Milo tin is a Malaysian

pejorative A pejorative or slur is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or a disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility, or disregard. Sometimes, a ...

used to describe unsafe or cheaply made vehicles. It is comparable to the slang term, 'deathtrap'. The term 'Milo tin' originated in the 1950s as a result of shoddy workmanship and cost-cutting measures, in which damaged vehicles were often repaired with recycled Milo tins as opposed to genuine parts. The workshops would repaint the tin panels, painting over the word 'Milo'. When the repaired vehicles became involved in subsequent accidents, the paint surface would scratch off and the word 'Milo' became visible again. Thus, the term 'Milo tin' was created. In the 1960s, the 'Milo tin' term gained further popularity as a means of criticism towards the light and flimsy construction of early Japanese cars. The Malaysian market had historically been a stronghold for Western car companies, and Japanese cars were initially perceived as inferior and cheaply made. However, the Japanese cars continued to improve and gained a reputation for quality, reliability, high

fuel efficiency Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the ratio of effort to result of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier (fuel) into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device, ...

and value for money. By the 1970s, the Malaysian market was dominated by Japanese cars, and the usage of the 'Milo tin' term against Japanese cars gradually faded. In the 1980s and 1990s, 'Milo tin' regained popularity as a discriminatory term towards Proton and

Perodua The (''Second Automobile Manufacturer Private Limited''), usually abbreviated to Perodua (), is Malaysia's largest car manufacturer, followed by Proton. History It was established in 1992 and launched its first car, the Perodua Kancil, in ...

cars. The early Proton and Perodua vehicles lacked modern safety features such as

airbag An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a Traffic collision, collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and a ...

s and ABS. The thin construction also drew criticism, and the door closing action produced an unpleasant tinny sound. Newer models have remedied the old problems, and Proton scored its first 5-star ANCAP safety rating in 2013. However, the negative stigma persists and the term 'Milo tin' is still widely used on Proton and Perodua cars today. Milo tin can also be used to describe a cheap car that has been worked on with cheap parts, often with a loud but ineffective exhaust pipe, in a failed effort to make it racing worthy or more aesthetically pleasing. These exhausts at the rear of the car are often larger than the stock exhaust and resemble empty milo tins. The exhausts are derided by observers for simply making the cars louder and not improving performance.

References

{{portalbar, Malaysia, Cars Pejorative terms related to technology Malaysian culture Metaphors referring to food and drink Automotive safety

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