The Bosch Group today announced its financial results for the 2011 fiscal year, reporting total sales of RM206 billion worldwide, and pre-tax profit of RM10.4 billion. These figures represent a 9% year-on-year growth from 2010. More than half of that revenue was accounted for by its Automotive Technology division, which grew 8.2% to deliver RM121.6 billion worth of sales.

The company projects growth in the region of 3-5% for 2012, and has budgeted to shell out more than RM12 billion for capital expenditure and a further RM18.4 billion for research and development, a RM1.6 billion increase from 2011.

Full story after the jump.

Shell Malaysia is organizing two consumer campaigns giving out attractive prizes to Shell Advance motorcycle oil users. First, the Shell Advance ‘Key to Freedom’ contest will reward four customers with a VIP trip to Valencia, Spain to watch the Spanish MotoGP in November 2012.

The three-month contest will run from 1 June till 31 August 2012 and is open to customers who purchase a 1-litre pack of Shell Advance Ultra 4T, AX7 4T, AX5 4T, VSX 2T or SX 2T motorcycle oil. Inside the front label of each pack is a unique 9-digit code that allows each user one chance to enter the contest via SMS.

Read more after the jump.

Satellite navigation provider Garmin has announced the Garmin StreetPilot Onboard app for iPhone users in Malaysia and Singapore, pre-loaded with NAVTEQ maps. The pre-loaded maps and points of interest allow users to access maps and calculate routes without tapping into one’s data plan.

Advanced navigation functions available to the app’s users include lane guidance, junction view, 3D buildings, highway mode, trip planner, trip computer, and Garmin’s “Where Am I?” safety feature. Users can customize the data on the map screen to show information such as arrival time, time/distance to destination or next via point, direction of travel, or elevation.

Garmin StreetPilot Onboard Singapore and Malaysia is available for US$29.99 in the Apple App Store. A special promotion is in place offering the app at US$19.99 until 10 June. Garmin plans to launch versions of StreetPilot Onboard for iPhone in additional countries across Asia in the near future.

In conjunction with National Youth Day 2012, which kicked off yesterday and will go on till this Sunday, 27 May, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd has set up the ‘ETCM Inflatable Fun City’ at Precinct 2 adjacent to the building of the National Registration Department.

“The idea of working with young people, communities, business and philanthropy to achieve the best outcomes for young people outlines the vision of ETCM. We aim to create more opportunities for new partnerships to be developed that will encourage innovative ideas and higher standards of corporate responsibility. The Government is committed to improving the lives of young people, therefore, we appreciate the opportunity to be part this effort” said Dato’ Dr. Ang Bon Beng, the Executive Director of ETCM.

Activities in the fun city include games such as “Shoot To Goal’, ‘Basket The Balls’, ‘Rugby Goal’ and ‘Gladiator Challenge’. Meanwhile, car enthusiasts the line-up of Nissan vehicles on display at the same location too.

Nineteen Malaysians from around the country battled it out for the Final Grand Prize of RM100,000 cash and a 5-year supply of Shell Helix Ultra, at the Grand Finale event of “Shell Pays Your Utility Bills” contest. Ahmad Faiz Abdul Muvin (34 years old) from Nilai, Negeri Sembilan was crowned the Final Grand Prize Winner when he defeated 18 other finalists at the Blue Concourse of Sunway Pyramid shopping mall.

“When my name was announced, no words could describe the feeling I was going through. Initially, when I won RM20,000 in Week 1, I was already very thankful for the pleasant surprise. I knew I was going to be a part of the Grand Finale but never really expected to walk away with this windfall of RM100,000 cash and be free from paying utility bills for a good few years. In addition, I’ve also made 18 new friends along the way, in this challenge. Thanks to Shell for such a wonderful and unforgettable experience!” said Ahmad Faiz Abdul Muvin, a civil servant.

Full story after the jump.

The 4×4 Adventure Club Kuala Lumpur (ACKL) and the newly-setup 4×4 Adventure Club Malaysia (ACM) have signed an agreement with Wenzhou Automobile and Motor Sports Association of China to jointly promote 4×4 motorsports tourism in both countries and in the region.

