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Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing EVs for the US will be built by Geely’s Zeekr

January 1, 2022 By Keith

A great post on Malaysia.

Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company under Alphabet Inc (Google’s parent company), has announced a new partnership with Geely’s premium EV brand Zeekr. The carmaker will be building new fully-electric vehicles for Waymo, which will be used as part of the Waymo One autonomous ride-hailing services in the United States.

The new purpose-built EV is being developed at Geely’s China Europe Vehicle Technology Centre (CEVT) in Gothenburg, Sweden, and is said to be built with a “mobility-focused” design, incorporating the Waymo Driver autonomous technology at its core.

The concept vehicle that was shown off alongside the press release takes on the silhouette of an MPV-like vehicle. Waymo’s autonomous driving sensors are also mostly crammed onto the roof, resulting in a clean and futuristic-looking bodywork.

However, in the interest of prioritising the “comfort, convenience, and preferences of Waymo One riders”, the B-pillars seems to have been completely removed, resulting in a large aperture for easy ingress and egress – especially when paired with the low flat floor and sliding suicide doors.

ALSO READ: Hyundai IONIQ 5 ‘Robotaxi’ self-driving taxi to begin operation in 2023

This being a completely autonomous EV vehicle, there’s also no steering wheel and centre tunnel/control stack to be seen, freeing up valuable space for the passengers. The seats also look to be reclinable (at least on the front row), and there’s also easy access charging ports for your various electronic devices.

However, Geely says that the cars can also be configured with driver controls, depending on the needs of Waymo’s fleet (and regulators). When optioned without, like the one in the photos, the only user interface within the cabin is a large touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, presumably for the purpose of inputting your destinations and accessing other infotainment controls.

RELATED: Daimler AG and BMW Group joins forces in developing autonomous vehicles

Waymo is already offering autonomous ride-hailing services in Phoenix, Arizona, and San Francisco, using specially-modified vehicles based on the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and the Jaguar I-Pace EV.

Waymo did not mention when the Zeekr-built cars will begin operations, but said that they will arrive on US roads “in the years to come”.

Zeekr Technology CEO Andy An added, “By becoming a strategic partner and vehicle supplier to the Waymo One fleet, we will be able to share our experience, ideals and provide our expertise in collaborating on a fully electric vehicle that fits Waymo’s requirements for this rapidly expanding segment in the global market for sustainable travel.”

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MIEA launches landlord insurance | Penang Property Talk

September 1, 2021 By Keith

A great article on Penang Malaysia.

The Malaysia Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) has launched the MIEA Landlord Insurance policy which will help landlords gain independence against the risk of runaway tenants, rent arrears together with potential damages to their asset or property when faced with bad tenants.

“As property agents, there is not much agents can do to help landlords with errant tenants except to pre-qualify them with the resources available to us. Today, MIEA is proud to say that agents can provide a second level of protection for their clients through this policy,“ said MIEA president Chan Ai Cheng in a statement yesterday.

The MIEA landlord insurance coverage will include:

Reimbursement of loss of rental income due to tenant runaway.
Legal expenses for letter of demand.
Pay for amount incurred for losses or damages to contents due to malicious acts of your tenant.

The policy also cover additional benefits such as:

Reimbursement of cleaning services charges incurred when the contents of the premises are destroyed or damaged by tenants;
Reimbursement of costs incurred for repairing or replacing doors, locks, access card and Keys following the loss or damage caused by tenants;
Reimbursement of amount incurred for the replacement of glasses (including shower door and windows) due to damage caused by tenants;
Reimbursement of amount incurred for services such as plumbing, drainage, air-conditioning and toilet malfunction due to damage caused by tenants; and
Reimbursement of losses due to theft or burglary committed by tenants.

Chan further explained that this policy was designed and developed to provide the minimum coverage with a minimal annual premium of RM280 per unit (less than RM24 per month).

“We want the real estate profession to grow and be at par with other countries. Our motivation of introducing this policy is to protect the public and to provide an environment for agents to be competitive in enhancing their services, which will set them apart from others. This will augur well for the profession and for the Malaysian property market. Both landlords and agents can also sleep better with this additional protection which will step in should untoward losses occur,” said Chan.

MIEA’s insurance partner Howden Insurance Brokers has designed this policy with the mandate from MIEA.

Meanwhile, MIEA is also concerned at the new trends in the property market. In most of the developing and developed countries, the enforcement on those who breach the law and carry out estate agency practice illegally or under the guise of doing a different trade is highly regulated.

To take two examples, a non-real estate firm is set up as a “consultants” usually to market projects for developers and collect fees for introducing buyers which by law is not allowed (Section 22C ACT 242). Secondly, tech firms or new start-ups are now part of a larger community of those who are carrying out real estate transactions and operating without registering themselves with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and property managers (Bovaep). It is important to note that all who wish to practise any form of estate agency must be registered with the Bovaep, the regulators of the profession.

