We're nearly three weeks into the government-mandated movement control order (MCO) to curb the spread of Covid-19, and the biggest concern weighing on the minds of most Malaysian motorists is clear: how does the blanket closure of most authorised service centres affect our warranties? 

Here's how the manufacturers have responded officially so far...

TOYOTA

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) was one of the first automotive players to formally confirm a warranty extension for all vehicles purchased at its authorised dealers nationwide. Under this extension, all Toyota and Lexus cars with warranties that are valid but expiring during the MCO period (18 March to 14 April 2020) will enjoy a 30-day extension calculated from the last day of the MCO. That's a huge sigh of relief for owners who probably weren't too worried to begin with; Toyota very reliable mah.

NISSAN

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) was quick to follow in UMWT's footsteps, announcing the same 30-day warranty extension from the last day of MCO for Nissan vehicles with warranties ending in the affected period. It iterated that warranties will still be honoured even if the MCO made it impossible for owners to perform preventive maintenance at authorised centres as per the recommended service interval. To cater to the expected surge in appointments, ETCM will extend its business operation hours from 8:30AM to 8:00PM after the MCO is lifted.

VOLKSWAGEN

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia officially states that it will "continue to honour the warranty of cars thatwere not able to meet the schedule service maintenance during the MCO". It remains to be seen if a similar 30-day extension will be offered or if a pro-rated system will be employed as details are still scarce at time of writing. In its recently-launched 'Welcome Back' service campaign, the company urges owners to secure service appointments within 30 days from the end of MCO, with free merchandise offered for registrations within this period. Additionally, owners who do not have free maintenance service or Volkswagen Care Plus (VCP) membership to offset their service costs will be given an engine oil voucher worth RM50. 

PROTON

The national carmaker is offering a warranty extension similar to that of UMWT and ETCM, but with a slight catch. Proton owners with warranties expiring during the MCO period will receive an extension of 30 days OR 1,000km, whichever comes first. Active warranties will be honoured even if owners miss their recommended service period due to the MCO on the condition that the affected car is serviced within 30 days from the end of the MCO period. To prevent further delays, Proton encourages owners to secure their appointments within 15 days after the MCO is lifted.