The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Toyota’s fuel cell buses ready for Tokyo drive

    Toyota’s fuel cell buses ready for Tokyo drive

    Toyota Motor Corporation is planning to sell fuel cell buses (FC buses) under the Toyota brand from early next year. The Bureau of Transportation of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to use two of these FC buses as fixed-route buses.

    Toyota is planning to introduce over 100 FC buses mainly in the Tokyo area, ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is being done to help increase the level of understanding by the general public about the use of FC buses as a form of public transportation.

    Moreover, in preparation for the Games, the number of FC buses being introduced will increase steadily going forward.

    According to its website, Toyota ‘aims to engage continuously in the diligent development’ targeted at the expansion of the introduction of the new FC buses from 2018 so as to contribute to the realisation of a hydrogen-based society.

    The Toyota FC Bus was developed along with Hino Motors. The Toyota fuel cell system developed for the Mirai fuel cell vehicle has been adopted to provide better energy efficiency in comparison with internal combustion engines, as well as to deliver superior environmental performance with no Carbon emissions while driving.

    The bus also uses a high-capacity external power supply system. It can be used as a power source in the event of disasters, such as at evacuation sites such as in school gymnasiums. Its electricity supply can also be harnessed for home electric appliance use.

  • Maruti nets 60 per cent record sales profits

    India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki last Thursday posted its best ever quarterly profit in July-September period, rising 60.18 per cent from the same quarter a year ago on the back of record sales that analysts attribute to improving consumer sentiment and the company’s recent product innovations.

    The total income from operations grew 29.28 per cent to Rs 20,296.8 crore during the reported quarter against Rs 15,699.7 crore in the year-ago period, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said. The company sold a record 4, 018,470 vehicles during the quarter, a growth of 18.4 per cent over the same period of the previous year. The previous highest sales for Maruti Suzuki was 3,60,402 units in the fourth quarter of 2015-16.

    MSI said lower expenses on sales promotion and marketing and higher non-operating income also contributed to the increase in profits. However, this was partially offset by adverse foreign exchange movement, which stood at a total of Rs 145 crore for the quarter, after taking into account royalty payment, import and export expenses. “It has been in many ways the best quarter we have ever had,” Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R.C. Bhargava said, adding that as per the second quarter performance in the ongoing fiscal, on annualised basis, the production would have crossed 1.7 million cars, which is “way beyond 100 per cent capacity utilisation.”

     

     

     

  • Drivers beware

    Drivers beware

    This article is borne out of an adage that says when a child is trained, he should also give himself more training.

    Quite a large number of drivers (commercial vehicle drivers, private vehicle drivers, drivers of self-own vehicles and riders) don’t know what driving or Riding really entails. As I often say in my training sessions, driving is a complex task which involves the simultaneous use of several organs of the body in a continuously changing environment to gather, interpret and apply information to ensure effective and safe vehicle control.

    This goes to say that driving requires physical fitness, mental or emotional fitness, and concentration to ensure safety in any driving environment or situation on the road.

    It is therefore disheartening to see Drivers drinking alcohol, smoking or using cannabis or hemp in any form before or while driving.

    They all contain strong psychoactive chemicals which negatively interferes with the brain’s reasoning ability thereby making it difficult for Drivers to judge distance and space as well as slows down their reaction time.

    I have seen cases of drivers who did not have enough pre-driving sleep because of poor time management. Many drivers have trusted Cannabis or hemp to help them in their driving task; not knowing that the Tetra-hydro-cannabinol contained in the cannabis destabilises their mental fitness to drive safely.

    Several drivers, particularly those who drive articulated vehicles, do use combination drugs “to keep themselves awake” while driving not knowing that the only safe antidote to fatigue is adequate sleep. Other prescriptions only amount to postponing the evil day as daily manifested in the number of articulated vehicles seen in the bush where no one ever imagined such accident could occur.

    Every driver must believe and take note of the following:

    • Driving is a complex task which needs to be well understood and practiced with safety-consciousness in mind.
    • Understand and avoids acts that can interfere with physical, mental or emotional fitness to drive.
    • Understand and regularly read the traffic signs, road markings and traffic rules.
    • Get sponsored by your employer and also sponsor yourself if need be, to attend re-training programmes in accredited driving schools to upgrade yourself in the art of safe driving.
    • See other road users as members of your family who should not be killed or injured by you on the road. Don’t just drive to stay alive but drive to save lives.
    • Regularly maintain your vehicle and make it roadworthy for safe movement on the road.
    • Always manifest the fear of God in everything you think, say or do while driving, no matter the actions of other road users.

