Suzuki Jimny getting significant safety upgrade
Japanese outlet Creative Trend reports the updated Jimny, which is set to launch in Japan this August, will gain the following equipment: 'Dual camera brake support'
Reverse brake support
Adaptive cruise control
Backward false start prevention function
Of these, only the first will reportedly be fitted to both manual and automatic variants, with the others being exclusive to auto vehicles.
No other changes are expected, according to Creative Trend, apart from what claims will be 'significant price increase'.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Suzuki Australia confirmed in February 2025 that the three-door Jimny, among other vehicles in its lineup, didn't meet newly introduced Australian Design Rules (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems.
At the time, it said investigations were underway into making the popular off-roader compliant and that its 'position on this product' had 'yet to be confirmed'.
Sales of the Jimny, along with other Suzuki models that fell afoul of the new ADR, have continued as the automaker has secured sufficient stock complied before March 1, 2025, when ADR 98/00 came into effect.
The Jimny XL is unaffected by this new ADR. It features a stereo camera instead of a forward-facing monocular camera and laser radar like its three-door sibling, which allows Suzuki to offer both adaptive cruise control and night-time pedestrian detection. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Suzuki Australia confirmed earlier this month that the three-door Jimny would be in greater supply during the first quarter of 2026.
We've contacted the company to confirm exactly when the updated Jimny will arrive here.
From January 1, 2025, the Jimny is unrated by independent safety authority ANCAP. Its three-star rating from 2018 expired on December 31, 2024.
The Jimny is by far Suzuki's best-selling vehicle locally.
To the end of June, it has delivered 4365 examples so far this year. The Swift light hatch was a distant second with 1953 deliveries.
Not only does the Jimny outsell every other Suzuki, it's more popular than almost every other so-called light SUV. The only exceptions are the Mazda CX-3 (8221) and Toyota Yaris Cross (5887).
MORE: Explore the Suzuki Jimny showroom
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The Advertiser
18 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Hybrids to dominate Suzuki Australia's electrification future
As Suzuki Australia gears up to launch its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) in 2026, the brand's local boss says hybrids will continue to dominate over EVs in the coming years. The company's general manager, Michael Pachota, says Suzuki Australia's "electrification journey is starting", just as the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) begins to fine auto brands which fail to meet tightening CO2 limits across their model ranges from July 1, 2025. "We accelerated that journey as well. So Suzuki Motor Corporation kindly gave us the opportunity to bring in an E-vehicle sooner rather than later based on, obviously, pressures around emissions controls and stuff like that," he told CarExpert. "I think as you can see with the current sales growth in all those areas where there's mild, strong, plug-in [hybrids] or even EVs, I think there's an opportunity for evolution in the Australian market. "I think hybrid itself is the shift. That's where it's going to go. I think in the next decade, you're going to see a complete shift from [internal combustion] engines to hybrid powertrains and a slightly larger percentage of EV sales." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first model released by Suzuki Australia with hybrid badging was the Swift Hybrid launched in June 2024, which features a 12-volt mild-hybrid system. A similar 12V system now also features in the Fronx Hybrid light SUV launched last month. Unlike more traditional hybrids from brands like Toyota, these mild-hybrid models don't have an electric motor that can drive the vehicle's wheels alone. Suzuki Australia has also confirmed a Vitara Hybrid will launch here early in 2026 alongside the all-electric eVitara, though it hasn't confirmed whether the Vitara Hybrid bound for Australia is a mild-hybrid like its smaller siblings, or a more conventional hybrid. Both powertrain types are offered in the Vitara overseas. Perhaps wisely, the company's stance doesn't appear to dismiss the importance of EVs, nor the Australian appetite for them. Indeed, Mr Pachota suggests EV sales will grow, albeit