Michelin Malaysia Sdn Bhd recently stepped up its effort to generate a greater awareness of the importance of enhancing road safety, increasing fuel economy and reducing carbon emissions by becoming the main sponsor of the ‘Scania Driver Competitions Malaysia (SDCM) 2013’.
This year’s competition saw 10 finalists chosen from over 700 truck and bus drivers from all around Malaysia putting their skills and knowledge to the test to emerge victorious in the country’s most extensive and demanding bus and truck driver competition. SDCM is a bi-annual event which was first introduced in Malaysia in 2009 with the aim to enhance and improve the skills and knowledge of local truck and bus drivers and elevate their status to international standards so that they become a vital asset for safety, fuel economy and environmentally-friendly driving while on the road.
According to Michelin Malaysia Sdn Bhd Managing Director, Beltran Yturriaga, tyres play a vital task in the safety and performance of a vehicle and Michelin’s endorsement of SDCM 2013 is in line with the Company’s commitment to educate Malaysian drivers on the importance of road safety, energy and fuel saving, and environmentally-friendly tyres which contribute to energy-efficient transportation and reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
“Michelin’s comprehensive range of high quality tyres offers great value for money to accommodate the driver’s driving needs in terms of the latest technology, features and performance capabilities. In short, Michelin offers the best cost over the lifetime of our tyres making the overall cost of ownership much lower than other brands,” said Yturriaga.
“Michelin has always been committed towards promoting sustainable mobility amongst our customers. We are proud to be the main sponsor and we strongly believe that the competition will equip the drivers with the right set of skills and knowledge to enhance their driving performance and precision as well as promoting better longevity which helps to ensure better tyre condition and road safety, and save fuel and maintenance bills,” Yturriaga added.
Mohd Hisham bin Yusof from TNT Express Worldwide (M) Sdn Bhd was crowned the winner of the Truck Category while Mohd Sukri bin Harun from Sani Express Sdn Bhd won the Bus Category in SDCM 2013. Both champions each brought home the coveted title of Malaysia’s best driver plus RM10,000 in cash and vouchers, a championship trophy and an achievement certificate. The companies which the winners represent were awarded RM5,000 worth of Scania service and maintenance vouchers.
About Scania Driver Competitions
Initiated in 2003, the Scania Driver Competitions were originally held in Europe and have since expanded globally, evolving into challenging events that highlight the importance of drivers’ skills, as well as driver training and development to enhance road safety awareness and proficient eco-driving. Scania Driver Competitions are currently held in more than 40 countries all over the world and will continue throughout 2013.
Supported by the Road Safety Department of Malaysia (JKJR), the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), SDCM 2013 is the third local edition of the global challenge.
SDCM 2013 was open to all Malaysians who are registered as Scania truck and bus drivers in their respective companies. Drivers were first required to complete a theory test which covers questions on local transportation laws and regulations, fuel-efficient and safe driving techniques, knowledge in occupational risks and health, and emergency response in order to qualify for the competition. The finals tested the drivers on technical knowledge, defensive and economy driving and precision manoeuvring skills through a series of challenges.
About Michelin (www.michelin.com)
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. Michelin employs 115,000 people, has sales organizations in more than 170 countries and operates 69 production sites in 18 countries throughout five continents. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases and offers electronic mobility support services, on ViaMichelin.com. The company conducts research and innovation development in technology centres located in Asia, Europe and North America.
