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Proton (automobile)
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Proton Holdings Berhad
The Proton Company logo
Type Public (Bursa Malaysia: Proton)
Industry Automotive
Founded May 7, 1983
Headquarters Shah Alam, Selangor
Malaysia
Key people Mohd Khamil Bin Jamil (Executive Chairman)
Products Car, Automotive Parts
Employees 12,000
Subsidiaries Lotus Cars
Website www.proton.com
Proton Holdings Berhad (stylized PROTON) is a Malaysian
automobile manufacturer. It is headquartered in Shah Alam, Selangor
and operates an additional manufacturing plant in Tanjung Malim,
Perak. The company was established in 1983 as the sole national car
company until the advent of Perodua in 1993. Proton is a Malay
acronym for Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sendirian Berhad.
(English: National Automobile Company Private Limited).
6.4 Honda
7 Motorsport
7.1 1980s and 1990s
7.2 2000s
7.3 2010s
7.3.1 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship
7.3.2 Intercontinental Rally Challenge
7.3.3 British Touring Car Championship
8 References
9 External links
History
1980s
The original Proton Saga. More than 1.2 million units were sold
between 1985 and 2008.[1]
The concept of a National Car was first conceived in 1979 by Tun Dr.
Mahathir bin Mohamad, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia with
the goal of enhancing Malaysian industry.[2] The National Car Project
was approved by the Cabinet in 1982, leading to the official founding
of Proton on 7 May 1983. The company was initially wholly owned by
the government of Malaysia through Khazanah Nasional and was
headed by its founder, Dr. Mahathir. Proton approached Mitsubishi
Motors between 1983 and 1984 and brokered a joint venture between
both companies for the production of the first Malaysian car. The
result of the collaboration was the Proton Saga, which launched on 9
July 1985.[3] It was based on the second generation 1983 Mitsubishi
Lancer Fiore 4-door saloon and powered by a 1.3-litre Mitsubishi
Orion 4G13 engine. The first Proton Saga to roll off the production
line in Shah Alam is preserved in the Muzium Negara as a symbol of
4G92 1.6L, 4G93 SOHC and DOHC 1.8L and the 4D68 2.0L diesel.
The Wira was the first Proton car to be produced in both right-hand
drive (RHD) and left-hand drive (LHD) configurations, and remains
the only Proton car made available with a diesel engine.[9] In 1995,
Proton launched the three-door Proton Satria hatchback and the twodoor Proton Putra coup, both of which are based on the Wira
platform and powered by the same range of Mitsubishi engines
offered in the Wira, with the exception of the 2.0L diesel. The Proton
Wira saloon and hatchback as well as the Proton Satria and Putra
were aggressively exported and marketed across the European
Union and Middle East during the 1990s. The Proton Perdana, a
premium D-segment saloon was also launched in 1995 for sale
exclusively in the Malaysian market. It is based on the seventh
generation 1992 Mitsubishi Eterna and was initially fitted with
Mitsubishi's 4G63 2.0-litre l4 engine, but was offered with the superior
177bhp 6A12 DOHC 2.0L V6 engine after 1999. The Perdana
remains the only D-segment, V6 powered car to be commercially
produced by Proton. A Citron AX-based 1.1-litre five-door supermini
called the Proton Tiara debuted in 1996. It was the result of a joint
venture between Proton and PSA Peugeot Citron, a collaboration
which was later abandoned after the death of Proton's then CEO, Tan
Sri Yahaya Ahmad in 1997.
Proton Satria GTi
On 30 October 1996, Proton acquired an 80% stake in Lotus Group
International Limited, valued at 51 million.[10] The controlling
interest was purchased from A.C.B.N. Holdings S.A. of Luxembourg,
a company controlled by Italian businessman Romano Artioli, then
also the owner of Bugatti. Proton's stake in Lotus was later increased
to 100% in 2003.[11] The acquisition of Lotus witnessed the
involvement of the British company in the development of suspension
and handling elements of all Proton cars launched since 1996. The
Proton Satria GTi, widely regarded as the best Malaysian car ever
produced owes much of its success to Lotus' contributions.[12]
2000s
Proton Waja
The Proton Waja, the company's first indigenously designed model
was launched in August 2000. It set in stone Proton's new direction in
business and marked the end of Proton's extensive reliance on other
automobile manufacturers for vehicle platforms and parts. However,
the Waja lagged behind its main competitors and failed to gain the
support of customers in the domestic market. The Waja also marked
the downfall of the Proton marque, and inadvertently lead to the rise
of Perodua, the second Malaysian vehicle manufacturer. In 2002,
Proton introduced the Jumbuck, a ute based on the Proton Wira
platform and thus far the only Proton model to enjoy significantly
more popularity in its export markets (specifically Australia) than
domestically. The Proton Gen-2 was launched in late 2004, where it
became the first Proton car to be equipped with the Malaysian-made
CamPro engine.
