PROTON - Malaysia's 1st National Car Company [Archive]

ethan

June 22nd, 2006, 01:55 PM

Well .... the review is good.

Malay Mail

Proton excels with Neo
By T. Yogendra

22 June, 2006

The newly-launched Proton Satria Neo may just be the model that would regain the confidence of Malaysians. Looking much better than the model it replaces, the Satria has been packed with all the kinds of features that would only be found in upscale luxury cars. And in making the car more appealing and value-added, Proton has added a long list of goodies for its owners. Customer feedback on previous Proton models has apparently been adopted, in a move to attract as many buyers as possible.

Exterior styling is nothing more than a sportier and more attractive version of the Gen.2 hatchback. The rear gives a typical hot hatch appearance. Among the notable improvements to the new Satria are more powerful and durable headlamps, symmetrical wheel design, improved door lock mechanism and, in some trim levels, even the Captor vehicle tracking and recovery system plus immobiliser, a reverse sensor system that covers a far wider area and Euro 3 and 4 emission levels.

The criticisms that hounded the Gen.2 have been addressed with twin vanity mirrors, a glove box, CD/MP3/i-Pod features and four speakers. Even the digital fuel and temperature gauges in the Gen.2 have been scrapped for a conventional analogue indicator. In addition to all of these, Proton has included airbags as part of the package (only for the high line model).

Additional foam filling and damper materials have been included to reduce wind noise levels.
ISOFIX child safety catch restraints have also been incorporated into the seats. This, together with the fact that the new Satria is twice as strong as the previous Satria, is another reason to own this car.

http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/mm/MailMotor/MNewsBites/20060620132658/satria%

There will be automatic and manual transmissions for both the 1.3-litre and 1.6-litre variants. Prices start from RM43,500 for the base line 1.3 manual. The high line 1.6 with airbags and a four-speed automatic transmission costs RM54,800.

The 1,332cc 16-valve CamPro engine pumps out 94bhp at 6,000rpm and 120Nm of torque. The 1,597cc is packed with 110bhp and 148Nm of torque. A choice of five colours are available; Metal Grey, Twilight Blue, Iridescent White, Brilliant Red and Liquid Orange.

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Copyright © 2006 The Malay Mail Online. All rights reserved.

ethan

September 12th, 2006, 08:23 PM

From The Edge

Proton hands over Wira in Pekanbaru for use as taxis
By Alfean Hardy

Proton Holdings Bhd is handing over 52 Proton Wira taxis to Pusat Koperasi Angakatan Udara (Puskopau) under a plan to export 3,000 Wira taxis to Indonesia, marking the first entry of the model into that country's automotive market.

In a statement on Sept 12, Proton said the taxis would ply the Sultan Syarif Qasim II International Airport to the city centre route, as well as transportation services to cities like Dumai.

The first batch of 26 taxis had been handed over, while the remaining 26 units will be delivered by the end of the month.

Puskopau is a taxi company operated by the Indonesian Air Force’s cooperative, which operates out of Pekanbaru airport, and it is looking to acquire the Wira taxis under a taxi replacement drive.

Pekanbaru is the capital of the Riau province in Sumatra, Indonesia, and is an oil and gas city with a sizable expatriate population working in the petroleum production industry and supporting services.

PT Proton Edar Indonesia director Dwi Sasetia said: "The balance of the (3,000) taxis would be delivered in stages to the other cities in Indonesia by early 2007.”

“We are very proud that these cars will operate at the international airport in Pekanbaru, facilitating both international and domestic air passengers. We also believe passengers will get satisfaction of Puskopau taxi services that will be using Protons.

Dwi said the Indonesian taxi business could use the Wira taxis in high traffic conditions as well as for long-distance duty as the car was fuel efficient and durable.

“The timing is good because there is a drop in private motor vehicle sales caused mainly by the recent increase in petrol prices at the pump. People are using more public transport as they hold off purchasing cars.

“It’s also a period when taxi companies are replacing old taxis with new vehicles and expanding their fleet to meet the increased usage of public transportation in the medium term,” he added.

patchay

November 7th, 2006, 07:07 PM

Proton launches new model in South Africa to boost exports
TheStar Online November 7, 2006

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian national automaker Proton said Tuesday it has launched its new Satria Neo model in South Africa and expects to boost its exports to the African continent.

The Satria Neo hatchback - unveiled in the Malaysian market in June - made its debut at the Auto Africa 2006 exhibition this week and will be distributed by its local partner, Pearl Automotive, Proton said in a statement.

South Africa is the second country after Singapore where the Satria Neo will be exported, said Proton, which has been striving to increase exports to offset shrinking sales at home.

The company said it made its entry into the South African market in 2005 as a largely unknown brand but has carved a niche with its Gen2 saloon car, the small utility truck Arena and its compact model Savvy.

It said the Satria Neo would compete in a market where the automobile industry is the second most important industrial sector after mining in terms of contribution to South Africa's economy.

Proton didn't give details of export volume to South Africa.

Company officials could not be reached for details.

Proton's share in Malaysia's domestic passenger car market has shrunk to around one-third amid stiff competition from foreign carmakers as well as local rivals.

Second national carmaker Perodua, part-owned by Japan's Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd., has so far outsold Proton in Malaysia for the first time ever this year.

Money-losing Proton, which aims to boost exports via alliances with foreign carmakers, has said it plans to tap large consumer markets in China, India and Southeast Asia to raise exports to 100,000 cars by 2008.

It is exploring a possible cooperation with France's Peugeot-Citroen SA.

Proton has said it was also talking to China's Chery Automobile Co. about building and selling each other's cars in China and Southeast Asia.

Proton also has a technology alliance with Japanese automaker Mitsubishi. - AP

jlshyang

November 9th, 2006, 04:56 AM

Nissan_FUGA

November 9th, 2006, 02:43 PM

Source: The Edge
Link: http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.js...0b6400-11db6d84 (http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_cc629d81-cb73c03a-110b6400-11db6d84)

PM: Mulls selling 51% in Proton manufacturing to VW
By Ashwin Raman & Giam Say Khoon

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Nov 9 that the government is considering giving approval for German carmaker Volkswagen AG (VW) to take up a 51% controlling stake in Proton Holdings Bhd's manufacturing operations.

“It is an option we are considering at the moment,” he said, adding that a decision would be made after considering the options.

Abdullah was commenting on a report in the FinancialDaily on Nov 9 that the government had finally decided on giving foreign parties 51% control in the manufacturing operations of Proton with Volkswagen as a potential partner.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the Universiti Malaya Royal Professor Ungku Aziz Chair and centre for poverty and development studies in Kuala Lumpur.

Reseach houses, meanwhile, are considering upward re-rating of Proton following the latest government move to consider giving approval to foreign parties to take control of the the manufacturing arm. Proton closed 30 sen higher at RM5.50 after touching a high of RM5.70 with 1.92 million shares done.

On Nov 9, the FinancialDaily reported that the decision to bring in a foreign partner to Proton was made in mid-October at a meeting on the automotive industry chaired by Abdullah.

The report said negotiations had resumed with Volkswagen in October after talks between Proton and the German carmaker failed earlier this year over issues such as control of the national carmaker.

Two senior officials from Volkswagen had met with Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop to discuss the matter including the equity structure, vendor system and product development. Volkswagen is expected to come back with a complete proposal.

The report said the government was agreeable to a model similar to the arrangement adopted by Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) and Japan’s Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd. Using that arrangement, Proton would retain control over the domestic distribution arm but the manufacturing arm would be headed by a foreign partner.

The report added it was now up to Khazanah Nasional Bhd to decide whether to sell its majority stake in Proton to local players such as Sime Darby Bhd or DRB-Hicom Bhd to drive further negotiation with their respective foreign partners.

A Proton official, when contacted, said the company’s management was unaware and had no knowledge of the government’s decision.

“If there is any decision, it is a shareholder’s matter,” the official said.

OSK Investment Research has upgraded Proton to a 'trading buy' call from neutral with a target price of RM7 per share based on 0.7 times FY08 book value versus 1.0 times for Kia Motor and Hyundai and 0.8 times for PSA Peugeot Citroen.

CIMB Investment Research and Mayban Securities Research said they would revise their fair value and call on Proton if the government approves the sale to Volkswagen.

“Proton could ride on VW’s stronger brand name, access the latter’s far superior technology and benefit from a significantly wider sales and parts sourcing network,” CIMB Research said, adding it valued Proton at 0.9 times CY07 net tangible assets at a target price of RM9.20.

It said such a move would be positive for Proton as Volkswagen would likely use the former’s plant in Tanjung Malim as its production base for the Asean passenger car market.

CIMB Research added Proton would likely develop new car models with Volkswagen for specific segments and markets.

Mayban Research said Volkswagen would be more pliant in negotiations this time around as it could use Proton as a platform to penetrate the Asean market to counter its slower sales recorded in North America and Europe.

Very Controversial

November 12th, 2006, 06:17 AM

Is this car using the same engine as the Gen 2 and Waja campro?

Nissan_FUGA

November 12th, 2006, 06:25 AM

Is this car using the same engine as the Gen 2 and Waja campro?

Gen2, Satria Neo and the Waja Campro share the same engine, though with different tuning/ configuration due to different body mass...

Nissan_FUGA

November 12th, 2006, 06:43 AM

From The Star

Proton to stay under government control

BY AUDREY EDWARDS

SEREMBAN: Proton Holdings Bhd will remain in the Government’s control even if 51% of Proton’s manufacturing division is sold to a strategic partner, said deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin.

He said a strategic partnership was important for the national automobile company to ensure it was not excluded from competing internationally, adding that Proton could not depend solely on local sales but also explore the world market.

To achieve this, expertise of international standards and strategic partnership was needed, he added.

“The Government will evaluate and decide what is the best for Proton. We will ensure that the country’s interest in the company is upheld,” he told reporters yesterday after opening the Kolej Tunku Kurshiah co-curriculum awards ceremony.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop had announced on Friday that the Government was in talks with Volkswagen AG (VW) on the possibility of teaming up with Proton Holdings Bhd.

Previous reports had said the Government was considering selling a stake in the national carmaker to VW. Another party that the Government was talking to was PSA Peugeot.

Dr Awang Adek added that many parties had shown interest in a strategic partnership with Proton but none were as solid compared to VW.

He declined to reveal the list of local companies who were also competing for a share of the company.

On the 9th Malaysia Plan, he said more than half of the 880 projects had begun with the remainder awaiting the outline and completion of tender.

Nissan_FUGA

November 16th, 2006, 11:29 AM

From The Star

DRB-HICOM: Proton stake offers synergy

BY NICK LEONG

SHAH ALAM: DRB-HICOM Bhd says it is keen on a stake in Proton Holdings Bhd because both companies have inter-related businesses.

Chief operating officer Mohd Redza Shah Abdul Wahid said DRB-HICOM unit Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd distributed Proton cars and that many of its component companies also supplied parts to the national carmaker.

“DRB-HICOM group, historically, owned a stake in Proton and, therefore, we are interested in the development of Proton. We feel we can assist the Government in the future of Proton,” he said at the DRB-HICOM Hari Raya and Deepavali open house here yesterday.

In reply to a Bursa Malaysia query on Tuesday, DRB-HICOM confirmed reports that it has proposed to buy a stake in Proton. Other companies that have expressed a similar interest are the Mofaz group and Naza group.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2006/11/16/business/03redza.jpg
Mohd Redza Shah Abdul Wahid

On the size of the Proton stake, Redza said the proposal was still at the preliminary stage. “We have stated the number of shares we are interested in (acquiring) but it is best I don’t disclose it now,” he said.

He also said the proposal was DRB-HICOM’s own initiative and that it was not invited by the Government to acquire a stake in Proton.

Redza said DRB-HICOM had “certain ideas on Proton to be shared with the relevant people”.

“It is now in the hands of the Government. They have not given us a time-frame but I believe it is a matter of priority to the Government,” he added.

Commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s recent announcement that the Government might allow foreign companies to own more than 50% of Proton’s manufacturing operations, Redza said DRB-HICOM would not object to Proton getting a foreign partner like Volkwagen AG if it succeeded in taking up a stake in Proton.

He said the group believed the Government was on the right track in looking for a foreign strategic partner.

“It all depends on what's best for the nation,” he added.

Nissan_FUGA

November 18th, 2006, 08:42 PM

Source: Business Times
Link : http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Saturday/Frontpage/BT595960.txt/Article/

PSA expected to present bid for Proton next week
By Francis Fernandez
bt@nstp.com.my

November 18 2006

EXECUTIVES of PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe's second biggest carmaker, is scheduled to meet top officials from the Ministry of Finance (MOF) next week to present their bid for Proton Holdings Bhd, sources said.

Business Times was told that the briefing will be held in Kuala Lumpur, and PSA has assembled a top team to brief senior officials from MOF, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the single largest shareholder in the carmaker with a 43 per cent stake and the management team of Proton.

PSA is believed to have brought forward the briefing, after news broke out that Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest carmaker, was interested in taking a 51 per cent stake in Proton's manufacturing arm, in a deal valued at about RM2 billion.

The briefing will focus on technical specifics on how a tie-up between the French carmaker and the Government-owned national carmaker will benefit both parties. It will also include talks on the possible entry of PSA as a stakeholder in Proton's manufacturing unit.

In September, Proton and PSA signed a letter of intent to study possible cooperation between the two automobile manufacturers.

The study will focus on a number of diverse areas such as product development, manufacturing, quality initiatives, vendor development, contract assembly and distribution, the New Straits Times had reported.

The Government said this month that it is in talks with carmakers including Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest carmaker and PSA about teaming up with Proton, to ensure the automaker's survival.

"We will do whatever it takes to make Proton viable and if, in the nature of things and in the context of the circumstances prevailing now, it's necessary to bring in a foreign partner, we'll bring a foreign partner," Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said on November 10.

He added that the Government will finalise plans for Proton in the next three months, but it has no preference for a local or foreign partner for Proton.

Thus far on the local front, only DRB-HICOM Bhd, the country's biggest integrated automotive company, said early this week that it is interested in buying a stake in Proton.

travellator

December 11th, 2006, 01:23 PM

Volkswagen Seen As Frontrunner To Become Proton's Partner

December 11, 2006 14:46 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Proton Holdings Bhd, which is now evaluating a number of parties as strategic partners for its manufacturing operations, may narrow down the list just before Christmas and Europe's largest carmaker, Volkswagen Aktiengessellschaft, may emerge as the frontrunner.

The German carmarker could sign a preliminary agreement to enable it to do a full fledged due diligence audit on Proton just before Christmas, according to a source.

Among the reasons pointing to Volkswagen's favour is that it has outlined a plan to take advantage of Malaysia's free trade agreement (FTA) with Japan to export Made-in-Malaysia Volkswagen cars to Japan by 2010.

Under the FTA, Made-in-Malaysia cars above the 2000cc can be brought into Japan on a commercial basis without duty, and this will be extended to all types of Made-in-Malaysia cars by 2015.

Volkswagen cars were first imported into Japan in 1952 and since then more than a million Volkswagens had been sold to Japanese consumers.

The source said Volkswagen, one of the world's distinctive brands, had proposed to Proton to first assemble the Passat, one of the most popular mid-range cars in its stable.

Nearly 15 million Passats had been produced since it made its first appearance in 1973 and the new generation Passat introduced last year comes in four different designs.

The source said Khazanah Nasional Bhd, which owns 43 per cent of the national carmaker, has been the key driver in roping in Volkswagen as a strategic partner.

Volkswagen, which has come up with 20 new models this year, is said to be the preferred choice as it was the only party willing to pump in money, which should help the cashflow at Proton.

Volkswagen is believed to be willing to commit as much as RM2 billion to acquire a 51 per cent stake in Proton's manufacturing arm.

Meanwhile, Khazanah is expected to remain as a major shareholder of Proton at the group or parent company level as Volkswagen wants a strong partner to be able to make cash calls, if necessary, to help develop the Proton brandname.

The other parties that have expressed interest in having a strategic partnership with Proton include Europe's second largest carmaker, PSA Peugeot-Citroen.

Local companies Mofaz Sdn Bhd, Naza Group and DRB-HICOM Bhd are also eyeing some sort of alliance with Proton.

But last week Proton's managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir said he was currently looking at "international partners" first.

French company PSA Peugeot-Citroen is said to be not in favour of taking a stake in Proton's manufacturing arm but enter into a loose alliance that would see both parties jointly developing new models, the source said.

The source explained that development of new models via a loose alliance could cost Proton huge amounts of money in research and development.

Furthermore, he said Proton was already looking to form loose alliances with carmakers from Japan and China.

The source said the local bidders have a slim chance to tie up with Proton for the time being as all of them are heavily involved in the local assembly or sales of foreign marques, in which they also own the franchise, and this could produce a conflict of interest.

Also, the source said the government does not want to bail out any local group if they were to face difficulties later down the road.

He also said the local companies had merely expressed interest to take over Proton but did not offer any firm plans on how they would revitalise Proton and its vendor system.

nazrey

December 12th, 2006, 07:20 AM

Proton told to show better performance by 2008
By Francis Fernandez
bt@nstp.com.my
December 12 2006

At a closed-door meeting, its senior management team was briefed on a 10-year plan to stem the carmaker's flagging reputation, including cutting cost, improving quality and introducing fresh models

NATIONAL carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd must start showing improvements by 2008, its senior management team was told at a closed-door briefing late last week.

At the meeting, Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir outlined details of a 10-year plan to stem the carmaker's flagging reputation that included cutting cost, improving quality and introducing fresh models.

An executive who attended the briefing said the management team believes that creating loose alliances with rival foreign carmakers to build new platforms will help pull Proton out from its current slump.

Another executive said two division heads were given "show cause" letters by the management.

Proton has five divisions: manufacturing, marketing, engineering, finance and international business.

A Proton official confirmed the meeting, but said that the show cause letters would be a normal practice for any company.

The official denied there had been comments at the meeting that Proton was at a "burning platform", saying they were made instead at a brainstorming session weeks ago.

State-owned Proton, the country's largest carmaker, said last month its fiscal second quarter loss widened as sales sank to the lowest in at least seven years.

The net loss was RM250.3 million in the three months to September 30, compared with a loss of RM154.3 million a year earlier.

Proton, some 43 per cent owned by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, needs to show better sales and profit to help stop a hole in its cash reserves.

Its cash tumbled to RM410.53 million as at September 30 2006 from RM975.83 million in the previous corresponding period, its latest quarterly accounts showed.

At its peak in 2003, Proton had cash and cash equivalent of RM3.79 billion.

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), the country's second national carmaker, has led vehicle registrations every month since at least March, the Malaysian Automotive Association said in October.

Proton has extended for the second time a preliminary agreement with Mitsubishi Motors Corp to build new models and cooperate on technology and component-supply areas. Proton also extended the feasibility study period for agreements with China's Chery Automobile Co and Alado Corp for a possible collaboration.

"To build really new models via joint ventures, Proton will have to inject (cash) heavily into research and development," said the executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

He also suggested that there could be some disagreement between the shareholders and top management team on how Proton should move forward.

It is believed that Khazanah would prefer a partner to acquire from Proton some of its assets so there will be some form of capital injection.

Likewise, a source said that Khazanah would be reluctant to sell its stake in Proton at the holding company level.

This is if it could bring in a foreign partner willing to buy some of Proton's manufacturing assets and provide fresh capital for research and development activities.

Peugeot has discounted the possibility of buying Proton's manufacturing assets or shares, while Volkswagen has never commented on fresh speculation that it will buy Proton's manufacturing arm for about RM2 billion.

travellator

January 10th, 2007, 10:48 AM

GM to join bidders for Malaysia's Proton: report

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - General Motors Corp. is planning to make a bid for Malaysia's struggling automaker Proton, joining Volkswagen AG and PSA Peugeot Citroen which are also reputed suitors, a report has said.

The New Straits Times cited unnamed sources as saying that GM officials had met several times with Proton management and shareholders since November, in its third approach to the Malaysian carmaker in almost a decade.

The daily said that in 1998 the US auto giant offered to take a stake in Proton but that its offer was not taken up, and three years ago it initiated talks on a technical tie-up with its South Korean unit.

The fresh bid involves a plan to take a small stake in Proton at the holding level, as well as a stake in its manufacturing arm, it said.

The Malaysian government is currently negotiating a partnership deal aimed at providing Proton with the expertise it needs to arrest a sharp decline in market share in a newly competitive market.

