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Tag: october

  • Air New Zealands Thrilling Reconnection: Direct Singapore-Christchurch Flights Launching this October

    Air New Zealands Thrilling Reconnection: Direct Singapore-Christchurch Flights Launching this October

    Air New Zealand is set to inaugurate a regular direct service connecting Singapore to Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island from October 28. The airline has already started selling tickets for this service, which will operate thrice weekly. During the northern winter season, the airline anticipates that it will provide over 34,000 seats on this route, according to a statement released by the airline on Wednesday.

    The approximate flight time for this route is 10 hours, and it will be serviced by the airline’s refurbished Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

    Expansion of Services

    Air New Zealand indicated that the addition of this new route is a complementary extension to its existing Auckland-Singapore service. It also forms part of the airline’s overarching plan to increase capacity during the peak season, details of which will be revealed in late May.

    Additionally, the airline will introduce new services connecting Christchurch with Narita (Tokyo) and Perth (Australia) by the end of November.

    According to Air New Zealand CEO, Nikhil Ravishankar, the addition of these three new routes is a strategic move designed to directly re-link Christchurch with major global hubs in Asia, bolster connections with Australia, and revolutionize how the South Island connects with the rest of the world. This will effectively alter the arrival points for visitors and consequently, how they traverse the country.

    In the past, Air New Zealand has operated flights from Christchurch to Singapore in 2020, to Perth in 2019 and to Narita in 2015. Besides Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines also offers direct flights between Singapore and Auckland.

    Questions & Answers

    When will Air New Zealand’s direct service from Singapore to Christchurch commence?
    The service will begin on October 28.

    What type of aircraft will be used for this service?
    The flights will be operated using the airline’s retrofitted Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

    What other new routes does Air New Zealand plan to introduce?
    New services connecting Christchurch with Narita (Tokyo) and Perth (Australia) will be introduced by the end of November.

  • Vietnam’s Auto Market Zooms Ahead: 24% Sales Growth in October Fueled by Promotions & EV Surge

    Vietnam’s Auto Market Zooms Ahead: 24% Sales Growth in October Fueled by Promotions & EV Surge

    In a significant rebound from an initially sluggish year, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) reported a 24% surge in car sales in October, with a total of 37,910 vehicles sold. This increase reflects a revival in consumer demand coupled with an abundant supply, and is also attributed to the appeal of promotional programs during the year-end shopping season. The association, which comprises more than a dozen major auto companies, provided this information in its latest report.

    October Sales in Detail

    Breaking down the October sales, passenger cars dominated, with 27,246 units sold marking a 33% rise from September. Commercial vehicles also saw a boost, accounting for 10,162 units, a 6.6% increase. However, special-purpose vehicles experienced a slump in sales, dropping 15% to 502 units. Locally assembled vehicles saw a 19% increase in sales to 17,129, while imports, or completely built-up (CBU) units, witnessed a 28% surge with 20,781 units sold.

    SUVs, sedans, and MPVs were the top selling segments, aligning with the urban mobility needs of consumers.

    Factors Driving the Surge

    Industry experts pin the October sales boom on a confluence of factors. Aggressive promotional campaigns, improved supply chains, more flexible consumer credit, lower interest rates, and rising urban demand all played a role. The launch of multiple new models from Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and European brands also fueled the increase in sales.

    In the year to date, VAMA members have sold a total of 289,331 units, a 9.5% hike year-on-year. Sales of domestically assembled vehicles increased by 2%, while imports saw a significant 18% jump, indicating a growing consumer preference for imported vehicles with diverse designs and advanced technology.

    VinFast’s Record Performance

    However, it’s worth noting that these figures from VAMA may not fully represent the market, as the association does not include several major players such as VinFast and Hyundai, the two leading carmakers by market share in Vietnam, along with other brands like Audi, BYD, and Jaguar Land Rover.

    VinFast, a local automaker, reported a record delivery of 20,380 electric vehicles in October, bringing its total for the first ten months of 2025 to 124,264 units, the highest ever for a Vietnamese automaker. This milestone solidifies VinFast’s leadership in the electric vehicle segment and underscores its significant contribution to the local automotive industry.

    Looking Forward

    Vietnam’s auto market is poised for a promising year-end, with the influx of new models, growing demand for imported cars, and VinFast’s record performance shaping a dynamic, competitive, and technology-driven industry landscape.

    Questions & Answers

    What were the factors driving the surge in October auto sales in Vietnam?
    Promotional campaigns, improved supply chains, flexible consumer credit, lower interest rates, and rising urban demand, along with the launch of new models, primarily contributed to the surge.

    Which was the top-selling vehicle type in October?
    Passenger cars dominated the sales in October, registering a 33% rise from September.

    What does VinFast’s record delivery of electric vehicles indicate?
    VinFast’s record delivery underlines its leadership in the electric vehicle segment and marks a significant contribution to the Vietnamese automotive industry.