    With the fear of God, sound training and safety-consciousness, safety on the road is guaranteed in every situation.

  • UK exports over a million cars in since January

    More than one million United Kingdom (UK)-manufactured cars have been built for overseas markets and shipped out of the country this year, new production figures have revealed.

    The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said almost 160,000 vehicles rolled off British production lines last month – up 0.9 per cent compared to last September.

    But it’s exports that continue to drive the high volume of motors being made, while demand for home-built cars slipped last month but remains up this year.

    More than three quarters of all cars built in the UK are destined for customers overseas, new figures show

    Of the 159,726 vehicles built last month, 123,119 were shipped overseas – that means 77 per cent of all cars made in the UK were built for customers from abroad.

    That 77 per cent figure is consistent with the year-to-date volume of exports, which reached 1,000,642 by the end of the ninth month.

    But while exports raced ahead by five per cent, cars built for UK customers decreased by 10 per cent on last September – down from 40,970 in 2015 to 36,607 last month.

    However, year-to-date figures show British built cars sold in the UK up by 5 per cent.

    Almost 1.3 million cars have been manufactured in the UK so far this year with the SMMT confirming a 14 consecutive month increase in vehicle production. This marks a new record since numbers were first measured in 1995.

    SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes, said: ‘British-built cars are in demand across the world as demonstrated by the double-digit growth in exports this year, resulting in more than a million cars produced for international markets.

    ‘The vast majority of cars manufactured here in the UK are destined for abroad and future growth will depend on securing our international competitiveness and the barrier-free access to major global markets that has enabled the UK automotive industry to thrive.”

     

     

  • Nissan to build new models

    Japanese carmaker Nissan will build two new models in Britain despite the vote to quit the European Union (EU), giving Prime Minister Theresa May her most important corporate endorsement since the Brexit referendum in June.

    The decision to build the next generation of its popular Qashqai and X-Trail SUVs at Britain’s largest car plant, rather than elsewhere in Europe, was won with what a source described as a government promise of extra support to counter any loss of competitiveness caused by Britain leaving the EU.

    “This vote of confidence shows Britain is open for business and that we remain an outward-looking, world-leading nation,” May said.

    Nissan employs around 7,000 people in Sunderland, where it built nearly a third of Britain’s 1.6 million cars last year.

    May’s spokesman said Nisan was offered reassurances that conditions would remain competitive, but was not given explicit promises to compensate for any tariffs that might be imposed once the country leaves the bloc. Such a step could potentially open the floodgates to ultimatums from other companies.

  • New venue for Abuja Motor Fair

    The Organising Committee of the Abuja International Motor Fair has announced a new venue for the event. It will now hold at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, instead of Eagles Square, Abuja between October 27 and November 2.

    Chairman Organising Committee Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu said the fair remains an unparalleled gathering of established brands as well as new entrants, ranging from passenger busses, cars, trucks, motorcycles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, to tracking cum navigational devices and many more.

    “The imperative of this year’s event is to drive the much needed attention to the need to fast tracking the development of the sector to seeing how it could be used to drive the current quest for the diversification of the nation economy,” he said.

    Agwu, BKG Managing Director, said the change was part of the strategies the company is putting in place to reposition and re-package the premium auto show in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “The dynamics and developments in the industry made the change inevitable and we have to make it so to remain focused and ensure that we are on track to the continuous realisation of the aims and objectives of the motor fair,” he stated, adding: “We have packaged a show that could effectively be used by the participants and visitors to maximise the benefits that they derive from the fair. This edition will bring out all the potentials and investment opportunities that abound in the automobile industry, which we know are very attractive so that the existing and potential stakeholders will utilise the opportunities offered by the fair.”

    According to him, this year’s edition would provide the litmus test to the shape of things in the industry with the paradigm shift in the economy, government and the auto sector.

  • Airbags: Toyota recalls fresh 5.8m cars globally

    Airbags: Toyota recalls fresh 5.8m cars globally

    Toyota Motor Corp on Wednesday said it was recalling about 5.8 million cars at home and abroad over potentially faulty air bag inflators made by Takata Corp.

    The company said in a statement in Tokyo, that the recalled cars included those used as replacement parts following a 2010 recall.

