KUALA LUMPUR: As CarSifu Auto Show 2022 enters its second day, traffic is building up as people flocked to check out the cars from different brands on parade at the Mid Valley Megamall here.
The Volvo booth was a crowd puller, with many curious to touch and feel the all-electric XC40, the first locally assembled electric vehicle in Malaysia.
Among the visitors was Hipni Bakar and his son Mohd Ariff.
Ariff, 24, said he liked the design of the XC40 and the tech features found in the compact SUV but was not looking to buy a car anytime soon.
Ariff, the owner of a Proton Iriz, said the option was open to him down the road to get a Volvo wagon like the V60 wagon on display at the auto show as he said it was noted for its practicality yet has sporty looks and performance.
Hipni and Ariff with the V60 wagon.
His father Hipni, chimed in, saying the family were Volvo fans.
The 60-year-old retiree said he liked Volvo cars because they were built with safety in mind from the start.
Hipni, who hails from Kuching, said he remembered the days when Volvo cars were boxy-looking but were already very sturdy and safe vehicles.Hipni, who was once a Proton salesman, said a number of consumers still clung on to the outdated perception that large vehicles could not be fuel efficient.
"But technology has progressed now. When I was selling Proton cars in the 1990s, nobody wanted cars with an automatic transmission because they had higher fuel consumption compared with manual transmission-equipped cars.
"Today, everyone wants cars with automatic transmission as they are fuel efficient and far more easier and convenient to drive than those with manual transmission," he added.
Other models at the Volvo booth are the XC90, XC60, S60 and V60.
Ling with the Serena in the background.
Nissan salesman Kenny Ling said many prospective buyers had done some research on the cars they had in mind to buy.
"In my experience, many customers will come to our booth to check out their intended buy a few times before making up their mind to place a booking.
"If they don't book today, they will do so a few days later or maybe even come to our showrooms after the auto show to confirm the order," he said.
Ling said there were cases of customers who were ready to place an order but decided against it at the last minute because the salesmen were too busy to serve them.
"They will usually return in a few days and make their buy once they were properly served by an attentive salesman," said Ling who has been a salesman for 20 years.
He also said that the sales team had been collecting contact information of prospective buyers and would follow up with them after the auto show.
"Some prospective buyers need time to think over their decision to get a new car and this is normal," he said at the Nissan booth that was displaying the Serena S-Hybrid.
Dr Ting is eyeing the Saga in her purchase decision.
At the Proton display, government hospital physician Dr Michelle Ting, 36, said she was looking for a new Saga for her driver.
Ting, from Sibu, said her children were aged four and six.
"The six-year-old will be going to Standard One next year and I will not be able to send her because of my work commitments, and also being on call most of the time," she said, when checking out a Saga model.
Meanwhile, internal auditor Saiful Amran, 48, said he was in the vicinity with his two friends Fara Samsudin and Anas Japelus when he decided to drop by Honda's booth to pick up a few brochures.
Saiful posing with the HR-V RS hybrid. He is flanked by friends Fara Samsudin and Anas Japelus.
"My wife's monthly instalment plan for her Honda Jazz was coming to an end and I thought this could be a good time to do some research in case she wants to trade in her car for a new model," he said.
He said it was good that car companies had resumed production, leading to a shorter waiting period.
The cars displayed at Honda's booth were the HR-V Hybrid, City V-Sensing, City Hatchback and Civic RS.
The five-day event is organised by Star Media Group and runs until Sunday.
Seven car companies consisting of Volvo, Toyota, Subaru, Proton, Honda, Perodua and Nissan are displaying their latest models.
Also participating is local anti-bacterial car mat maker Trapo.
After the auto show at Mid Valley Megamall, the CarSifu Auto Show 2022 will move to the next location in The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey in Johor Baru from Oct 26-30.
