Paul Tan's Automotive Industry News
   

Proton Volkswagen Equity Deal Unlikely

Sources familiar with the matter have said that Proton is unlikely to go with the equity stake exchange deal with Volkswagen AG, instead choosing to go with a tech agreement instead.

If the tech deal goes through, this will mean Volkswagen will take 51% control of only Proton’s engineering and manufacturing units and not a stake in Proton Holdings Berhad.

Proton had informed Bursa Malaysia on Monday that there was no significant breakthrough or developments in it’s talks with Volkswagen so far.

Source

19 Comments »

  1. Wilfred said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 4:17 pm

    see..seee….hoping to get the technology….but prevent foreigner from taking over control…nice step……but….will then VW put more effort on this….??? a question ahead…

  2. awtar said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 4:21 pm

    aiyo….if the deal fails, that means we still need to buy iswara for another 20 years.. Really bad news.
    I suggest Perodua to take over proton to increase their plant utility rate. MYVI and Avanza waiting list are too long. If Myvi can be manucfatured in Proton Tanjung Malim state of act plant….it is going to benefit both parties.
    Furthermore, it is face saving for proton that refuses foreigner to take over.

  3. rainbow7j said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 4:31 pm

    with all the internal problems back in Germany and tough competition looming ahead in China market, it is hard to foresee what is going to happen here

  4. hauzi said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 4:41 pm

    interesting issue huh…..

    juz hope they can produce some GolfGti kind of cars..

  5. Zoom said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 4:51 pm

    ooo.. Proton is become wiser!!! They’re moving in the right direction at the time being for the talk with VW..Watch out!!!

    Let’s see if VW is more interested in their manufacturing facility.
    Engineering?? yeah,,, VW yesteryear tech can still proton latest tech… Proton have to becareful for the deal…

  6. Ruben said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 4:55 pm

    Well, i noticed its only manufacturing and engineering. The management is still managed by cronies, which well, might not be a big diff after all.

  7. Pentak Sakua….. said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 5:05 pm

    PI MAI PI MAI TANG TU JUGA……EVERYTHING THEY WANT TO CONTOL,BUT THEN THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CONTROL.

  8. cameljoe said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 5:31 pm

    This is kiasi, “afraid to die”, in this case afraid to surrender all but proton motto is “dare to be different” so should take a chance, be a silent shareholder and let someone drive la like perodua.

    Why not? option run out, local talent run out and time also run out, so it is really time to be different for the salvation of the company current and future well being.

    Btw, minority shareholders got a say ah? How come sidelined?

  9. api-chai said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 6:16 pm

    kakaka……… who would wan to buy only the R&D & Engineering department of a company ?? Honestly VW’s R&D + E department are miles ahead of Proton’s ever gonna be……. save a few respect for Lotus, I’ll bail out of this agreement if I’m VW

    VW: How much u wan to sell ???
    Proton: RM2 bil, but only the kitchen !
    VW: RIGHT !!!…………………

  10. Paul said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 6:27 pm

    api-chai: you must remember that the division VW is supposed to be buying includes the manufacturing division. VW can use it to manufacture its own cars.

  11. boringest said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 6:38 pm

    They are aiming for the extra manufacturing capacity in Proton City lah i think =)

    so does this deal include Lotus’ engineering expertise as well?

  12. api-chai said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 7:09 pm

    Paul: Spot on there…… I admit I overlooked that part ! I’ve just read the article a 2nd time.

    It seems like Proton is trying to tie VW to take their Engineering & Manufacturing unit as one. Its either VW take it or leave it kinda thingy……… VW knows they don’t need the engineering unit, but they might need the manufacturing unit. Proton is trying to persuade VW that this is a marriage made in heaven.

  13. bumboy said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 9:30 pm

    nobody remembers lotus

  14. E-Nabill said,

    September 16, 2005 @ 10:46 pm

    i tink negotiations like this takes a long time,if u rememebr how long it took GM to take over daiwoo,i tik abt 2 yrs plus,bcos there are too mnay fine details to be sorted out,its such a big biz,n both parties must get wat thy want,it must be fruitful for both VW and proton….i believe proton have a national interest,thats y thy dowant to let go easily probably want more than vw wants from thm ,werseas VW s a biz corp purely with no national or political interest …will see how it goes…im stil convicned it wil go through though,knowing how desperate vw is to enter the asean mareket…fingers crossed!

  15. edw said,

    September 17, 2005 @ 10:47 am

    Dear Awtar,

    you say “I suggest Perodua to take over proton to increase their plant utility rate. MYVI and Avanza waiting list are too long. If Myvi can be manucfatured in Proton Tanjung Malim state of act plant….”

    this is a big BIG no NO, P2 quality is above P1, if Myvi and Avanza manufacture in P1 plant, die liow, Quality sure drop, and the “tidak apa” attitude will come in. :)

  16. Jake said,

    September 17, 2005 @ 2:50 pm

    why so fond of VW actually? VW = continental cars; if myvi and savvy case to take into consideration, the mass in malaysia so phobia of continental car in particular the engine i.e. from renault. what and why do you think malaysian will accept VW wholeheartily?
    first thing first, change the management from khazanah (they are investors, accountants, auditors- what they know about cars) to maybe Sime Darby, Syed Mokhtar (MISC, DRB-Hicom), Naza or other real business people/groups
    secondly, choose partner other than continental cars manufacturers, my best bet definitely from japan (renault/nissan can be considered since renault already have relation with proton…

    ;-)

  17. Selvenz said,

    September 17, 2005 @ 4:49 pm

    Just sell Proton and all will be OK

  18. Biothing said,

    September 19, 2005 @ 9:54 am

    Hey, Malaysia so samll we don’t need too many car company. We need just ONE. The big Q is, will it be Proton, DRB, Sime Darby or ??? We are wasitn time, money amd resources if we donlt do this quickly.

    Let’s face it, this is a fight between TunM (through NAZA) and Daim to control the most lucrative sector in Msian economy. everbody else watching on the sidelines

    Who looses, we - the tax payers!!!

    we want hybrid (repeat many times)\
    we want it now

  19. Johnny Boy said,

    September 19, 2005 @ 11:03 am

    Jake, wise thought, pls email to P1 and make sure they listen…..hehehe….

previous post: Audi Q7 Hybrid Concept
next post: Buy A Proton, Win A Holiday!

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Don't have an account?

If you do not have an account on paultan.org, please click here to register. Note that first time commenters will have to be approved before your comment appears.

Please do not submit your comment twice, the system has accepted your comment, it just needs to be moderated first. Once your first comment is approved, all subsequent comments will show automatically.

What are you waiting for? Register now!