Troubled carmaker Proton has lost its top dog status after nearly a quarter-century as Malaysia's biggest-selling carmaker was edged out by another homegrown manufacturer, Perodua.

"This is the first time Perodua has secured the number one spot," Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Aishah Ahmad said Thursday.

Proton's market share has fallen sharply in recent years due to the whittling away of duties that has made imports more affordable and a persistent reputation for poor quality and unimaginative models.

Proton was set up in 1983 as part of Malaysia's drive into heavy industry while Perodua began operations in 1995 as a producer of small and fuel-efficient compact models.

In 2006, Perodua led national sales with 152,733 units, giving it a market share of 42 percent, up from 32 percent the year before, according to MAA data.

Proton sales fell to 115,538 units for a market share of 32 percent, down from 40 percent in 2005. It had held the top sales spot since 1985.

Japanese small-car maker Daihatsu Motor, a subsidiary of Toyota, owns a 51 percent stake in Perodua which has produced a series of attractive models well suited to the Malaysian market.

In a telling tale, Proton's new compact Savvy model launched a year ago has been ignored while Perodua's Myvi with its better looks and high-quality interior has a long waiting list and is massively outselling the Savvy.

Loss-making Proton is in the process of selecting a strategic partner to arrest its sharp decline and is in negotiations with US auto giant General Motors, Volkswagen of Germany and PSA Peugeot Citroen oF France.

The Malaysian government owns 59 percent of Proton, including a 43 percent stake held by its investment arm Khazanah Nasional.

The MAA said sales of new motor vehicles in Malaysia, Southeast Asia's biggest passenger car market, fell 11 percent to 490,768 in 2006 and forecast growth in 2007 to remain flat with just 1.9 percent expansion to 500,000.

Aishah said the slowdown was due to higher interest rates, stringent approval processing of hire-purchase loans and shorter repayment periods, as well as higher fuel costs and extremely weak used car prices.

"It will be a competitive year (in 2007) but the worst is over. Consumers will have to accept the prices for their second-hand cars," she told a press conference.

Sales of imported vehicles fell 15.1 percent last year to 80,931 in 2006, with this segment sector led by Japanese carmakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

Ang Bon Beng, executive director of Nissan distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motors, said vehicle sales for the first quarter of 2007 were expected to be quiet.

"Only in the second quarter, when industry players bring in new models, will there be a slight improvement," he said, adding that Nissan will introduce two new models.

"This month is unusually quiet (ahead of the Lunar New year celebration in February). It is quite abnormal compared to the last two years. I expect sales to be flat for the whole year," he added. - AFP

http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/newsncom.php?itemid=2090

Comments
terung nakal wrote:
I still remember sometime in late 96' when i wanted to buy a Satria..what option back then to buy car..
So came out proudly the proton advertisement,Satria with downpayment Only RM 14,xxx...

Sekarang Proton..apa sudah jadi??

Served you right you *******!!!
25/01 22:33:38
KopiO wrote:
Proton has made us drive expensive but extremely inferior car. We consumers are practically paying from our own pocket to subsidize incompetency, inefficiency and near-monopoly of the national car maker.

Proton is Mahathir's pet project that is a disgrace to Malaysia. You deserve what you get today. Sell out Proton and I will open my wine to savour sweet revenge!
25/01 22:50:51
mendela wrote:
.
With almost all employees of Proton from a single race, how can Proton not fail?

There was a report recently said that Japaneses, Chineses and Koreans are the smartest people on earth, even smarter than the North Europeans!

I probably know why. These people all use chopsticks!

Vietnam people use chopsticks too. Though they are not in the smartest list, but who else on earth had beaten the French and the mighty Americans?

Malays MUST use chopsticks at home. Many studies have proved that using chopsticks would improve your IQ.