It owns 59 percent of Proton, including a 43 percent stake held by its investment arm Khazanah Nasional, and is believed to be aiming to conclude the negotiations by March.

Three Malaysian automotive companies -- DRB-HICOM, the Naza group and the Mofaz group -- have expressed interest in acquiring all or part of the government's stake.

However, earlier reports said the government prefers to choose between either Germany's Volkswagen or France's PSA Peugeot Citroen.

haze

January 14th, 2007, 12:11 PM

the Giant Strike Back :) :banana:

GM set to submit bid next week

January 13 2007

GENERAL Motors Corp (GM), the world's biggest carmaker, plans to submit a bid for Proton Holdings Bhd next week, to meet an informal deadline for all proposals on the national carmaker to be in by the middle of this month, sources familiar with GM's operations here said yesterday.

Sources told Business Times that GM, or partners acting in concert with it, is prepared to offer as much as RM10 a share for Proton, provided the US carmaker is given control of the finances of Proton and manages its vendor system.

The offer is about RM20 lower than what the US carmaker was prepared to offer for a 30 per cent stake in Proton in 1998, another source said.

Proton at that time was the dominant player in the Malaysian car market, which is South-East Asia's largest passenger car market. Since then, its fortunes have come under pressure.

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua), the country's second national carmaker, has led vehicle registrations every month since at least March last year, the Malaysian Automotive Association said in October, while Proton's fiscal second quarter loss widened as sales sank to their lowest in seven years.

Proton's net loss was RM250.3 million in the three months to September 30 compared with a loss of RM154.3 million a year earlier.

Its cash shrank to RM410.53 million as at September 30 2006 from RM975.83 million in the previous corresponding period, its latest quarterly accounts showed.

At its peak in 2003, Proton had cash and cash equivalents of RM3.79 billion.

According to the second source, GM's interest in Proton is twofold: to participate with Group Lotus and to use Malaysia as a lower-cost centre to develop car parts for GM's plants worldwide.

GM has already committed to buy as much as US$1 billion (RM3.52 billion) of car parts from India from next year as it seeks to lower costs.

Proton acquired an 80 per cent controlling stake in Group Lotus in October 1996. The company produces high-performance sports cars and provides automotive engineering consultancy services.

Vince

January 15th, 2007, 01:35 AM

GM already owns Daewoo. They want to buy up asian automakers so that they would strengthen their influences worldwide. Daewoo cars sold in N.America and worldwide are all under the GM brand, and I can imagine the "Proton" brand would be totally wiped out in the rest of the world if it were to be purchased by GM. I really hope GM does not acquire Proton as it and 2 other American automakers are not performing well, although still flush with cash. (GM has a contract with the American government to produce military vehicles,many used in Iraq and other places of war. However American car sales are quickly losing to Japanese and European competition) The reason is because GM, Ford and Chrysler are still concentrating on producing gas-guzzling vehicles like muscle cars and SUV which are not practical for our damaged environment. These automakers, together with oil companies, have invested lots of money to try to discredit scientists that warn about global warming and its adverse effects. (Just like what tobacco companies used to discredit surgeon's warnings that smoking would cause cancer and other lung diseases) Therefore owning a stake in Proton would mean that Malaysians are compromising on our values (if u guys still think we do) for the sake of making short-term monetary gains. GM would use Malaysia as a base to produce cheap car parts for the smaller cars manufactured in Korea (Daewoo) and any innovations in Proton designs ,like making more fuel-efficient cars, would probably be suppressed. In other words, we would lose our autonomy as an automaker when GM controls the purse-strings. What's worse, the American carmaker can then concentrate on continuing making war machines and other gas-guzzlers which would continue to add more damage to our environment. By the way, US contributes about 30% of the world's greenhouse gases...go figure. And any of you who are still not convinced about the calamities caused by global warming, just look at the severe flooding in Johor, the very wacky weather systems in the rest of the world, the lack of snow in Europe and Eastern N.America, and the diminishing glaciers everywhere. Anyone who hasn't heard anything about that, then yeah, u must have read the "feel good" articles compiled by the auto and oil companies.

pedang

January 15th, 2007, 09:22 AM

January 15, 2007 14:51 PM

Three Foreign Carmakers Keen To Partner With Proton

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) --Three foreign carmakers, including General Motors Corporation (GM), have expressed interest to partner with Proton Holdings Bhd, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said Monday.

Speaking to reporters after launching the initial public offering of the Syariah-compliant Al-Hadharah Boustead oil palm plantation real estate investment trust (REIT) here, he said: "GM has shown interest in Proton."

Nor Mohamed said the three automobile firms -- GM, Volkswagen and PSA Peugeot -- were keen to work with Proton but he did not specify if any of them wanted an equity stake in the national carmaker.

He said their interest came in different forms and different proposals, "so we have see what is best for us, for Proton".

Asked whether the three firms have submitted proposals to the government, Nor Mohamed said "no comment".

"They are interested and we are looking at it," he said.

Last Friday, Nor Mohamed was reported as saying that the government was currently evaluating proposals relating to Proton's strategic partner and was expected to announce its decision by the first quarter of this year.

He said if GM was interested to give its proposal, the government was not against looking at it.

Last Wednesday, US-based GM was reported to be interested in bidding for a stake in Proton as early as this month and had met several times with the Proton management and shareholders since November last year.

The GM proposal was reported to be a standalone bid.

-- BERNAMA

haze

January 15th, 2007, 02:32 PM

Govt to consider GM's proposals

By Surin Murugiah & Isabelle Francis
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

The government is now considering a proposal from a third foreign suitor - General Motors Corporation (GM) - to acquire a stake in Proton Holdings Bhd.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said this came after GM, the world's largest automaker, had "expressed interest" in the national carmaker.

"The government is considering the three companies now," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 15 after launching the Al-Hadharah Boustead REITs prospectus.

Prior to this, only Volkswagen AG (VW) and PSA Peugeot Citroen (PSA) had been in negotiations with the government to determine the strategic equity partner in Proton.

On Jan 12, Nor Mohamed had said the government had completed initial discussions with VW and Peugeot and was evaluating their proposals.

To a question on whether the government would look at GM's proposals, he had said: “If GM is interested to give us its proposal, we are not against looking at it.”

The government through its investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd owns a 42% stake in Proton.

Local players DRB-Hicom Bhd and the Naza Group recently made their proposal presentations to a Cabinet committee on their interest in Proton.

DRB-Hicom was reported to have made a firm proposal to the committee, which is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to acquire a 32.9% stake in Proton.

The Naza group made its presentation to the committee on Jan 4. The details of its bid have not been revealed.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg quoted Autopolis Asia managing director Graeme Maxton as saying that "there's still a division between the government and Proton about exactly what the correct strategy should be".

"Proton and a lot of other Malaysian companies believe that they should try to retain control of the business whereas I think the government looks at the best opportunity for investors and that is probably to sell part of the business.

"There's still a division and GM is in the middle of all that right now,'' he said. Maxton claimed that Autopolis was an adviser to the government.

The Bloomberg report was also quoted as saying that "the big problem is that the volume that Proton is producing is not really big enough by world standards."

"So for a big international player to come in and then bring in production into Malaysia, it doesn't make a great deal of sense because the volume is not big enough.

"So, what people are looking for is access to the market, not necessarily the manufacturing facilities and that's a problem."

Meanwhile, Proton together with Alado Corporation Sdn Bhd, China’s Chery Automobile Co Ltd are expected to embark on their car assembly programme in Malaysia by mid-2007.

Alado group executive chairman Tan Sri Cam Soh Thiam Hong said on Jan 15 that the parties had a car assembly programme on the drawing board and they expected to finalise the details in the next two months.

The thrust of the programme was to assemble Chery’s MPV B14 and SUV T11 models at Proton’s Shah Alam plant for distribution, he told reporters after the opening of Alado’s Ampang branch in Kuala Lumpur.

pedang

January 18th, 2007, 06:38 AM

Proton, Peugeot complete feasibility studies

By Tamimi Omar
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

Proton Holdings Bhd and PSA Peugeot Citroen have concluded feasibility studies on the proposed partnership between the two companies.

“The parties are in the process of evaluating the findings of the feasibility studies,” Proton said in a statement on Jan 17.

The studies include cooperation in the areas of optimising Proton’s production capacity focussing on contract assembly, product collaboration, supply of engine and components, and sales and distribution collaborative and contract assembly products.

Peugeot, Volkswagen AG and General Motors Corporation are in talks with the government to acquire a strategic equity stake in Proton.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported GM chief executive officer Rick Wagoner as saying that GM and Proton were at an early stage of talks.

"There have been conversations, not extensive," Wagoner, head of the world's largest automaker, told reporters in Dearborn, Michigan, late on Jan 16.

"We can't throw away money, but for sure we have a lot of people scheming how we can grow in those growth markets."

GM is targeting 11 emerging markets, including Malaysia, China and India, as it seeks to offset falling US sales. A partnership with Proton may help GM boost sales in Southeast Asia's biggest car market.

pedang

January 19th, 2007, 11:43 AM

Proton to launch new models this year

By Alfean Hardy
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

Proton Holdings Bhd will launch new models and new variants in the middle and end of the year despite the tough market environment, its managing director Datuk Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said.

“We want to continue to be in this position of offering better quality and more exciting products,” Syed Zainal said in his speech at the launch of new Savvy and Waja variants in Shah Alam on Jan 19.

“We are committed to continuously enhance and introduce new or refreshed models for our customers at an affordable price range.

"We are putting all our energy and efforts into ushering in a more exciting generation of Proton cars this year,” he added.

The new Savvy comes in two variants, the manual and automatic-manual transmission (AMT) medium line, and the higher end AMT high line, with changes to the exterior and interior while the prices are maintained.

The Waja features a new front appearance, new safety features and a more refined interior.

Speaking to reporters after the launch, Syed Zainal said the new models were not designed in collaboration with other carmakers but had already been in the pipeline.

To questions on the proposals from local and foreign automotive players bidding for a stake in Proton, he said: “The selection process is still being done and when the time comes we will make an announcement."

"Let’s not speculate on who will be the eventual winner. The government will know best what’s best for the company and the country,” he added.

Volkswagen AG, PSA Peugeot Citroen, General Motors, DRB-Hicom Bhd and the Naza Group are the interested suitors bidding for Proton.

Syed Zainal declined to say who had put in the highest bid. “These are details that we need to leave it as it is and let the processes take place. When the time is right, as promised by the Prime Minister, by March, we will make the announcements,” he said.

He also declined to comment on which company Proton had a preference for.

On when Proton would return to operational profitability, Syed Zainal said: “We are still looking at the numbers and it is too early for us to decide.

"A lot of it is going to depend on the partner and how fast we can get the synergies depending on the selection of the partner.”

For its first quarter ended June 30, 2006, Proton posted a net loss of RM58.65 million on revenue of RM1.42 billion.

For the following three months to Sept 30, 2006, the net loss widened to RM250.34 million on revenue of RM1.28 billion.

Subangite

January 19th, 2007, 07:41 PM

http://i1.autoworld.com.my/userimages/emzine/2162/2162F69984700.jpg

The Proton Waja

http://i1.autoworld.com.my/userimages/emzine/2162/2162F70173330.jpg

The Proton Savvy

http://www.autoworld.com.my/emzine/review/viewarticle.asp?awReviewId=2162&awCatId=RT.ATC.CAR.PV

http://paultan.org/archives/2007/01/19/2007-proton-waja-facelift-launched/

http://paultan.org/gallery/d/909-2/ext+Carnish+bground.jpg

http://paultan.org/gallery/d/912-2/front+view.jpg

I really like the front of the new facelifted Waja!! This is what they should have released the first time around. It looks imposing, aggressive, continental and quite charming. None of that v shaped nonsense, this is the way to go.

The interior looks better

http://paultan.org/gallery/d/927-2/Leather+seats+Front.jpg

http://paultan.org/gallery/d/924-2/Leather+Seats+back.jpg

http://paultan.org/gallery/d/939-2/panel.jpg

There is a two tone interior, leather as standard. For the first time, I really see the Waja as an attractive car!! Wonderful!! I don't care what the nay sayers go on about, out of all the Waja designs and redesigns (last came out 6 months ago), this is certainly the best!

forrestcat

January 20th, 2007, 02:39 AM

The Waja reminds me of the VW Passat and the Toyota Crown.

It's good that this time that all Waja will be equipped with airbags and ABS.

triple-j

January 20th, 2007, 05:57 AM

not sure if it's nice facelift but it definitely add some grrr' to waja. i've looked thro the links....thank god they already lose the V at savvy's tail....

fairul

January 20th, 2007, 08:46 AM

the front view of the new waja reminds me of kia optima

Nissan_FUGA

January 20th, 2007, 08:52 AM

Erm, later this year we should be able to see replacements for Iswara....

Judging from this report.....

source: http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_ebbd6fce-cb73c03a-1d1082f0-803f280d

Niche appeal of Satria Neo
By Siow Chen Ming

Motoring pundits have praised the new Proton Satria Neo, launched last Friday, for its better build quality, comfortable ride and handling. But analystsdo not expect the new car to significantly boost Proton’s sales performance.
Even Proton Holdings Bhd’s managing director, Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, sounds a tad conservative: “We expect to sell between 2,000and 2,500 units per month in the first few months, with the volume to stabilise after that.”
The Neo may face the same dilemma as the Savvy, which was launched last year. The Savvy is perceived as a good car, but its unusual looks and smaller size, compared with the Perodua Myvi, caused it to lose out in sales.
The Neo, a two-door sports hatch, would appeal only to a niche market.
“It would have made a big difference if the Neo came in a four-door version,” one analyst comments. She says there is a huge market for the four-door hatchback or “super mini” among young car buyers, based on the response for such models as the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Peugeot 206. It would be a pity if Proton didn’t exploit the potential of that market, she adds.
With a complicated vendor programme, the national carmaker often takes a long time to get from the development to marketing stage. As a result, analysts say, it tends to fall short in terms of market trend and positioning of new models. The situation is aggravated as Proton is sometimes not able to read market demands correctly, they say.
While the Gen.2 is both a four-door and a hatchback, it doesn’t quite appeal to the super-mini segment because of its size. Proton had in fact targeted the Gen.2 as a replacement for the Wira — a family sedan. But this strategy has proved to be less than successful as reflected in the poor sales of Gen.2, described by analysts as “neither here nor there”.
This has prompted Proton to come up with a sedan version, with an extended boot and different interior finishes, to appeal to the family market. The Gen.2 saloon is expected to hit the market by the end of the year and will effectively replace the Wira, which will soon be phased out here and its production shifted to Indonesia to target the taxi market there.
While the Neo appears to be catering for a niche segment, the Gen.2 saloon is a better bet to boost Proton’s lagging sedan sales. The popular Waja is already in its sixth year of production and is looking a little dated.
The Gen.2 saloon is crucial for Proton to meet the key performance index (KPI) targets set by the government. Ranked high on the list is improving its market share from 41.4% in the financial year ended March 31, 2006, to 45.8% in FY2007.
It won’t be easy, and most analysts now think it’s a target too far. That’s because Proton only has another nine months before its financial year ends inMarch 2007. Meanwhile, its market share deteriorated further to 30.4% or 9,290 units in April, a big gap compared to Perodua’s 44% or 13,574 units, according to the Malaysian Automotive Association.
Perodua’s Myvi is a runaway success and seems to be capturing sales not only from the Savvy, but also the Iswara and Wira.
“To meet the KPI on market share, Proton’s management may have to slash prices and sacrifice some profit margin to boost sales,” says Steven Tan of CIMB Securities.
Analysts say there is room to cut prices. This is because the KPI on Proton’s earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) margin is set at 2.5% for FY2007 — an achievable goal.
Nevertheless, the national carmaker is only expected to perform significantly better in FY2008. That is provided Proton sticks with its new production schedule, which includes the launch of the Iswara replacement model (IRM) sometime next year.
The IRM will be a completely new model, built on an extended and wider Savvy patform. Instead of a Renault engine as in the Savvy, the IRM will use Proton’s 1.3 litre Campro engine. That will help lower costs as Proton starts to produce more Campro engines. The carmaker plans to price the IRM competitively — not too far off its current price range — to target the existing Iswara segment.
But market leader Perodua is not resting on its laurels. It plans to introduce replacements for its Kancil and Kelissa models in March next year. That would make Proton’s job of catching up more difficult.

TYW

January 20th, 2007, 10:10 AM

the facelifted Waja doesn't look nicer IMO. got a little Saga feel to it. while Savvy not much difference

Subangite

January 20th, 2007, 10:26 AM

I don't think so much as a Saga feel to it, for me it reminds me of the VW Passat or Bora. It has more of a VW feel to it.

forrestcat

January 21st, 2007, 03:51 AM

The logo on the grill is abit too big though.

Proton kinda cheeky...knows that Malaysians are crazy about continental cars and make Proton cars look like them :lol: .Even I think that it'd be glamourous for Proton to ally with Peugeot or VW over GM.

The Naza Bestari which is a copy of Peugeot 206 is also doing extremely well coz of its European origin.

pedang

January 23rd, 2007, 04:36 AM

German Chamber sees VW as best fit for Proton

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC) is confident that Volkswagen AG's (VW) bid for a strategic partnership with national carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd is the most competitive.

The MGCC and the German government were both in favour of the deal, MGCC president and chief executive officer Dr Rainer Herret yesterday told a press conference in conjunction with the start of a 14-member German trade delegation visit to Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

MGCC was disappointed that the discussions between VW and Proton halted last year without conclusion, Herret said.

Among the factors in favour of VW, was the fact that it had already spent three years preparing for such a partnership and “could begin production within days,” of an agreement, said counsellor for economic and commercial affairs at the German Embassy to Malaysia, Wolfgang Trautwein.

The German Embassy was in contact with VW and monitoring the negotiations between the parties, Trautwein said.

In the event of a deal, Proton would benefit from access to better technology, training and worldwide distribution network of VW, while the German automaker would have access to Proton's Tanjung Malim factory, allowing it to save substantially from setting up its own production facilities in the region, he said.

Earlier discussions halted due to confusion that VW wanted a controlling stake in Proton.

In fact, VW's bid involved the creation of a joint venture company (JVC) in which VW wanted a controlling stake “to protect its intellectual property,” Herret said.

The JVC would engage in joint development of vehicles, while Proton could continue to produce and market cars independently, or in some other arrangement.

The trade delegation, which arrived on Sunday, comprises mostly makers of equipment for textile production, targeting Malaysian textile companies upgrading to manufacturing high-tech fabrics.

It also includes biodiesel player Hans Lehnard Produktions- und Vertriebs GmbH.

The trade delegation has started a series of meetings, which end tomorrow, with potential Malaysian business partners.

Germany is Malaysia's ninth largest trading partner with total trade valued at 7bil Euros for the first 11 months of 2006 and 6.92bil Euros in 2005.

pedang

January 26th, 2007, 05:08 AM

Nor Mohamed: National pride calls for Proton to have foreign partner
By Isabelle Francis

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said it is in the national interest for Proton Holdings Bhd to forge a strategic alliance with a foreign partner.

“National pride is beyond Proton. National pride is an important factor in making sure Proton survives and prospers.

“It’s important for the auto industry for Proton to do well. It is not a zero sum game; we are all in it together. It is prosper thy neighbour sort of policy.

“It may be useful to get the expertise (of foreign partner) that we need so that there can be a symbiotic relationship to move on to a better level given the changing international environment,” he told reporters after launching UMW Holdings Bhd’s GaleriKu in Shah Alam on Jan 25.

The RM1.5 million UMW GaleriKu is sited on a 4,521 sq ft area at the ground floor of UMW’s corporate building and showcases UMW’s corporate history since 1917.

The items displayed at the gallery include a Toyota Corrolla-KE10, the first Corolla series assembled in 1986 by Assembly Services Sdn Bhd, an oilrig scale model, and insights into car assembly and rig operations.

Nor Mohamed also expected the local automotive industry to perform better this year, particularly in the second half, due to better macroeconomic figures, consumer confidence, spillover effects from the stock market and inflow of foreign investments.

“We have also held a number of meetings with the banking sector to inform banks that the government is very keen to see the banking system play its part in ensuring there is adequate financing for car buyers.

“This confluence of factors would create prosperity and, among other things should lead to a bigger purchase of cars,” he said, adding that the national automotive policy was not the factor (that) affected car sales last year.

