Gaji seorang CEO automotif

Utusan Malaysia

Pastinya ramai yang mungkin terkejut dengan laporan mengenai cadangan menaikkan gaji pegawai tinggi syarikat milik kerajaan (GLC) sehingga 100 peratus di sebalik kenaikan kos perniagaan pada masa ini.

Lebih mengejutkan apabila mengetahui gaji Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) firma-firma berkenaan semenangnya sudah besar sehingga mencecah ratusan ribu dalam masa sebulan dan ada yang hampir RM10 juta setahun.

Namun, itu adalah pandangan orang biasa yang kebanyakan tergolong dalam golongan rakyat berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana tetapi di kalangan warga dunia korporat, angka-angka besar gaji CEO adalah normal terutama dalam sektor automotif.

Jika dilihat gaji Presiden dan CEO Ford Motor Company dari Amerika Syarikat (AS), Alan Mulally, beliau dikatakan menerima AS$2 juta atau RM6.5 juta setahun dan jumlah itu tidak termasuk ganjaran lain seperti bonus dan pampasan lain yang semuanya bernilai AS$21.6 juta atau RM70.5 juta.

Pada masa yang sama, Mulally juga menerima imbuhan tambahan bernilai AS$1.4 juta atau RM4.6 juta melibatkan kad telefon, telefon bimbit, kereta dan pemandu serta tiket kelas satu untuk menyaksikan acara sukan berprestij.

Selain Mulally, Naib Presiden Eksekutif yang juga Ketua Pegawai Kewangan (CFO) Ford, Don Leclair pula mendapat gaji sebanyak AS$1,005,633 atau RM3,283,689 dan bonus insentif bernilai AS$3 juta (RM9.8 juta).

Ford yang beribu pejabat di Dearborn, Michigan adalah sebahagian daripada Detroit, pembuat kenderaan yang diasaskan oleh Henry Ford pada 16 Jun 1903.

Pada tahun lalu, pendapatan Ford meningkat kepada AS$173.9 bilion atau RM567.7 bilion menerusi pengeluaran sebanyak 6.553 juta kenderaan oleh 245,000 pekerja di 100 kilang dan fasiliti di seluruh dunia.

Sementara itu, CEO Porshe, Wendelin Wiedeking mendapat gaji sekurang-kurangnya empat kali ganda melebihi ganjaran yang diterima oleh pelumba sukan lasak dan berbahaya iaitu F1 dunia, Ralf Schumacher ketika beliau bersama pasukan Toyota.

Sebagai CEO kepada firma automotif ternama Jerman yang diasaskan oleh seorang jurutera kelahiran Republik Czech, Ferdinand Porsche itu, Wiedeking dikatakan menerima gaji sebanyak antara AS$89 juta (RM291 juta) hingga AS$103 juta (RM336 juta) setahun.

DaimlerChrysler AG dari Jerman mengumumkan CEOnya pada tahun 2006, Dr. Dieter Zetsche mendapat gaji pokok sebanyak EUR1.5 juta atau RM7.6 juta setelah didesak oleh pemegang saham gergasi automotif yang mengeluarkan kereta dan trak berjenama Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Smart dan Freightliner.

Menurut syarat kontrak perkhidmatan Zetsche dua tahun lalu itu, beliau juga berhak untuk mendapat kenaikan gaji tahunan sekitar 150 peratus jika berjaya mencapai sasaran keputusan kewangan tahun yang sama.

Bagi Ketua Eksekutif General Motors Corp., Rick Wagoner, beliau tentunya lega apabila menikmati kenaikan gaji 64 peratus kepada AS$15.7 juta atau RM51.3 juta walaupun terpaksa menutup empat kilang membuat trak dan kenderaan utiliti sport (SUV) ekoran permintaan yang menurun.

Syarikat pengeluar kenderaan santai dan aktiviti luaran ringan AS, Winnebago turut membayar gaji yang besar kepada bekas CEOnya, Bruce Hertzke yang telah bekerja membangunkan perniagaan firma itu selama 36 tahun.

Hertzke dikatakan menerima AS$1.7 juta atau RM5.6 juta pada tahun lalu yang melibatkan gaji pokok sebanyak AS$535,246 setahun dan hampir AS$617,000 setahun dalam bentuk imbuhan pelan insentif bukan ekuiti.

