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Category: Automotive

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Auto and Car news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Lanmodo Introduces The World’s First Automatic Car Tent

    Lanmodo Introduces The World’s First Automatic Car Tent

    Founded in 2015, Lanmodo has revolutionised the car tent market with its one of a kind car umbrellas which carry a host of additional benefits.

    For most car owners, the vagaries of weather often breed harsh and unwelcome consequences on the car’s paint finish. These consequences are particularly severe for dark-coloured vehicles whose paint’s susceptibility to rough treatment is more readily apparent.

    In 2017, the company launched the world’s first automatic car tent, which has been recently followed by several variants.

    Automatic car tent

    The Lanmodo automatic car tent is a portable and very versatile car garage. Up until its introduction, the market was only dominated by car covers which would blanket the vehicle. The other option that car owners had was to put up a garage.

    Now, the company has introduced this automated tent which comes in two standard sizes; the 3.5m x 2.1m (small size) which covers most saloons, small cars and hatchbacks and the 4.8m x 2.3m (large pro-four season automatic car tent) for the bigger vehicles such as SUVs and Pick-up trucks.

    This is the first time a car tent features a battery which powers the tent’s remote deployment. As it turns out, Lanmodo has also optimised this battery for other uses as well.

    In a bid to add value to the product, the company has incorporated a USB charging port for recharging electronics such as laptops and phones on the go.  The battery is reported to deliver up to 40 umbrella deployments under a single charge.

    Semi-automatic car umbrella

    As the name suggests, the semi-automatic car umbrella is manually operated and does not feature remote deployment. It, therefore, requires no recharge as it is not battery powered. Aside from that, all the other features are similar to its automated cousin; meaning it can also support the camping tent option.

    These innovative features are sure to cement the company’s position in the car gadget market, coming at a time when global trade has opened up. Not only does the company appear to target the ordinary run-of-the-mill car owners, but its market also includes the off-road nature enthusiasts who will no doubt take advantage of the camping tent extension option that the product offers.

    As it turns out, the company caters for the shipping costs- a welcome reprieve for the overseas customers. According to the company’s representatives, the only time the overseas clients may be forced to pay over and above the purchase price is when their country’s custom’s duty exceeds the set threshold.

    Optional

    In a deliberate move set to liberate consumers, even more, the company has made most of the product’s features optional, meaning purchasers can opt not to purchase some of the bonus features and stick to the traditional basic car tent.

    As would be expected, the price of the product varies per the specifications that a customer goes for. For now, there only appears to be three colour variants; Navy, Silver and Black, but it is hoped that more colourways shall be in the offing soon.

    Protection levels

    All the car tents come with a 201D Oxford cloth canopy, which offers cool shade for those living in sunny areas. The umbrella brings temperatures in the car up to 35ºC lower than under the hot sun and is said to boast of a working environment ranging from -40ºC to 60º. The tent is said to feature protection against other elements such as winds and can hold even with winds of up to 40Km/hr.

    Should the product hold up to this promise, the company shall have managed to meet the needs of a broad spectrum of environments, ranging from the hottest of summers to the most frigid of winters.

    The tent’s support structure, made of a mixture of fibreglass and metal, as well as the plastic tent base, are said to protect the surface of the cars from abrasion.

    Looking out for its European and American clientele, the company also included the snow shake off feature in the automatic tent. This has seen consumers being able to shake off accumulated snow off the cover remotely; thus eliminating the need to brush off snowflakes off their car or umbrella manually.

    With this car tent, you can make a road trip around the US during the NFL season, even during the cold winter season.

    Price

    Depending on the client’s selection, the product’s price range varies from $239-$799 plus a 1year warranty.

    Conclusion

    So far, the product seems to be receiving raving reviews. While the fact that the product can seamlessly move from the extremes of summer to the extremes of winter without compromising on its delivery is impressive, its true test shall be its staying power in a dynamic market.

    The fact that it incorporates all the other added features such as phone charging capabilities is a bonus. Consumers can only hope that the company has even better deals moving

    forward.

     

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  • Ford Self-Driving Cars To Launch In Austin In 2021

    Ford Self-Driving Cars To Launch In Austin In 2021

    Ford Motor said on Wednesday it will add Austin, Texas, to the shortlist of cities where it plans to launch a commercial transportation service using automated vehicles in 2021.

    The U.S. automaker previously said it would begin transporting people and goods in automated vehicles in Miami and Washington.