To turnaround Proton, all Proton employees must use chopsticks!
25/01 23:06:54
AnginLalu wrote:
###'... a persistent reputation for poor quality and unimaginative models.###

Yeah, for a good 25 years 90.9999% of fellow M'sians had been short changed with that shitty over-hyped socalled "national car" at an artificially high price tag! All thanks to the F@#KING 'genius' of that menacing visionary!!!
###... negotiations with US auto giant General Motors, Volkswagen of Germany and PSA Peugeot Citroen oF France.###

Take your long sweet time to negotiate; the owrld out there will wait for you?! Day Dreamer: PROTON BODOH!

2006, 32%; 2007, sure only 24% ('yee-seh' i.e. EASY DIE!; 2008, 14% (DIE 10 times!), another forgone conclusion!

You can only fool the people some times.
But you just cannot fool the people all the times. The truth is out now, COLD BUT TRUE!
25/01 23:08:22
KopiO wrote:
mendela,

Your comments are very racist lah...I don't think the Chinese readers here would agree with your point of view.

I suggest you read a famous book entitled "The Ugly Chinese" by a Taiwanese author Po Yang, which was published in 1980s and became the Chinese bestseller during the time.
25/01 23:14:30
johnleemk wrote:
Because of our excessive protectionism, our car industry is hurting. Perodua, which was always forced to play second stringer to Proton in government subsidies, thus had greater incentive to compete and innovate, leading to its current domination of the local auto market.

The government must fix its economic policies if it wants to keep the country from failing. Continue down the path of protectionism, and we are doomed:

http://www.infernalrambling...
25/01 23:21:50
mendela wrote:
.
Dear KopiO,
I read that Po Yang book when I was a kid. We cannot compare ugly with high IQ.

Nothing racist here. I am telling facts. Indeed that IQ comparison report was in major world media about a week ago.

I am saying it is for the good of the nation and Proton, no hiden agenda nor racism.I want all Malaysians to have higher IQ!
25/01 23:24:02
KopiO wrote:
mendela,
May you succeed in your endeavour...
25/01 23:26:25
HonestTruthful wrote:
Mendela's comments may be racist, but it's the funniest comment I have ever read for a very very long time. Oh man!! It's so funny!!! LMAO
25/01 23:28:06
emptychatter wrote:
The rot will continue unless Proton resorts to drastic measures.
I rate Lim Kit Siang a greater visionary than the other guy. He called it a "Protean Saga" when the other was adamant in going ahead.
Time has revealed another folly of this so-called "great vsionary" besides many more to come.
25/01 23:35:53
dcmchin wrote:
Remember those days that we were forced to buy the so-called national car with full accessories, otherwise, no deal.

Remember those days that we were forced to put up with the arrogant sales man, otherwise, get your new car next door.

Malaysia Boleh. Great wake up call.
25/01 23:39:21
mendela wrote:
Dear HonestTruthful,

Thanks for your support. I just telling facts and commonsense. I am not racist!

By the way, do you know why Japanese companies are focusing their FDI in Vietnam now?

The answer is chopsticks! Like me, most Japanese multi-national companies think the same too. Vietnam is the only developing countries other than China that use chopsticks so their operators must be having high IQ and highly skillful!
25/01 23:43:19
davidpaul2020 wrote:
if proton failed it was because of failed management, not a failed vision.

If one has a problem differentiating between a vision and management, then I suggest getting a good dictionary.

But again, what's the point? some people are beyond education.
25/01 23:43:22
LT wrote:
wahh.. davidpaul2020, garangnya.
26/01 00:00:16
ChowChiBaiMalay wrote:
Proton is TRUELY A PIECE OF JUNK.

I ahve just sold off my WAJA, LOSTING RM39,000 in 3 years.

I have never buy Proton for life. Everyone who buy a Proton is a FOOL.

You will regreat for life if you buy Proton.

TELL ALL MALAYSIAN to BOYCOTT PROTON and Let Proton die of natural death so that we can enjoy cheaper and better quality imported car.

PROTON -> PLEASE CLOSE SHOP NOW. You are DOOM !
26/01 00:05:34
skamil wrote:
Proton started out ok but lost its way. Its top management did not have the vision nor the courage to compete. Instead it chose to take on Perodua - but failed because its design and engineering team did not understand what Malaysians and other customers wanted. So we had to endure ugly and unwanted cars like the Tiara, Juara, Arena and lately the Savvy.