more slowly than what he expects with hybrids. This is in contrast to recent comments made by Paul Dillon, the general manager of Suzuki's independent importer for Queensland and northern New South Wales, who asked: "whilst the government wants everybody to have them [EVs], does everybody want to have one?". "I just don't think the Australian market wants them [EVs]," Mr Dillon told CarExpert, arguing that EVs and emissions in general are "not a big concern for people in Australia, otherwise the number one selling car in Australia wouldn't be a three-tonne 4×4 pickup". Suzuki Queensland still intends to sell the eVitara, though it cites a lack of enthusiasm from dealers. Even so, the Suzuki brand as a whole has been slower to embrace EVs and hybrids than many other brands, evidenced by the long wait for its first EV. Globally, the company offers a handful of conventional hybrids including the aforementioned Vitara, the Europe-only Swace (a rebadged Toyota Corolla Touring Sports wagon), and the India-only Grand Vitara, which Toyota rebadges as the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The brand also offers a PHEV in Europe, the Across, which is a rebadged Toyota RAV4. None of these models are expected to make their way to Australia, but Mr Pachota maintains that Suzuki's local electrification strategy will continue, especially in the context of NVES regulations. "We need to make sure that we establish ourselves in that area to be a sustainable business, and it doesn't end there. The product portfolio will grow and evolve as we go on to the next three to five years," he told CarExpert. ABOVE: Suzuki Swace Hybrid (left) and Suzuki Across PHEV "Our entire product platform going into 2026 will be a hybrid base. We've got Swift Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, we'll have Vitara Hybrid outside of, for example, the outgoing products that we still may have for sale, like Ignis and Swift Sport, if we still have remaining stock of that, which our dealers will still sell. "Jimny at this stage is not a hybrid, and we don't know if it ever will be. But with that said, Jimny will continue in its current form, and then we'll start introducing more E-vehicles as well." Suzuki's lineup is in flux at the moment. Imports of the S-Cross, Vitara, and Jimny three-door ended earlier this year due to a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. The Vitara will be reborn early next year with compliant AEB and electrification, as mentioned, while the Jimny is getting a safety update in early 2026 that will also see it meet the new regulations. Only the S-Cross and Ignis nameplates seem to have met their end locally, though the Fronx Hybrid is intended to at least partially fill the void left by the latter. No information has been revealed about future hybrids or EVs to bolster the brand's electrified lineup. It's worth noting that Suzuki's slow approach to EVs isn't new, and Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki has previously claimed that an EV version of the Jimny would "ruin the best part" of the car. The Jimny is Suzuki Australia's best-selling model by far, more than doubling the sales of the second-placed Swift so far this year. In any case, Mr Pachota says Suzuki Australia will be focusing on its rollout of hybrid vehicles, even if they are mild-hybrids. At the same time, he claims the brand is "very prepared" to "adapt and evolve" to the NVES. "I definitely see [hybrid] as a shift. In Japan, we already offer mild- and strong-hybrid vehicles. We're about to introduce a fully electric vehicle, which is our first fully electric vehicle, eVitara, and it doesn't end there," he told CarExpert. "So I definitely see that space growing. Hybrid's definitely a focus point for us." MORE: Australia isn't ready for EVs, says Suzuki distributor boss MORE: Suzuki Vitara electric, hybrid SUVs locked in for Australia MORE: Suzuki Jimny EV 'would ruin' pint-sized 4×4 – executive MORE: Everything Suzuki Content originally sourced from: As Suzuki Australia gears up to launch its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) in 2026, the brand's local boss says hybrids will continue to dominate over EVs in the coming years. The company's general manager, Michael Pachota, says Suzuki Australia's "electrification journey is starting", just as the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) begins to fine auto brands which fail to meet tightening CO2 limits across their model ranges from July 1, 2025. "We accelerated that journey as well. So Suzuki Motor Corporation kindly gave us the opportunity to bring in an E-vehicle sooner rather than later based on, obviously, pressures around emissions controls and stuff like that," he told CarExpert. "I think as you can see with the current sales growth in all those areas where there's mild, strong, plug-in [hybrids] or even EVs, I think there's an opportunity for evolution in the Australian market. "I think hybrid itself is the shift. That's where it's going to go. I think in the next decade, you're going to see a complete shift from [internal combustion] engines to hybrid powertrains and a slightly larger percentage of EV sales." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first model released by Suzuki Australia with hybrid badging was the Swift Hybrid launched in June 2024, which features a 12-volt mild-hybrid system. A similar 12V system now also features in the Fronx Hybrid light SUV launched last month. Unlike more traditional hybrids from brands like Toyota, these mild-hybrid models don't have an electric motor that can drive the vehicle's wheels alone. Suzuki Australia has also confirmed a Vitara Hybrid will launch here early in 2026 alongside the all-electric eVitara, though it hasn't confirmed whether the Vitara Hybrid bound for Australia is a mild-hybrid like its smaller siblings, or a more conventional hybrid. Both powertrain types are offered in the Vitara overseas. Perhaps wisely, the company's stance doesn't appear to dismiss the importance of EVs, nor the Australian appetite for them. Indeed, Mr Pachota suggests EV sales will grow, albeit more slowly than what he expects with hybrids. This is in contrast to recent comments made by Paul Dillon, the general manager of Suzuki's independent importer for Queensland and northern New South Wales, who asked: "whilst the government wants everybody to have them [EVs], does everybody want to have one?". "I just don't think the Australian market wants them [EVs]," Mr Dillon told CarExpert, arguing that EVs and emissions in general are "not a big concern for people in Australia, otherwise the number one selling car in Australia wouldn't be a three-tonne 4×4 pickup". Suzuki Queensland still intends to sell the eVitara, though it cites a lack of enthusiasm from dealers. Even so, the Suzuki brand as a whole has been slower to embrace EVs and hybrids than many other brands, evidenced by the long wait for its first EV. Globally, the company offers a handful of conventional hybrids including the aforementioned Vitara, the Europe-only Swace (a rebadged Toyota Corolla Touring Sports wagon), and the India-only Grand Vitara, which Toyota rebadges as the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The brand also offers a PHEV in Europe, the Across, which is a rebadged Toyota RAV4. None of these models are expected to make their way to Australia, but Mr Pachota maintains that Suzuki's local electrification strategy will continue, especially in the context of NVES regulations. "We need to make sure that we establish ourselves in that area to be a sustainable business, and it doesn't end there. The product portfolio will grow and evolve as we go on to the next three to five years," he told CarExpert. ABOVE: Suzuki Swace Hybrid (left) and Suzuki Across PHEV "Our entire product platform going into 2026 will be a hybrid base. We've got Swift Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, we'll have Vitara Hybrid outside of, for example, the outgoing products that we still may have for sale, like Ignis and Swift Sport, if we still have remaining stock of that, which our dealers will still sell. "Jimny at this stage is not a hybrid, and we don't know if it ever will be. But with that said, Jimny will continue in its current form, and then we'll start introducing more E-vehicles as well." Suzuki's lineup is in flux at the moment. Imports of the S-Cross, Vitara, and Jimny three-door ended earlier this year due to a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. The Vitara will be reborn early next year with compliant AEB and electrification, as mentioned, while the Jimny is getting a safety update in early 2026 that will also see it meet the new regulations. Only the S-Cross and Ignis nameplates seem to have met their end locally, though the Fronx Hybrid is intended to at least partially fill the void left by the latter. No information has been revealed about future hybrids or EVs to bolster the brand's electrified lineup. It's worth noting that Suzuki's slow approach to EVs isn't new, and Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki has previously claimed that an EV version of the Jimny would "ruin the best part" of the car. The Jimny is Suzuki Australia's best-selling model by far, more than doubling the sales of the second-placed Swift so far this year. In any case, Mr Pachota says Suzuki Australia will be focusing on its rollout of hybrid vehicles, even if they are mild-hybrids. At the same time, he claims the brand is "very prepared" to "adapt and evolve" to the NVES. "I definitely see [hybrid] as a shift. In Japan, we already offer mild- and strong-hybrid vehicles. We're about to introduce a fully electric vehicle, which is our first fully electric vehicle, eVitara, and it doesn't end there," he told CarExpert. "So I definitely see that space growing. Hybrid's definitely a focus point for us." MORE: Australia isn't ready for EVs, says Suzuki distributor boss MORE: Suzuki Vitara electric, hybrid SUVs locked in for Australia MORE: Suzuki Jimny EV 'would ruin' pint-sized 4×4 – executive MORE: Everything Suzuki Content originally sourced from: As Suzuki Australia gears up to launch its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) in 2026, the brand's local boss says hybrids will continue to dominate over EVs in the coming years. The company's general manager, Michael Pachota, says Suzuki Australia's "electrification journey is starting", just as the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) begins to fine auto brands which fail to meet tightening CO2 limits across their model ranges from July 1, 2025. "We accelerated that journey as well. So Suzuki Motor Corporation kindly gave us the opportunity to bring in an E-vehicle sooner rather than later based on, obviously, pressures around emissions controls and stuff like that," he told CarExpert. "I think as you can see with the current sales growth in all those areas where there's mild, strong, plug-in [hybrids] or even EVs, I think there's an opportunity for evolution in the Australian market. "I think hybrid itself is the shift. That's where it's going to go. I think in the next decade, you're going to see a complete shift from [internal combustion] engines to hybrid powertrains and a slightly larger percentage of EV sales." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first model released by Suzuki Australia with hybrid badging was the Swift Hybrid launched in June 2024, which features a 12-volt mild-hybrid system. A similar 12V system now also features in the Fronx Hybrid light SUV launched last month. Unlike more traditional hybrids from brands like Toyota, these mild-hybrid models don't have an electric motor that can drive the vehicle's wheels alone. Suzuki Australia has also confirmed a Vitara Hybrid will launch here early in 2026 alongside the all-electric eVitara, though it hasn't confirmed whether the Vitara Hybrid bound for Australia is a mild-hybrid like its smaller siblings, or a more conventional hybrid. Both powertrain types are offered in the Vitara overseas. Perhaps wisely, the company's stance doesn't appear to dismiss the importance of EVs, nor the Australian appetite for them. Indeed, Mr Pachota suggests EV sales will grow, albeit more slowly than what he expects with hybrids. This is in contrast to recent comments made by Paul Dillon, the general manager of Suzuki's independent importer for Queensland and northern New South Wales, who asked: "whilst the government wants everybody to have them [EVs], does everybody want to have one?". "I just don't think the Australian market wants them [EVs]," Mr Dillon told CarExpert, arguing that EVs and emissions in general are "not a big concern for people in Australia, otherwise the number one selling car in Australia wouldn't be a three-tonne 4×4 pickup". Suzuki Queensland still intends to sell the eVitara, though it cites a lack of enthusiasm from dealers. Even so, the Suzuki brand as a whole has been slower to embrace EVs and hybrids than many other brands, evidenced by the long wait for its first EV. Globally, the company offers a handful of conventional hybrids including the aforementioned Vitara, the Europe-only Swace (a rebadged Toyota Corolla Touring Sports wagon), and the India-only Grand Vitara, which Toyota rebadges as the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The brand also offers a PHEV in Europe, the Across, which is a rebadged Toyota RAV4. None of these models are expected to make their way to Australia, but Mr Pachota maintains that Suzuki's local electrification strategy will continue, especially in the context of NVES regulations. "We need to make sure that we establish ourselves in that area to be a sustainable business, and it doesn't end there. The