The Car Domain

Malaysian car company Proton, launched a new model yesterday - the Proton Persona.

The new 1.6-litre Persona sedan will replace the Proton Wira (sold as the Proton Persona in the UK). the Wira has been the cash cow for Proton since it’s launch 14 years ago.

Their site was down yesterday as well as today morning and was only able to get in just now. I still can’t get into the Proton Edar site still.

When I first saw the spy shot pictures sometime back, to me it looked almost identical to their Gen 2- an elongated Gen 2 but I slowly noticed the differences.

Featuring the 1.6L 82kw (110bhp) Campro engine, the Persona is available in 5 variations, that will be available in five-speed manual (MT) or four-speed automatic transmission (AT) versions:
- 1.6 Base Line Model - 2 variants (AT and MT).
This variant is a Base model with 4 power windows, CD player and basic features.
- 1.6 Medium Line Model - 2 variants (AT and MT).
This variant is the Medium range model and has additional features from the Base Line variant, such as driver’s airbag, alloy rims, foldable rear seats, MP3 player and electric door mirror.
- 1.6 High Line Model – (Only available in AT).
This variant is an extension of the Medium range variant, with features such as dual airbags, ABS, EBD and standard Captor alarm.

Customers will have a choice of seven colours, namely, Solid Red, Light Gold, Metal Grey, Tranquility Black, Iridescent White and Blueberry Tea. Solid white will be available from September this year.

Dimensions:
Overall Length: 4477mm
Overall Width: 1725mm
Overall Height: 1438mm
Fuel Capacity: 50 L
Luggage Volume: 430 L
Weight: 1180 - 1210 KG

I also learnt that one of the major complaints - the low headroom at the rear have been addressed.

Company Chairman Mohammed Azlan Hashim, forecasts sales of the Persona to reach between 30,000 and 40,000 units in the next 12 months.

I don’t have more details or pictures at the moment. Will post them up when I do. I would really appreciate it if any one back in Malaysia could send me some pictures.

In the meantime, you can read what Paul Tan has to say about the car.

Malaysian car company Proton has provided a sneak peak of it’s to “be launched soon” sedan on it’s site. They call this the “soft launch”. The real official launch will be tentatively on the 15th of August. They don’t have a name for it as yet.

From the silhouette, it looks like the gen 2 with an elongated rear.

Customers can now book the car for a fee of RM500 (transferable but strictly non-refundable). There will be 5 variants of the car

Here are some of the specs:

Dimensions:
Overall Length - 4477mm
Overall Width - 1725mm
Overall Height - 1438mm
Fuel Capacity - 50 Liitres
Luggage Volume - 430 Litres
Weight - 1180 - 1210 KG

Initially it will be available in 6 colours, namely, Iridescent White, Solid Red, Light Gold, Tranquility Black, Metal Greyand Blueberry Tea. Solid White will be available from September 2007 onwards.

1.6 L Base-Line (MT & AT)

• Steel Wheels with 195/60 R15 tyres with wheel cover
• Central Locking
• FR & RR Power Windows
• Alarm with Immobilizer
• Brakes: Fr Discs, Rear Drum
• Remote Door Mirrors
• Reverse Sensors
• Fixed Rear Seat
• adio & CD Player with 2 speakers

• Alloy Sports Rims with 195/60 R15 tyres
• Central Locking
• FR & RR Power Windows
• Alarm with Immobilizer
• Brakes: Fr Discs, Rear Drum
• Electrically operated door mirrors
• Driver Seat Airbag
• Reverse Sensors
• Foldable, split rear seats
• Multi function audio control buttons on the steering wheel
• CD and MP3 Players with 4 speakers

• Alloy Sports Rims with 195/60 R15 tyres
• ABS anti-lock braking with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Central Locking
• FR & RR Power Windows
• Alarm with Immobilizer
• Brakes: Fr & Rear Discs
• Electrically operated door mirrors
• Driver & Front Passenger Airbags
• Reverse Sensors Foldable, split rear seats
• Multi function audio control buttons on the steering wheel
• CD and MP3Players with 4 speakers
• Front Fog Lamps Remote Trunk Opening

Another forwarded mail. Really funny.

Malaysian Drivers based on location.

