Perodua should add electronic stability control (ESC) and ABS to ‘rahmah spec’ Axia E – Dr Wee Ka Siong

MCA chairman and former transport minister Dr Wee Ka Siong has posted on his social media platforms urging carmakers to reconsider selling brand new cars without ABS (anti-lock braking system) And ESC (electronic stability control) in the Malaysian market, calling them the minimum safety standards required on all vehicles sold. These safety features should not be compromised to bring the car’s price down to ‘rahmah’, he said. He used the recently launched Perodua Axia E priced at RM22k as an example in his post.

Indeed, the Perodua Axia E has no ABS and ESC. The only safety feature it has are two airbags. This is not only stated on the spec sheet, but on each vehicle displayed in the showroom there will be a MIROS tag listing the vehicle’s safety specifications, which will reveal this fact.

So what exactly are ABS and ESC and do they matter?

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Vehicles with ABS systems have sensors that measure the rotational speed of each wheel. During emergency braking, if the sensors detect any wheel speed that is about to be locked, it sends a signal to the computer telling the brake system to reduce brake pressure on that wheel to prevent the wheel from stalling. lock up. This computerized brake pumping action can occur up to 15 times per second.

The result is a smooth and steady deceleration, shorter braking distances, and better steering control during heavy braking. Your braking distance will be shorter.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ESC is a feature designed to improve vehicle stability by detecting and reducing traction loss (slip). If the ESC system detects a loss of traction or wheel slip, it can take one or more control actions to help stabilize the vehicle. These actions include selectively applying braking to one or more wheels, reducing engine power, or a combination of both.

If the vehicle is understaffed (does not have enough turns and tends to go straight), the ESC system can apply the brakes to the inner rear wheel to generate torque to help the vehicle turn. If the vehicle is oversteer (spinning too much and tends to turn out), the ESC system can apply the brakes to the outer front wheel to counteract the rollover.

In some cases, the ESC system can also reduce engine power to help regain control.

By reducing the possibility of skidding or loss of control, the ESC system can help drivers maintain control of their vehicle, especially in slippery conditions or when the vehicle is handling at its limit. of it, thereby greatly improving safety.

Can a car company sell cars without ABS and ESC in Malaysia?

Malaysia has previously announced that it will make ESC mandatory on new cars from June 2018. The announcement at that time was made by transport minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

As far as we can tell, ABS doesn’t appear to be mandatory for cars in Malaysia, but there are plans to do so. ABS is mandatory for motorcycles over 150cc in Malaysia, because it is more important to prevent motorcycle accidents. The scheme was initiated under Dr Wee Ka Siong as transport minister.

So how can Perodua sell a car without ESC if it is required? It appears that since the Axia E is an older model that has been previously homologated, the newer rules requiring ESC do not apply to this model.

Why does Perodua sell cars without ABS and ESC?

The simplest explanation is to reduce costs. At RM22,000, the Axia E is even cheaper than when it was last sold for RM23,367. At that time, Axia E did not have ABS or ESC.

The cheapest Perodua Axia of the generation with ABS and ESC is the Standard G priced at RM33,490. That’s a fuller RM10k.

What is the cheapest car in Malaysia with ABS and ESC?

use CarBase.my .’s search engine, you can set filters to require ABS and ESC. The results are sorted by cheapest car first above. The cheapest is the Axia G 2023 priced at RM38,600. Next up is the Axia X 2023 which costs RM40,000. In third place is the Proton Saga 1.3 Premium AT which costs RM41,800.

Should Perodua add ABS and ESC to Axia E?

At paultan.org, we’ve always been a strong advocate of enhancing minimal safety features in our cars. We’ve been talking about mandating stability control in Malaysia for a long time and were delighted when it finally became mandatory in 2018.

We are also strong advocates for the use of child safety seats in cars, even free rental/gift of free child seats worth tens of thousands of ringgit for low-income families during the festive period in partnership with automakers over the years.

Since then, we have shifted our focus to advocating for automatic emergency braking (AEB) in cars in Malaysia, which has the potential to prevent many traffic accidents on today’s roads.

Perhaps Perodua could try to consider offering a ‘rahmah spec’ car with ABS and ESC if possible, perhaps an Axia E+ with E that costs more than RM2-3k would be suitable? At least there will be options for those who value ABS and ESC without having to shell out more than RM16k for the 2023 Axia G.

Share your thoughts – is ABS/ESC important to you?

Would you buy a car without ABS/ESC in Malaysia? Are these safety features important to you? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.