    Ford’s self-driving system, now being tested in Fusion Hybrid sedans, is being jointly developed with Argo AI, a Pittsburgh-based startup in which Ford and Volkswagen AG together hold a majority stake.

    Sherif Marakby, chief executive of Ford Autonomous Vehicles, said Ford plans to launch the commercial transportation service in 2021 in a purpose-built hybrid vehicle that can be equipped to carry either people or goods.

    Peter Rander, president of Argo AI, said development teams soon will be manually driving the Fusion test vehicles in Austin, mapping the city streets and assessing driver and pedestrian behaviors ahead of the commercial launch.

    Alphabet Inc’s Waymo last year introduced an automated ride service with human attendants in Phoenix, using specially outfitted Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans it buys from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

    General Motors Co’s Cruise Automation said in July it planned to delay commercial deployment of automated vehicles in San Francisco beyond its initial target of 2019 because more testing was required.

  • Next-Generation Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Confirmed

    Next-Generation Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Confirmed

    The 2020 Volkswagen Golf which is all set to be unveiled next month will also get a long roof version in the near future. Though the company plans to discontinue the Golf SportWagen in certain markets, it won’t be altogether phased out and VW will continue to sell it in the European market. Volkswagen has confirmed the news in a press release which speaks about the meeting between the company and employees. “The entire production of the Golf variant will be relocated to the main plant here in Wolfsburg,” the company said in the press release.

    The Golf has been one of the most important models for the company and the next-generation model is expected to be ahead by leaps and bounds featuring new intelligent driver assistant technology and connected car tech. Jurgen Stackmann, Board Member For Sales at Volkswagen says, “The Golf is the bestseller and the benchmark in the compact segment, it is the favorite car for many people all over the world and comes top in tests. The new Golf will continue the success story, because it is fully connected, and comes equipped with modern driver assistance systems and an intelligent voice assistant. In a nutshell: We are digitalizing the Golf class.”

    The 2020 Volkswagen Golf will be launched with a range of engine options including a hybrid GTE iteration featuring the 12V mild-hybrid system. The 1.5-litre petrol will also be carried forward from the current generation while it will also get a brand new 1.0-litre, three-cylinder motor which will be coupled with an electric motor. According to news reports, the company will also introduce a new 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine on the Golf which will be joined by the 12V mild hybrid system.

  • Skoda Dealerships Get A New Corporate Identity Theme Across India

    Skoda Dealerships Get A New Corporate Identity Theme Across India

    Skoda Auto India has redesigned and rebranded its entire dealership and service network across 53 cities in India. All 63 dealerships and 61 service stations have been designed according to the new corporate identity and design (CICD) theme. The rebranding is in line with Volkswagen Group’s India 2.0 project and all dealership will get the corporate architecture and functional interiors design concept in a bid to enhance and simplify the customer experience. Skoda along with its dealer partners has invested ₹ 1200 million in India for rebranding its dealerships.

    Zac Hollis, Director – Sales, Service and Marketing at Skoda Auto India said, “Skoda has successfully rebranded its entire network of dealership facilities with a Fresh, Modern, and ‘Simply Clever’ layout that elevates the presentation of the brand and is an important cornerstone of the Skoda led ‘INDIA 2.0’ project. Through our redesigned dealership network we are focusing on strengthening the brand in India while working closely with our channel partners to guarantee sustainability. The transformation of our sales and service facilities envisioned to provide enhanced customer experience, is rated positively by our customers, dealer partners, and sales and service personnel.”

    Skoda is leading the charge for the project India 2.0 which aims at local development and better positioning of the brands (both Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Skoda Auto India) in India. Apart from revamping its dealerships, both companies will also hire local staff in every demography who have a better understanding of the regional culture and are fluent in local language. Moreover, India will see a slew of indigenously developed Skoda and VW model in future which will be based on the MQB AO platform.

  • Tata Motors Ranked 31 In Forbes’ World’s Best Regarded Companies 2019 List

    Tata Motors Ranked 31 In Forbes’ World’s Best Regarded Companies 2019 List

    Tata Motors has recently bagged the 31st spot on Forbes’ World’s Best Regarded Companies 2019 list. The home-grown automaker has been ranked 31 out of the 2000 companies from across the globe, taking a major leap from its 70th position from last year’s list. Furthermore, out of the 16 other Indian Companies in Forbes’ global list, Tata Motors has also emerged amongst the top five ranked global automobile manufacturers. In fact, in addition to Tata Motors, other companies from Tata Group that have been featured on the Forbes list include Tata Consulting Services and Tata Steel.