Beliau juga menerima AS$43,800 setahun dalam bentuk pampasan lain, antaranya saham syarikat dan kenderaan milik firma yang mengeluarkan kenderaan rekreasi berjenama Winnebago, Itasca dan ERA itu.

ganjaran

Justeru, Khazanah Nasional Bhd. membuat keputusan tepat apabila dikatakan membayar gaji tahunan lebih RM1 juta kepada Pengarah Urusan Proton Holdings Bhd., Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir jika dibandingkan dengan CEO-CEO firma industri yang sama.

Walaupun Proton belum sekukuh gergasi-gergasi seperti Ford, DaimlerChrysler AG dan General Motors Corp. yang memasarkan kenderaan keluarannya ke serata dunia, CEO Proton patut diberikan ganjaran setimpal terutama selepas memulihkan kedudukan kewangan syarikat pembuat kereta nasional itu.

Pemberian ganjaran setimpal penting kerana dunia kini berhadapan dengan suasana persaingan sengit terutama automotif yang menyaksikan banyak negara kini mempromosi aktiviti eksport setelah pasaran tempatan kian kecil kerana persaingan.

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Kenali Taikun Automotif

Industri automotif tempatan pernah melahirkan ramai taikun automotif seperti Allahyarham Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin S.M. Amin yang mengasas Kumpulan Naza, Allahyarham Tan Sri Yahya Ahmad yang membangunkan Kumpulan DRB-HICOM dan mendiang Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew yang digelar 'Mr. Honda'.

Di sebalik kejayaan-kejayaan yang diuaruarkan tentang taikun-taikun automotif tempatan itu, sebenarnya masih banyak yang harus dilakukan oleh negara ini agar industri automotif negara berkembang sehingga mampu menembusi pasaran global.

Lihat sahaja bagaimana taikun-taikun automotif antarabangsa seperti Henry Ford dari Amerika Syarikat, Chung Ju Yung dari Korea Selatan, Kiichiro Toyoda dan Soichiro Honda dari Jepun, Gottlieb Daimler yang mencetuskan jenama kereta mewah Mercedes dan Karl Friedrich Rapp, pengasas BMW membina empayar.

Bagi motosikal pula, William S. Harley dan Arthur Davidson dari Milwaukee berusaha membina jenama kenderaan dua tayar berkuasa tinggi itu sehingga digeruni semua termasuk gergasi motosikal dari negara Asia terutama Jepun.

Henry Ford yang hidup selama 84 tahun sejak dilahirkan pada 30 Julai 1863 'melarikan diri' dari kehidupan sebagai petani seawal usia 16 tahun untuk menjadi tukang mesin.

Selepas beberapa tahun, Ford menubuhkan Ford Motor Company dan memulakan pemasangan kenderaan secara besar-besaran sehingga menjadikan beliau antara orang terkaya di dunia dan dianugerahkan 161 paten AS.

Ford yang percaya prinsip kepenggunaan sebagai kunci kedamaian dalam mencapai kejayaan mengabaikan akauntan dalam menjalankan perniagaan, sebaliknya menggunakan proses inovasi dalam mencapai pengurangan kos termasuk memperkenalkan sistem francais di seluruh dunia.

Selepas kematiannya, Ford meninggalkan harta-hartanya kepada Yayasan Ford namun meletakkan adikberadik serta anak-anaknya menguasai perniagaan itu. Taikun dari Korea Selatan, Chung Ju Yung, 83 yang mengasaskan konglomerat Hyundai pula bersama-sama adiknya sehingga menjadikan syarikat itu sebagai konglomerat multinasional terbesar atau chaebol asalnya adalah anak seorang petani yang menjana kewangan menerusi pelbagai pekerjaan.

Mendiang pernah menjalankan pelbagai kerja antaranya menggali tanah, menghantar 1001 lembu ke Korea Utara dan membangunkan kereta pertama keluaran Korea, PONY sebagai model pertama buatan Hyundai.

Pengeluar kenderaan terbesar dunia, Toyota Motor Corporation pula diasaskan oleh Kiichiro Toyoda, yang menyambung kerja-kerja ayahnya yang mencipta enjin jenis A pada tahun 1934 dan mengeluarkan kereta penumpang pertama yang diberi nama Toyota AA tahun 1936.

