Industri automotif di ASEAN lebih rancak?

Posted July 11, 2011 by admin in Blog Kereta Terpakai | Comments Off

KUALA LUMPUR 10 Julai – Pelaksanaan dasar Komuniti Ekonomi ASEAN (AEC) menjelang 2015 dijangka merancakkan pertumbuhan industri automotif rantau ini termasuk Malaysia.

AEC akan menjadikan keseluruhan rantau bernaung di bawah satu bumbung dengan mencipta pasaran dan pusat pengeluaran bersepadu hampir sama dengan konsep Kesatuan Eropah (EU).

Ini bermakna mana-mana pelaburan yang masuk ke salah satu negara di ASEAN, maka mereka berpeluang meluaskan pasaran di rantau ini dengan lebih mudah.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Institut Automotif Malaysia (MAI), Mohamad Madani Sahari berkata, pengguna di Malaysia dijangka ditawarkan dengan lebih banyak model kereta yang sebelum ini tiada di pasaran.

‘‘Daya tarikan AEC yang menawarkan pelbagai insentif menarik dijangka menarik lebih banyak syarikat pembuat kereta membuka kilang mereka di rantau ini termasuk Malaysia.”

‘‘Walaupun dilihat memberi sedikit tekanan kepada syarikat automotif tempatan, namun jika dilihat dari sudut positif, mereka mempunyai peluang yang terbuka luas untuk mengembangkan pasaran di rantau ini melalui AEC,’’ katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini.

Mohamad Madani berkata, MAI telah merangka beberapa elemen penting keperluan industri automotif tempatan yang perlu dipertimbangkan untuk diserapkan ke dalam AEC.

Katanya, antaranya adalah, meningkatkan kerjasama dalam aspek pembangunan sumber manusia, penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D), perkongsian teknologi dan pembangunan kenderaan hijau.

‘‘Kami akan menghantar dokumen tersebut kepada kerajaan untuk dibincangkan semasa mesyuarat antara negara-negara ASEAN bagi membincangkan AEC,’’ jelasnya.

Beliau berkata, antara elemen penting lain yang digariskan oleh MAI adalah pelaksanaan sistem pengurangan, penggunaan semula, dan kitar semula (3R).

‘‘Kami masih tidak mempunyai sistem pengurusan kenderaan yang sudah berusia seperti mana yang diamalkan di Jepun.

‘‘Perkara ini nampak kecil tetapi perkara ini penting untuk pembangunan industri dan juga bergerak aktif ke

arah pengurusan industri secara hijau,’’ jelasnya.

-utusan melayu

MAA to meet ministry to iron out issues on car sales

Posted June 23, 2011 by admin in Blog Kereta Terpakai | Comments Off

Thursday, June 23, 2011 9:37 AM

PETALING JAYA: The recent amendments to the Hire-Purchase Act 1967 (HPA) has definitely affected car sales, said Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Datuk Aishah Ahmad.

“It is still too early to tell about the actual impact. We are collecting data from our members,” said Aishah in a phone interview yesterday.

MAA members include car marque franchise holders and auto assemblers in the country.

Aishah noted that presently, there were “teething” problems in the car retail trade.

“Based on feedback from some MAA members, there are anomalies in the car buying process. For example, some banks seem to be more stringent compared with others concerning the documentation process,” she said, adding that MAA had requested for a meeting with the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to “iron out” issues.

However, contrary to claims by some car retailers, Aishah said it was not true that the Government did not consult the automotive sector’s stakeholders before implementing the amended Act.

“The Government has done its work, and received inputs from the automotive industry in the past six months. Issues have been discussed at length. Roadshows were organised in the country this year,” she said.

However, one financial institution’s hire-purchase manager contacted by StarBiz yesterday said “it was business as usual”.

The manager said steps were taken earlier to mitigate the effect on car dealers familiar to the financial institution, such as authorising them to collect vehicle booking fees and downpayments on its behalf.

“So far, our average period for hire-purchase loan approvals, ranging from one to three days from the point of submission of completed documentation, has remained unchanged,” said the manager.

To recap, stakeholders in the automotive sector contacted by StarBiz on Monday had complained of a slowdown in car sales since the amended Act took effect on June 15.

Car marque franchise holders and dealers said they were worried about the possibility of trickling cashflow, a rise in booking cancellations and longer leadtime for completion of sales resulting from the amended Act.

