Proton pitching for Saga to be used as a taxi in Chile

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Proton recently re-entered the Chile market, and is now looking at the country to be its Latin America hub. The Malaysian carmaker is also pitching for the Saga model to be a taxi in the country.

Bernama reports that the Malaysian embassy in Santiago held a meeting last week with the Chilean Taxi Association. The taxi federation is looking into using the Proton Saga as a cab, Malaysian ambassador to Chile Datuk Dr Mohamad Rameez told the national news agency. Should it work out, a cab deal would be a significant boost for sales.

After a long absence (Proton sold the Wira and Satria there in the 90s), Proton made its debut in Chile in May, and is expected to sell one thousand units of Preve there this year. Preve aside, the Exora and Saga are exported to the back-to-back Copa America winning nation in left-hand drive form. The marque is distributed by Andes Motor, an affiliate of the big Kaufmann Group.

proton showroom chile

In a related development, Mohd Rameez said Proton recently handed an Exora MPV to the embassy last week, as part of a collaboration to promote Malaysia and tourism to Chileans. The Exora sports stickers with Malaysian places of interest, the Petronas Twin Towers and the Visit Malaysia logo.

“The car was also exhibited during a Malaysian and ASEAN tourism promotion event in Santiago. Through this kind of innovative promotion of Malaysia, other than saving costs for the Government, (it) would also assist in promoting Proton to Chileans,” Mohd Rameez said.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Kunta Kinte on Jun 30, 2016 at 5:39 pm

    This is how our RM1.5 billion is going down the drain Latin America via many FREE trade agreements with North America, can get so many Japanese and American cars super cheap.

    These cars are bigger, safer and more comfortable than the Saga. Why should the Chile people sit in a Saga?

    Another simple thing is Latin Americans are huge in size. Badan besar. They cannot fit into a Saga.

    Now this alone shows, what bodohs you have at Proton and how they are wasting the RM1.5 bil

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 67 Thumb down 33
    • That’s what the Saga Wagon is for. To fit the body of Gweilo

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 37
      • Abang Alza Pakai Topi on Jul 01, 2016 at 10:44 am

        Let them pitch. Once and for all let Proton know how ridiculously overrated the saga is and that a dated product designed for Malaysian kampung people will not sell anywhere else in the world.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 4
    • smarttess on Jul 01, 2016 at 1:42 am

      With the Toyota Yaris (aka Vios) and Hyundai Accent (both Manual) listed for the equivalent of just under RM50k and the Mitsubishi Mirage at RM36k on the respective manufacturer’s Chilean websites, one wonders what price/deal Proton needs to offer to move the Proton Sagas. Interestingly, a visit to Andes Motors Chilian website fails to reveal any sign of Proton (yet?), though I see they sell Foton(!). Hmmm..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
      • smarttess on Jul 01, 2016 at 11:38 am

        More Chilean car prices; Hyundai i10 Grand Sedan (M) which is the closest thing to the Saga goes for RM39k. And I really wonder how much they have to sell the Preve for (to move 1000 units per year) given that the Mazda 3 range starts at RM64k (auto RM72k)?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Medic on Jun 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm

    Hopefully the taxi drivers in Chile not similar to malaysia drivers

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
    • Taxi drivers r the same everywhere. If they can scam u, they WILL scam u

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 4
  • So.. That’s what Proton Saga is good for… As a taxi! Please la increase the standard of our national car…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 3
    • Andas on Jul 01, 2016 at 7:01 am

      Look at SG, a lot of hyundai taxi.. yet, msian still proudly drove it everyday..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • I don’t think they need our miserable metal boxes for their taxis.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 2
  • Albert on Jun 30, 2016 at 6:31 pm

    Surely,if the Saga FLX is used as cab in Chile,it has to be dirt cheap,perhaps RM 30K and below?
    Afterall,stocks at P1 yards are overflowing…so push out the Sagas and later the Exoras and Personas.
    IT has to be JUALAN MURAH ….jom heboh carnival
    By the way,the second RM300 juta soft loan will be disbursed soon……Protong’s vendors already prebooked all major 5 star hotels to celebrate all night long.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 4
    • hahaguest on Jun 30, 2016 at 10:58 pm