Toyota yang mempunyai 522 anak syarikat turut memiliki dan menguruskan perniagaan kenderaan jenama Lexus dan Scion selain mempunyai kepentingan dalam Daihatsu Motors dan Fuji Heavy Industries, Isuzu Motors dan Yamaha Motors.

Pengasas kereta Honda, Soichiro Honda yang hidup selama 85 tahun dilahirkan di Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan merupakan seorang jurutera industri ringan Jepun. Sejak di zaman kanakkanak lagi, Honda yang tidak pernah mendapat pendidikan secara formal sepanjang hidupnya menghabiskan masa bagi membantu bapa beliau, Gihei, dalam perniagaan membaiki basikal.

Pada usia 15 tahun, Honda berhijrah ke Tokyo dengan mula bekerja di garaj sebelum diberi tanggungjawab lebih besar sebagai mekanik kenderaan selama enam tahun, selepas itu pulang semula ke kampung dan memulakan perniagaan membaiki kenderaan sendiri.

Hampir 10 tahun selepas itu, Honda mula mengeluarkan alat ganti untuk enjin kecil yang menjurus kepada pengilangan enjin berkuasa rendah untuk motosikal.

Bintang Honda mula menyinar pada tahun 1948 apabila mendiang menjadi Presiden Honda Motor Company dan mengeluarkan motosikal lengkap.

Pesaing Honda, walaupun dalam segmen pasaran yang berbeza iaitu Harley Davidson pula diasaskan oleh dua sahabat, William S. Harley dan Arthur Davidson seawal usia 20-an menerusi pelan pembangunan enjin berasaskan motor dan basikal.

Pada mulanya usaha penghasilan enjin motosikal oleh dua sahabat itu mengalami kegagalan kerana enjin ciptaan mereka tidak berupaya mendaki bukit di Milwaukee tanpa bantuan pengayuh.

Tidak berputus-asa, mereka membangunkan enjin generasi kedua yang lebih baik dengan 24.74 kubik inci atau 405 cc dan menjadi pencetus enjin berkuasa tinggi berjenama Harley Davidson yang terkenal serata dunia.

Jenama kereta mewah Mercedes pula asalnya dari nama anak gadis pengedar kenderaan dan penggemar sukan lumba, Emil Jellinek yang mempunyai anak perempuan bernama Mércédès Jellinek.

Walau bagaimanapun, sejarah menunjukkan Mercedes berasal dari jenama Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG) yang mula dibangunkan pada tahun 1900, selepas kematian salah seorang pengasasnya, Gottlieb Daimler.

Ketika itu, Jellinek mengadakan usaha sama dengan DMG untuk mendapatkan siri kereta lumba yang menggunakan enjin sempena nama anak perempuannya.

Jellinek berjaya dalam banyak perlumbaan sehingga berjaya menarik minat ramai peminat automotif pada masa itu sehingga beliau dilantik sebagai ahli lembaga pengarah DMG.

BMW atau Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works) pula diasaskan oleh Karl Friedrich Rapp pada tahun 1916.

Ramai percaya logo BMW adalah ilustrasi kipas yang berpusing dengan berlatar belakangkan kebiruan langit, mungkin sebenarnya ia adalah warna bendera bandar Bavaria.

Sumber: Mingguan Malaysia

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Perodua breaks with tradition

PERUSAHAAN Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd is "breaking tradition" for the first time in its 15-year history by introducing a new vehicle fully imported from Japan.

The second national car producer plans to launch the Perodua Nautica sports utility vehicle, a rebadged Toyota SUV, next month.

Perodua has always produced Toyota or Daihatsu vehicles at its plant in Sungai Choh in Rawang, Selangor.

Managing director Datuk Syed Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar stressed that it is more cost-effective to import the SUV than to assemble it locally.
"This is an urban lifestyle vehicle. The most volume we may get (for this kind of vehicle) is 300 units a month," Hafiz said in a recent interview at his office at the Sungai Choh facility.

He added that monthly sales of some 1,500 units of such vehicle are needed to justify any local assembly.

