AUTOMOTIVE FACTS
A car means freedom and in 1983, Proton Holdings Berhad was formed to provide exactly that to the Malaysian public with quality, value-for-money and affordable vehicles.
As the only full-fledged car manufacturer in Southeast Asia to design, develop and manufacture their own cars, Proton have made great strides since their inception and have continued to evolve themselves with an aim to provide better cars to the mass public.
Cumulatively, since its first production in 1985, 1.56 million of the iconic Proton Saga has been sold. Meanwhile, 230,000 units of the Persona have been sold since it was introduced in late 2007. Overall, more than 3.5 million Proton cars have been sold throughout the years.
In their pursuit to achieve this, Proton have grown big and have involved themselves with many sectors of the automotive industry.
Here, we explore nine facts that show that Proton is a global car manufacturer and are serious about making good cars.
1. Proton owns advanced automotive R&D facilities
Their advanced research facility that was established in 1991 is state of the art with modern equipment and techniques for styling, vehicle engineering, powertrain development and vehicle testing. They then evolved further by including engine machining in 1993 and building a casting plant in 1995. The facilities at their disposable include computer-aided design (CAD), computer aided engineering (CAE), engine dyno bench test, complete vehicle testing course and many more.
2. Proton is the only full-fledged OEM in Asean
The reason that Proton can claim that they are an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is because they have created cars from scratch and own intellectual properties for it. The first car Proton designed was the Saga in 1985, which back then was an instant hit in Malaysia and the United Kingdom. The car was affordable and provided comfort as well as reliability. It was followed by the Iswara. The Waja was next in line in the year 2000 and boasted 95 per cent local content. Furthermore, in the year 2006, Proton went on to develop their own engine called CamPro, now with turbocharged technology. Since the Waja, Proton has gone on to produce other cars such as the GEN2, the first Proton model to use the newly developed CamPro engine, Savvy, the first made-in-Malaysia car with TUV certification for quality, Persona, Exora which is Proton's first MPV, Preve and Suprima S, both cars receiving the highest safety standard by ANCAP with a 5-star rating as well as becoming Protonís first forced induction car.
3. One of the most advanced modern car plants
Protonís Tanjung Malim plant, which was opened in 2004, was accredited by Discovery Channel as one of the most advanced plants in the world. The five million square feet plant can churn out up to 150,000 multi-model products on a common line, allowing greater flexibility in production. With more than 200 of the latest artificial intelligence robots, the machines help to build engine and transmission, stamping, body, painting and trim. Equipment includes machining line, assembly line, stamping press, spot welding robot, roller hemming, body machine layout inspection, robot spray, doorless assembly system, tester line and many more.
4. Proton Super Value (SV)
The Proton Saga SV is the cheapest B-segment sedan in the region which is priced at RM33,876, and is RM5,000 less than the Saga FLX (MT). In fact, the Saga SV is the most affordable B-segment sedan in the Southeast Asian region. Similarly, the Persona SV 1.6L is priced below RM45,000 and is also the most affordable C-segment sedan in the region. Even with the affordable price tag, the Saga SV is rated 3-star by Asean New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Meanwhile, the Persona SV now comes with additional airbags, rear brake discs and ABS/EBD features.
5. Extreme weather testing
Proton accomplished extreme weather testing by successfully testing their cars in the hot deserts of Oman and the chilly climates of Sweden. This is to ensure that their cars can withstand the hottest and coldest conditions.
6. Proton uses German Hot Press Forming technology (HPF)
Hot Press Forming enhances structure integrity of a car by three fold. All Proton Preve and Suprima S produced for the domestic and export markets use Hot Press Forming (HPF) technology, which helps to provide better protection for passengers as well as structural robustness. Proton is also one of six OEMs in the world using HPF technology after the Europeans.
7. Imported to 25 different countries
Proton is an automotive manufacturer with almost 30 years of innovation and export to 25 different countries worldwide. Key export markets include Australia, Thailand, Indonesia amd Egypt.
8. Proton Preve R3 clocked the fastest time (Round 3 of the Malaysian Super Series)
In 2013, Proton's head racing driver and motorsports arm supremo, Tengku Djan Ley, became the first driver in the Malaysian Touring Class (MTC) to set a time below 2:39 in his flying lap, setting the fastest time for a MTC race car, competing with the likes of Mazda, Suzuki and Honda.
9. Team Proton R3 and their achievement
Team Proton R3 holds a strong record in the Malaysian Super Series(MSS) competition by winning it in the past three consecutive years. Also starting the championship this season will be a new look Proton R3 Satria Neo, Proton R3 Prevé race car as well as the newly unveiled Proton R3 Suprima S Malaysian Touring Car.Team Proton R3 will be defending their title at the Malaysian Touring Car Championship of the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) 2014 that is set to begin on 28 March 2014 at the Sepang International Circuit, coinciding with the Malaysian leg of the F1 Race weekend.
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