MIEA CEO & past president K. Soma Sundram highlighted that these tech companies were told that they are breaking the law, they guise as insurance brokers to bypass the law thus avoiding enforcement by the authorities. Their modus operandi is to attract tenants by not collecting deposits from them and ask landlords to take up an insurance scheme to protect them against tenant.

“The premiums they collect for this policy are far higher than the actual cost of the premiums to be paid. For example, they collect one month rental and after deducting the premiums they use the balance as their fees. This is clearly a strategy to bypass the Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers Act which only allows registered agents to collect and hold deposits and collect fees for service rendered in a real estate transaction.”

It is also illegal to collect any monies and deposit such monies in a company’s current account and not in a clients account as required by law. This goes against the very grain of public policy. This hurts the industry indirectly in that the landlords pay a lot more than the fees payable to agents.

“MIEA requests that the Finance Minister and Bovaep as regulators make a serious effort in managing this concern and to look at the ‘lacuna’ that exists within ACT 242 on matters of illegal brokers.”

Source: TheSunDaily.my

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Bugatti’s next model could come as soon as 2024 – built completely from the ground up!

August 29, 2021 By Keith

A really good article on Malaysia.

Mate Rimac, the founder and namesake of Rimac Automobili, is not one to play it safe. It’s only been a couple of months since they signed the deal to acquire a majority stake in Bugatti, but the soon-to-be CEO has already told the press that he already has big plans to do “something crazy” with the French brand.

And now, we finally have some more information on Bugatti’s future plans, coming right from the main man Rimac himself.

Speaking to Manny Khoshbin at the Monterey Car Week, Rimac told the YouTube personality and real estate mogul that the company has already started working on a new model “from the ground up” since about a year ago, with a launch scheduled in about three years time.

For loyal Bugatti customers such as Khoshbin himself, the company will start sharing more in under a year’s time – so we’ll likely hear about these developments not long after that. But the fact that Rimac emphasised on “from the ground up” seems to suggest that it won’t be a traditional Bugatti, i.e. not a Chiron successor.

Bugatti has just opened its first SEA showroom in Singapore, with a Chiron Pur Sport as its centrepiece! Check it out here.

As for the “something crazy”? In a recent interview with MotorTrend, Mate Rimac told the publication that there’s so much he can do with the brand. “Maybe an SUV or long hood coupe or something absolutely insane that no one thinks about,” he added.

MotorTrend reports that both Bugatti and Rimac hypercars will utilise Rimac’s high-performance electric powertrains in the future, with two new Bugatti models already planned for launch before 2030: the first a petrol-electric hybrid, followed by an EV afterwards.

The last Bugatti Divo still looks just as stunning as the first. Check out the final production model here.

While it won’t be easy to see Bugatti parting ways with the iconic W16 engine, it’s high time for Bugatti to actually keep up with technological advancements. If anything, at least it’ll be an exciting next few years for the French brand – and we can’t wait to see it unfold.

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Hybrid and high-performance Aston Martin DBX confirmed, up to six derivatives by 2024

August 26, 2021 By Keith

An interesting article about Penang Malaysia.

Aston Martin’s ex-CEO Andy Palmer once said that the DBX could be the brand’s most important car ever, with the survival of the company essentially weighing entirely on the shoulders of the SUV’s success. The DBX went into production last summer, and in just about a year, now accounts for more than half of Aston Martin’s global sales – so by all means, the DBX has been a marked win for the brand, but they’re just getting started.

Following new executive director Lawrence Stroll’s comments in the company’s first-quarter financial report last year, Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers has now confirmed in a recent interview with MotorTrend that further derivatives of the DBX will be coming, starting with a mild hybrid variant by the year-end.

The mild hybrid DBX is expected to utilise an electrified supercharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine that’s derived from Mercedes-AMG 53 models. Following that, a high-performance model will be unveiled in 2022 to compete directly against the Lamborghini Urus.

Watch our full review of the Aston Martin DBX here!

“There is room for improvement in regards to performance because other competitors have a higher level of engine performance,” Moers said in the interview, and noted that it won’t be called an AMR model, because “there is no need for a sub-brand – Aston Martin is a performance brand.”

The DBX plug-in hybrid will then follow in 2023, using a modified version of Mercedes-AMG’s new V8 plug-in hybrid technology. But model expansion will be more than just powertrain options.

Aston Martin is also planning for more body styles, based on the DBX’s platform. “We are going to use the platform of the DBX and create an even sportier approach for that car,” Moers says. “We need different body styles, more bang-on performance, a more aggressive body style, things like that.”

