The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Toyota to invest $600m in plant

    Toyota Motors has announced a $600 million investment in its manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana, United States. The investment will be directed towards the expansion in production capacity of the plant and the retooling of the factory for the production of the next generation of its midsize Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) Highlander. Toyota sold 191,379 units of the midsize SUV in the U.S. auto market last year, a 20.4 per cent increase over 2015 sales. The plant expansion will add 40,000 more units of the vehicle to the production capacity. This announcement came against the background of a number of other auto makers announcing new investments in the U.S.

     

  • Kia wins three iF Design Awards

    Kia has won three prestigious  iF Design Awards for the outstanding design of its latest vehicles. The Niro hybrid crossover, Optima Sportswagon and all-new Rio supermini have all received prizes for product design.

    Kia has received at least one iF Design Award for the eighth consecutive year. The latest hat-trick of prizes brings the manufacturer’s total number of iF award-winning models to 12.

    Kia Motors Corporation President and Chief Designer, Peter Schreyer, said: “These latest iF Awards are recognition for our excellent global design team. All three models, on which the Kia design centres in Korea, Germany and the United States cooperated closely, are highly important for our brand. With the Niro and the Optima Sportswagon, Kia has pushed into new market sectors, and has carved out a distinctive position in both segments with innovative, attractive design. With the new generation of the Rio we have given one of our global best-sellers a significantly changed, more mature character.”

    The Kia Niro marries the practical advantages and aesthetic appeal of a compact crossover with a sleek appearance, differentiating it from more conservatively designed hybrid models, and giving the car a unique presence as the world’s first hybrid crossover.

    The Optima Sportswagon, Kia’s first-ever D-segment vehicle, offers a striking exterior design and high quality interior, with the added practicality and appeal of a body style.

    Kia’s third prize-winner – the all-new Rio – goes on sale this quarter in Europe, and offers buyers a bold new design and a modern, efficiently-packaged cabin with the latest infotainment and safety technologies. The longer bonnet and more vertical C-pillar give the new car a more purposeful and aggressive stance, with a driver-orientated dashboard which provides an innovative and ergonomic design.

  • Kudos to FRSC on the driver licence handshake (1)

    And other well-meaning Nigerians wish to congratulate the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on the completion of the handshake between the Driver Licence portal and the DSSP portal.

    As the National President of the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (ADIN),  I can authoritatively say that between the time the DSSP portal started running and February 2, 2017, when it was conjoined, not less than one million Driver licences were issued nationwide to the half-baked and those who don’t even know how to drive at all. These atrocities were made possible by some corrupt elements in FRSC who corruptly opened corrupt back doors to process licences for unqualified people thereby licensing killer drivers to operate on Nigerian roads for monetary gains.

    We give God the glory that through the proactive efforts of the incorruptible and indefatigable Corps Marshal/Chief Executive of FRSC, the handshake is now in operation and reports have revealed that all the corrupt backdoors being used for the processing of Driver licence to unqualified people have been automatically closed through the completion of the handshake.

    All would-be drivers must go through accredited Driving Schools to ensure they have the requisite knowledge and practical skills to drive safely on all roads before being issued the National Driver Licence.

    Reports reaching me revealed that some state governments are complaining that the introduction of the FRSC portals and the new handshake will slow down the number of people being licensed and consequently the State revenues. This assertion is not correct because it is still the same number of people that want to obtain Driver licence in Nigeria this year that will still apply for it. The difference is that they are to be well spaced to ensure they are adequately trained before getting licensed to reduce the rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities in Nigeria.

    Governments must not prioritise income generation above the safety of irreparable lives that their Excellencies, the President and Governors, have sworn to an oath to protect.

    If the issuance of driver licence is to be seen as a revenue generation venture, countries, such as the United Kingdom (UK), will not be issuing  a Driver Licence of 15 years.

    The area where the UK is focusing attention upon for income generation is FINES for traffic offences, which also complements their efforts to reduce road accidents and fatalities.

