BEIJING: Proton will work together with China's Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd to expand its market in the country.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the national carmaker and Geely were now discussing the matter after agreeing to explore the idea last month.

"The areas of cooperation could include vehicle design, sourcing, manufacturing, marketing, import and distribution for Asean and the China markets,” Najib told  reporters here on Thursday.

The prime minister said if Proton and Geely were to work together, the Malaysian car maker would produce cars based on Geely designs.

Geely cars are mostly sold in China.

As of April 4 last year, the company's total market capitalisation was US$3.9 billion. - Bernama

TOKYO: Proton Holdings Bhd, the national carmaker, is negotiating with several Japanese car manufacturers on the prospects of future collaborations, Proton Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday.

However, any strategic collaboration was unlikely to include Mitsubishi, one of the leading japanese car makers, said the former prime minister.

"We are looking at other Japanese automotive makers. Right now we are cooperating with Honda," said Dr Mahathir when responding to a question from a Japanese journalist on whether Proton would continue its collaboration with Mitsubishi.

Earlier, Dr Mahathir, who is also Proton founder, delivered a keynote address at the seminar themed "Investment and Trade Opportunity in Kedah."

"Proton's performance can be improved and we will look closely at how we can continue to export our cars," he said.

In October 2012, Proton entered a collaboration with Honda Motor Company Ltd to explore collaborative opportunities in technology enhancement, new product line-up and sharing of vehicle platforms and facilities.

Following the collaboration, the second generation Proton Perdana was unveiled in December 2013 as the successor to the original Proton Perdana.

Dr Mahathir also said the Malaysian automotive market was small and in order to expand, Proton would have to concentrate on exports.

"We are going to look closely at the countries that we can export our cars so that the production can be increased as we have a big production capacity, which is not utilised," he said.

He said Proton would like to invite Japanese automotive companies to come to Malaysia as Proton itself could offer quite a big part of its production plant to any investors who would like to produce cars in Malaysia.

Earlier, in his keynote address, Dr Mahathir said Japanese car makers could look at Kedah where an automotive hub was being planned.

"In Kedah, Japanese investors can benefit from the good labour force and the supply of rubber materials from both Malaysia and (neighbour) Thailand," he added. - Bernama
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Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has confirmed that he will be appointed Chairman of Proton Holdings Bhd.
The official announcement is expected to be made tomorrow.

"My plan is to work with Proton, and make it (Proton) a success," he told reporters before the Asian Banker Annual Leadership Achievement Awards Dinner 2014 here tonight.

A news report on Tuesday said that Dr Mahathir will be appointed Proton Chairman, which was seen as DRB-Hicom Bhd's boldest move in its effort to transform Proton's sliding fortunes since it took the company private in 2012.

Since going private, DRB-Hicom has been trying to address it's slide by focusing on radical transformation measures for Proton's management and the appointment of Dr Mahathir is seen as a coup, given the former Prime Minister's deep knowledge and influence in the industry
and  government.

Dr Mahathir, who is also the current advisor to the country's pioneer carmaker since retiring as Prime Minister in 2003, however, did not comment on whether the current executive Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil would withdraw from his post.

The news report also said that Dr Mahathir will also be appointed as Chairman of Proton's wholly-owned subsidiary, Lotus Plc, and was understood to have accepted both appointments.

At its peak, Proton, which had produced more than 3.5 million vehicles from its plants in Shah Alam, Selangor, and Tanjung Malim, Perak, held up to 85 per cent of the domestic car market.

However, a combination of factors including liberalisation ?of the domestic market with the influx of cheap foreign imports, competition from Perodua and the revised National Automotive Policy, among others, contributed towards Proton's slide.

Currently, Proton's domestic market share stood at about 22 per cent while export was relatively negligible.

Meanwhile, Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd Head of the Shariah Division Mohd Nazri Chik was the winner of the Asian Banker Promising Young Banker Awards among seven other winners from regional countries.

The Asian Banker Leadership Achievement Awards is widely acknowledged by the financial services industry as the highest possible accolade available to professionals and banks in Asia Pacific and the Middle East. -- BERNAMA
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KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Preve and Suprima S has been awarded a five-star ratings in the Asean New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP).

The announcement of the awards was made by Asean NCAP at the Phase III Result Launch 2014 in Malacca, which was also held in conjunction with the 2014 Global NCAP Forum in Melbourne, said Proton in a statement.

