gear kereta

Posted by: Anthony Lim

US automakers have surpassed foreign brands for the first time in a survey that measures the quality of new cars and trucks.

J.D. Power and Associates said yesterday that owners of vehicles made by Detroit automakers reported fewer problems on average during the first 90 days of ownership than those built by companies based overseas.

It was the first time that has happened in the 24 years the industry research group has conducted the annual quality study that is a closely watched measure of the durability and reliability of vehicles.

US automakers have long lagged foreign brands, especially those from Asian manufacturers like Toyota, which many consumers believe produce higher quality cars and trucks than General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.

But J.D. Power said Ford showed some of the biggest gains in quality among individual brands, moving into the fifth spot. Porsche was the top scorer. Toyota, which has suffered through huge safety recalls earlier this year, saw its score drop.

The study ranks vehicles according to the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles. The overall average for the industry was 109 problems per 100 vehicles. That industry average has fallen steadily over the past decade.

US manufacturers scored an average of 108 problems, while foreign companies posted 109 problems. That is a marked difference than just 10 years ago, when import brands had far fewer initial problems than those made by US companies.

Luxury brands topped the list, with Acura and Mercedes-Benz holding the second and third spots. Daimler, which makes the Mercedes-Benz, had the best performing plant, an assembly facility in East London, South Africa.

Land Rover had the highest overall number of average problems with 170.

Ford was the best scorer among non-luxury brands, with 93 problems per 100 vehicles. J.D. Power said that Ford has shown steady improvement over the last nine years.

The rankings are closely watched by automakers, which frequently use them in advertising campaigns. Ford vice president of quality Bennie Fowler said in a statement that the survey shows Ford's "steady and meticulous attention to new model launches."

Toyota's ranking dropped to the 21st spot, down from the sixth ranking in 2009. The Japanese automaker has built a strong reputation for vehicle quality, but has seen its image suffer after wide reports of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.

"Overall, we're disappointed but probably not surprised," said Jim Lentz, Toyota's top US sales executive. "If you look at when the survey was fielded, it was right during the height of the recall and the intense coverage of the recall."

He said vehicles not involved in recall saw their scores go up in the study. He also noted that Toyota had six segment award winners, more than any other manufacturer.

"We are paying close attention to what the customer is telling us through J.D. Power," he said. - AP

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Scandinavian electric vehicle maker Think has begun the introduction of a new, ground-breaking lithium-ion battery system for its City EV production.

The dedicated 22kWh battery system for the City is from Ener1 subsidiary, EnerDel. The company says key features include a smaller, lighter weight and better packaged unit, offering much greater available power and energy density than other technologies.

Fast-charging is also a possibility with the EnerDel batteries, with early tests done by Think and Ener1 getting the battery charged up to 80% of its capacity in just 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, Think, in partnership with EnerDel, is moving along with the application expansion of its proprietary integrated electric drive-train; the system is currently being tested in Asia by the Japan Postal Service, and by Mazda as part of a Itochu Corporation-led sustainability project in Tsukuba, Japan.

Posted by: Anthony Lim

General Motors yesterday abandoned a months-long effort to win European government aid for restructuring its Opel and Vauxhall operations, saying that it needed to move ahead and would fund the overhaul itself.

A week after Germany rejected its request, GM said it was withdrawing applications for loan guarantees totaling euro 1.8bil (US$2.2bil) from several European countries. The automaker said its own improved finances were a factor in the decision.

That will leave GM, which is majority-owned by the US government, to shoulder the total funding needs of euro 3.3bil rather than the euro 1.9bil it had previously committed. The US government owns about 61% of GM, while the Canadian governments own roughly 12%. GM hopes to repay all government aid with a public stock offering, perhaps later this year.

GM's move ends lengthy manoeuvring over the future of Opel and Vauxhall, and represents a sharp turnaround from last year, when GM nearly sold a majority stake in its European operations and went through bankruptcy reorganisation in the US. It subsequently decided to hold onto its European business while seek government support.

