Proton Satria Neo rally car in Japan
Pretty soon, MEM won’t be the only company around doing up Proton Satria Neos as rally cars as today Proton announced that Japanese car parts company CUSCO will be buying standard road-going Satria Neo bodyshells to engineer and homologate according to FIA Group N directive competition use. CUSCO is recognized for their aftermarket suspension systems and other parts such as LSDs and chasiss reinforcements and naturally they’ve also been involved in motorsports including rallying.
Being a Japanese company obviously the rally cars that they’ve dabbled with so far are cars like the Impreza and the Lancer Evolution. With the Satria Neo, CUSCO is basically Proton’s customer – they buy the bodyshells, equip them with CUSCO-developed contest components, and then sell the completed Group N rally-going Neos to consumers who will compete in Junior Rally Championships in Japan and Asia Pacific. method to go, Proton Motorsports!
India to become 4th largest vehicle market
India which now ranks as 7th largest car market will move up three places by 2014 according to global consultant Booz&Co. Indian vehicle market is growing steadily with a double digit growth in recent years. According the report, Indian passenger vehicle market will be 3.5 million from 2 million now. Car makers from across the world have pumped in millions of dollars on creating plants and launching india specific products. The trend may continue as the car majos like puegeot-citroen and proton will enter the market.
Under the Automotive Mission Plan (AMP), the Indian market had earlier set a target to become a USD 145 billion by 2016, for which USD 35-40 billion investment is required. But where are the roads to accommodate this booming vehicle population? India’s ambitious plan of constructing 20kms/day remains a dream. With the parking spaces already became a scarce one, people are going to find it hard to afford to parking and toll charges rather than buying car.
Proton Saga sedan is likely to enter India
One major market entry that we have our eyes set on since last year is Proton. The Malaysian Giant, more popularly known for its Lotus connection, is finally set to drive on the Indian Streets. The rumor mill went on steroids when the company’s MD Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said Proton has finally identified the JV partner and is negotiating the contract assembly deals.
At the launch of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and Asia-Pacific Rally Championship Mohamed Tahir said -
India is a very important market for us, we will be there. It is just going to take more time before we finalize (our strategies) and sign the agreement. We are going to present our plan to the board, once it is approved, we will announce it. We are in discussions with the government and hope to finalize the plan within this quarter
He didn’t divulge any details on the product portfolio. But we are guessing the company will enter with the following models:
• Proton Savvy: An Entry level hatchback
• Proton Saga: A Subcompact sedan
• Proton Exora: A MPV
Once this portfolio sees success, the global car EMAS suited to Asian conditions will be making it to the Indian shores. The company’s ambitions will further receive a boost from the Free Trade Agreement that both the countries – India & Malaysia have signed to boost the annual bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2015.
Proton to complete strategic blueprint for India by Q1
According to news reports, Proton says it is hoping to co
nclude defining the strategies needed for its business expansion into India’s automotive market by the first quarter of this year. Currently, Proton has identified the local OEM company it plans to work with – with a contract assembly and joint venture on the cards – as well as the models it would be entering the market with, said managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin.
The Exora, Proton Persona and the company’s first global car, the Emas, have been pinpointed as the brand’s pathfinders in the Indian market. He said that the plan will be presented to the board, and an annoucement made once approval had been given, adding that the company viewed India as a very important market for the brand.
Proton Give India a Serious Thought
Proton, the largest automobile manufacturer of Malaysia, which is jointly owned by the Malaysian government, will launch their car models in India. During an interaction with the company executives at the recent Thailand Motor Expo, it was disclosed that the car maker would launch some of their compact cars in India as completely built units. However, the entire process would take another year and we expect the 1st Proton to appear on Indian roads not before 2012. Proton India recently unveiled their latest model, the EMAS, which would be powered by a 1.2-litre mill and would be less than four metres in length, which fits Indian requirements like a glove. There are also chances that the Malaysian car company could use Nissan’s V-Platform to launch an India-specific car.
Malaysian car maker Proton looks for partner in India
Recently, Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying in a leading Malaysian news paper, "The Indian market is huge but very competitive as there are many cheap home-grown brands produced in the country. If Proton can penetrate India, then it will be able to succeed anywhere." As per Mr. Mukhriz, the company will be entering India with a small product portfolio and is looking for a partner in the country that is willing to spend and provide maintenance services. The prospective India venture of the company could be sped up next year, when India and Malaysia will sign a free trade agreement. Proton is Malaysia’s the oldest car maker which was founded in year 1983 under the direction of the former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The company at present exports its cars to a number of foreign countries including United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia.
Malaysian Car Maker Proton to Enter India with Three Variants
Indian Auto Market is the latest and the most attractive destination in the world market after China. The sales are surging and November month auto sales reflect 21 percent rise, a reflection of constant double number growth in domestic market. Proton Cars makers from around the world are flocking down to this new market including the Malaysian car maker.
Proton is planning to come in India next year with its three variants – Proton Savvy, Proton Saga and Exora. Gearing up for its Indian launch, Proton is currently getting models re-engineered for Indian roads and is in talks with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for diesel engine sourcing for India. Proton is planning to enter India as its own independent entity with its initial manufacturing tie-up with Argentum Motors facility in Surajpur, Noida. One of the men behind Argentum is BVR Subbu, the former Hyundai Motors India President that was appointed to the Proton board earlier this year. Subbu will chief Proton’s assault on the fast growing Indian market.
Proton eyes the Indian car market
Proton plans to sell its product in the developing Indian car market. The Malaysian manufacturer believes the Indian car market has a huge potential and a great opportunity for them.
The South-East Asian company has been in talks with Mahindra & Mahindra and Argentum Motors to enter the Indian auto industry. In a company performance review, the company stated, "On this note, we will be launching new programmes regionally, specifically in ASEAN, China, India and the Middle East… Proton will leave no stone unturned in our vision to strengthen our brand equity within the local and regional arena."
[Via: CW]
Cheaper Proton GEN2 for the UK market
The balik kampung deal fever seems to have infected Proton UK as well, with the prices of the GEN2 receiving slashes up to £2,800 (RM17,520) according to Proton. The 1.3 liter Proton GEN2 now costs £6,995 (RM43,770) while the 1.6 liter version is now priced at £7,495 (RM46,900).
The GSX LE in particular has a price slash of £2,800 and free leather seats worth £1,000. It now costs £8,495 (RM53,160) for the manual and £8,995 (RM56,300) for the automatic and features four airbags (front and side), climate control, foglamps, a tailgate spoiler, all-round power windows, a CD player, and steering wheel audio.
All models come with a 6 year warranty for the powertrain, and 3 year warranty for the rest of the vehicle.
[Via: Paultan]
Proton Persona launched in Indonesia
Proton has launched the Proton Persona for the Indonesian market today at the 16th Indonesian International Motorshow. It is the fifth Proton model to be sold in our neighbouring country, just over a year after Proton entered the Indonesian market in March 2007 with the Savvy and the GEN2. The other two models that have been launched since are the Satria Neo (known as the Neo in Indonesia) and the Waja.
The Indonesian Proton Persona is available in five variants and all come with the 1.6 liter Campro IAFM engine. The line-up consists of an auto and manual baseline, an auto and manual mid-line and a highline automatic model. The cheapest baseline manual model is priced at 122,000,000 Indonesian rupiah, or about RM42.6k.