Proton chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah said Proton's drive to change the public perception about the brand and quality of Proton cars was reinforced by the latest achievement.

 "As we have reiterated time and time again, our models are not just affordable but more importantly we want our customers to know that our products are of international quality and standards," he said.

Abdul Harith also said out of the 12 cars tested for Asean NCAP safety standards during Phase III, Proton came in a close second in the results.

 "The well-being, comfort and safety of our customers when driving Proton cars has always been, and continue to be our top priority. So when the Proton Preve and Proton Suprima S were developed, we challenged ourselves to produce a car with high safety standards." - Bernama 
PROTON Holdings Berhad (“PROTON”) today announced the appointment of Jean-Marc Gales as the new Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc, effective 1 May 2014. Lotus is a wholly owned subsidiary of PROTON and a member of the DRB-HICOM Group.

A known industry player, Gales has held several significant positions with numerous global automotive manufacturers. Prior to his new appointment at Lotus, Gales was Chief Executive Officer of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (“CLEPA”) since 2012, where he played a key role in turning around the association through various strategic initiatives, including streamlining the working processes and increasing corporate members from 82 to 112. Gales also established a lobbying strategy with the European Parliament and European Commission, and helped define the Industry Research & Innovation Strategy and Roadmap for 2025.

Before joining CLEPA, Gales was the President of Automobiles Citroen and Automobiles Peugeot between 2009 to 2012, where he restructured the entire sales value chain and implemented a new brand strategy for the DS Line and introduced the Citroen DS in major markets around the world. During his tenure there, the Company delivered record retail sales in 2009 and 2010.

Gales' other previous appointments include several senior positions in Daimler AG, General Motors and Volkswagen AG.

Aslam Farikullah, current Chief Operating Officer of Group Lotus plc, remains as Member of the Board of Lotus Cars Limited and will continue to contribute to the growth of the business in the future.

PROTON Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah is pleased to welcome Gales to the Group. "This is an exciting time for Lotus, and Jean-Marc's appointment could not have come at a more appropriate time, especially taking into account our plans for Lotus. We believe that with his strong technical and managerial expertise and leadership, Jean-Marc will be able to drive the Lotus transformation plan and further enhance Lotus' business and capabilities.”

Jean-Marc Gales is married and has one daughter.

Jean-Marc Gales

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Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah
PETALING JAYA: Proton, which confirmed Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah as its chief executive officer, will be overhauled.

“We want to make cars people want,” said Proton chairman Tan Sri Khamil Mohd Jamil.

In speaking broadly about Proton, Khamil hinted that part of the revamp would continue to focus on improving car quality and safety.

Khamil said that over the past two years since DRB-Hicom Bhd took control of beleagured Proton, much effort had been spent on lifting the quality of the cars it made by cutting down on defects and improving safety.

Since then, car buyers have voiced fewer complaints about Proton cars, said Khamil.

He said because of the longstanding negative public perception, Proton is open to suggestions from the public on how it should improve itself.

“We will be working towards changing the perception of Proton to one where Proton is a good car and, change the minds and hearts of the public towards our cars.”

Khamil said the management team would review products, quality, cost, delivery and safety.

He said Proton would continue to export its cars amid a landscape that is seeing increasing competition.

Khamil said Proton had no choice but to make the cars it sells affordable and competitive.

“It will be a holistic plan that will look at products and markets. We ... also cannot ignore China,” he said.

“Proton needs to prove it can compete with international OEMs (original equipment manufacturers),” he said after a ceremony to send two graduates from its International College of Automotive (ICAM) to a Volkswagen plant in Portugal for training.

Khamil said future ICAM graduates would also be sent for overseas training at plants of its other partners in Japan and Europe.

He said the company hoped the graduates would return with the knowledge and experience and share them with other workers in DRB-Hicom’s plant in Pekan.

“It’s a good milestone for students at ICAM and they will be exposed to international standards,” he said.

ICAM is working towards achieveing university status by the end of the year.

Khamil, in response to backlash over a report that questioned why Malaysians were not supportive of Proton, said the company was appreciative of public support and would strive to make cars that Malaysians actually wanted.

“Those comments were taken out of context. We are appreciative of support from the public, without which Proton will not be where it is now,” he said.  
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