“The DBX gives us a lot of leverage as a platform,” he added. “You can think about being more luxurious, spacious, and you can think about being more sporty, even more-performance oriented body style.” This all suggests that the highly-rumoured seven-seater DBX is indeed coming, along with a coupe variant, sometime between 2023 and 2024.

The Aston Martin DBX is also now serving as F1’s new medical car! Check it out here.

By 2024, Moers said that there should be about five or six DBX versions to choose from. Judging by the demand they have for the SUV currently, it seems more than likely that the DBX and its derivatives will continue paving the way in terms of sales for Aston Martin for many years to come.

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AirAsia Ride E-Hailing Service Goes Official, Starting With Klang Valley

August 24, 2021 By Keith

An informative post about Penang.

AirAsia has announced that its e-hailing service, the AirAsia Ride is now officially open for business. At launch, the service currently covers Klang Valley and can be obtained through the Ride section of AirAsia’s mobile app.

The company first revealed its intention to compete in the e-hailing space back in March through the remarks made by its CEO, Tony Fernandes during an interview with The Edge. The AirAsia Ride service itself was made possible through the acquisition of an existing local e-hailing company, Dacsee which explains why the Founder and CEO of Dacsee, Lim Chiew Shan is now the CEO of AirAsia Ride Malaysia.

Lim said that the service now has around 1,500 registered drivers, with around 5,000 more expected to join within the next six months as AirAsia Ride expands to other parts of Malaysia. The company also proudly claimed that AirAsia Ride drivers can earn much higher than other e-hailing providers due to the company’s commission fee which is set at 15%.

Lim also pointed out that some of the well-known signature methods that AirAsia utilises for its airline will be carried over to AirAsia Ride very soon such as the ability to pay using BIG Points as well as obtain the lowest fare and free rides. Naturally, he also noted that customers will soon be able to pre-book AirAsia Ride for their ride to the airport and vice-versa.

In terms of ride types that are available under AirAsia Ride, the list includes compact, 6-seater, premium, premium MPV, and taxi. There is also a special option called Allstar Ride whereby customers can request to be picked up by AirAsia pilots or cabin crew.

As for the fares, AirAsia claimed that they are currently being set at an average of RM 1/km, not inclusive of toll charges. To learn more about the service, you can check out AirAsia Ride’s official website right here.

(Source: AirAsia.)

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Naza Automotive appeals for automotive sector to be allowed to resume operations

August 13, 2021 By Keith

An interesting post about Penang.

Following Honda and Toyota’s plea to the government recently, Naza Automotive Group, the automotive arm of the Naza Corporation Holdings is now also appealing for the government to allow the automotive sector to resume operations.

This is as the entire supply chain in the automotive sector has been seriously affected, especially due to the complete and prolonged shutdown of operations in vital areas like Selangor and the Federal Territories.

“Many of the key automotive companies for both vehicle and parts production are located within these two states. Prolonged business and supply chain disruption will have dire consequences on the industry, especially due to the fact that the local automotive industry is highly dependent on the domestic market,” said Naza Automotive Group, CEO, Dato’ Nik Hamdan.

Naza Automotive Group’s CEO went on to emphasise that the continuous shutdown which affects all facets of the automotive sector would lead to eventual business closures, especially with the smaller players in the industry. It would then lead to layoffs and a deep and long-lasting impact on the job market.

The current situation could also pose safety risks to vehicle owners due to the continuous use of under-serviced vehicles and the inability to replace damaged parts when necessary.

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Norton To Acquire Avast For US$8 Billion

August 12, 2021 By Keith

A great article about Penang.

NortonLifeLock (Norton) recently announced that it will be merging with the Prague-based antivirus company, Avast. The software security company, a spin-off from the Symantec Corporation, said in a joint press release that the acquisition was made to the tune of US$8 billion (~RM33.9 billion).

The matter of the acquisition is still in the process of wrapping up, but once completed, Norton says that both entities will have effectively share headquarters, with Norton’s base of operations located in Arizona, US, and Avast’s in Prague, Czech Republic. Moreover, Ondřej Vlček, CEO of Avast, will also be made president of Norton.

Another point to note is that, with the merger, the new entity will command over 500 million users that use antivirus software from both camps. At the time of writing, there is still no word whether both companies will retain their respective antivirus programs or if something new will emerge from the merger.

The acquisition isn’t without its own set of perils and worries either. Avast, in particular, came under scrutiny last year when it was caught selling the personal information of its users to third-party marketing firms. Not long after being exposed, the company responded by shutting down the subsidiary, Jumpshoot, and effectively letting go of hundreds of employees.

(Source: Telegraph via Techspot)

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BMW presents its first fully-electric safety car, the i4 M50

August 2, 2021 By Keith

An informative article about Penang Malaysia.

