It is quite common these days to see automakers using sexy models at their car launch or at motorshows. I often question whether this is to attract the guys to come to the event to see the girls or the cars! The girls will no doubt attract a certain number of guys but the question is whether the girls will over shadow the car or the product at the event. China has banned the use of sexily dressed models at motorshows because it was getting out of hand at one point where the models were barely wearing anything or the clothing they wore were just too revealing.
A classy model at a car show is perfectly acceptable as it may be a nice touch when it comes to take photographs. If the sexy model is used to promote products I seriously doubt that the company promoting the product is really getting the real attention that they are after since the sexy models only attract the guys interested in taking pictures of the girls rather than the product itself. I have personally seen cases where the crowd will follow the girls and when the girls leave the booth for a break or walk to another location, the crowd follows leaving the booth with little or no visitors. The right attention is not there. There were even cases where the booths that did not hire any models literally had no attention or visitors at all! the crowd was there to just look at the girls.
The companies who use models to promote their product should really think whether they want real visitors who are seriously interested in their products or perverts who want to only see the girls?!
For branding purposes using a sexy model will definitely help since many pictures of the girls with the brand or logo will be taken and shared on social media or in print publications. The brand name can easily be seen circulating around.
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Wednesday, 27 May 2015
YEMA Motors china
During one of my business trips to China I was invited to visit a local car factory. The factory is a second tier Chinese automaker by the name of YEMA Motors. Most of us outside of China wouldn't have heard of this company but apparently it has been manufacturing cars for 25 years! The car is nothing to shout about since they copy the designs of Audi, VW, Ford, Toyota and Subaru.
It was my first visit to a second tier China car factory. The manufacturing facilities are nowhere near as advanced as the big boys like BYD or SAIC. Design wise they look poor copies of Audi's Q7, VW Touarag, Subaru Forester, Toyota Altis, Ford Fiesta and Toyota RAV4. I did not have a chance to test drive their cars but upon inspection of the interior it really does look like it was designed 20 years ago. The plastics quality is poor and so is the finishing of the car. The exterior door panels were not perfectly straight as one can easily spot the wavy lines on the panels itself. Much of the assembly process is done by hand instead of using robotics. The factory is not exactly small but it is not big either.
During the factory tour one of the senior managers were explaining about the company's history and future direction. their aim is to go fully electric and introduce a whole range of models using only electric power. They currently make electric buses which are being used by some municipal governments in China. They took the idea from Tesla and created a modular system whereby additional battery packs can be added for more range or more power. They were claiming good driving range for their electric cars however I have some reservations about it since their emphasis is not in quality rather than lower price.
YEMA claims that they are currently exporting their cars however I suspect that their cars would only be sold in 3rd world countries or smaller developing countries since automotive crash testing may not be mandatory in these countries. I question YEMA's car if they would pass NCAP or other European or Japanese crash tests.
We were not provided a tour of their R&D centre so it is hard to gauge how good is their R&D resources. They did bring out a VW Touarag looking model that is 100% electric. The car is still a prototype but they did try to take visitors a on joyride to let them feel this new car. It is a positive step for the company but in terms of design development they have a long way to go before they can compete with the bigger tier 1 China car companies.
China's automotive market is big enough to have numerous car makers with each carving out their own market segment. Unfortunately nearly all aim only for cheap cars with low quality materials and old engines. It is about time they followed Hyundai and Kia to engage foreign experts to accelerate their design and development of the cars.
It was my first visit to a second tier China car factory. The manufacturing facilities are nowhere near as advanced as the big boys like BYD or SAIC. Design wise they look poor copies of Audi's Q7, VW Touarag, Subaru Forester, Toyota Altis, Ford Fiesta and Toyota RAV4. I did not have a chance to test drive their cars but upon inspection of the interior it really does look like it was designed 20 years ago. The plastics quality is poor and so is the finishing of the car. The exterior door panels were not perfectly straight as one can easily spot the wavy lines on the panels itself. Much of the assembly process is done by hand instead of using robotics. The factory is not exactly small but it is not big either.
