The 2022 Proton X70 MC was launched just last month, and one of the biggest changes made to the SUV is the use of the 1.5 litre TGDi engine that is also found in the smaller X50. As announced previously, the turbocharged three-cylinder is now locally assembled at the carmaker’s Tanjung Malim plant rather than being imported from China.
Today, Proton brought members of the media on a tour of the new assembly line responsible for the 1.5 TGDi, also known by its internal codename GEP3 (Global Engine Petrol 3). Located in Proton Tanjung Malim’s Engine and Powertrain facility, the assembly line covers an area of 18,000 square metres and has a current maximum capacity of 180,000 engines when running on three shifts.
The new assembly line is part of an investment worth RM1.8 billion by Proton to upgrade its facilities at its Tanjung Malim site, with operations beginning in April this year. It should be noted that this is the first facility outside China to assemble the 1.5 TGDi, which was jointly developed by Geely (Proton’s strategic partner) and Volvo – other sites are Baoji and Zhangjiakou.
Proton says the 1.5 litre TGDi engine features 30% local content and that 72 parts are currently supplied by 19 Malaysian and four ASEAN vendors. It added that the assembly line is manned by a staff of 202 workers with an average age of just 24 years, with some spending time in China for skill training.
On a related note, the equipment used in the facility is similar to what Geely has at its Baoji engine plant in China, enabling a 47% automation level using an Industry 4.0 (IR 4.0) ethos. Of the 88 stations on the assembly line, 17 are fully automatic, 15 are semi-automatic and 56 are manually operated, with equipment being supplied by ABB, COMAU, FEV China, FEV India, WiBeda and Hangxin.
The entire assembly line is housed in a climate-controlled environment that has an anti-static station to prevent potential damage to electric components used in the engine. Additionally, the assembly line moves on a on a conveyor system that is not only smoother but also cleaner, more durable and cheaper to operate than a chain-based system.
Quality control is another key aspect of the facility, with Internet of Things (IoT) technology being used throughout the assembly process to capture and analyse data to ensure standards are met and maintained. This sees 207 Error Mistake Proofing (EMP) controls and 34 intelligent high-resolution cameras installed on the line to prevent process and assembly defects and reduce downtime with 100% real-time defect detection capabilities.
Fully assembled engines are subjected to a cold test to test for potential leaks without being started. The short duration of a cold test allows any defects to be detected and rectified sooner before engines are sent to undergo a hot test, which takes a longer time as it checks engine operating parameters as they would function real-time in an actual vehicle.
Certain engines from completed batches are also pulled out at random and subjected to a more comprehensive dyno test, with test cycles lasting up to 100 hours at full load to mimic 100,000 km of driving – the data is captured on German evaluation equipment and customised software.
Only when quality standards are met will the engines be shipped of to storage and later, be installed in cars. The 1.5 litre TGDi engine is not only used by Geely and Proton, but also in other brands under the Geely Group, including Lynk & Co and Volvo. Variations of the Euro 6-compliant engine are also used for mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, and to date, it is used by over 750,000 vehicles sold worldwide.
At the current stage, only the 1.5 litre TGDi engine is assembled at the Tanjung Malim facility, but the company says it is able to make other variants of the mill, including the port-injected (PFI) variant for future models.
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Aiyah..Dr.Li tell the Roslan macai to use this 1.5 turbo engine for the sunset Exora,evergreen Saga and neither here nor there Pesona.
Sure guarantee..explosion of sales..u can beat perodua’s 200,000 plus units annually.
Think outside the box..what fanboys want..givelah fanboys.
Stupid to make such demands when there is no need to push for new engines on PIES. Proton cannot sell enough as it is with long list of buyers queuing for their new cars.
you more stupid by calling others stupid.
You’re stupid for calling others stupid when they call you stupid with such stupid comments.
Quality need to be more strict for local vendors.
These 3 cylinders engine are all rejected engine from china. 3 cylinders engine cannot sell in china regardless what brand. China pipu dun want 3 cylinders. So geli kasi campak bagi sama potong.
Lol the reason why they abadoned the 3 Cylinders is due too fierce competition in there, and not because the engine has reliability problems lol …
Proton please do confirm if this local assembly engine can take the 0W-20 Engine oil as well or it has been designed specifically for 5W-30 Engine Oil as stipulated in the X50 booklet.
We know for sure that the China made 1.5TGDi will accept the 0W-20 Engine Oil as it was previously filled with Shell instead of current changed Petronas-GF6A oil. However I can never replicate the fuel savings obtained from the 0W-20 to the current 5W-30 and will likely switch back to using 0W-20 once my warranty is over.
0W-20 Brand A ≠ 0W-20 Brand B
No you cannot compare Shell vs Petronas like that. CBU TGDI uses 0W cause it was designed to run in cold weather countries. Adapting for Malaysian khatulistiwa use have to switch its engine oil to something more suited for our hot environment. Using an out of spec oil might give you better FC but it could damage the engine for long term.
Bro check la on the Volvo Malaysia XC40 on its 1.5L Turbo, it is also using the Castrol 0W-20 so that won’t be affected in Malaysia weather or how that works?
Also 0W has no effect what so ever in Malaysia climate. The viscosity of 20 vs 30 that is the deal.
Kid, do you know mainland china summer season temperature is hotter and dryer than tropical countries climate?
Small kid thinking. Hey kiddo do you know that China is only seasonal hot weather while we have it continuously throughout.
https://paultan.org/2018/05/22/volvo-v40-t4-now-available-in-malaysia/
“Volvo V40 T4 now available in Malaysia – RM154,649”
in 2018
make a new Gen Volvo V40 with the affordable 1.5T 3cylinder.
Renault and VW competitor.
China start by attracting people go in to setup factory…today they are going out to setup factory. How ionic. That when leader have the mind to turn things around and make a country strong vs some only concern of themselves and who to gang up and who not to, power hungry and leave the country and people to suffer.
So is considered clearing 70% stock.
Tengkiu & tahniah CHINA abang besar kita. Long live the long march!