Honda Malaysia launches maiden battery electric vehicle
Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: Honda Malaysia has officially launched its first battery electric vehicle (BEV), the e:N1, priced at RM149,900. - Bernama pic Kuala Lumpur: Honda Malaysia has officially launched its first battery electric vehicle (BEV), the e:N1, priced at RM149,900. Its managing director and chief executive officer, Narushi Yazaki, said the launch strengthens Honda's electric vehicle lineup and offers Malaysians more mobility options in line with the company's 2025 business strategy.
Advertisement 'We plan to introduce two more EV models over the next three years. However, we will closely monitor customer demand and competitor pricing, as the market is evolving rapidly. 'Our goal is to respond carefully and strategically,' he said after the e:N1 launch here today.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
an hour ago
- Sinar Daily
PM launches ILMU, Malaysia's first home-grown multimodal AI
Fully developed, owned and operated in Malaysia, it is built by YTL AI Labs, in partnership with Universiti Malaya. 12 Aug 2025 08:43pm Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivers his keynote address at the official launch of the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre, today. - Photo by Bernama KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched Malaysia's home-grown multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) model, 'ILMU', during the inaugural ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) today. ILMU is Malaysia's own multimodal large language model (LLM), trained on local language and data to understand our culture, context and daily realities. Fully developed, owned and operated in Malaysia, it is built by YTL AI Labs, in partnership with Universiti Malaya (UM). ILMU keeps data local and gives the nation strategic control over its AI future, ensuring we lead with intelligence rooted in our own values and voice. The name ILMU stands for Intelek Luhur Malaysia Untukmu, reflecting the model's core values of 'Intelek', for context-aware intelligence; 'Luhur', for ethical foundations rooted in Malaysian values; 'Malaysia', for cultural and linguistic fluency; and 'Untukmu', because it is built to serve all Malaysians. ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo were also present at the launch. Meanwhile, Gobind, in a statement, applauded the establishment of ILMU, a groundbreaking Malaysian innovation by YTL AI Labs that reflects the national vision for a future driven by technology, inclusivity, and cultural relevance. "Built by Malaysians for Malaysians, ILMU showcases our ability to create world-class AI infrastructure while preserving our linguistic and cultural identity. "This is more than just technology; it is a step towards empowering our people, our businesses, and our nation in the digital era,' he said. YTL Power International Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Yeoh Seok Hong said ILMU represents YTL's commitment to innovation, rooted in Malaysia's diverse cultural and intellectual heritage. YTL AI Labs said ILMU performed on par with state-of-the-art models like GPT-4o and Llama 3.1. It said ILMU achieved the highest score among all frontier models in Bahasa Melayu language understanding (MalayMMLU - a test of multi-domain knowledge in Malay), demonstrating stronger performance on real-world prompts. ILMUchat (the AI Chatbot) for consumers will be available for early access on Malaysia Day, Sept 16, 2025. The public is welcome to register their interest at - BERNAMA
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Govt mulling specific laws to tackle AI legal challenges, says Azalina
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will examine the need for specific laws on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in light of emerging legal challenges. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said ( pic ) said the current legal system needs to be upgraded, as AI-related laws require different approaches, including burden of proof, authenticity and document integrity. "Right now, whatever you say, every document is online, and because it's online you can fabricate any content," she told a press conference after launching the Malaysia National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAPBHR) 2025-2030 at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) here on Tuesday (Aug 12). She said courts must be confident in accepting AI-based evidence, as the technology can produce visuals or audio resembling individuals, but do not exist in reality, adding that the matter requires serious consideration to protect the public from fraud or manipulation. Commenting on the progress of the Political Funding Bill, she said it is still in process and subject to the agreement of political parties. "We have three Parliament sessions in a year… it (bill) is still in process," she said. On the issue of employers retaining workers' passports, Azalina stressed that such action is prohibited under Malaysian law. "You have to be fair to your workers and return the passport," she said, emphasising that Malaysia respects the human rights of all workers, including foreign workers from ASEAN countries, and must not act aggressively or unlawfully against them. Earlier in her keynote address, Azalina said the launch of the NAPBHR 2025-2030 marked Malaysia's first national framework to integrate human rights into business and corporate governance. She said the plan reflected Malaysia's commitment to the United Nations Guiding Principles as the country assumes the Asean Chairmanship. "The success of this plan demands more than government effort; it requires shared ownership," she said. The NAPBHR focuses on labour, environment and governance, and was developed through consultations since 2019 with ministries, agencies, civil society, business leaders, Indigenous communities, unions and academics. - Bernama
