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Proton, maker of cheap cars, to change strategy to become world-class carmaker

Proton, maker of cheap cars, to change strategy to become world-class carmaker

Deeq

Entry posted by Deeq ·

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blogentry-114362-0-23229700-1402457806_thumb.jpgProton’s immediate plan is to change its strategy to become a world-standard carmaker, newly-appointed chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said, according to a Bernama report.

 

The former PM said Proton has always been labelled as a maker of cheap cars. “Now Proton wants to produce cars which are of world standard, but you have to pay a higher price. You can’t have a good car and pay a bad car price,” he told reporters.

He said that when the Proton Preve and Suprima S were introduced, people claimed they were too highly-priced for a Proton. “The next car of the same quality is RM120,000. You (consumers) want to have cheap cars, OK, Proton can produce cheap cars.

 

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“Proton has to make a living. If consumers want cheap cars Proton will make cheap cars, they run three miles and break down.”

Responding to a question if Proton has approached the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Petronas for any funds, Mahathir said it had never asked for funding.

 

Asked if he himself as Proton chairman would approach either for funding, Mahathir replied: “No way, because Proton is a private company now and it is able to make progress in research and development.”

 

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Mahathir also said the government was now encouraging importation of cars rather than encouraging local industries. “When you import cars, money flows out and you don’t get any technology from them,” he said.

 

Asked if Proton needs government help, he said former South Korean President Park Chung Hee, during his tenure, called up 12 individuals and told them they must go into industry, with him providing the loans and funds.

These companies, like Hyundai, LG and Daewoo, were private companies and their government fully helped them, and because of that today they do not need government help anymore, he added.


18 Comments

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Watwheels

This fellow talk very haolian.

 

Let's see how far these "Lotus tuned" Mitsubishis will go.

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Vidz

you cannot compare a bumi and a south Korean... a bumi is a class by itself

 

relec one corner la...

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tanbk

Powerful statement from a boleh malaysian!

 

 

“Proton has to make a living. If consumers want cheap cars Proton will make cheap cars, they run three miles and break down.”

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Bonafidestack

They must have seen the opportunity from the Korean side, Luxury/continental-designed car at a affordable price point.

 

Will still prefer to drive a lancer with a Mitsubishi badge thou. haha.

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StreetFight3r

He is indirectly slapping himself in the face. Implying that the current Proton makes cheap and lousy and unreliable cars.

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1fast1

Just say already can become world class?

 

Ok. I also will "change strategy" and become President of the USA tomorrow. [laugh]

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Holdenutessv

Well, they do admit that their cars are cheap and will break down after 3 miles.

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Fitvip

Bolehland also provides help for their bumis to rear cattle, and it had become a political issue...

 

For proton to produce world class cars, which class do they wish to compare with? Germans or South Asian?

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Heartbreakid

If a Chairman carries on with an attitude as people has owed them for not buying Proton, there is simply no future for it. Given the fact that there has always been so much of talk and no action since year 2000, when their own design was launched, the WAJA. There hasn't been much great revolution. Improvement yes but they are too slow with their attitude.

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ManHong

The cars they producing is not cheap at all (in term of value) and it's bcuz of Proton, all car brand in Msia is so expensive which make Proton appear to be CHEAP.

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Jackson_ngo

They already have Proton Lancer and Proton Accord. What's next? Proton Veyron to become the world-class car maker?

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