Malaysian Cars Thread

[pedang]

Proton in talks with Peugeot to develop car for Southeast Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): Malaysian national auto manufacturer Proton is in talks with France's Peugeot, Europe's second largest carmaker, to jointly develop a car for the Southeast Asian market, a news report said Sunday.

Both sides are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding in a few months, which might also see PSA Peugeot Citroen SA taking up an equity stake in Proton Holdings Bhd., The Edge business weekly reported, quoting unidentified sources.

The car would be marketed as a Proton or a Peugeot/Citroen, The Edge said, adding analysts expect it to be a compact car.

Last month, Proton Managing Director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said the company was close to forming a "strategic'' partnership with a foreign automaker, but he gave no details. Proton officials could not be contacted for comment Sunday.

Once dominant in Malaysia's auto sector, Proton has lost ground to foreign car makers, with its domestic market share down from around 60 percent in 2002 to 41 percent last year. Analysts say Proton's survival hinges on a partnership with a company that brings better technology and quality control.

The Edge said Proton and the Malaysian government _ which owns a 42 percent stake in the company _ were also talking with Germany's Volkswagen AG on possibly setting up a new company to jointly develop models that will be badged as Protons and sold in Southeast Asian and Indian markets.

In January, Proton lost a potential equity partner in Volkswagen after refusing to relinquish management control.

[MirageBistro]

Originally Posted by pedang

Proton in talks with Peugeot to develop car for Southeast Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): Malaysian national auto manufacturer Proton is in talks with France's Peugeot, Europe's second largest carmaker, to jointly develop a car for the Southeast Asian market, a news report said Sunday.

Both sides are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding in a few months, which might also see PSA Peugeot Citroen SA taking up an equity stake in Proton Holdings Bhd., The Edge business weekly reported, quoting unidentified sources.

The car would be marketed as a Proton or a Peugeot/Citroen, The Edge said, adding analysts expect it to be a compact car.

Last month, Proton Managing Director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said the company was close to forming a "strategic'' partnership with a foreign automaker, but he gave no details. Proton officials could not be contacted for comment Sunday.

Once dominant in Malaysia's auto sector, Proton has lost ground to foreign car makers, with its domestic market share down from around 60 percent in 2002 to 41 percent last year. Analysts say Proton's survival hinges on a partnership with a company that brings better technology and quality control.

The Edge said Proton and the Malaysian government _ which owns a 42 percent stake in the company _ were also talking with Germany's Volkswagen AG on possibly setting up a new company to jointly develop models that will be badged as Protons and sold in Southeast Asian and Indian markets.

In January, Proton lost a potential equity partner in Volkswagen after refusing to relinquish management control.

Interesting news to read

[pedang]

Proton appoints acting group CEO for Group Lotus


Proton Holdings Bhd has appointed with immediate effect Michael J Kimberley as acting group chief executive officer of Group Lotus Plc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lotus Group International Ltd (LGIL), a member of the Proton group.

In a statement on May 12, Proton said Kim Ogaard-Nielsen, a former CEO of Group Lotus, who joined the company in November 2004, had stepped down to pursue other entrepreneurial interests.

Kimberly now chairs LGIL's executive committee of LGIL, which was set up last February, with Proton managing director Syed Zainal Abidin and Proton non-executive director, Badrul Feisal.

Proton said Kimberley's priorities includes improving Lotus' overall performance as well as preparing and strengthening it to compete in a wider market segment and on a broader business base globally.

"Proton being the ultimate holding company for Lotus confirms that it strongly believes that Lotus has a critical role to play in the group to enable it to become a successful automotive engineering and manufacturing group and a prominent brand globally," it said.

Proton said it had set up a special task force to provide close and specialised support to Kimberley and the management team at Lotus to address the key opportunities.

Kimberley said: "All specialist sports car companies operates in volatile and highly competitive markets. However, sales of the Elise are moving ahead in the US and are being further enhanced by the new introduction of the Exige model."

Kimberley has been associated with the Lotus brand for over 22 years, since joining the late Colin Chapman in 1969. He was managing director of Lotus Cars Ltd between 1976 and 1983 and was the CEO of Group Lotus Plc between 1983 until the end of 1991.

A trained engineer and graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management programme, he spent 15 years with Jaguar, 22 years with Lotus and when the company was acquired by General Motors in 1992 became executive vice president (Malaysia) of General Motors.

