Volkswagen and Proton does share some similiarities. Both have been labelled as People Movers, providing affordable cars to it’s respective countries.
Proton has been unable to break that generalization, but at it’s current stage I don’t think it should. The auto policies have forced us to rely on Proton for people movers but it seems that they are more interested to become a sports sedan marque like Mazda instead.
Volkswagen also have had not much luck breaking out of the people mover image. The Volkswagen Phaeton, although being a GREAT luxury car has had problems selling because of the people mover image the Volkswagen badge has. The following goes through the mind of the person who is considering the Phaeton. “If I can buy a similiar Audi A8 from Audi, why should I settle for a Volkswagen?”
Not that Volkwagen hurts much because they own Audi too.
If Volkswagen could go from basic people movers to where it is now… can Proton do the same with Volkswagen’s help? What do you guys think? If the takeover happens, will Proton change much? Can they become a respectable marque instead of thought of as some kind of cancer which the country has to bear with?
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
aiyah, vw has completely bought by chinese company already. this means, in future, proton will JV with china vw…. IF they successfully to make the deal. BTW, if not vw, who else?
so malu lah. our national car project started 20 years ago, now even the late comer is getting advanced than us….
Like thailand, 20 years ago, the development of automotive industry just like malaysia, but now, they are far ahead than us as well….
Point to ponder: Should we need a national car project at the first place????????OKlah, let by gone be by gone, our foot and hair already all wet, so how can we clean up the mess?(don't say close down proton, tht one is stupid answer coz there will be alot of negative impacts.)
jonahdiary: sell it off to a foreign company and let them worry about it. implement the new national car policy which promotes fair ground, let the foreign holding company worry about it and get on with life which focuses on what the rakyat wants instead.
heii…who said vw bought by china???..all german autos are still maintain german xcept only 1,which is opel…
paul, why you no return my call/sms/e-mail? =/
our national car maker at the 1st place was to help stabilize our own economy by reducing import cars which will cause the money flow out from our country. by then proton just take it as granted & extreme slow to improve itself. As time pass by, sure our 'potong' will become potong… If they can get tremendous quality improvement than it may become different result. I wonder what is the profit margin for a proton's car. foreign's car makers can export cars to our place & include taxes in origin country & reached here in relatively cheap price also but then proton in Malaysia… sad story… No matter proton jointventure with what company, when proton want to reduce car price then cheap quality car will come out… right?
haiyoh.. why pening2? the answer simple.. proton produce quality cars.. and sell it off at price range of 30k ~ 40k.. they say rugi? nvm rugi.. earn ppl's trust first, and in the long run, when they produce newer cars, even tho high price, ppl wont kutuk2 or look down on the car anymore..
myvi vs savvy? savvy got lots at the plant, now want to get myvi, have to wait for like 4 months.. clearly in this battle of compact cars, perodua has won.. sad, but true… sorry mahaleel.
Paul.
Totally agree with your solution to the proton problem as contained in your reply to jonahdiary.
Will the government take it up. Only one man is standing in malaysia's way, and you know who this senile old man is!
It's about that national car Proton again.
I agree with Daniel that national cars should be priced lower than imported cars – BUT NOT by imposing higher tax/excise duty or whatever term the government may use on foreign cars. Cheaper doesn't mean that you cannot make profit, profit margin shouldn't be to high. Of course no compromised on quality of the product.
Don't expect to be spoon feed and protected by the government (our money) all the time. Even the MITI's Minister on 28.6.2005 hit out on Proton CEO on this issue. She quoted the strategy of the Koreans producer for domestic market in term of pricing.
Malaysian consumers have got their taste too. We don't just buy "cincai-cincai" product from Proton, not any more. Proton have betrayed me and many more of her consumers.
Well, please go to Korea and see how daft their Korean machines are, but yet these koreans still buy them in loads, even when they are overseas.
Spoon fed? Proton? Hhehe….please check who is being spoon fed.
I have to repeat this la, when it comes to Proton, every malaysian thinks he or she is a motoring specialist.
Do you know that there are so many countries who would love to have their very own car? Designed and built by their own people?
Opps…I forgot, some of Malaysians don't even know where their roots are from. Hehehe…no wonder la tak dak semangat langsung. Hampeh belaka.
"VW bought by chinese… "…. WTF.. must be getting your info from Perodua website with their typos and ill informed execs…
lets wait and see… i dont like to speculate.. but seeing that the shitloads of speculations from experts, i'll let it pass this once…
if ever proton assembles VW gti … and rebadge it as Proton…. we'll see which of the pea – brained critics would still be bitching… nothing wrong seeing that Myvi is a rebadged toyota….
but knowing some segment of the population, it'd be more bad press… best to turn a deaf to their baseless comments…
Fastcar… why would it be difficult to change the image…??… for your info… VW GTI has been around for years… most well informed car enthusiasts know the car well… where ya been all these years…???
VW wont have to "change" its image, because people know the GTI family tree. and they know its a freaking fast car… like jeremy clarkson said… if you drive a honda… (or myvi),… its still a honda…
…do your educators a favour and learn your stuff before commenting..