1. One hand on wheel, one hand on horn: IPOH driver

2. One hand on wheel, one hand out the window with cigarette: KEPONG driver.

3. One hand on wheel, one finger out window, cutting across all lanes of traffic: DOWNTOWN KUALA LUMPUR driver.

4. One hand on wheel, one hand on parang (a type of knife), foot solidly on accelerator: JOHOR driver.

5. One hand on wheel, one hand on non-fat double decaf cappuccino, cradling cell phone, brick on accelerator, hands-free on the lap: BANGSAR driver.

6. Both hands on wheel, eyes shut, both feet on brake, quivering in terror: FOREIGNER, driving in MALAYSIA.

7. One hand on 12 oz. double shot latte, one knee on wheel, talking on cell phone, foot on brake, mind on radio game, banging head on steering wheel while stuck in traffic: SUBANG JAYA DRIVER…..on the Federal Highway!!!

8. One hand on wheel, one hand on passengers head rest, alternating between both feet being on the accelerator and both feet on brake, throwing rambutans or durian shells out the window: KARAK HIGHWAY ; KUANTAN driver.

9. Four-wheel drive pick-up truck, READY-TO-KILL attitude, rear window stickers read “Make my day”, beer cans on floor, wedding ribbon still attached to antenna: CONSTRUCTION SITE….PUCHONG driver!

10.One hand on the handphone, another hand picking nose, One leg on the dash board, another leg crossed on the seat with a beer can in the middle ~ turning anywhere he likes, parking anywhere he likes, in fact, driving anywhere he likes. aaahhh….. this is a heaven for drivers……welcome to PENANG!

11. Two hands gripping tightly to the wheel, eyes glued to the windscreen, alternately stepping on the accelerator and brakes every 5 seconds. WOMAN DRIVERS ANYWHERE!

Yesterday there was a report in Forbes saying that German carmaker Volkswagen AG is “close to agreeing a deal to acquire Malaysia-based Proton Holdings Bhd”.

However, according to the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Proton is only talking to VW about a strategic alliance.

Read the full report in The Edge Daily report here.

According to the Malaysian Automotive Association’s (MAA) annual report, auto sales in Malaysia were down 11% in 2006 from the previous year’s position to 490,768 units. This is the first drop in three years.

The country’s No. 1 spot has also been taken by Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd and National carmaker Proton Bhd falls to the second spot.

The lower sales last year were attributed to low second-hand car prices, higher fuel costs and the tightening of loans for the purchase of cars by banks following high default rates.

However, the report had a positive note in that they expected sales to rise this year- predicting 1.9% growth in 2007.

Related Links:
- Perodua firmly in pole position
- Perodua Sales Up, Captures 42 Pct Share Of Passenger Car Market
- 2006 car sales plunge but ‘worst over’

Tags: MAA Perodua Proton

Yeah! am still keeping in touch with the Malaysian auto industry.

Proton today unveiled two variants of the Savvy and an enhanced version of the Waja. Both cars are available for booking at all Proton Edar and EON showrooms nationwide from today.

The on-the-road prices of the variants of the Savvy are as given below:

- Savvy Medium-line 5 Manual Transmission RM 40,240.00
- Savvy Medium-line Automated Manual Transmission RM 43,182.00
- Savvy High-line Automated Manual Transmission RM 45,841.00

Powered by a 1.2 litre multi-point injection engine, Proton claims that the Savvy is capable of a maximum speed of 170km/h and goes from 0-100km/h in 12.6 seconds. It features a newly-designed front grille and tailgate, equipped with sporty rear spoiler.

Only the highline model that comes standard fitted with safety features that includes an anti-lock braking system (ABS), twin airbags (driver and front passenger), driver and front passenger seat belt pre-tensioners, alarm, and an engine immobilizer system besides the other standard features.

One new changes in the new Savvy is the 14" inch alloy wheels for the medium range model and 15" inch alloy wheels for the High-line model.

It is priced at RM59,388.00 for the manual version and RM 62,888.00 for the automatic version.

Proton claims that the new Waja will “offer the best value-for-money in terms of specifications, safety and equipment level for a vehicle in its class”.