In 1994, he became Lamborghini’s president and managing frector, based in Italy until 1996, continuing as a senior adviser to the majority shareholder of the company, based in Indonesia until 1998.

Two of his major achievements were the rejuvenation of Group Lotus, following the tragic loss of its founder, Colin Chapman in 1982 and the revival of the Italian supercar maker, Automobili Lamborghini SPA, in 1994.

More recently, he was appointed to the board of directors of Group Lotus as well as Lotus Group International in August 2005.

[hetfield85]

Naza Sutera 1.1

[hetfield85]

This car has just been launched yesterday

Naza 206 Bestari

It is based on Peugeot 206










The Peugeot TU3 engine

[hetfield85]

Naza 206 Sport Concept

[alsen]

http://www.proton.com/about_proton/f...es/quality.php
http://www.grouplotus.com/generic/generic.php?page=75

[pedang]

Another Malaysian car brand headed for South Africa


Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysian automaker Naza will export a third of its annual production of 30 000 units of its new Sutera compact car - and a local dealer plans to bring them to South Africa.

Dealer principal Farouk Ebrahim Essa of Essa Motors, a Mercedes Benz and Mitsubishi dealer in Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, was at the launch of the 1.1-litre Sutera on Saturday in northern Penang state by Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Essa said the Sutera had better build quality than its main competitor in South Africa, the Tata Indica, and could easily capture 10 percent of the market share there
Naza has signed agreements with importers in 11 countries - including SA
.

He told motoring.co.za that he planned to import the Sutera into South Africa.

"I've driven it," he said, "and I have a lot of confidence in this car."

He said that would bring examples of the car to South Africa for homologation as soon as possible and was confident that he would be able to launch the car on the local market "in about six months".

He said the Sutera, which retails in Malaysia for the equivalent of R60 000, was the cheapest car in that market and he was confident it would occupy the same position here.

The Sutera is a four-seater, five-door hatchback with a 1075cc, four-cylinder engine producing a claimed 46kW at 5700rpm and 85Nm at 3000.

It's front-wheel drive with a five-speed manual gearbox, weighs only 850kg and has a top speed of 130km/h.

National news agency Bernama said Naza had signed agreements with importers in right-hand-drive markets including Britain, Malta, Cyprus, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Brunei and Singapore, making it the third Malaysian auto manufacturer, after Proton and Perodua, to export locally developed cars.

Britain's IM Group said the Sutera was acceptable to the European market but needed some minor changes. Business development director David Wall was quoted as saying: "We expect to introduce it in Britain in six months."

New plant

Naza began operations in 1976 and is mainly involved with importing and assembling Kia cars from South Korea. It signed an agreement in September 2005 with Peugeot to assemble the Peugeot 206 for sale in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Naza is about to build its third - and biggest yet - plant in Penang. Chief executive Nasimuddin Amin said the $356.4-million (R2.1-billion) plant was expected start production in 2008 with an annual capacity of 100 000 units.

Malaysia is south-east Asia's biggest car market with more than 500 000 new vehicles sold each year. - Sapa-AP, motoring.co.za

[pedang]

Proton, 2 China firms explore making cars for region

By Kathy Fong

kathy@thestar.com.my

SHANGHAI: Proton Holdings Bhd is exploring potential agreements with two Chinese car firms that could see the national carmaker selling more of its cars in China and selling a Chinese marque in the Asean region.

The move, if it materialises, should benefit Proton as it would mean higher production of its cars and export sales. It would also give Proton entry into the world's fastest growing major car market.

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Proton said its subsidiary Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd entered into an understanding with Chery Automobile Co Ltd and Alado Corp Sdn Bhd. They will undertake a joint feasibility study to evaluate possibilities and opportunities for providing assembly services and distribution of vehicles of Proton and Chery brands in China, Malaysia and also in Asean.

The feasibility study would be conducted up to Aug 28.



Analysts say any agreements with Chinese firms would increase the utilisation rate of excess capacity at Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant.


Proton also said Lotus Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd, a company within the group, had entered into an understanding with Jinhua Youngman Automobile Group Co Ltd to undertake a joint feasibility study on designing, developing and selling completely knocked down (CKD) vehicles in China. This study will take 120 days.

China’s vehicle sales hit 5.76 million units last year, up 13.5% from the preceding year, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. And in the first quarter this year, China sold 1.25 million passenger cars, 54% more than in the previous corresponding period.

