Proton to return to UK in Geely-backed expansion

Significant Chinese investment for Malaysian car maker fuels major global export push

Proton is on the verge of a major global export expansion that is set to take it back to the UK market, sources close to its CEO, Li Chunrong, have revealed.

The expansion, which is also planned to encompass new right-hand-drive markets throughout Asia and South Africa as well as a return to Australia and New Zealand, aims to significantly boost Proton’s global sales following the establishment of a new headquarters and manufacturing base currently under construction in Tanjung Malim in western Malaysia.


Known as Automotive Hi-Tech Valley (AHTV), the facility is part of a multibillion-pound investment by joint owners Geely and Malaysian industrial conglomerate DRB-HICOM Berhad.

The added production capacity it will provide is set to play a pivotal role in Proton’s long-held plans to expand its global sales, Autocar has been told.

“With the investments in place, Proton will have the means to return to markets it departed, while also entering new markets," a source said.

No official timeframe for a return to the UK market has been revealed, though Autocar has been told major export markets will be reached “later this decade”. The brand sold models in the UK from 1989 until 2014.

In 2023, Geely announced plans to invest up to £3.5 billion in the development of AHTV. Later, Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said the actual investment figure from Geely was closer to £7.9bn.



Geely has yet to officially confirm the reported doubling of its investment in Proton. However, recent moves have significantly extended the scope and appeal of the Malaysian car maker’s line-up with badge-engineered versions of some of Geely's best-selling Chinese models.

Proton currently sells four models based on the Geely Binyue, Boyue, Haoyue and Ermgrand, badged as the X50, X70, X90 and S70.

It also continues to produce three traditional models from its former operations with Mitsubishi – the Saga, Persona and Iriz.

Additionally, it has established a new EV brand under the name e:MAS. The brand's first model, the e:MAS 7, is based on the Geely Galaxy E5 SUV. The name e:MAS denotes the words electric and Malaysia.


The launch of the e:MAS brand comes after the recent opening of a new Proton research and development centre within Geely’s Research Institute in Hangzhou, China, in April.

Dovetailed with an existing research and development centre in Malaysia, it is planned to contribute to the development of successor models for the Saga, Persona and Iriz as well as platform integration of other future Proton models. It will also develop market-specific chassis tuning for export models, according to Proton CEO Li Chunrong.

While rival Chinese car makers, including SAIC, BYD, Great Wall Motor and Guangzhou Automotive Group (GAC), are busy establishing production facilities for right-hand-drive models with the view to exports in Thailand, Geely’s decision to invest in Proton is claimed to bring strategic trade advantages.

“The draw that drove them to invest is the benefit from Malaysia’s trade relations with countries such as the US and European Union,” said Ibrahim.

Link: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars...acked-expansion

PS: Will UK people will buy? And since when Iriz was based on Mitsubishi?

This post has been edited by MaybachS600: Aug 8 2024, 01:36 PM

can compete with dacia or not?

i guess former colony car better than some romanian one in their eyes haha

they used to love the saga

What will happen to Perodua?

Mr bean gonna use the car again

so can rebadged Geely to protons

to evade china tariffs in EU...?

Lel
Front door sudah kena bayar expensive toll
Now...use back door.
It won't be long EU will close this back door too.

Compete apa lan? They can buy cherry and other ccp junk much cheaper. For what get one that's been rebadged and uppriced.

Stronk

MG4 is the next best selling EV after Teksar

But I read news few days ago EU to implement heavy tariff to it, so now may be it’s chan for Geely Potong to shine.
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-tran...ion-2024-07-04/

This post has been edited by msacras: Aug 8 2024, 01:45 PM

most probably......u know la......these whitearse so weak....need plotetion

it will be stupid if they are not doing it... surprised they didnt get to export to other ASEAN countries.

Brunei only so far~

use proton as mask to enter uk market. familiar branding compared to Geeli.

malaysia tiggo pro 7 pro looks better.

UK got so many choices, proton can never sell there.

This post has been edited by kelvinfixx: Aug 8 2024, 02:00 PM

Brunei many rich people, proton cannot take off

UK many B40 people, proton sure top sales

this is the very reason geely bought proton for

Probably as a backdoor channel to sell EV😆

Don't la. Later they burned our cars during civil war

Yeah good luck selling the X70 when you have the new VW Tiguan, Pijot 3008, CRV, Rav4, Skoda Kodiaq, Vauxhall Grandland, all at affordable prices.

Right hand drive - evade tariff on UK & Aussie NZ?