proton strategic planning

Malaysians are eagerly waiting for Proton's next compact SUV which is expected to arrive after the locally assembled Proton X70 which is speculated to be called the Proton X50. Although Proton has never confirmed (nor deny) whether their next SUV will be called the Proton X50, we know that it will be based on the Geely Binyue – courtesy of Proton's foreign strategic partner. We've tested the Geely Binyue in China, not to lay a death sentence on the Proton X50, but to get a first taste of what pr

Adrian Chia

Dec 26, 2019

While Proton was able to buck the local industry trend with a steady growth in 2020 despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the company has also managed to grow its export business by 10.6%. Over the coming weeks, Proton will announce as many as five market introductions, with one marking the export market debut of the Proton X50, and another two signifying the kick-off for local assembly and sales of Proton vehicles in other markets. “While local market leadership is one of our targets, it is eq

Eric

Dec 17, 2020

It appears that Proton could be rebranding some of its features, as a quick check with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) revealed that Proton has filed for several new trademarks. The trademarks that Proton has filed for include “iN-Touch”, “iN-Power”, and “iN-Drive”, possibly hinting that the company may be planning to rebrand some of their current features. That said, the names seem pretty self-explanatory – iN-Touch could refer to the infotainment system, iN-Power coul

Eric

May 5, 2020

Stay competitive in the segment Answering to consumer demands Better performance without compromising on fuel economy Netizens had polarising opinions when the 2019 Proton Saga facelift was announced to come with a 4-speed automatic. Some welcomed this move; others claim it’s a step back, technology-wise. The primary challenge here is to create greater model differentiation between the Saga and Persona. Although the two compete in different segments, the entry price point of a Persona is very cl

Adrian Chia

Aug 22, 2019

367 new components include styling & mechanical enhancements Better braking performance, lower NVH and improved fuel consumption Most importantly, better build quality The facelifted 2019 Proton Iriz was the first Proton model in their current line up to be updated since Geely came on board as the national carmaker’s foreign strategic partner. Introduced to the market just 2 months after the Proton X70 made its local debut, the facelifted Iriz is more than just a cosmetic upgrade. For starters,

Adrian Chia

Aug 29, 2019

Proton’s foreign strategic partner, Geely unveiled its first MPV in 2019 called the Geely Jiaji. It’s a 6/7-seater MPV that appeals to families through its modern features and design. The Proton Exora has been around for more than a decade now without any replacement in sight. No matter how they spin it, the Exora is starting to show its age and is having a tough time staying competitive in today’s market space. If Proton ever decides to replace the Exora, there is a strong case to believe that

Adrian Chia

Jan 5, 2020

So, you’re looking to buy your first car. For most of us, cars are a necessity. Necessity being regularly used for interstate journeys, regularly stuck in traffic, used for hauling, abused for work, and driving on uneven roads. In short, you’re looking for a daily driver. So, how do you go about getting your first car? 1. Get a new car Of course, second hand cars are cheaper. But if you’re going to drive it hard every day, it will occasionally breakdown. Yes, some old cars tend to have indestruc

Arif

Jun 4, 2020

A team based in the UK is planning to compete in some world-renowned rallycross tournaments in 2021 including the World Rallycross Championship in a specially modified Proton Iriz RX Supercar. Team RX Racing will helm the Iriz RX Supercar. Besides the World Rallycross Championship, the team also plans to compete the Iriz in the British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy and the European Rallycross Championship. The fantastically-named rallycross Iriz is based on the Iriz R5 that was develo

CY Foong

Dec 17, 2020

The newly launched 2020 Proton X70 CKD garnered a lot of attention due to its enhanced features and most importantly lower price tag. However, some netizens were harping on the fact that the improved 2020 X70 CKD is not the Geely Boyue Pro. Well for starters, to introduce a new design on a model that’s only been on the market for a little over a year does not make business sense in the automotive industry. The X70 is still fresh to the market and is not due for a model revamp just yet. However,

Adrian Chia

Feb 18, 2020

Proton is an abbreviation or Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional. It’s a national car. That was the intention and it is something we should be proud of. Germany has Volkswagen, Japan has Toyota, and Korea has Hyundai. Other famous brands have been left out in favour of those that cater to the masses with “people’s cars”. Proton is 35 years old (We’ll take the Saga launch as its birthday). Toyota and Volkswagen are 83 years old while Hyundai is 53 years old. Proton is young in comparison to these compan