It has a newly-designed more aerodynamic front end. The car is available in five new colours, namely, metallic twilight blue, metallic Iridescent white, metallic gray, metallic brilliant red and burgundy.

NOTE: Searched the whole Proton website trying to get some nice pics of the new models but all I got was some small low resolution images in the Flash format.

My advice to their Marketing manager and website managers - allow your customers (and potential customers) to download images from your site. And in case you haven’t heard, having good relationships with bloggers help.

Will upload the pics if and when I get them.

Tags: Malaysia Proton Savvy Waja

According to this recent message I received from UMW Toyota Motor, in support of the Malaysia My Second Home programme, they are now offering new locally-assembled Toyota vehicles without any excise duty and sales tax.

Tags: Toyota Malaysia Offers

I am amazed at the number of people who thought that ALL cars would get cheaper after the implementation of AFTA. (for those who didn’t know, AFTA stands for the ASEAN Free Trade Area). They were disappointed when 1st of January, 2005 came and went and car prices didn’t go down (in fact they went up). They were disappointed that they still were not able to afford their dream Mercs, BMW, Hondas and Toyotas.

For those who didn’t know, under the terms of the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Agreement, Malaysia initially agreed to put the tariffs for automotive parts to below the five percent level by 2003. The move was postponed to the year 2005, when the car industry was badly affected by the economic crisis in 1997/98.

However, I am surprised to find that so many people are ignorant of the fact that this applies only to foreign companies having manufacturing plants in ASEAN with local content of at least 40 percent in order to enjoy the preferential import duty. So luxury brands like BMWs, Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Ferrari and Porsche (as well as other makes) manufactured outside the ASEAN region will not be cheaper. Import duties on those cars still remain. Anyway, people who can afford to buy these cars will buy these cars. Even without the taxes, they are still above the RM100K mark. I still can’t afford to buy a car costing over RM80K anyway. How many of you can?

Then some people ask how come new Proton and Perodua cars are not cheaper. I disagree. They are cheaper. The new cars have better quality, extra features (like air bags, ABS) and service has improved. So for almost the same prices we are getting a better overall package.

Some people say that the Government should remove the taxes all together on all cars.

The logic is simple. Cars become cheapr and we can all afford the foreign brand that we have all been dreaming about. Yes!It would mean the end of the Malaysian automobile industry. Who cares about the consequences. Some people couldn’t care less but let us try to answer some questions:

- How many vendors companies have been developed and depend on Proton and Perodua for their survival?
- How many people are employed by these companies?
- Are you aware that the taxes obtained from the import of foreign cars into Malaysia are used for supporting public facilities?

Selling to a foreign car company may mean killing the Proton brand, loss of jobs and of course money moving away to other countries.

Of course there is always the question, “How come Korean cars are so cheap?” Why can’t Proton be like them?

I simply have no good explanation. Proton and Perodua have to find the answers if they are to survive and remain competitive. Maybe I can blame it on dumping – that is, the practice of selling goods in foreign markets at significantly lower prices than either in the home market of in other markets. Many companies do this in order to build up their market share. The Japanese did it in the US. Proton does it too – for example, cars sold in UK are reportedly cheaper than in Malaysia or have better specs.

However, having said that I feel that the Malaysian companies have to find out how the Korean (and now the Chinese) car companies have been able to come up with winning designs and even penetrate the tough US market (which Proton and Perodua hasn’t been able to do so far).

Did you know that we have not 2 but 5 Malaysian car manufacturers and the numbers are increasing. I am not joking. Let me list them down for you (in alphabetical order):

1. Bufori Motor Car Company (M) Sdn. Bhd.

2. Esnasports Sdn Bhd

3. Perodua

4. Proton (Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd) (The big daddy)

5. TD Cars (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

According to a Bernama report yesterday, the Naza group is going to join the list as the latest to come out with a Malaysian made car.

Some information about this car (According to group managing director Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin):

- 1.2 litre car
- Launch scheduled in October this year.
- Designs done by 18 Naza engineers, ‘mostly former employees of Proton and Perodua’.
- Secret project has been going on for the past two years (Went under the radar of all auto researchers).
- Total investment : Around half a million ringgit
- Estimated production /YEAR: 60,000 to 70,000 units

Read the full report here.