Proton to finalise India plan by mid-2008
Proton plans to finalise its India strategy by the middle of 2008, according to its managing director Datuk Syed Zainal in a report by The Star yesterday. A suitable partner (or partners) for the Indian market would have the following qualities:
- manufacturing and distribution experience
- car design and localisation capabilites
Proton will be targetting the B-segment and C-segment in India with cars like the Proton Saga and the Proton Person, with a strategy similiar to the one they used in China, which was getting a Chinese manufacturer to buy CKD kits of the GEN2 (CBU imports initially) and handle sales and marketing themselves in their own market which they would be familiar with, something Proton would not have experience with.
Read my previous article for my thoughts on how Proton could fit into the Indian automotive industry: Proton and the Indian automotive industry. It was written before the Saga launch so at that point we were still speculating the Saga’s dimensions.
On the local scenes, there will be something nice from Proton next week 
February 26, 2008 @ 7:08 am
Proton Nona to compete against Tata Nano.
Good move by Proton to penetrate international market again and make more money. yesterday alone our another GLC, MAS post a record profit of RM800m for 2007. Good job by Idris Jala. If we had 10 Idris Jala in Malaysia, I believe Perwaja and RapidKL can move towards a good direction (the RapidKL hired a Dutch man but still nothing to proud of). What is/are the nice thing from Proton next week? Discount?
February 26, 2008 @ 7:54 am
Maybe next week Gen2 FL CPS roll out!
February 26, 2008 @ 8:08 am
The business model is good, however I wish that the cars will bear the Proton brand, instead of the China’s Europestar. Cost efficiency is very important, and I don’t think the Saga can sell unless it is priced as low as the hatchbacks (swift, atos, indica) which is around 3-5lakh.
Maruti-Proton or Bajaj-Proton perhaps?
February 26, 2008 @ 8:19 am
Can’t wait for something nice from Proton next week!
(Perhaps not related to Election, hehehe!)
Any clue , Paul?
February 26, 2008 @ 8:28 am
maybe it’s about Proton MPV – wait and see
February 26, 2008 @ 8:43 am
not sure is a wise move for proton to decide this so fast… maybe they should take more effort and time to really study the needs and demands in india (hope the have done that).. as we know… it is a big market but pls do some ground work proton before make any move.
February 26, 2008 @ 9:22 am
ys said,
February 26, 2008 @ 8:43 am
not sure is a wise move for proton to decide this so fast… maybe they should take more effort and time to really study the needs and demands in india (hope the have done that).. as we know… it is a big market but pls do some ground work proton before make any move.
—————————————————
they did study. from paul blog. hehhehe
anyway, India is potentially good market for proton where not many car brands available there. so it is less competition compared with China. the only thing that proton need to do is build proton image better than other brands there.
i can wait to hear proton news next week. paul, can u leak a bit info what’s next week??
February 26, 2008 @ 9:30 am
lemme guess
1. gen2 cps
2. persona cps
3. saga hi-line
4. mpv supercharged
February 26, 2008 @ 9:45 am
what willl make BN look good next week?
This is for the masses, the rakyat, fellow countryman…
even cheaper BLM?
or
Fire sale on remaining old Proton Saga at RM20K per unit!!!
February 26, 2008 @ 10:08 am
There seems to be hope in the direction Proton is heading. To some extent there is also excitement in Proton in terms of turning people’s perception about its products. We have seen Persona, and then Saga. Recently we have also seen Waja CPS though there’s no news about it making an apprearance in the market. We also heard about the first ever MPV. Overall I see it is in on the right track.
The India auto industry is less popular then it is today especially when Tata announced its Nano project. It seems that the world has turned into the Indian market more than before. So much so that I want to see Proton is successful, I hope that it is careful executing its deal for export market. Indian may look promising but by now everybody is eyeing it and I foresee stiff competition.
Good luck.
February 26, 2008 @ 10:08 am
There seems to be hope in the direction Proton is heading. To some extent there is also excitement in Proton in terms of turning people’s perception about its products. We have seen Persona, and then Saga. Recently we have also seen Waja CPS though there’s no news about it making an apprearance in the market. We also heard about the first ever MPV. Overall I see it is in on the right track.
The India auto industry is less popular then it is today especially when Tata announced its Nano project. It seems that the world has turned into the Indian market more than before. So much so that I want to see Proton is successful, I hope that it is careful enough in executing its deal for export market. Indian may look promising but by now everybody is eyeing it and I foresee stiff competition.
Good luck.
February 26, 2008 @ 10:21 am
R3 Neo at regular Neo price! Only for 3 months. Saga Red Concept limited collectors’ item… hmm what else.. all new protons will be fitted with CPS IAFM VIM. 6 Airbags, ESP, traction control AND, additional cup holders that slide under the stereo.
February 26, 2008 @ 10:26 am
Sorry paul for double posting
February 26, 2008 @ 10:37 am
no matter what, proton cannot ignore india. better they do it now, than wait a couple more years. hopefully, they will have a solid strategy for india.
February 26, 2008 @ 11:18 am
will india get the new saga with smaller pricetag…?
i heard that proton started to fit the persona with IAFM this month. if this was true, maybe that would be the news for nxt week. just guessing:)
February 26, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Maybe next week Gen2 FL CPS roll out!
its true???? waaaaa….good!!
February 26, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
hahaha, great imagination and hopes guys.
as what i read sumwhere last week, Proton is launching the Persona Envy soon and it is goin to be in a limited run. lets hope sum nice toys frm it.
February 26, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
Proton Nona to compete against Tata Nano. Good move by Proton to penetrate international market again and make more money. yesterday alone our another GLC, MAS post a record profit of RM800m for 2007. Good job by Idris Jala. If we had 10 Idris Jala in Malaysia, I believe Perwaja and RapidKL can move towards a good direction (the RapidKL hired a Dutch man but still nothing to proud of). What is/are the nice thing from Proton next week? Discount?
———————————————————
Public transportation is never meant to be profitable. Just study about the world’s mass rail or transit companies, 99% can’t make money.
February 26, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
come on paul…give us some hint..it’s only tuesday…another week…long time man…
February 26, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
Paul should tell us later XD the agony..for y’all LOL
February 26, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
Does EON have anything to say about this??
February 26, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
zzua said,
February 26, 2008 @ 11:18 am
i heard that proton started to fit the persona with IAFM this month. if this was true, maybe that would be the news for nxt week. just guessing:)
—————————————————————-
Yes, they are clearing the non-IAFM Persona stock as well. I am wondering why can’t Proton’s marketing department have a proper launch of this car? Same mistake goes to the Waja CPS, no advertisment, brochure etc.
February 26, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
advertisement
February 26, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
Proton Person? Forgot a in that Persona
Savvy to expansive or complicated to sell there?
February 26, 2008 @ 11:00 pm
oops
proton mpv test mule sighted,