Founded in 1987, ACKL celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and in conjunction with the occasion, it will co-organize a three-day Malaysia 4×4 Jamboree with ACM on 15-17 September this year. Wenzhou’s Car Fans Club will be traveling in convoy all the way from China to participate in the event.

Full story after the jump.

Alfa Romeo Owners Club Klang Valley (AROCKV) Malaysia recently organized a gathering of nearly 100 people to mark the 20th anniversary celebration of the Alfa Romeo 155 model. Some 55 Alfa Romeos of various vintages turned up, from the venerable Alfetta to the newer 159 models.

The gathering came into fruition after an initiative by French-based Alfa enthusiast website BerlinaSportivo.com inviting AROCKV to contribute a video of how the 155′s 20th anniversary was celebrated in Malaysia. On 5-6 May 2012, the abovementioned gathering convoyed from the Sime Darby Auto Connexion showroom at Jalan Ipoh to Fraser’s Hill.

Full story after the jump.

The Nissan Test Drive & Win contest has picked its third winner, Normizah binti Omar, a Johor-based entrepreneur who had bought a Nissan Navara from Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) last year.

Bringing the campaign to its conclusion, ETCM has handed over the keys of a brand new Nissan Teana 200 XE to Normizah worth RM141k. She now joins Dr Aida Adlina binti Anuar of Seremban and Tengku Norul Karlina binti Tengku Yunus of Kuala Lumpur as winners of the campaign. Dr Aida and Tengku Norul Karlina had won a Grand Livina and Sylphy respectively.

The ‘Test Drive & Win’ campaign was first introduced in April 2011. The first two rounds were concluded in last July and November respectively. The third round was opened to those who have bought or test driven any Nissan vehicles from 1 December 2011 until 31 March 2012.

“The campaign was incredibly successful and we have gained so much support from our loyal fans over the time. The number of contest entry has increased tremendously especially in the third draw. But of course, our supporters have played a vital role in ETCM’s growth. We feel really honoured and will definitely bring more excitements to benefit everyone in near future. Thank you once again.” said Dato’ Dr Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of ETCM, during the prize presentation ceremony.

Drift kakis without plans this weekend will probably want to take time off and head to Speed City KL, where Formula Drift Malaysia 2012 will be taking place on 19 to 20 May. More than 30 drifters will be taking part in the event.

Team Goodyear will continue its active participation in the drifting scene by supporting Tan Tat Wei and Hanizam Hamzah. Tat Wei will be using his faithful Toyota AE86 while Hanizam enters with a new Nissan Silvia S14 and S15. Both drifters will be using Goodyear’s new Ultra High Performance tyres of the Eagle F1 series – the Asymmetric 2 and Directional 5.

The Shell Helix Global Promotion roadshow series will conclude this month with events over two consecutive weekends in the Klang Valley. The Shell Helix ‘Get Your Heart Racing’ roadshow will be held from 10.00 am till 9.00 pm daily at The Curve’s Fashion Walk from 17 till 20 May and at Mid Valley Megamall’s South Court from 25 till 29 May 2012.

Activities for the public include the Shell Kinect Challenge featuring the ‘Fruit Ninja’ interactive video game, which is open to all without the need for any purchases to qualify. The highest-scoring participants will prizes such a Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect as first prize, Sony PSP Go as second prize, and a Steelseries PC gaming headphone as third prize. Aside from the challenge, visitors to the roadshows can also try out the Shell Ferrari F1 simulator and other fun games to win Shell Helix premiums and cash vouchers.

Those who wish to enter the Shell Helix ‘Get Your Heart Racing’ contest proper can also purchase their Shell Helix motor oil during the roadshow. This year, five lucky Malaysians will win an all-expense paid VIP trip to Italy worth more than RM20,000 each in this global promotion. The contest, which runs from 15 March to 31 May 2012, is open to customers who purchase a four-litre pack of Shell Helix motor oil.

Fifteen finalists will take part in the Shell Helix Finale Challenge in July 2012. Five lucky winners will then get to embark on a trip of a lifetime, which includes a visit to Maranello, the home of Ferrari; shopping in Milan; and catching the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September.