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh had pointed out that the company might not be able to efficiently register vehicles on time for buyers, especially during the month-end rush, due to a longer process that required detailed paperwork between the banks, Perodua and customers.

Under the amended Act, all used vehicles for sale will undergo Puspakom’s 18-point inspection to ensure their roadworthiness.

The amendments, among others, also entail the need for banks to obtain a court order before repossessing a vehicle and repossessors must be registered with the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.

Another issue of contention was the 1% maximum booking fee (based on the total selling price) mandated by the amended Act, which requires car sellers to refund customers 90% of the booking fee if the deal falls through.

Unlike the past, presently car sellers or dealers cannot accept booking fees before the car buyer is served with a Second Schedule notice.

It is understood that the Second Schedule notice can only be completed and served, in practice, on the car buyer usually after the hire-purchase loan application is approved.

The remaining 9% downpayment on the car can only be paid when the hire-purchase agreement has been prepared, with details such as the car’s chassis number included.

This means the hire-purchase agreement can only be prepared after the actual car unit has been allocated to the dealership.

Also, only banks or bank-authorised car dealers are allowed to collect car booking fees and downpayments.

E-transfer of names to used-car firms from November

Posted June 20, 2011 by admin in Blog Kereta Terpakai | Comments Off

Monday June 20, 2011
Immediate transfer of names to used-car firms from November

By QISHIN TARIQ and LIZ LEE
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

GENTING HIGHLANDS: Starting November, cars sold to second-hand dealers must be temporarily transferred to the dealers’ name in a move to protect the interest of all parties involved in the transaction.

The move called e-Transfer has received support from the second-hand car dealers association and the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca).

“Dealers and sellers can choose to cancel the transaction immediately if they discover a problem with the car,” said Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan after opening the 33rd annual general meeting of the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies of Malaysia.

Solah added that information about the temporary ownership would not be recorded in the vehicle’s registration card.

The public, he said, could also check information regarding sales and purchase of a car online under the e-Transfer system.

The online information system, developed by eAuto Sdn Bhd and fully supported by the department, would enable the public to check on the car they planned to buy, especially details of the original owner and other important details.

Through the system, one can also trace records of the original owner, his or her financial status and also the status of the vehicle.

“If anyone decides to trade in their car to a used-car dealer, the company can check the report of that particular vehicle through the e-Transfer system before making any temporary transfer of ownership,” he said.

Solah said this would solve the problem of summonses and car loan issues when a person decided trade in his or her car to a dealer.

“JPJ will give car dealers six months to find new buyers. If they fail to sell the cars by then, the car ownership needs to be transferred permanently to the used-car company,” he said.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Car Dealer and Credit Company Association (KLSCDCCA) president Khoo Kah Jin said the move was long overdue.

Fomca secretary-general Mohd Sha’ani Abdullah said buyers would feel more confident about purchasing second-hand vehicles with this new move in place.

“If the dealer is made the temporary owner of the car, there is less likelihood the vehicle will be misused while waiting to be sold.

“In turn, the car seller and buyer need not worry about being punished for offences that they did not commit,” he said.

-the star

Motorists to bear cost of testing vehicles

Posted June 15, 2011 by admin in Blog Kereta Terpakai | Comments Off

Wednesday June 15, 2011

PETALING JAYA: Car owners, not car dealers, will bear the costs of Puspakom’s Transfer of Ownership (B5) and Hire-Purchase (B7) inspections, the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Associations of Malaysia (FMCCAM) said.

Secretary-general Khoo Kah Jin said motorists wanting to sell theirvehicles to used car dealers have to pay for the B5 and B7 inspections first.

“We will evaluate the car according to Puspakom’s inspection results,” he told The Star yesterday.

However, he said the federationremained totally against the B7 inspection costing RM60 which is to be enforced from today, deeming it “an unnecessary cost.”

“The four-point B5 inspection is sufficient to test a vehicle’s roadworthiness. Sellers can always go to a trusted mechanic for additional free professional advice,” he noted.

On Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s statement last week that used motorcycles would be exempted from the B7 test due to the small number involved, Khoo questioned why this was the case if safety was the main issue

Meanwhile, FMCCAM and Gerakan Youth will submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Department and the ministry today requesting to delay the implementation of the B7 inspection.

According to the amended Hire-Purchase Act, motorists wanting to sell their vehicles need to send the cars for a comprehensive 18-point inspection by Puspakom before entering into a hire-purchase agreement.

The inspection will include computerised testing for smoke emission, brakes, side-slip and suspension.

-the star