Proton X70 CKD plans on schedule – launch this year

Proton X70 CKD plans on schedule – launch this year

According to DRB-Hicom managing director Datuk Syed Faisal Akbar, the planned introduction of the locally-assembled (CKD) Proton X70 is currently on schedule, and will take place this year. When it is launched, the CKD version of the X70 will replace fully-imported (CBU) units that are currently still on sale.

“The upgrading works and preparation of Proton’s plant in Tanjung Malim to support local assembly of the X70 is going as planned and almost completed. Following that, test assembly of the vehicle will commence as well as fine tuning the processes to ensure quality is at its best. Similarly, all vendors involved are being prepared for this purpose,” said Syed Faisal.

On the matter of the amount of local content that will be used for the X70 CKD, no percentages have been revealed for now. “However, features such as the GKUI infotainment system will be updated and revised for local users,” he added. As an example, the maps used for the navigation function in CBU cars is based on a Baidu version developed in China.

When asked if DRB-Hicom is continuing to invest in Proton after Geely became the national carmaker’s strategic partner, Syed Faisal explained that all investments into Proton together with Geely is done in two ways.

The first is based on the percentage of shareholdings and interest, which involves both companies – DRB-Hicom (50.1%) and Geely (49.9%). The second way, being the main method of investing, is through bank loans. In other words, both stakeholders are directly involved in investing in Proton.

This post is adapted from an article posted on our sister site paultan.org/BM.

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Gerard Lye

Originating from the corporate world with a background in finance and economics, Gerard’s strong love for cars led him to take the plunge into the automotive media industry. It was only then did he realise that there are more things to a car than just horsepower count.

 

Comments

  • YB Kunta Kinte on Apr 11, 2019 at 12:43 pm

    Proton is doing so well now. In 20 years, sales were so bad and company was mismanaged.

    Anyway, all this success, we have to thank Li Chunrong. Li Chunrong in just 6 months already identified what was making Proton lose money and cause it to become bankrupt. He found out, all the kroni vendors and suppliers were overcharging Proton big time

    Our local CEOs, the past 20 years, could not identify this.

    Bravo to Li Chunrong and Geely for Proton’s success now

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 72 Thumb down 16
    • Dettol on Apr 11, 2019 at 2:33 pm

      (Like) Proton X70
      (Dislike) Nissan XTrail

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 54 Thumb down 9
      • Nenek ko on Apr 11, 2019 at 2:51 pm

        Proton X70 rivals are GLC200, BMW X3 & Q5.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 35 Thumb down 24
        • Nenek john 2019 on Apr 11, 2019 at 3:36 pm

          GLC200, BMW X3 & Q5. Even the Game Changing Aruz, X70 cannot beat. For sure those 3 Game Changers will Game the X70 Over…

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 61
          • Dtg dari batu cave ka? Aruz cannot beat X70 laa

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
          • Nenek old already, never read and follow latest auto news.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
    • John Doe on Apr 11, 2019 at 6:51 pm

      dude, it is not even rebadge assembler work now but a reseller as all work is done in China! there is no work for malaysian locally! The other news mentioned DRB said not so soon! Its helping China GDP than Malaysia!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 10
      • Not Toyota Fan on Apr 12, 2019 at 12:28 pm

        And what’s the other option????

        Continue with the same way of doing things, coming out with vehicles that can’t even break even, keep using Euro4 compliance engines, keep banging head on the wall with the yearly reported losses, keep asking gomen for money …..?????

        Yah, make huge yearly losses, keep asking gomen for bailout & the fat cats all laughing to the offshore banks.

