In Malaysia, Volkswagen is one of the very few brands not to offer active safety systems on its cars. This includes the latest Golf models, which many expected to be the first to be offered with at least autonomous emergency braking, a feature that is standard in most major markets.
So, why is this the case? Well, we posed the question to Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) managing director Erik Winter during an exclusive interview to find out his comments on the matter. In the same interview, Winter also touched upon the significance of the Golf being a locally-assembled (CKD) model and the company’s focus on going upmarket.
“Safety is always a priority, and we will continue to add features into our products. Any updates to our driver assistance systems will require technical and regulatory approvals. These active safety systems are currently undergoing evaluation and technical approval process for Malaysia. They will be made available upon completion of these processes,” Winter replied.
The reply indicates that active safety systems will eventually come to Volkswagen models sold here, although when this will happen remains to be seen. We asked Winter a similar question last July regarding the lack of AEB on the facelifted Arteon that was launched at the time, and we were told that such systems were still subject to approval from the relevant authorities.
Active safety systems are now a lot more prevalent in new cars these days and customers are willing to pay more for such features, as we’ve discussed before. As VPCM is currently working on getting systems like AEB approved, we should expect their models to be updated with them moving forward.
On a related note, Audi, which is Volkswagen’s premium brand, also doesn’t offer AEB for its cars sold in Malaysia, likely because it is facing the same approval issue for such systems. It’s a similar story in Singapore, as volume models like the Golf and Tiguan don’t come with AEB – the large Touareg does come with it though.
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This AEB has been talking since last year July until now still subject for appproval. Please speed up the process since VW car is not cheaper to buy.
Evaluation? What more Evaluation do you need? Why don’t you just take Audi’s your sister company and just do it?
“On a related note, Audi, which is Volkswagen’s premium brand, also doesn’t offer AEB for its cars sold in Malaysia, likely because it is facing the same approval issue for such systems.”
No folding door mirrors too for the Golf GTi Mk8. What a let down considering its intention of going upmarket
lier malaysian life no value
In that case, all VW potential buyers should just wait for it…at this time AEB is so common as many Japanese brands are already offering it…
full of BS, just an excuse to lower the car price and maximize profit!
Second you. so many cars on the road are already with the AEB ..so it’s not something new and require special regulation etc. Just pure BS! First, the DCT. Now the regulations…boycott dia.
Ze German cars superior stronk body, built tough like Panzers and some say like Arnie. AEB is redundant.
No AEB, accident then car got no used car value.
Damaged frontal, sell who want to buy?
Accident or no accident, VW memang pun takde RV anyhow. Having AEB just meant another thing could fail in the VW car.
Arnie as in Arnold Schwarzenegger? He is Austrian btw
Kerja and tinggal kat Malaysia, MD orang putih pun dah kena penyakit yang sama. Pandai bagi alasan. Kakakaka…Can’t blame solely on the seller. It’s the government’s task to set a minimum requirement of safety specifications for new cars to be sold here, then these cheaters will have no choice but to equip them accordingly.
There are no laws which mandates AEB atm. Not even in EU. It is up to the market to self regulate and demand for better safety features or to others it could be a USP.
Based on Winter’s reply, consumers shouldn’t be buying VW until the safety features are included. As long as there is sales, VW will not find the urgency to include this safety features. when the buying stops, then VW is forced to offer better safety features.
Meanwhile in other countries like Canada, VW has safety features included inside. If other cars can get approval and VW’s approval is being delayed in Malaysia, Winter’s comment doesn’t make sense.
Sorry I don’t buy his story. AEB is not autonomous driving that needs “approval” . Seems more like profit than safety
BS!
What sort of approval are they talking about, these should be SOP driven at JPJ end and should be the same regardless of VW, Toyota or Proton unless of course VW didn’t submit or JPJ is having its standard excuses of not having an SOP, which is common to our gov.
Why suddenly blame the govt? If Proton, Perodua, Toyota, Honda, Merc, BMW, etc can do it why only VW tak boleh? Are they special?
Reading needs to be a proper habit of many, the blame was put to 2 parties. Back to government anyway, VWs system is no different from the others so why need to evaluate separately…. Just approve it, we have a lot more other important things that need governing in Malaysia, like illegal modifications, traffic light offence, underage riding and more why waste our resources when other countries like China, USA and Europe had already done that evaluation for us.
It needs to be evaluated separately as VW system are not the same exact system implemented for the various brands with AEB here. This is normal and part of VTA Type approval from EU Directorate and JPJ are following the process as defined by UN ECE regs. VW were likely just late to the game, so imagine if you’re in a race and every others have passed the halfway mark when you started, are you going to blame the organisers that your track is not half as short as the others?
Almost one year and yet they still do not have in on their cars. Same goes for Audi which is part of the VW Group.
Once again, is Malaysia’s regulation tougher to approve? Harder than approving China’s X50 and X70? What evaluation needed, with other market currently offering it. It’s not like evaluating fully autonomous level 4 vehicle.
Even most freaking pickup truck has model with it now. Just offer it as an option if VPCM is so stingy and worry that their over priced car will be more over priced, hard?
Sound more like a BS. Malaysia as part of WP29, we adopt European standard for homologation. If the same features are available in EU then there is no reason why it can’t get approval from local authority.
PR at its worst. Whoever is on thr vpcm team ought to be sacked. What were they thinking? Incompetent and naive…
Maybe this AEB used M1 chip frm Apple
Wait another several months and look for Erik Summer. You will get different answers instead.
Whats taking the govt so long for approval? Aren’t VW cars good enough? Or you are thinking it is giving another scandal like the diesel gate some 10 years back?
why need so long for approval, this german learn to live like malaysians ah?
Even Honda City has Sensing. But VM thinks Malaysians have no sense
Bullshit comment given by VW! Provide the same recycle response. Even new comers also have AEB! Still sleeping meh?
And the journalist swallow and then reprint.
It seems like VPCM does not highly value Malaysians’ life. Safety is always important
Overpriced VW in Malaysia.