During the factory tour one of the senior managers were explaining about the company's history and future direction. their aim is to go fully electric and introduce a whole range of models using only electric power. They currently make electric buses which are being used by some municipal governments in China. They took the idea from Tesla and created a modular system whereby additional battery packs can be added for more range or more power. They were claiming good driving range for their electric cars however I have some reservations about it since their emphasis is not in quality rather than lower price.
YEMA claims that they are currently exporting their cars however I suspect that their cars would only be sold in 3rd world countries or smaller developing countries since automotive crash testing may not be mandatory in these countries. I question YEMA's car if they would pass NCAP or other European or Japanese crash tests.
We were not provided a tour of their R&D centre so it is hard to gauge how good is their R&D resources. They did bring out a VW Touarag looking model that is 100% electric. The car is still a prototype but they did try to take visitors a on joyride to let them feel this new car. It is a positive step for the company but in terms of design development they have a long way to go before they can compete with the bigger tier 1 China car companies.
China's automotive market is big enough to have numerous car makers with each carving out their own market segment. Unfortunately nearly all aim only for cheap cars with low quality materials and old engines. It is about time they followed Hyundai and Kia to engage foreign experts to accelerate their design and development of the cars.
Wednesday, 20 May 2015
Mazda vs the other Japanese car companie
Mazda may be one of the smallest car makers in Japan and in terms of financial and research resources they are probably the smallest. Mazda has survived this long due to their different approach in car design. They have been known to create some very good looking cars but never did have the engine technology to match. In the recent years where they launched the SkyActiv engine and re-worked the body of the car models, the results have been positive. Their sales numbers are up and they are able to attract a wider group of buyers compared to previous generations of cars.
The new line up of Mazda 6, 3 and 2 have gained momentum and many young buyers are now considering Mazda over traditional brands like Toyota and Honda. It is a good thing since Mazda has adopted the Zoom Zoom theme for the last 10 years and now with the current evolution of the models the cars have the looks to match. The new models' interior has also broken away from the traditional Japanese styled interiors. The new Mazda 2 and 3 have a European look to it, similar to Audi and BMW. It is also packed with features and functionality that are not found in competing models such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Honda City or the Toyota Vios. Pegging it at very similar prices the Mazda models are now a serious contender and the fresh look will attract buyers wanting something different rather than the run of the mill Toyota or Honda.
In this day and age where technology and design themes move so quickly, Mazda did the right thing by thinking outside the box in terms of design. It is little wonder why Toyota just signed an agreement to collaborate with Mazda. Toyota needs an injection of youth and fresh design while Mazda needed access to more R&D resources.
Take a look at the current designs of the Mazda 2 and 3 and you will see what I mean.
The new line up of Mazda 6, 3 and 2 have gained momentum and many young buyers are now considering Mazda over traditional brands like Toyota and Honda. It is a good thing since Mazda has adopted the Zoom Zoom theme for the last 10 years and now with the current evolution of the models the cars have the looks to match. The new models' interior has also broken away from the traditional Japanese styled interiors. The new Mazda 2 and 3 have a European look to it, similar to Audi and BMW. It is also packed with features and functionality that are not found in competing models such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Honda City or the Toyota Vios. Pegging it at very similar prices the Mazda models are now a serious contender and the fresh look will attract buyers wanting something different rather than the run of the mill Toyota or Honda.
In this day and age where technology and design themes move so quickly, Mazda did the right thing by thinking outside the box in terms of design. It is little wonder why Toyota just signed an agreement to collaborate with Mazda. Toyota needs an injection of youth and fresh design while Mazda needed access to more R&D resources.
Take a look at the current designs of the Mazda 2 and 3 and you will see what I mean.
Friday, 8 May 2015
car companies that defy convention
There are two car companies that I personally admire the most for their approach to car making. Unlike typical large car companies that makes cars by the hundreds of thousands and use parts that are shared with more than 8 models to keep costs low and the cars are made for the masses without passion.