    Just as the FRSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has repeatedly said, all state governments should establish Traffic Management Agencies. With these agencies functioning effectively and incorruptibly, the state governments will be raking in great revenues from traffic offenders while also using the fines to reduce the rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities.

    There is a need for the government officials to know how this system is working in countries with low rates of road accidents and deaths so that they can fully support the FRSC to make the new system work in Nigeria.

    The FRSC chief has organised several stakeholders’ fora to enlighten us on the need to make the system work in Nigeria and achieve the desired results.

    As a key player in the system, I hereby plead with all the governors, FRSC Officers, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIS in Lagos State), state Boards of Internal Revenue Officers (MVAA in Lagos State), driving schools and other stakeholders to join hands to make the new Driver Licensing system succeed in Nigeria as in other countries that now have low rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities.

     

    • To be continued
  • Hyundai to set up assembly plant in Pakistan

    Hyundai to set up assembly plant in Pakistan

    A Pakistani firm, Nishat Mills, has signed an agreement with Korean-based company Hyundai to establish an assembly plant in Pakistan in a major development.
    The agreement has been signed between Nishat Mills and Hyundai Motor Company and Sojitz Corporation, a company based in Japan, to establish proper framework for negotiating an assembly plant for the sale of passenger and one tonne range commercial vehicles in the country.
    The process of setting up the assembly unit once all the prerequisites and approvals have been granted.
    Market sources state that the investment would range from about $400 million to $500 million and the plant would be established within two to three years after all the paper work is complete.
    It is also believed that some China based companies like FAW and Foton are interested about investing in Pakistan.
    The new Pakistani government policy on foreign investment has started paying dividends as several foreign companies have expressed interest in investments and have already put forward plans to setup assembly plants here in Pakistan.

  • Driving tips, by Ford

    Driving tips, by Ford

    Nigerians learn a host of defensive driving rules and techniques when they are first taught to drive for their driver’s licence test. Most of this tends to be forgotten once the test is passed and daily driving becomes a combination of accelerating, braking, steering, and generally trying not to hit anything. But there is more to being a great driver.
    Some of the best drivers in the world can be found in motorsport. Tackling the world’s toughest racetracks in vehicles like the 500hp, Le Mans-winning Ford GT race car requires a specific set of driving skills that is not only efficient and fast, but safe as well. We call this defensive driving.
    “Defensive driving is to drive so as to prevent a collision in any road or weather conditions,” says Derek Kirkby, Training Director for advanced driving at MasterDrive and Ford’s own Driving Skills for Life – which is a comprehensive driving programme that teaches drivers techniques for defensive driving. Ford’s Driving Skills for Life programme was part of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association’s (NAJA) annual training in 2016. Kirkby offers a list of driving tips straight from the race track that will make you a better driver on the road:

    Hold the steering wheel like a racing driver

    Conventional driving instruction teaches us to imagine the steering wheel as a clock-face and to keep our hands at 10 and 2 o’clock. Don’t do this, advises Kirkby. This convention is outdated. An airbag can inflate in 0.03 seconds, how quickly can you move your hands and arms out of the way?
    Here is a very simple habit you can get into right away, use nine and three o’clock. It is safer if an airbag inflates and should you lose control even for a second, you will know how to get the car pointed straight ahead instantly – just return your arms to their resting position. This position is also more responsive for quicker turns.

    Do only one thing at a time

    Racing drivers have to make split-second decisions, and you can too if you concentrate on doing one thing at a time – either accelerate, brake, or steer. Remember that anything you do that changes the direction or speed of your vehicle can break traction, and loss of traction can mean loss of control. Smoother is safer and faster – brake before you turn into a corner, not while you are in it. Braking during a turn can either lead to spinning the car or not turning enough and skidding straight ahead.

    Don’t follow

    Have you noticed that Formula 1 race cars don’t have brake lights? Yet the drivers manage to not crash into each other at every corner. This is because they do not follow the car in front, and neither should you. We instinctively do what the car in front of us does, but you should never allow your decisions to be made by the guy in your path, it is downright dangerous. Why put all your trust in a stranger? Kirkby advises to rather look ahead, through their car and their windshield if possible and in between the spaces of the car ahead.