product portfolio will grow and evolve as we go on to the next three to five years," he told CarExpert. ABOVE: Suzuki Swace Hybrid (left) and Suzuki Across PHEV "Our entire product platform going into 2026 will be a hybrid base. We've got Swift Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, we'll have Vitara Hybrid outside of, for example, the outgoing products that we still may have for sale, like Ignis and Swift Sport, if we still have remaining stock of that, which our dealers will still sell. "Jimny at this stage is not a hybrid, and we don't know if it ever will be. But with that said, Jimny will continue in its current form, and then we'll start introducing more E-vehicles as well." Suzuki's lineup is in flux at the moment. Imports of the S-Cross, Vitara, and Jimny three-door ended earlier this year due to a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. The Vitara will be reborn early next year with compliant AEB and electrification, as mentioned, while the Jimny is getting a safety update in early 2026 that will also see it meet the new regulations. Only the S-Cross and Ignis nameplates seem to have met their end locally, though the Fronx Hybrid is intended to at least partially fill the void left by the latter. No information has been revealed about future hybrids or EVs to bolster the brand's electrified lineup. It's worth noting that Suzuki's slow approach to EVs isn't new, and Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki has previously claimed that an EV version of the Jimny would "ruin the best part" of the car. The Jimny is Suzuki Australia's best-selling model by far, more than doubling the sales of the second-placed Swift so far this year. In any case, Mr Pachota says Suzuki Australia will be focusing on its rollout of hybrid vehicles, even if they are mild-hybrids. At the same time, he claims the brand is "very prepared" to "adapt and evolve" to the NVES. "I definitely see [hybrid] as a shift. In Japan, we already offer mild- and strong-hybrid vehicles. We're about to introduce a fully electric vehicle, which is our first fully electric vehicle, eVitara, and it doesn't end there," he told CarExpert. "So I definitely see that space growing. Hybrid's definitely a focus point for us." MORE: Australia isn't ready for EVs, says Suzuki distributor boss MORE: Suzuki Vitara electric, hybrid SUVs locked in for Australia MORE: Suzuki Jimny EV 'would ruin' pint-sized 4×4 – executive MORE: Everything Suzuki Content originally sourced from: As Suzuki Australia gears up to launch its first-ever electric vehicle (EV) in 2026, the brand's local boss says hybrids will continue to dominate over EVs in the coming years. The company's general manager, Michael Pachota, says Suzuki Australia's "electrification journey is starting", just as the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) begins to fine auto brands which fail to meet tightening CO2 limits across their model ranges from July 1, 2025. "We accelerated that journey as well. So Suzuki Motor Corporation kindly gave us the opportunity to bring in an E-vehicle sooner rather than later based on, obviously, pressures around emissions controls and stuff like that," he told CarExpert. "I think as you can see with the current sales growth in all those areas where there's mild, strong, plug-in [hybrids] or even EVs, I think there's an opportunity for evolution in the Australian market. "I think hybrid itself is the shift. That's where it's going to go. I think in the next decade, you're going to see a complete shift from [internal combustion] engines to hybrid powertrains and a slightly larger percentage of EV sales." CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The first model released by Suzuki Australia with hybrid badging was the Swift Hybrid launched in June 2024, which features a 12-volt mild-hybrid system. A similar 12V system now also features in the Fronx Hybrid light SUV launched last month. Unlike more traditional hybrids from brands like Toyota, these mild-hybrid models don't have an electric motor that can drive the vehicle's wheels alone. Suzuki Australia has also confirmed a Vitara Hybrid will launch here early in 2026 alongside the all-electric eVitara, though it hasn't confirmed whether the Vitara Hybrid bound for Australia is a mild-hybrid like its smaller siblings, or a more conventional hybrid. Both powertrain types are offered in the Vitara overseas. Perhaps wisely, the company's stance doesn't appear to dismiss the importance of EVs, nor the Australian appetite for them. Indeed, Mr Pachota suggests EV sales will