BMW has revealed the new BMW i4 M50 which will serve as the safety car in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, which happens this 15th of August at the Red Bull Ring. The i4 M50 replaces the BMW i8 used previously.

The new safety car will be launched in November 2021. Armed with an electric motor each to drive the front and rear wheels, there’s over 500 hp of electric power to stay ahead of the electric motorcycles.

To avoid things getting too sterile while the i4 M5 is on the move, BMW said its driving experience is heightened by a drive sound developed specifically for electric BMW M cars.

“With the BMW i4 M50, we are entering a new era and presenting our first M with a fully-electric drive train,” says BMW M CEO, Markus Flasch.

“With the first M BEV, we are showing that everything people have come to know about the M brand is also possible in a fully-electric vehicle. While the production version of the four-door Gran Coupé will arrive later, here’s an early preview.”

The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup has been part of the MotoGP World Championship since 2019.

GALLERY

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Volvo to take control of manufacturing and sales operations in China

July 22, 2021 By Keith

An informative article on Penang.

Volvo Cars has acquired its parent company, Geely Holding’s, share in the joint ventures between the two companies in China, with the intention of taking full ownership of manufacturing and sales operations in the country.

“With this agreement, Volvo Cars will become the first major non-Chinese automaker with full control over its Chinese operations,” said Volvo Cars, CEO, Håkan Samuelsson.

Volvo confirms next-gen XC60 to be fully electric, expected to launch around 2026! Find out more here!

This follows after an agreement was made to acquire an additional 50% of Daqing Volvo Car Manufacturing and Shanghai Volvo Car Research and Development.

Following the acquisition, Volvo Cars will now have full ownership of its manufacturing plants in Chengdu and Daqing, its national sales company in China, and its R&D facility in Shanghai. Before this, all Volvo operations were executed under joint ventures with local companies.

“The agreement will create a clearer ownership structure within both Volvo Cars and Geely Holding,” said Geely Holding, CEO, Daniel Donghui Li.

The deal is said to be formally completed by 2023, once the joint-venture requirement for automotive manufacturing is lifted in China next year. The initiative was previously laid down by the Chinese government to encourage technology and information transfer to local car manufacturers.

Geely demonstrates its 60-second battery-swapping process for electric cars in real-time! Check it out!

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Honda open to partnerships to lower cost of electric vehicles

July 19, 2021 By Keith

An interesting post on Penang.

In Europe, strong consumer demand, as well as government legislation, have push automakers to accelerate their electric vehicle (EV) portfolio. Volkswagen, Renault as well as Hyundai and Kia have strong sales for their EVs in the region, with the Volkswagen ID series leading the EV market and Tesla following closely behind.

The same cannot be said for the Japanese automakers. Within the Japanese big three (Toyota, Honda and Nissan), only Nissan has established the Leaf in Europe. Honda began their EV journey with the compact, premium-positioned three-door Honda e last year. Their footprint in Europe is tiny (100,000 units a year), hence, the push for EV has never really been a priority.

Honda marks 15 million units sold in China, including 500,000 hybrids in just five years! Read about it here!

Now, Honda is reportedly open to form new alliances to make electrification profitable. In a report by Reuters, Honda’s new CEO, Toshihiro Mibe said, “If Honda can accomplish its goals sooner through an alliance, then we would be willing to form an alliance.”

The ***Honda eSUV*** based on the latest HR-V/Vezel will spearhead Honda’s EV charge in China from mid 2022

Mibe’s comment reflects the pressure on the global auto industry; not only build electric vehicles a lot faster but also cheaper as seen with the Volkswagen Group.

In the USA, Honda has teamed up with General Motors to offer their first EV for the region called the “Prologue” which is scheduled to hit showrooms in 2024. The EV in the form of an SUV will be built on General Motor’s platform and the company’s Ultium batteries with Honda tasked to develop the interior and exterior of the Prologue.

“Building an alliance will become a huge direction in terms of increasing the number of electric vehicles, considering how electrification is not commercially feasible right now,” he added. Profitability for the company has also been a huge issue, with their operating income margin just 1.0% for their car business in the most recent financial year filing.

Research suggests that EVs might become cheaper than petrol-powered cars by 2027. More about it here!

In April this year, Mibe announced a carbon-neutral goal for the company’s products and corporate activities by 2050, including electrified vehicle sales targets.

By 2030, the company is targeting 40% of vehicles to be made up of battery and fuel-cell EVs. The figure is expected to double to 80% by 2035 and subsequent by 2040, 100% of vehicles sold by Honda will be electric.

Toyota, who has technical partnerships with Subaru, said that just going with one option is not viable for the company. The company wants to offer multiple powertrain options as well as keeping hybrids to offer the best solution to meet customers demands.

Source: Reuters

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