It is the last day of February and as we look back, we feel, it couldn’t have been better. The local market saw several big launches, previews, the opening of order books, and whatnot. Similarly, in the international market, there were several prominent launches. Let’s check them all out in detail.

Local news -

Smart expansion plans in East Malaysia

Smart will soon be opening its first dealership in East Malaysia and in the future, the automaker has set a target to establish a total of 13 dealerships. As for the current status, Smart Malaysia has a total of 10 dealerships nationwide. The said announcement was made by the company at its 100 Days in Malaysia celebration.

“Our progress has been nothing short of remarkable. We’ve maintained a laser focus on prioritizing our customers’ needs, ensuring every interaction with our brand is both memorable and positive. Innovation and customer-centricity are fundamental to our core values,” adds Zhang Qiang. “As we celebrate this milestone, our commitment to pushing the boundaries of excellence and delivering exceptional products and services to our customers remains unwavering”, said Smart Malaysia’s Chief Executive Officer, Zhang Qiang.

Also Read: smart Malaysia marks 100 Days of excellence: It's all about customer commitment

Proton S70 R3 race car to participate in 2024 Sepang 1000km

Proton has confirmed its participation in this year’s Sepang 1000km with its specially-developed race car which is based on the S70. The race car’s development will be headed by the Proton R3 Motorsports division.

No details about the race car are out yet, but we know for sure that its interior will be completely stripped out (for weight saving), suspension & aerodynamic redesign, roll cage, revamped powertrain, and better brakes.

Early bird promo extended for BYD Seal

BYD Seal was launched on 22nd Feb 2024 in Malaysia and as of today, the car has registered 1,300 bookings. Seeing the overwhelming response to its latest fully electric sedan, the automaker has decided to extend its early-bird promotion until 3rd March 2024. Under the said promo, customers booking the Seal via the company’s official website or at BYD’s showrooms nationwide will receive complimentary home chargers along with charging credits worth RM 800 from ChargEV or Gentari.

“The response from Malaysians clearly demonstrates their readiness to embrace EVs from BYD, which continues to make waves here and in other parts of the region. This achievement also marks another milestone in the robust evolution of the country’s EV market,” commented Sime Darby Motors’ Managing Director, Jeffery Gan.

2024 Peugeot E-2008 facelift teased

The upcoming Peugeot E-2008 was first teased a year back and now it seems the car’s arrival is very near. The compact electric crossover has been spotted undisguised at the Gentari XPark Sunway Serene charging station by a member of the Malaysian Electric Vehicle Owners Club Facebook group.

2024 MG ZS EV open for booking

MG Malaysia is a lot in the local news, all thanks to its latest electric car - the ZS EV. The 2024 MG ZS EV is now open for booking in the local market and is priced at RM 129,000. Available in a single variant that is powered by a single electric motor that drives the front wheels. The e-motor makes a maximum output of 176 hp and 280 Nm of peak torque. The EV is capable of completing a century sprint in just 8 seconds. Upon launch, the EV will compete with the likes of Chery Omoda E5 and BYD Atto 3.

Also Read: MG ZS EV: All you need to know

2024 MG MG4 EV open for booking

SAIC Motor Malaysia has opened bookings for its two EVs, one of which is the MG4 EV. The C-segment electric hatch will be offered in four variants namely, Standard, LUX, LUX Extended Range, and XPOWER. The EVs price range from RM 104,000 to RM 159,000 with each purchase including a 7-year/150,000 km mileage vehicle warranty, alongside an 8-year/180,000 km battery warranty.

Chery Omoda E5 EV is now in showrooms nationwide

The Chery Omoda E5 EV has arrived at the company's showroom nationwide. The Malaysian-spec model is powered by a front-mounted electric motor making a maximum power output of 204 PS along with a peak torque of 340 Nm.

Also Read: Chery Omoda E5 bookings open in Malaysia; est. price announced

Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition in Malaysia

Present at the Toyota Beyond Zero event was the Toyota Prius 24h Le Mans Centennial GR Edition; the said car was first revealed at the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Powering it is a hybrid EV all-wheel-drive powertrain.

