According to a report by Automotive News Europe, France’s Groupe PSA confirmed it has submitted a bid for a strategic partnership with Proton. The company, along with China’s Zhejiang Geely are reportedly the leading parties to become Proton’s partner.
“PSA Group made an offer and is willing to go further. We have no additional comment at this stage,” a PSA spokesman said in an email. Besides the Malaysian carmaker, the automobile manufacturer is also in talks with GM to take over Opel-Vauxhall.
Analysts say should PSA Group secure the partnership, it would allow for access to Proton’s underutilised facilities to serve as a production and export base. This will help support PSA’s goal of expanding its presence in Southeast Asia (Thailand and Indonesia) as well as other emerging markets.
Meanwhile, Geely has pitched to DRB-Hicom that it will offer Proton some of the latest vehicle technologies it has developed with Volvo’s input as part of the deal. Entry into the global right-hand drive market is to be gained for Geely from this partnership as well as technology-rich Lotus, which is owned by Proton.
DRB-Hicom previously stated (again) that Proton’s strategic partner will only be announced by end of 1H 2017, pending detailed negotiations with the bidders to ensure that they meet three key criteria – which are the strategic, operational and cultural fit. It also said that it will maintain a significant equity in Proton as it is the first national and ASEAN’s only car manufacturer.
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Yesterday Geely, today PSA, when will Proton be loyal?
Since when P1 announce which they chose?
Proton is just saying: “we have two bidders, one from PSA and another from Geely.”
Proton is just negotiating (I mean waiting) which company is willing to pay more undocumented cash (I mean donation) direct to directors & CEO.
Dun care as long as money comes in, not out.
This only tell one things, NazaAP have FAILED Peugeot in Msia… the sales of Peugeot in Jan17 only 115 units, so SHAME on AP NAZA Peugeot, Hino(300) Fuso(190) bus lorry even sales better …!!! selling AP just easier like selling hot Pisang Goreng, but not the case of OEM brand development …?
How about if Tata India also make a bid for Proton. Good partner, Asian also.
Not bad, at least got competition to Geely
If PSA wins, suddenly it will be the best automotive company according to Proton staff.
Proton, if you’re reading this.. we trust any cars but a China car. Go for PSA instead.
And the all new Suprima can be a rebadged Vauxhall Astra VXR. Isn’t that nice?
Geely is probably one of the only chinese car maker that i really think will go somewhere. They did a good job on reviving volvo. Don’t be too naive and open up your mind to the possibilities. Volvo > PSA
Really? Then all future proton cars will be like Tiara and Savvy. Cheap cars with ridiculously pricey parts
U pernah pergi china kah? Obviously never. Comment after yoy go there
I will take PSA as a foreign partner over Geely anyday.
Heard Geely offered to buy proton at 20 million USD while PSA offer 10 million USD only. Cos proton is worth that amount of money only. Garbage junk company.
Where you heard man, I don’t see any. Source please.
You heard it from where? Proof or didnt happen
In the end I alwiz knew u were a P1 basher under all that insincere praises.
Rm20million, million? U must be mimpi
Futile effort.
Also the worse choice. Do you want your future proton to always turbo bocor? Visit SC every weekend? Proton SC bills go to 4, 5 figures and deemed normal? Wait for months for parts from France to arrive?
Geely > all
Volvo > all
Why need wait parts from France when they can built those parts here?
You are old scool guy, life and cari makan under tempurung only.
The irony i embrace the future is in Chinese car, yet deemed old school.
As far as electrification is concerned, Volvo is pretty advanced, easily more advanced than PSA.
They will be more future proof vs PSA cars.
Chinese is also master in manufacturing, they’re the world’s factory, literally.
Thanks but no thanks, PSA.
The new PSA puretech engines can be employed without pairing with turbo.
I don’t know about you, but to me, the high resentment towards further Chinese investment will only reflect purely on Proton sales if Geely clinch the deal.
PSA may be doing not so good in Malaysia ( still better than Chinese passenger car brands though) but if their Opel buying go through , the surely popularised German based technology could be a far better thing that the buyer look towards to than the Chinese’s one.
>French
>Reliable
Can only choose one.
If Volvo is any indication, it is proof Geely can leave things to its subsidiary to sort its own problems, pursue own strategy so long it’s viable and sound. Of course, it helps they’re very generous with financing Volvo’s ambitious.
Hence, why Volvo appears to be very independent vs Ford era. They hired very high amount of engineers in Gothenburg, stay focused on making modular powertrain, platform and electrification strategy works.
The result is plain to see, Volvo now in its best shape ever. I believe similarly, Proton can succeed this way too.
I would focus on development of GDI + Jatco powertrain, scrap saga, focus on the P2 platform that underpins Iriz, Persona, spawn a crossover variant with it. Share parts as much as possible, reach economies of scale as quickly as possible, focus on qc, low defect, good fc (hopefully new powertrain achieves this), low service cost (can be adjusted/planned out) it’ll work out for short, medium term.
