Proton will be supplying 5,000 units of the Proton Waja to be used as taxis in Iran through Iran’s Zagross Khodro group. It is marketed as the Proton Impian there, the same name used in other export markets such as the UK market.
There are also plans to assemble CKD kits of the Proton GEN2 at Zagross Khodro’s plant in Borujerd. The same plant also assembles Proton Wiras. There are currently 9,634 Protons on the roads in Iran today, after Proton’s entry into the Iran market in 2002.
The Iran government is working on an effort to renew the country’s taxi force. Iran currently has 70,000 units and many of them are aging and technologically outdated, so there are plans in place to replace most of them and increase the total number of taxis on the road to 100,000 units.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
waja campro or the old mitsu engine??
iran has got a potential good sales…bt there peoguets rule……thy assemble it thr……….bt good move….
So, what are the 95 000 cars going to be?
Good move. It will be the left hand drive Waja. Proton is making its name in taxi’s market. Wira for Indonesia at Cikarang plant.
our proton oso outdated wot….
sell proton in muslim country wit high anti western sentiments..
sure can one…
Well, I don’t really say good move if domestic demand still cannot be fulfilled on time. See what happen to Persona demand locally. It takes long time to deliver the car. It is like “kera di hutan disusukan, anak di rumah mati kelaparan” Our people here waiting the car but P1 looking at internaltional market…. what’s is this?
But then again, they are not selling Persona, they are selling Waja there.
Proton cannot forever depend on Malaysia’s market. They have to expand overseas to be a multinational company. If they can hold on to different pots of rice, then they won’t be too dependent on one pot only.
Steps are taken towards that, it’s ok to start sikit2.
I smell some inter-gov MOU here. They support us, we support them.
hurmmmm serampang 2 mata. flushing all those unsold p1 cars to other countries. great way to dispose old stocks. at the same time, venture outside Bolehland. finally, p1 ppl realize that in order to survive n maju, one must go outside this tempurung kelapa. huhuhuhuhuhuhuhu viel gluck.
agree with the fact that we need to look at other altenative market but IRAN???
with the political issue and all the booming here and there… is it wise to open a factory there? All the best Proton.
Wish its a good start….
Good to see Proton turning things around a bit
Iran is the world of Peugeot… So it is not that easy for Proton there…
Haha. They are exporting Wajas to Iran. Great! Now we can witness Pro-Iranian regime soldiers shooting their AK-47s from their new WAJAs and shouting ‘death to Americaâ€.
Later, when Uncle Sam launches an air strike on to IRAN for not complying with the IAEA, the first targets US fighters will strike are the pathetic WAJAs.
Of course, many drivers will die. Why? Apparently, most owners are finding a hard time opening their waja doors on time. (Quality defect reasons)
proton cannot rely on it’s sale in Malaysia only . Hopefully proton will be like Toyota and it’ll be one of the biggest car manufacturer in the world someday and when that time comes ,Malaysians can really proud of proton. Go Malaysia, Malaysia Boleh!!
Get your facts right. Persona is built in Tg Malim, Waja in the MVF plant in Shah Alam.
Also the Iran taxis are left hand drives — approx about 1000 has been built to satisfy the order as of now. So no question of trying to dump old stocks.
Political issues in Iran? The only issue is big old uncle Sam trying to bow down to the Israeli, as always. But IMHO Iran is quite a country to take on — 70million people, a very strong army, support from China and Russia, mountaineous terrain, impossible borders, nuclear capabilities, etc etc makes it quite an interesting proposition.
As long as Proton can make money, I don’t care where it comes from. Plus it makes more sense to penetrate into markets where homologation requirements aren’t as crazy or as prohibitive as the US or the UK/Europe standards.
hehe
i think this will be waja campro because proton need to cover all the rNd cost in developing campro engine.
wonder how long it will be before we hear that a Waja taxi had been used in a suicide bombing…. heh… just kidding pplz, dun tk it seriously!
I think they can modify them to left hand drive. Is actually not too complicated.
The iranian taxi similar to waja mc3 in msia.
