07/12/2025

theSunday Special XV ON SUNDAY DEC 7, 2025

Trust the people

ONE of the biggest news in the Malaysian automotive industry recently was Kia tak ing on a principal-led business model. For years the brand has been repre sented in Malaysia through distributors like Naza and then Bermaz, but the brand is now officially in Malaysia, and the company is called Kia Sales Malaysia Sdn Bhd. The other news was Proton has intro duced the new Saga, but Proton teased and re-teased the car so much that by the time the car was officially launched, it had lost its sparkle and shock value. All every one wanted to know was the price of the car. Of course the biggest news of them all is Perodua introducing Malaysia’s first ever home grown EV. But I have writen exten sively about that in this week’s review. I do have to say well done to Perodua for mak ing Malaysians proud though. Anyway, back to Kia. The press release distributed to members of the press high lighted the formation of the new company, the handover from Bermaz Auto to Kia Sales Malaysia and the people behind the company. Hyung Ho Kim is appointed as President

Honda Malaysia and its team deserve a special mention too, as does the team at Chery Malaysia and Pro-Net, the subsidiary of Proton that focuses on electric models. But besides that, we have never quite had individuals who have made such an impact on an industry as these individuals. But this should change. Because the car industry is so competi tive now, perhaps this is a good time to switch our mindset into buying something because of the people behind it on top of the product itself. Of course, a good product matters, but so does a good team with good leader ship. A good product may get your attention, but a good leadership that puts in place a proper ownership experience is what you should prioritise. So, the next time you think of buying a new car, spare a moment to think about the people behind the brand.

gargantuan wheels. The more classic the design, the better. Massive screen on the inside with as little hard buttons as possible.

of the company and Emily Lek as Managing Director. Both are seasoned industry players with Emily making a name for herself in the past few years as the Vice

And the cars seem to offer the same safety features, the same power outputs and almost drive the same with the same, dull steering feel. Cars no longer standout. In fact, what stands out now is the length of the warranty, the avail ability of spare parts and ease of access to service centres. So perhaps, now is a good time for the people behind the brand to truly stand out. Like Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates of

President of Jaecoo Malaysia. Her tenure at Jaecoo put a spotlight on the Chinese brand and her guidance arguably made the brand into what it is today. Almost every article that covered this story made a spe cial mention of Emily and that itself is saying something of her. And this brings me to my point. In this day and age where

WRITTEN BY KESHY DHILLON

new car brands are popping quicker than some of us can imagine, and where buyers are spoilt for choice, it is perhaps better for us to pick a car because of the team behind it rather than the car itself. All cars seem to be made out of the same mould now. Big, boxy design with Because I can definitely guarantee you that for the many good people behind a brand, there are also lacklustre once that can destroy your ownership experience as well. iCaur launches retro-style electric SUV Aims to strengthen competitive EV market presence Microsoft, Elon Musk of Tesla, Lei Jun of Xiaomi and Ratan Tata of Tata Group. Among many, many others of course. On the Malaysian level, I have to men tion Dato Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad of Perodua and his leadership that has made Perodua into what it is today.

ICAUR MALAYSIA has expanded its electric SUV line-up with the launch of the new iCaur V23, a model designed to strengthen the brand’s presence in the country’s increasingly competitive EV market. It follows the earlier arrival of the iCaur 03, but this time the company is leaning into nostalgia, shaping its new C-segment SUV with cues from old-school off-roaders while pairing that look with modern performance and safety technology. Despite its compact footprint, the V23 carries noticeably bold propor tions. It measures 4,220mm in length, 1,915mm in width, and 1,845mm in height, with a 2,735mm wheelbase that gives it the stance of

For the first 1,000 registrations, iCaur Malaysia is introducing a thoughtfully curated Early Bird Package designed to add meaning ful value to the ownership experi ence. Every purchase includes a complimentary 7KW AC charger worth RM3,400, offering customers convenient home charging from the very start. To further elevate day-to-day usability, the package includes an auxiliary 6.86-inch instrument clus ter unit valued at RM1,000. In addition, buyers will receive an extended battery, electric motor and power control unit warranty covering up to 10 years or 200,000km.

Camera, which provides a clear all around view in tight urban spaces or off-road situations. Ownership of the V23 is sup ported by the reliable, comprehen sive care that underpins all iCaur models. This includes a seven-year or 150,000km vehicle warranty, and an eight-year or 160,000km battery and drive unit warranty, and a bat tery replacement guarantee should the State of Health fall below 70% during the warranty period. (V2L cable, portable charger). The iCaur V23 is priced at RM119,800 for the 2WD variant and RM132,800 for the iWD vari ant, with local deliveries beginning immediately.

motor version drops that to 7.5 sec onds. Both variants are capped at a top speed of 140kph. Charging flexibility is another highlight. The 2WD supports DC charging at up to 85kW, while the iWD boosts that to 104kW. AC charging remains at 6.6kW for both models. Inside, the V23 continues the blend of classic and contemporary. The tall roofline improves head room, and the large windows help with visibility. Old-school physical controls, including rotary knobs, are paired with modern equipment such as a 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 540° Transparent Chassis

a true adventure-ready SUV, whether navigating the city or head ing into rougher terrain. Two powertrain choices are available. The rear-wheel-drive ver sion uses a single motor producing 136PS and 180Nm, paired with a 59.9kWh LFP battery. The more powerful intelligent all-wheel-drive model adds a front motor for a com bined 211PS and 292Nm, supported by a larger 81.8kWhNMC battery. Range remains a strong selling point for both, with the 2WD rated at 401km on the NEDC cycle and the iWD stretching that to 501km. Performance varies accordingly: the 2WD completes the 0–100 kph run in 11 seconds, while the dual