    Use your tongue to balance

    Here is a fun one. According to Ross Bentley, former racing driver and author of the popular Speed Secrets series, pressing your tongue to the roof of your mouth activates the same area of your brain that is responsible for balance and your balance while driving is directly related to how you sense the movement of the car. Essentially, by doing this you are increasing your concentration, as well as your response time to any movement that your car makes.

    Steer with the
    corresponding hand

    When steering, the direction you chose to go should correlate with the corresponding hand. So, turning left? Use your left hand to guide the steering wheel. Going right? Use your right hand. Essentially, it should feel like you’re pulling your steering wheel down, rather than pushing it up. Kirkby explains that now you are now using your fast twitch muscle fibres, which mean you have more dexterity and you can make quicker steering adjustments, ultimately giving you more control.

    The car will go where you are looking

    Ever notice how your car will wonder in the direction you are looking when you get distracted or take your eyes off the road for just a moment? That’s hand-eye coordination, and it also works for where you want to go. Instead of focusing on the road right in front of you, focus on where you want to go. Essentially Kirkby advises you to look up ahead through the top half of your windshield. Your hands and feet will take you there without you having to even think about it.

  • FERMA denies selling contract papers

    FERMA denies selling contract papers

    The Management of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has denied the allegation that its contract papers were being sold in front of the agency office.
    Its Acting Managing Director Peter Ode Ibu said this while addressing the House of Representatives Committee members on FERMA who were on oversight visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
    The committee members later proceeded to Kuje FERMA equipment base to inspect the 80TPH Asphalt Plant, and other sundry equipment.
    Ibu refuted the allegation, saying: “Our contract letters clearly stipulate that it is not transferable and it will become void if transferred and or assigned.”
    The FERMA chief promised to work with the committee to promote a sustained road maintenance programme that would keep critical and economically viable roads in fair condition yearly.
    Ibu said though FERMA is the only institution established by the Act of the National Assembly to monitor and maintain all Federal roads, it cannot do it alone without the cooperation of the legislature to achieve better result.
    He enjoined the lawmakers to overlook any omission by the agency.
    Leader of the House Committee on FERMA, Hon. Jerry Alagbasso, said the committee was ready to partner the agency to improve on the roads, adding that road maintenance is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders to relieve commuters of hardship experienced on the road.
    Alagbasso asked FERMA to capture all its needs in the 2017 budget and ensure that omissions observed in its 2016 budget presentation were corrected.
    At the Asphalt Plant and other equipment in Kuje, the committee demanded that the plant be used to its maximum capacity, urging the agency to seek for more funds to maintain the equipment, and produce more asphalt for distribution to other zones for road maintenance.

  • Volkswagen overtakes Toyota

    Volkswagen overtakes Toyota

    •German firm is world’s best-selling car maker

    VOLKSWAGEN has overtaken Toyota to become the world’s best-selling carmaker, the first time the German company has held the position.
    Japan’s Toyota, which had topped sales for the past four years, sold 10.175 million vehicles globally in 2016. That fell short of the 10.31 million sales which VW reported last week.
    The milestone comes despite VW’s scandal over emission tests cheating, which sparked a global backlash and multiple lawsuits. A statenent from Volkswagen said: “2016 was a very challenging year for us.”
    The company “made strides in resolving and overcoming the diesel crisis” and initiated fundamental change in the company’s long-term strategy, he said. “Nonetheless, we managed to stabilise operating business in difficult conditions: the fact that we handed over more than 10 million vehicles to customers last year bolsters the group and its brands as we head for the future,” he added.
    Volkswagen, which makes the Audi, Porsche and Skoda brands, saw a 3.8 per cent increase in sales buoyed by demand in China. And it has been making inroads in other markets too. In Sweden for example, the Volkswagen Golf was the most popular new car in 2016.
    Toyota’s sales grew by 0.2 per cent – though it appears to have suffered from a slowdown in the United States car industry. General Motors reports its figures next week, but it is expected to lag both the Japanese and the German firms.