While growth and sales numbers are staggering, the Chinese market is relatively untapped as car ownership only reached 1% of its population last year, implying the industry is looking at enormous growth potential as the middle-income group continues to expand.

Investment analysts are anticipating an annual growth rate of about 20% to 30% on the back of favourable economic scenario in China with no lower than 8% gross domestic product growth.

Proton has said the rationale for entry into China via a joint venture was to strike a relationship with growing and ambitious Chinese car companies.

Doing so would allow it to grow along with its Chinese counterparts as the latter companies extend their reach in the country and globally.

Analysts also said any agreement that would lead to more Proton cars being sold would also mean an increase in the utilisation rate of excess capacity at its Tanjung Malim plant and substantially increase its exports over the next few years.

Anhui-based Chery is among the few Chinese carmakers that sell cars under its own brands and has a vast distribution network.

Last year was a bumper one for Chery as Chinese consumers started to show a preference for smaller cars due to fuel consumption factor amid rising petrol prices. The company, which has five models, saw sales soar 118% to 189,000 units in 2005.

Should an agreement be reached with Jinhua Youngman, it would also mean a step forward for Proton to get its unit, Lotus, to manufacture cheaper Lotus cars and expand its engineering capability to the Asian region.

Jinhua Youngman, a luxury coach and truck maker, has been looking for technical partners to realise its plan to penetrate the Chinese passenger car market.

Its keenness on Lotus sports car technology is said to be a reflection of the company's interest in the upmarket segment instead of the mass market like Chery and Geely.

Despite the challenges, any firm agreement that would lift sales would also go a long way for Proton meeting its key performance indicators.

Proton is targeting to not only raise its domestic market share to 45.8% in its 2007 financial year, it is also looking at exports accounting for 8.6% of sales for that year. For its 2006 financial year, export sales contributed 5.2% of revenue.

“Strategic alliances and collaborations with current and potential partners, which form the base for Proton's future products, quality improvement and operational efficiency are part of Proton's overall strategy,'' the company said in a release to Bursa on its key performance indicators.

Although the deal is far from certain at the moment, a deal with a Chinese carmaker is seen as a coup. But it will come with some caveats. Competition in the Chinese car market is tough and operating in that country means car firms have to be fast in introducing new models and be efficient in cost management.

A few Chinese carmakers are not doing well because they did not have the right product for consumers. Volkswagen is losing market share to General Motors because the former is slow in rolling out new models.

[pedang]

Proton may develop MPVs/SUVs (Updated)

By Tamimi Omar

Proton Holdings Bhd is looking into developing multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) that could be rolled out in two years, its manufacturing director Datuk Kamarulzaman Darus said.

The MPVs and SUVs were targeted at the local market and the development period could take up to 24 months, he told reporters on the sidelines of the Kuala Lumpur International Automotive Conference on May 24.

“We plan to develop (both vehicles) ourselves with the right support from our strategic partner, (and Proton subsidiary) Lotus,” he said.

Kamarulzaman said Proton was now undertaking feasibility studies for its venture into those market segments and talking to the people who were going to market the products.

Asked if Proton was developing the vehicles in response to the declining market share of its smaller car segment, Kamarulzaman said: “Losing market share was part and parcel of doing business.”

He declined to say where the new vehicles would be built but said: “Whichever plant that can give value-added benefits. It doesn’t mean that the higher technological plant would be the best. It must be the right process and the right product for the right market.”

Earlier in his presentation on “Proton: Reaching Crossroads In Its Business”, Kamarulzaman said Proton had identified China, India and the Asean region as key markets for growth.

On future partnerships, he said Proton would not give up control of the company in its plan to obtain technological transfer or economies of scale.

Proton announced on May 23 it had joined forces with two China-based companies to explore the possibility of assembling and distributing cars in China and the Asean region.

It has entered into an understanding with Chery Automobile Co Ltd and Alado Corporation Sdn Bhd towards assembling and selling Proton and Chery cars in China, Malaysia and other Asean countries.

[pedang]

Proton to showcase cars at KLIMS 2006

By Surin Murugiah

Proton Holdings Bhd (Proton) will showcase a combination of race cars, limited editions and futuristic concept vehicles at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2006.

The national carmaker's display includes the Lotus APX as a concept of aluminium-platform cross-over vehicle, and the newest sports car Lotus Europa as well as ZeroKit versions of the Gen.2 and Savvy.

