Proton-Perodua merger

According to motor industry analyst Professor Garel Rhys, a merger between the two Malaysian car companies will create a stronger entity, which would be better equiped to compete with the bigger foreign rivals.

I usually put up only the link to the article but it is no longer active now. Fortunately I was able to save it on my computer. Here is the full article which appeared in the NST, Friday June 30 2006.

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Industry expert: Proton-Perodua merger inevitable
By Kang Siew Li
siewli@nstp.com.my

MOTOR industry analyst Professor Garel Rhys sees a merger between national carmakers Proton Holdings Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) as inevitable in the future to achieve success.

“I don’t think having two Malaysian car companies can be sustainable. Proton and Perodua have to become one company. A merger will create a strong company and help it to better compete with bigger, foreign rivals,” he told Business Times yesterday.

Rhys, a renowned motor industry expert and director of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at the UK’s Cardiff University, is currently in Kuala Lumpur on a brief visit.

He also commended the move by Proton’s new management to sell its entire stake in Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta SpA to Gevi SpA for e1 (RM4.63) as a wise one.

“There didn’t seem to be any synergies there. It (MV Agusta) was a company with small turnover but huge loss. As such, it was most unlikely that Proton could have turned the company around in anything under five years,” he added.

Rhys said Proton has a bigger responsibility to become a much bigger car player in the mass market.

“It must be focused on making cars. Much time, money and resources would have been diverted to MV Agusta (to turn it around) when really this is the time when Proton must develop itself as a carmaker and survive in the ever-more competitive world car market,” he said.

He said the National Automotive Policy (NAP) is a good framework for developing a sustainable car industry in Malaysia.

“It ultimately boils down to entrepreneurship and good management in order to make the plan work,” he said.

The NAP moots the idea of sustainability whereby car companies can make profits in a more liberalised and open market.

“It also indicates that for a period of time, the Malaysian Government will continue to offer financial help to local car companies to put them in a position to compete once the market is fully liberalised,” he said.

“However, that period has to be used to make them (local car companies) more efficient. It cannot be used as an excuse for long-term protection in the local car industr y,” he added.

Rhys reckons that a period of not more than seven years would be enough time for local car companies, namely Proton and Pe r o d - ua, to prepare themselves for full and open competition.

”I don’t think Proton has the luxury of a long period of protection. The world is different. It has got to prepare itself for sustainability and frankly, that’s what the NAP is all about,” he added.

“Malaysia could become one of the best locations for making vehicles in Asean.

And it does not have to be the only one because in the European Union, for example, you can make cars in the UK, Spain, Italy and Ger many,” he said.

Tags: Garel Rhys Merger Perodua Proton

Saudi Prince Waleed's 38th Car

Diamond studded US$4.8 Million SL600 Mercedes.

Check out this real Bling bling which is not meant for wearing but instead for driving. A fender bender with it is going to real costly.

Thanks Ziana.




UPDATE: Proven to be a fake. The car is not encrusted with diamonds but instead with 300,000 Swarovski crystals by Garson USA and was exhibited as part of DUB Magazine's Custom Auto Show & Concert. There is also no evidence that this car belongs to Prince Waleed. Still costs a Million dollars.

Modified Naza Ria 2

Finally got the hydraulics installed on the modified Naza Ria.

Total cost: RM16,000.






Related posts:
Modified Naza Ria

Tags: Modification Naza Ria

Dashboard malfunction

Never wipe your dashboard with glass cleaner fluid, especially if you drive a Proton car and have to park it under the hot sun.

I learnt it the hard way.





Still don't know what had happened. There must have been some kind of reaction because when I got out of my office in the evening, I found out that the top covering on my dashboard had curled up.

Went around for around 2 whole hours searching for a workshop which could fix it. Some said that I would have to get the whole dashboard changed which means around RM300 +. So went to a few chop shops but they didn't have the Wira dashboard.

Finally found a cushion repair shop in Kepala Batas (near the airport) who told me that he could do it for around RM100.

Have to go back next week.

Thanks for showing me the way, Chandra. You have saved me a lot of dough.

Tags: Accident Proton Repair

Modified Naza Ria

Requirement: To enable a wheel chair bound senior citizen to ride comfortably without getting off the wheel chair.

Problem: To convert the Naza Ria without major modifications to the body and with a limited budget.

Solution: To install a remote controlled hydraulic ramp in the back.

Limitations: Still need muscle power to push invalid into the back of the vehicle. Also some safety concerns.

I feel that instead of a ramp, there should have been a hydraulic controlled lift. Anyway, at the budget (around RM15,000) they did a great job.

What do you think? Do you feel that they could have done it any other way?

Some pictures (hydraulics still not installed yet):







Tags: Modification Naza Ria

It is the Satria Neo

I was wrong (read my last post). The new Proton is called the Satria Neo. Maybe calling it the Satria Replacement Model (SRM) is wrong.

The fact that they registered two urls here and here points to the possibility that these two names were in contention.

I am not sure but maybe one of the guys who came up with the name is a Matrix fan. Well I guess it is a much better name than "Desire", which might appeal to the ladies but macho guys (those who love to drive fast and hard) might run away from. And that would be a mistake as we see the particular profile of those this car is targeted at.

BTW, the tag line for the Satria Neo is "Desire has a new name".

(updated: 19th June, 2006)

Related links:

- Proton hopes new model, campaign to boost sales

- Proton Satria Neo 1.3 and 1.6 in-depth.

Tags: Neo New Model Proton Satria SRM

Satira replacement model

Just read in the Mobile Talk blog that the Proton Satria Replacement Model (SRM) will be launched on June 16, 2006 and will be called either Neo or Desire (most probably the later).

Here is a picture, which was posted on the blog.



Another pic from the Lowyat.net forum.


The rumour seems to be correct as there is already a website with some sneak previews.





Related Link: Introducing the Satria Neo

Tags: Desire New Model Proton Satria SRM