Comments on: Why Proton-Volkswagen was a no-go

By: JULIANLEE2

JULIANLEE2 — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:50:24 +0000

it should be in a special edition of jermey clarkson’s heaven and hell: malaysia potong cars

By: PTAllTheBest

PTAllTheBest — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:31:41 +0000

destroy all potong cars, dun let them get away!
potong to the hell…!!!

By: PTAllTheBest

PTAllTheBest — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:29:31 +0000

all potong cars should featured in every smashing car movies

By: JULIANLEE2

JULIANLEE2 — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 04:44:57 +0000

to me, the persona isnt even bad, its awful

By: PTAllTheBest

PTAllTheBest — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:27:50 +0000

the persona is just only a toy for a moment. after that they will continue to make lousy cars. so dun get cheated by them!!!
STOP THE BUYING, STOP THE SCUKING!!!

By: JULIANLEE2

JULIANLEE2 — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 11:53:01 +0000

thats why, proton thinks just becos thier persona did a bit well selling, they think we like it and think its good, pooi

By: XoX

XoX — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 08:18:07 +0000

proton is protected by the G. if only the G allow non-political, undistrubed competition between the car manufacturers then proton will die off like yesterdays fly. IMO if VW took over Proton, i might consider of going to the showroom in 5 years or so after VW transfered technology and improve quality. In this case, may it just die off and close so that we can get cheap, HIGHER quality foreign cars.

By: JULIANLEE2

JULIANLEE2 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:24:52 +0000

in ten years, i’ll be fully setlled down in the uk, but the congestion charge , tax is killing me, considering going to germany

By: ckcheong

ckcheong — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 12:18:54 +0000

It takes years to win customers confidence in a product, but just a moment to ruin it. Frankly speaking P has let down so many rakyat with it poor quality and reliability.
I won’t be buying a P. The Satria Neo and Persona shows improvements over previous P models, but as it carries the P badge, I have no confidence already. Wait another ten years when the confidence is restored, maybe I will consider buying.

By: TheDuck

TheDuck — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:00:28 +0000

Not overthrow la. Let’s give our G, a few more chances. The people working in G departments are very slow. We must give them time. macam ‘kura kura’.

Boycott PROTON = Yes. It’s our responsibility to do that as a MALAYSIAN.

By: JULIANLEE2

JULIANLEE2 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:46:15 +0000

everybody, we should boycott proton, teach them a lesson not to be so big headed, but still, many ppl require cars as cars are so bloody expensive here, we should overthrow the goverment like thailand

By: Gunners4Life

Gunners4Life — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:58:23 +0000

sell proton as tut-tut in thai…low cost of investment, fast turn around and BE point…absurdly high ROCE….once you get thailand to become the cash cow of proton, plough the cash into proton’s R&D…good idea eh?…

By: topgunthang

topgunthang — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 05:00:43 +0000

this situation will have repercussion across all types of business and industry in malaysia.

i beleive they have already made thier choice on thai or indo. if not they will go china or india.

the persistance in keeping proton alive is killing the country. better kill the brand now.

By: Gunners4Life

Gunners4Life — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 04:45:05 +0000

should ask the demi-gods from the ivory towers of klcc as to why they cock it up in the negotiations….

By: epteh

epteh — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:35:53 +0000

Let see Proton bleed to death. Nobody should ever offer any help to this fella again.

By: Bigjoe

Bigjoe — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 01:09:06 +0000

Those who compare Proton to other car companies particularly Toyota and Honda makes more of a point then they realize. Why? Because there is no unlimited choice of when to do a partnership. At best Proton have a couple of years before all the major car companies have decided on their operating base in South East Asia. Volkswagen will built a plant either in Thailand, Indonesia or Vietnam and the partnership is dead for sure.

The assumption that there is more time to decide is not exactly true. It does not depend on Proton performance but other car companies. At this point no one is going to trust Malaysia to do a deal anymore and if there is still another car company that wants to do deal with Proton, they are not going to hold up any plans to do a deal with Proton.

Regardless, the chance of Proton getting a better deal? Not much.. Volkswagen knew that…

By: charles27

charles27 — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 22:10:09 +0000

have to put politic out of this…
a company is aim for profit and growth…

go ahead with new car launch…
go ahead pay all your loses…
go ahead remove the G protection/advantage…
go ahead with AFTA….
go ahead HONDA city sell 50k…
i fast fast go buy honda looo.

open the eye… without tax.. camry is selling about 70k…
the price of waja?? erm.. still need to choose?
You really think in 1 year time, waja can turn into camry?
you sure? you betul betul betul sure?
on paper sure laaa… contract is write like that.
borrow $ many many first… pay back 20 years.

everything also put profit at the last consideration…
then we rugi a lot laaa….
siapa pay?

By: charles27

charles27 — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 21:51:35 +0000

seem like the intension of selling is still there…just want a better terms. Don’t make shows laa.. later whole world think u all play2… next time will not have international partner already. You have to sell for 1 euro.

Look at the sky and hope to fly….
talk r&d.. but still haven’t come out any engine…
maybe its still on paper…

its always look nice when we have plans… bigger the better….
when doing it… and it fails.. and there is always many reason… dont talk about that story again looo.

build car is now what our best… cuti-cuti malaysia is our best laaa.

Now you still sell expensive… later after AFTA… don’t know how you going to sell, as no body want buy one. Buy 1 free 1?

