Proton has announced that it has entered a joint venture to develop car connectivity tech and products for both local and regional applications. The agreement for the collaboration was inked earlier today by Proton Edar, local telco company Altel Communications and Chinese firm ECarX (Hubei) Technology.
The ceremony was witnessed by Miao Wei, China’s minister of industry and information technology and Malaysia’s deputy minister of communications and multimedia, Eddin Syazlee Shith. Also present at the event was Zhejiang Geely chairman Li Shufu.
The new JV opens up the possibility of having local R&D and production of car connectivity solutions and digital services, expected to be one of the key drivers for future automotive sales. Areas of coverage will include the development of network connectivity management and telematics services for Proton cars.
For the national automaker, this will significantly increase the level of local content on that front, most immediately on the Proton X70 when the locally-assembled CKD version goes on sale later this year.
In April, Proton chairman Datuk Syed Faisal Akbar intimated that the Geely Smart Ecosystem (GKUI) infotainment system on the SUV would be updated and revised for local users as part of the switch to CKD. The system on CBU cars received a new over-the-air (OTA) update last month to address a few issues.
While no details have been offered, it is expected that localisation will, among other things, revise map content used for the navigation function, which in the CBU X70 is based on a Baidu version developed in China. Models such as the 2019 Proton Iriz, Persona and Exora RC also feature GKUI-based infotainment systems, and are also expected to benefit from the move.
The decision to localise research and development will also reduce cost and minimise dependability on foreign parts. Syed Faisal said that this will also open up the use of ‘Hi Proton’ in export markets, notably within ASEAN, where customisation for each market/language can be made in easier fashion with local R&D.
“Collaborations such as this will allow us to gain a foothold in the rapidly progressing area of car connectivity solutions while also increasing the knowledge base of our R&D engineers. It also allows us to explore the possibility of expanding our connectivity solutions to Proton’s export markets, particularly in neighbouring ASEAN countries,” he said during the signing ceremony.
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DRB-owned Proton calling the shots now. Bravo!
PROTON is not national automaker anymore.
No longer anymore cuz P1 is international automaker now. They no longer play in the kampung anymore, leaving the jaguh kampung to crow in his small hole while the larger world awaits P1.
P1 should just ask help from own MIMOS Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems. MIMOS is regional leader in develop car connectivity tech and microelectronic systems.
Never heard of that MIMOS. The only MIMOS that got mentioned here is the National Applied Research and Development Centre.
ALTEL??…haha..crony atok got the project
Put google maps or waze….instead of freaking baidu
As long as no campro and punch cvt, i always support proton.
P1, Geely, Mesidis, VolvoCar, Volvo Trucks, Lotus, L&C, Polestar, SMART > all
Altel? Ask any random person on the street. Is he using Altel?
Every new upstart is an unknown. Few people ever heard of Xiaomi when its phones first got here, but now the brand and its sub brand Redmi is one of the better known ones.
Everything has a beginning that starts from obscurity, even Google.
Google is now numba 1. Baidu is still numba 100000
Hi Ploton.
Lao ban Li Shufu himself personally come down and spend his precious time to witness this. A billionaire of his stature treasures his time very much, it is a very valuable resource that must be spent wisely.
His presence demonstrates how important this JV is to him. We are truly blessed to be entrusted with the honour to carry his business to the next level. Our people stands to gain so much, we are truly fortunate.
ALL HAIL GEELY EMPIRE!
Looking forward to driver safety assistant systems in all proton cars now..Pls work on the necessity first.
Make is standard across the range. Be the real game changer!
Good move, Proton.
Waze and Google Maps please. Baidu maps is like the early generation of Google Maps. AI not very smart at choosing routes (esp during traffic jams) & absolutely horrible at re-routing. It keeps directing you back to the original route instead of finding another new route immediately. Baidu maps also has poor POI, still not as good as Google Maps (perhaps due to local community updating POI for Google Maps whereas HERE WeGo maps used by Baidu is updated by HERE company, hence not as comprehensive and slower updates). Don’t get me started on the route voice navigation. Baidu maps voice navigation is like your mother in law giving route directions. Non stop talking, even on a straight road.
The only really good about Baidu Maps is the Lane Junction Selection graphics, taking up one third of the screen, easily seen which lane to take at the coming junction. This is where Google Maps loses to Baidu Maps.
It would be nice if this JV can take the good points of Google Maps and Baidu to create an improved navigation system.
No point reinventing the wheel. Just use the most popular app.
Besides, Google maps, Baidu Maps, HERE WeGo are proprietary products with its own patents and copyrights, too difficult legally and expensive to collaborate by cherry picking.
Is Baidu better than Apple Maps?
Yes cuz when u type to go Melaka it wun bring u to holland
This is ridiculous! Instead of being a troll in Paultan comment sections, you better spend your time and effort to find a honest, real job.
yes LOL, go find a job. Stop venting your frustrations in PT yea