According to Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), car sales drop 11% last year to 490,768 units and this year, it expected car sales to increase by a marginal 1.9%.

Based on the same report, the MAA also said national carmaker Proton’s number one spot was overtaken by Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd.

On a separate matter, UMW managing director Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Harun said the group expected earnings growth across all its core business namely automotive, heavy equipment and oil and gas in the current financial year ending Dec 31, 2007.

hypermount

February 2nd, 2007, 05:35 AM

My Savvy which is already 1 year and 2 months old, clocked 28 000 km and counting, done many 500km trips without stopping... everyday NEVER MISS a single day for 1 year 2 months startup the car 5-6 times it never fails to start, if fail once we will late for work...only time it breaks down was when out of petrol.

and now still running strong, who said Proton can't build good cars? Where is the QC issue I frequently heard a bout.

khoojyh

February 2nd, 2007, 01:26 PM

but less ppl would like to modify satri neo, for me, idont have any idea on how to modify satria neo, because satria neo spare part and aaccessory not as much as Myvi, modify myvi is easier than modify satria neo, i think this is one of the reason why satri neo selling rate lesser than myvi..... correct me if i am wrong.

forrestcat

February 2nd, 2007, 04:48 PM

Proton is now clearing all Waja before 2007 by offering discounts up to RM6000,depend on the year of production.The Hi-Line already sol out.My mom booked a 2006 model,but no ABS and airbag .Only RM53 000!!!

OshHisham

February 3rd, 2007, 05:13 AM

szehoong

February 5th, 2007, 07:32 AM

The front of the new Waja is gorgeous! :yes:

How come no one post the rear? :D IMO the rear is still ugly with those 'thermometer' lights! :puke:

fairul

February 5th, 2007, 10:41 AM

so..for you,Savvy is a good car, right?.....bcoz im thinking of having savvy as my 1st car!!..but can you tell from your experience the downsides of savvy?

I have 3 friends who opt for Savvy as their first car...i like the engine...very smooth and so so quite...very fuel efficient too u know..

wmkp

February 5th, 2007, 11:59 AM

The Waja reminds me of the VW Passat and the Toyota Crown.

It's good that this time that all Waja will be equipped with airbags and ABS.

An indication that VW would win the bid soon, so they have styled it to have the new VW style maybe? If yea..we can expect some rebadged VW models under Proton.

OshHisham

February 8th, 2007, 08:15 AM

I have 3 friends who opt for Savvy as their first car...i like the engine...very smooth and so so quite...very fuel efficient too u know..

also in my mind either should i take savvy or satria neo...most people will advice for satria, but is it worth paying 10k more for what satria can offer?

fairul

February 8th, 2007, 09:11 AM

also in my mind either should i take savvy or satria neo...most people will advice for satria, but is it worth paying 10k more for what satria can offer?

its up to u actually bro...design wise..yes..Satria neo has the advantage becoz of the sporty look...but second hand value for Satria (previous one) is quite low..somemore becoz of the 3doors...the choice is in ur hand..both are nice cars imo..

travellator

February 28th, 2007, 04:01 AM

Khazanah meets Proton's foreign suitors
By Francis Fernandez

KHAZANAH Nasional Bhd, the controlling stakeholder of Proton Holdings Bhd, met this week with top officials of at least two of three foreign suitors for the troubled national carmaker, executives with direct knowledge of the meetings said yesterday.

Business Times was told that Khazanah had met separately with top officials of Germany's Volkswagen AG (VW) and US-based General Motors Corp (GM).

VW, GM and French carmaker Peugeot had previously made submissions to the Government to form either an equity or technical partnership with Proton.

Europe's second carmaker Peugeot had on January 26 said a partnership with Proton is not imminent, while VW and GM have generally kept their cards close to the chest.

VW and GM are local partners of DRB- HICOM Bhd, the sole public listed company that has submitted a bid to the Government to buy Khazanah's stake in the national carmaker. The other two local bidders are Naza Group, which has close working ties with Peugeot, and Mofaz Sdn Bhd.

Business Times understands that VW's proposal to the Government is more comprehensive than initially thought. VW was initially thought to have proposed to aquire a stake in Proton's manufacturing, but sources now say that the German firm has also proposed to acquire stakes in Proton's distribution unit plus its research and development arm. Such a deal could leave Proton a cash-rich shelf company.

GM, meanwhile, is said to be proposing to acquire a small stake in Proton as well as a stake in its manufacturing unit.

pedang

March 1st, 2007, 04:24 AM

Proton's strategic partner to be revealed this month

By Zuraimi Abdullah and Hamisah Hamid
bt@nstp.com.my

March 1 2007

PROTON Holdings Bhd's strategic partner will be known before the end of March, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said, amid the market's speculation that it will be a two-horse race between the world's largest carmaker and Europe's number one player.

OSK Research said the race is between US-based General Motors Corp and Germany's Volkswagen AG, although another foreign automaker, PSA Peugeot Citroen, is also in the running.

"(PSA Peugeot) is not interested in acquiring a stake but prefers to have an alliance with Proton for joint development works," the firm said in its note yesterday.

"We have said that we will make the announcement before end of March. Our staff have have been talking with various parties," Nor Mohamed told reporters in Putrajaya yesterday.

Asked whether the parties involved include VW and GM, Nor Mohamed said: "No comment, no comment".

It was reported by Business Times that Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the controlling stakeholder of Proton, met with top officials of VW and GM this week.

On Proton's third quarter results, Nor Mohamed said that the Government had expected the carmaker to incur losses but a strategy is being formulated to return it to profitability.

Despite the weak financial numbers, OSK Research has retained its "trading buy" on Proton in view of the prevailing speculation on the status of its foreign partner.

Proton shares closed yesterday slightly lower at RM7.20, from RM7.30 on Tuesday, despite reporting another loss in the third quarter.

The stock hit a high of RM7.25 and a low of RM6.30 before capping the loss at 10 sen. Total volume stood at 1.92 million units.

Meanwhile, Proton is to officially make its presence in the Indonesian market in two weeks.

A senior government minister is due to officiate an event in Jakarta that will mark Proton's entry into the country.

Proton owns an assembly plant in Cikarang near Jakarta and had last September shipped an initial 52 units of Wira to Pekan Baru as part of fresh plans to export 3,000 cars to Indonesia.

ravenhawk

March 2nd, 2007, 04:18 PM

whaaaaaat a fu(k!!!!!!! that car is soo goood!
You guys are totaly unfair!!! You stopped selling PROTON cars in the Philippines! leaving only the sloppy korean designs and the abusive Japanese car brands! Come back PROTON please............

ravenhawk

March 2nd, 2007, 04:28 PM

And guys all I can say is that whether the Malaysian govn't will be able to sell Proton or not. I have a strong reason to believe that PROTON will be able to stand alone no matter what! It is already producing high quality cars and only time will be needed for it to create a "bomb car" to squash those Italian ghinis and ratis....remember WE ARE A GREAT MALAY RACE! and PROTON CAN DO IT ON ITS OWN!!

James Foong

March 4th, 2007, 09:53 AM

Hailer

March 5th, 2007, 04:29 AM

I consider Proton is the good car. It’s just that Malaysians now are getting bored of local brand. They just want something difference with foreign brand. Can’t they proton’s engineers be more innovative. Design special external accessory that unique to Malaysian climate, or equipped with internal accessory which is not available with other car. I think this is also another way to tackle Malaysian.

Nissan_FUGA

March 5th, 2007, 05:42 AM

Subangite

March 5th, 2007, 08:56 AM

Foreign reviews on Satria Neo...

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Proton-Satria-Neo-1.6-GSX/224333/

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/RT/6EB91D5A07698BCFCA25728100055F50?OpenDocument

Personally, when i got my driving licence, i do want to drive a Satria Neo too, it's design alone looks sharp especially from the headlight design...

Their cars, such as Savvy and Satria Neo, when compared to other Proton model, i do think their quality has been improved (notably the power window problem has gone) and better interior feel.........but too bad, it's too late now.....it is definitely harder to rebuild a brand name in such a short time, when Proton are known to be infamous of producing inconsisent car in terms of quality even to some kids...

Just got a new proton and I can tell you, quality is still an issue! There's a rattling noise, missing screws and the automatic gear lever goes/drops into the console. The car is still under warranty but I had to wait 5 hours, only to find that I had to return to their service center because the problems weren't even fixed. I've been bringing it around to proton's "center of excellence" service center 3 times already to fix the problems, don't know how many more times I still need to. Why did they brand the service center with such a tacky name, "center of excellence"?

I hope if Proton really establish their partnership with VW, they can improve their manufacturing process, quality control and also, to be able to use some of VW's engine......notably their diesel engines and also engines get Variable Valve Timing (most cars has that for long time already) to improve the engine efficiency in terms of horsepower to litre ratio...

I too hope VW gets a hold of Proton, look at what they did when they took over Skoda, hopefully quality could be improved in Proton!

OshHisham

March 5th, 2007, 03:35 PM

friend of my in Proton says...proton will most likely to close deal with GM, because VW keep demanding 51% stake in proton manufacturing which is imposible for proton...

Nissan_FUGA

March 5th, 2007, 03:40 PM

friend of my in Proton says...proton will most likely to close deal with GM, because VW keep demanding 51% stake in proton manufacturing which is imposible for proton...

Then, if GM did seal a deal with Proton, does it involve any transfer of stake in Proton manufacturing? :)

I wonder what GM is going to do with Proton, would it be same like to those on Daewoo?

OshHisham

March 5th, 2007, 03:59 PM

pedang

March 6th, 2007, 04:14 AM

Peugeot ends partnership talks with Proton

By Ashwin Raman
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

PSA Peugeot-Citroen has decided not to proceed with a proposed partnership with Proton Holdings Bhd after evaluating the feasibility studies that were concluded in January, the French carmaker announced on March 5.

“An in-depth study of the automobile market and the economic conditions for co-producing vehicles with Proton concluded that the conditions for the project’s success were not present,” it said.

In a statement released via its website, Peugeot said it had “informed Proton of its decision not to follow up on the study”.

It said talks with Proton had centered on the development of Peugeot and Citroen in Malaysia and the use of the country as a production base for its sales operations in the Asean region.

Meanwhile, in an interview with a French daily published on March 5, Peugeot chief executive officer Christian Streiff said it had abandoned talks with Proton as the tie-up did not “guarantee the conditions of production at low cost”.

In the report by Le Figaro, Streiff also said the French carmaker would have to downsize its workforce as part of a restructuring plan that it was undertaking.

An industry analyst said Peugeot’s decision not to proceed with the proposed partnership was not a “massive blow for Proton”.

“Peugeot was only talking about joint development whereas GM (General Motors Corp) and VW (Volkswagen AG) are looking at taking some control of Proton’s operations,” he said.

travellator

March 6th, 2007, 06:11 PM

Lotus to unveil hybrid technology
By Kevin Tan

Proton Holdings Bhd’s subsidiary Lotus Engineering will be unveiling its latest hybrid car technology during the 77th Geneva International Motor Show.

In a statement on March 6, Proton said the new technology was named “EVE Hybrid”, which stands for ‘efficient, viable and environmental’.

It added that Lotus believed it would be more viable to integrate hybrid technologies into existing cars than to develop expensive new dedicated hybrid platforms.

“Solutions that Lotus Engineering can provide to its OEM clients will help them keep price premiums for hybrid variants at a minimum, thanks to lower development costs and are available immediately for introduction within current and next generation model lifecycles,” Proton said.

For demonstration purposes during the motor show in Geneva, Lotus has fitted the new technology into a Proton Gen.2.

With the hybrid technology, Proton Gen.2 tailpipe emissions are reduced by 22% from 172g/km to 134g/km, while fuel economy has improved by 28% from 39.2mpg to 50.2mpg.

The technology was aiming to provide a viable business case proposition for its OEM clients to offer a hybrid variant of a medium-high volume production car, Proton said.

Nissan_FUGA

March 6th, 2007, 07:40 PM

pedang

March 7th, 2007, 03:58 AM

PM: Proton still talking to GM, VW

By Kamarul Yunus
ahmadk@nstp.com.my

March 7 2007

EFFORTS to find a strategic partner for Proton Holdings Bhd are to continue and will not be hampered by French carmaker PSA Peugeot-Citroen's decision to cease talks with the national carmaker

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Government and Proton are still talking with the other two potential foreign partners, namely the US car giant General Motors Corp and Germany's Volkswagen.

"I was told that Peugeot decided to withdraw. That is all.

"We are still talking to Volkswagen and GM," he told reporters after attending a briefing by Bank Negara Malaysia's board of directors in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Abdullah, who is also Finance Minister, was asked to comment on Peugeot's decision to pull out from talks with Proton.

According to the French carmaker, the talks focused on a possible cooperative venture to support the development of Peugeot and Citroen in Malaysia and serve as a production base for the marques' sales operations in the Asean region.

"An indepth study of the automobile market and the economic conditions for co-producing vehicles with Proton concluded that the conditions for the project's success were not present," Peugeot said.

The Government has been in talks with a number of companies to provide loss-making Proton with the necessary know-how and enable the company to regain its status as Malaysia's biggest-selling carmaker.

Apart from Peugeot, Volkswagen and GM, local automotive firms Naza Corp, DRB-HICOM and Mofaz had also expressed interest in Proton.

OshHisham

March 7th, 2007, 07:38 AM

Campro EVE Hybrid

Source: autonet.com.tw

http://tw.autonet.com.tw/news/img/2007/3/ba70301401.jpg

http://tw.autonet.com.tw/news/img/2007/3/ba70301403.jpg

http://tw.autonet.com.tw/news/img/2007/3/ba70301404.jpg

w0o0ow..nice! but, the hybrid technology had already patented by Toyota? does it means that we pay for the technology or is that a whole new technology developed by lotus?

Vince

March 7th, 2007, 11:46 AM

yes, for sure GM wants to acquire a stake in proton, but he doesn't know how much...but i think it's better for proton to have GM bcoz there's chances for proton to enter the US market. Daewoo..?i don't know their story.....do u?

I guess my worst fears may come true after all. Here's a recap of what I put down back in January 14, 2007:

GM already owns Daewoo. They want to buy up asian automakers so that they would strengthen their influences worldwide. Daewoo cars sold in N.America and worldwide are all under the GM brand, and I can imagine the "Proton" brand would be totally wiped out in the rest of the world if it were to be purchased by GM. I really hope GM does not acquire Proton as it and 2 other American automakers are not performing well, although still flush with cash. (GM has a contract with the American government to produce military vehicles,many used in Iraq and other places of war. However American car sales are quickly losing to Japanese and European competition) The reason is because GM, Ford and Chrysler are still concentrating on producing gas-guzzling vehicles like muscle cars and SUV which are not practical for our damaged environment. These automakers, together with oil companies, have invested lots of money to try to discredit scientists that warn about global warming and its adverse effects. (Just like what tobacco companies used to discredit surgeon's warnings that smoking would cause cancer and other lung diseases) Therefore owning a stake in Proton would mean that Malaysians are compromising on our values (if u guys still think we do) for the sake of making short-term monetary gains. GM would use Malaysia as a base to produce cheap car parts for the smaller cars manufactured in Korea (Daewoo) and any innovations in Proton designs ,like making more fuel-efficient cars, would probably be suppressed. In other words, we would lose our autonomy as an automaker when GM controls the purse-strings. What's worse, the American carmaker can then concentrate on continuing making war machines and other gas-guzzlers which would continue to add more damage to our environment. By the way, US contributes about 30% of the world's greenhouse gases...go figure. And any of you who are still not convinced about the calamities caused by global warming, just look at the severe flooding in Johor, the very wacky weather systems in the rest of the world, the lack of snow in Europe and Eastern N.America, and the diminishing glaciers everywhere. Anyone who hasn't heard anything about that, then yeah, u must have read the "feel good" articles compiled by the auto and oil companies.

OshHisham

March 7th, 2007, 12:16 PM

AhChuan

March 7th, 2007, 06:27 PM

Yeah....nice car. Inside oso very nice. How much Satria neo? Around RM80,000??

Nissan_FUGA

March 7th, 2007, 07:33 PM

Yeah....nice car. Inside oso very nice. How much Satria neo? Around RM80,000??

Depending on specs, i think the price might be ranging from RM 43,500 (1.3 MT) to RM 54,800 (1.6 AT)...............

Subangite

March 7th, 2007, 09:40 PM

same thing if VW have a majority stake in proton...we'll lose our control too! GM owns pontiac,saab, chevrolet and so on...and yes, GM sells daewoo under his name..gmdaewoo. but how about other brands? i believe GM has different stategies for the different brands....
about the environmental issues....that's nothing to do with proton

The way GM runs its brands is completely different to the way VW runs its brands.

GM does destroy some of the brands it acquires if the brand is weak! You see all the Chevrolets in Malaysia, they are all Daewoo in disguise!! They've killed off the Daewoo brand and replaced it with the chevy mark in Malaysia, (example the Chevrolet Optra is actually the Daewoo Lacetti)!!! GM rebadges the cars to whatever brand works in the country, in Australia, these same Daewoos are badged Holden, in Europe depending on the country it is either Chevrolet, Vauxhaull or Opel, in the US, some of them are rebadged Suzuki. In short GM really killed off the Daewoo brand outside of Korea.

VW on the other hand doesn't do this "rebadging to whatever brand is convenient". VW actually works in a way that sees its subsidiaries sharing platforms, but keeps the brand independent! Take Skoda for example, they used to have a horrible reputation, especially after the fall of communism they were viewed as another Lada/Zastava/Trabant type car company. VW upon taking over the Czech company could have ended the Skoda brand and badged them VW/Audi/SEAT, but they didn't!!!!! They worked the brand, giving it access to VW's wide range of platforms and new technologies to such an extent that Skoda's now have great reviews and good reputation from car owners in Europe!! Skoda is also profitable and is a great earner for the VW group, it is expanding with opening new plants in India and Bosnia.

If GM gets the stake in Proton, GM will probably kill the Proton brand :(. Protons will be rebadged as Holdens, Chevy, Opel, Suzuki for overseas and the current Daewoos, Chevy, Opels in Malaysia would now be rebadged as Proton.

If VW takes control, we can see the Proton brand expand, the new Proton cars will have access to high technology in the form of VW Group platforms. They'll actually develop into an actual Proton car, Proton's reputation abroad would improve, people won't be appalled by Proton's current Euro NCAP 3 star rating, they won't mock the build quality because thanks to VW German help, the quality would improve dramatically. We'll probably actually see more sales of Protons in markets outside of Malaysia!! This is all following the VW experience with Skoda.

Think of the next Satria coming from the VW A platform. The A platform is same modular platform architecture that is found in the VW Golf GTI, the new Audi TT, the Skoda Octavia. Yummy!!

Even yummier, imagine the next Perdana using the same platform as the Audi A8, the VW Phaeton, or the very least same platform as the Skoda Superb, VW Passat, Audi A6.

As much as how I would like VW to take over Proton, I really think GM will. :(

OshHisham

March 8th, 2007, 03:38 AM

pedang

March 12th, 2007, 11:04 AM

Govt sticks to March timeline for Proton

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

The government is sticking to its March deadline to decide on the strategic partnership for national carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said.

“We are still in discussions and we will come up with a resolution soon,” he told reporters after launching the Treasury's 55th anniversary celebration in Putrajaya on March 12.

Nor Mohamed said the government needed a resolution for Proton pertaining to the equity and technical partnerships after months of talks.

Three foreign carmakers Volkswagen AG, PSA Peugeot Citroen and General Motors had earlier expressed interest in Proton. However, Peugeot has since dropped out of the race after a study found it not feasible to work with Proton to produce cars for the region.

Apart from the foreign carmakers, local auto players DRB-Hicom Bhd and Naza Group have submitted proposals to the government to take over Proton.

The government owns 59% of Proton, including a 43% stake held by its investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Earlier in his speech, Nor Mohamed reminded the Finance Ministry staff that they had to always remain prepared and have strong perseverance to counter any future economic or financial crisis faced by the country.

“We must realise that the cause of the financial and economic crisis are sometimes beyond our control. However, what is important is that we must have the confidence to take actions, which are sometimes deemed impossible but done for the good of the public in general,” he said.