      With a volume discount, Kia Cerato or Forte starts at RM 30K laaaa… why buy this one?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
    • Abang Alza Pakai Topi on Jul 01, 2016 at 10:47 am

      Then we get AP to import back proton from Chile and convert to right side maybe still cheaper than buying direct from kilang.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Kancil Hybrid on Jun 30, 2016 at 6:47 pm

    Chileland use Saga. Belacanland use Persona. Combine both we’ll have sambal belacan.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 15
  • Faizal on Jun 30, 2016 at 7:08 pm

    Sendiri talk sendiri song. Let’s see la how many proton cars you actually in Chile. Proton will be very happy if it’s 200 cars a year. Self talk self happy. Lousy company

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 3
  • Proton Selimut on Jun 30, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    How many protons sold in Chile already?
    Now want to syok sendiri selling taxis there

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 3
    • Mindset of basher: small sales number is wrong, not sell also wrong

      Go and check your brain lor

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
  • Roti John Masin on Jun 30, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    The Proton Saga jinx will probably bankrupt the taxi business in Chile….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 5
  • All the more reasons for people in Chile to use grabcar/uber/private sapu !!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Tong Sampah on Jul 01, 2016 at 5:13 am

    you think Chilean so stupid? wait and see..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
  • Chile should listen to the plight of Malaysian taxi drivers of using Proton. It was on TV3 not too long ago.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • Abang Alza Pakai Topi on Jul 01, 2016 at 10:57 am

      If someone could upload that video on youtube with Spanish subtitles would be great.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • As usual, bashing like nobody business.
    – #keyboardwarriors –

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 8
  • NoBrainer on Jul 01, 2016 at 9:37 am

    Good luck PROTON.
    All the best.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 3
  • Aero (Member) on Jul 01, 2016 at 4:09 pm

    I’ve been keeping an eye on this whole deal since it started, and I must say, the Malaysian ambassador to Chile, Datuk Dr Mohamad Rameez has been doing a fantastic job all this while. Even now, after the launch, he is not done yet.

    In Chile, many Chinese cars are used as taxis, alongside Korean and Japanese models. I daresay Chile has one of the most diverse taxi fleets in the world. Surely, if even the subpar China badged cars (some newer Chinese cars are good) have seen use as taxis in Chile, the proven Proton Saga should have no issue finding its place there.

    A few years back, Proton made a taxi deal in Indonesia, and if you visit Jakarta today, you will see a few Proton taxis on the roads (BT Saga, Waja, Wira, CM Persona). There was even a company called ‘Taksi Putra’, which ran a fleet of Protons (sadly, now out of business). There was also the case in Kuwait (early 2000s) where Proton managed 8% annual market share just by selling Protons to fast food companies (as delivery cars). Proton also made a deal with the Iranian government which involved the exports of LHD Wajas. There are some Proton taxis in Turkey, the U.K. and Thailand as well.

    So who knows… with the kind of dedication the good Datuk and Andes Motor have displayed thus far, this new Chilean taxi deal might just work. We’ll see…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
    • Abang Alza Pakai Topi on Jul 01, 2016 at 5:27 pm

      Even if the Chilean got conned and buys the saga, just a handful of taxis won’t contribute much to Proton earnings. 1000 taxis at RM 10k clean profit per car is just RM 10million..which is nothing compared to the RM1.5billion bail out.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • Amelia on Jul 06, 2016 at 9:35 pm

    The Proton Saga is a good car to be used as a Taxi. It’s comfortable, cheap, super easy to maintain and most importantly it’s also reliable.

    I wouldn’t consider myself a Proton fangirl, personally my preferred car currently available for buyers in Malaysia is the Camry Hybrid (since we don’t have Tesla Model S officially) and Perdana totally sucks. However that said, Proton has over the years emulated their Japanese big-brother’s well when it comes to mechanical performance of the car (those that they manufacture, not rebadge) and even bested their Japanese brothers when it comes to safety in low-cost cars.

    I think this would be a win-win for Chilean taxi drivers as well as Malaysian workers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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