager magazin reported on Thursday, citing a source familiar with the matter. There will be no further contract extension, the magazine quoted the source as saying. The company said that in September 2023, Zipses [...]

BUKIT JELUTONG: Express bus company Ekspres Perdana has expanded its fleet with 60 units of new Scania buses equipped with advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) for better safety. Lane Departure Warning (LDW), one of the ADAS features, is now a standard safety feature for all Scania New Bus Generation (NBG) models, adding to safety features [...]

TOKYO: Mitsubishi Motors, a junior partner of Nissan Motor, is considering not joining a planned business merger between Nissan and Honda Motor, sources said today. Mitsubishi Motors plans to remain listed while continuing its cooperative relationship with both companies, three sources said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak about the [...]

PARIS: Chinese battery giant CATL will soon be offering carmakers a turnkey platform with chassis and integrated battery as the basis for new models. The solution is designed to be particularly safe and robust, and resistant to impact and fire. CATL recently unveiled Bedrock, a complete skateboard chassis dedicated to electric vehicles, centered around a [...]

SEOUL: SK On has made key advances in all-solid-state battery (ASSB) technology, with findings from its research now published in top international journals and several patents filed globally. In collaboration with the Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology, SK On used ultrafast photonic sintering technology to develop hybrid solid electrolytes. This technique, typically used [...]

DAVOS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government is working on a more targeted approach for the provision of toll exemptions during festive seasons. He said that similar to previous subsidy adjustments, toll exemptions should only be provided to the B40 and M40 groups, not to everyone. ???Some have raised the issue of [...]

MUNICH: The German start-up Flite is causing a stir with its smart cockpit concept for cyclists, directly inspired by the automotive world. In fact, its a touch-sensitive interface running the length of the handlebars, giving real-time access to a multitude of data. Called Flitedeck, this connected bike handlebar system integrates multiple functions designed to help [...]

WOLFSBURG: Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said he views China as a kind of fitness centre in terms of economic development. Innovations, for example in batteries, software or autonomous driving, are being developed here pragmatically and cost-efficiently, with a high level of creativity and immense speed, Blume told the German weekly Die Zeit, in comments released [...]

TORONTO: Tesla will raise prices of all its cars in Canada from Feb. 1, according to notices on its Canadian website, with prices of Model 3 going up by as much as C$9,000 ($6,254.78). Model Y variants will see increases of up to C$4,000, while all versions of Model S and X will rise by [...]