Opel and Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly noted that GM initiated the aid applications more than six months ago and said "we had no idea that it would take this long."

"In that period of time the GM financial position has improved somewhat and the outlook is positive," he said - helping make Wed's decision possible.

Britain's government committed loan guarantees to the tune of euro 330mil and Spain had indicated that it would commit a similar amount. Reilly said there had been "no withdrawal of support" by either country, but GM made its decision after considering the fallout from Berlin's rejection.

Last Nov, GM abruptly canceled the planned sale of a majority in the units to a consortium led by Canadian auto parts maker Magna International, instead deciding to restructure the brands itself.

That decision irked Germany, which had pushed hard for the sale and had been prepared to offer financial support for it.

GM then sought aid from European governments as it presented a restructuring plan that foresees some 8,300 job cuts across the continent. Reilly said "there is no intention to change the restructuring plan." The two brands employ around 48,000 people in Europe, roughly half of them in Germany.
- AP

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Expect Mahindra & Mahindra to be going the EV route in a big way, now that it has acquired a majority stake in Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car Co. The buyout sees Mahindra taking a 55.2% share in the company, which will be renamed Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicle Co.

Reva was established in Bangalore in 1994 as a joint venture between the Maini Group of Bangalore and American company AEV. Its Reva electric vehicle was first commercially available in Bangalore in 2001, and currently, its products are available in 24 countries around the world, with over 3,500 EVs having been sold.

The Reva NXG.

Its NXR four-seater, three-door hatch and NXG two-seater targa top EV models, which were unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year, is set for production in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Mahindra, which is currently working on an electric version of its mini-truck, the Maxximo, will adapt the new company's EV technology for it and other Mahindra vehicles.

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said that he's not bothered by skepticism about the company's upcoming Leaf electric car, because thousands of orders have convinced the company of consumers' demand for it.

The president of Honda's research and development unit recently questioned whether consumers will accept electric cars' limited range or the time needed to charge them. Honda has said previously that cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells, not electrics, are the best way to cut vehicle emissions.

Some companies are going to be more bullish about electric vehicles than others, Ghosn acknowledged.

"I understand that this is not going to be consensual," Ghosn said after a speech to the Detroit Economic Club. "Not everybody believes in it, some people are more skeptical. It's normal."

But, he said, that skepticism won't change Nissan's direction. He said 13,000 US customers have already put down US$99 deposits on the Leaf, which goes on sale in Dec. The company expects to sell 50,000 electric cars in the US, Europe and Japan in 2011. By 2013, it plans to produce eight separate electric vehicles, including sedans and commercial vehicles, and sell 500,000 per year.

"We're not, anymore, into a situation where we're questioning ourselves about the technology. We're in it," Ghosn said.

The all-electric Leaf, a four-door hatchback powered by a lithium-ion battery, has a range of 160km on a single charge. It will have a base price of US$32,780, but it's eligible for a US$7,500 federal tax credit, making it closer to US$25,000.

Ghosn also defended the decision not to put a backup, gasoline engine in the vehicle to power it when the charge runs down. The Chevrolet Volt, which will come out around the same time as the Leaf, has such an engine.

Ghosn said the rapid advancements in battery technology are one reason he thinks there will be more and more partnerships among automakers. Last month, Nissan and Renault SA, which is also led by Ghosn, announced a partnership with Daimler AG to develop small, fuel-efficient vehicles.

Ghosn said no automaker has enough resources to explore every technology well. In order to be viable, carmakers also need to have vehicles in every segment and partners who understand emerging countries like China and India, he said. In 1999, Nissan sold 1,000 cars in China; last year it sold 800,000. - AP

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles may have been involved in the deaths of 89 people over the past decade, upgrading the number of deaths possibly linked to the massive recalls, the US government said yesterday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that from 2000 to mid-May, it had received more than 6,200 complaints involving sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles. The reports include 89 deaths and 57 injuries over the same period. Previously, 52 deaths had been suspected of being connected to the problem.