grow, albeit more slowly than what he expects with hybrids. This is in contrast to recent comments made by Paul Dillon, the general manager of Suzuki's independent importer for Queensland and northern New South Wales, who asked: "whilst the government wants everybody to have them [EVs], does everybody want to have one?". "I just don't think the Australian market wants them [EVs]," Mr Dillon told CarExpert, arguing that EVs and emissions in general are "not a big concern for people in Australia, otherwise the number one selling car in Australia wouldn't be a three-tonne 4×4 pickup". Suzuki Queensland still intends to sell the eVitara, though it cites a lack of enthusiasm from dealers. Even so, the Suzuki brand as a whole has been slower to embrace EVs and hybrids than many other brands, evidenced by the long wait for its first EV. Globally, the company offers a handful of conventional hybrids including the aforementioned Vitara, the Europe-only Swace (a rebadged Toyota Corolla Touring Sports wagon), and the India-only Grand Vitara, which Toyota rebadges as the Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The brand also offers a PHEV in Europe, the Across, which is a rebadged Toyota RAV4. None of these models are expected to make their way to Australia, but Mr Pachota maintains that Suzuki's local electrification strategy will continue, especially in the context of NVES regulations. "We need to make sure that we establish ourselves in that area to be a sustainable business, and it doesn't end there. The product portfolio will grow and evolve as we go on to the next three to five years," he told CarExpert. ABOVE: Suzuki Swace Hybrid (left) and Suzuki Across PHEV "Our entire product platform going into 2026 will be a hybrid base. We've got Swift Hybrid, Fronx Hybrid, we'll have Vitara Hybrid outside of, for example, the outgoing products that we still may have for sale, like Ignis and Swift Sport, if we still have remaining stock of that, which our dealers will still sell. "Jimny at this stage is not a hybrid, and we don't know if it ever will be. But with that said, Jimny will continue in its current form, and then we'll start introducing more E-vehicles as well." Suzuki's lineup is in flux at the moment. Imports of the S-Cross, Vitara, and Jimny three-door ended earlier this year due to a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) outlining specific technical requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems. The Vitara will be reborn early next year with compliant AEB and electrification, as mentioned, while the Jimny is getting a safety update in early 2026 that will also see it meet the new regulations. Only the S-Cross and Ignis nameplates seem to have met their end locally, though the Fronx Hybrid is intended to at least partially fill the void left by the latter. No information has been revealed about future hybrids or EVs to bolster the brand's electrified lineup. It's worth noting that Suzuki's slow approach to EVs isn't new, and Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki has previously claimed that an EV version of the Jimny would "ruin the best part" of the car. The Jimny is Suzuki Australia's best-selling model by far, more than doubling the sales of the second-placed Swift so far this year. In any case, Mr Pachota says Suzuki Australia will be focusing on its rollout of hybrid vehicles, even if they are mild-hybrids. At the same time, he claims the brand is "very prepared" to "adapt and evolve" to the NVES. "I definitely see [hybrid] as a shift. In Japan, we already offer mild- and strong-hybrid vehicles. We're about to introduce a fully electric vehicle, which is our first fully electric vehicle, eVitara, and it doesn't end there," he told CarExpert. "So I definitely see that space growing. Hybrid's definitely a focus point for us." MORE: Australia isn't ready for EVs, says Suzuki distributor boss MORE: Suzuki Vitara electric, hybrid SUVs locked in for Australia MORE: Suzuki Jimny EV 'would ruin' pint-sized 4×4 – executive MORE: Everything Suzuki Content originally sourced from:
Sydney Morning Herald
19 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
How a $155 billion ‘eco-paradise' fell short of its promise