Hafiz said the 1.5-litre Nautica is also to "fill up Perodua showrooms more". It will complement the company's current passenger car line-up of the Myvi and Viva.

Perodua is targeting buyers who are in the market for a second or third vehicle with a four-wheel drive (FWD) capability.

There is a similar SUV like the Nautica produced by Toyota Motor Co in Indonesia. But the latter version comes with a two-wheel drive capability, Hafiz explained.

Kembara Replacement: Talk has it that the new upcoming Perodua Nautica will look more or like a Daihatsu Bego/Terios or Toyota Rush

Meanwhile, Hafiz said the looming Perodua rebranding is a continuation of its journey to change itself.

"The journey to make the company name more visible started two years ago. For some time now, our product brands such as Kancil and Myvi stand out more prominently than our corporate name, Perodua. We intend to change that situation," he said.

The rebranding revolves around Perodua's new brand vision and tag line "Fresh Thinking To Move Malaysia" and should be launched in June.

Source: New Straits Times Business Times

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The Resurgence of Proton Saga

"It was first a story of success, later on of pain and even shame. Today, it is surmounting challenges to triumph once more."

The new Proton Saga model will be a worthy successor to the iconic first Malaysian car, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"It will become the people's car, as well as the people's pride and joy. I am sure that it will live up to the standards and expectations set by the Saga," Abdullah said at the lavish launch of the new 1.3-litre, four-door family sedan yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

The new Saga reflected national car maker Proton Holdings Berhad's continuous efforts towards becoming a full fledged and globally competitive automotive manufacturer. It is reported that the development of the new model has been completed in 17 months, carried out within the targeted time line and budget. It costs RM 400 million to be developed.

The PM also stressed out that Proton was the catalyst for the development of human capital and talent in the automotive industry.
However, it was critical that Malaysia's car manufacturers responded to the increasingly challenging environment of the global industry, which was going through a consolidation phase, dictated by the need for greater economies of scale for survival and sustainability.

The new Saga is the 16th model for Proton since the first Saga came out 23 years ago in 1985.
Noting that Proton had started with profits but was later hit by “pain and shame” with financial losses, Abdullah said that the new age of success and triumph had begun.

More of New Saga coverage,details & photos at

Paultan : The New Proton Saga

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Businessman has the most expensive car in S’pore

A BUSINESSMAN in Singapore bought a McLaren F1 sports car for £1.4mil (RM9mil), setting the record for the most expensive car in the island, reported Sin Chew Daily.

He bought the vehicle through an agent in Changi.
According to the agent, the vehicle, a limited edition model, was imported from Europe and would be registered overseas.
The agent said if registration was done in the republic, the price of the vehicle would be about S$9.82mil (RM22.46mil) due to various taxes.
Before this, the most expensive car in Singapore was a Jaguar XJ220 worth S$3.2mil (RM7.36mil), bought in 1992.
Last March, another Singaporean businessman paid S$3mil (RM6.9mil) for a Pagani Zonda F.




Besto Regardo,
The McLaren F1 supercar is one of the fastest, most powerful and most expensive road cars ever. It was developed by McLaren Cars Ltd, a subsidiary of one of the world’s leading Formula One Teams. The car features a 6.1-litre 60° V12 BMW V12 engine and it was conceived as an exercise in creating what its designers hoped would be considered the ultimate road car.
The McLaren F1 was the fastest “production” car ever built (having achieved a top speed of 240.14 mph) until 2005 when the Koenigsegg CCR recorded a speed of 388 km/h (241 mph), a record which has in turn been broken by the Bugatti Veyron, with a top speed of 407 km/h (253 mph).
McLaren F1 Vs the reigning of the fastest street car ever in existence- Bugatti Veyron
Only 100 cars were manufactured from 1994 to 1998, 64 of those were street versions, 5 were LMs and the rest were GTR models. After the initial production run 100 cars, McLaren have continued to maintain and add custom appointments to customer cars. Treatments such as new aerodynamic packages and custom interiors have been ordered by customers and McLaren has been happy to comply for right price.

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The tiger is black, back again.

This is the car that is going to be the next saviour of the ailing tiger after the previous launched Persona. By referring to a press release reported yesterday, it seems that the tiger has eventually managed to unleash itself from the dark dungeon of losses.

Proton now has come to black again after suffering six consecutive quarterly losses. It has recorded a net quarterly profit of RM3.5 million on revenue of RM1.3 billion, compared to a loss of RM250 million on a turnover of RM1.27 billion the same period last year. Certainly it's everybody guess that this is due to the encouraging sales factor contributed massively by Persona.

Well, i assume that Proton is currently in a such good position to keep on the momentum after seeing this next to come Proton's new model also widely known as BLM (Base Line Model). This BLM will be launched somewhere in the early of 2008. Honestly, judging from the looks i bet it will be another hot cake for Proton and only if the price tag is attractive enough. Yup sad to say though, certainly this kind of economist theory only applies in the state of Malaysia. Packaged with nice looking and low price, there you go. Sometimes it sounds like i am just another pimp in the town...ya know what i'm sayin.





Besto Regardo,
Yo i went to Osaka Motor Show yesterday. A lot of bloody great machine and nice chickies too. Hmm geramnye !! I'll come up with the pictures and cover up another day.

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Top Gear on Korean & Malaysian Car

Enjoy the clip mate !!

PART I

PART II

Besto Regardo,
I really love watching Top Gear.Jeremy Clarkson and his buddies render something about car from different perspective...and good entertainment as well.Hahahaha LMAOL!Cheers all...


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Impact on Automakers

Latest news reported that monday's earthquake left 10 people dead. Hundreds more were injured and scores of homes have been flattened.

The earthquake has also affected Japan's automakers.

The temporary closure of a factory in Kashiwazaki belonging to major supplier Riken Corp - a maker of transmission and engine parts - will force top manufacturers such as Toyota and Nissan to scale back production.


Toyota is to stop production lines at its plants in Aichi on Thursday and Friday, and review the situation on Monday.However the move taken will also affected all subsidiaries under Toyota Group. All Daihatsu; Shiga, Kyushu, Ikeda, Kyoto plants also have to stop their production and today has been declared an off-day to those who work at production line.Well, since we are not those at the production site, all my colleagues got to work today, but i'm here at home now since i've taken the annual leave in advance previously. So sorry guys. Anyway it really feels good when you can enjoy the view of looking others got to working while you not. Delicious !

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Now it's time for VIVA !!!.....again

At last, the much awaited Perodua Viva has just been launched and revealed to the public on last Thursday night. People's hope and peaked curiosity has already been answered then. It has been reported that the next day after the launching which was inaugurated by Tan Sri Asmat Kamaluddin who is also the Perodua chairman, there were already about 3000 of customer bookings recorded to be sealed successfully. Perodua forecasted to produce around 60,000 units of Viva in this year alone. This means the production line with its full gear will be producing around 8000 units for the model every month. I am not sure about the prospect of high sales volume for the year 2007 as looking onto automotive industry phenomenon in Malaysia generally, it indicates lack of encouragement and stimulants. However...who knows, Viva might changed that as what MyVi performed previously.

This model with it's code name D18D, apparently looks very much better externally and internally than its Japanese cousin predecessor, the original Daihatsu Mira with the code name, D02G.

Wow..i couldn't believe that this Kancil and Kelisa replacement model is really beyond my expectation after viewing its appearance subsequently the glamorous launching.

Is it will be another hot cakes for Perodua after the great windfall sales of its brother the MyVi which on the other hand has the trait of Toyota DNA.

But should you take a glance at Viva design and styling, you might be reminded of some Toyota Avanza features. Well, what more i could say..they come from the same mother plant boy.


Anyway bravo and viva as well to all the related personals who have been involved with this entry class A-segment model for the latest Perodua lines up which took approximately 2 years time to be developed.

Let's see whether it can repeat the glorious record set up by its elder brother, MyVi. Well there's still a long way to go, cutie..anwyway Good Luck !

P/s: To get a detail cover up, kindly click this entry Title.
The elder brother has been doing very good job. How about his new younger brother or may i say it's a sister as it looks so cute...ohhh man

And will their next brother looks like this...just wait and see. Next year, new member will be joining the club. Stay tune...

ベストレガルド、
After this, Perodua will also come out with its Kembara replacement model around next year, i assume..And perhaps some of you might already have a hint of how does it will looks like hehe..楽しみだな～

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Malaysian Who's who with What's what driving machine

I bet most of us might probably ever wondered what kind of cars do those big bosses are entitled for. How about those big bosses of companies related to transportation and car manufacturing. Do their official cars are what their companies produce ? Hehe not really dude..

I got some of the answers from TMCnet News courtesy of 2007 The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad. Source: Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Intelligence Wire. While the rest are through my solely live-sighted experiences which means i saw and acknowledged the facts by myself.

Simply said, in Malaysia nowadays most of the chairmen, managing directors or CEOs will go for the premium and top notch marques like Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi or Volvo complete with chauffeurs while other senior executives are settling for a less but still attractive package from their companies.

"Better transport packages are normally given by MNCs (multi-national companies)," said an industry executive, pointing to British American Tobacco's Malaysian unit which gives its senior marketing staff at least a Peugeot 206 as their daily ride. Senior marketing staff at M'sian BAT get this stuff..the 206. Wow this is just too good to be true

"Local companies' perks are mostly basic, with some capping the amount of fuel cost for senior executives at about RM1,000 and above a month."

So, who gets what? If you are the chairman or managing director of DRB-HICOM Bhd, your official ride is an Audi A8 that costs a whopping RM1 million-plus.Audi A8 Quattro. Vorsprung..

The group's chief operating officer gets a 2.6-litre Audi A6 while senior group directors like Datuk Abu Samah Bachik, who is to retire in two months, are given a 2.4-litre Audi A6 each.
No surprise here on the marque choice as DRB-HICOM distributes German-made Audi vehicles through its 30 per cent-owned Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON).

Senior general managers of DRB-HICOM, meanwhile, get a Perdana V6 together with a driver but general managers only have themselves to drive their Perdana V6 around.

Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin and Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Harun, chairman and managing director respectively of UMW Holdings Bhd, which distributes Toyota and Lexus vehicles through 51 per cent-owned UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, are chauffeured around in a three-litre Toyota Crown.
Other senior management staff or directors get at least a Corolla Altis with unlimited use of fuel and a driver.
The Royal Crown, a flagship besides the Lexus in Toyota fleet. Perodua MD's driving one of this in maroon color with the plate number W** 333

Toyota Crown is also an official ride for the managing director of Perodua, an associated company of UMW Holdings and which is now the country's largest car producer in terms of sales.

Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar, the Perodua chief, prefers to drive the Crown himself rather than let his driver take charge of the steering wheel.
Perodua chief wants this as his official car. The greatest and the best driving machine of Toyota Group fleet. How about Perodua models line up boss..well leastwise they are cute (just try to sound more decent hehe)

"It is easier to go anywhere especially after office hours if I drive myself," remarked Hafiz, who if given the opportunity, may want to make the impressive Lexus flagship LS 460 as his official car. (The Perodua chairman, currently Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, and managing director are nominated by UMW Holdings, which owns a 38 per cent stake in the second national car maker). Public listed company Heitech Padu Bhd gives its executive chairman Datuk Mohd Hilmey Mohd Taib an expensive Mercedes-Benz S-Class, while its president-cum-managing director Safiee Mohammad has an E-Class as his ride, sources said.Typical luxurious toy for the top man

Heitech's several vice-presidents are given an allocation of about RM150,000 to RM200,000 each to buy a car of their choice with no restriction on fuel cost.

What about government and quasi-government agencies? Naturally, they are using national cars and in this case, Proton is mandatory, insiders said.

Technology Park Malaysia Corp Sdn Bhd, for example, gives its president and CEO a Perdana V6 Executive.Is this the Perdana V6 replacement model that people are talking about. Looks good. Yup it's said to be from Mitsubishi 380 ?

The company's two vice-presidents and chief operating officer get a Perdana V6 each together with a driver and zero cap on fuel consumption.

Meanwhile, the "original" national car maker Proton Holdings Bhd gets its chairman Datuk Mohamed Azlan Hashim and MD Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir around town in the Chancellor, essentially a stretched Waja fitted with lots of premium items in the interior. The Proton Chancellor...what a great name

Cars for group directors down to senior managers drive the Perdana V6 Executive down to at least the Gen2, with fuel taken care of.

So apart from above, i'll let you know more. Well just for your 豆知識。。

Malaysian Supreme King, DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yg Dipertuan Agong will be chauffeured in dark navy blue Maybach with the nation crest attached at the front grille and backside of the car. No plate number you know..i saw it once.One of the superb car on earth for the supreme commander of the country

Prime minister, all the ministers and top goverment officers -> Certainly Perdana V6 Executive.

Tan Sri Azman Hashim, the chairman of Ambank -> Toyota Celsior or currently well known as Lexus LS(Happened to see him with the car at MITI)

While Perodua MD got Royal Crown, Daihatsu's president、社長 and its top senior officers are having Daihatsu Altis, equivalent with Toyota Camry. Daihatsu Shachou got this to play with

And me..yeah i am also entitled to get something to ride provided by my genorous company. It's really good as i don't have to pay any dime for the fuel, parking fee, road tax or whatsoever...yeah really. It's so good as it's mama kinda bicycle... My official ride to work..kinda cool isn't it.

ベストレガルド、
まあ。。ちゃりんこなんだけどさあ、ほんまに助かったよ～あれでどこへ行っても便利だしメンテもあんまりそんな金いらん。健康にも得だよね～それだけじゃねいよおお。。確かに環境にもすごく優しくて地球温暖化の対策に対してはぴったりやんか。。よっしゃ。。みんなもこれからちゃりんこで行こうぜ～

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Porsche..She'll be mine

She's gorgeous..she's magnificent, remarkable and absolutely seducing.

Porsche is her called name but also glamorously known only as Porsh. Older she'll be, faster, rather beautiful and sophisticated she is.

To me, a man without a dream is the man who's dying. In due course, Porsche is my ultimate dream for driving machine. Conjecturing that, within 8 years from now..she'll be mine..Inshaallah.

Porsche...There is no substitute. Inside you..i'll be. Just wait for me....
Porsche..the masterpiece of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche, the engineer who also created the first Volkswagen
Founded in 1931, she's now being produced at Zuffenhausen, a city district of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
911 Turbo..i'll get you in no time..opsss..that's too optimistic. Perhaps in 8 years time..

In a May 2006 survey, Porsche was awarded first place as the most prestigious automobile brand by Luxury Institute, New York; it questioned more than 500 households with a gross annual income of at least US $200,000 and a net worth of at least US $750,000. Gosshh..that equally tells me i should have earned at least RM 200,000 anually to propose her..hmmm perhaps around what..RM 16,666.66 per month?..Oohh that's nothing impossible..it will be just too phat and bling bling..yeahh!!


以上です。

Toyota Vs GM for the World's No. 1 automaker..

Japan's Toyota hot on heels of General Motors as world's No.1

OKABA (AP) - Looking at the year ahead, there's no stopping Toyota. Analysts say 2007 could be the year the Japanese manufacturer surpasses General Motors Corp. as the world's No. 1 automaker in vehicle sales.

Soaring oil prices have drivers around the world snatching up gas-saving Toyotas with a reputation for reliability, like the Camry _ the best-selling car in the U.S. nearly every year since 1997 _ and the Corolla, the world's top-selling car.
To keep up with demand, Toyota Motor Corp., which passed up Ford Motor Co. as the world's No. 2 automaker in annual sales in 2003, is opening new plants in Russia, Thailand and China next year. "Everything is going right for Toyota in every way possible,'' said Yasuaki Iwamoto, auto analyst for Okasan Securities in Tokyo. "Toyota has carved out a reputation for reliability and quality.''

The numbers tell the story. Toyota expects to sell 8.85 million vehicles worldwide this year. It won't announce vehicle sales targets for 2007 until Dec. 22, but earlier said it aims to sell 9.8 million vehicles globally in 2008.

General Motors Corp. doesn't give vehicle sales targets but sold 9.17 million vehicles globally last year, the second-largest volume in company history. Toyota is expecting a US$13.4 billion (euro10.1 billion) profit for the fiscal year ending March 2007. It posted a US$11.8 billion profit last fiscal year, marking its fourth straight record income.

GM's situation couldn't be more different. The U.S. automaker is undergoing massive restructuring after racking up more than $10.6 billion in red ink last year and losing US$3 billion more the first nine months of this year.

GM says the perception that its cars are gas-guzzlers is unfair and inaccurate. The Detroit-based automaker, which has begun an ad campaign to fight that perception, has its own share of fuel-efficient models, such as the Saturn Vue Green Line hybrid.
The company said it is focused on its turnaround plan and won't make decisions for the sake of keeping its global sales leadership.

"We're focused on remaking GM into a more competitive, leaner company that can generate profits on a sustained basis,'' said spokesman Brian Akre. "We won't alter our North America turnaround plan or sacrifice our profitability for the sake of one superlative.''

General Motors is also far ahead of Toyota in China, the world's third-largest auto market behind Japan and the U.S. Last year, GM had 11 percent of the Chinese market while Toyota had just 3.5 percent.

GM already has five joint venture assembly plants that make nearly all GM vehicles sold in China and plans to spend US$3 billion in 2004-2007 to expand operations.
But Toyota is also investing in China and aims to roll out the remodeled Corolla next year there - and around the world.
Meanwhile in the U.S., Toyota is encroaching on GM's turf. A decade ago, GM controlled about a third of the U.S. market while Toyota had barely 8 percent. Today, GM's share has dwindled to 24 percent.Toyota's zoomed to more than 15 percent.

This year, Toyota won top honors in eight of 19 categories in a J.D. Power and Associates vehicle dependability study _ more than any other company. Toyota's Lexus luxury brand was the top-ranked nameplate for the 12th consecutive year.
And with the renewed consumer interest in environmentally friendly cars, Toyota has done well with its Prius hybrid, which went on sale in 1997 and delivers about 51 miles per gallon.
Toyota officials say beating GM isn't on their minds.

"Our goal is to become No. 1 with the customer,'' said Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco. "The increases we are experiencing in production and sales is simply a reflection of consumer demand.'' But Toyota has seen its reputation take a hit recently in a rise in recalls, partly as a result of successful cost-cutting that involves many models using the same parts.
Although Toyota's production methods are emulated by other companies and studied at universities, it has been struggling lately to maintain quality as it expands production - a signal of possible danger ahead. President Katsuaki Watanabe has repeatedly promised to beef up quality controls.

To keep up with the burst in demand, Toyota will be opening new plants next year.
Its first auto plant in Russia will start producing the Camry. Toyota in Thailand will add another plant, its third there, to produce pickup trucks. A new plant in China will produce a compact that Toyota has yet to disclose.
In the U.S., the first Tundra pickup trucks rolling off of Toyota's Texas plant will arrive in showrooms in 2007, a sign of Toyota's ambitions in a lucrative sector dominated by American automakers.

Toyota has used its ample coffers to purchase significant stakes in two of GM's former Japanese alliance partners _ Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru cars, and truckmaker Isuzu. Toyota will be even using Fuji's Indiana plant to make Camries starting in spring 2007.
GM used to be the top shareholder in Fuji, but sold its entire 20 percent stake last year as part of its efforts to raise cash for restructuring. Toyota bought an 8.7 percent stake in Fuji for about US$315 million to become the top shareholder.

Last month, Toyota bought a 5.9 percent stake in Isuzu Motors Ltd., well-known for its diesel technology that Toyota is eager to gain - half a year after GM sold its entire 7.9 percent stake in Isuzu. Another symbolic contrast can be seen in the companies' relations with workers.
Over the years of growth, Toyota has never resorted to layoffs, vowing never to repeat the massive voluntary retirements that came during troubled times in 1950, and the company has won worker loyalty in return.

Toyota is among the exceptions among major Japanese companies that have stuck to that policy, although the once standard lifetime employment practice has unraveled in recent decades.

GM, meanwhile, has been negotiating severance packages, including early retirements and buyouts, with thousands of workers during this past year in an effort to turn around its North American operations.

Bill Schwartz of TBM Consulting, a Durham, North Carolina-based company that teaches Toyota production methods to corporate clients, says Toyota has been building its business for decades and is now almost certain to beat GM in attracting more buyers to its cars and trucks.
"It's unavoidable it will happen soon, and it will very likely happen next year,'' he said. "Toyota's curves are all going in the right direction. And General Motors' are all going in the wrong direction.''

以上です。