Arif

Aug 2, 2020

Now in its sixth year on sale, the Proton Iriz has received a number of updates over its lifecycle. The first update for the Proton Iriz came in 2017 when Proton improved the model’s noise, vibrations, and harshness (NVH) levels by reducing the number of engine mounts (from four to three), a revised exhaust set-up, and better noise insulation materials. Subsequently in 2019, Proton introduced a more comprehensive update for the Iriz, this time encompassing a redesigned exterior and updated inter

Eric

Sep 29, 2020

Used car online selling platform, MyTukar has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad (EON) as an automobile trade-in partner. Through the partnership, MyTukar will facilitate the end-to-end trade-in process for EON’s customers via certified MyTukar inspectors performing vehicle inspections on-demand for its customers. EON, a subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Berhad, operates dealerships for several brands namely Proton, Mitsubishi, Audi, and Volkswagen, via EON, EON

Jerrica

Mar 5, 2021

We've heard all about the praise for the 2020 Proton X50, it is more affordable than its bigger Proton X70 sibling and offers the benefits of a new generation 3-cylinder 1.5-litre turbocharged TGDi and MPi engines. It also has plenty to offer like the new GKUI infotainment system compared to its closest B-segment SUV rival, the Honda HR-V. But there is one thing that makes the new SUV not so suitable for the ladies and that is the lack of “slidability” of the leather seats. Though the X50 boasts

Jerrica

Dec 4, 2020

Kia Motors is planning to re-enter the compact MPV market come 2021. The Indian media reported that Kia has recently given the green light for their compact MPV project to proceed. The compact MPV will likely be built on the Kia Seltos platform and will go up against the Suzuki Ertiga in India. News of a compact MPV project from Kia broke in February. The compact MPV will fit between the Kia Seltos SUV and the Kia Carnival MPV that are already on sale in India. As mentioned, the MPV will likely

Jerrica

Jun 3, 2020

The Proton X50 has just made its public launching today with an enticing price that is sure to make you think twice about getting its competitors, especially the reigning crossover king, the Honda HR-V. With prices starting from RM 79,200 without SST, the X50 really sounds like a bargain. Even more impressive is the Flagship variant which has a full suite of ADAS including AEB with pedestrian detection and intelligent cruise control for a little over RM 100,000. But if you’re planning on getting

CY Foong

Oct 27, 2020

The 7-seater C-segment Geely Jiaji is billed as a more upscale model to replace the ageing Proton Exora (on the market since 2009). Our recent posts on the yet to be confirmed Proton V70 (Geely Jiaji) have spurred a lot of conversations. In fact, interest in the Geely Jiaji have taken a life of its own, as netizens have took it upon themselves to unofficially name the car on behalf of Proton, making ‘Proton V70’ a trending keyword on Google searches. While Proton have trademarked the V70 name, t

Hans

Dec 15, 2020

The recently announced 2020 National Automotive Policy (NAP) and recent changes in the government are not sitting well with car manufacturers operating in Malaysia. “It’s a bit unsettling. Less than a week after announcing an auto policy that doesn’t say anything meaningful, the prime minister is stepping down?,” said an executive at a German automotive brand. However, the executive remained optimistic about the mid-term prospects of Malaysia, and sees the current episode merely as a speed bump

Hans

Feb 24, 2020

Proton took the right approach when they launched the 2020 Proton Saga facelift. Offering improved features and drivability at a lower price point for consumers. Their strategy of giving better value for money to the consumers is being rewarded in their sales numbers, with a monthly average of 3,500 cars delivered. The Saga facelift was crucial in helping Proton achieve their 2020 sales target of 100,000 units. Even as archrival, Perodua launched their updated Saga competitor, the price tag is j

Adrian Chia

Feb 28, 2020

Following the announcement of the new National Automotive Policy (NAP) by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry earlier today, UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has released a statement saying that it welcomes and supports the government’s directions for the automotive industry. “We are pleased that the government has provided an updated ‘roadmap’ for the development of the industry and this will provide direction and guidance which will be of great value to forward planning, especially where i

Hans

Feb 21, 2020

Volvo XC40 Fully-electric will be on show to the public by the end of 2019 when it celebrates the world premiere and the brand’s first battery-powered electric after the launch of the Polestar 2. The Electric XC40 sets its strategic footprint in the Swedish carmaker's electrification plan, aiming to provide an electrified version of each model in its production line starting this year, whether using a mild hybrid, hybrid or battery-powered system. The company also expressed the expectation that