“We have proven ourselves by overcoming the 1997/1998 financial crisis through proper strategic planning and working hard,” he added.

pedang

March 15th, 2007, 05:36 AM

Proton among top 3 in Indonesia's taxi mart

From Zuraimi Abdullah
bt@nstp.com.my

March 15 2007

JAKARTA: Proton Holdings Bhd has managed to position itself in the top three spot in Indonesia's taxi market last year, four years after making its presence here.
This year, Proton's Wira taxis have been outselling other brands in a market traditionally dominated by Toyota and Hyundai, its general manager of international sales and services division Ahmad Tifli Datuk Mohd Talha said.

Wira taxis are now fully imported from Proton's plant in Shah Alam but come this September, the model will be locally assembled at its Cikarang plant in Indonesia, Tifli said.

He said Proton had delivered about 600 units to taxi operators in Pekan Baru in Riau and Jakarta since it started selling Wira taxis in the republic in August last year.

"We have firm orders of another 1,500 units and received enquiries for about 3,000 units from taxi operators here," Tifli told Malaysian reporters at the Cikarang plant yesterday.

Proton's strong performance here, he said, was partly due to the weak overall automotive market in Indonesia and keen interest in newcomers like Proton.

"In a way, we, as a newcomer, are benefiting from the weak taxi segment and the overall motor vehicle industry in Indonesia last year," Tifli said.

Sales of new cars dropped by about 40 per cent to some 310,000 units. The domestic taxi market is estimated at about 22,000 units a year.

The dismal overall sales figures have not improved in January, with the number easing to 26,788 units from 31,175 units in December last year.

Meanwhile, the Gen.2 and Savvy are set to make their debut in the Indonesiam market tomorrow.

Waldenstrom

March 15th, 2007, 09:38 PM

I would love to drive one of these cars! :)

pedang

March 16th, 2007, 09:58 AM

Proton Gen2 And Satria Neo Make Their Debut At IAAE In Tokyo

From Alan Ting

TOKYO, March 16 (Bernama) -- The Proton Gen2 and Satria Neo cars made their debut at the 6th International Auto Aftermarket Expo (IAAE) 2007 which took off here today.

This is the first time that the Proton Gen2 and Satria Neo are being exhibited in Japan by national car manufacturer, Proton Holdings Bhd.

The expo which is on until this Sunday, is being held at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center or Tokyo Big Sight.

Proton's participation in this expo is said to be a prelude to its bigger participation in the Tokyo International Motor Show next year.

Although the IAAE 2007 caters mainly to the auto parts market, Proton's presence brings a significant boost for the 11 Malaysian auto parts manufacturers who have been invited by the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) to take part in the expo, said Zainal Mohamad Noh, Proton Holdings' general manager for Vendor Management and Improvement Group Procurement.

The 11 auto parts makers supply various auto parts such as rubber and plastic parts, fan, shock absorbers and batteries for Malaysian car manufacturers including Proton.

"We have been invited by Matrade and Jetro to show our commitment in OEM sector. Moreover it is our objective to spearhead Malaysia's auto parts industry," Zainal said.

The Malaysian auto parts makers and Proton are showcasing their products under one roof named "Malaysia Auto Industry" (MAI), occupying 17,760 metres of space at the exhibition centre.

The Malaysian booth is sponsored by Jetro and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

Tomoko Fukada, a director at the Kuala Lumpur Jetro office said Proton's decision to exhibit their cars at the expo has helped Malaysian auto parts makers to provide a clearer and better picture of the Malaysian automotive industry to the Japanese auto-related companies.

It would be also useful in helping Malaysian auto parts makers to exchange ideas with their Japanese counterparts.

"Japanese people don't know much about Malaysia automotive industry. This is the first time we have organised such an exhibition here with Malaysian companies," she told Bernama here.

Fukada said Malaysian auto parts makers' participation in the expo was part of the Malaysia-Japan Automotive Industry Cooperation or MAJAICO project.

The project is part of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Japan and Malaysia sealed in July 2006.

Other projects carried out under MAJAICO included providing technical assistance to the Advanced Technology Training Centre (Adtec) in Shah Alam and despatching 10 Malaysian autoparts makers to Tokyo and Osaka for business matching with potential Japanese buyers.

Fukada said seven automotive experts or trainers had been sent from Japan to Adtec.

"Last month, a mission comprising autoparts makers from Japan also visited Malaysia to meet Malaysian autoparts makers to explore potential business opportunities," she said.

-- BERNAMA

cooltemper

March 17th, 2007, 04:15 AM

nazrey

March 17th, 2007, 08:59 AM

ll Photos from satrianeo (http://www.satrianeo.com.my/) official website ll

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James Foong

March 18th, 2007, 10:08 AM

Wah lau eh...Proton participate in Auto Fair..... and some more in Tokyo?
Proton want the whole Asia know that he copy Japan technology for 25 years and still struggling to stand on own feet?

Pls lar... this kind of shame just kept inside Malaysia only lar... don't need to show our weakness to all over the world... Pu lar...

I think the show is nothing to shame us. It is just an affair to let the japanese aware that proton and japan automakers r inter related in proton models.

Btw, for 25 years we hv in been automotive industry, how can the proton evolved if we cant invented a simple mesin potong rumput engine? :ohno:

Nissan_FUGA

March 19th, 2007, 03:32 PM

Source : http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_business.php?id=252034

March 19, 2007 15:02 PM

Good Response For Proton Gen2 And Satria Neo At Tokyo Auto Show

From Alan Ting

TOKYO, March 19 (Bernama) -- Proton Gen2 and Satria Neo which made their debut in Japan through the Sixth International Auto Aftermarket Expo 2007 (IAEE) have received a favourable response from auto enthusiasts here.

Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) director for the Japanese trade division, Nobufumi Kurita, said Jetro, which organised the Malaysian auto industry participation in the expo, received many inquiries from potential Japanese companies which are interested to market the Malaysian-made cars.

"We received a lot of inquiries, mostly from small Japanese car dealers who are serious in importing the cars to Japan," he said.

Kurita said most of the Japanese enthusiasts who visited the Malaysia Auto Industry booth at IAEE 2007 were impressed with the car design which they regarded as "catchy" and on par with the more established design.

"Japanese auto experts have even visited the Malaysian booth and took a good look at the Proton Gen2 and made some constructive comments and analysis," he said.

"Even the young Japanese ladies were attracted to the design of Satria Neo Desire, although it is only a concept car," he added.

Kurita said as a start, Proton could use small Japanese car dealers to penetrate the market here as any foreign car imported with a quantity of below 100 units per year would only need to adhere to the strict smoke emission requirement.

"If less than 100, you only need to tune up the smoke emission requirement with the Transport Ministry. Emission control is quite strict here," he said

"For the rest, Japanese dealers would do their work as the law required the importer to take full responsibility while bringing in the car for Japanese market," he added.

Kurita said the two Proton models also caught the attention of Japan's most popular newspaper, "Asahi Shimbun", when it featured the cars complete with colour pictures in its national publication yesterday.

"They are very selective in news coverage. If you take up an advertisement in the daily, it would cost almost US$200,000," he said.

"Asahi Shimbun" is the most widely circulated Japanese national daily with an average circulation of eight million copies per day.

A senior Japanese government trade officer also commended the Proton Gen2 and Satria Neo for having good design.

Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry's director-general for manufacturing industries policy, Shunichi Uchiyama, who led Japan in its negotiations on the economic partnership agreement with Asean, said there was potential for the two models with good design to enter the Japanese market.

A similar view was expressed by Suguru Ohkubo, one of the leading writers of the "Japanese Daily Automotive News" ("The Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun").

Ohkubu agreed that there was a big potential for Proton cars, particularly Gen2 and Satria Neo, to enter the Japanese market.

This, according to him, was possible as long as Proton was ready to face the competitive Japanese market which has demanding requirements before and after sales.

"My first impression is that the cars have good design. They are attractive for Japanese. It's definitely on my shopping list, particularly the Gen2," he said.

However, Ohkubu said Japanese consumers were not only looking at good design but also other factors like delivery and customer satisfaction.

"These are crucial factors in deciding which car they want to buy. I am personally not much worried about Proton cars," he said.

"I'm more worried about the future of the company itself," Ohkubu said, adding Proton Holdings Bhd should take Mitsubishi as its strategic partner.

-- BERNAMA

Subangite

March 19th, 2007, 04:46 PM

^^ yeah, i have to agree with you with this re-badge/re-brand issues on GM cars. it's really shows that GM is about 100% money making corporation. and i found out that in countries with no daewoo distributors, GM sells them under different existing brands instead of making new daewoo agents. what a mess. :ohno:
so, now it's up to proton to find a sincere partner....i only can pray for proton's good....

so..thanks subangnite for clearing up GM's real 'strategies':yes:

Yet again, your typical idiocy strikes!!!! What makes GM more of a 100% money making corporation than VW???? Companies are out to be 100% money making corporation, that is the nature of capitalism!!!! How you do this is up to company and its shareholders, thus the different strategies! Its not about one is 100% money making than the other!!:bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: For your information, VW makes more money in terms of income than GM!! So I guess VW is more of a 100% money making corp.. hahahah:bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: you can say the dumbest stuff oshkosh!!

OshHisham

March 19th, 2007, 08:37 PM

Yet again, your typical idiocy strikes!!!! What makes GM more of a 100% money making corporation than VW???? Companies are out to be 100% money making corporation, that is the nature of capitalism!!!! How you do this is up to company and its shareholders, thus the different strategies! Its not about one is 100% money making than the other!!:bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: For your information, VW makes more money in terms of income than GM!! So I guess VW is more of a 100% money making corp.. hahahah:bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: you can say the dumbest stuff oshkosh!!

most companies built cars for money.....
and very little built for their passionate of 'CARS'

....sad that u can't differentiate them!!!:ohno:

pedang

March 20th, 2007, 04:29 AM

jeng.. jeng jenggg..

KL Govt may unveil plans for Proton this week

By Francis Fernandez
bt@nstp.com.my

March 20 2007

THE Government may announce its plans for Proton Holdings Bhd by as early as this week, people involved in the bid for the national carmaker said yesterday.

Business Times understands that a high-level internal meeting is scheduled a day before the weekly Cabinet meeting to discuss the role of the local bidders for the carmaker.

Recommendations from that meeting might be discussed at the Cabinet this week.

The two top bidders for the carmaker are DRB-HICOM Bhd and the privately-held Naza Group.

Speculation is rife that DRB, an automotive and banking group, will win the bid to buy as much as a third of Proton.

Both bidders are believed to be offering a price in the range of Proton's net tangible asset (NTA).

Proton's latest NTA is RM9.51 per share, while as at March 31 2006 it stood at RM10.69 a share.

OshHisham

March 20th, 2007, 06:02 AM

^^that's for local bidders....how about foreign?

from Paultan.org

WV to introduce new sedan once proton deal is finalised

Volkswagen’s head of international sales Kevin Rose says talks between Volkswagen and Proton are now at a fairly advanced stage, and both parties clearly know what they would want from such an agreement. Volkswagen said it would also work within the Malaysian government’s March 31st 2007 deadline.

To Volkswagen, having control of the manufacturing facility is essential. “For us as a brand, it’s important that we can always say made by VW, or built by VW. Even in China, where for legal reasons we are a minority partner, we still have great control over the production, assembly, design of our products, and that’s incredibly important for us,” stressed Rose. Without that manufacturing control, the partnership will not happen. I sincerely hope with manufacturing control comes supplier control and the license to show problematic suppliers the door, regardless of know-who. Nevertheless, Rose is confident the partnership will be agreed on soon, perhaps even next week.

One of the first steps that Volkswagen will take once the partnership is finalised is to introduced a new small sedan targetted at the Asia-Pacific region. This type of regionally targetted engineering is something similiar to Toyota’s ASEAN Hiace/Hilux/Innova/Fortuner platform, or Nissan’s Livina Geniss. This new Volkswagen small sedan will be made in Malaysia at Proton’s plant. This will be followed by a bigger sedan to mark the opening of Volkswagen’s Singaporean showroom.

12 days, or less than two weeks, to March 31st.

pedang

March 21st, 2007, 06:57 AM

Proton only in talks with Volkswagen, says PM

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

Proton Holdings Bhd is talking only to German carmaker Volkswagen AG about a strategic alliance, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told Reuters on March 20.

But a decision on Proton was unlikely this week, Abdullah said in an interview, although Malaysia was still aiming for an end-March deadline.

Asked if a deal with Volkswagen, the world's fourth-largest carmaker, could be announced this week, Abdullah said, "I don't think so."

Asked if it was possible that a foreign partner could pump in equity into Proton rather than buy some of the government's stake, he said, "I would be happy certainly if they can bring in their own funds.

"It depends on the outcome of the negotiations. We are approaching this with an open mind."

Partnership talks between Volkswagen and Proton are at a "fairly advanced stage", local papers said last week, quoting Kevin Rose, VW's head of international sales, in neighbouring Singapore.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said this month that Volkswagen and General Motors were among the local and foreign car manufacturers in talks for a stake in Proton, and the government aimed to make a decision by the end of March. - Reuters

pedang

March 21st, 2007, 09:23 AM

Khazanah: Proton's Strategic Partner Can Be Local As Well

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- Proton Holdings Bhd's strategic partner can also be local as Khazanah Nasional Bhd is open to all options available, the national investment arm's managing director Datuk Azman Mohktar said today.

He said while France's PSA Peugeot Citroen has pulled out, talks between Proton and Volkswagen AG as well as with General Motors were still ongoing.

"An alliance strategy is quite key for the company. So, with Volkswagen and General Motors, the process is still ongoing," Azman said, adding that a decision was expected to be made by end of this month.

It was reported that the talks with suitable suitors for the national car company included areas such as equity and technical ownership.

Azman was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Invest Malaysia 2007 conference, Wednesday.

He said whatever decision Khazanah makes with regards to Proton as a major shareholder would take into consideration among others, the National Automotive Policy.

Khazanah has a 42.7 per cent stake in Proton.

Azman also said that Khazanah would probably reduce its stake or sell its investment in non-performing government-linked companies (GLCs).

"If within the next three years we can't fix it, then we will be more than happy to sell it, especially to someone who can do better," he said.

This, he added, would be reviewed by Khazanah in June this year.

-- BERNAMA

OshHisham

March 21st, 2007, 10:13 AM

proton better PERGI MAMPUS if they have retard local companies...especially NAZA as partner.

pedang

March 22nd, 2007, 04:17 AM

Syarikat tempatan mungkin pilihan Proton – Khazanah

KUALA LUMPUR 21 Mac – Pemegang kepentingan terbesar Proton Holdings Bhd. (Proton), Khazanah Nasional (Khazanah) hari ini tidak menolak syarikat tempatan boleh dipilih sebagai rakan strategik Proton memandangkan kerajaan membuka peluang itu kepada semua pihak.

Pengarah Urusan Khazanah Nasional, Datuk Azman Mokhtar mengesahkan bahawa kerajaan masih mengadakan perbincangan dengan syarikat Jerman, Volkswagen AG (VW) dan Amerika Syarikat, General Motors.

PSA Peugeot telah menarik diri daripada perbincangan itu pada awal bulan lalu.

“Proses pemilihan masih dijalankan dan untuk berlaku adil kepada semua, kami juga menerima cadangan syarikat tempatan.

“Pada peringkat ini kami melihat sebarang kemungkinan,” katanya kepada pemberita pada majlis Invest Malaysia 2007 di sini hari ini.

Menjawab pertanyaan pemberita, Azman sekali lagi menegaskan pakatan strategik adalah keutamaan.

Polisi

Beliau berkata, apa sahaja keputusan yang bakal dibuat oleh Khazanah, ia telah mengambil kira pelbagai aspek termasuk polisi kerajaan dan Dasar Automotif Nasional.

Katanya, keputusan mengenai keputusan pemilihan rakan strategik Proton akan diumumkan menjelang akhir bulan ini seperti yang ditetapkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebelum ini.

Khazanah Nasional memiliki kepentingan sebanyak 42.7 peratus dalam Proton.

Minggu lalu, Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop memberitahu bahawa kerajaan masih membincangkan mengenai ekuiti dan pemilikan teknikal dengan kedua-dua syarikat asing itu.

nazrey

March 24th, 2007, 07:04 AM

Proton Gen2 1.6 Automatic Transmission, High Line, Lenox Black, Year 2006.
Taken at Putrajaya Mosque, with Canon EOS 350D
by Kevin Yeoh

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/176/432011269_54ce64771a_b.jpg

travellator

March 30th, 2007, 05:35 PM

AFX News Limited
VW says still in tie-up talks with Malaysia's Proton, denies reported pull-out
03.30.07, 5:02 AM ET

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AFX) - Volkswagen AG said it is still in talks with Malaysia's Proton regarding a strategic partnership, denying a Straits Times newspaper report that it has pulled out of the negotiations.

'We are still in talks,' a spokeswoman said.

'There are talks at the higher levels,' she added, without giving any further details.

The Straits Times, citing a senior Malaysian government official, reported that VW pulled out of talks for a tie-up with Proton.

OshHisham

March 30th, 2007, 05:44 PM

^^they are having a direct talk with PM !...such a brave guys...
btw, why the hell singaporean simply made up stories..?are they happy when proton loss 7% due to that rubbish story..?

pedang

April 2nd, 2007, 06:32 AM

PM And Proton Chief To Meet Over Strategic Partner For Proton

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Monday said Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir will meet him to discuss the final decision on a strategic partner for the national carmaker.

"I am waiting to meet Proton chief. He has indicated that he wants to see me. So, I am expecting him to come anytime," the Prime Minister said at a news conference after attending the Malaysian heads of mission conference, here.

Abdullah said discussions with the potential strategic partner was nearing completion.

"The (talks) at the level of officials are nearing conclusion. They have to present the full report to me," he said when asked on the progress of discussions involving Volkswagen and General Motors.

It was reported that Abdullah was expected to meet top officials from Germany's Volkswagen over the future of Proton.

Queried on a fresh deadline in naming Proton's partner, he said: "We want to conclude the talks as soon as possible."

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop on Friday said that the government was unable to meet the end-March deadline to name a strategic partner for Proton.

--BERNAMA

pedang

April 2nd, 2007, 10:45 AM

PM to meet VW heads to discuss possible Proton tie-up

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's leader said Monday he will meet with Volkswagen's top officials in hopes of wrapping up talks on a foreign alliance for national car maker Proton.

"I am waiting,'' Abdullah told reporters.

"I am expecting (them) to come anytime.''

He did not elaborate.

The Malaysian government missed a self-imposed deadline Saturday to finalize a strategic partnership for loss-making Proton with a foreign company.

The government is in talks with Volkswagen AG and General Motors Corp., the two remaining foreign contenders after France's PSA Peugeot pulled out last month.

"At the level of the officials, (the talks are) nearing completion,'' Abdullah said.

"We want to conclude the talks as soon as possible.''

Malaysia's government owns around 43 percent of Proton through its investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Bhd., and has stressed the need for foreign expertise, preferably via a stake investment, to revitalize Proton.

Over the past seven years, Proton has seen its market share plunge from nearly 60 percent to 32 percent in Malaysia, Southeast Asia's biggest new passenger car market with about half a million units sold each year.

Proton, which has set its sights on becoming a significant exporter of cars, reported a net loss of 281.5 million ringgit (US$80 million; euro61 million) for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2006, from a net profit of 86.5 million ringgit a year earlier.

For years, the company thrived in a protected environment, which included high taxes on foreign cars that made many Malaysians to buy Proton cars.

But the taxes have been slowly lowered in line with a regional trade agreement, and some Malaysians have sought out imported vehicles. - AP

Greg

April 5th, 2007, 04:29 PM

OshHisham

April 5th, 2007, 06:27 PM

jeremy clarkson is an entertainer.....his words are not everything....

triple-j

April 5th, 2007, 07:51 PM

the minister shouldn't have to care much about what that fella said. agreed with oshkosh, it's entertainment, i don't think britons care that much. i guess if they wanna buy the car they will anyway.plus the car is damn cheap.

so many issues in the country that he should concern (or get angry about).

but good to know that the minister somehow care about msian products. this issue if we kook at other angle, we could treat it as a challenge. better quality products now and the future.

cooltemper

April 6th, 2007, 07:31 AM

I saw that movie clip on youtube where they smashed the Perodua.
I hope to see the smash Proton next time.

GOOD JOB TOP GEAR.

OshHisham

April 6th, 2007, 03:15 PM

^^ as a malaysian u shouldn't say that..:ohno:
proton are struggling on improving their quality and performance. show some support plz...

alsen

April 6th, 2007, 05:33 PM

they can smash perodua, but not proton. :nono:

cooltemper

April 7th, 2007, 02:39 AM

^^ as a malaysian u shouldn't say that..:ohno:
proton are struggling on improving their quality and performance. show some support plz...