Tesla and Koenigsegg are the only car companies in the world that shake up the automotive world with their ingenuity and forward thinking.
Tesla is by far the best electric car in the world with state-of-the-art technology that even main stream car companies that are flush with cash struggle to come close to. The Tesla cars are so well designed that they are unlikely to be called old fashion in the next 5 years. The cars are designed to allow in-model evolution where wireless updates can be carried out periodically to improve the car's battery life, extend the driving range, improve performance, fix bugs and all functions to on-board control system. This is truly forward thinking. The cars did have bug initially which have gradually been ironed out. As with all other cars that roll out, the first few years will see the car companies rectifying bugs in the car. The amazing thing about Tesla is that it's designed is far beyond anything BMW, Porsche or even Toyota is able to follow. The Tesla is also able to out drag powerful American muscle cars on a drag strip and yet drive home in comfort. Tesla is now making its way into emerging markets such as China to grow its sales volume. It may not have turned a profit yet but it will get there as more people come to accept its technology.
Koenigsegg is on the other extreme end of the scale where Christian von Koenigsegg spares no expense to develop his hypercars to be the best in the world. His unrivaled passion to be the best and produce the best has won him many admirers and respect from the automotive industry. Koenigsegg was the first company to make and use carbon fibre wheels and also 3D print their own turbo. This is totally unheard of. Koenigsegg also broke convention by redesigning the car's door and even transmission system. He believed that conventional may not be the best so we he designed it to suit his purpose. He was willing to explore the usage of new materials and new manufacturing techniques to make things better. The Koenigsegg car may be one of the most expensive in the world but those who are able to afford one knows that they are buying passion, innovation and creativity. It like having a bespoke suit made by the best tailor using the best materials possible sparing no expense.
Both these companies are not big in comparison to General Motors, Toyota and VAG group. The resources at their disposal is far smaller than any of these giants.
Tesla and Koenigsegg are the only car companies in the world that shake up the automotive world with their ingenuity and forward thinking.
Tesla is by far the best electric car in the world with state-of-the-art technology that even main stream car companies that are flush with cash struggle to come close to. The Tesla cars are so well designed that they are unlikely to be called old fashion in the next 5 years. The cars are designed to allow in-model evolution where wireless updates can be carried out periodically to improve the car's battery life, extend the driving range, improve performance, fix bugs and all functions to on-board control system. This is truly forward thinking. The cars did have bug initially which have gradually been ironed out. As with all other cars that roll out, the first few years will see the car companies rectifying bugs in the car. The amazing thing about Tesla is that it's designed is far beyond anything BMW, Porsche or even Toyota is able to follow. The Tesla is also able to out drag powerful American muscle cars on a drag strip and yet drive home in comfort. Tesla is now making its way into emerging markets such as China to grow its sales volume. It may not have turned a profit yet but it will get there as more people come to accept its technology.
Koenigsegg is on the other extreme end of the scale where Christian von Koenigsegg spares no expense to develop his hypercars to be the best in the world. His unrivaled passion to be the best and produce the best has won him many admirers and respect from the automotive industry. Koenigsegg was the first company to make and use carbon fibre wheels and also 3D print their own turbo. This is totally unheard of. Koenigsegg also broke convention by redesigning the car's door and even transmission system. He believed that conventional may not be the best so we he designed it to suit his purpose. He was willing to explore the usage of new materials and new manufacturing techniques to make things better. The Koenigsegg car may be one of the most expensive in the world but those who are able to afford one knows that they are buying passion, innovation and creativity. It like having a bespoke suit made by the best tailor using the best materials possible sparing no expense.
Both these companies are not big in comparison to General Motors, Toyota and VAG group. The resources at their disposal is far smaller than any of these giants.
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Rich but can't drive!