At 9am, the beachfront was empty, except for a Malaysian couple and their grandson playing near a white concrete staircase jutting out over the sand. Dubbed the 'stairway to heaven', it's intended to be an Instagrammable spot, but it's difficult to pass over its metaphor as a boondoggle leading nowhere. While waiting to check in, I wandered the grounds for five hours, encountering maybe 20 visitors or residents. This paucity contrasted with the number of groundskeepers, maintenance workers and security staff roaming the facility, ensuring every fallen leaf was swept, hedge trimmed and pool sparkling to maintain the vision of a safe and immaculate paradise. At the centre of the estate, an entire building has been dedicated to selling this dream. A large-scale model of the project spans the length of a salesroom floor, capturing the grandeur of the four-island plan spanning 14 square kilometres that seems destined to remain a fantasy. A promotional video playing in the background claims the city is home to 15,000 residents and 'gradually growing'. By midmorning, a few Chinese buyers were flipping through brochures, outnumbered by staff ready to lock in a sale. From the outset, Country Garden gambled the success of its venture on the burgeoning Chinese middle class' seemingly insatiable appetite for real estate. It pitched Forest City as a way for Chinese investors to diversify their assets offshore, while dangling visa incentives and the prospect of residency in Malaysia. It has proved a bad bet. In 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping began cracking down on the credit binge that the country's heavily leveraged developers had gorged on, setting in train a property-bubble bust that has wiped out wealth and confidence. Across China, cities are now littered with the abandoned ambitions of its developers, many of them falling into ruin. Country Garden has more than 3000 unfinished projects and nearly 1 million outstanding homes to complete, according to Japanese investment bank Nomura. It did not respond to a request for comment. Forest City has also suffered from lingering resentment in Malaysia at the idea of a massive project being built for Chinese buyers. This was fuelled by then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who in 2018 said foreigners would not be granted visas to live there, further dampening demand. Visa controls have since been eased under current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Even with price decreases – a one-bedroom apartment starts at 500,000 Malaysian ringgit ($182,190) – Forest City is unaffordable for many locals and remains pitched at overseas buyers. Forest City may not be the total ghost town it's pegged as by the press, but it's far from the portrait of a vibrant, thriving community. At midday, many of the shops in the mall next to the hotel were still shuttered, some seemingly permanently. Those that were open had no customers, and bored shop assistants sat glued to their phones at vacant counters. At one coffee shop, the server was slumped across a table, asleep. A prime selling point for Forest City is its duty-free status. But a licensing issue meant none of the four duty-free shops in the mall were selling alcohol − one of the main drawcards for visitors, especially those from Singapore, where extortionate taxes make a tipple all but a luxury. One store was reduced to selling only chocolates, though upon entry its shelves were bare save for several boxes of wafer biscuits − a sales challenge that apparently required two shop assistants. One of them, a woman in her 40s, said she had lived in Forest City with her children for four years in an apartment tower behind the mall, having relocated from Kuala Lumpur. 'There are many people who live in my tower,' she says, explaining that most of them were Malaysian renters who commuted into Singapore daily for work. 'I like it here. It's very quiet.' By sundown, foot traffic has picked up. A modest number of people have filtered onto the beach and a volleyball game is under way. The hotel seems reasonably buzzy, due partly to the fact that a tech school, led by US cryptocurrency investor Balaji Srinivasan, has set up shop in the lobby. There are signs of life in towers, too, as lights begin flickering on in some of the apartments, though many remain dark. Country Garden isn't the only stakeholder banking on Forest City's future. Malaysian company Esplanade Danga 88, backed by the state's Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, has a 40 per cent stake. Recently, the Malaysian government has ramped up its incentives to lure wealthy investors to the project, including offering a 0 per cent tax rate for those who set up family offices in Forest City. For now, it's quite something to climb the 'staircase to heaven' and peer back at the shore and marvel at the sheer scale of Forest City − its unbridled ambition, unfulfilled promise and uncertain future.
