Click here to read the rest of New Malaysian National Automotive Policy
Our Malaysian government has announced some of the details on the new National Automotive Policy today. Let’s have a look at what changes have been implemented, effective this Thursday (20/10/2005).
Mazda has launched updates to two of it’s Mazda RX-8 models, one of which will go on sale today and the other in mid-November. Click here to read the rest of 2006 Mazda RX-8 Sport Prestige Limited II
Click here to read the rest of National Automotive Policy draft tomorrowThere are a lot of people who feel that we just shouldn’t have had an automotive industry in the first place. Since Proton’s birth in 1983, the normal rakyat with average income have been forced to buy Protons. This is because of government protection in the form of high taxes on foreign makes.
After a month-long road show, the Ford Focus 1.8 Ghia will be officially launched today at RM119,888 on the road without insurance.
Click here to read the rest of Ford Focus 1.8 Ghia Launched Today
Lotus and Gieves & Hawkes have partnered up to release this special edition of the Lotus Exige sports car called the Lotus Exige Espionage. Click here to read the rest of Lotus Exige Espionage
Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mah Siew Keong has issued a response to Datuk Shahrir’s comment on local content in Proton cars.
The Government encourages Proton to use as much local content as possible to develop the parts and component industry. This is also vital to achieve and maintain quality in Protons range of cars and for competitive pricing. Our car industry must have quality. Where it wants to source its parts from, that is up to Proton, but we encourage the use of local content. It’s up to Proton to decide the proportion of local content in it’s cars.
Well then, since according to Datuk Mah it’s not a government imposed rule, let’s see if Proton takes this path in the future as part of it’s struggle to improve it’s competitiveness. Datuk Mah agreed with Shahrir that automotive vendors who could not be compettive after 20 years should increase quality and competitiveness or close down.
Audi presents the Shooting Brake Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show 2005. The Shooting Brake Concept inplements design elements of both a coupe and a hatchback into one. Click here to read the rest of Audi Shooting Brake Concept
Nissan shows it’s Nissan Moco Preview positioned as a driver’s ‘best friend’ which helps him or her enjoy his everyday life like a best friend should.
Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, chairman of the Backbencher’s Club says if high local content is making Proton not competitive, local content should be reduced.
“If AFTA requires only 40 percent local content, there is no need for us to go up to 90 percent, unless it makes Proton cheaper and more competitive. We have to make a rational decision. If our cars are expensive due to high local content, we need to reduce the price by reducing the local content. They have already been operating for more than 20 years. If the quality of their products is still not up to standard and cannot be exported, they should close down. If they are still not efficient, they should not be in this industry.”
The problem with our locally manufactured components is likely lack of volume which drives component prices up. We also have the problem of incompenent component manufacturers making components without proper QC. I’m sure any Proton owner curses the car’s air cond vents.
If Proton is to be truly competitive, such social responsibility towards local vendors should not be imposed on them. They should be free to source for components anywhere in the world they want, as long as it makes sense. This should give the local components manufacturers a kick in the ass and hopefully they buck up.
Toyota had just launched this new model in Japan earlier this month on 8-10 October 2005. The Toyota Ractis is a compact mini-MPV class of car. Quite similiar to the Toyota Passo/Daihatsu Boon/Perodua Myvi type of vehicle.