Ironic because Proton was not savvy enough to produce MPVs, SUVs and saloons that were much desired and in demand. This demand was tapped by Naza / Kia, Toyota and others.

Worse, Proton, simply failed to leverage on Lotus and then decided to acquire a failing motorbike producer which cost the enterprise dearly.

From my observations and analyses, Proton is suffering from dire lack of automotive passion, failed marketing / CRM and non-existent business acumen further compounded by 'small-minds' in its management. Our government must let Proton go by divesting shares in the company. Proton must find its way and hopefully market success, on its own merit and competing with others without protection. Only then would it find inner strength to compete and survive in a globalised market; or else it may just let itself get taken-over, failing which it should try to make a graceful exit.
26/01 00:06:51
Solaris wrote:
The vision to have our own national car is inline with the vision to be fully industrialized country by 2020. It is not because the car is sub-standard or rather low quality. Take Datsun 120Y last time wasn't it like Tin susu? But I still remember that car sold well here in Malaysia even the Singapore Police used that model as their patrol car back in the 80's. The problem with Proton is that the current government does not care less about our national assets. For them by having Proton is a liability to them. Proton have the potential to become global player if they stick to the right direction.....The only hope to save Proton is to get rid the current management and appoint new team consist of top brass of automotive industries. Let it be foreigners as long as Proton remains MALAYSIAN PRIDE...
26/01 00:09:25
KarmannGhia wrote:
What has happen to our national pride now? Proton no more? whatever is happening? Proton can't even perform with TDM?

What's new?

Brings to mind the children's rhyme.......

"all the king's men and all the king's horses, couldn't put humpty back together again"
26/01 00:32:30
WTF wrote:
Just close down Proton and we consumers will be very happy.................Toyota cars at Proton cars price...........hmn....hmn........
26/01 01:03:58
cynical cynic wrote:
Mendela

One of the most briliant deduction I have seen on MT - LOL!

I would also like to add another insight into Proton's quality stamp system (LULUS, Sahabat Proton etc), which is supposed to be the benchmark of prestige and quality. What most people don't know is that Proton has been adopting a new benchmark for their quality stamp however this has not been made public.

So before you buy your next Proton, look for the sticker and verify the status

LULUS! - The bumper and soft top are about to fall off in a few months time. Engine is expected to run with occasional breakdowns.

REALLY LULUS - Basically like above but with the bumper problems mostly fixed, however this come at the expense of the wobbly side mirrors.

LULUS (mouse edition) - practically like LULUS but the inside fitting is done in such a special way that a squeeking noise can be heard when driving 120 km/h on a highway. Suitable for family with pet cat to prevent the feline from getting bored in the car.

LULUS - PERCAYALAH! - Avoid this at all cost. This particular unit has actually failed the quality control test however the supervisor couldn't be bothered to complete the quality control form because he couldn't find his pen.

SAHABAT PROTON - Another word for 'Proton suckers community'. The whole concept is a bit like the 'AA alcoholic anonymous' network - the whole aim is to enable all Proton owners nationwide to cry on each other's shoulders for emotional support (at a bargain fee of RM45.99 a year)

So watch out when you buy your next Proton. Adding this to the fact that Proton is currently considering to change their corporate motto to 'Caveat Emptor'. Consider yourself warned!
26/01 01:17:18
bumi non malay wrote:
Proton = UMNO Racist = LOUSY Ciplak

crazy to buy proton , Insane to buy its used car......still people don't learn then serve you right!!...To the sane Keep up the Boycott of Proton and anything UMNO racist!!
26/01 04:05:30
Grasshopper wrote:
Good riddance to bad rubbish! Bought my first Proton then found that my 4 year old second hand VW in Canada was a far superior car than a new Proton.

The whole Malaysian car project reeks of a bad scam job. From "optional" accessories that is rammed down your throat to additional financing charges.
Unfortuantely, Joe Public gets taken for a ride yet again.