    It said the recalled covered airbags installed in cars produced between May 2000 and November 2001, and April 2006 and December 2014.

    Toyota’s latest recall includes the Corolla, one of the world’s best-selling models, and the Vitz or Yaris subcompact hatchback model.

    It affects about 1.16 million vehicles sold in Japan, about 820,000 cars sold in China and around 1.47 million cars in the European market.

    The recall extends to Central and South America, Africa, the near and the Middle East and Singapore, and also includes the Hilux pick-up truck and the Etios line of sedans and hatchbacks.

    Automakers worldwide are ramping up the industry’s biggest-ever recall after parts supplier Takata, under pressure from U.S. authorities, agreed earlier this year to declare more of its air bags as defective.

    The air bag inflators in question use a chemical compound which can explode with excessive force after prolonged exposure to hot conditions, and have been linked to at least 16 deaths globally.

    The move shows the complicated nature of the inflator recall, which began around 2008 and continues to expand.

    The latest recall includes about 20,000 cars which were fitted with replacement Takata inflators following an initial 2010 recall.

    The replacement parts are also seen to be at risk of exploding as they do not contain a drying agent.

    Transport authorities around the world now consider inflators without a drying agent to be unsafe and have ordered all of them to be withdrawn.

  • Vital issues for road safety

    Vital issues for road safety

    THE low attention of the federal, state and local governments to road safety management in Nigeria has sadly positioned the country as the third nation with the worst cases of road crashes and fatalities among 193 countries sampled globally. This has made our beloved Giant of Africa one of the most dangerous countries to drive in.
    To reposition Nigeria as one of the countries with the best road safety management, safer road, safer vehicles, safer road users and post-crash care in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, there is an urgent need for governments, agencies, private sector organisations, donor agencies and other stakeholders to look into the issues analysed below and take appropriate proactive steps to effectively address them to ensure the accomplishment of the 5 (five) Pillars of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as it affects Road Safety.
    U.N. Decade of action and Nigeria road safety problem analysis
    Pillar 1– Road safety management: As at today in Nigeria, there are crisis in road safety management, yet there has been no executive pronouncement from the office of past and present oresidents towards the resolution of the imbroglio.
    For example, there has been overlapping of functions and clashes among the key Government Agencies responsible for Road Safety Management in Nigeria.
    Up to this very movement the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIOs) and the Nigeria Police are still at loggerheads over:
    • Who is responsible for the inspection of Vehicles for Standards compliance and road worthiness.
    • Who is responsible for the Accreditation and Regulation of Driving Schools in Nigeria.
    • Who is responsible for the production of Driver’s Licence and Vehicle Licence
    • The Nigeria Police is at loggerheads with the FRSC and VIOs over Vehicle documentation and inspection.
    • State traffic management agencies are at loggerheads with the FRSC over who manages the traffic and operates on federal and state roads, especially in Lagos and Ogun states.
    • There is no structured theory and practical tests for candidates processing Driver’s Licence. A person who does not know how to drive can easily obtain the genuine Driver’s Licence after paying an extra amount of money to the FRSC, VIOs and the Board of Internal Revenue (Motor Vehicle Administration Agency). This is greatly fuelling Driver’s Licence racketeering in Nigeria today.
    • The road safety management agencies have virtually neglected their statutory functions for the pursuit of revenue generation.
    • There are contradictions between the constitutional provision on the role of state government road safety management agencies and the enabling Act of the Federal Road Safety Commission. This has not been resolved because of the absence of presidential pronouncement.

  • Nissan unveils new GT-R

    Nissan unveils new GT-R

    • To launch eight new products in India

    Nissan has unveiled the new 2017 GT-R at the South Africa Festival of Motoring.

    The auto giant said the new GT-R posesses aggressive front fascia and an enlarged grille to cool the hand-built potent engine.

    The new chrome matte finish “V-motion” grille represents one of Nissan’s latest design signatures. It has been enlarged to provide better engine cooling and now with an updated mesh pattern.

    A new hood, which flows flawlessly from the grille, has also been significantly reinforced, contributing to stability during high-speed driving, this is in addition to a freshly-designed front spoiler lip and front bumpers with finishers situated below the headlamps  that give the new GT-R the look of a pure-bred race car, while generating high levels of front down force.

    The GT-R’s familiar wind-cutting shape defines its profile, but the side sills have been pushed out for improved air flow. The rear of the car also received a thorough makeover.