By: Vengeance

Vengeance — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:36:33 +0000

Have u guys heard of VW Bluemotion Polo? It costs 11k pounds and uses a 1.4 TDI engine..wats so great about it? VW claims it can travel 700 MILES with ONE full tank! Imagine the technologies they have, can proton do this? Not in another 5 years mayb…so sad

By: ckcheong

ckcheong — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:34:34 +0000

The silly thinking of not needing a strategic partner merely based on a few months of Persona sales and a little export deals were indications of how short the vision of G and those running P.
How is P going to compete? Do P have the technology platform to compete, or any innovative product to offer?
In a highly competitive market, even big players like Ford, Jaguar to name a few are struggling and losing money. P is not even qualified to be called a competitor if placed along the big names in the auto industry.
Government can now continue to protect P and spoilt it. Very well done…

By: MicroKiller

MicroKiller — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:11:57 +0000

well they managed to get their share prices up with all the VW saga… but to be honest, with the “supposed” said terms by VW… it doesnt seem all a good deal for proton but we really cant blame VW considering the quality of cars rolling out from the proton factories..

Well.. as said in the previous blog entry.. time will tell!!

By: JULIANLEE2

JULIANLEE2 — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:25:24 +0000

sugar_glider, not as pathethic as you

By: gonggok

gonggok — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 07:09:11 +0000

Can’t really comment as don’t really know what VW offered but it’s just common sense not to try and sell your house when it’s on fire. Better to wait until the fires out and you fix it up.

Anyway a little bird told me the dealers were shown the completed BLM yesterday – hope somebody post some pics just like during the Persona presentation…

By: BigFish

BigFish — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:48:01 +0000

TheDucks,
Continued,

4. Stone age technology.

5. No economies of scale – volume to achieve competitive price.

6. Infested by cronies vendors supplying sub-standard component.

7. Nee Sugar Dady (G-tax payer monies) and Sugar Mummy (NAP) to continue its existence.

8. bla, bla, bla, ………

By: BigFish

BigFish — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:44:27 +0000

This is how protonomic argument in talking with VW: -

1. Talk on – need oversea market penetration and technology transfer.

2. Talk off – need 2nd chance to turn around, as the sales for Persona is good, already show some inprovement, etc.

These 2 argument will be use alternately depend whether the talk is “ON” or “OFF”.

By: BigFish

BigFish — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:35:17 +0000

Pro-tong Poh-tong Harga

“But as usual this is a GLC (a.k.a. Gomen Linked Company a.k.a. bumiputra company a.k.a. who cares what the market says). So they dont really use much common sense in their strategies. This is just a stop-gap measure to safeguard Proton’s KPIs so that their overpaid executives can keep their jobs and keep Volkswagen at bay. So the cheap pricing of the Pesona makes little commercial sense.”

http://www.malaysia-today.net/nuc2006/letter.php?itemid=454
————————-
So, 2nd chance for turn around plan or to keep the over paid but under perform executive. There are so many “congratulation” by blind defenders up there. Sheesh…….., pathetic and ill informed frogs under coconut shell!

By: TheDuck

TheDuck — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:42:13 +0000

It’s time for PROTON to LIQUIDATE.

1. R&D $ – GONE. (maybe additional taxpayers $ helps)
2. Attitude of the workers – INCOMPETENT
3. Management – FOOLS; trained by a pathetic protectionist system that has no idea what ‘fair competition’ is all about.

Sometimes, we have to admint Julianlee has a good point. We are doomed! Our children are cursed with PROTON ECONOMICs !

By: Bigjoe

Bigjoe — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:33:42 +0000

If people think this decision was largely business they are dead wrong. This was firstly about a management that knows it would be finished career wise after Proton is sold AND then its about the election coming. They can’t sign a deal now or it will be major fodder for the opposition.

True Proton has breathing room but its no reason to end the negotiation with Volkswagen. If they disagree on terms, they can always negotiate the terms.

No this is about politics and the need to look good mostly both for the Malaysian leaders and managers that run Proton.

By: outspoken

outspoken — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:31:10 +0000

Definitely a brave decision. I do feel that VW was bullying Proton, since they know Proton needed them more than they needed them. I think the issues are more centeralised on shares (51% demanded by VW- hence total management control), technology sharing or transfer , and the status of Lotus. With what had happened with MG (rover and Mini), there are possibilities that VW are only interested in acquiring Lotus.. Again, brave decision and good luck..

By: scorpicore

scorpicore — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:24:56 +0000

I am supporting government decision partly. First of all, P1 is just like family business to Malaysia, since major stacks controlled by Khazanah. If i am a businessman, i would like to have joint venture with others when i am financially strong, at the best priced in share market, at least at a value equal to the assets of the company. But in P1 situation, with the drop in sales, and the share been priced low, for sure any deal with any new partners especially with big players in automotives industry will not to the advantage of the company. No one know what kind of deal exactly, but for sure P1 will not gain from it. Just look back at joint venture the mitsu, and currently daihatsu-P2, none of those ensure that local company to gain latest tech. I think, if one day daihatsu going to leave P2 alone, P2 will not have the capability to build their own car!. (as for me P2 is still a car assembler rather manufacturer, like Naza etc)

So the best time is have joint venture is when you are at a better shape, Government and P1 management team think they are improving and will be able to get better deal later.

But how long can we wait, nobody can be sure if this can be achieved. Now VW is looking for strategic partner elsewhere…..within ASEAN. And eventually after AFTA, they will penetrate our market and SEA market in general, and they will not be knocking at P1 door again.

Anyhow, even if P1 will be successful or not in the future, becoming profitable GLC or not is not so important, as long government is willing to support them financially..