Toyota has recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide since last fall because of problems with gas pedals, floor mats and brakes. The Japanese automaker paid a record US$16.4mil fine for its slow response to an accelerator pedal recall and is facing hundreds of state and federal lawsuits.

Toyota said in a statement that it "sympathises with the individuals and families involved in any accident involving our vehicles. We are making an all-out effort to ensure our vehicles are safe and we remain committed to investigating reported incidents of unintended acceleration in our vehicles quickly."

The automaker said "many complaints in the NHTSA database, for any manufacturer, lack sufficient detail that could help identify the cause of an accident. We will continue to work in close partnership with law enforcement agencies and federal regulators with jurisdiction over accident scenes whenever requested."

In the aftermath of the recalls, Congress is considering upgrading auto safety laws to stiffen potential penalties against automakers, give the government more powers to demand a recall and push car companies to meet new safety standards.

Toyota's US sales chief, Jim Lentz, told Congress last week that dealers have fixed nearly 3.5mil vehicles under the recall and the company and its dealers have conducted 2,000 inspections of vehicles. Lentz said there was no evidence that electronics are to blame for the sudden acceleration reports.

NHTSA administrator David Strickland told lawmakers the agency had spoken to nearly 100 vehicle owners who said they had unintended acceleration following a recall fix, but NHTSA had not seen pedal entrapment or sticky accelerators in any vehicles that have been properly repaired.

The government is investigating acceleration problems in Toyotas and a separate 15-month study by the National Academy of Sciences is scheduled to begin in July. - AP

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Shell Lubricants will be rewarding four lucky Malaysians to a two-day all expenses paid trip to Maranello on Nov 18-19, and all you have to do is be one of the four winners of the Shell Helix Ferrari Adventure Challenge which is on now.

Divided into two phases, all you have to do to be in the running to win is answer a simple question and submit the entry form with proof of purchase of any 4l packs of Shell Helix Ultra AB, Shell Helix Ultra, Shell Helix HX7 or Shell Helix HX7 Diesel. Participants with the correct answer on the contest forms will be shortlisted to win cash prizes in Phase 1 and stand a chance to participate in the Shell Helix Ferrari Adventure Challenge Phase 2.

Phase 1, which runs until July 31, offers 12 first prizes of RM1,000 cash, as well as a chance to participate in Phase 2. There are also 10 second prizes of RM1,000 cash and 80 consolation prizes of RM200 cash to be won here.

Selected winners will be awarded an additional RM1,000 for participating in Phase 2, and the top 12 contestants will compete for the four grand prizes.

The four eventual winners will be privy to an exclusive meet-and-greet session with the Ferrari Formula One Team drivers as well as be driven around Fiorano by the F1 drivers. They'll also get to experience the Ferrari road cars and explore the Ferrari road car factory and Formula One workshops.

To catch a glimpse of the experience that awaits you, you can view the action from the 2009 Shell Helix Inside-Ferrari event at www.shell.com.my/helixferrariadventure. Original contest forms are available at all participating Shell Helix workshops, spare part shops and Shell stations. It can also be downloaded with its full terms and conditions from the above-mentioned URL.

Posted by: Anthony Lim

A BMW 320d recently completed a record-breaking journey from the UK to Munich and back – on one tank of fuel.

Filled up at the Channel Tunnel, the 320d EfficientDynamics sedan, piloted by British motoring journalist Tom Ford, made it to Munich, then as far as Lille on the return leg – a staggering total of 1,013 miles (1,630km) on a single tank of fuel – before needing to be refuelled.

There was no use of efficient driving techniques such as coasting or driving deliberately slowly for the trip, though he did switch the air con and radio off as a concession to fuel saving.

Ford managed a reasonable pace for the journey, which Brit newspaper The Sunday Times ran the story on last weekend, and returned an official combined figure of 24.42km per litre (68.9mpg), with an average speed of 95kmh.