  • Marimekko Unveils Flagship Store In Causeway Bay: A Revitalized Shopping Experience

    Marimekko Unveils Flagship Store In Causeway Bay: A Revitalized Shopping Experience

    Marimekko, the iconic Finnish design company, is globally renowned for its fashion and home decor products featuring vivid, abstract prints designed to spread an ethos of joy and positivity. This lifestyle brand is an embodiment of timeless elegance and a summery sense of joy. If you are drawn to the brand’s vibrant ‘flower power’ aesthetic, make a note of October 16 in your diary. That’s when Marimekko is set to unveil a new flagship store in Causeway Bay. This eagerly awaited launch is significant, as it symbolizes not only a new beginning for Marimekko in Hong Kong but also the company’s dedication to crafting an immersive in-store retail experience that strikes a chord with customers.

    Marimekko’s Return to Causeway Bay

    Marimekko first broke into the Hong Kong market in 2012, opening a store on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay. The forthcoming flagship store, remaining on the same street, represents a sort of homecoming for the brand. However, this is not just a return, but a stunning transformation; a fresh design and expanded offerings promise a completely reimagined Marimekko experience for its Hong Kong-based fans. Moreover, the store’s façade, centered around Marimekko’s well-known ‘Unikko’ print, will be unmissable, serving to highlight the brand’s printmaking legacy. Upon entering the shop, customers will feel as though they’ve been transported to Marimekko’s textile printing factory in Helsinki, with the striking interior design inspired by the Finnish workshop.

    What to Expect from the New Flagship

    Marimekko fans can anticipate a carefully curated collection of products, including clothing, accessories, home furnishings, and even printed fabrics — all emblazoned with the brand’s signature prints. Items featuring the ‘Unikko’ design are sure to be a hit, but the bold ‘Kivet’ and sleek ‘Tiiliskivi’ prints are expected to be crowd pleasers as well.

    At present, Marimekko has six retail sites in Hong Kong, including an outlet shop at Citygate Outlets in Tung Chung, so the new Leighton Road flagship will find itself in good company. Furthermore, according to a Marimekko Instagram post, eligible purchases will be accompanied by a complimentary Marimekko tote bag — an incentive that is sure to entice shoppers!

    Questions & Answers

    When did Marimekko first enter the Hong Kong market?
    Marimekko first entered the Hong Kong market in 2012, with a store on Leighton Road in Causeway Bay.

    What’s special about the new flagship store in Causeway Bay?
    The new flagship store represents a homecoming for Marimekko. It features a completely new design and an expanded range of offerings, promising a unique Marimekko experience for fans in Hong Kong.

    What can customers expect from the new Marimekko store?
    Customers can look forward to a carefully curated selection of products, including clothing, accessories, home goods, and printed fabrics, all featuring the brand’s signature prints.

  • Jaguar Land Rover October sales up 11% at 46,325 units

    Jaguar Land Rover October sales up 11% at 46,325 units

    Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) today reported 11 per cent increase in October retail sales of 46,325 units. The month’s performance has been driven by strong sales of the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque, Jaguar XF and the introduction of the Jaguar F-PACE, as well as strong year-on-year sales growth in China and Europe, JLR said in a statement.

    JLR Group Sales Operations Director Andy Goss said: “With our most engaging productline up to date, we are continuing to see positive sales momentum. Impressive performances across Europe and China have boosted our year-to-date sales to over 4,80,000 vehicles.”

    The company said its retail sales grew across majority of key regions in October year-on-year, with China up 39 per cent, Europe up 25 per cent, the UK and North America both up 8 per cent but other overseas markets were down 22 per cent.

    In the first ten months of 2016, JLR sold 4,80,349 vehicles, 23 per cent up on the same period in the prior year.

    The Jaguar brand recorded retail sales of 14,402 units in October, up 93 per cent on the previous year, reflecting the strong launch of the F-PACE and the introduction of the long- wheel base XFL in China, JLR said.

    Sales of the Land Rover brand however were down 6 per cent in October at 31,923 units. The company had ceased production of the Defender and Discovery in January 2016 and August 2016 respectively.

  • VW’s Skoda Auto says October deliveries grew 10.6 percent

    VW’s Skoda Auto says October deliveries grew 10.6 percent

    Global deliveries of Skoda Auto, the Czech unit of Volkswagen, grew by 10.6 percent to 97,900 vehicles in October, boosted by growing sales in China and Europe, the company said on Thursday.

    In the January-October period, Skoda said sales had grown by 6.7 percent to 938,800 units.

    The company, the biggest Czech exporter, sold 1.06 million cars in 2015, the second year in a row it topped the 1 million mark.

  • China October vehicle sales rise 20% at 2.2 million

    China October vehicle sales rise 20% at 2.2 million

    Passenger vehicle sales in China to retail customers rose 20 percent in October from a year earlier, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said on Tuesday.

    Auto retail sales totalled 2.2 million vehicles in October, CPCA said in a statement on its website. For January-October, passenger car sales rose 15.2 percent versus the same period in 2015, it said.

    The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, whose statistics are generally viewed as the benchmark for the industry, is due to report wholesale data for October on Thursday.

    The CPCA predicted 13 percent growth in passenger car sales for 2016, state media reported earlier on Tuesday.