2024 Mercedes-Benz C350e launched in Malaysia

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has finally launched the C350e AMG Line. The newest member of the 5th gen C-Class range is available as a locally assembled unit with an estimated price tag of RM 355,000 (on the road without insurance).

GAC Motors gets nine new dealerships in Malaysia

GAC will soon be entering the local market and its local distributor in the country, WTC Automotif has announced the appointment of 9 new dealerships in Peninsular Malaysia. The automaker currently operates two dealerships, one in Kuala Lumpur and the other in Petaling Jaya.

On opening up the new dealerships, Warisan TC Holdings group CEO, Tan Keng Meng said, “We are excited to welcome these nine esteemed dealerships to be part of our growing team. Their expertise and dedication to excellence align perfectly with our values, and together we are poised to offer an enhanced automotive experience to customers across Malaysia.”

Honda CR-V receives close to 6,500 bookings

Honda Malaysia has revealed that the CR-V has received close to 6,500 bookings as of 22nd Feb 2024. As for registration, the number boils down to 1,500 units with the V variant being the most popular choice among the customers.

Also Read: New Honda CR-V: A hit among SUV enthusiasts in Malaysia

12 new Tesla destination chargers in Malaysia

Tesla Malaysia has expanded its charging network with two new AC destination charging stations, both located in Penang. The charging stations are located at The Ship Campus in Batu Kawan and All Seasons Place respectively. Both of the Tesla destination charging stations are open 24 hours daily and are free of charge.

Also Read: Tesla opens new Supercharging Station in Melaka

2024 Range Rover Evoque facelift in Malaysia

Land Rover has finally launched the facelift Range Rover Evoque in Malaysia. The brand's stylish entry-level SUV is offered in a total of three variants, namely P200 Dynamic SE (M Spec), P250 version (H Spec), and P250 Dynamic HSE (Lux Spec). The three trims retail for RM 498,800, RM 529,800, and RM 565,800 respectively.

GWM Ora 07 arrives in Malaysia

Great Wall Motor Malaysia has confirmed that in addition to the Tank 300, it will be launching the Ora 07 in the country. It would be GWM’s second EV in the country after the Good Cat and will be offered in two configurations - a single e-motor version with 640 km of range and a twin-motor, all-wheel drive variant with 550 km of range.

2024 Mazda CX-5 facelift arrives in Malaysia

The all-new Mazda CX-5 was launched in Malaysia recently with its price ranging from RM 144,469 - to RM 188,760. The car is offered in five trim options.

Rolls Royce Phantom Series II launched in Malaysia

The Rolls Royce Phantom Series II has finally rolled into Malaysia with an official price tag of RM 2.5 Million.

GWM Tank 300 arrives ahead of the launch

The first units of the GWM Tank 300 have arrived in Malaysia ahead of the SUV’s official launch which is expected to happen sometime this year. Details about the Malaysia-spec model are scarce and will be revealed with its launch.

Also Read: 5 things to know about the upcoming GWM Tank 300

Proton’s first EV coming soon

‘Very soon’ Proton will launch its first electric vehicle in Malaysia, said the company’s CEO Li Chunrong. During his speech, Li also revealed that the brand will be launching not one but two EVs with the second one arriving 6 to 8 months after the launch of the first model.

Toyota Alphard Hybrid, Vellfire Hybrid, & Camry Hybrid previewed by UMWT

At Toyota’s Beyond Zero event, the automaker showcased hybrid versions of the Alphard and Vellfire along with the Camry Hybrid sedan. The arrival of these three cars supports Malaysia’s goal of becoming a carbon-neutral nation by 2050. While the MPV duo features a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol unit along with a 5 NM electric motor. The electrified version of the D-segment sedan is powered by a 178 PS/221 Nm generating Atkinson-cycle version of the 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine seen in the currently on sale Camry.

Tesla Model 3 HighlAND EV body displayed in Malaysia

Last week we all got a chance to check out the Tesla Model 3 closely, as the car was on display at the IOI City Mall till 26th Feb. The EV is primarily made up of stamped steel of various strengths which makes the car low-priced compared to cars made using aluminum castings.

