Monday November 6, 8:17 PM
Singapore-assembled Subaru rally cars to be distributed
regionally
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SINGAPORE: Singapore's first foray into motor car assembly went
into first gear on Monday.
The rally cars were put through their tests and passed with flying
colours.
Its maker, Subaru, would ramp up production hitting up to 15 cars a
month by next year.
Sentosa's Gateway car park was the venue where the rally cars
roared into action.
From handbrake turns, to jumping over a ramp or even drifting, the
cars did not fail to impress.
More significantly, the two rally cars are the first to be locally
assembled at Toa Payoh.
More will roll off the assembly line starting next month and
distributed regionally.
Glenn Tan, Chief Executive of Motor Image Enterprises, said: "Some
of the problems we encountered were lack of skilled workers in the
beginning, so we flew in a lot of overseas experts from New Zealand
and Japan to teach us. We also had a bit of difficulty finding the
right kind of tools because car assembly is not popular at all in
Singapore."
Help came from the Economic Development Board which got the local
industry involved.
The Board is also providing training grants to bring in expertise
and train talent in Singapore.
The rally cars were not the only highlights on show.
Precision stunt driver, Russell Swift, also displayed his
heart-stopping driving skills for the upcoming Singapore Motor
Show.
Besides his signature two-wheel driving, the veteran stunt driver
also plans to break a world record.
Swift said: "I set the record - it is 16.07 seconds to complete 10
complete revolutions with a car and that record was broken earlier
this year and I am out to get the record back."
For more of such stunts, the public can head to the motor show
which starts on Friday at Suntec City. - CNA/so