As a Malaysian, i only can buy Proton Iswara, because i can't afford any other imported car.
But did you know, Toyota Vios (basic model) in Thailand is sold for only RM45K...

SO think of your ownself, with the money i used to buy Proton Iswara, i can actually end up (top up a bit) buying Toyota Vios. So now where is the logic!

Pls remember that, we have support this MEGA project for more than 25 yrs d.

OshHisham

April 7th, 2007, 04:00 AM

^^ this kind of policy of protecting local company have been practiced in EVERY country...

in Japan they also protecting their car makers by raising up taxes for imported(european) cars, plus Korean cars cannot enter their market as well....

one has to know why HYUNDAI, korean makers is well known....their cars actually not as good as japanese...but the people,KOREAN gave 100% support to their local chaebol....

OshHisham

April 7th, 2007, 04:03 AM

But did you know, Toyota Vios (basic model) in Thailand is sold for only RM45K...

VIOS is assembled in Thailand....so, logically it is much cheaper than Thai's imported brands........simple.

alsen

April 7th, 2007, 05:47 AM

cooltemper

April 7th, 2007, 10:47 AM

Yup, they protect their own car manufacturer, very logic. But their car is what quality and what is the quality of Proton? if Proton have the quality, why wouldn't we support them... but their quality... hmmm.. hahaha...BAD! After 25 years of technology transfered, they still produce that kind of quality, Shame lar...

Now even no one in the world willing to partner with Proton, shiok!

And i know VIOS is assembled in Thailand, but if we do not have proton, do you think Toyota will open a bigger assembly plant here? I think they will, all the others car manufacturer will too.

OshHisham

April 7th, 2007, 11:24 AM

some people say....establising proton in 1982 was a big mistake. Tun M made a decision to have malaysia owned car makers after receiving an offer from mitsubishi....that was the whole Proton episode started from.....by then the policy of protecting proton took place...

but we cannot turn back time...and have to move forward. to ensure proton will be nation's pride..

the quality of proton is improving, i tell you...but one has to know that we cannot blame proton regarding on quality, it is the component manufacturer's fault. so it is in process for proton to help these companies to improve their quality.

it will take some times...cooltemper. just pray for that :yes:

alsen

April 7th, 2007, 11:32 AM

I will always support and pray for Proton...amin

cooltemper

April 7th, 2007, 11:32 AM

qJnYEUwa8pA
Let All Of Us Pray!

OshHisham

April 7th, 2007, 11:37 AM

And i know VIOS is assembled in Thailand, but if we do not have proton, do you think Toyota will open a bigger assembly plant here? I think they will, all the others car manufacturer will too.

there's pros and cons of having either as car manufacturer or car assembler...but i admit i feel pissed too when imported cars priced like crazy. :rant:

James Foong

April 7th, 2007, 06:08 PM

There is nothing wrong to smash proton for comparison. It is a good message for proton to do radical changes and hopes they come back 2top gear for another retest!

Salute jeremy for speaking on behalf 25million malaysians whose still longing for driving toyota vios at 40,000 ringgit...

hypermount

April 9th, 2007, 07:15 PM

Only ignorant third world people will higly regard Vios...aa model that is based on outdated platform with new skin...I'm pretty sure I'm not among the dumb ones of the total 25 millions. Only now they reliased their mistakes and launched new vios based on Toyota Belta following the footstep of Honda which designed City dereived from modern Jazz..still ever wonder why City is only sold in pooere countries...aghh their lives are dispensable.

hypermount

April 9th, 2007, 07:17 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJnYEUwa8pA

Let All Of Us Pray!

In this epeisode, Toyota avensis? a camry class car that is only marketed in UK...compared with Waja...really respect that... JC said got what you paid...he didn't condemn or critised waja. Please do some research or at least watch the whole episode before making a fool out of yourself.

hypermount

April 9th, 2007, 07:25 PM

hypermount

April 9th, 2007, 07:35 PM

so..for you,Savvy is a good car, right?.....bcoz im thinking of having savvy as my 1st car!!..but can you tell from your experience the downsides of savvy?

Sorry for the late reply bro. Downsides? for my MT there's none...head up to www.savoc.net for more info if you're sincere to know more about the car. TEST DRIVE the car and KNOW THE DIFFERENCE...it was my first car, acting againts all advice asking me not to buy the car, brushing aside the plain bias judgement and till now never regretted a single second owning the car....the french heat is very reliable and it handles like a charm and soaking all bumps and uneven surfaces like a continental...the ride quality could be better if you downgrade the rims without sacrificing the performance, change to wider but thicker tyres, cos the stock tyres are too thin! 1 year and 4 months counting..still going strong..where are all the QC probs I usually heard! mine was a first batch savvy!

beautiful ride and handling just like any cars in the Proton stable unlike the unimaginative monotonous Japanese junks...oh yea the uncle model corolla altis is still using torsion beam setup for its rear suspension.

cooltemper

April 10th, 2007, 03:27 AM

OshHisham

April 10th, 2007, 04:36 AM

Their car not only expensive but double standard. I don't know all the spec or whether VIOS is using old technology or what, but the truth is Proton sold more safety proof car to other countries even to Indonesia with extra support bar on the 4 doors... but judt look at the Malaysia version.... like Milo tin...thin and useless.... and the GOOD thing is that Proton sold their car in foreign countries with cheaper price compare in Malaysia.

So is it Proton sucked our own people blood, and donate blood in other country... What a WISE Malaysian company!

VIOS is junk or not, just look at how many people on the road is driving that car should be understood.

Perodua is doing far more better than Proton.
That is why i feel that JC should smash Proton instead of Perodua.

thanks hypermount for giving such details....it seems to me that you are working with proton, which department are you in?....i have a lot of things to ask...

cooltemper...proton has to lower their price to compete with other long established brand...even korean's KIA and HYUNDAI is much cheaper in foreign market compare to their own state!...that's is marketing stategy, only proton's stategy is not smart enough....

"VIOS is junk or not, just look at how many people on the road is driving that car should be understood."...come on..don't you know malaysian mentality?....foreign brands which looks good outside is 'the best'!!:ohno:

the only problem with proton......BUILT QUALITY
can't proton get rid with those 'C class' supplier..?are they still been hired?
sorry i don't want savvy, the interior looks so000o 'plastic'

clarkson smashed perodua bcoz he thinks these cars are built only 'to make money'!
but not proton...proton is defferent, proton has a big R&D activities to develop engine and others, they came out with something better in every models...
perodua,naza...they just 'assemble' car to make money....that's what clarkson did mention as 'cars with no passion'

argory

April 10th, 2007, 09:09 AM

Only ignorant third world people will higly regard Vios...

Haha...Well said... I agree with your posts by the way... A slap in the face for some here, but they've got to live with that... :laugh:

alsen

April 11th, 2007, 03:25 PM

April 11 1007

MALAYSIAN Centre, a private Saudi company, plans to set up an assembly plant in Saudi Arabia to market Proton cars in the Middle East.

Its project manager, Dr Rashed Osman Joher, said the company would be negotiating to set up the assembly line in Damman.

“We are talking to DRB-HICOM as our middlemen and will soon be visiting Malaysia to further discuss the matter,” he told Bernama when met in Jeddah recently.

Dr Rashed was among members of the business community in Saudi Arabia who attended business matching sessions held there in conjunction with the recent trade and investment mission from Malaysia to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The delegation was led by Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.

“We hope to sell at least 2,000 Proton cars in the Middle East initially and the number is expected to increase to 5,000 units within the next three years,” Dr Rashed said.

Part of the Al-Qabba Group, Malaysian Centre now promotes and markets Malaysian products in the Middle East such as electrical items, furniture, ICT services and construction materials through three of its branches namely in Mecca, Riyadh and Jeddah.

It also plans to promote Malaysian products to all the member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Wednesday/Nation/20070411161957/Article/

jlshyang

April 15th, 2007, 06:36 PM

Vios, city which still using torsion beam on their rear suspension is MEGA RUBBISH compare with Gen,2 and Waja which are using fully independent suspension on 4 whhels..fuck my stock savvy handles better than a vios...typical alaysians they can't look beyond the badge and can't judge things basned on meritl.

ahh we could have gotten Savy at RM29k gen.2 RM38k and Waja in the region of RM40k plus if the government is really sincere want to help Proton... I paid RM9000.00 plus duties and excise to the government for my savvy! A RM40 000 plus waja is way better than a VIOS which handles like a boat

avanza? hahaha the model was based on a truck platform...never exported to first world countries, rumours are these avanzas are not crash worthy...malaysians can be easily hoodwinked

I must disagree with you with regards to your comparison between Waja and Vios. I know you are a die-hard Proton supporter but i wanna share my experience with both Waja and Vios.

Waja is generally pretty good at handling and stuff, no complains about that but i hate the lousy Proton parts! Freaking power-window problem like any other Proton models, faulty mechanism for the glove compartment, stupid headlamp bulbs (it's a common problem with Wajas) and the engine kaput in just a year. Yea, initially it was value for money but the problems come in one by one after just a year and we had to sell it. It became too expensive to maintain!

I'm pretty much okay with the Vios, no problems so far and i still believe the Toyota brand will not disappoint me. I hope Proton will only get better, heard the Savvy is the best model so far and i love the Satria Neo design, that's a major breakthrough in Proton's designing dept. If Proton wants to remain competitive, they've gotta buck up by leaps and bounds, get a partner SOON! Stop delaying or Proton will vanish in a few more years.

cooltemper

April 16th, 2007, 03:42 AM

Just hope Proton will vanish by TODAY! Then we will bring in the foreign car maker by TOMORROW...

Then we can enjoy driving foreign car like those day before the Doom Year1985.

pedang

April 16th, 2007, 08:48 AM

sape kata proton gagal & x laku..

Proton And Lotus Top The Aussie Vehicle Sales Growth Charts

By Neville D'Cruz

MELBOURNE, April 16 (Bernama) -- Proton and its subsidiary Lotus have been the biggest winners in the rapidly growing Australian car market in the first quarter of 2007 with both marques registering significant sales increases while some key opponents struggled.

Lotus topped the charts as the fastest growing brand in the Australian market during the first three months of 2007 with a massive 450 per cent increase in sales volume over the same period in 2006 while Proton was the fifth fastest growing marque chalking up a 54 per cent increase.

Proton's success in the Australian market in the first quarter comes at the expense of some of its key rivals in the market, including Hyundai and Kia both of which registered significant downturn in sales.

Hyundai sales dropped by just under 18 per cent during the period while Kia took an 11.58 per cent dip in its sales volumes in what was a record quarter for the Australian vehicle market, tipped to top the one million mark for the first time this year.

Proton Cars Australia and Lotus Cars Australia managing director John Startari said the results are particularly pleasing given the heavy discounting by competitors and the increasing number of new competitors in an already crowded market.

"We have put a plan in place and we are sticking to that plan with the aim of building higher presence in the market for both Proton and Lotus as well as a sustainable and solid growth for both marques," he said.

"Importantly, we have scored major increases in our sales volumes without buying market share through discounting or extravagant marketing campaigns. We have met our sales and profit targets and been able to return a profit for our parent company in Malaysia.

"We have been growing our dealer network which has enabled us to build our presence in major markets such as Melbourne and we will continue that growth in Sydney with new dealers hopefully coming on stream over the next 12 months."

Startari said the arrival of new models such as the Satria Neo and Savvy over the past 12 months had also helped build Proton sales while a more reliable supply of the Jumbuck (Arena) utility had helped boost the total sales.

On the Lotus side, the performance of the specialist sports marque has been exceptional, topping the growth of other similar marques, including Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Porsche.

"Lotus has benefited from the arrival of new models such as the Exige S and Europa S which has broadened the appeal while we have consolidated our dealer network and reduced costs by using Proton's infrastructure and backroom services," Startari added.

"We have targeted our Lotus marketing and sharpened the pricing of the entry level Elise S, which has helped drive demand strongly in the first three months of this year."

Proton has been selling cars in Australia for the past 11 years and there are about 25,000 of its cars on Australian roads. The company has a national dealer network of 40 outlets.

-- BERNAMA

alsen

April 16th, 2007, 12:23 PM

sape kata proton gagal & x laku..

Proton And Lotus Top The Aussie Vehicle Sales Growth Charts

Lotus topped the charts as the fastest growing brand in the Australian market during the first three months of 2007 with a massive 450 per cent increase in sales volume over the same period in 2006 while Proton was the fifth fastest growing marque chalking up a 54 per cent increase.

-- BERNAMA

awesome.......:cheers:

Nissan_FUGA

April 16th, 2007, 12:27 PM

I wanted to see the absolute sales numbers to judge first rather than percentage......

But then, this looks like an encouraging news......let's hope the future models such as the replacement for Iswara should be up to standard (got enough rear headroom and better QC), because Proton sales in domestic market is fast detoriating.....

forrestcat

April 16th, 2007, 02:11 PM

Well I am in Adelaide,Aussie.

I have seen the Gen-2,Savvy,Persona(Wira), and lots of Jumbucks and Satria GTi on Adelaide roads.It makes me feel warm to see Malaysian cars here.

Just today I saw 2 Jumbucks in the CBD.

I also saw one sleek metal black Satria GTi in Hobart when I went to Tasmania last week:) .

At Melbourne last week,I only saw one Gen-2 though Melbourne is Proton's biggest market in OZ.But Melbourne is a very big city...so I was just unlucky la.

Many Aussies are now dumpping their 2.5-5.0 l litres cars for lawn mowers(below 2.0 litres)..so Proton could take advantage of this trend.Australian elderly also prefer smaller cars and Savvy and Gen-2 would fit nicely.Meanwhile,Satria GTi is very popular and would help Satria Neo sales.

szehoong

April 16th, 2007, 05:10 PM

change to wider but thicker tyres, cos the stock tyres are too thin! 1 year and 4 months counting..still going strong..where are all the QC probs I usually heard! mine was a first batch savvy!

NOW you are talking! :D If someone here with some time in their hands care to browse in the earlier postings, I've said that the tires are too thin and that Savvy owners should consider changing their tyres. Well......all I've got are some serious flak from ya on that! :ohno:

Seriously loh.......no one had ever said anything about QC problems in Savvy. As a matter of fact I've not heard any ....maybe due to the relatively small percentage of ownership but I believe they do deserve some credit for improvising their QC this time. What we have said all along is that Proton had always have QC problem and it NEVER improve for over 20 years. So those TUV mumbo-jumbo came in a bit too late for them liao. So can't blame the average joe's perception of Proton. They royally screwed their own branding. :yes:

I too am a Proton supporter at first. Too bad my first car is a Proton Saga and not a Savvy. After 3 years of owning it, I gladly disposed it off and got myself a Kembara. My Kembara served me well for the next 5 years until I sold it off because my dad bought a new car and he gave his old car to me :D I still love the Kembara but as for the Saga.....NO WAY man! :ohno:

jlshyang

April 16th, 2007, 05:16 PM

^^^ yea, it's nice to see Proton cars in a foreign land. I was fascinated to see a Proton Persona in Australia many years back and when i saw a Proton Wira in Maldives i was just as fascinated. I took photos of it! Hahahaha. I was shocked to see a Proton Gen2 featured in a popular Taiwanese series as well. I didn't know they export it to Taiwan! Only if the management could do better we can see more Protons throughout the world. When will this time comes? I'm running out of patience!

szehoong

April 16th, 2007, 05:19 PM

Thanks hypermount... you should stand up in front and protect Proton in front of said 6mil of frustated Proton users.

Their car not only expensive but double standard. I don't know all the spec or whether VIOS is using old technology or what, but the truth is Proton sold more safety proof car to other countries even to Indonesia with extra support bar on the 4 doors... but judt look at the Malaysia version.... like Milo tin...thin and useless.... and the GOOD thing is that Proton sold their car in foreign countries with cheaper price compare in Malaysia.

So is it Proton sucked our own people blood, and donate blood in other country... What a WISE Malaysian company!

VIOS is junk or not, just look at how many people on the road is driving that car should be understood.

Perodua is doing far more better than Proton.
That is why i feel that JC should smash Proton instead of Perodua.

Oh yes.......AGAIN I would like to say:

I was in Sydney in year 2001 during Waja's launch there. Went and see that they are selling it cheaper than they do in Malaysia. And the models there comes standard with dual airbags (only RECENTLY that they comes standard in Waja). Their premium edition come with 4 airbags!

Although it is cheaper than what they are ripping off Malaysians locally, Waja is more expensive than its Korean counterpart. Kinda daring for a relatively unknown and weak brand. :okay:

I am not a fan of Vios. In fact I think that the car is grossly over-priced. However given a better stocked Waja and a City or a Vios.......I would rather take the Japanese (despite its more inferior technology). At least I could drive well without knowing that my power window would fail or something like that. And the service at Honda and Toyota 3S centres are much better than those of Proton. Enuf said :D

Did anyone remember about 7-8 years back, there are some export models of Wiras on sale. They are grabbed up like hot cakes! That is because their built quality is better and that they are better stocked. I think that speaks volumes about Proton's double-standard. :)

szehoong

April 16th, 2007, 05:35 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJnYEUwa8pA

Let All Of Us Pray!

There is nothing wrong to smash proton for comparison. It is a good message for proton to do radical changes and hopes they come back 2top gear for another retest!

Salute jeremy for speaking on behalf 25million malaysians whose still longing for driving toyota vios at 40,000 ringgit...

In this epeisode, Toyota avensis? a camry class car that is only marketed in UK...compared with Waja...really respect that... JC said got what you paid...he didn't condemn or critised waja. Please do some research or at least watch the whole episode before making a fool out of yourself.

Crash tests are a good way of proving a car's crash-worthy. Seen the entire episode but the rest of the episode is irrelevant. However what have 'pro-Proton people here gotta say about the crash-worthiness of the Ford Fiesta which is smaller than the Waja?

JC did said you got what you paid but he also said "....so if you wanna save a little bit if your money [tried to close Waja's deformed door]....go ahead". I think that said a lot about Waja's positioning in the UK market Vs. safety :yes:

I personally think that it is time Proton starts to take these tests seriously. :yes:

szehoong

April 16th, 2007, 05:42 PM

Not Proton, but....

Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has come under attack in the Malaysian parliament for labelling one of the country's cars the worst in the world.
The BBC presenter has been filmed attacking the Perodua Kelisa with a sledgehammer before blowing it up.
But minister Abdul Raman Suliman defended the nation's car industry, saying Mr Clarkson was like a football commentator who cannot play football.

Perodua had not received a single complaint from UK owners, he told MPs.

He added that the comments were made merely to boost sales of the Top Gear magazine.

'Soulless'

Mr Clarkson has voiced his frustrations with the small three-cylinder model in both magazine articles and on the Top Gear motoring show.

In one article, he said its name was like a disease and suggested it was built in jungles by people who wear leaves for shoes.

And on the show, he described it as "unimaginative junk, with no soul, no flair and no passion".

He then smashed it, hung it from a crane with a one-tonne weight attached, before blowing it up.

Perodua is Malaysia's second national carmaker and began producing small compact models in 1995.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/6528087.stm

jeremy clarkson is an entertainer.....his words are not everything....

the minister shouldn't have to care much about what that fella said. agreed with oshkosh, it's entertainment, i don't think britons care that much. i guess if they wanna buy the car they will anyway.plus the car is damn cheap.

so many issues in the country that he should concern (or get angry about).

but good to know that the minister somehow care about msian products. this issue if we kook at other angle, we could treat it as a challenge. better quality products now and the future.

I can't believe how can Malaysians be so sensitive and take things too personal when people (esp entertainers) blow Protons up. It started with Mr. Bean even that episode was banned in malaysia.

For everyone's information, Jeremy Clarkson blows up and wreck everything. He even drove a Rolls-Royce into a swimming pool once! He criticizes even Mercedes-Benzes! So what is Proton compared to these marques? Enuf said :yes:

Seiously lah.......just let ya self enjoy a bit and dun take things too personal. Get all agitated when some mat salleh criticizes Proton is kinda like a double-edged sword. It shows how 'third-world' our mentality is and we are not an enlightened society where we can't even laugh at ourselves once in a while :ohno:

travellator

April 16th, 2007, 07:41 PM

Long, detailed article..

