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Vietnam’s Auto Industry in Doubt; Braces for Imports

March 16, 2017

Not for the first time in recent years, the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) is warning that some of its members in Vietnam are considering leaving the country for good, due to low local demand, poor development of support industries and a row over tax invoicing. Currently, demand for new cars in Vietnam is stagnant at around the 250,000 units per year mark, much lower than the 2 million per year racked up by close neighbour, Thailand. On average, a production line needs to run at about a 200,000 units per year rate to be profitable, but with the likes of Toyota, Mazda, Honda and Suzuki from Japan all trying to manufacture in the country, along with other notables like Hyundai and Peugeot, the chances of turning a profit are low.

Will Chinese Car Brands shake Europe up?

March 16, 2017

For years now, Chinese industrial giants have been studying and learning the ancient art (well, not so ancient) of car manufacturing from their European, American and Asian joint venture partners. You see, to operate as a car manufacturer in China, you have to have a JV with a local company, with whom you would share ideas and technology, and jointly develop some models, whilst all the time sharing production know-how.

Ford says Sayonara and Selamat Tinggal as Japan and Indonesia plants close

March 16, 2017

The Big Blue – Ford, that is – is admitting defeat in some of its Asian markets, with an announcement that it is to shut all its operations in Japan and Indonesia this year. According to various news reports, the Detroit giant “sees no reasonable path to profitability” in these two territories where it has struggled hopelessly to gain market share.

Six Awful Parking Habits of Malaysians

March 11, 2017

We know that road regulations in Malaysia are more a suggestion than the law. But it is our parking habits that really take the cake. Oftentimes, our errant parking ways cause great inconvenience and traffic jams, but no amount of honking of the horn, cursing and parking fines have made Malaysians realise the error of their ways. Here are six of our weird and worst parking habits that need to stop right now:-

Rolls-Royce develops an EV…for Kids. Vroom Vroooooom!

March 3, 2017

British luxury carmaker, Rolls-Royce, has made a very generous and quite unique contribution to St Richards Hospital in Chichester, England in the form of a bespoke electric car that they have named the Rolls Royce SRH. The car is destined to become the wheels of choice in the paediatric surgery unit where the young patients will be able to drive themselves into the operating theatre to help ease the anxiety of the kids.