The advanced RM1.8 billion (USD$580 million) Proton Tanjung Malim
manufacturing plant in the Malaysian state of Perak commenced
operation in November 2003.[13] The new plant was initially projected
for an August 1998 opening, but was deferred due to the 1997 Asian
Financial Crisis.[14] However, it was revived in 2001 and completed
in late 2003 instead.[15][16] The new 1,280 acre plant was also
developed as part of the Proton City project, which would span 4,000
acres of land in Tanjung Malim and consist of residential, commercial,
institutional, industrial and recreational areas.[17] The plant has an
annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, but could be
expanded to 1 million units in the future. The Proton Tanjung Malim
plant complements the original Proton plant in operation since 1985,
located in Shah Alam, Selangor.[18] Despite a combined production
capacity of around 350,000 units, both plants are underutilized with
just 52,235 and 114,645 units produced at the Tanjung Malim and
Shah Alam plants in 2011 respectively.[17]
On 7 July 2004, Proton purchased a 57.57% stake in MV Agusta
S.p.A of Italy, valued at 70 million. Proton failed to reverse the
misfortunes of MV Agusta and finally sold the marque to Gevi S.p.A in
December 2005 for 1, with Gevi assuming the 139.44 million debt
carried over from MV Agusta.[19]
Proton Persona
Proton Saga (second generation), the company's flagship car.
Proton Exora
The latter half of the 2000s marked Proton's comeback in the
domestic market, which was then dominated by newer and better
Toyota-based models from Perodua. On 15 August 2007, Proton
launched the Persona saloon, the long overdue replacement for the
best selling Proton Wira saloon. The Persona was based on an
extended version of the 2004 Proton Gen-2 hatchback platform and
shared most of its external appearance, albeit priced around
RM10,000 less with large overall improvements in terms of
ergonomics and functionality.[20] Despite the similarities with the
Gen-2, the Persona was an instant hit in Malaysia, with 19,840 units
sold in the first three months following its launch.[21] The much
anticipated second generation Proton Saga was launched on 18
January 2008.[22] Previously, the first generation Proton Saga was
Proton's first and most successful model, having a 23-year long
lifespan, the longest of all Proton models to date. The new Saga
maintained its legacy, and turned out to be a great sales success for
Proton with over 23,000 bookings in under two weeks since launch.
[23] It is consistently ranked as Proton's bestselling product in terms
of annual sales volume, placing 3rd in 2008, and 2nd between 2009
and 2012 in the Malaysian market, beaten only by its arch rival, the
Perodua MyVi.[24][25][26] Proton made history again when it
introduced the Exora, Malaysia's first 7-seater MPV on 15 April 2009.
[27] It was based on Proton's next generation P2 platform and
satisfied the demand for budget 7-seaters in the domestic market,
previously monopolized by the Toyota Avanza and Nissan Grand
Livina. It has since been consistently positioned in the Top 10
bestselling vehicles in Malaysia.[24][25][26] The Proton Exora,
together with the Persona and Saga marked the rise of a new Proton
in Iran, Indonesia, The Philippines and Vietnam in the past, but only
maintains a single plant in China as of the 2010s.
A Proton Impian police car belonging to the Humberside Police,
United Kingdom.
A Proton Wira taxi in Pyongyang, North Korea. The Malaysian
government has gifted Proton cars to other, less developed countries
as a sign of goodwill and diplomacy.
Proton cumulative sales volume in selected markets
Country Cars sold Time frame
Malaysia Malaysia 3,500,000 + Jul 1985 - 2012[60]
United Kingdom United Kingdom 151,421 Mar 1989 - 2012[61][62]
[63]
China China 85,922 Jan 2010 - 2012[64]
Australia Australia 32,936 May 1995 - 2012[65][66][62][67]
Singapore Singapore 23,950 Oct 1989 - 2012[62][68]
Thailand Thailand 19,188 Dec 2007 - 2012[69][62]
Germany Germany 15,479 Mar 1995 - Sep 1999[59][70]
Proton exported 164,153 cars between December 1986 and
December 1997.[71] The United Kingdom is by far the company's
most successful export market in terms of cumulative sales volume,
and at one point Proton set the record for Fastest Selling Make of
New Car Ever to Enter the United Kingdom.[5] In 1992, the Saga was
ranked among the Top 20 best-selling cars in the U.K., outselling its
primary competitors from Hyundai and SEAT.[72][73] However, sales
in the U.K. has since stagnated, with just 208 Protons sold in 2012.
