A Proton-badged Volkswagen Polo for RM70,000, anyone? According to a Business Times report, Volkswagen AG has identified the B-segment Polo as the best fit for Proton, and has formed a special team headed by operations head for Asia Pacific, Soh Wei Ming, to look into the possibility of remodelling the Polo as a Proton.
DRB-Hicom, Proton’s new owner, is of course Volkswagen’s local partner for CKD operations. The Polo is currently sold in Malaysia as a CBU import, and retails for RM113,888 in 1.2 TSI guise.
The report says that the plan put forward by VW to DRB-Hicom would see a locally-made Polo “priced competitively at below the RM70,000 mark”. No mention of it, but the Polo in question could well be the Polo Sedan, too.
It was revealed that some VW directors have visited the Proton plant and reviewed the national carmaker’s existing products. A meeting in Hong Kong last month between Soh and DRB-Hicom’s chief operating officer, Datuk Lukman Ibrahim followed, and it was then that the Polo project was proposed.
So if BT is to be believed, Proton is about to take a path similar to the one Skoda took in the early 90s. The Czech brand was then the butt of many a motoring joke, but thanks to VW hardware and know how, it’s now profit making company selling over 800k units globally. For those who don’t need a VW badge, Skodas offer the same good stuff at lower prices, a successful formula.
Like what you hear? Or do you believe that Proton, after nearly three decades in the business, should not merely be an assembler? Go on and put in your two cents worth in the comments section, but remember to keep it civil :)
AD: Drive the Proton model of your dreams. Submit your details and Proton PJ will get in touch with you.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments express a mix of excitement and skepticism about the VW-Proton collaboration, emphasizing the potential for affordability and local assembly benefits. Many are hopeful that this partnership will bring quality VW features at a lower price, while others worry about loss of brand integrity and the impact on current VW owners. Some comments warn against heavy rebadging, advocating instead for true knowledge sharing and genuine development. A few critics criticize the move as a step backward or highlight concerns about future resale value, quality, and internal management. Overall, the sentiment is cautiously optimistic, focusing on the potential for cost-effective, improved cars and the positive economic impact, but also voicing concerns over possible drawbacks and strategic implications.