BMW Group Malaysia, through its collaboration with Safe ‘n Sound in its NEXTStep Subsidy Programme, has now presented 90 fully subsidised child car seats to parents in the B40 community. A total of 12 seats were delivered during a handover ceremony earlier today, while the remainder were delivered separately to eligible parents nationwide.
Introduced in May 2022, the NEXTStep Subsidy Programme is part of the ongoing BMW Safety 360° initiative, with funds raised via BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia contrasts last year. Expecting parents and families with children (weighing up to 36 kg) with a household income of below RM3,500 were eligible to apply for the fully-subsidised child car seats.
BMW NEXTStep aims to promote road safety for children by making child car seats more accessible to lower-income households, And with over 900 registrations received throughout the application period, the programme further affirms the need for greater accessibility to child car seats amongst lower-income families.
The fully subsidised child car seats provided to families, as part of the NEXTStep Subsidy Programme, include the following models (listed with their normal retail price):
- snskidz Ace (infant carrier) – RM199
- snskidz sport (convertible seat) – RM 279
- snskidz Whizz (ISOFIX seat) – RM499
- snskidz Proto (combination booster seat) – RM399
- Mifold (booster seat) – RM199
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BMW Group Malaysia Managing Director, Hans de Visser said, “The overwhelming response we have received for this subsidy programme highlights the crucial need for us to make child car seats more accessible to the public, especially to lower-income families.
“We hope to continue advocating for the uptake of child car seats amongst families in Malaysia, while also raising awareness and encouraging more parents to act independently in ensuring the highest level of safety for their children while on the road.”
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BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia CEO, Matthias Schlesiger added, “We are pleased to have been able to support the NEXTStep Subsidy Programme with the funds we raised last year through one of our fundraising initiatives.
“For every signed contract of a BMW or MINI electrified vehicle (EV), RM100 was contributed to the fundraiser and ultimately channelled to a cause that we hold close to our hearts. In these challenging times, it is our hope to be able to lend a helping hand wherever we can to struggling families, especially new parents, so the safety of their children are secured from day one.”
SNS Products Managing Director, May Hwong said, “It is required for every occupant in the vehicle to use a seat belt, but we must remember that it is important that children below 12 years old use a suitable car seat as they may not be tall enough for a seat belt. Their safety should be every parents’ highest priority, and we hope this subsidy programme can make it easier for them to ensure that.”
BMW Group Malaysia initiated the first subsidy programme as part of the BMW Safety 360° initiative in 2019 to an overwhelming response of over 25,000 applicants. To date, more than 400 families have received subsidised child car seats, including recipients of the NEXTStep Subsidy Programme.