Others, like MPV or big SUV, luxury sedan, just rebadge Geely’s car, or sell as Geely itself. People have seen Geely Boyue and Borui, imagine both selling at rm100k (which is very possible if Geely is serious, do market penetration strategy), under cutting CRV, X-trail, Accord, Teana, Camry. Scrap perdana (no need pay honda royalty), ertiga (suzuki royalty), save cost.
This way, both low end and mid segment market taken care. For luxury segment, Volvo will look to have bright future with upcoming 40-series and 60-series models. Win.
With PSA cars, Proton will profit from more aftersales services not technology transfer. There will be increased complex electronic and mechanical issues for SC to handle & cost for owner. There is no foreign market for rebadge proton cars as PSA would have their cars there already. Just as most ppl here mentioned, they would rather have PSA over China indicates that there is zero opportunity for Proton overseas. Its like Malaysians prefer VW over Skoda. For Geely, having access to Lotus only adds to their portfolio. Its not something that they would fair badly without since they already have Volvo. Volvo cars do not have bad handling capabilities or poor engines to begin with so the technical knowhow is already there. Geely would however gain in F1 presence from Lotus and this is part of their future plans. The fact that Geely have little presence in RHD market gives Proton the opportunity to sell cars to more overseas market. Geely doesn’t have “cannot sell” mentality unlike Proton and would fair better in oversea markets where there is no pricing mechanism which Proton had relied on heavily to sell. Proton would also gain from new high quality China build type of cars that Malaysians have yet to experience. We saw this transition in Volvo where reliabilty had greatly improved vs Ford ownership days.
Regarding the question of between Geely & PSA who will transfer the most no. of technology? -Nobody outside Proton’s & DRB-Hicom ManCo would exactly know because what we heard all these while are only media speculations. Only the DRB-Hicom/Proton’s Top Management could see the details of the Bids Proposals.Same thing goes for the overseas market opportunities for Proton.
Ever heard of localisation?
Hahahahhahahahahhaa
My Iriz brake pedal and brake switch going into 2nd month still waiting parts to arrive and replace.
Localisation what? Useless also if crony style inventory management system aka don’t have!
Geely still make crap cars even after the Volvo acquisition, granted they also make Volvo and all the fancy tech stuff. But Volvo has always been deemed upmarket: Proton not so much, if we learn anything from the Chinese, Proton will become Geely; a substandard car with substandard part and quality
I hope that everything will change n also hope perdana will not like old honda accord, no suzuki, new proton suv like 2008, new engine (diesel, hybrid, plug-in-hybrid, electric vehicle), latest technology, new safety features, ABS, EBD, BA, ESC standard for all models, high quality car, cheaper price….. everything . . . .
DS3 rebadged as Satria Neo.
308 rebadged as Persona.
408 rebadged as Preve.
508 rebadged as Perdana.
Grand Piccaso rebadged as Exora.
What else I missed out?
LOL
Yes, Saga becomes new cheap sub-brand of PSA similar like Datsun to Nissan.
Actually, the whole Proton should be new cheap sub-brand of PSA. PSA don’t have any yet.
May I add:
208 rebadged as Iriz.
208GTI rebadged as Iriz R3.
2008 to replace Ertiga
The interesting bit is… Geely is willing to buy in P1 because is really eyeing Lotus technology… doesn’t need P1 manufacturing facilities coz cheaper still just to bring their cars in. While offering its tech, P1 still needs more money to change the manufacturing n production process to adapt to new tech.
On the other hand PSA eyeing P1’s manufacturing facilities to expand into the asian market n have no need for Lotus.
Decoupling P1 n Lotus would lessen its overall value but could be a way to apease all parties n P1 can still come out a winner.
In terms of technology and capability proton is actually not that far behind. The real problem with proton is money. It cant even pay its vendors properly. Its business plan is very bad and Protons cars are not really desirable. Unless these strategic partner can inject some cash into proton, restrategize and make its car desirable again then these strategic partner will only have a huge trouble ahead.
Why do you think Proton cars are not desirable in the first place?
Inject not only cash, INJECT DESIGNERS AND ENGINEERS to make the car desirable.
Design good
Performance good
Reliability good
~It will then be desirable. Maybe P1 never knew about this.
Who in his right mind would want to partner with a loser? 32years in the field, still doing re-badged vehicle to sell.
Belajarlah kamu hingga ke negeri china,, proton kalau nak berjaya kena belajar dengan china, tgk siapa pegang ekonomi sekarang. Nk main continental? Tgk savvy. Tgk tiara, waja 1.8. Apa jadi? Kasihan owner. Nak support buatan tempatan tapi kualiti hampeh. Spare part mahal, kereta banyak problem, brapa ratus ribu rakyat malaysia kecewa dengan proton. Bahkan juta. Bukan x nk tolong.. buat pilihan bukan semata2 duit sahaja. Tapi mana yg lebih bersungguh untuk memajukn proton. Adioss