In a statement on May 25, Proton said the Lotus APX represented Lotus Engineering's ability to combine high-performance specifications with innovative utility features. The vehicle has a 5+2 seating capacity design with four-wheel drive capability and the 300-horsepower vehicle was supercharged with a V6 engine, reaching a maximum speed of 245 km/h.

Proton's other highlights are Lotus' latest sports cars which will break cover in Malaysia for the first time - the Europa-S and Exige-S, which were launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

According to Proton, also on display will be the Exige-S, the world's fastest accelerating Lotus ever to come off the production line. It has been acknowledged to be one of the world's most powerful production cars for its engine size.

The show will also feature the limited-edition Lotus 340R, the Merdeka Millennium Endurance 2005 champion Lotus Exige 300RR and the national pride A1 Team Malaysia race car.

Meanwhile, the ZeroKit design upgrade will portray more stylish Savvy and Gen.2.

Proton said it will also feature the latest design enhancement on the family sedan Waja, with upgrades including newly designed headlamps and tail lights, honeycomb front grille, alloy rims and upholstery.

The price for the enhanced Waja starts from RM57,991 for manual transmission and RM61,225 for the automatic version.

[pedang]

Toyota to make cars in Malaysia in 18 months

By Tamimi Omar

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd will manufacture Toyota vehicles in Malaysia for the local market with the first rollout in the next 18 months, said its managing director David Chen.

He said the locally manufactured vehicles would have a local content of over 60% upon the first rollout. He declined to say which models would be produced locally.

Chen said Toyota vehicle sales in Malaysia had reached a point where it would be more economical to manufacture the vehicles locally rather than just assemble the completely knocked-down parts.

“Toyota sold over 20,000 vehicles in the first quarter, about 6,000 to 7,000 a month. Our market share now is 18% of total industry volume,” Chen told reporters on the sidelines of the Kuala Lumpur International Automotive Conference on May 24.

He said the cars could be cheaper with the savings from more local content and higher volume of cars produced. UMW Toyota currently assembles models such as VIOS, Avanza and Innova.

Chen said VIOS was one of Toyota’s best selling models with sales reaching 1,500 units a month.

Asked if Toyota would further reduce its car prices in the near future, Chen said: “In line with the NAP (National Automotive Policy) announced in March, we were one of the first to reduce our prices, and we have transferred all our cost-savings to our customers.”

He added if there were anymore price reductions, it would come from costs-savings from its operations.

Chen said Toyota Malaysia would also export one of its vehicles to Thailand next Monday. He said the details would be announced then.

[pedang]

HOT METAL: A model posing with a Proton-Lotus AXP concept car at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2006 at the Putra World Trade Centre Thursday. The event, which is the biggest held so far, features 121 exhibitors showcasing 134 cars, motorcycles and other vehicles. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy launched the motor show, which will be on until June 4. — STARpic by KAMARUL ARIFFIN

[pedang]

Proton set to unveil new Satria replacement on June 16

By Serina Joon


Proton Holdings Bhd is set to unveil a new model to replace the two-door compact car, Satria, on June 16 - its first new launch since a year ago, sources said.

The new model is expected to help shore up its market share.

A source working closely on the project said the Satria replacement model (SRM) was named Neon, which will have a Campro engine with capacity of 1.3 litre and 1.6 litre.

The SRM project has been on the radar screen of auto enthusiasts for close to two years.

However, Proton has delayed its launch date for almost a year, despite earlier talk that it was to unveil the model shortly after the Savvy was introduced in June last year.

Proton has been under intense scrutiny and facing fierce competition from local and foreign marques that have been whetting the appetite of car buyers with various launches of new models.

The latest models parked in showrooms are the local version of the Peugeot 206 called Naza Bestari, Naza Sutera and Toyota Yaris, all launched within the last month.

Proton has been criticised for being slow in coming up with new models. As a result, its market share is declining and benefited competitors, especially Perodua with MyVi’s waiting list a few months long.

Proton’s market share fell to 30% in April. Just a year ago, it commanded in excess of 40%, while four years ago, for every two cars on the Malaysian road, one is a Proton.

[kissodon]

Originally Posted by pedang

PROTON PERDANA REPLACEMENT MODEL ??