    The selection process for the Best Regarded Companies involve evaluating over 15,000 survey participants from more than 50 countries. These global companies are then assessed based on several parameters like – trustworthiness, social conduct, company as an employer and performance of the product or service.

    Commenting on being features in the Forbes’ list, Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors Limited said, “We are delighted to have been featured on the Forbes World’s Best Regarded Companies 2019 List. Being in the top 50, from a total of 2000 and raising the India flag high with 5th rank across the global automobile industry is indeed a great feeling. It is a testament to the aspirational work that Tata Motors has been consistently doing on the business front while holding up the Tata Group’s ethos. We are very happy to have our efforts validated and we are further encouraged to keep the momentum going and create new benchmarks.”

  • Maserati’s First Electrified Model To Roll Out In 2020

    Maserati’s First Electrified Model To Roll Out In 2020

    The electric vehicle segment is catching the attention of premium carmakers globally. It’s been quite some time now that the German trio- Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi have introduced their electric vehicles or concepts and other carmakers are joining the fray. Just a day after Volvo announced its first fully electric vehicle- the XC40 Electric, Maserati has shared plans about its electrified products. In line with Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) group’s 5 Billion Euro investment in Italy, Maserati has announced plans for electrification and autonomous driving technologies.

    The company has said that all Maserati new models will be made completely in Italy and will be powered by hybrid and battery electric powertrains offering unique driving modes, extended driving range and ultra-fast charging Capabilities. Moreover, all new Maserati cars, including updated models, will feature a range of autonomous driving capabilities like the Maserati Level 3 Highway Assist which enables the car to be driven with hands off the steering wheel, it can maneuver in and out of lanes and can bring the vehicle to a halt at the side of the road just in case the driver is unable to take control.

    Maserati will introduce its first electrified model in 2020 which will be a Maserati Ghibli Hybrid. It will be manufactured at the Modena plant where the company is significantly upgrading the production line along with investing 800 Million Euros for a new production line. The first pre-production cars are expected to be rolled off by 2021. The company will also manufacture the all-new Gran Turismo and Gran Cabrio in Turin where FCA is investing another 800 Million Euros. Between 2019 and 2021, FCA will be developing 13 new or significantly updated models and electrified versions of 12 models including Maserati and Alfa Romeo cars.

  • Vietnam Car imports plummet in August

    Vietnam Car imports plummet in August

    Vietnam imported around 9,000 completely built-up cars in August, down from the average of 12,500 in the previous seven months.

    The imports cost $174 million, according to the General Statistics Office.

    Imports dropped sharply in August because it coincides with the seventh lunar month, traditionally called the “ghost month” in which locals avoid buying new things to avoid bad luck, said car dealerships.

    Vietnam imported over 96,000 CBU units worth a total of $2.1 billion in the first eight months of this year.

    This represents an increase of 320 percent in volume and 300 percent in value from the same period last year, when the government issued a decree with tougher conditions, requiring importers to provide certain certificates to ensure quality and countries of origin.

    Vietnam imported 72,650 cars last year, down nearly 20 percent over 2017, according to Vietnam Customs. But their value exceeded $1.64 billion, up 21 percent.

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  • Audi recalls imported cars with brake faults

    Audi recalls imported cars with brake faults

    Audi Vietnam has announced a recall program to inspect and replace faulty main brake cylinders on 21 Audi Q5 crossovers.

    Distributors of the German car in Vietnam will recall the Audi Q5 Sport 2.0 TFSI Quattro and Q5 Design 2.0 TFSI Quattro models, made between July 2018 and March 2019 and imported as completely built units (CBU) into Vietnam.

    Due to an error in making the main hydraulic brake cylinder, brake oil could leak after prolonged use, damaging the brake system and increasing accident risks, said Vietnam Register, the agency under the Ministry of Transport that is in charge of registering vehicles, in a statement.

    However, Audi said the emergency braking function of the vehicles’ electronic parking brakes is not affected, and that so far, Audi has not recorded any accident related to the above problem.

    The recall and inspection program will take place until June 10, 2020.

    Audi opened its first dealership in Ho Chi Minh City in 2008, and now possesses three dealerships, the other two in Hanoi and Da Nang.

  • Imported car sales soar despite efforts to tighten imports

    Imported car sales soar despite efforts to tighten imports

    Consumption of imported cars has skyrocketed while that of locally-assembled ones is falling despite efforts last year to tighten imports.

    From January to August, sales of imported cars rose 178 percent year-on-year to 82,800 units, while that of locally-assembled vehicles dropped 14 percent to 119,700 units, according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA).