2024 BMW iX updated

BMW Malaysia has updated the iX EV with the changes consisting of a revised specs list and variant line-up. The automaker has dropped the xDrive40 and xDrive40 Sport variants, leaving us with just two options, the xDrive50 Sport and M60

2024 Subaru Forester GT Wild Lite ROI open in Malaysia

Motor Image Malaysia, has started accepting registration of interest for the new Forester GT Wild Lite SUV. Compared to other Forester variants, the GT Wild Lite comes with a distinct accessory kit.

Perodua D668 coming soon to Malaysia

The Perodua B-segment SUV, the D66B, is anticipated to launch in Malaysia by April 2024. The car will sit above the Ativa in the company’s line-up and information about it is still scarce.

Three GAC SUVs coming soon to Malaysia

GAC Motor previewed not only one but three SUVs that are earmarked to launch in the local market this year. The list includes - ICE-powered B-segment SUV GS3 Emzoom, ICE-powered C-segment SUV Emkoo, and C-segment SUV Aion Y Plus. Of which the GS3 EMZOOM is now open for booking in Malaysia.

Price confirmed for all-new 2024 BMW X5

Introduced in Malaysia in earlier Jan, BMW has finally announced the SUV's price tag which reads RM 528,100 (including a 5-year extended warranty and service package).

International news -

Hyundai Staria Hybrid updated for 2024

Hyundai has updated the Staria Hybrid for 2024. While nothing much has been revised on the outside, the car is now offered with a 1.6-litre Hybrid powertrain. The new powertrain setup consists of a 245hp/367Nm 1.6-litre turbo engine and an electric drive system. While the engine is capable of churning out a maximum power output of 180 hp and a peak torque of 265 Nm.

In addition, the updated car now benefits from several improvements on the inside.

BYD Yangwang U9 launched in China

China recently welcomed the BYD Yangwang U9 electric supercar. Powered by four electric motors, the EV generates a maximum power output of 1,300 hp and 1,680 Nm. These outputs allow the EV to touch the 100 kmph mark in just 2.36 seconds and attain a top speed of 309.19 kmph. Priced at RMB 1.68 million (approx. RM 1.15 million), the car packs interesting gears.

MG One made its ASEAN debut

MG One has made its ASEAN debut with the Philippines being the first country to receive the EV. The model here is offered in two variants - Standard and Lux, priced at Php 1,298,888 (approx RM 110,963) and Php 1.458,888 (approx RM 124,632) respectively.

Porsche introduces new Panamera E-Hybrid variants

Porsche has updated the vehicle’s lineup with the addition of two new V6 plug-in hybrid variants. The new Panamera E-Hybrid models are powered by a new hybrid system featuring a revamped 2.9-litre V6-twin-turbo engine producing a combined output of 463 hp on the 4 E trim and 536 hp on the 4S E trim. The 4 E trim is priced at $115,500 (approx RM 550k), and the 4S E-Hybrid costs $126,800 (approx RM 604k).

Yamaha to discontinue YZF-R1 and YZF-R1 M

Yamaha UK has recently shed some light on the potential discontinuation of Yamaha's revered YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M superbike. The statement reads, “Yamaha Motor Group has taken the decision not to develop an EU5+ version of the R1 or R1M instead focussing on other mid-term business and product strategies that will provide future opportunities.”

2024 Honda BR-V N7X Edition launched in Indonesia

Honda has introduced the all-new 2024 BR-V N7X Edition at this year’s Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS). The Indonesia-spec model is offered in three trim options namely, E CVT, Prestige CVT, and range-topping Prestige with Honda Sensing.

All-new second-gen Audi Q7 introduced

Audi has introduced the second-gen Q7 in Europe with the upgraded model featuring better design, advanced features, and much more. Pricing for the new Q7 ranges from EUR 79,300 (approx RM 405,702) to EUR 112,000 (approx RM 572,720).

5-door Suzuki Jimny launched in the Philippines

5-door Jimny has entered the Philippines market. The car is offered in three trim levels namely the GL MT, GLX AT Monotone, and GLX AT Two-tone. The car’s price ranges from P1.558 million (approx RM 130,617) and P1.708 million (approx RM 143,192).

Interesting, right? Now let's see what the next month has in store for the Malaysian and international auto industry.

Also Read: Proton venturing into new business arenas; spotlight on Lifestyle and R3 Motorsports divisions