        All just to shiok sendiri, be kampung champion, keep head under the coconut shell. Contribute to Msia GPD konon. Bu+0h lah.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  • Tahniah! Onwards to gip Boyue/X70 into the proud ownership of 1 million customers.
    P1, Geely, Mesidis, VolvoCar, VolvoTrucks, Lotus, L&C, Polestar > all

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 5
  • 25k bookings and that after 8k delivery? This is the hotest SUV in MY history.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 35 Thumb down 1
    • jane doe on Apr 11, 2019 at 3:56 pm

      Booking fee must be very low la.. Duno hw many loan rejected !!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 8
      • Logical Deduction on Apr 11, 2019 at 4:39 pm

        All units shipped to Malaysia were took up. This doesn’t reflect a low booking fee nor high loan rejection.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0
      • You are referring to the Aruz? Many Aruz loans got rejected because salary not enough. I heard now have ready stock and no need 10% downpayment.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • john 2019 on Apr 11, 2019 at 1:22 pm

    Once CKD in here, expect the quality to drop 10X and Game Over. Moreover, massive cancelation of X70 bookings will happen and all move the Game Changing Aruz with top quality!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 92
    • You have been telling us that since Aruz came on sale, but what we see today is Aruz bookings are being cancelled and many would rather wait in line to get X70.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 48 Thumb down 0
  • Thanos on Apr 11, 2019 at 1:32 pm

    Those owners bought CBU X70, RV dropped 25K

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 30
  • Rakyat Msia on Apr 11, 2019 at 1:36 pm

    Reply and Reply.. Geely > DRB-Hicom > Geely
    Just tell the CKD price will between +/-

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Please sell it below RM50k , otherwise no takers…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 31
  • Change ur head laa…tok kok here and fake ID somemore. Aruz now less 3000 units behind of X70.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 2
  • alldisc on Apr 11, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    after sales still the one badly need improvement. for instance, many cars found PDI QC not done. secondly, technicians sayign or claiming this is normal, that is normal. china car. what do you expect. thirdly. spare parts availability. make sure common neeed parts like front and rear body parts and windscreen and side mirrors are always readily in stock and not need 3 weeks to wait for order.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 13
    • Since only you didn’t realise, FYI the aftersales have been thoroughly revamp in line to be 3S/4S centers. Aftersales satisfaction have been increasing ever since then.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 0
    • Not Toyota Fan on Apr 12, 2019 at 11:21 am

      Agree. This is a general statement. The 3S/4S although has improved drastically, still need to improve more. Bear in mind, the hardware can easily be upgraded (just need money for renovation) but most crucially, the human capital (software) is the most important factor to upgrade. Not just education but also change mindset.

      But, to be fair, Regal Motors PJ has so far been doing a good job. The Service Advisor Mr. Wan knows his stuff & the mechanics so far has not screwed up. Can see they try their best & have good attitude. Kudos to them.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • finger crossed, hope they maintain the quality after CKD

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Apr 12, 2019 at 12:30 am

    improve gkui

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Ruslan Bahari on Apr 12, 2019 at 8:45 am

    If you didn’t already know, Proton is doing well now because when they were part sold to Geely, some of the proceeds from the sale were used by DRB to wipe off the borrowings. A clean slate. Even Ahmad Maslan could have turned the company into black after that…

    But the vendors yes… they have toed the line. That to me is the single most significant progress in the carmaker. It is now run like a business should. No government interference is also a boon.

    Yes, credit is somewhat also due to CEO Li. He cracjed the whip, and is exactly what Proton needed, just as Malaysia needed Mahathir’s alleged dictatorship in the early 80s, and how Singapore needed Kuan Yew’s also alleged dictatorial style in the mid-60s.

    Majulah Proton.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
  • Not Toyota Fan on Apr 12, 2019 at 11:40 am

    Proton better be on schedule !! Original plans was for end Q1 but later on reschedule to Q3. So earliest CKD come out for sale is only Q4.

    Hopefully the new localised GKUI software will also be available for upgrade (download) for CBU units. Baidu maps is like the very early versions of Google Maps (pre Waze integration). Not very clever routing AI, not many POI, unable to save to favourites, traffic notification not accurate etc. Baidu maps talks too much, it’s like having your mother-in-law ranting on and on the entire route, “go straight, keep going straight, after this traffic light go straight ….” Heck, they can’t even get basic English Grammar correct, it’s as if the spoken instructions were literally translated from Mandarin. The only thing good about it is the Junction View (more intuitive than Google Maps).

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • How much reduction for ckd will it be?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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