Proton has dismissed claims that the company is weak and dying amid reports it is seeking a foreign partner.
The Malaysian firm has been linked with striking a deal with Volkswagen and Proton chairman Nadzmi Mohd Salleh claimed the firm was hoping to partner with an unnamed foreign firm by the end of the year.
Nadzmi, who was speaking at Lotus’s Hethel HQ as part of a visit by the king and queen of Malaysia, said the company didn’t need a “walking stick” and any deal would be based on increasing market share and developing new products.
Proton managing director Syed Zainal said: We would have to make a decision that is good in taking the company forward. There’s a lot at stake and the decision is not easy to make. That’s why we’re taking our time.”
Proton has been Lotus’s parent company for more than ten years and Zainal claimed the Malaysian firm has yet to fully utilise its partnership.
“Today, we have reassessed the interaction between the two companies,” he said. “No doubt there are gaps and weaknesses that need to be improved upon, but we are quite determined to make the collaboration stronger,
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Re: Proton dismisses 'weak' claims
Proton biggest market is the domestic market. A lot of subsidies & protections are given by the Govt to ensure Proton survives. So the local market is not a level playing field for other car makers. Local car buyers buy a Proton not because thay want to but is more of they have to. When it comes to export market especially the Uk market & Proton is rather an exclusive brand. Usually exclusivity comes with a price but not in this case. A case in point is:
2008 UK's total sales figure of Lamborghini with a two model line up & price ranging from 140,000 -280,000quid was 2,430 units. For the same period, Proton with a a three model line up & price ranging from 7,995 -10,995quid sold 1,518 units.
A Proton is more exclusive than a Lamboghini in UK. The other side of the coin is, Proton just cannot compete in the export market. Car magazine's verdict on Proton model range:
SAVVY: Straight into row Z or try a Seat Ibiza
SATRIA NEO: Not row Z more like L or try a Renault Clio
GEN-2/PERSONA: You don't care do you? Or try a Bicycle magazine.
For that matter Perodua another national car maker is the top seller in Malaysia & not Proton.
Re: Proton dismisses 'weak' claims
Hi.
This is my opinion. Proton had in the early years developed cars good enough to take one from point A to Point B. They did not design a car to pamper its owner or passengers. No Napa leather interior or Bose sound systems! Its purpose was solely to transport people. In some ways it is similar to the Beetle when it first went into production. Over the years, they realised that people now want more than just the necessity and are willing to pay for it. This was when Proton revamped its product range with the introduction of the Impian (Waja) and Gen 2, the early in-house designed cars. Do bear in mind that Proton is still very young in the automotive industry as compared to Mercedes or even Ford and they are still learning from the big boys out there. It would not be fair to compare them with the more established players. But for a young boy in the industry, I am very proud to say that Proton has done well. Their product range and quality controls keep improving. Its just a matter of time before they are able to offer products which are world class standard. With Lotus in their pocket, Proton has significantly improved in design and engineering and I believe that so long as Lotus is under their helm, Proton would be developing very good cars.
Re: Proton dismisses 'weak' claims
protons main market is asia, which is quite a big market ! www.KOOOLcr.com