“I was prepared for this car to fail in the real world. I was wrong. Although I did try and be careful and drive in a feather-footed manner, I did cruise at a reasonable 105kmh on the autoroutes and autobahns, so it was faster than the usual economy run pace," Ford said.

“Think about it in the context of everyday motoring - comfortably more than 1,000 miles (1,600km) on one tank of diesel means just 12 fills a year for the average motorist – and even driven normally I still think you're looking at 700-800 miles (1,125-1,285km) per fill."

Posted by: Anthony Lim

The KBS-Pennzoil-AAM Malaysia Rally Sprint Championship (MRSC) will kick off its first round this coming weekend, on May 15-16, in Putrajaya; the event itself will take place at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and its surrounding areas over the two days.

Officially launched by the Youth & Sports Minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek a fortnight ago, the MRSC is intended to be a gateway into rallying for newcomers, offering the same challenges that a standard rally event would, but on a smaller scale.

The incentive for newcomers are that the organisers will bear the costs of transportation and accommodation, as well as provide necessary support to the new drivers.

With categories based on engine capacity to novice and junior drivers, and even a special category for lady drivers, the event is aiming to raise the profile of Malaysian rallying in general.

All set to go this weekend ...

The first round currently has an entry list of 30 cars, and among the participants are two foreign drivers, Andrew Miller, a Canadian based in Hong Kong, and Indian rally champion Lohith Urs. The leading local entry is former MRC winner Saladin Mazlan of the Felda Rally team.

The event will also feature a team of 10 junior drivers, selected by GSR Motorsports and the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) from their ongoing driver development programme; they will be supported by KBS under the title of 1 Belia 1 Malaysia Rally Team.

All drivers will be required to tackle night run Special Stages (SS) on Sat, followed by the usual day run of SS on Sun. Presently, the MRSC is the only rally championship in Malaysia to feature a night-run SS. Additionally, the MRSC also features SuperSpecial Stages (SSS), whereby two cars compete against each other simultaneously, on one course.

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Nasim has revised upwards its Peugeot sales forecast for 2010 by nearly 30% to 3,800 units, from the 2,930 units it was expecting to sell this year.

This is in line with an increased demand for marque’s models and improving market conditions. A significant bulk of the sales is expected to be registered in the second half of the year when the company launches three new models and two facelifted variants.

The 3008 SUV.

The first of these to arrive will be the award-winning 3008 SUV in early June, and Malaysia will b the first country in the Asean region to launch the vehicle.

Featuring a blend of features commonly related to hatchbacks and SUVs, the 3008 marks the first of several innovative models to be introduced by the French carmaker.

Besides the 3008, the other new vehicles lined-up for this year include the 5008 MPV and a B-segment sedan - codenamed the T33 - which will be assembled in Gurun, Kedah for both the domestic and regional markets.

And the 5008 MPV.

Aside from this, the 308 VTi facelift will also arrive soon.Among the new features added to the facelifted version include new alloy wheels, automatic foldable door-mirrors, roof spoiler, leather-wrapped steering wheel, multi-function display, a new front grille as well as auto air-conditioning.

In terms of network expansion, the company recently launched a 3S centre in Ampang and is set to open new branches in Ipoh and Puchong soon.

Elsewhere, on the after-sales front, the company recently reduced its spare parts pricing by 20%, and a well stocked-inventory worth RM5.7mil ensures good availability of spare parts, good news for Pug owners.

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation have announced that they intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles. The two companies intend to form a specialist team to further those efforts, and Toyota is investing some US$50mil into the venture through the purchase of Tesla’s common stock.

Tesla has purchased the former New United Motor Manufacturing Inc factory in Fremont, California, where it will build the Model S sedan and future Tesla vehicles. Deliveries of the Model S are expected to begin in 2012.

The plant, which began operations in 1984 as a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota, was shuttered last month. Capable of producing 500,000 vehicles annually, it is the birthplace of the vaunted Toyota Production System, a widely copied system that led to dramatic quality improvements and unprecedented manufacturing flexibility and worker satisfaction.