Proton unveils prototype Hybrid Car Developed In Collaboration With Lotus

from Automotive
Page: 1 2 3 4 5

April 16, 2007 Malaysia’s National auto manufacturer Proton has unveiled its first Hybrid prototype, designed in collaboration with Lotus Engineering. It is just over two decades since the company bolted together its first cars from Mitsubishi parts imported from Japan, but as the company has grown in strength, it has acquired considerable engineering design, development and manufacturing expertise, pulling off a major coup with its acquisition of Lotus in 1996. The 'EVE Hybrid' (Efficient, Viable, Environmental) research and development project was a collaboration of Proton and Lotus and EVE sports some impressive vital statistics. EVE has a 1.6litre petrol engine, which uses a 'micro-hybrid' start-stop system, a full parallel hybrid drive and a continuously variable transmission to achieve fuel economy of 5.6 litres/100km. maximum torque of whopping 233Nm at 1500rpm and maximum power of 105kW at 5500rpm enabling the car to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 9.0 seconds with a top speed of 188.8 km/h.

Extensive performance and drive cycle modeling of the prototype hybrid variant using the EVE Hybrid technologies indicate impressive performance figures.

Using the full parallel hybrid configuration the car can achieve fuel economy of 5.6 litres/100km (a 28 percent improvement over a standard petrol Proton GEN.2) while producing maximum torque of 233Nm at1500rpm and maximum power of 105kW at 5500rpm enabling the car to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 9.0 seconds with a top speed of 188.8 km/h and a CO2 emission level of just 134g/km, a 22 percent reduction compared with the standard car.

Proton has not revealed any details of when or if the prototype EVE Hybrid will be mass-produced. Cont....

full article here http://gizmag.com/go/7130/

cooltemper

April 17th, 2007, 05:50 AM

qJnYEUwa8pA

Pls crash test the prototype before sell to the market!

cooltemper

April 17th, 2007, 07:20 AM

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/307/01102006109bd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

cooltemper

April 17th, 2007, 07:21 AM

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5761/01102006112by7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

cooltemper

April 17th, 2007, 07:22 AM

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9917/01102006113cl7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

hypermount

April 17th, 2007, 09:42 AM

NOW you are talking! :D If someone here with some time in their hands care to browse in the earlier postings, I've said that the tires are too thin and that Savvy owners should consider changing their tyres. Well......all I've got are some serious flak from ya on that! :ohno:

Seriously loh.......no one had ever said anything about QC problems in Savvy. As a matter of fact I've not heard any ....maybe due to the relatively small percentage of ownership but I believe they do deserve some credit for improvising their QC this time. What we have said all along is that Proton had always have QC problem and it NEVER improve for over 20 years. So those TUV mumbo-jumbo came in a bit too late for them liao. So can't blame the average joe's perception of Proton. They royally screwed their own branding. :yes:

I too am a Proton supporter at first. Too bad my first car is a Proton Saga and not a Savvy. After 3 years of owning it, I gladly disposed it off and got myself a Kembara. My Kembara served me well for the next 5 years until I sold it off because my dad bought a new car and he gave his old car to me :D I still love the Kembara but as for the Saga.....NO WAY man! :ohno:

The tyre is low-profile..I thought you said it' wide..usually people describe wideness from the back or front of the tyres...thin tyre means it's a low profile tyres, seem from side..to improve handling...our roads are just hopeless for sport oriented tyres...too bumpy.

UMW Toyota after sales service is hopeless, in fact worse than Proton cos sometimes you can't claim for faulty parts. And they forced you to change parts that are still working fine in name of preventive mantenance which will cost you hefty bills. Heard many stories, they have officially taken the spot as the worst for after sales service provider.

I've got a great service frm an EON branch service centre...does that mean all Proton service sucks..same can be said about toyota and honda case.

Just a FEW of MANY cases.
After 2 and half years, Corrolla Altis's power windows kong! (http://autoworld.com.my/forum/allposts.asp?summary=1&Forum=ap111582596&access=1&status=1&subject=I+don%27t+think+I+want+to+buy+Toyota+again)

Expensive service cost! (http://autoworld.com.my/forum/allposts.asp?summary=1&Forum=ap111582596&access=1&status=1&subject=Avanza+40%2C000+Service+Costs+%2D+RM831%2E69)

Immobiliser problem - damn dangerous- engine shut down when negotiating corner rendering power steering useless (http://autoworld.com.my/forum/allposts.asp?summary=1&Forum=ap111582596&access=1&status=1&subject=Vios+Immobilizer+Problem)

bad service (http://autoworld.com.my/forum/allposts.asp?summary=1&Forum=ap111582596&access=1&status=1&subject=Customer+service+for+Toyota+are+real+bad%21%21%21%21%21%21)

Of coruse they are not Protons so no need to bash mah...if Protons having the same immo problem wich are many times dangerous, I think some nutcase would have burn down proton factories...so much for selective preference.

Thinking buying a Japanese junk will help them rid of problems associated while owning a car, when the same problems arrise, they will keep quiet so not to be appear like a fool...like in myvi case - most owners are stupid Proton bashers lots of problem and till now rear seat heat up that could cook ur ass still is not solved bt perodua...serve them right the owners if they have acted against Proton unfairly in the past. ..i believe in karma.

.for people who think their Hondas are virgin when coming out from showroom/junkyard - think again. CKD-ed Honda models from Alor gajah plant like civic, crv, accord 2.4 and city are all used whores...delivery boys and people at the plant had their time "playing" around with the toys ..confirmed by a fren who is working there, and of course for all that matters he's driving a savvy.

hypermount

April 17th, 2007, 09:45 AM

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/307/01102006109bd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

:bash:
What's the point in this picture? Cabin still looks ok. If this a japanese car, it would have turned into unrecognisable heaps of junk metal...for example avanza chassis is not a monocoque type but using ladder frame chassis instead ..turn turtle say bye bye to ur loved ones.

hypermount

April 17th, 2007, 09:54 AM

Crash tests are a good way of proving a car's crash-worthy. Seen the entire episode but the rest of the episode is irrelevant. However what have 'pro-Proton people here gotta say about the crash-worthiness of the Ford Fiesta which is smaller than the Waja?

JC did said you got what you paid but he also said "....so if you wanna save a little bit if your money [tried to close Waja's deformed door]....go ahead". I think that said a lot about Waja's positioning in the UK market Vs. safety :yes:

I personally think that it is time Proton starts to take these tests seriously. :yes:

Oh yes.......AGAIN I would like to say:

I was in Sydney in year 2001 during Waja's launch there. Went and see that they are selling it cheaper than they do in Malaysia. And the models there comes standard with dual airbags (only RECENTLY that they comes standard in Waja). Their premium edition come with 4 airbags!

Although it is cheaper than what they are ripping off Malaysians locally, Waja is more expensive than its Korean counterpart. Kinda daring for a relatively unknown and weak brand. :okay:

I am not a fan of Vios. In fact I think that the car is grossly over-priced. However given a better stocked Waja and a City or a Vios.......I would rather take the Japanese (despite its more inferior technology). At least I could drive well without knowing that my power window would fail or something like that. And the service at Honda and Toyota 3S centres are much better than those of Proton. Enuf said :D

Did anyone remember about 7-8 years back, there are some export models of Wiras on sale. They are grabbed up like hot cakes! That is because their built quality is better and that they are better stocked. I think that speaks volumes about Proton's double-standard. :)

Look at my previous post, it's a bit naive to say toyota won't have any power windows problem... only dumb people would buy used Corolla SEG at RM40k...love to see their faces when the repaor bill comes.

Honda selling the new 2 door Civic Type R in European MArket only...and their own people are dying to buy one JDM version... it's the same thing...can Isay Honda "mistreat" their own japanese people.

UK unlike Singapore has stringent rules in airbags (malaysain cars n SG are airbagless)...but how come Perodua could sell their kenaries and kelisa ( nippa/kancil was before the new safety rule took effect )..why I dun hear critisms or bashings on Perodua being double standard ( cos they having japanese dna? wats so special about japanese BTW they have small cocks anyway at least koreans are much bigger)..damn malaysians are unfair...

Satria 1.3M '97 has a single airbag..at least proton installed airbags on their cars derived wira platform.

hypermount

April 17th, 2007, 09:55 AM

Just hope Proton will vanish by TODAY! Then we will bring in the foreign car maker by TOMORROW...

Then we can enjoy driving foreign car like those day before the Doom Year1985.

Moron statement.

hypermount

April 17th, 2007, 10:05 AM

thanks hypermount for giving such details....it seems to me that you are working with proton, which department are you in?....i have a lot of things to ask...

cooltemper...proton has to lower their price to compete with other long established brand...even korean's KIA and HYUNDAI is much cheaper in foreign market compare to their own state!...that's is marketing stategy, only proton's stategy is not smart enough....

"VIOS is junk or not, just look at how many people on the road is driving that car should be understood."...come on..don't you know malaysian mentality?....foreign brands which looks good outside is 'the best'!!:ohno:

the only problem with proton......BUILT QUALITY
can't proton get rid with those 'C class' supplier..?are they still been hired?
sorry i don't want savvy, the interior looks so000o 'plastic'

clarkson smashed perodua bcoz he thinks these cars are built only 'to make money'!
but not proton...proton is defferent, proton has a big R&D activities to develop engine and others, they came out with something better in every models...
perodua,naza...they just 'assemble' car to make money....that's what clarkson did mention as 'cars with no passion'

Dun be so superficial...the plastics used in all cars are similar...the single piece injection mould plastic of the door panel trim is actually a good design..there is no many parts being assembled together....squeeze it with ur knees, there will no sound..try that on other cars, squeek sound will appear...another good thing it's the customisation, it's easy to be wrapped wholely by fabric/leather....if you loves to drive, get a savvy, and if it doesn't fit ur requirement, fine dun touch it..give it to other people who know how to appreciate the car...

one happy owner
Every now and then I sigh at the unaesthetic appeal of the hard plastics, the manual rear windows and the engine noise. It makes me feel like switching to a more expensive car.

Last week was one such time, and I went to a Suzuki dealer to book a new Swift. I took a test drive before placing the booking. The Swift was the answer to all my points above. Unfortunately, the ride and handling is no better, the engine is no better, and it's double the price of my Savvy.

40k is a lot to pay for better plastics, power windows, and sound insulation. Maybe a manual Swift would have convinced me, but the auto didn't.

Familiarity breeds contempt, and sometimes you take things for granted. Which is what happened with me and my Savvy. But the other day I went down to Kuala Selangor, and driving along the wonderful twisty roads there just made me fall hopelessly in love again with my Savvy. :)

hypermount

April 17th, 2007, 10:10 AM

and why is it when someone had a liking on Proton, he/she is automativally labelled asa Proton staff/work for Proton...no I dun work for Proton in fact I'm a proud owner of one of their exceptional model... in melaka I knew 2 difffrent guys and their brothers also Driving savvy. one is chinese and one is malay...pretty sure my own bro would not drive the similar car with me..

from wat I see most chinese in melaka speak malay well like their counterparts in the east coast..can't be said the same for those in KV ..ahh out of topic.. if you know what I mean with the p word.

hypermount

April 17th, 2007, 10:25 AM

The so called from the pacific rims car manufacturers.

Honda Motor Co 1948 - built motorcycles before 1948
Toyota Motor Corporation 1933 - already indulged in heavy industries ebfore 1933
Mitsubishi 1917 - already indulged in heavy industries before 1917
Nissan 1914
Mazda 1920
KIA 1944-1952
Hyundai motor 1967 - heady industries founded in the 40's

Proton 1983-1985 - 24 years with various models and platforms

so dun try to kill off a tree that is making it's way to the top.

cooltemper

April 17th, 2007, 11:46 AM

cooltemper

April 17th, 2007, 11:49 AM

I think Proton is not eligible to call tree... just grass... so if want to kill grass, is easier to do now then when it grow to become tree (after maybe said 70 years???).

hypermount

April 17th, 2007, 12:53 PM

I think there are someone just created a virtual identity in this forum and only posting the reply for the "CHAMPION" Proton car thread....

We showed support initially but become weaker when we heard so many reliability problem, double standards/ dont know what policy is that, suck own blood and donate blood out there... and 4 to 5 months bonus the workers in Proton have....etc....

you are a truly cerified moron..I've been a member of SSC since 2002. :bash: szehoong n gang can be witness to that....postly replies in Proton thread only doesn't mean I didn't lurk around.. :lol:

jlshyang

April 17th, 2007, 03:14 PM

^^ wow, certified hardcore Proton supporter. *respect!

well well, i still think they can do much better than what they are now with all the resources, protections and backings given to them. There has got to be something wrong somewhere with the management of Proton.

Hope's not entirely lost yet. Still looking forward to the Proton-VW tie up :)

forrestcat

April 17th, 2007, 04:06 PM

I am not worried about Proton cars...the newer models from Waja to Satria Neo are good enuff.

I am only worried about the company!!!!

OshHisham

April 17th, 2007, 05:03 PM

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9917/01102006113cl7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

kalau kereta bawak macam orang gila..siapa siapa boleh mampus...stupid!

OshHisham

April 17th, 2007, 05:12 PM

Just hope Proton will vanish by TODAY! Then we will bring in the foreign car maker by TOMORROW...

Then we can enjoy driving foreign car like those day before the Doom Year1985.

retard statement...

OshHisham

April 17th, 2007, 05:18 PM

Proton’s Satria Neo has been made the official safety car for the Australian Motor Racing Series (AMRS). It made it’s debut as the safety car at the AMRS opening race in March 2007. This is the third year of the new AMRS race, which began in 2005. There are 13 race categories including the Production Touring Car Championship, The Australian Touring Car Challenge, V8 Giants, OzBoss, and X Challenge.

http://images.paultan.org/images/satria-neo-safety-car-1.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/satria-neo-safety-car-2.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/satria-neo-safety-car-3.jpg

triple-j

April 17th, 2007, 06:43 PM

kalau kereta bawak macam orang gila..siapa siapa boleh mampus...stupid!

any car could look like that....just put in a very stupid driver.:)
anyhow cooltemper, u should go to labuan buy yourself a vios for RM 53K + , well might as well buy yourself a civic, or colt even camry. nah i'm just kidding. this war on our national car will never end. proton will stay. hoping that drastic changes should be made for its future.

szehoong

April 18th, 2007, 06:26 AM

I am sorry that Baq had to lock this thread for the time being. This is getting no where with all these name callings. :ohno:

Get a life and rest first and then think about all ya responses. We would appreciate any civilised discussion. :yes:

OshHisham

April 21st, 2007, 11:05 AM

taken from paultan.org

http://images.paultan.org/images/Proton_Gen2_Sedan.jpg

Reader acbc wrote in with these photos of the upcoming Proton GEN2 Sedan on road tests! It doesn’t look very much different other than the fact that it’s a GEN2 with a proper sedan boot tacked on to it, but of course this is not the final production model so we might see some changes here and there as a mid-life facelift. It looks very similiar to the 3D renderings posted in March. If you look closely at the front grille - is that a copy of Honda’s new floating grille design I see?

Photos also do not tell us what’s under the hood, so we might see the introduction of a Campro engine with the recently announced Variable Intake Geometry system developed by Bosch for Campro. These photos also do not tell us of the interior, which might have been improved, like how the Proton Savvy Facelift has improved on the interior with a more suitable color scheme. Or a glovebox might have been added.

Nissan_FUGA

April 21st, 2007, 11:09 AM

^^

It is nice, but with this Gen2 sedan, i wonder how are they going to do on Waja market positioning......

In this sedan, hopefully they can increase the rear headroom, and rework the interior....

forrestcat

April 22nd, 2007, 05:28 AM

The Gen-2 sedan looks nice. :)

I use think that Gen-2 is only appropriate for female but the sedan looks appropriate for both sexes.

cooltemper

April 22nd, 2007, 08:43 AM

Maybe this thread will be LOCK soon......

OshHisham

April 22nd, 2007, 11:32 AM

^^so, try not to make any kacau again.

btw, this car will be launched in June together with savvy sedan. i tried to contact my friend in Proton, but he refuses to tell any details...SHIT!!

cooltemper

April 22nd, 2007, 12:41 PM

^^so, try not to make any kacau again.

btw, this car will be launched in June together with savvy sedan. i tried to contact my friend in Proton, but he refuses to tell any details...SHIT!!

haha... Ok lor...
but have to depend on the pro Proton side lor... if keep on bullshit, then......

OshHisham

May 1st, 2007, 09:45 AM

Gen2 facelift
taken from paultan.org

http://images.paultan.org/images/Proton_GEN2_Facelift_1.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Proton_GEN2_Facelift_2.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Proton_GEN2_Facelift_3.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/spyshot_gen2_hatch_facelift_rear.jpg

Reader apexg2 sent in these forums posted on the Team Campro forums, of the latest facelift of the Proton GEN2 5-door aeroback. Note this is the aeroback, not the sedan. There has been some changes to the front bumper as well as the grille, which is noticeably larger now. There are no photos of the rear, but it is reported that the wordings CPS 1.6 is written on the rear, which could mean the Campro will finally be coming with the long awaited CPS (Cam Profile Switching) feature! apexg2 also noted that the engine sound was quite different from other Campro engines.

Sources say that the exterior will not be the biggest change with the GEN2 Facelift, but more of the interior and under the engine bay. The interior is said to be vastly improved in terms of build and ergonomics over the current GEN2’s.

BTW, just a word for the generous contributor of these photos, the Team Campro forums is a forum that focuses on the discussion of the S4PH and S4PE Campro engines and the cars that are powered by these two engines.

the original Gen2

http://images.paultan.org/images/Proton_GEN2_Aeroback_34.jpg

Nissan_FUGA

May 1st, 2007, 10:24 AM

^^

Oh yes, the stake will be high, with the CPS in the Campro, the problem of lack of torque in the low rpm range will be addressed!

jlshyang

May 1st, 2007, 11:18 AM

Nice, looking forward to the launch of Gen-2 sedan!

Blue_Sky

May 2nd, 2007, 03:50 PM

http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i565940_proton1.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com) http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i565939_proton2.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com) http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i565938_proton3.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com)
http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i565937_proton4.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com) http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i565935_proton5.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com) http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i565934_proton6.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com)

OshHisham

May 2nd, 2007, 03:54 PM

^^ where you get that?..

no doubt a photoshopped pictures...

Blue_Sky

May 2nd, 2007, 04:02 PM

So confirmed there is proton car look look like this?

OshHisham

May 2nd, 2007, 04:21 PM

it is just a photoshopped baby,..means that someone just 'paste' the proton logo on unknown car...:yes:

Blue_Sky

May 2nd, 2007, 04:30 PM

OK thanks
no wonder I never see this car before

Nissan_FUGA

May 2nd, 2007, 04:34 PM

That car probably is a Koenigsegg CC, from Sweden...

jlshyang

May 2nd, 2007, 06:20 PM

^^^^ Yep, that's right. I've seen those pics forwarded via email many times.

patchay

May 4th, 2007, 05:28 AM

Guys... at first I just can't believe these photos lol...

The Mat Sallehs in my place here Brisbane, Australia are doing some kinda of promotion for Proton after buying the car.

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/Proton/Deliveries/07_Apr/Roy.jpg

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/Proton/Deliveries/07_Apr/Greg.jpg

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/Proton/Deliveries/07%20Mar/RebeccaG.jpg

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/Proton/Deliveries/07%20Mar/Danielle.jpg

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/Proton/Deliveries/07%20Mar/NatChris.jpg

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/Proton/Deliveries/07%20Feb/Tanya.jpg

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/Proton/Deliveries/07%20Feb/Clyne___Guillame.jpg

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/Proton/Deliveries/07_Jan/Sarah.jpg

Brisbane 2007 Motor Show

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/07_MotorShow/07MS_PHead.jpg

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/07_MotorShow/07MS_16.jpg

http://www.brisbaneproton.com.au/images/07_MotorShow/07MS_15.jpg

Do you feel abit proud for our Proton now? I guess I'm.

cooltemper

May 4th, 2007, 05:59 AM

God Bless Brisbane

argory

May 4th, 2007, 06:28 AM

That’s nice to see, Patchay! :cheers:

OshHisham

May 4th, 2007, 04:13 PM

God Bless Brisbane

:rofl: u are a naughty boy:lol:

alsen

May 4th, 2007, 05:14 PM

Thanks patchay! :okay:

cooltemper

May 5th, 2007, 06:31 AM

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, FULL STOP.
I wonder whether that are the only 8 Proton being sold in Brisbane?
Any data?