Thats the price you pay when the company is run by people afflicted with CJD.
26/01 06:32:50
arion2000 wrote:
The time of punishment is upon you o dear Proton. Be prepared to be axed.
26/01 06:38:16
head hunter wrote:
bank bumi, bank rakyat, perwaja, public universities, tabung haji, proton ............... d list goes on n on.

what do they all hv in common? they r staffed by almost, if not fully, 100% malays.

is there a lesson to b learned here? yes.

n that is, u can gobble up everything, but in d end, it is still SHIT that comes out.

when r d malays ever going to learn?
26/01 07:35:44
kautim wrote:
No need to learn one lah also got money comming into the pocket wat. So if cannot kautim, pass back to gomen lah, cos failure is always an option. Like that one mesti boleh kautim.!!
26/01 07:59:00
brs1 wrote:
Proton started off very well. It then had vision,protection etc. Along the way, seeing its success, the Great visionary leader DR M decided it should be the showcase of the achievements of one single race. That is where it went wrong. It got people who could not spell 'automobile' into the industry, was it the late Tan Sri or the Raja Mahaleel who did it I am not sure. I have had 4 protons. The engine is ok. As for the other thing it could be better. I will still buy a proton because it is made in Malaysia. Have that spirit we will do better.
26/01 08:13:20
temanmu wrote:
Satu lagi Projek Kerajaan Barisan Nasional
26/01 08:36:42
whodhellknew wrote:
When are we gonna learn not to generalise races?

When are we gonna learn that we can be wrong too?

Don't get me wrong, I think Proton needs a good tune up. I just think a lot of commenters here need to think more.

cheers

Mix politics with manufacturing and this is wat you get...

In fact mix anything with politics, most of the time we wiill be on the losing end...

Sigh... we poor souls are stuck in the middle

if import cars are more affordable, it will affect Perodua too...and yet Perodua continues to gain share. so there is only 1 real reason....Proton's poor quality and unimaginative models.

durian berlaga, timun yang susah

haha, thats good news... at least proton has a bit of pressure now...
hopefully with pressure and competition there will be improvement

btw, i am not proton basher, all the cars at home are protons.... will continue to support if they impove. but at the rate they are going i think my next car will not be one

all I can say is mua ha ha ha ha.....



but to avoid this being a spamm post.....

what I can really say is, change the management.

also, its about time they have a wake up call....bad quality.....bad service....expensive spare parts.....bad designs....20 year old technology.......

time has come that they should realise squeezing consumers blood must come to an end.....

This post has been edited by tester1979: Jan 26 2007, 10:54 AM

After I have collected my first 20k in the bank, I was going to buy a Neo.

yes, produce the car that people want, not produce the car that is the best in the world...

Well this is not the first time, I bet they've been hearing it ever since.
And I doubt they will ever change...

Well they knew this was coming. 2 years ago I thought they will actually do something to win back consumer's confidence. Then came along the Savvy and I was like...

Hopefully they will be bold and come up with something interesting. Frankly, they have lost their every day car market. Since they claimed QC is imrpoved, why don't go one step further. No more facelift nonsense and tall box with wheels. Focus on performance. Give us that campro with variable valves timing which they promised. Probably with a turbocharger. I'd buy one.

think they cant do that due to political reasons

proton is pathetic lar

s expected by consumers,proton shall rot in h3ll.

dont lah rot in hell, at least they still provide the rakyat with the cheapest cars in their class.... so got a bit of credit la.

maybe as first cars ppl will still buy but for repeat customers will be a 50-50 issue...
maybe a slow agonizing death, unless vw or gm take over control... wait for the new ppl

hmm, this sentence a bit weird to me...

haha, becoming politician...

bashers contradict themselves

some wants them to produce the best car in term of performance, the other wants them to produce the car the people want ..this two will not mix well.. as I remember not long ago some bashers scolded Proton for placing importance on profits alone?

producing unimaginative models and wants profits only, I think this is what Jeremy clarkson had been against..at least they are not producing the cars to the whim of ignorant populace...they have created cars that are great to drive unlike any other local car manufacturers that only know how to create profits only...