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Beep! Beep! A motorcyclist without a helmet snakes through a crush of oncoming traffic - going the wrong way on a one-way street while texting with one hand on the phone, the other on the throttle.

Like a school of fish, the other bikes casually wiggle out of the way as if part of a choreographed chaos. This dance of traffic violations, repeated practically every minute somewhere in Vietnam, has made the country's roads among the most dangerous anywhere. Now the government is trying to crack down, launching hefty fines Thursday for everything from racing to excessive horn tooting.

"I've been to many countries, but I've never seen traffic like what's in Vietnam," said Than Van Thanh, a manager of the government's National Committee for Traffic Safety. "Over the past five years, the traffic accidents in Vietnam have remained very high. Every day 31 people never return to their homes."

Vietnam reported 11,500 traffic-related deaths last year, but experts say the actual number could be double that. The World Health Organisation says the rate is probably about 20 deaths per 100,000 people, among the world's highest.

The new fines increase penalties up to seven times for various offenses, with the steepest hikes in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two largest cities. Car drivers caught running a red light - a common occurrence - will be fined up to 1.2mil Vietnamese dong (US$63) in either city, while motorcyclists, who account for 95% of Vietnam's traffic, will owe up to 500,000 dong (US$26).

Though fines are lower in rural provinces, they remain pricey for many in a country with an average monthly income of about US$80. However, some have argued the new penalties will not deter the growing nouveau riche, who cruise the streets on expensive Vespa motorbikes or behind the wheels of BMWs and even Bentleys.

Zigzagging, a dangerous practice where drivers whip in and out of traffic to pass others, will carry a fine of up to 12mil dong (US$630) for cars and 7mil dong (US$370) for motorbikes. For that offense, along with going the wrong way on a one-way street, drivers will now also be stripped of their license for 30 days.

Traffic troubles have grown alongside Vietnam's rapid economic development, while infrastructure has lagged behind. Narrow streets and limited public transit have led to rush-hour gridlock, with roaring motorbikes transforming sidewalks into extra lanes.

Every day, 7,000 new motorbikes and 500 new automobiles hit the road in the Southeast Asian country of 86mil people, but safety awareness from helmets and seat belts to drunk driving has not caught up, said Jean-Marc Olive, head of the WHO in Vietnam.

"The country is developing so fast, they need to change the attitude and the conduct of the people, but it is not going to happen in one day," he said.

Drivers typically don't look before darting into traffic or cutting across multiple lanes of cars, motorbikes and bicycles in a "you-look-out-for-me" driving culture. Pedestrians play a real-life version of the video game Frogger when crossing intersections jammed with everything from buses to street vendors pushing bicycles heaped with vegetables or mounds of scrap metal.

In 2006, Seymour Papert, a professor emeritus from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was seriously injured after being hit by a motorbike in Hanoi. That same week, Nguyen Van Dao, president of Hanoi National University, was killed in a similar incident during a stroll near his home.

Thursday's law tightens a much-debated loophole from 2007, when Vietnam began fining anyone over 14 riding a motorcycle without a helmet. The WHO and others fought arguments that helmets could injure the necks of younger riders, and Olive said the new law is a compromise, penalising the parents of children over six years old riding unprotected.

In a country where a third of all traffic deaths involve alcohol, the new law bans car drivers completely from drinking, while lowering the blood-alcohol limit for motorbike drivers from 0.08% to 0.05%. But with few breathalysers and trained police, enforcement remains difficult. Some question whether the increased fines will only lead to higher bribes for notoriously corrupt traffic police. Drivers caught paying off police can be fined up to 3mil dong (US$158) while officers who accept money risk being fired.