OshHisham

May 5th, 2007, 09:49 AM

ask patchay..he's in australia rite now

patchay

May 6th, 2007, 04:44 PM

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, FULL STOP.
I wonder whether that are the only 8 Proton being sold in Brisbane?
Any data?

I have no idea about the volume of Proton sold here.

But it seems that Brisbane has the biggest market for Proton cars. Read the bold part ...

Top gear for all budgets at Brisbane Motor Show

The Courier-Mail
28 January 2007
Stuart Scott

While supercars such as Audi's new R8 coupe will be the star attractions at this week's Brisbane Motor Show, cars that don't break the budget will have their turn, too.

The show, which opens on Friday, will feature the Australian debut of several models at the affordable end of the car world.

Leading the way, Holden is expected to take the "top secret" covers off the Epica, its next lower-priced, mid-size sedan.

The Korean-made Epica — tipped by dealers to start at $24,990, with the choice of two six-cylinder engines — replaces the European-made Vectra.

The Epica will fit into the Holden line-up alongside the Barina and Viva, budget-priced Korean replacements for models previously designed and built in Europe.

Malaysian brand Proton will launch its second-generation Satria Neo three-door hatchback in the city that has been its strongest Australian market.

The Satria Neo, with a 1.6 litre engine, looks chunkier than its predecessor and will be $18,990 drive away.

Honda will unveil a fresh-design CR-V all-wheel-drive wagon, with prices expected to start near $30,000.

Nissan's compact Tiida model, given a $2000 price cut to start at $17,990, is expected to attract budget-minded shoppers. Like the Honda CR-V, production of the Tiida has been moved from Japan to Thailand.

Continuing the price-down trend, Suzuki's new face will be the SX4, a 2.0 litre all-wheel-drive wagon that officially goes on sale on Thursday, priced from $24,990. It had been expected to be $26,990.

French brand Peugeot will use the show for the Queensland unveiling of its new small car, the near-$20,000 207, about to go on sale with 1.4 litre, 1.6 litre and 1.6 litre turbo petrol engines, and a 1.6 litre diesel.

The show, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank, runs from Friday to February 11. It is open noon-10pm on weekdays, 10am-10pm on Saturdays and 10am- 6pm on Sundays. Admission is $16 for adults, $10 for children, and $42 for a family (two adults, three children).

Another news article...

Malay Mail
January 30, 2007

Proton will give motorists in Australia their first peek of the new Satria Neo three-door hatch at next month’s Brisbane Motor Show.

This will be the second time Proton has chosen the Brisbane show to launch an all-new model in the Australian market following the debut of the popular and practical Jumbuck (or Arena) in 2003.

The 1. 6-litre Satria Neo will hit Australian roads for a recommended retail price from A$18,990 drive away and available with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic driving the front wheels.

According to Proton Cars Australia managing director John Startari, the Satria Neo will be entering the small three-door hatch sector of the market which is a niche that is under-contested Down Under.

“We have formulated pricing to be in line with Proton’s policy of providing value-for-money, fullyequipped cars at strong pricing levels,” he said.

“The previous Satria provided both our price leader and also our premium product with the GTi so we had a broad spread of buyers.

“However, the new car’s sporty looks and handling will mean that a high proportion of the purchases will be by young male buyers.”

skyscraperboy

May 6th, 2007, 07:01 PM

Go Proton Go!

XNeo

May 7th, 2007, 03:57 AM

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/fdzy/proton/proton_gen2_sedan_3.jpg
gen2 sedan

Photoshopped image :

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/fdzy/proton/neochop_sedan.jpg
neo sedan

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/fdzy/proton/satria_neo_touring.jpg
mutant neo...(hope proton won't do this..)

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/fdzy/proton/neochop_suv.jpg
this SUV model is quite nice.

pedang

May 7th, 2007, 04:39 AM

^^ nie model2 photoshop ke atau benar2 wujud ??

Nissan_FUGA

May 7th, 2007, 04:53 AM

^^

I think all are photoshoped except the Gen2 sedan, which it does exist just as in latest spyshots...

szehoong

May 7th, 2007, 06:30 AM

^^ All of Theophilus Chin's work featured at Paultan.org are photoshopped version of Protons. He is an excellent artist :okay:

Before posting here.....try to find out about the picture sources first. By saying "mutant neo...proton suka pakai model sedia ada...
instead of creating a total new design" is like blaming Proton for something they did not do now (although they did that a lot in the past) :ohno:

haze

May 7th, 2007, 09:51 AM

proton satria neo

http://media.paultan.org/neotrack/neotrack1.jpg

XNeo

May 7th, 2007, 10:11 AM

Nissan_FUGA

May 7th, 2007, 10:14 AM

The model that i am looking forward from Proton now is the Gen2 saloon (rumoured with CPS and VIM) and also the new Iswara....

alsen

May 7th, 2007, 06:15 PM

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/fdzy/proton/satria_neo_touring.jpg
mutant neo...(hope proton won't do this..)

:no: :no: :no:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/fdzy/proton/neochop_suv.jpg
this SUV model is quite nice.

:yes: :yes: :yes:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/fdzy/proton/proton_gen2_sedan_3.jpg
gen2 sedan

i hope this one is not photoshopped image also. ^^

OshHisham

May 8th, 2007, 03:06 AM

The model that i am looking forward from Proton now is the Gen2 saloon (rumoured with CPS and VIM) and also the new Iswara....

new iswara will be launched 1st quarter next year....and a source told me that it would be under RM40K...:banana:

only Gen2 sedan will have a debut this june or july:yes:

SUV...still a very long time to have. maybe 2009....

Nissan_FUGA

May 8th, 2007, 04:37 AM

^^

What about its features? Does it have dual airbags at least ?(for the IRM)

cooltemper

May 8th, 2007, 07:27 AM

new iswara will be launched 1st quarter next year....and a source told me that it would be under RM40K...:banana:

only Gen2 sedan will have a debut this june or july:yes:

SUV...still a very long time to have. maybe 2009....

SUV? I hope you spell it right, 2009 and not 20009....:lol:

OshHisham

May 8th, 2007, 07:52 AM

^^

What about its features? Does it have dual airbags at least ?(for the IRM)

i dont't know...but it should has, right? even the crappy new kancil also got one..

SUV and MPV are still under development....proton and petronas collaborates in this project.

patchay

May 8th, 2007, 03:37 PM

The SUV looks very promising ... It would be nice to see so many of them on our Msian roads.

OshHisham

May 8th, 2007, 03:38 PM

taken from paultan.org

http://images.paultan.org/images/Proton_PM5_Concept.jpg

Shots of this clay model concept known as the Proton PM5 Concept has been surfacing in forums lately. Some say it is a future model that Proton has been developing together with Lotus, and others are of the opinion that it is an old design concept for the recently launched Lotus Europa. Anyone know more about this concept? There are some hints of Aston Martin design cues especially on the rear end.

hypermount

May 8th, 2007, 08:18 PM

dang paultan, I was the one who spread the pics in various forums...no credit at all.

Proton is the one who is really working hard , making new cars, ha some guy...:lol: creating cars and engine from scratch..aint a simple job you know. and not just mere copy and paste job... ha double haha the other can't even get the latest MIRA AVY for copying , big boss just won't let them do it ..

Talking about brisbane, there's a savvy owner from Brisbane, an electronic engineer by profession who is going to help us, the savvy owners club SAVOC to design and mass produce some additional kit for Savvy. NOW THAT is something worthy to be proud of, other people have trust in our own products.

All of Theophilus Chin's work featured at Paultan.org are photoshopped version of Protons. He is an excellent artist

Before posting here.....try to find out about the picture sources first. By saying "mutant neo...proton suka pakai model sedia ada...
instead of creating a total new design" is like blaming Proton for something they did not do now (although they did that a lot in the past)

Having various bodyshell configurations from a same car is normal.. for Proton; wira, aeroback, arena, satria - 4 bodyshells is VERY LITTLE compare to other major companies - some have more than 10. ahh so what the little brother can't even create one.

hypermount

May 8th, 2007, 08:24 PM

Dear oshkoshbgood, can you confirm there will be a saloon version of savvy, iRM aka BLM.

Artwork credited to Chaku.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u123/hypermount/savvysedanfrontql9.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u123/hypermount/savvysedanfrontwhite3sx5.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u123/hypermount/savvysedanox3.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u123/hypermount/pm5protonsportcarconcepgo2.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u123/hypermount/pm5protonsportcarconcepde4.jpg

Arkdriver

May 8th, 2007, 09:17 PM

hey hypermount, dont u think that savvy saloon version looks better than the current model??

alsen

May 9th, 2007, 12:54 AM

OshHisham

May 9th, 2007, 02:23 AM

Dear oshkoshbgood, can you confirm there will be a saloon version of savvy, iRM aka BLM.

i'll try to find it out....but these kind of information is highly classified.

hypermount

May 11th, 2007, 03:46 PM

hey hypermount, dont u think that savvy saloon version looks better than the current model??

Of course it looks better, coming out with affordable sedan car, car with butt is the only way to kill off poser perodua. Hatchbacks are popular in Euro countries because they could afford another bigger car for long journey trip back to hometown. You wouldn't want to transport all the luggage by express buy if want to bring your fren jalan2 would you.

If Savvy saloon is in their plan, they should revise the rear suspension setup. Torsion beam with axle does not suit tail heavy saloons, if not you will poor grip on corners - tail happy bad handling...maybe those bigger jap saloons like vios, city, altis, sentra were designed to cater to ah beng who loves to drift around using handbrakes on a front wheel drive car :lol:

jlshyang

May 11th, 2007, 04:06 PM

forrestcat

May 11th, 2007, 05:17 PM

Gen-2 and Savvy sedans so damn cun.

Is it comfirmed Proton also developing Savvy sedan.I only know Gen-2 sedan is on its way.

White_soX

May 11th, 2007, 05:17 PM

Good if someone in Proton HQ know what photoshop is! By the way, is that PM5 or PMS car belong to Proton as well?

forrestcat

May 11th, 2007, 05:18 PM

Good if someone in Proton HQ know what photoshop is! By the way, is that PM5 or PMS car belong to Proton as well?

Only clay model..just for display.:nuts:

Notice its behind glass.Which shop display cars behind glass??

OshHisham

May 13th, 2007, 03:50 PM

Dear oshkoshbgood, can you confirm there will be a saloon version of savvy, iRM aka BLM.

the 'mini sedan' which people refer as 'savvy sedan' is not actually 'savvy'. but it looks totally different from any proton's models. it is scheduled to be launched Q1 next year.......so, this year, only Gen2 sedan will come

Nissan_FUGA

May 13th, 2007, 03:52 PM

^^

Any info on the engine?

OshHisham

May 14th, 2007, 02:41 AM

engine...?
new engine for Gen2 sedan, should be CPS

hypermount

May 14th, 2007, 05:52 AM

YEA CAN'T WAIT for the CPS and VIM features from the campro...truly proud of them.

Facelifted current Gen.2 hatchback and Gen.2 saloon will be released.

the 'mini sedan' which people refer as 'savvy sedan' is not actually 'savvy'. but it looks totally different from any proton's models. it is scheduled to be launched Q1 next year.......so, this year, only Gen2 sedan will come

Could be different body but still based on Savvy platform with similar critical points and mounting cos I doubt they still have the resource to create another new platform.

OshHisham

May 14th, 2007, 06:16 AM

not sure same platform or not...but it will be built in Shah Alam(savvy is from tanjung malim), after they clear up all the SAGA's in there.

OshHisham

May 17th, 2007, 10:02 AM

from paultan.org

http://images.paultan.org/images/saga4wd.jpg

Here’s an article from Harian Metro back in February 2007. It concerns a white Proton Saga that got stopped by traffic police officers during an illegal racing raid operation. The extend of the modification to the Proton Saga amazed them.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sepasukan anggota polis Trafik Bandaraya kehairanan apabila kali pertama terserempak dengan sebuah Proton Saga yang diubah suai menjadi kenderaan pacuan empat roda oleh pemiliknya disyaki bagi tujuan berlumba haram.

Difahamkan kenderaan terbabit yang dianggap ‘model’ terbaru di pasaran ditahan sebelum disita kerana melakukan pengubahsuaian secara haram di Lebuh raya Lingkaran Tengah (MRR2) berhampiran Taman Melawati di sini, minggu lalu.

Kereta bernombor pendaftaran WBV 9253 dan berwarna putih itu kemudian diserahkan kepada Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) Wilayah Persekutuan untuk diuji.

Pengarah JPJ Wilayah Persekutuan, Amir Abdul Hamid, berkata pemeriksaan mendapati kereta berkenaan diubahsuai pemiliknya dengan membabitkan kos melebihi harganya.

“Antara yang diubah enjin kereta terbabit yang ditukar menggunakan Mitsubishi Evolution dengan kelajuan melebihi 30 peratus daripada asal, gandar tayar pula ditukar kepada kenderaan pacuan empat roda, begitu juga sistem gerakan enjin.

“Turut ditukar ekzos kenderaan, tangki minyak dan sistem dalaman. Bagi menampakkan kenderaan itu sebagai pacuan empat roda, pegas rodanya turut dinaikkan. Ruang dalaman kenderaan berkenaan turut dilengkapi sistem audio canggih, mikrofon dan televisyen kecil yang digunakan untuk berkaraoke,” katanya ketika ditemui di sini, semalam.

Amir berkata, pemeriksaan mendapati pemiliknya tidak pernah memohon mengubah suai kenderaan berkenaan termasuk menukar enjin.

“Ketika disoal siasat pemiliknya mendakwa kereta berkenaan digunakan di jalan lasak, bagaimanapun pihak berkuasa menahannya ketika di jalan raya pada operasi lumba haram, baru-baru ini,” katanya.

Selain daripada dikenakan tindakan mengikut Seksyen 42(1) Akta Pengangkutan Jalan oleh trafik, pemilik kereta itu bakal berdepan dengan perlucutan hak kenderaan yang digunakan dalam pertandingan atau dugaan kelajuan.

While driving the streets of KL in the middle of the night looking for a place to snap some photos, my friend Melvin and I spotted the same Proton Saga driving around and we managed to snap a photo of it. You can see the jacked up suspension, and it’s abit hard to see the 4WD shaft underneath the car in this photo, but it’s there. His interior was full of EL gauges, and his exhaust piping exits from the sides.

TWK90

May 17th, 2007, 10:04 AM

OMG, he turned FWD to AWD drivetrain, doesn't it cost a bomb to do this?

OshHisham

May 17th, 2007, 10:27 AM

many malaysian are retards...
they are too poor to have a REAL sport car/FWD....no wonder we can see, some of them modify perodua kancil into a 'sport car' by putting large spoiler and 'wings'....

forrestcat

May 17th, 2007, 10:52 AM

many malaysian are retards...
they are too poor to have a REAL sport car/FWD....no wonder we can see, some of them modify perodua kancil into a 'sport car' by putting large spoiler and 'wings'....

And who do we blame for making real sport cars unreasonably expensive :nuts: .

cooltemper

May 17th, 2007, 11:44 AM

And who do we blame for making real sport cars unreasonably expensive :nuts: .

HAHA...Good Point!

Arkdriver

May 17th, 2007, 12:33 PM

for those who cant afford the luxury, modifying their current belonging is the only option.

sports car is expensive, because it's specially built for high performance. not modified for high performance.

"if you can't afford, you can only dreams"

OshHisham

May 17th, 2007, 06:01 PM

And who do we blame for making real sport cars unreasonably expensive :nuts: .

come on lah...sport car only for those who got money. no money no talk. and no blaming government!

OshHisham

May 17th, 2007, 06:05 PM

for those who cant afford the luxury, modifying their current belonging is the only option.

agree! only for stupid peoples...who don't know how to spend money appropriately

forrestcat

May 17th, 2007, 06:33 PM

agree! only for stupid peoples...who don't know how to spend money appropriately

Cannot say like datla...its the least they can do to make themselves happy :) with whatever junk they're driving. We need such innovative people on the road and our society sometimes.

Not trying to blame government, but being with a family who's driven two Iswaras,one Wira(traded happily for a Honda Accord,our first non-Proton car),one Tiara,one Juara:nuts: (we really fell for the pretend-MPV thing!!!!) and a Waja Campro(we're quite happy with this though:) ) and not to mention one Kancil(I hate this car,I'm too tall for it)...I know what I can say about Proton cars if I do. But u must agree that Proton did not make their cars as cheap as they claimed.

szehoong

May 17th, 2007, 08:40 PM

^^ Actually modifying cars are very dangerous not only to the car owner but to other road users too. Their cars are not designed to be as fast and driving beyond the mechanics of the car could handle may cause some serious accident. Even aesthetic parts like those over-sized bumpers and spoilers could just ripped off due to drag and lack of aerodynamics and hit another car. :yes:

If one can't afford a road-legal sports car which are properly tested and designed by car manufacturers then forget it. It is not about creativity but about road safety. :yes:

People whom modify cars are no different from Mat Rempits whom modify their bikes....just that one is 4 wheels and the other 2 wheels. :ohno:

cooltemper

May 18th, 2007, 08:17 AM

pedang

May 18th, 2007, 09:49 AM

^^ kau pakai kereta honda ke toyota, bmw.. merc boleh jamin x kena curi jugak ke ??

hypermount

May 20th, 2007, 05:02 AM

Latest security feature on Proton Waja (Mr Bean's style)
Gear will not be shifted if took out this "safety lock"!

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6987/dsc00076lw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3530/dsc00073qq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3485/dsc00077xl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/5244/dsc00075mn3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/4725/dsc00074su5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Car thieves will laugh until dead if they saw this feature!

Oh Proton, proton.....:ohno: How could this happen to a two year old car?

Problem? That's a is a good feature. Common to take out the fuel pump fuse first or taking out the steering wheel which has BOSS kit before leaving your car in the wide open...so the BOSS kit is mr bean style? :nuts:

part availability vs skills of the thieves, I will choose first one... at the crime scene it's higher possibility the thieves would not have the parts to start the car. alarm and security system is no use even it's very expensive..skilled thieves can definitely hack their way in, there's no limit in it...just like ALL kind of locks which can be easily lockpicked...every CAR (including ur mercs beemers) on the road can be stolen easily, it's only depends on the thieves intention - want to steal or not..security gadgets, locks, alarms etc are only mean to slow down the thieving process, not preventing them.

hypermount

May 20th, 2007, 05:39 AM

And who do we blame for making real sport cars unreasonably expensive :nuts: .

RM10 k for the saga..including all medications should not have exceed RM40-50k..

No, that's not enough for a proper sport car :nuts: even before tax.. :nuts:

haze

May 20th, 2007, 01:46 PM

woi cooltemp, lu penah dengar sindiket curi kereta mewah x ??

OshHisham

May 22nd, 2007, 01:48 PM

Volkswagen may build plant in Indonesia
font size ZoomIn ZoomOut

A delegation of German auto giant Volkswagen has met with Indonesian Industry Minister Fahmi Idris for talks on the possibility of opening an assembly plant in Jakarta, local press said Tuesday.

Industry Ministry's director general of transportation industry Budhi Dharmadi has confirmed the meeting, saying Volkswagen was assessing possibility of opening a new plant in Asia other than its largest production base of China, reported leading economic daily Bisnis Indonesia.

"It's possible that they invest here. But it (the meeting) represents just a preliminary assessment," Budhi was quoted as saying, but he didn't elaborate when the meeting was held and attended by who.

The possible Volkswagen plant in Indonesia will boost the country's auto industry now dominated by Japanese manufacturers.

China's Chery Automobile and Geely International have made their presence here to sell city cars and sedans, while India's Bajaj and TVS have come to grab a share in the motorcycle markets also controlled by Japanese producers.

According to the government data, foreign direct investment in the automotive sector amounted to 39 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of the year.

Source: Xinhua

what does it means to proton-volkswagen tie..?hope malaysia will not lose to indonesia

forrestcat

May 22nd, 2007, 02:32 PM

VW wanted the Tg Malim plant. They'll Indonesia and buy plant at a cheaper plant w/o fulfilling foolish conditions from a small car company.

But relax bro... as the DPM said...'It does not matter'.:cheers:

OshHisham

May 22nd, 2007, 04:17 PM

what bother proton-VW tie is vw's demands of controlling proton. most likely to make proton into a 'puppet perodua-like company'. so, i don't care lah if vw wants to turn to indonesia...get off lah you!

