During a presentation to Malaysian media last week, senior chief engineer at Geely’s new Hangzhou Bay research and development centre Li Li praised Proton’s chassis department, saying that the Chinese conglomerate could work with the national carmaker on the development of future models.
“I think our future cooperation will be a win-win, value-added cooperation,” Li said, adding that while Geely will help Proton acquire the latest technologies, the latter will also be able to provide valuable input to the former when it comes to future development.
Li also confirmed that, unlike past collaborations with Honda (the Perdana is based on the eighth-gen Accord) and Suzuki (the Ertiga is a Suzuki-derived model), Geely will allow Proton to do its own suspension tuning on its cars, so future models should still feature the ride and handling DNA the brand is famous for.
The first fruits of the collaboration could see the light of day by the end of next year, which is when Proton’s first SUV, based on the Geely Boyue, is set to debut.
AD: Drive the Proton model of your dreams. Submit your details and Proton PJ will get in touch with you.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
AI-generated Summary ✨
The comments highlight Proton’s chassis and ride quality, praise Lotus and Geely for their engineering influence, and admire the ongoing technology transfer. Many appreciate Proton’s handling, especially with Lotus tuning, but criticise other aspects like interior quality and engine reliability. Some point out that Proton’s sales are still low despite good suspension, attributing this to management and supplier issues. There’s skepticism over the timeline and effort needed for models like the Boyue, and discussions about the importance of design, marketing, and brand perception. Overall, sentiments acknowledge Proton’s technical strengths and improvements driven by Geely, but frustrations remain with other quality and sales challenges. The comments also reflect national pride and skepticism about local industry performance.