Paul Tan's Automotive Industry News

Happy New Year 2006

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I’d like to wish all my readers a happy new year. 2005 has been an interesting year for the automotive industry. Pretty exciting. We had new launches from both our largest national car manufacturers, the Perodua Myvi and the Proton Savvy. We had the controversial AP Saga involving Rafidah Aziz, Tun Dr. M and the AP Kings. A new National Automotive Policy. We saw Proton undergo a major management change, and the possibility of a take-over by Volkswagen AG.

Let’s hope 2006 will bring us more exciting developments. I’m sure everyone is eagerly awaiting the new Proton Satria Replacement Model. Sightings of a K-car being test driven which might be a Perodua have also been spotted, though these are all just speculations.

Petrol prices have gone up multiple times this year and currently stands at 1.62 a liter for RON97. There are speculations of another hike REAL soon, so be sure to adjust your finances in preparation for it.

As for imported makes, I think a replacement for the current Honda Civic is also due very soon since if I recall correctly, they’ve stopped production of the older 1.7 VTEC and 2.0 i-VTEC models to clear out the stock. No immediate indications of an update for the Altis or Camry yet. The Accord has been facelifted in Japan and the US but not in Malaysia, fine by me as I don’t like the new facelift anyway. The Sentra has been facelifted again. Nissan has to do alot better than this for their sedans. They seem to be focusing on the X-Trail and the Frontier for the moment. They still don’t have a proper competitor for the City and the Vios. Both the City and Vios have been facelifted in 2005.

Happy trails and enjoy 2005’s last night, wherever you may be spending it. I’m likely going to spend it at home. Already partied enough last night at the Malaysian Press Club’s pre-New Year party. Remember, don’t drink and drive. I’ve had my fair share of that experience.

47 Comments »

  1. 4G93-SC said,

    December 31, 2005 @ 8:48 pm

    HaPpY neW yeaR Paul!!!

    I hope year 2006, u can provide us more info on the upcoming models…….

    Thnks…… May the force be with you……Rise!!!! Hehehehehe

  2. cyrixMX said,

    December 31, 2005 @ 8:56 pm

    HAPPY NEW YEAR and GONG XI FA CAI!

  3. stevarac said,

    December 31, 2005 @ 9:13 pm

    HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !!
    Have a nice & productive year ahead.

  4. Chorwin said,

    December 31, 2005 @ 10:03 pm

    Happy New Year, PaulTan. Thank for your great blog!!!!!
    Keep on with your great work and will keep supporting you, Guru of Malaysia Blog.

  5. keniji said,

    December 31, 2005 @ 10:36 pm

    thanks for info.
    keep up the good JOBS!!!!!!!!

  6. lanaibeach said,

    December 31, 2005 @ 10:36 pm

    cheers for the last day
    tomorrow something new
    tonight looking at the stars
    see any magic coming
    in the sky
    Happy New Year to you!

    lanai 31/12/05 10.36pm

  7. terenceloh said,

    December 31, 2005 @ 11:13 pm

    Happy New Year! Great stuffs, keep it up.

  8. blackhead said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 12:40 am

    happy new year guys ^^

  9. narrowband said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 1:19 am

    Happy new year to everyone.

    Such a great blog this is. I visit here more often than i visit my own blog.

  10. Wai said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 1:25 am

    happy new year
    keep up the good work and hopefully more goodies are in store for us this year

  11. neurra said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 3:02 am

    happy new year my great source of automotive news updates..! keep up the good work~

  12. jakesky said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 3:40 am

    happy happy new year.
    thanks paul for havin this great blog up.

    god bless

  13. jo jo pot said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 9:58 am

    Happy New Year …to all haters and lovers

  14. diabloCruiser said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 10:26 am

    Happy New Year 2006 !!! to all the car savvies here……..and also to paultan for letting us all here understand cars more ! Cheers…….Wishing you all a great year ahead !

  15. Handsfree said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 10:42 am

    Happi 2006 to all freinds out there…..

    hope this 2006 will bring all of us a better n safe year in study,,, working or business,,,,

    good luck

  16. wan said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 11:46 am

    WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
    Is there any kembara replacement model year 2006 or year 2007? Please keep the reader updated. Thanks. God bless you.

  17. damion said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 1:24 pm

    Happy New Year to Paul and all of the readers here.. ;)

    btw, uncorfirmed sources revealed that the SRM might be launched this month..
    although, there hasn’t been news of any schedule yet…

  18. biggie said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 1:42 pm

    i actually a little sad that Proton changing its direction when it matters. as Proton do have a line up of ‘own’ cars now rather then rebadged car. In fact I look fwd then to 2006 where Proton concentrate on niche market (young sporty) and leave the rest to P2/Naza. Drop the rebadge model … or ask someone to mfr for them e.g. Indon or DRB. and concentrate on improving own model Waja/Gen2/Savvy

    Whatever spare capacity it has then should be use by VW and Mitsu. Thus volume is not a factor anymore.

    Else we have many bland looking cars on the road.. one that rightly blown up by Jeremy.

    Btw MV Augusta purchase do not give any significant returns as P1 or TM busy with boardroom tussle and do not have the time to look into how relationhip betwen P1 and MV Augusta should be conducted.

    Happy New Year.

