It appears national carmaker Proton will officially be making a re-entry into the Chilean market with three of its models soon. Malaysian ambassador to Chile, Datuk Dr. Mohammad Rameez Yahaya revealed as such in his Facebook page.
The initial three models are the Saga, Preve and Exora, all of which will be in a left-hand drive configuration. It’s said that the three models will arrive in Chile next month as test cars, while a launch is expected to take place in the country by April 2016, handled Chilean distributor Andes Motor.
Apparently, Rameez had a meeting with Andes Motor general manager, Jorge Green and the company’s commercial manager Maximiliano last week. “The company signed a distributor agreement with Proton, and will receive its first three models in December,” the announced.
It’s said that Andes Motor will import a minimum of 500 Proton cars annually over the next five years. According to the ambassador, the deal will increase trade between both countries by up to USD$6 million (RM26.2 million) a year.
Proton’s venture into the South American country dates back to the 1990s. The national carmaker previously sold the Proton Wira and the Satria there. It has to be mentioned, though, that this update follows a similar announcement made two years ago – a decision credited to the effectiveness of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
So, if proved accurate, do you guys think Proton will be hot in Chile?
China car already flood their street
Why not they try ?
Better try than doing nothing. Exporting our cars will boost our economy & RM.
If our car build better than China & can compete with China car, why not. Proton build good handling car with better safety .
It’s better than doing nothing. Proton perform better quality than China products and it will give variety of cars option in Latin America. Besides these Latin region offer better taxes for Asian cars and it surely capable to provide similar car price with China.
China and proton both are rubbish but china even worst.
Malaysia is full of garbage like you. Talk cock day and night without contributing to the economy, just a parasite on any country’s economy with your ignorance and “me-first” mentality. You can be classified as one of the “Useless eaters” described by Henry Kissinger
dont get it wrong, those cronies are rubbish instead…leaches without contribution.
do sing high praise song on contribution as base construction is cronies, greed in the end, fails even the greedy.
But china car not have good safety like proton….china car no good safety and cheap car…but not safe for people to drive
Looks like you have never heard of the Qoros brand in China. Preve is like milo tin compared to their car.
lets wish them all the best, after all when proton as a malaysian brand successed it will give us a good name and reputation
Why not to USA market?
Can u imagine Kim K is driving a Proton Preve on NYC street? #omk
Wake up bashers! Proton wont approach customer like your imaginary Kim K. Dont talk rubbish in this blog. Please contribute something +ve to community and country. Proton had always moving ahead to penetrate Latin america market which are growing years to years. It’s better to move ahead rather keep sitting in front of the computer bashing our own national car makers.
Bashers? Contribute something positive? They’re just complacently doing their bottom-feeder jobs while complaining day and night about the government because they can’t afford the things they want due to their low pay, and blame it on cronies, corruption, ministers, etc. Have they tried upgrading themselves in any way? Or contribute to the local economy in any way? Or provide any helpful suggestions to move our country and our industries forward? Zilch.
Not surprisingly, most of these bashers belong to a specific demographic that has created a state-within-a-state in Malaysia and are happily living under their own coconut shells without mingling with the rest of Malaysia, hence their narrow-mindedness, sharp tongues and general arrogance.
Bashers are the wake up ppl!! cause bashers don’t wanna live in darkness under cronies!
I remember someone say profit selling one proton car is about RM500 and the export volume is 500 strong per annum! That would mean 250000! What a huge ROI and contribution!!
Can someone tell me how is the drive going to come out? Barely even have space to open the car door inside the container. Or they push the car up into the container? How do they load it?
keluar ikut boot
I’m sure Sanchez or Vidal enjoying the ride with Preve NCAP 5 star similarly like they enjoying dribbling the ball in the pitch. They smoke all those China cars on the road with Turbo CFE and Lotus handling..haha
I agree with you coz Preve rear seat foldable.
Big game players like Toyota & Honda R loading their cars into car carriers, but look at these ppl..container???!!! someone pls fwd these photos to Americans, Japanese & Koreans..oo yes, don’t forget the Germans…They will have laugh their ass out
common bro.how the car carriers can be shipping over the sea without using container?? u think their shipping the vehicle from proton shah alam to Perak ka? poor la you..
