Proton has reportedly signed an agreement to assemble its cars in Bangladesh, according to reports by Bangladeshi media. Local conglomerate PHP Group aims to build 1,200 sedans a year initially when production kicks off on December 16, and plans to also produce parts and components in the future.
The joint venture will be assembling the Proton Preve, which will be badged in Bangladesh as the Proton PHP. It will be available with the 1.6 litre Campro Turbo engine and in manual and automatic variants.
PHP Group’s vice chairman Mohammed Mohsin Chowdhury pegs the pricing to be similar to reconditioned Japanese vehicles – which are very popular in Bangladesh – in order to entice the nation’s burgeoning middle class. He adds that the company would bear all repair expenses if technical issues are encountered within the first 25,000 km.
The plant is currently being built on 30 acres of land in Anwara Upazila, Chittagong at a cost of Tk 400 crore (RM190 million), and is expected to employ upwards of 200 people, including 50 automotive engineers.
“More employment will be created when we begin making parts and components such as tyres, wheels, dashboards, air conditioners, radiators and more,” Chowdhury said.
The joint venture was signed at Proton’s Centre Of Excellence (COE) last week by CEO Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah and PHP director Mohammed Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury, while Proton chairman Tun Mahathir Mohammed and PHP family chairman Sufi Mohammed Mizanur Rahman were also present.
Proton will be the second company to assemble their cars locally in Bangladesh – Mitsubishi has also been building the Pajero Sport there since 2011, but it is said to be priced beyond the reach of the middle class.