A lot of them in light green color at proton shah alam.
theking,why not you snap photo of that car and share with us..hehe
more money going into this country is never a bad thing..
Thats fine by me. Good for proton.
Get rid of the long in the tooth waja and relegate them for the export (taxi)market.
no matter where they export the cars, as long as can bring in $ into malaysia then good la…
about politic issue..err..guerillas all over 3rd world country using Hilux as their vehicle rite? see African country for example…so nothing wrong if Waja driven by Iran terrorist :p
Yup. Toyota models are known to be used by many rebel forces. Thats because its cheap, reliable and easy to maintain (same goes for AK47 and RPG7s).
However, can we say the same for the Waja? Knowing the Iranians, the car will probably be given to Palestinieans in the West bank. I can only pity the Israelis when they face the WAJA driven sucide bombers. (Anyway, both the dirver and car were created for one purpose -’too explode’)
ys said,
November 9, 2007 @ 9:37 am
agree with the fact that we need to look at other altenative market but IRAN???
with the political issue and all the booming here and there… is it wise to open a factory there? All the best Proton.
____________________________________
Its not just ys but the rest of the guys who really ignorant of the fact that Iran is one of the most stable country in the middle east. I’ve stayed in the country for nearly a year and had travelled to most parts, and never encountered any bad experience as you’ve imagined. Guys don’t just shoot anyhow, seems that your mind have been overload by the American propaganda of Iran as centre for all evils. Thats what they say about all Muslim countries. Good move by Proton, at least they have not been polluted in their thinking. Get independent guys, you’ve been colonised too long.
what about our local taxis,we are still using iswaras
The iranians are not terrorists, the actual terrorist is USA…they act just want to ensure their country is safe…i second u nobodyatuk, the americans propaganda is so terrible..back to topic, yes it’s worth if can bring $ here
Xylan said,
November 9, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
proton cannot rely on it’s sale in Malaysia only . Hopefully proton will be like Toyota and it’ll be one of the biggest car manufacturer in the world someday and when that time comes ,Malaysians can really proud of proton. Go Malaysia, Malaysia Boleh!!
——–
A hope that equal to dream only.
Don’t know what price they sold it to Iran. If market price,it won’t attract or lock in sales, if sold it just like UAE, then it is below cost and bad for cash outflow!
Why target taxi market? If the car is built for family used?
Why dun they use their new Khodro car or Peugeot assembled in Iran?
This is good for P1 as for the export of “waja” another 5k after initial 9k in Iran, with another 25k for total of 30k, and hope the other 70k aging taxi will be replaced with “waja” too.
Yes that is what iranian will get. how about our own country? will our aging taxis be upgraded to a better one? I think old “saga” should not be used as taxi anymore. But if we think again, our poor taxi driver already earn not much (despite most of them charge customers without meter, at least in JB!) how can they afford one? any everage malaysian still rushing to buy cheaper car like “saga”, or persona and Gen-2, how can taxi be a better car that everage malaysian car? Malaysia with GDP per capita US 12,700 (2006) and Iran’s GDP per capita of US 8,900 (2006) but they seem have better purchasing power than our fellow taxi drivers! Conclusion:best in malaysia for the foreigner (export) and so-so one for ourselves.
Hmm… how long have they done desert sand testing? I hope Proton have tested the Wajas long enough to ensure that they can operate without much problems or else Proton will create a new reputation in Middle East.
haha… so most of the Malaysian now is driving a so call “TAXI” lor… then i’m a “taxi driver” now…
Okay, that’s funny tming77.
)
Hmmmm, taxi market, Indon, Iran later on all export market change to Taxi market only, especially 3rd world countries!
How small brain you’re..
Never saw nissan sentra as Taxi?
Merc as taxi in german? Vios as taxi?
So your pride Vios only taxi in Philippines!
As long it a car, it can be a taxy loh!..
haiyaa… pity people…
It is more than taxi thingy!
Malaysia firm’s ‘Muslim car’ plan
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7089707.stm
How Big Mouth and low level of mentality you are. Read and interprete what I said properly before jump into conclusions! Mr Big Mouth Moron.
IT’S iranian khodro waja..huhu