Gemma

Jul 22, 2019

Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chief executive officer Datuk Razlan Razali bids goodbye effective April 7, after a long 11 and a half years managing SIC. His position will be taken over by a well-respected figure in Petronas Motorsports, Azhan Shafriman Hanif. Formerly a Head of Strategic of Alliance in Petronas Motorsports, Azhan is a mechanical engineering graduate, majoring in manufacturing and material Science. He has been with Petronas for more than 13 years, and also spearheaded Petron

Zamil Syaheer

Apr 8, 2020

In an effort to take on Tesla, Geely has announced its plans to launch a new premium EV brand, “Zeekr”. Zeekr will be housed under LingLing Technologies (Geely’s to-be-launched EV entity). Automotive News Europe reports that Zeekr is Geely’s new attempt to go up-market, and is in line with founder and chairman Li Shufu’s long-held ambition to make premium cars. The brand's logo is yet to be revealed. What is known so far is that Zeekr will roll out models based on Geely’s open-source EV chassis,

Arif

Mar 22, 2021

** This article is published on WapCar Community. Click the link below to enter the community for car enthusiasts in Malaysia https://www.wapcar.my/forum Basic Information Model: 2020 Proton X50 1.5T Flagship Time of Booking: May 2020, way before the official announcement for booking Dealer Name: Proton Cahaya Segambut Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: Rm 103,300 excluding insurance The price I Paid: Rm 103,000 excluding insurance Vehicle Delivery Time: 30th October 2020 Reasons why I bough

Owner Review

Nov 10, 2020

It's an appealing driver's car Significantly improved compared to the previous version But how does it compare to the Myvi? No one expected that when Perodua introduced the Perodua Myvi, it would be the default choice for young and old buyers alike. Since its introduction in 2005, more than 1 million units of the Perodua Myvi rolled off the production floors. Proton is extremely late to the five-door hatchback game – I highlight five-door specifically because the national carmaker had a three-do

Adrian Chia

Sep 13, 2019

Volkswagen Group has opened a new regional parts distribution centre in the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor which will serve as the genuine parts supply chain to 21 markets across the Asia Pacific region. At 50,000 square metres, the new regional parts distribution centre is larger than its predecessor. The centre contains around 65,000 genuine parts of the German group’s brands including Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, Skoda, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. International Trade and Industry

CY Foong

Jan 15, 2021

Following Tesla’s return to Singapore, two banks have shown great initiative in the adoption of electric vehicles. The Business Times reports, that on Monday, OCBC had announced a strategic partnership with Charge+, a Singaporean EV solutions firm. Charge+ aims to install 10,000 EV charging points in Singapore by 2030, in line with the government's target of 60,000 EV charging points. The partnership intends to encourage property developers (who are customers of OCBC) to install charging points

Arif

Feb 16, 2021

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) has announced their plans to restart campaigns to educate the public on the importance of using rear seat belts. The strategic plan will take place in stages starting from school level to public and private agencies. MIROS chairman Datuk Suret Singh told Bernama that although the rear seat belt regulation was implemented over a decade ago since 2009, the institute discovered that only 11 percent of Malaysian road users wear rear seat belts. Mos

Jerrica

Mar 13, 2021

We’ve covered the Nissan Z Proto when it was unveiled last week and had a roundtable discussion with its designer, Alfonso Albaisa. Clearly, the upcoming 400Z has taken a lot of inspiration from the S30 240Z and the Z32 300ZX. But there are a few inspirations taken from the modern Z cars, the 350Z and 370Z. Alfonso was part of the design team of the 350Z and it became a gateway Z car and was somewhat of a fan favourite. It lasted for 6 years before it was replaced by the 370Z. Unfortunately, the

CY Foong

Sep 21, 2020

BMW is pushing ahead its ‘Power of Choice’ agenda as the next-generation BMW 5 Series and BMW X1 will feature an all-electric powertrain. Like the 2020 BMW iX3, BMW will offer four powertrain options for these next-gen models, including the BMW 7 Series: conventional petrol and diesel engines, both with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, plus a plug-in hybrid and a pure-electric drivetrain. By the time these models arrive, BMW would have already rolled out the iNext electric SUV, i4 electric sedan

Sanjay

Jul 28, 2020

Volkswagen Group executives said that government incentives and automaker investment decisions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic will accelerate the move to electrification. Christian Dahlheim, VW Group’s head of sales, said the move will be driven partly by the public's desire to see the continuation of cleaner air experienced during the lockdown as life returns to normality. Increased government incentives will push in that direction. Adrian Hallmark, who heads VW Group's Bentley ultralu

Arif

Jun 25, 2020