    The number of imported vehicles with nine seats or less in the period almost quadrupled to over 71,000, according to Vietnam Customs.

    However, the high increase in imports this year has to do with a plunge last year because of a government decree that introduced tougher conditions for car importers, requiring them to provide certain certificates to ensure quality and countries of origin. This had led to a decline of 20 percent from 2017.

    Imports started to regain traction in the second half of last year when businesses were able to meet those requirements.

    Vietnam is considering removing special consumption tax on car parts produced locally to boost local manufacturing. Some businesses are shifting their production of high-demand vehicles to the country.

    As Vietnam sees rising demand among people to switch from motorbikes to cars alongside an increase in the country’s per capita income, annual car sales could more than triple in the next five years to reach a million in 2025, according to the Ministry of Finance.

    Vietnam imported 95,900 automobiles in January-August, up 3.2 times year-on-year, 86 percent of these from Thailand and Indonesia, according to Vietnam Customs.

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  • New Benelli Motorcycle Launch Details Disclosed

    New Benelli Motorcycle Launch Details Disclosed

    Benelli India is all set to launch a new motorcycle in India towards the end of October 2019. We believe that it could be the Imperiale 400. At the launch of the Leoncino 500, the company had confirmed that it will be launching three new products by the end of 2019 which were TRK 250, Leoncino and the Imperiale 400. We believe that it is going to be the Imperiale 400, which will be launched in October 2019. The Imperiale 400 will go up against Jawa and the Royal Enfield Classic 350.

    What’s interesting to know is that the Benelli Imperiale 400 will see a lot more local content going into it than the TRK 502 and the Leoncino, which should help keep the prices competitive. While the company did not confirm the percentage of local content on the cruiser, we should get a fair idea on the same at the time of launch. The local assembly will help the Imperiale 400 stay accessible to bigger customer base with a price around the ₹ 2-2.5 lakh (ex-showroom) mark. It may not undercut the locally manufactured Royal Enfield Classic 350 or the Jawa at this price point, but certainly will be a compelling alternative.

    The Benelli 400 gets a 373.5 cc single-cylinder engine with fuel injection that churns out 19 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 28 Nm of peak torque at 3,500 rpm. The motor is paired to a 5-speed gearbox. The bike uses a double-cradle steel tube frame underneath and is suspended by telescopic forks upfront and dual shock absorbers at the rear. The vintage-looking cruiser comes with disc brakes at either end with dual-channel ABS as standard. The bike has a kerb weight of 200 kg and a fuel tank capacity of 12 litres.

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  • Honda To Cease Diesel Vehicle Sales In Europe By 2021

    Honda To Cease Diesel Vehicle Sales In Europe By 2021

    Honda Motor said it would phase out all diesel cars by 2021 in favor of models with electric propulsion systems, as the Japanese automaker moves to electrify all of its European cars by 2025.

    Honda is the latest automaker cutting production of diesel cars to meet stringent global emissions regulations. The plan is part of its long-term goal to make electric cars, including all battery-electric vehicles, to account for two-thirds of its line ups by 2030 from less than 10% now.

    By next year, according to European Union emission targets, CO2 must be cut to 95 gram per km for 95% of cars from the current 120.5 gram average, a figure that has increased of late as consumers spurn fuel-efficient diesels and embrace SUVs. All new cars in the EU must be compliant in 2021.

    For Honda, declining demand for diesel vehicles and tougher emissions regulations have clouded its manufacturing prospects in Europe.

    Honda said in February it would close its only British car plant in 2021 with the loss of up to 3,500 jobs.

    Japan’s No. 3 automaker has said it would cut the number of car model variations to a third of current offerings by 2025, reducing global production costs by 10% and redirecting those savings toward advanced research and development

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  • Daimler Says To Pay 870 Million Euro Fine Over Diesel Recalls

    Daimler Says To Pay 870 Million Euro Fine Over Diesel Recalls

    Daimler says to pay 870 mn euro fine over diesel recalls

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  • Nokian Tyres Says High Inventories In Europe To Hurt H2 Sales

    Nokian Tyres Says High Inventories In Europe To Hurt H2 Sales

    European distributors are holding back from buying costly winter tyres due to high inventories, Finland’s Nokian Tyres said on Thursday, adding it saw weakness in its Russian market too.

    “We expect short-term weakness in sales volume throughout Central Europe to continue during the remainder of the year,” Chief Executive Hille Korhonen told an investor call.