Arkdriver

May 22nd, 2007, 07:36 PM

agree with you osh kosh

if im the prime minister, i will hire carlos ghosn as contract CEO for 5 years. I will give him freedom to bring in his own people from nissan/renault but before his contract ends he must groom one successor among Malaysian to helm the company after he leaves. Also i wont allow him to sold proton shares to foreign car maker so that he must work to bring out the best in proton without sacrificing our ownership.

this sounds more logical to me instead of allowing foreign carmarker to have controlling stake in proton.

I DONT WANT ANOTHER PERODUA!!!!!!!!

OshHisham

May 23rd, 2007, 02:57 AM

actually the current managing director is doing a good job according to a guy from proton. but only he is just a MD, not CEO. since the previous CEO, Tg Mahaleel ruins proton and government reorganize proton and balance the power between Board of Directors and MD. in this case, MD doesn't have full power to turn proton into something in his mind.

to have a foreigner to be CEO in GLCs, i'm not sure this would be happen or not...but most likely, NOT. you know...the 'sacred policy'

hypermount

May 23rd, 2007, 01:17 PM

The tyre is low-profile..I thought you said it' wide..usually people describe wideness from the back or front of the tyres...thin tyre means it's a low profile tyres, seem from side..to improve handling...our roads are just hopeless for sport oriented tyres...too bumpy.

UMW Toyota after sales service is hopeless, in fact worse than Proton cos sometimes you can't claim for faulty parts. And they forced you to change parts that are still working fine in name of preventive mantenance which will cost you hefty bills. Heard many stories, they have officially taken the spot as the worst for after sales service provider.

I've got a great service frm an EON branch service centre...does that mean all Proton service sucks..same can be said about toyota and honda case.

Just a FEW of MANY cases.
After 2 and half years, Corrolla Altis's power windows kong! (http://autoworld.com.my/forum/allposts.asp?summary=1&Forum=ap111582596&access=1&status=1&subject=I+don%27t+think+I+want+to+buy+Toyota+again)

Expensive service cost! (http://autoworld.com.my/forum/allposts.asp?summary=1&Forum=ap111582596&access=1&status=1&subject=Avanza+40%2C000+Service+Costs+%2D+RM831%2E69)

Immobiliser problem - damn dangerous- engine shut down when negotiating corner rendering power steering useless (http://autoworld.com.my/forum/allposts.asp?summary=1&Forum=ap111582596&access=1&status=1&subject=Vios+Immobilizer+Problem)

bad service (http://autoworld.com.my/forum/allposts.asp?summary=1&Forum=ap111582596&access=1&status=1&subject=Customer+service+for+Toyota+are+real+bad%21%21%21%21%21%21)

Of coruse they are not Protons so no need to bash mah...if Protons having the same immo problem wich are many times dangerous, I think some nutcase would have burn down proton factories...so much for selective preference.

Thinking buying a Japanese junk will help them rid of problems associated while owning a car, when the same problems arrise, they will keep quiet so not to be appear like a fool...like in myvi case - most owners are stupid Proton bashers lots of problem and till now rear seat heat up that could cook ur ass still is not solved bt perodua...serve them right the owners if they have acted against Proton unfairly in the past. ..i believe in karma.

.for people who think their Hondas are virgin when coming out from showroom/junkyard - think again. CKD-ed Honda models from Alor gajah plant like civic, crv, accord 2.4 and city are all used whores...delivery boys and people at the plant had their time "playing" around with the toys ..confirmed by a fren who is working there, and of course for all that matters he's driving a savvy.

Honda's Quality Problem, a followup to Toyota's quality problems!

Blame Proton Malaysia, it's not Proton's fault for the low quality cars just like how some people blamed Honda Malaysia for the faulty Honda cars..blame..blame..blame..pointing fingers..blame..blame :banana:

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/myzoro/MalayMail_News.jpg

Hi all RECENT HONDA CKD cars owners, some of you including me may feel cheated by what Honda Malaysia recent build quality degration! I bought my civic recently CKD model and I got never ending build quality issue.

I have seen a lot of ppl say this is CKD and we must accept! How can this be? How can we let Honda take us for a ride on a 120++ car! Most people complain to dealers and if the dealers say " biasala ini made in Malaysia". This is wrong. Consumers have rights.

(Update)
For my complains:
My comment here on the rattling noise here
http://eightgc2.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?...mforum=eightgc2 (http://eightgc2.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?t=974&mforum=eightgc2)

And the thin outer layer steel problem here
http://eightgc2.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?...mforum=eightgc2 (http://eightgc2.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?t=1075&mforum=eightgc2)

The A pillar problem , just take a look here
http://eightgc2.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?...mforum=eightgc2 (http://eightgc2.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?t=196&mforum=eightgc2)
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p100/zreeb/APillarplastic.jpg

For a list of complain by other member of that forum just go visit here:
http://eightgc2.forumup.com/viewforum.php?...mforum=eightgc2 (http://eightgc2.forumup.com/viewforum.php?f=17&mforum=eightgc2)

Its time we act! We must do something about it and not just accept it cause that is why Honda Malaysia will never improve, in the USA if something like this happen, Honda will be sued kau kau and NBC will air it for all to see, so I think we should do a similar thing here or else Honda Malaysia will never improved! And in USA Honda will never dare to pull such a stunt cause they know the price they will pay, So if you just biasa la ini made in Malaysia punya Honda then Honda think we Malaysia consumer are so stupid we just accept shity quality as NORMAL!!!!!!

So my fighting brother and sister Its time we act! !!! Join all the fighters here!

http://www.motortrader.com.my/asp/forum/to...?TOPIC_ID=19210 (http://www.motortrader.com.my/asp/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19210)

see some pic taken when they stormed Honda on 17thMay2007.
Photos are here :
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb105/myzoro/

Write to myzoro at myzoro@yahoo.com and join force with him in KL. If possible he will gather about 20-30 people before he go to TV3 TV9 or whatsoever television firms.

Do anything to complain! Phone them, email them, go see them, lodge a formal complain, etc...

Pusat Khidmat Aduan Pengguna Nasional (NCCC)

No. 1D, Bangunan SPKK, Jalan SS9A/17
Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Malaysia
47300

nccc@nccc.org.my
03-78779000/78748096
03-78748097

AND

also

http://www.kpdnhep.gov.my/index.cgi?lang=english

Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri Dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna
Lot 2G3, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
Precint 2, Putrajaya, Malaysia. 62623
Hotline : 1800-886-800

603-8882 5500
603-8882 5762

Write to Mr P. Jeevananth <pjeevananth@kpdnhep.gov.my>,
or call him directly at 016-2333910

Hope to see you in this struggle for justice!!
11741713

ntly1

May 23rd, 2007, 01:44 PM

^^
:lol:...it seems that things for Malaysia market are just low quality :lol:

OshHisham

May 23rd, 2007, 05:42 PM

the news was about honda in malaysia. what about other brands in other countries...?sure they got this kinda problems lah. only newspaper loves making issues....

triple-j

May 23rd, 2007, 11:19 PM

the problems are there already whether the newspaper report it "sensationally" or not.

hypermount

May 24th, 2007, 04:40 AM

the news was about honda in malaysia. what about other brands in other countries...?sure they got this kinda problems lah. only newspaper loves making issues....

ALL these issues are much WORSE than Proton's..just show buying a non-Proton doesn't guarantee you a peace of mind car ownership.

I dunno whether want to laugh or cry..

A flooded Corrolla ALtis :lol:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/yap_ivan/Civic%20Forum/P1000023.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/yap_ivan/Civic%20Forum/P1000021.jpg

Can rear fish inside there.

forrestcat

May 24th, 2007, 10:26 AM

Good news for Protonians

It seems Savvy is tough based on this article in Paul Tan's blog

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/277966/1/.html

http://images.paultan.org/images/proton_savvy_accident.jpg

Just in case you’re wondering how the undercarriage of the Proton Savvy looks like, here’s a photo on the left. Now, why did this Proton Savvy turtle? This accident happened in Singapore on Lornie Road off Andrew Road. A Proton Savvy driven by Lim Hwee Joo came down the road, somersaulted, and landed upside down in a garden of a house, about 5 meters lower than the street level.

The owner of the house Daniel Lee said this is not the first time a car has crashed into his house in this manner, and the accident caused a fair amount of damages to his garden. Ms. Lim emerged from the car unhurt, which is pretty amazing. It looks like the Proton Savvy is really built tough after all!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

agood job Proton. My confidence in the Savvy has increase alot.

forrestcat

May 24th, 2007, 10:29 AM

Mr Hypermount

The early Gen-2 can also rear fish in the boot coz when it rains water seeps inside. :nuts:

forrestcat

May 24th, 2007, 10:40 AM

the problems are there already whether the newspaper report it "sensationally" or not.

Hi..do u know that Toyota Corolla's steering wheel in Australia will drop on ur lap if u try to adjust it. :lol: .Toyota is recalling all new Corolla models for inspection.This is reported in an OZ newspaper 2 days ago.I think it was The Age.

hypermount

May 24th, 2007, 10:58 AM

Mr Hypermount

The early Gen-2 can also rear fish in the boot coz when it rains water seeps inside. :nuts:

:lol: Seriously the altis case is worse, it happened in the cabin la - look at all the carpet, 1 finger depth :lol: ! I doubt early Gen-2 boot leakage was that serious. I would be fuming mad if that ever happen to my RM100k car.

More photos about the Savvy's crash.

http://www.stomp.com.sg/ss/070524_ss_caraccident.jpg

http://www.stomp.com.sg/ss/070524_ss_caraccident2.jpg

http://www.stomp.com.sg/ss/070524_ss_caraccident3.jpg

http://www.stomp.com.sg/ss/070524_ss_caraccident4.jpg

http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/General_C1/General_Car_Discussion_F1/Car_crashed_into_garden_%40_Andrew_Rd_P1892466

forrestcat

May 24th, 2007, 11:11 AM

Were u there? Can u describe the damage? It seems the fall was quite severe.

hypermount

May 24th, 2007, 11:19 AM

Were u there? Can u describe the damage? It seems the fall was quite severe.

No..got the pictures from a Singapore forums, from the link I provided. Look what they said about the incident "shock" "unbelievable "is the word.

cooltemper

May 24th, 2007, 11:59 AM

Nothing need to celebrate, because at their advertisement over the radio, Proton said you can close your eyes and drive.

Somemore Proton always double standard, so the one that they sold to Singapore might have twice the thickness that the one they sold here.

So pls don't mislead all the Savvy drivers, that they won't get killed when doing somersaulted. Drive safely especially with so many Proton still there on the road.

forrestcat

May 24th, 2007, 12:01 PM

^No difference between Savvy in Singapore and Malaysia. Even the ones there have no air bag before H-Line was offered.

cooltemper

May 24th, 2007, 12:08 PM

^No difference between Savvy in Singapore and Malaysia. Even the ones there have no air bag before H-Line was offered.

IC, so Proton had learned a lesson. Never practice double lesson.
But i think they will forget this lesson, when they shipped their car to Europe.

cooltemper

May 24th, 2007, 12:10 PM

STOCK CODE NAME REF HIGH LOW LAST CHANGE VOLUME
5304 PROTON 5.150 5.250 4.980 5.000 -0.150 4166

cooltemper

May 24th, 2007, 12:11 PM

ALL these issues are much WORSE than Proton's..just show buying a non-Proton doesn't guarantee you a peace of mind car ownership.

I dunno whether want to laugh or cry..

A flooded Corrolla ALtis :lol:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/yap_ivan/Civic%20Forum/P1000023.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s255/yap_ivan/Civic%20Forum/P1000021.jpg

Can rear fish inside there.

Good idea. This car was so worse must be due to the TTDI flooded.

forrestcat

May 24th, 2007, 01:24 PM

IC, so Proton had learned a lesson. Never practice double lesson.
But i think they will forget this lesson, when they shipped their car to Europe.

I believe this double standard issue is not big issue anymore, coz Proton offers the H-Line models with airbags and ABS for Gen-2, Savvy and Satria Neo,which is also standard in all Waja 2007 models. Proton, after soooo many years finally acknowledges the fact that Proton cars are frequently bashed for not providing airbag and ABS in Malaysia.

OshHisham

May 24th, 2007, 03:29 PM

even if proton provides airbag, ABS or whatsoever, does it mean u're going to have proton? NO!...so don't make complains if you are not into it!!

cooltemper,what car you drive? really wanna know...

forrestcat

May 24th, 2007, 04:26 PM

U overlook the importance of airbags in car sales in Malaysia.

Naza Sutera is equipped with airbags rather than ABS coz they made a research that people are very attracted to small cars with airbag feature.The same with MyVi..everyone was so crazy about the airbag but no one cares about the ABS in the Gen-2.:nuts: .

Proton payed the price.They would have attrcted alot of buyers IMO if Gen-2 and Waja have air bags. MyVi and Sutera have proven it.

I am not a Proton basher.I am not worried about the cars...which are getting good.I am worried about the mentality of the sucky company managing Proton!!!!!!!!!!

alsen

May 24th, 2007, 04:44 PM

urgh!!!!!! anti perodua and Naza.

hypermount

May 24th, 2007, 04:50 PM

SAVVY SINGAPORE SPECS did not have airbags/abs/ebd. Apart from that Export and local Protons are similar.

Savvy is tough nut. How often we could do this to new cars..standing on the bonnet.. and u dun have to release from a distance to close the bonnet, just push it ok no prob...even
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/enigmaconcept/Savvy/rPB190120.jpg

ps:dun lecture me about crumple zone, I know and that is another matter.
11762538
[/quote]

forrestcat

May 24th, 2007, 05:00 PM

urgh!!!!!! anti perodua and Naza.

Then u must be suffering seeing all those Daihatsus and Toyotas where u are now.:lol:

alsen

May 24th, 2007, 05:14 PM

Then u must be suffering seeing all those Daihatsus and Toyotas where u are now.:lol:

no.....its hard to find Daihatsu here.plus,Toyota's here is better n looks awesome.;)

OshHisham

May 25th, 2007, 02:59 AM

Toyota in Japan got a lot of models.....some even as big as 5 series. and for Daihatsu...japanese use it as 'kereta syarikat'/ SME company's car. pity...

forrestcat

May 25th, 2007, 07:47 AM

First Savvy terbalik..now this

http://www.nst.com.my/pix/pix_top_05251

http://www.nst.com.my/Friday/National/20070525073646/insidepix1

Proton Iswara after a six floor drop.Thank god the driver survived.

GEORGE TOWN: Chan Chen Nee must have thought her life was about to end yesterday.

Penang Hospital staff wheeling in Chan Chen Nee, who broke her hand and suffered cuts and bruises.
Penang Hospital staff wheeling in Chan Chen Nee, who broke her hand and suffered cuts and bruises.
The 27-year-old accounts clerk was driving down the car park complex of her condominium when she lost control of her vehicle.

Her car, a Proton Iswara, smashed through the wall of the car park complex and plunged six floors to the ground.

When firemen extricated her from the wreck of the vehicle, which had landed on its roof, all she had was a broken left hand, cuts and bruises.

Chan was believed to have been on her way to work when the incident occurred at the Mutiara Heights apartment complex, near the Jelutong expressway, at 8.15am.
Passers-by, who witnessed the incident, rushed to her aid.

One man, who wanted to be identified only as Tan, said he was having breakfast at a nearby coffeeshop when he heard a loud noise.

"When I turned around to see what it was that caused the noise, I was shocked to see a car plunging from the car park complex.

"The car smashed into the ground and then landed on its top. I thought that the driver of the car would not survive," he said.

When those who went to help saw Chan pinned between her seat and the steering wheel, they called the Fire and Rescue Department.

Firemen from the Jalan Perak station, who arrived soon after, took five minutes to free her. An ambulance took her to the Penang Hospital emergency ward.

Chan’s husband, who only gave his name as Teh, said he was at work when a friend informed him that his wife was involved in an accident.

"I rushed home but an ambulance had taken her to the hospital. I am not sure what exactly happened but am thankful that she did not suffer any serious injury," the 29-year-old technician said.

NST(25th May 2007)

triple-j

May 25th, 2007, 12:17 PM

^^ a bit of root cause analysis here cause i sense unfairness of posting this news to this thread.

Was it the driver's mistake?
Apparently she lost control of her vehicle (We could blame the car later). Is she a competent driver? (She was on the phone or sleepy or angry or texting message -anything that could affect her judgement thus made her loose control of the car)

Now was the brake is in good condition?
Old model - we could blame proton but then the brake may indeed need replacement. Failure of car maintenance.
New Model - yes we could blame proton.

Any other technical issues of the car that could compromise driver's safety?
Tyre conditions, gears etc.

Any surrounding's environment that might contribute to the damage?
Failure to control due to slippery floor.
The wall to low and not enough to withstand the car's impact.
The steel frame bar that acts like a gate is not that strong or not properly attached thus compromise accident like this to occur.
She was driving down the car parl complex. Suggesting that she was on the ramp. (slanting position)

I know this thread contains hate/love/defensive/offensive/neutral mail about proton but if accident like this to happen, before anybody points the blame to proton or perodua or toyota or honda. Please check the driver's condition, car's conditions and the surrounding's condition.

It may or may not be the car's fault. Look, thank god she survive. She survive in a proton car after fell 6 floors!!

:) Happy Weekend

forrestcat

May 25th, 2007, 12:55 PM

Dun worry, never mean insinuate that Proton inferiority with the article.

Just for good follow up from the Savvy story. We could see the difference between different generation Proton models.

OshHisham

May 25th, 2007, 03:29 PM

pretty shook when buletin utama reported that proton will announce their BIGGEST loss....

forrestcat

May 25th, 2007, 04:51 PM

pretty shook when buletin utama reported that proton will announce their BIGGEST loss....

No big surprise.

Even Mr.Hadhari say dun wanna bail it out.

szehoong

May 25th, 2007, 08:55 PM

Can you guys stop dissing Proton in a Proton forum? Do Malaysians have to be so childish in EVERY car forum/thread? Please try to respect each other. Consider this a final warning! :yes:

OshHisham

May 26th, 2007, 02:31 AM

Even Mr.Hadhari say dun wanna bail it out.

gov. don't wanna bail out, yet don't wanna decide partner for proton....
the future remains dark for proton....:ohno:

gov. in this case should sell proton to foreign company, temporarily. let say, make an agreement that after 5 years, gov through Khazanah will rebuy their share in any price offered, ANY!

Arkdriver

May 27th, 2007, 09:41 AM

if im the prime minister myself i will surely pening kepala by now

wanna proton to remain malaysian entity by not selling controlling stakes in the company BUT

Proton needs partner so it can help speeding the roll out of new models. new models is what proton needed to survive and maintain profitablity and regain its market share. But partners want controlling stake

SM Nasimudin also want controlling stakes in Proton. If we sold shares to him, first we manage to keep Proton Malaysian but im sure SM Nasimudin dont have the ability to make Proton truly product-wise independent. Our worst nightmare, Proton start assembling outdated Korean and French makes to survive. I certainly dont like that considering we spent 20 years to be independent, only to be crucified again by this cheap trick.

Do nothing, in 12 months we gonna have busted automobile company, wasting everything we built in the past 20 years.

I still favor foreign MD or CEO with 5 years contract to turn the company around. it's better than letting foreign partners with controlling stake.

My solution if i were a CEO or MD:

Shut down Saga, Wira, Iswara line as these model were outdated and having less appeal to the market. Wira line in Indonesia will continue.

Waja production will be shift to Tanjung Malim plant.

Sell Proton plant in Shah Alam to local or foreign suitor. This will lead in job cuts but in situation like this strict cost cutting measure is inevitable. I prefer job cuts. People may suffer yes but i dont like the idea of making the country's fledging car industry to be sacrificed over the well beings of some thousand workers. People must understand. What's the point of paying them salary to look after their welfare because in the end after 12 months the company will went bust and they will get no compensation at all.

Proceed from sale of Shah Alam plant will be invested in new model production line in Tanjung Malim. Also part of them will be used to pay compensation for retrenched workers. i roughly calculated about rm 250 million can be collected from the sale of Shah Alam plant.

Im ready to eat less of auto pie industry to stay alive. Less factory means less capacity. say, Proton production will be in the region of 70,000-80,000 units yearly. The main aim is to return to profitabilty. Only after returning to black we will focus to regain the market share.

Cost cutting. really