  19. Global Voices Online » Blog Archive » Malaysia: O-Year-2006! said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 2:01 pm

    [...] Apparently, Malaysians are a bunch of people with lots of hopes. This time around, wish lists are abundance. paultan.org hopes 2006 will bring Malaysians more exciting automobile developments, together with his sum-up of the domestic automobile industry throughout year 2005. bob.jots reminds us to take action where it matters and start taking stock about what one really want to. KTemoc Konsiders summed up by saying that the most outstanding issue for 2005 must be the progress of the recovery post tsunami while The Vendetta wishes for more toleration and moderation, which was believed as the two key elements lacking in our counterpart of Earth. [...]

  20. MageP’s Lab » Blog Archive » [GVO] Malaysia: O-Year-2006! said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 2:08 pm

    [...] Apparently, Malaysians are a bunch of people with lots of hopes. This time around, wish lists are abundance. paultan.org hopes 2006 will bring Malaysians more exciting automobile developments, together with his sum-up of the domestic automobile industry throughout year 2005. bob.jots reminds us to take action where it matters and start taking stock about what one really want to. KTemoc Konsiders summed up by saying that the most outstanding issue for 2005 must be the progress of the recovery post tsunami while The Vendetta wishes for more toleration and moderation, which was believed as the two key elements lacking in our counterpart of Earth. [...]

  21. [Half-Half PBâ„¢] HatukNgkau said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 4:55 pm

    Happy New Year to all…

    Hope 2006’s rot wont be as quick as 2005’s…

  22. [Half-Half PBâ„¢] HatukNgkau said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 4:58 pm

    wow, biggie, do u really need to copy and paste ur words accross the whole blog?

  23. revver said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 7:13 pm

    happy,happy,happy new year paul.

    thank you and keep the good job providing the lattest. God bless you.

  24. savoc said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 7:17 pm

    happy new year from Savvy Owners Club

    http://www.savoc.net

    AGAINST ALL ODDS

  25. iQBaL said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 7:26 pm

    Happy New Year….all three of ‘em!!

  26. Levin said,

    January 1, 2006 @ 9:59 pm

    Happy New Year to Paul and all readers.

    By the way, Paul, you forgot to mention the new facelifted Vios as well. The ‘06 facelift is already on the roads.

  27. pendek said,

    January 2, 2006 @ 10:18 am

    i 0wNz J00

    Happy New Year!

  28. Xoomie said,

    January 2, 2006 @ 11:53 am

    Happy New Year to u Paul & the rest…..

    Good Luck

  29. Long Dong Silver said,

    January 2, 2006 @ 1:29 pm

    Happy New Year…yeah right…………..2006 will be the year of price increases so I don’t see any reasons to be feeling “happy”

  30. Quit Smoking said,

    January 2, 2006 @ 5:16 pm

    Happy New Year!

  31. trav da man said,

    January 2, 2006 @ 7:50 pm

    hope this is not too late to wish all of u a happy new year 2006
    hope for the best for 2006!

    may 2006 be a great year for automotive as well!

  32. Jelly said,

    January 2, 2006 @ 9:39 pm

    Happy New Year All!!!

  33. adamckc said,

    January 2, 2006 @ 10:23 pm

    i love your blog paul. may i salute and express my appreciation of what u have done for all of us the car lovers…

    i love u paul.. may i start to cry now.. have a great year ahead..

  34. albagmane said,

    January 2, 2006 @ 11:12 pm

    gosh… happy new year 2006.. hope this year wont be full of disasters..

  35. biggie said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 8:38 am

    hatuk,
    i just felt its more appropriate here.

    Anyway congratulations Paul for the great blog

  36. Hazu said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 9:21 am

    Errr..hapy belated new year….i spend the new year eve..lepak rumah ler….HAPPY YEAR 2006! to all!

  37. zerocool said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 9:46 am

    HAPPY (belated) NEW YEAR to all!!!!

  38. muthu said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 9:47 am

    happy new year……

  39. pycazu said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 9:48 am

    Happy New Year… But pity me to wait for Myvi across year, it’s still long in the list though…:(
    Hopefully year 06 come the Toyota long-awaited n mystery new car – Vitz or Yaris maybe, in reasonable price! Surely i’ll drop the *&^*@ Myvi booking, haha…
    Thanks to Paul for having this ground for us to know more the progress of bolehland automotive and yet those under cover. It’s much more entertaining n updated compared to any other media – newspaper, TV etc…
    Regarding petrol price up issue, we at least save for 3 days now, cheers to poor Malaysians…

  40. Michael Chua said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 10:13 am

    R u a fan of Hellsing? U used Alucard’s picture as your avatar :)

  41. repsol said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 12:12 pm

    happy new year to all forumers,..

    wishing u all da best

  42. SEE FU said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 12:39 pm

    Happy DOG year!!

    2006, soon will be….GONG XI FA CHAI!!!

    YAU MOU GAU…..CHOR!! Why so fast one!

  43. KY said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 4:09 pm

    hail to CRP, paul! :P

  44. suanie said,

    January 3, 2006 @ 6:25 pm

    z0mg i need car news updates PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE update!! kthxbai

  45. gegaoff said,

    January 4, 2006 @ 8:48 pm

    hei everybody!! just back from johor bahru… no chance to touch computer. miss u guys!!!

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!
    cheerss…

  46. Man said,

    January 5, 2006 @ 3:04 pm

    Happy New Year, hope Proton will do well this year … can’t wait to see the SRM.. cherio

  47. shaymen said,

    January 9, 2006 @ 11:01 am

    happy and sad new year to all malaysian who believe in p lah….

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