That is a Škoda Superb


But Malaysia is making really cool cars

[Singapor3]

Malaysia cars look...shitty =X

[pedang]

Proton hopes new model, campaign to boost sales


New Lunch, Proton Neo 1.6 & 1.3









Proton Holdings Bhd is confident that the newly launched Satria Replacement Model, Satria Neo, and the on-going promotional campaigns will help the national carmaker revive it flagging sales.

“We hope the Satria Neo will (boost sales). However, we are not relying on new models to increase sales as we have also promotional campaigns involving the Iswara, Gen 2 and Savvy model,” Proton managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said.

Proton lost the market leadership to Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) in the first quarter 2006 with 30% total industry volume against Perodua’s 44%.

Syed Zainal said Proton projected to sell between 2,000 and 2,500 units monthly of Satria Neo, which is available in both 1.3L and 1.6L priced at between RM43,000 and RM55,000 each. The GTi version will be available in the future.

Speaking to reporters at a media test-drive of the Satria Neo at the Sepang International Circuit on June 14, he added the current weak market was affecting every auto players in Malaysia.

Syed Zainal Abidin said Proton would be putting in the marketing and branding of the Satria Neo for market awareness. “We decided to maintain the Satria brand as it has its own cult and niche market with its two-door and sporty look.”

He did not expect that the newly Satria Neo to cannibalise the sales of its other model. The company invested RM500 million to develop the Satria Neo model.

The Satria model was first launched in 1994 and four years later with the help of Lotus rolled out the Satria GTi.

He said Proton would also export the Satria Neo to its traditional markets such as the UK, Australia and Asean countries such as Indonesia and Thailand.

“We have good feedback from the countries we are targeting,” he added. The right hand drive version will be exported from the third quarter this year and the left-hand drive in the first quarter of 2007.

The Campro four-cylinder, 16-valve engine, powers the 1.3L and 1.6L Satria Neo variants, which are available in the four-speed auto or five-speed manual transmissions.

It is also loaded with passive, collision and vehicle safety features. Buyers have five choices of colour to chose from – metal grey, twilight blue, iridescent white, brilliant red and liquid orange.

[pedang]

Proton Satria Neo more pic..

[pedang]

Sporty two-door Satria Neo unveiled

website => http://www.satrianeo.com.my/





KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd has unveiled the highly anticipated Satria Neo, which cost the national car manufacturer RM500 million and about four years to develop.

Proton expects the sporty two-door Satria Neo, the replacement of the popular Satria, to generate a monthly sales volume of 2,000 to 2,500 units.

It is designed for the global market by Proton together with its British engineering subsidiary Lotus.

Managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said Satria Neo should be heading for overseas markets such as the United Kingdom and Australia as early as the third quarter of the year.

"We are looking at the right-hand drive market overseas in the third quarter of this year and the left-hand market in the first quarter of next year," Syed Zainal Abidin said during the media test drive of the Neo in Sepang on Wednesday.

"Regionally, Thailand and Indonesia will also be a market for Satria Neo. We have sent the car to these two countries to gauge the acceptance there," he added.

Satria Neo was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who also launched Proton’s largest and most innovative showroom and service centre called Centre of Excellence, in Subang Jaya yesterday.

Satria Neo, which comes in two engine capacities of 1.3-litre and 1.6-litre and five colours, is priced from RM43,500 to RM54,800 on the road without insurance and road tax.

"Conceptualised on a new platform, Satria Neo exudes energy and style which reflect the lifestyles and desires of our target market," Syed Zainal Abidin said, pointing out that the car was targeted at buyers aged from 18 to 30.

He is hopeful that the Satria Neo would take Proton to a new heights, and improve its image as well as profitability and market share, which has been declining of late as Perodua and non-national makes like Toyota and Honda recorded more sales.

"We know that customers have been waiting for the new model and they will not be disappointed. Our sales target of 2,000 to 2,500 units a month is quite fair as we are mindful of the weak overall market at the moment.

"There are cult followers of the Satria, and we hope the Satria Neo will ride on the success of the predecessor."

He ruled out that the Satria Neo would cannibalise Proton Gen 2 and Savvy, saying that the former was a niche product targeting those who are "youthful and sporty".

Proton Centre of Excellence is located on a 4ha site in UEP Subang Jaya, offering a service centre, Proton i-care, after-sales support, exclusive Proton membership, training centre and Proton Lifestyle boutique.

[kenaney]

Originally Posted by hetfield85

PROTON SRM

Here are some of upcoming Proton SRM (Satria Replacement Model) spyshots

This car looks great!