Good Luck! :)
Saga?really? why not suprima s?
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Rubbish comments. Go proton go.
K
Yes, losers like you can just stick to your “give up without trying” attitude and continue being a narrow-minded economic parasite
Vios is overpriced moving coffin junk tak bash pulak. Topkek.
Fishy deal…..
So, Proton sells locally = tutup kedai.
Proton sells overseas = fishy deal
Proton teams up with Bangladesh, China and Indonesian car companies to increase market volume = rubbish.
Looks like talk cock people like you only know how to bash and have zero solutions. I don’t think you can even design, build and sell a single toy car, let alone a real car. Typical third-world uneducated peasant who only knows how to bash
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“So, if proved accurate, do you guys think Proton will be hot in Chile?”
We are more interested to know how long it takes before they are out again.
In b4 it’ll be chilly in chile.
fix your brand image first with your own people, then you can distritbute it worldwide.
even in local market protons reputation is not that well received, now want to make it known on the other part of the world?
Malaysian all hi keras, cannot afford jepunis oso die die wanna buy godcar J spec, even when Tom Dick Harry told them they have higher chance to die in it than in a Proton. How to change that mindset?
Latin america is used to having low standards for the cars sold there, just like India, Bangladesh, etc. It’s a safe market for Proton to venture into for gaining a greater market volume. Without market volume, there is no economies of scale for improvements.
Proton is doing what Korean car manufacturers did before they were good enough to take on the American and European market in full force.
Yep, that’s true. Even our milo tin Axia and Vios are quite acceptable compared to some of the ancient Fiat, Chevrolet and VW cars they still sell in South America. I feel bad for them… always being exploited by foreign companies at the expense of local lives… sounds just like our UMW Toyota, no ?
And yes, better for Proton to start with less competitive developing markets than to gamble everything on competitive developed markets like Europe and Australia. I bet Proton lost millions on their Australian re-launch… those same millions could have helped them out with markets like Egypt and Turkey, where they actually have a chance. Although, I still think their Australian re-launch was a good thing all-in-all, because it led to their 5-star ANCAP achievement and safety USP…
China cars are well known as flying coffins. Zero chances to stay alive when you are involved in accident.
Can’t even cross the thai border to Thailand Myanmar Cambodia Vietname China, wanna want to ship so far to Chile (somemore is left hand drive country). Don’t be naive lar. Just another project to dig money.
Last time u ask them why no export now u bash them for export car..lol
Just change his name to Same LOL, cuz no more modal to comment. Only recycle same old shit just like his god kompeni
Exora and Prevé should be okay, but I doubt the Saga will be hot =/ maybe for Chile’s tastes
chile is hot
Wonder if they will ever try to smash a export model vs the local model? Like they one that pull off by Hyundai.
The Hyundai crash Korean made vs american made of same model.
“So, if proved accurate, do you guys think Proton will be hot in Chile?”. No. Proton aircon very cold.
Stupidity : Repeat the same thing all over again just to expect different results .
Must advertise the car with Lotus handling package. Make them feel that driving Proton cars is driving Lotus sports cars. Then sell well. But as soon as they found out the auto transmissions issues, then other case.
Apa barang pegi Chile, nak Pi UK la baru syiok Pi UK – Staff Proton
Aku tak mahu la kena jadi expatriate kat Chile, UK atau eropah ok la – Proton Staff
Who care about it….china car also do the same thing….the most important is profit
Well, it is a good step for proton/DRB Hicom, focus on the developing South American, indian continent and Asian market first. build a solid base, by selling cars will long warranty periods, and good after-sales service. Ensure that you assign account managers for each of your distributors and provide the necessary after-sales and engineering support. As much as it feels great selling in develop countries, markets there are saturated and ultra-competitive. Developing market will be more receptive if you could pitch your product at an acceptable price point and back it up with the necessary support…it is the first step, but if proton/drb-hicom preserve with this strategy and keep at it earnestly, surely they will be able to succeed and have the last laugh
“do you guys think Proton will be hot in Chile?”