"It's almost incurable," said Duong Trung Quoc, a member of the lawmaking National Assembly. "Heavier fines and stricter punishment are necessary, but I think it should be equal for people who abuse these new laws to pocket money themselves." - AP

Posted by: Anthony Lim

The Malaysian Automotive Association is confident that the 7th edition of the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show this Dec will draw more than 300,000 visitors.

The 10-day exhibition will open its doors to the public from Dec 3-12 at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, and will naturally highlight the latest cars as well as a selection of concept vehicles spread over 30,000sq m of exhibition space.

The MAA says it is confident that the recovery of the economic landscape will further boost the participation of car manufacturers to showcase their latest products.

"We are truly excited as preparations for the show are moving forward. With strong signals that the global economy is making a positive turn about, this is clearly reflected in the interest shown by car brands in increasing the space size of their exhibition area and the influx of car makers wanting to participate this December,” said Datuk Aishah Ahmad, president of the MAA and chairman of the KLIMS’10 organising committee.

To date the automakers that have confirmed participation in KLIMS’10 are Chery, Daihatsu, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, UD Trucks, Peugeot, Kia, Perodua, Proton, Toyota and Weststar Maxus. The show eventually hopes to have more than 200 exhibitors from the automotive industry.

Ford has unveiled its Start Concept vehicle at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show. Powered by a 1.0l, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, the design of the vehicle was inspired by the world's fast-growing mega cities and the unique needs and mindset of their inhabitants. With heavy traffic, limited parking and fuel efficiency being key concerns among urban drivers, the car provides a vision into a future sporty, small-car package that meets a multitude of primary driving objectives, particularly among first-time buyers.

Design elements include the use of lightweight material and the incorporation of efficient aerodynamics, and the car also utilises smart phone technology to perform a multitude of in-car functions.

The company says that besides the design exploration aspects into the feasibility of a future small car, the vehicle is also effectively a preview of the smallest engine yet in the growing EcoBoost engine family; Ford says the technology will come into production in the near future, offering low CO2 emissions but with the power and drivability comparable to the company's larger petrol inline-four cylinder powerplants.

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Daimler unveiled its new ultra-luxury Maybach sedan yesterday, as automakers began a flurry of new vehicle launches at the Beijing auto show in a scramble for China's fast-growing market amid slack sales elsewhere.

The show, in a country with almost no private cars 15 years ago, has risen to the top ranks of global auto industry events as China's explosive sales growth drove this market past the United States in 2009 to become the world's biggest.

Foreign automakers are pushing to expand sales in China while young but ambitious local brands such as Volvo buyer Geely want to raise their profile. The auto show opens today to the press and next Tues to the general public.

The new VW Phaeton, which debuts at the show.

Daimler debuted the blue and silver Maybach at a lavish event amid the 19th century mansions of Beijing's old embassy district, with entertainment by pop singer Leona Lewis.

"Nowhere is the potential and the possibility of the future more apparent than in China today," said Ulrich Walker, chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia.

The new Maybach, which features optional Swarovski crystal decorations on the seats, perfume atomisers and wireless Internet routers, is one of 14 new vehicles to be shown by global automakers in a reflection of China's new importance.

Sales elsewhere are so weak that China accounts for most or all the global profits for such major producers as General Motors, Volkswagen and Daimler, said John Zeng, an auto industry analyst for IHS Global Insight. "The real profit is coming from China. China is very important for global automakers both for profits and sales volume," he said.

China's auto market shrugged off the global crisis and sales soared by an eye-popping 45% last year to 13.6mil vehicles, well ahead of the 10.5mil units sold in the US. Sales have been boosted by China's economic rebound, which saw growth accelerate to 11.9% in the first quarter of this year. Analysts expect more double-digit sales growth this year, though they say it should slow from 2009's breakneck pace as Beijing winds down its stimulus and cools bank lending to head off an upsurge in inflation.

Ford's Start Concept.

Foreign brands are more aggressive than ever this year in Beijing, where organisers say a total of 990 vehicles are to be displayed, from motorcycles to minivans to fire trucks to futuristic concept cars.

