Most car launches are usually quiet, closed affairs. Apart from major launches from local car brands, or special occasions that are one of the first of its kind like a locally assembled electric car, you hardly ever see ministers get involved.
This is not the case with yesterday’s Maxus MIFA 9 launch. It is considered a niche model, an EV MPV from a relatively unknown brand (Maxus have been around for a few years, but sales have been on the low side). It is fully imported as a CBU and not a CKD, with no localisation plans mentioned either.
Yet somehow the event was attended by none other than the PM Anwar Ibrahim himself, plus 4 other ministers. That’s a total of 5 cabinet members at one car launch.
Purely speculative for now, but this suggests that the car may be a candidate to be used as the next official vehicles for local ministers.
PM Anwar Ibrahim announced in Budget 2024 that government official car procurement will move towards EVs next year. It’s looking like the Maxus MIFA 9 is a likely candidate. They would be like-for-like replacements for the current fleet of Toyota Vellfires. More fitting as VIP cars than Teslas anyway.
The Mexus MIFA 9 measures 5,270 mm long, 2,000 mm wide, 1,840 mm tall and has a wheelbase that spans 3,200 mm. By comparison, the latest Toyota Alphard and Vellfire are 5,005 mm long, 1,850 mm wide, 1,950 mm tall and have a wheelbase of 3,000 mm.
The detailed specifications of the powertrain are as follows:
Electric motor output: 245 PS (241 hp or 180 kW) and 350 Nm; FWD
0-100 km/h time: 9.2 seconds
Top speed: 180 km/h
Battery: 90 kWh ternary lithium-ion
Range (WLTP): 435 km (Luxury); 430 km (Premium)
AC charging: 11 kW (Type 2); 5-100% in 8.5 hours
DC charging: 120 kW (CCS2); 30-80% in 30 minutes
Standard equipment for both the Luxury and Premium variants of the MIFA 9 are dual power-sliding doors, 19-inch alloy wheels (different designs for each variant), LED headlamps and DRLs, LED rear fog lamps, LED taillights, heated side mirrors, front and rear powered sunroofs as well as a powered tailgate.
Inside, there are three rows of seats in a 2-2-3 layout, with the second row being individual captain chairs that offer heating, massage, ventilation and Ottoman functions.
What do you think of this development, should it happen. Should ministers get this, Tesla, a CKD electric car like the Mercedes-Benz EQS which so happens to be locally assembled, or just stick to the tried and tested Vellfire? Drop a comment.
The post Maxus MIFA 9 EV MPV launch attended by PM Anwar and 4 ministers – will it be the next <em>kereta menteri</em>? appeared first on Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
