[Vindicator]

Dear friends

So this is the naked truth, that proton is a world class car company
interm of product design. We only take 25 years to come to this stage,
not a bad performance for malaysian engineers.

Regards

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Proton in product collaboration with Mitsubishi
By JAGDEV SINGH SIDHU and DANNY YAP (Star Friday 05/12/08)


KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd and Mitsubishi Motors Corp have agreed
on a product collaboration that would see Proton source a vehicle from
Japan to replace the Waja and Mitsubishi take the Persona and Proton’s
upcoming MPV (multi purpose vehicle) to be marketed as Mitsubishis in
certain markets.

The agreement would also see Proton and Mitsubishi Motors jointly develop
a small hatchback car that is slated to be introduced after 2010.

The deal with Mitsubishi, which would have met the internal wishlist of
Proton, departs from the strategic partner through equity shareholding
route many had expected Proton to take as it tries to find its footing in
a globally more competitive business.

The methods of a product collaboration were spoken in some detail by
Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir in a
recent interview with Bizweek when he said some of the world’s biggest
names were knocking on its doors to form a strategic collaboration.

“Today we are sitting on an opportunity and we need to act fast. The time
is right for us to look (for a strategic partner). The current global
crisis gives us an opportunity and going forward, we need to have better
economies of scale.”

Mitsubishi Motors president Osamu Masuko said talks were ongoing and
positive.

“We have a good long and healthy business relationship with Proton over
the years and welcome any ideas,” he told StarBiz in an interview
yesterday.

However, Masuko said any announcement of new developments in terms of a
collaboration between the two parties should come from Proton, adding
that Mitsubishi did not expect an equity stake in any collaboration.

“We are already business partners of Proton as we still supply some auto
parts for the company,” he said,

The agreement between Proton and Mitsubishi Motors marks a return to
closer ties between both parties.

The original Proton Saga was based on a Mitisubishi Lancer and other
Proton models that were based on Mitsubishi platforms included the Wira
and the Perdana.

But both companies had a falling out and shareholding ties ended after
the Japanese manufacturer sold its stake to Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Apart from a rebadging exercise, both companies are also earmarked to
produce a small hatchback car.

Syed Zainal said there was a strong pull among global car makers to
produce a small car or an “A-class segment car.”

“By ‘small car’, I mean a small hatchback, one with space and that offers
fuel economy. It’s in demand now,’’ he said, adding that it would likely
be done through a joint venture.

“It must be a joint development and I can assure you there is no lack of
interest,’’ he said.

Apart from having a low-cost production base for a small car, the tie-up
with Mitsubishi Motors could allow Proton to get its hands on an engine
from Mitsubishi Motors that would power the planned hatchback.

The joint collaboration on the hatchback would mean shared costs and a
division of marketing rights on future sales of the car.

[ropaisoft]

they need to issue a press statement, to say 'THANK YOU' to *ALL* malaysian
motorists for subsidizing them in those 25 years.

[TheGunner]

Mitsubishi Persona... that's a good one

Would be good if Proton has access to some of Mitsubishi'powerplants like
the 4B series, the newer versions of the 4G9x series or if we are
fortunate, the upcoming 4N1 series

[Tourist]

It shows this SZ is a businessman. Unlike his predecessor who's more of the
'blow hot air' type.

[mych]

Lotus makes small car too.. why not just fit in a small engine?

[SplitFire]

The new Mitsu-Waja...yummie!

[SexyThang]

proton's greatest asset is the malaysian taxpayer. nothing more.

[freezehell]

haha.and 25 years of rakyat contributions are squandered away within the
last few years.

Look at proton's value now. What have you and i gain? We only gain 7-10
years loans for an overpriced substandard car.

We are not sure how many lives are lost on the road because of proton.
Are proton cars subject to crash and safety tests? Its braking
efficiency? etc.

Your lives are cheap when you are stupid ...as simple as that.

[mus888]

Time to wrap up proton...because of you we are paying so much for cars
and streecccch loan period.

[mackie]

Both carmakers are struggling so this is not such an odd pairing. Bad times are going to hit all carmakers especially the smaller ones very hard so let's start counting the days till they close shop for good.