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Malaysia to ensure AI serves as tool for shared prosperity in country and Asean: Gobind
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is taking proactive steps to ensure that the promise of artificial intelligence (AI) translates into tangible, inclusive benefits for every citizen. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the ministry is leading the change in Malaysia, working to bridge the gap between advanced technology and everyday life – from urban centres to the most remote rural communities and across all sectors. He said this vision goes beyond innovation, ensuring that AI serves as a tool for progress, opportunity and shared prosperity. 'At the heart of this mission is a determination to close the 'AI Divide' – the widening gap between those who have access to AI tools, skills and infrastructure, and those who do not. 'By rolling out AI literacy programmes nationwide, the ministry is empowering Malaysians of all ages and backgrounds, from schoolchildren in rural villages to working professionals in the nation's cities. 'This holistic approach is designed to democratise access, ensuring that the benefits of AI are not concentrated in the hands of a few but experienced by all,' he told delegates at the opening of Asean AI Malaysia Summit 2025 today. Gobind said the ministry is working to ensure that AI tools are accessible to startups, SMEs, universities, and even independent researchers, providing everyone across the country with the tools they need to experiment, prototype and scale AI solutions. He said equally important is the commitment to making AI affordable for all citizens, recognising that access is not only about infrastructure and skills but also about cost. 'Malaysia will work to ensure that AI-powered tools and services are priced and distributed to enable broad adoption, allowing citizens from all income levels to participate in and benefit from the AI-driven economy. 'In many ways, this echoes our recent discussions on connectivity, where concerns about a digital divide prompted us to ensure universal access. Our goal then – as it is now – was to avoid creating a society split between those with access and those without,' Gobind said. He added that Malaysia's goal is to ensure that every citizen has both the means and the capacity to engage with AI agents that reflect national values, protect rights, and serve shared interests. Gobind said this commitment also extends across Asean, where disparities in affordability risk deepening the AI divide, enabling some communities to adopt AI rapidly while leaving others excluded from shaping its trajectory. 'Malaysia is committed to contributing to a regional approach where no member state is left behind. 'This expansion is guided by a strong commitment to sustainability, promoting the development of green data centres that leverage renewable energy, employ advanced cooling technologies, and optimise energy efficiency. 'In doing so, we can meet the growing computational demands of AI while minimising environmental impact, ensuring that digital progress aligns with Malaysia's climate and energy commitments. 'Importantly, this infrastructure is being built with interoperability in mind, enabling integration with Asean-wide initiatives to create a regional network of accessible, sustainable AI resources. These efforts are not solely about national progress but about advancing the region as a whole,' Gobind said. He also said that these initiatives form part of a shared Asean commitment, recognising that disparities in compute power, affordability, talent pipelines, and relevant data sets across Southeast Asia risk creating an uneven AI landscape. By embedding inclusivity into regional strategies, Gobind said, Asean can shape a balanced AI ecosystem where every individual has the opportunity to work, play, learn, and succeed with AI. Moving on, Gobind said Malaysia is placing trust at the core of its digital transformation through a comprehensive national ecosystem of safeguards, anchored by the government's commitment to develop the Digital Trust and Data Security Strategy 2026–2030 and to establish an independent data commission to oversee its implementation. These initiatives will strengthen data protection and governance, enhance cyber resilience, and uphold the integrity of Malaysia's digital ecosystem, ensuring that progress in AI and digital technologies remains secure, transparent, and accountable. He said the strategy will also provide a long-term roadmap to counter emerging threats, advance data integrity, and build public confidence in Malaysia's digital future. 'This national agenda is designed to complement and strengthen Asean's collective frameworks. 'By aligning safeguards, governance mechanisms, and technical standards with regional counterparts, Malaysia is helping to build a seamless trust ecosystem across Southeast Asia – one that protects data, ensures AI safety and fosters public confidence. 'Through initiatives such as the Asean Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, the Asean AI Safety Network, and the Asean Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2026–2030, our domestic efforts become building blocks for a region-wide trust architecture in this agentic age of AI,' Gobind said. He said by working collectively, Asean can grow the AI economy, safeguard societies, and unlock the full potential of innovation, building an AI future that is inclusive, secure, and distinctly Asean. 'This summit sends a clear message: our citizens are partners to the world, and Asean is not waiting for the AI future – we are here to shape it responsibly, together, and on our own terms, with Malaysia ready to work side by side with its neighbours,' he said. The Asean AI Malaysia Summit 2025 saw the participation of many experts, delegates from government and related agencies, corporates, and experts from Asean and other regions, sharing their ideas, AI tools, and services.