    While the GT-R’s hallmark four-ring taillights remain, Nissan has enhanced the bodywork to help improve air flow, as well as side air vents next to the quad exhaust tips. Also, the belt line that separates the lower black section from the body panel has been heightened to give the car a wider and more aggressive look from the rear.

    These exterior changes don’t result just in a sportier-looking car; they create an aerodynamically efficient vehicle, with less drag but retaining the same amount of down force as the current GT-R to keep the car stable at high speeds.

    Nissan South Africa Managing Director Sales and Marketing, Xavier Gobille, said the shift paddles are now mounted to the new steering wheel to allow drivers to change gears in mid-turn without having to take their hands off the wheel. The paddles themselves, along with the ventilation controls, have improved feel and better sound when engaged or adjusted.

    The GT-R now delivers 421kW at 6800rpm and 633Nm of torque that generates a hefty 600 horsepower.

    The cabin comes with a redesigned, premium interior, befitting a high-performance super sports car. The entire dashboard is new, including an instrument panel wrapped in a single, seamless piece of hand-selected Nappa leather artfully stitched with Takumi-style precision.

    The shape of the dashboard adopts a “horizontal flow” to deliver a sense of high stability for front seat occupants, while the line from the instrument cluster to the centre console provides a distinct driver-oriented environment for the driver.

    Meanwhile, the Japanese auto firm firm will launch eight new products in India over the next five years, enhancing its presence across the country.

    The company, which is aiming at five per cent market share in India by 2020, will launch the new products under its Nissan and Datsun brands.

    “India is a very important market for Nissan globally. The Indian market has all the attention of the top management. We will be launching eight new products by 2021,” Nissan Motor Co Chairman of Africa, Middle East and India Region Christian Madrus said.

    These new products will be equally distributed across Nissan and Datsun brands, he added.

    “This will help us position as one of the top brands in the country. We have already stated that we are looking for five per cent market share in India by 2020,” Madrus said.

    Nissan currently has around two per cent share in the Indian car market.

    While he declined to share more details of the planned new products, he said: “In recent years we have launched more Datsun products so the first one to be launched from the new ones will be a Nissan product.”

    Nissan India Operations President Guillaume Sicard said the company will launch the hybrid version of its top end Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) Xtrail within this financial year.

    On future products, Sicard said the company will focus on segments where there is latent demand.

    “In India there is appetite for large hatchback and also for sedans with big loading capacity,” he said, adding crossover SUV is also on the cards.

    “Considering Nissan’s DNA, SUV is a given but it won’t be the only one,” Sicard added.

    Apart from the Indian market, Madrus said Nissan is also making India an export hub for Africa and the Middle East.

    “The products we have developed in India are also suitable for these regions. We want India to be the base for export to these markets,” he said.

  • Mercedes-Benz tops auto sales in middle year

    Mercedes-Benz tops auto sales in middle year

    Mercedes-Benz in the first half of 2016 has overtaken other luxury car segments in the number of vehicles sold, approaching its goal to beat competitors on annual sales for the first time in 11 years, Bloomberg has reported.

    Mercedes’ sales for the first six months of 2016 increased by 12 per cent, amounting to just over one million vehicles.

    Much of the Mercedes’ sales success is attributed to the newer line-up of vehicles in the Mercedes showroom, including the X3-rivalling GLC mid-size SUV, the new C- and E-Class models as well as their subsequent variants.

    “We began the second quarter with double-digit sales growth”, said Ola Källenius, a member of Daimler AG Management Board that is responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales.

    “In the course of the year, we plan to keep that momentum going with a stream of new products, including four new or revised SUVs,” Källenius said.

    Another major milestone is the fact that Mercedes-Benz delivered more than 156,000 vehicles to customers in August – an increase of 11.8 per cent. The main contribution towards this increase came from the strong rise in unit sales of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) of approximately 40 per cent.

    Mercedes-Benz was able to surpass its strongest August date in the previous year due to double-digit growth in the Asia-Pacific region and in the domestic market. Two sales milestones were also passed last month.

    More than four million SUVs and15,000 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class vehicles have been sold since their market launches.

    “We are delighted about this advancement and will continue to display relentless effort in offering the best sales and after sales services to customers at all designated workshops and dealerships.” -Mirko Plath, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Weststar Associates Limited, sole distributors of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria.