PROTON Holdings Bhd is ramping up its plant, here, for the full-scale manufacturing of its first global small car (GSC).
Its deputy chief executive officer Khairudin Yusoff said its automation systems, assembly lines and 2,500 workers are geared up for the GSC.
“We are already on a production trial and next week, we will go into a full-fledged pre-production trial,” said Khairudin yesterday.
He did not elaborate on the GSC’s launch date, sales target and development cost but said it will be comparable to some of the B-Segment cars in the market.
“The new car is the next step for Proton, with higher quality, latest technologies and features such as electrical power steering.”
Khairudin said Proton, which is owned by DRB-HICOM Bhd, is going all out to ensure that its models undergo stringent procedures to comply with the highest safety and quality standards.
“The Proton Tanjung Malim plant is the first in the region to use the hot press forming method.”
Hot press forming is a German technology that produces superior body strength that prevents the body frame from crumpling in the event of an accident.
Malaysia is the only country in Southeast Asia and the sixth in the world to adopt the hot press forming method.
The Tanjung Malim plant, which is five times the size of Proton’s Shah Alam plant, is running at half the capacity on a one-shift basis.
The plant carries out 671 component tests on cars and has a manufacturing process involving five shops or sections, namely the engine and transmission machining, stamping, body assembly, paint, trim and final assembly.
It is capable of producing vehicles on three different platforms.