GM is premiering its all-electric Volt MPV5 concept car and a Chinese-made minivan and a compact sedan. Ford's latest Focus sedan gets an Asian debut and the company is unveiling a new concept car. Daimler's new vehicles include an E-Class sedan designed for China with a bigger backseat to attract business people who have drivers. Volkswagen also is debuting its own ultra-luxury Phaeton sedan.

Toyota says it will display 50 vehicles including its latest gas-electric Prius hybrid and an electric concept car. Toyota's image has taken a beating abroad over safety complaints but sales in China, where only a few thousand vehicles were recalled, have suffered little impact.

Chinese automakers also are promoting themselves more aggressively than ever. They plan to unveil a total of 75 new sedans, SUVs, experimental "green" cars and other vehicles, according to the show's organizers.

BYD's e6

Geely Holding Group, a 13-year-old brand barely known abroad before it agreed in March to buy Sweden's Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Co. for US$1.8bil, is showing 55 of its own models, including 11 new vehicles. The company says it hopes to boost sales this year by 22% over 2009 to 400,000 units.

Chery Automobile, China's biggest domestic auto brand, plans to show 29 vehicles including four alternative fuel models. It is bringing in 200 sales agents from foreign markets to see its latest models, said company spokesman Jin Yibo. Chery exports to some 70 developing countries in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Chery's sales target for this year is 700,000 vehicles, with exports doubling to 100,000.

A key theme this year is clean transportation, including cars and buses driven by fuel cells, natural gas and other alternative sources.

Beijing sees alternative vehicles as the industry's future and is pushing its products to develop the technology, though industry analysts say gasoline will dominate the Chinese market for the foreseeable future.

BYD, with backing from American investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which owns a 9.9% stake, says it plans to show its all-electric e6, which it says it plans to sell this year in North America. BYD says it plans to double sales this year to 800,000 vehicles and expand to Europe in 2011. - AP

Posted by: Anthony Lim

It's not something you'll see parked in your neighbour's porch, heaven forbid, or stuck alongside you in your daily crawl to work (well, it wouldn't really be stuck in traffic ...), but it has wheels, eight to be precise, and eight-wheel drive to boot, so it makes the news run here ...

It's called the Rosomak 8x8 armoured modular vehicle, and Naza Bumar, a subsidiary of Naza Defence, unveiled it at the Defence Services Asia 2010 exhibition at Putra World Trade Centre. The Rosomak, which is Polish for wolverine, is developed by Polish company Bumar and is currently in use with the Polish Land Forces in contigents serving in Afghanistan, Chad and Iraq as well as in the armed forces of Croatia, Finland, Poland, Slovenia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

The main feature of the vehicle is in its modular design, which allows the incorporation of different turrets, weapons, sensors, and communications systems on the same platform. Weighing in between 18 and 26 tonnes depending on variants with different armour, turrets/weapons systems, ammunition and crew configurations, the 7.8m long vehicle is powered by a Scania DI 12 56A03PE 12l diesel engine offering 480bhp and 1,970Nm of torque, with a ZF 7HP 902S Ecomat seven-speed gearbox powering all eight wheels.

Specs include a top speed of over 100kmh and a range of 800km, and it even has amphibious capability - two shrouded propellers, one on each side at the rear of the hull, offer a swimming speed of around 10kmh.

Features include good mine protection and the ability to withstand explosions up to 10kg in TNT charges, as well as a frontal arc ballistic protection level of up to 30mm APFSDS rounds. It comes with independent suspension for all eight wheels, 14.00 R 20 tyres with run flat devices, disc brakes and a central tyre inflation system.

There are plenty of deployment options for the Rosomak, but the infanty fighting vehicle variant, equipped with an Oto Melara Hitfist-30P gun turret and 30mm ATK Mk 44 chain gun/7.62mm NATO round UKM-2000C machine gun combi should be the preferred choice on urban streets ....

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Posted by: Anthony Lim

Posted by: Anthony Lim