You have seen it in the new Perodua Myvi and Aruz and wondered why you cannot get one for your dashboard. Well, now you can and it can easily installed in almost any car without interfering with the CanBus system.
LOKATECH Engineering Sdn Bhd, in collaboration with EFKON, the Austrian technology provider of Malaysia’s nationwide infra-red electronic toll collection system, has launched the first built-in toll reader for the aftermarket.
Priced at RM499 per unit, the LokaTAG built-in toll reader offers an alternative to the portable MaxTAG launched in October 2018. LokaTAG is designed to be integrated as part of the vehicle with direct connection to the vehicle’s battery. It features a long-lasting back-lit display with card error or low credit alert and is compatible with all vehicle models.
In partnership with Shopee Malaysia (www.shopee.com.my), every purchase of LokaTAG from the official LokaTAG online store comes with free on-site installation for customers in the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor, along with 0% Easy Payment Plan (EPP) for just an extra RM1. Customers outside these regions can install their LokaTAG for free at selected authorised dealers.
According to EFKON Asia Sdn Bhd director Helmuth Blasch, brisk sales of the MaxTAG since its launch last year and increasing orders from car manufacturers for built-in toll readers proved that the infra-red system retains high preference among highway users due to its proven reliability and efficiency.
“Market response to the portable MaxTAG has been excellent with average monthly sales of about 12,000 units. As for our built-in toll readers, we currently have five major car brands featuring our customised products with more coming on board soon. The combined total monthly sales of the portable and built-in units are about 25,000 units,” he said.
LOKATECH Engineering Sdn Bhd general manager Ng Shyh Kang believes that there is tremendous potential in the untapped aftermarket segment.
“LokaTAG is the first and only authorised built-in toll reader for the aftermarket and we believe there is a high number of car owners who will appreciate the peace of mind and convenience of a seamless ride. For a start, we are targeting sales of about 1,000 units a month,” he said.
Mr Blasch said that EFKON is constantly investing in research and development to enhance the features of the infra-red electronic toll readers, including equipping these devices with Bluetooth connectivity and voice alert capabilities in the future. Bluetooth connectivity will enable users to interact with the electronic toll reader units using devices such as smartphones and car media systems.
“We expect the infra-red electronic toll collection system to continue playing a significant role in this country for years to come. It has proven to be the most reliable, efficient, convenient and cost-effective cashless toll collection system in facilitating multi-lane traffic flow on Malaysian highways,” he said.
Developed in 1997 and rolled out across the country in 2005, the infra-red toll collection system on Malaysian highways is popularly known as SmartTAG.
For more information on the LokaTAG, please go to www.lokatag.com.