It’s rather chili is hot for Proton, or even anyone :D
Stupidity —> Repeat the same thing all over again just to expect different results.
again, i bashed proton a lot.
but this i like. good move.
dont forget to facelift the preve soon.
and perhaps, plonk in the 1.3 turbo in preve. if honda can do it, bmw can do it …so can you.
But suprima comes with turbo first…. so thats mean civic is copying from suprima… wahhhhh good job proton… at last u can do it sgt….lol
See on Preve, what the button on the left push-start button?
curious too…
maybe headlight leveling?
Yes, it is the headlight level adjustment. There should also be a dual-purpose knob for the heater and aircond adjustment and a speed warning blinker/ beeper on the HUD too.
Exporting 500 cars here 1000 cars there is not going to make any difference to Proton’s bottom line.
Proton already proved to the world that Malaysia can produce it’s own car but what’s next?
Ego and pride aside. Look at the long run. Proton will never succeed so why holding on and keep suffering losses in Billions at the expenses of the Rakyat.
Had the best opportunity to dispose to VW some years ago but some dude manage to convince the Government to against it. The business model is simply not viable.
Without the Gov’s protection Proton would have bungkus by the 3rd year of it operation.
One way to succeed is Najib to approach UN and get UN to impose 300% tax on all the other makes around the world and by doing so Proton does not have any competition.
Yeah don’t forget on the AP system too.
Long live Proton! lol
WRK,you are right.
By april 1,2016…Proton will announce another gargantuan loss of at least RM 500juta….reaching rm 2 Billion …the past 3 consecutive years.
They are just disposing old and obsolete stocks by putting more make up and mascara.
Their dealers ,Shah Alam and branches….all their yards are overflowing with suntanned Protons.Imagine,some dealers giving 10K discounts for 2014 Iriz!!!
Even our embassy staff in overseas drive continental and Japanese marques,not Protons.
It is IMPOSSIBLE for Proton to turn around..more so as our economy is unofficially in RECESSION.
Proton,by next year or 2017…the directors will have to decide….mass retrenchments ,downsizing, followed by possible business sale or simply CESSATION of business.
If najib cared about Proton, they wouldnt have piss off Tun M by bringing in TPPA now would they?
Dia ni tak habis2 dengan duit rakyat…kenapa bodoh sangat…najib sendiri pun tak bagi apa2 insentif utk kembangkan produk proton keluar negara kenapa kau pula sibuk pasal duit rakyat 30 tahun ni? Kalau tak suka beli saja la kereta buatan negara china atau india…ini tak, sibuk kutuk proton padahal kereta pertama dia pun proton itu pun tak sedar diri…sekarang proton bukan kerajaan punya dan proton dah dibeli syarikat DRB-HICOM…bodoh betul…taktau la kalau org tu boleh baca bahasa MELAYU aku ni…kalau dia rakyat malaysia dia paham la
It seems that proton has been doing a lot of testings in many markets – even during persona/ gen2 times. Only thing is they do not succeed. I hope this is a good start.
These testings are just for them to have holiday trips. You really think they are there for work?
Company send them, air ticket free, accommodation free, all free. Then when hari raya, can brag to their family and friends… pergi overseas trip.
I guess to you, testing ESC and TC in winter climes means only sending the car there, and ask the very reliable but slightly dieselgate-tish pipu there to take some pretty videos of the car in action, then asking them via teleconference; So how does it feel? What is it like? Does it pass? Can it dorifto? Maybe shud gip more POWAARRR!
Dun poke fun on dieselgate la. Your tathergate also dunno how to solve.
At least vw admit and show remorse. Not like this ailing company still questioning if people using the top tether.
Where saga chilli picture
Finally..
we gonna see Arturo Vidal drive proton car soon.
or maybe Alexis Sanchez will…
first deal under the controversial trans-pacific partnership?
Saye punye anjing pun taknak naek proton n perodua la…
Jadi? Lebih baik ko tunggang anjing ko tu daripada bawak kereta la?
Another dumb money wasting adventure by dumb management…Chile is so far away airplane tiket alone cost a bomb…tats where all the R&D money gone ..Chile is famous for its wine not its car markets
give alexis sanchez to promote proton car in chile.
This is good news ! It should have happened last year, but I’m just glad it ACTUALLY happened for once.