    Korhonen said summer tyre inventories in Central Europe were higher than normal, leading distributors to hold back on stocking winter tyres.

    “So it seems that the order intake is slower compared to many, many years and they will be ordering goods closer to the season,” Korhonen said, adding oversupply was putting pressure on prices.

    Korhonen said the company’s view on the Russian market had worsened through the year.

    “There is increasing uncertainty in the Russian market and my meetings with all key distributors in Russia earlier this month confirmed the weakness,” Korhonen said.

    Shares in Nokian were 3% lower in late trading.

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  • Toyota To Expand Sao Paulo Plant

    Toyota To Expand Sao Paulo Plant

    Toyota Motor announced a 1 billion reais ($243.29 million) expansion at a plant in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo, joining Volkswagen and General Motors in new investments in the region. Toyota said the funding would allow the Sorocaba plant, which builds the Etios and Yaris sedan models, to produce a new vehicle model. It did not provide details on the new model.

    Sao Paulo state has long been the heart of Brazil’s auto industry, which is, in turn, the largest in South America, but it had recently been losing steam against aggressive incentives offered by other states to lure manufacturers. Ford announced plans in February to shut down and sell one its oldest Sao Paulo plants.

    Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria has fought back to keep manufacturing jobs in the state, devising a tax incentive program to give automakers a 25% reduction in value-added taxes as long as they invested at least 1 billion reais and created 400 new jobs.

    Toyota, however, said the Sorocaba expansion will create only 300 jobs. The company, which has two other plants in Brazil, did not immediately respond to a question about whether this would still allow it to benefit from the tax incentives.

    “During the last decade, which involved challenging times for the economy and the auto industry, Toyota remained faithful in its commitment … growing in a sustainable way,” Rafael Chang, who heads Toyota in Brazil, said in a statement.

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  • Delaware Judge Says Tesla Board Must Face Trial Over Musk’s Mega-Pay Package

    Delaware Judge Says Tesla Board Must Face Trial Over Musk’s Mega-Pay Package

    A Delaware judge ruled on Friday that Tesla Inc’s board of directors must defend at a trial Chief Executive Elon Musk’s multibillion dollar pay package, which a shareholder lawsuit said unjustly enriched the head of the electric vehicle company.Tesla estimated the 2018 compensation package was worth $2.6 billion (£2.08 billion) when it received stockholder approval in March 2018, although stock analysts at the time said it could be worth up to $70 billion (£56.04 billion) if the company – which has yet to post an annual profit – grew quickly.

    The compensation award includes no salary or cash bonus for the Silicon Valley billionaire Musk, but sets rewards based on Tesla’s market value rising to as much as $650 billion over the next decade.

    On Friday, Vice Chancellor Joseph Slights of the Delaware Court of Chancery ruled against Tesla’s request to dismiss the lawsuit by shareholder Richard Tornetta at an initial phase in the litigation because of the way the board approved the package.

    As a result, the board must now defend against allegations that it breached its fiduciary duty in approving the package, and that the package unfairly enriches Tesla’s CEO. The ruling opens the way for additional discovery into the decision-making process.

    Tornetta had asked that the pay package be rescinded and the board of Tesla be overhauled to better protect investors.The ruling turned on Tesla’s compensation committee, which the company conceded was not independent of Musk, according to Slight’s opinion. Had the package been negotiated by truly independent directors and approved by a majority of shareholders who were unaffiliated with Musk, Slights said he would have dismissed the lawsuit.

    “Plaintiff has well pled, however, that the board level review was not divorced from Musk’s influence,” Slights wrote.

    Musk’s compensation package passed shareholder approval with about 73 percent of votes cast, excluding votes by Musk and his brother Kimbal. The vote result indicated some, but not all, big investors were prepared to support a large payout at the founder-led company, which has struggled to produce its electric vehicles efficiently and profitably.

    At the time, proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services recommended voting against the compensation, noting that if achieved Musk’s award would surpass anything previously granted to top U.S. executives.

    Under the award, which involves stock options that vest in 12 tranches, Tesla’s market value must increase to $100 billion for the first tranche to vest and rise in additional $50 billion increments for the remainder. The package does not require Tesla to hit profitability metrics.

    Musk does not hold a majority of the Tesla’s stock, but in a separate case, Slights determined that Musk’s sway over Tesla made him in effect a controller from a legal standpoint. As a controller, the board is subject to a higher standard of legal oversight for decisions it makes regarding its relationship with Musk.The judge did dismiss Tornetta’s claim that the package amounted to a waste of corporate assets.