  • Govts’ sins on traffic signs (3)

    Govts’ sins on traffic signs (3)

    The Operation Officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission and the State Vehicle Inspection Officers should stop drivers randomly to test their knowledge of traffic signs and other essential traffic rules.
    Drivers that show lack of the knowledge of the traffic signs and rules should be sent to accredited driving schools for a mandatory one day refresher course while traffic offenders are sent to driving schools for correctional training.
    This, if entrenched in the Nigerian Road Safety Administration System, will cause all categories of drivers, including vehicle owners to get more committed to acquiring the requisite knowledge and skills for safe driving.
    The states and FCT Vehicle Inspection Officers must ensure that no vehicle is issued Road wordiness certificates without the necessary physical inspection of such vehicles whether the process is computerised or not, and without making the process unnecessarily cumbersome nor laden with red-tapism.
    The interior of the vehicles must also be inspected to see if the seats are safely arranged and installed among others interior checks.The interior of some vehicles, particularly commercial buses is not different from a coffin with dangerously exposed iron, shifting seats among others. The lapses in the interior of some vehicles involved in road accidents were responsible for the high rate of deaths and injuries.
    The President and Governors have sworn to an oath to protect the lives of their citizens. No price should be too much to pay to save and secure their lives. We need to learn more from Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States on how strongly they daily prove to the world through words and actions that the lives of their citizens are precious and must not be wasted on the roads or anywhere.
    God bless Nigeria.

  • Hyundai Motor sold 4.86m units worldwide in 2016

    Hyundai Motor sold 4.86m units worldwide in 2016

    South Korea’s largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Company, has announced its 2016 full-year business results. Sales volume and operating profit declined from the same period last year due to high production cost caused by series of labour strikes and continued economic stagnancies in emerging markets.

    For the year 2016, Hyundai global sales totalled 4,857,933 units (Korea: 656,526 / overseas: 4,201,407), down 2.1 percent year-on-year.

    Despite year-on-year decrease in sales, Hyundai Motor’s sales revenue increased 1.8 percent from a year earlier owing to sales increase of SUVs and GENESIS models. Operating profit fell 18.3 percent and net profit showed a 12.1 percent decrease for 2016.

    In the fourth quarter alone, global sales totalled 1,380,024 units. Hyundai Motor forecasts the business environment to be ever more uncertain due to continued sluggish global economy and possibility of increase in protectionist trade policies.

    Nevertheless, Hyundai Motor will continue its effort to focus on strengthening competitiveness and product quality in the global automotive market. To do so, Hyundai Motor will launch variety of new cars and boost sales of SUVs, GENESIS models and eco-friendly models.

    Also by continuously investing in R&D, Hyundai Motor will focus on three core future technologies Clean Mobility, Freedom in Mobility and Connected Mobility, to ensure future growth.

    Hyundai Motor will continue its cooperation with suppliers and actively carry out more values to customers. Hyundai Motor also strives to build a more shareholder-friendly environment by increasing transparency and shareholder’s value. The company announced its new dividend policy which outlines a payout plan of 30 to 50 percent of free cash flows (FCF).

  • Porsche, Volvo recall vehicles with airbag issue

    Car makers Porsche and Volvo are recalling cars because of potentially faulty airbags.

    Porsche Cars North America is recalling 85 model year 2017 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, 718 Cayman S, 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S, 911 Turbo, 911 Turbo S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, and 911 Turbo Cabriolet vehicles.

    The seat mounted side airbag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash.

    If the airbag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the side airbag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected airbag modules, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

    Volvo is recalling 8,200 cars around the world.

    The recall affects 1,200 cars sold in Sweden, including the new Volvo V90 series, and 7,000 cars sold abroad, reports the Expressen tabloid.

    Volvo’s supplier and business partner for its self-driving cars, Autoliv, alerted Volvo to a faulty airbag trigger and advised it to recall those cars that had it installed.

    “They had a quality problem during a certain period of production. It could happen that there are problems when the airbag is to be deployed,” a Volvo Cars spokesperson told Expressen.

    No known incidents or accidents have been reported in relation to the airbags.