Just to recap, the Prevé has thus far been exported to Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Mauritius and possibly Singapore. Proton also has a few testing units in the UK, but due to their inability to source greener, Euro V/ VI engines to pass local regulations, they couldn’t proceed with the UK launch. During the 2015 Alami Proton event, there were a few left-hand drive Prevé models for the test track joyride. These LHD Prevé models were meant for Middle Eastern markets. However, due to increased instability in the region, Proton decided to put any new Middle Eastern investments on stand-by. So far, Proton has produced around 70,000 Prevés.
Proton is no stranger in Chile, as they’ve previously been in the market as early as June 1994. Proton exported the Wira saloon, Wira Aeroback, Satria and possibly Putra as well to Chile for a few years, and sales were quite decent. You can still see many on the roads there and on the used car listings. Chile has a sizeable automobile market, with a population of around 18 million citizens. They have similar GDP at PPP per capita figures as we do, but they’re considered a newly developed country (we are still developing).
Korean cars are very popular there, and Chile is one of the strongest export markets for Chinese cars. Proton should have no problems blending in. Chile has a very open market policy and as of late, they no longer assemble cars (they only import them). In other words, Proton does not have to find a local partner to assemble their cars there to reduce import taxes. Proton will not have to invest too much, the cost of shipping a few thousand CBU Proton cars across the Pacific is still cheaper than assembling them in South America with CKD packs. And what with all the recent TPPA news, it should (supposedly) be easier for Malaysian companies to sell their products in TPPA member markets. Chile is one of the pioneers of the TPPA, they’ve been at it since 2006.
I think the Exora is still fit for export, but I’m confused about the Saga here… is it the upcoming or current Saga ? Because as far as I know, Proton stopped exporting LHD Sagas and the last few Saga BLMs were sent to Egypt. And what about the Suprima S and Iriz ? Proton should export them to Chile too.
I hope Proton will consider re-entering Iran and Russia soon. However, the investments for these markets will be huge, but I think it’ll be worth Proton’s while.
Russia now too sensitive and car must regularly withstand -30 celcius. Iran pula depends on POTUS mood swing to turn sanctions on or off.
Proton should take another stab at the Indian market. They have much more relaxed regulations which will allow necessary spec reductions to make Proton competitive with Suzuki-Maruti, Tata, and others. In such a large volume market that doesn’t mind driving cars with no airbags, no ABS, etc Proton has a good chance of selling lowest-common-denominator cars in large volumes, which will help with the ROI for the development of newer models for more demanding markets
If we dun wan others treat us like less worthy 3rd world dump, the we shouldnt treat others below us the same. Respect them and give them Proton’s USP which is safety at an affordable price.
Tell that to people who earn less than US$100 per month and have been walking and riding bikes all their lives
Stock clearance.
Sadly, Protón is getting into the market with the basic models… I was expecting Satria Neo, new Persona or a 4B11 Inspira
Untuk permulaan sahaja…kalau nanti dah berjaya proton akan eksport model baru ke sana….chery pun eksport kereta copycat mereka ke sana kenapa proton tidak boleh? Lagipun proton punya kualiti dan jenama hampir setaraf dengan pembuat kereta asli global….maksud setaraf tu awak semua kena faham betul2….tak banyak negara di dunia membangun buat kereta macam malaysia ni
Condolence for the Chileans.
Proton used to export cars to Turkey but not much happening subsequently. Nothing much also for UK and Indon market. After getting sued by the Chinese, no headway also into China. Proton export markets are getting stuck and sucks. Now, Chile….any breakdown will take months for parts to arrive??
Hi from Türkiye (known as Turkey)
November sales figure in Türkiye (Passenger Cars):
1-Renault 7720 (4503 Local Produced)
2-Volkswagen 7720
3-Hyundai 3384 (1345 LP)
4-Toyota 3304 (2404 LP)
5-Ford 2935 (435 LP)
6-Fiat 2769 (2478 LP)
7-Opel 2756
8-BMW 2642
9-Dacia 2339
10-Mercedes-Benz 2230
….
31-Suzuki 12
32-Proton 10
33-Tata 7
What we see is what we get! This a sad result, but proton is not in afford to change something or anything!