We were at the Proton’s Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam today to catch the company’s Alami Proton open day, an event aimed at giving the public a 360-degree experience of the brand.
Prospective customers will be able to test drive Proton, R3 and Lotus models, including the new Proton Iriz. The company’s latest B-segment hatchback can also be won through a lucky draw open to visitors, along with various bicycles and motorcycles. In addition, the company is showcasing the products and services of its vendors, which include Robert Bosch, TRW, Delloyd Industries and KYB-UMW Malaysia.
Proton is also opening the doors to its Research and Development (R&D) centre, where it designs and develops all its cars, as well as its Medium Volume Factory (MVF) that builds the Inspira and Exora. This is an extremely rare opportunity, as these facilities contain very sensitive assets, equipment and processes and thus are usually highly guarded and heavily restricted.
You’ll be able to watch designers bring their ideas to life and even try your hand at sculpting scaled-down clay models. Remember our two-part behind-the-scenes look at how a Proton is designed? Well, now you’ll be able to see it with your own eyes, and even take part in it! You’ll also be able to experience the company’s development and testing procedures and catch cars rolling down the assembly line.
Also on display in front of the R&D centre entrance are the Proton’s “Invention and Innovation” cars built by various departments within the company, as well as the Prevé REEV we showed you earlier.
To get around the sprawling Shah Alam complex, visitors can take the buses that trawl the roads that connect the various facilities, or they can be chauffeured in Proton’s fleet of shuttle cars – which even include its Saga EV and Exora REEV prototypes – for free.
If you’re interested but missed out on today, don’t fret – the Alami Proton event is also open tomorrow from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments mostly expressed excitement and admiration for Proton's open day, highlighting the impressive R&D facilities, design innovation, and safety features of the Iriz. Many appreciated the detailed tours, the high-quality testing processes, and Proton’s plans for electric vehicles. Some reflected on the event’s success in showcasing Proton’s progress and expressed optimism about the brand’s future. However, there was also criticism about management shortcomings, long queues, booking priorities, and inconsistent staff responses, which affected the overall experience. Some comments discussed industry insights, car performance, and pricing, while a few off-topic or heated debates arose about other brands and industry issues. Overall, sentiments ranged from enthusiastic support to constructive feedback, emphasizing Proton’s technological advancements and areas for operational improvement.