China's economic growth in the last decade is nothing short of phenomenal. There are so many new found rich in China and many of them have barely 10 years driving experience but have the cash to buy the fastest and loudest super and hypercars money can buy. You can walk down XinTiandi in downtown Shanghai and spot dozens of Ferraris, Lamborghini's, Aston Martins, Mercedes SLS, Mclarens and etc. The new found wealth is no doubt great for super car dealers since they have move so many cars from the showroom floor. However, the big problem comes when most of these Chinese buyers can barely handle a 200hp VW Passat let alone a 550hp Ferrari. It is like learning how to fly before you can even crawl!
Ferrari claims that more than 30% of the cars sold in China are crashed but the owners who do not have the skill to control the car. Ferrari has been actively promoting their driving programs to help the new owners learn how to drive the cars safely. Being rich, the ego factor comes into play and many of these rich buyers cannot be bothered attending the driving programs and just literally buy the cars and drive it the way they wish. There has been many documented cases where many super cars have crashed on city streets or highways in China. Recently a Porsche 918 was destroyed by a young rich owner and in the last 2 days the first La Ferrari was destroyed also by a young driver.
Like the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. This is something that ego alone cannot save the driver. It is like giving a loaded 357 Magnum to a child! The problem is more pronounced in China. The problem occurs world wide where rich people buy the toys that they want but not necessary that they know how to use it.
Car makers really need to install a super nanny program to limit the power of the super car until the owner has gone through the driving program and passed before the car company will give them the access code to unlock the full potential of the car. This nanny mode is good since it can be activated at any time and if the owner himself is not driving and the keys are handed to a person with little or no experience with such powerful machinery they are less likely to wreck it! or kill other people along the way. Alternatively, the car company can provide 2 sets of keys just like how Dodge Hellcat has a black key and red key. The black key is on safe mode and limits the power of the car. For the case of China the owner will be handed a black key to start with and the red key will only be provided once they have gone through the driving program.
Seeing pictures of wrecked exotic cars are not pleasant and I am sure that car companies also do not want to see pictures of their cars destroyed. it is bad publicity!
Ferrari claims that more than 30% of the cars sold in China are crashed but the owners who do not have the skill to control the car. Ferrari has been actively promoting their driving programs to help the new owners learn how to drive the cars safely. Being rich, the ego factor comes into play and many of these rich buyers cannot be bothered attending the driving programs and just literally buy the cars and drive it the way they wish. There has been many documented cases where many super cars have crashed on city streets or highways in China. Recently a Porsche 918 was destroyed by a young rich owner and in the last 2 days the first La Ferrari was destroyed also by a young driver.
Like the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. This is something that ego alone cannot save the driver. It is like giving a loaded 357 Magnum to a child! The problem is more pronounced in China. The problem occurs world wide where rich people buy the toys that they want but not necessary that they know how to use it.
Car makers really need to install a super nanny program to limit the power of the super car until the owner has gone through the driving program and passed before the car company will give them the access code to unlock the full potential of the car. This nanny mode is good since it can be activated at any time and if the owner himself is not driving and the keys are handed to a person with little or no experience with such powerful machinery they are less likely to wreck it! or kill other people along the way. Alternatively, the car company can provide 2 sets of keys just like how Dodge Hellcat has a black key and red key. The black key is on safe mode and limits the power of the car. For the case of China the owner will be handed a black key to start with and the red key will only be provided once they have gone through the driving program.
Seeing pictures of wrecked exotic cars are not pleasant and I am sure that car companies also do not want to see pictures of their cars destroyed. it is bad publicity!
Monday, 27 April 2015
Audi's incredible development of new diesel
Audi recently developed a way to create diesel fuel from water and carbon dioxide. This is truly amazing since all this while all automakers have been dependent on either electricity or fossil fuel. Audi's engineering team worked out a way to create diesel by using hydrogen from water and fusing it at high temperature with carbon dioxide to create a clean new diesel fuel. This could spell disaster for oil companies since this method of creating diesel is renewable since the key ingredients are readily available. Audi is now doing further tests on this new fuel and claims that it can be combined with regular diesel or run 100% on its own.