Stupid thread like the TS himself...not that this is new.

i din say the best car that i mention is from proton, u assume only

proton never produce best car in the world my fren..read carefully

This post has been edited by Ken: Jan 26 2007, 12:09 PM

hahahah.....anyway,i dont mind driving a car with a Proton Emblem in front of my hood IF and ONLY IF they improve the built quality and at least give us sum better tect features( I believe they can and able to do so).....its such a sad case seeing a 20 year old car manufacturer with these kinds of results....lets just pray hard that sumone (VW or GM) will save them and also save us(consumer) from all the nitemares that we had for the past 20 years

Huh? what are u talking? on crack? What you mean by the first paragraph? oxymoron?

And whats other local car are u talking bout? Perodua? Dude, you sound like you are working for Proton and the comments like that make you sound real pathetic.

Proton are making 'profit' no matter how many cars they gonna sell, coz end of the day, the 'rakyat' have to bail them out.

it looks cheap coz they make other car too expensive

this is what you get if your're not using chopsticks... LOL
Let the "National Treasure" die of natural causes lah... stuff like MAS and Proton are losing money because of incompetent management. The Gov pumping money in it will not produce any improvement because of the public's perception of the brand... sudah busuk kononnya.

Is any car out there that can satisfied all people? What kind of contradiction are you blithering about? I wanted a perfomance car and perhaps that would catch on. Proton started, and then Perodua taking over this everyday car business so that they can move one step further. If you want to bring Jezza in, he likes superminis. Particularly, the Yaris from Toyota which also owned Perodua but definately not your Savvy. You made it sounds like Proton is actually pleasing us by not making mass-produced cheap cars anymore and others still do. And Proton has actually given us something superior but we don't appreciate it. With Savvy? Give me a break. The fact is, Proton and Perodua are still selling those what you called ''unimaginative models''. Just that both sell craps but your Savvy is crappier than crap judging by the sales volume. If you try to be something bad and still failed, it can't be any worse than this.

This post has been edited by -=Axis=-: Jan 26 2007, 01:01 PM

Well said, anw, let him alone lar. Cheers.

PROTON sux... juz like streamyx...

Judging a car by its sales volume..I have nothing else to say...i guess we could bash P2 for not stop selling kelisa, kancil to make way for myvi which isn't supposed to directly compete with savvy.

I"m a Proton supporter..proud to have PROTON power sticker on my windscreen...proton tiger logo on my car body..does that mean I'm working for Proton..only stupid people only think that way.

Other cars might be a different story, as far as Myvi and Savvy are concerned, they're targetting the same market, what tells the truth if it isn't sales volume? You're aiming to sell your product to the same group of people as your competitor and they have sold more, is there any word other than failed?

Indeed this is so true.

a new management team might help Proton...

Yea, government should leav proton alone. Give them only support instead of managing them!!

only moral support though......i am against monetary support........because gov money come from where.....the rakyat lah......

Source : http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.js...0c4b00-695f9236

pride?????.....but I am not that proud of Proton......

yes, let us all use chopsticks, my god what a moron, want to be racist oso must be smart abit la, use chopsticks as an example, idiot.

i hate these racists, they dont use their brains. For once i'd agree with the dude who said "you tak suka, you keluar!".

oh BTW, good for potong, they suck, we need better cars for our money's worth.

This post has been edited by Xonius: Jan 26 2007, 03:27 PM

the gov makes them cheap by making others expensive

ah, u r here finally. yes, nothing new, sh1t as b4. the pot calling the kettle's black

i tink 1 day he will die in a proton

best seller normally is the cheapest not the best

btw, have you tattoo the proton tiger logo to ur backside?

ahahah! talking about Proton logo..

That Proton logo is kopi & pasta from Thundercats series.



Damn proud eh?

This post has been edited by nexona: Jan 26 2007, 05:10 PM

spot the difference, why proton din kena sue 1??

This is a good example of what kind of mentality that we dont need.

why dont u take a closer look at those true racists there huh? now tell me do we need those too?

and besides ure going off topic, and i was commenting to some of the posts in the TS's quotes.