[63] Proton cars were once popular in Singapore, at one time the
company's second-largest export destination despite its relatively
small market size.[74] Additionally, sales were also modest in
Germany and Belgium during the late 90s, prior to Proton's
History".
now
with
brands
ranking".
bestsellingcarsblog.com. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
Jump up ^ Matthias Gasnier (23 July 2013). "Malaysia: Full Year
prediction upped to record 638,000 units". bestsellingcarsblog.com.
Retrieved 27 August 2013.
Jump up ^ "Automotive sector TIV may dwindle in August".
freemalaysiatoday.com / The Malaysian Reserve. 27 August 2013.
Retrieved 29 August 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b "Ministry of International Trade and Industry
(Malaysia) - Review of National Automotive Policy". maa.org.my. 28
October 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
Jump up ^ Jonathan James Tan (1 March 2013). "Import duties on
cars from Japan, Australia to be reduced in stages to zero by 2016
MITI". paultan.org. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
Jump up ^ "Proton's response to statement by MITI".
corporate.proton.com. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
Jump up ^ Neville D'Cruz (16 April 2007). "Proton And Lotus Top The
Aussie Vehicle Sales Growth Charts". Bernama. Retrieved 24
September 2013.
Jump up ^ Matthias Gasnier (5 January 2013). "Australia Full Year
2012: Mazda3 leads again in record market, no local model on
podium for the first time since 1930s!". bestsellingcarsblog.com.
Retrieved 24 September 2013.
Jump up ^ "The Straits Times infographics: Annual registration of
cars". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
Jump up ^ D. Arul Rajoo (21 January 2009). "Proton Among Top 10 In
Thailand Car Market". Bernama. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
Jump up ^ "Proton set to unveil two new models this year". New
Straits Times. 1 January 2000. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
Jump up ^ Long Hui Ching (8 January 1998). "Proton expects weak
demand for all cars to affect earnings". New Straits Times. Retrieved
22 March 2013.
Jump up ^ "Sales of Proton Saga in Britain to double". New Straits
Times / Bernama. 18 February 1992. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
Jump up ^ Ahmad, Baidura (5 September 1994). "Proton still fastest
selling car in UK". New Straits Times. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
Jump up ^ "Proton a hit in Singapore". New Straits Times / Bernama.
19 May 1992. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
Jump up ^ "21,900 Proton cars exported last year". New Straits
Times. 14 August 1997. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
Jump up ^ Mikhail Raj Abdullah. "Proton On Track To Chalk Up
Billions In Revenue From China Deal". Bernama. Retrieved 3
September 2013.
Jump up ^ James Batchelor (24 October 2013). "Proton: Whats gone
wrong?". cardealermagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
history".
Jump up ^ Tan, Paul (4 August 2008). "MEM Proton Satria Neo Super
2000". paultan.org. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
Jump up ^ "Kenali lebih lanjut Proton Satria Neo S2000 yang
memenangi pusingan pertama APRC 2011". arenakereta.com /
cbt.com.my. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
Jump up ^ "APRC - Karamjit Singh 2011". aprc.tv / Vimeo. Retrieved
4 April 2013.
Jump up ^ Tan, Paul (16 May 2011). "Karamjits CUSCO Proton
Satria Neo is the fastest 2WD car in Rally of Queensland".
paultan.org. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
^ Jump up to: a b c "China Rally - News Review (voiced)". aprc.tv /
YouTube. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
Jump up ^ "New Proton Team On The Pace For 2002 BTCC".
carpages.co.uk. 19 March 2002. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
Jump up ^ "BTCC: Team PSP announces 2004 driver line-up".
motorsport.com. 3 February 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
Jump up ^ "New team plans Proton entry". btcc.net. 16 February
2011. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
Jump up ^ Lim, Anthony (21 December 2011). "Welch Motorsport to
expand to running two NGTC Protons in 2012 BTCC current BTCC
Persona goes on display". paultan.org. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Proton.
Proton Holdings Berhad
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Proton road vehicle timeline, 1985present
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Malaysia Automotive industry in Malaysia
Categories:
Motor vehicle manufacturers of Malaysia
Malaysian brands
Proton vehicles
Car manufacturers of Malaysia
DRB-HICOM
Companies established in 1983
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