This could be a new chapter in Audi's business and could potentially boost their income many times over. Being a renewable source of fuel the key thing now is to bring the cost of production down once the fuel is 100% stable. As it is already well documented, diesel engines are very efficient and offer great torque but a little noisy. Audi claims that the new fuel is quieter and cleaner than regular Euro 5 diesel. This is great news for EU countries since their regulations are always focused around carbon emissions.
If the price of the new fuel is able to be cheaper than regular diesel, don't be surprised to see Audi's new fuel overtaking regular diesel as a fuel source in the near future. Oil companies would want a piece of this technology and would pay top dollar just to buy the license or the patent for it. Since VAG is a big auto maker it is likely that they turn this technology into a cash cow for many years to come.
This could be a new chapter in Audi's business and could potentially boost their income many times over. Being a renewable source of fuel the key thing now is to bring the cost of production down once the fuel is 100% stable. As it is already well documented, diesel engines are very efficient and offer great torque but a little noisy. Audi claims that the new fuel is quieter and cleaner than regular Euro 5 diesel. This is great news for EU countries since their regulations are always focused around carbon emissions.
If the price of the new fuel is able to be cheaper than regular diesel, don't be surprised to see Audi's new fuel overtaking regular diesel as a fuel source in the near future. Oil companies would want a piece of this technology and would pay top dollar just to buy the license or the patent for it. Since VAG is a big auto maker it is likely that they turn this technology into a cash cow for many years to come.
Thursday, 23 April 2015
Japanese car companies finally decided on engine downsizing with turbo!
The European car companies started engine downsizing over 10 years ago and now the Japanese finally decided to join the party. Honda being the first to announce this move last year with the planned introduction of 1.5 litre turbo engines for the Civic, Accord and several other models. They finally saw the benefit of the engine downsizing and how much the European car makers have been pushing this initiative. BMW, Mercedes, Audi/VW, Peugeot, Citreon and Renault have all been using small turbo charged engines to great effect since 2004 and earlier (VW and Mercedes).
The next to follow is Toyota who also announced their plans for small engines with turbo but it is rumoured that they are collaborating with BMW for engines. In terms of out right engine technology and development Honda and BMW are among the best in the world for making ultra efficient engines which punches well above its weight each time.
Gone are the days of using a regular 2 Litre engine on a mid size saloon (Camry or Accord size), a 1.6 litre turbo will offer more power and more torque while using 15-25% less fuel. For the guys who cannot resist the temptation of tuning, the turbo engine open up a lot of potential for tuning. A quick ECU remap will easily gain another 20-25% more power and torque. Of course this is a headache for car companies who want to keep their warranty programs intact.
Small engines with turbo plus hybrid system will be next wave after this. all because of the elusive search for better efficiency. From 5L/100km average will soon drop to 3.5L/100km with hybrid systems.
It is time for American car companies to think about improving themselves. Their dinosaur age engines are too far behind and lack the required levels of efficiency to compete with the best from Europe and Japan.
The next to follow is Toyota who also announced their plans for small engines with turbo but it is rumoured that they are collaborating with BMW for engines. In terms of out right engine technology and development Honda and BMW are among the best in the world for making ultra efficient engines which punches well above its weight each time.
Gone are the days of using a regular 2 Litre engine on a mid size saloon (Camry or Accord size), a 1.6 litre turbo will offer more power and more torque while using 15-25% less fuel. For the guys who cannot resist the temptation of tuning, the turbo engine open up a lot of potential for tuning. A quick ECU remap will easily gain another 20-25% more power and torque. Of course this is a headache for car companies who want to keep their warranty programs intact.
Small engines with turbo plus hybrid system will be next wave after this. all because of the elusive search for better efficiency. From 5L/100km average will soon drop to 3.5L/100km with hybrid systems.
It is time for American car companies to think about improving themselves. Their dinosaur age engines are too far behind and lack the required levels of efficiency to compete with the best from Europe and Japan.
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