OH BTW, i wasnt pointing out any fingers, so please dont assume, i was agreeing it in general, like saying, if a person welcomes u into his house and u hate his bed, feel free to leave the house.

This post has been edited by Xonius: Jan 26 2007, 05:50 PM

Just like an editor said.. Proton is paying the price by launching 3 hatchbacks in a row.. Perodua's sales sky rocketed after launching MyVi while Proton has a sea of unsold cars in Shah Alam. No surprise to see Proton being knocked off the no.1 spot since March 2006. Most of us can see this coming rite?

It was just a matter of time that proton falls, they need to improve alot if they want to gain back the no.1 spot.

and i dont see perodua as much difference, they too suck, actually them both are much the same anyway, only one produces slightly cheaper but more dangerous to drive cars.

Given that you don't stay in his house, you can leave anytime and don't bother with the stupid bed but unluckily, you are staying in his house and with a valid citizenship in his house but outside his house you are illegal immigrant, can you leave so easily?

So much so that it came out it was not his house in the first place but he claim it is. And so unlucky that you are born and tied in his house and have 2nd or 3rd class treatment from him.




Both sucks. But judging from the results, one of them sucks so much that it is struggling feed political vampires while maintaining positive.

This post has been edited by dstl1128: Jan 26 2007, 06:57 PM

one thing, First Come First Served. lol. Actually, what ure saying applies almost everywhere, not just Malaysia. And i'm sorry, just accept the reality as it is, we know it sucks, but its real.

If I may ask, which local car manufacturer created cars that are great to drive? How do u define that by the way?
And just how long do u think a car manufacturer can continue to create cars that are great to drive without acknowledging profitability? If Proton balance these two well, then what lands them into this difficult position?

It is ok if you think that we should not judge from its sales volume only and that proton really produce great cars, I respect your opinion, really. But you don't have to force your view onto others, by start calling names, it really doesn't make u any smarter either

Proton is a sinking ship. When politics is mixed with the goon squad management, you will get a problematic company. The way Proton chooses its suppliers are also quite questionable. The car components contracts goes to which director's relatives which may or may not have any experience in coming up with those car components. There are also so many problems which i won't be listing down. In the end Proton comes up with crap car taking the public for a ride. Proton cars= crap cars. Savvy, Neo watever cars they produce i won't touch no matter how some one say it is good. The brand name is like shit already to me.

This post has been edited by Avex: Jan 27 2007, 12:35 AM

Yeah lol, what to do.


Actually many people hope Proton would perform good 20yrs ago. Growing years of going backward just reduce their patient to none. It's an eye sore to see 'new' car like Saga and Wira still producing for 20yrs.

If Toyota were selling AE82 right now and still with a carburetor engine without any safety features... they might be long gone by now.

Big deal Proton still having market shares in Malaysia automotive market is so much better than the morons behind keyboards who think they can do better than Proton but having no share in the automotive market at all.

Better than some idiot who can't provide any feasible reasons for Proton continual survival.

Oh btw, more views on Proton recent news

http://paultan.org/archives/2007/01/25/pro...-proton-shares/

There are 2 possibilities:

1) Thundercats series is old, they dont want to bother to sue Proton.
2) They probably dont even know the existence of Proton.

This post has been edited by nexona: Jan 27 2007, 03:01 AM

is that hypermount?

i hope they dun coz if they do, it will be our money

---

Added on January 28, 2007, 7:02 ammaybe those idiots dont want proton to survive

This post has been edited by Drifter: Jan 28 2007, 07:02 AM

I could be blind here..where are the similarities

Thundercats were my idols :/

damn i felt old ..some forumers could just hit puberty and they dun realise a thing

growing up during the great era of 80's watching thundercats, he-man, sabre riders, robotech etc and of course love those series airwolf and knight rider although the heli and car aren't that great in real life..

Proton Thundercat naming for their one of their future model is not bad after..something named after fierce cat, madcat

---

Added on February 2, 2007, 1:01 amno sorry he meant those idiot blind basher like you.

This post has been edited by hypermount: Feb 2 2007, 01:01 AM

i from the same era also

lol, somebody got pawn...