The Age
19 hours ago
- The Age
How a $155 billion ‘eco-paradise' fell short of its promise
At 9am, the beachfront was empty, except for a Malaysian couple and their grandson playing near a white concrete staircase jutting out over the sand. Dubbed the 'stairway to heaven', it's intended to be an Instagrammable spot, but it's difficult to pass over its metaphor as a boondoggle leading nowhere. While waiting to check in, I wandered the grounds for five hours, encountering maybe 20 visitors or residents. This paucity contrasted with the number of groundskeepers, maintenance workers and security staff roaming the facility, ensuring every fallen leaf was swept, hedge trimmed and pool sparkling to maintain the vision of a safe and immaculate paradise. At the centre of the estate, an entire building has been dedicated to selling this dream. A large-scale model of the project spans the length of a salesroom floor, capturing the grandeur of the four-island plan spanning 14 square kilometres that seems destined to remain a fantasy. A promotional video playing in the background claims the city is home to 15,000 residents and 'gradually growing'. By midmorning, a few Chinese buyers were flipping through brochures, outnumbered by staff ready to lock in a sale. From the outset, Country Garden gambled the success of its venture on the burgeoning Chinese middle class' seemingly insatiable appetite for real estate. It pitched Forest City as a way for Chinese investors to diversify their assets offshore, while dangling visa incentives and the prospect of residency in Malaysia. It has proved a bad bet. In 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping began cracking down on the credit binge that the country's heavily leveraged developers had gorged on, setting in train a property-bubble bust that has wiped out wealth and confidence. Across China, cities are now littered with the abandoned ambitions of its developers, many of them falling into ruin. Country Garden has more than 3000 unfinished projects and nearly 1 million outstanding homes to complete, according to Japanese investment bank Nomura. It did not respond to a request for comment. Forest City has also suffered from lingering resentment in Malaysia at the idea of a massive project being built for Chinese buyers. This was fuelled by then-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who in 2018 said foreigners would not be granted visas to live there, further dampening demand. Visa controls have since been eased under current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Even with price decreases – a one-bedroom apartment starts at 500,000 Malaysian ringgit ($182,190) – Forest City is unaffordable for many locals and remains pitched at overseas buyers. Forest City may not be the total ghost town it's pegged as by the press, but it's far from the portrait of a vibrant, thriving community. At midday, many of the shops in the mall next to the hotel were still shuttered, some seemingly permanently. Those that were open had no customers, and bored shop assistants sat glued to their phones at vacant counters. At one coffee shop, the server was slumped across a table, asleep. A prime selling point for Forest City is its duty-free status. But a licensing issue meant none of the four duty-free shops in the mall were selling alcohol − one of the main drawcards for visitors, especially those from Singapore, where extortionate taxes make a tipple all but a luxury. One store was reduced to selling only chocolates, though upon entry its shelves were bare save for several boxes of wafer biscuits − a sales challenge that apparently required two shop assistants. One of them, a woman in her 40s, said she had lived in Forest City with her children for four years in an apartment tower behind the mall, having relocated from Kuala Lumpur. 'There are many people who live in my tower,' she says, explaining that most of them were Malaysian renters who commuted into Singapore daily for work. 'I like it here. It's very quiet.' By sundown, foot traffic has picked up. A modest number of people have filtered onto the beach and a volleyball game is under way. The hotel seems reasonably buzzy, due partly to the fact that a tech school, led by US cryptocurrency investor Balaji Srinivasan, has set up shop in the lobby. There are signs of life in towers, too, as lights begin flickering on in some of the apartments, though many remain dark. Country Garden isn't the only stakeholder banking on Forest City's future. Malaysian company Esplanade Danga 88, backed by the state's Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, has a 40 per cent stake. Recently, the Malaysian government has ramped up its incentives to lure wealthy investors to the project, including offering a 0 per cent tax rate for those who set up family offices in Forest City. For now, it's quite something to climb the 'staircase to heaven' and peer back at the shore and marvel at the sheer scale of Forest City − its unbridled ambition, unfulfilled promise and uncertain future.
