KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he hoped the Proton-Geely collaboration will lead to the production of a truly Malaysian car in the future.
He said since teaming up with Geely, Proton has made progress including the launch of its first sport utility vehicle, the X70.
"Of course this car is not designed and built by Proton entirely but in order to be fast on the road, you have to cut corners," he said after launching the model’s four variants here tonight.
However, Dr Mahathir said Proton should continue to make progress and participate in developing new models.
Noting that Proton Holdings Bhd was already making progress since teaming up with Geely, Dr Mahathir said the company’s recovery will be enhanced by the introduction of the much anticipated X70.
The X70 is billed as the first premium SUV by a Malaysian automotive brand, and was jointly developed by Proton with partner Geely.
Proton is targeting a new market segment with the launch of the SUV, and it has also been hailed by the car maker as the key catalyst for the ‘total rejuvenation’ of the brand.
“I am extremely proud seeing how Proton has grown so much over the past 35 years. I am sure that it will come up with many more new models which will make the country proud.
“Maybe after this, the cars will be conceptualised, designed, tested and built as a truly, 100 per cent Malaysian car in the future..this can be achieved with Proton’s cooperation with Geely,” he said.
Also present were International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking; Proton non-executive director Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar Syed Ali Rethza Albar and Proton chief executive officer Dr Li Chunrong.
Dr Mahathir expressed confidence that the X70 would get a positive response from Malaysians,
He was also awed by the SUV’s ability to communicate with its driver.
"You can use basic English to give instructions to this vehicle and it will do whatever you order.
“I hope it will also learn to do it in Bahasa Malaysia,” he said.
The launch of the X70 is the final culmination of over a year of preparation.
National carmaker Proton's search for a foreign strategic partner ended in May last year, after Zhejiang Geely Holding Group signed an agreement to acquire a 49.9 per cent stake in it.
“The Proton X70 is the result of more than one year of hard work by Proton and Geely engineers, designers and hundreds of other people working together to develop the first premium SUV by a Malaysian car manufacturer. Proton is proud of our achievement and it is our belief Malaysian car buyers will be equally proud to own an SUV that will help to transform the Proton brand.
“With over 10,000 bookings, it already has a good start so we will work hard to deliver on our product and brand promise,” Dr Li said earlier.
Li said deliveries of the new SUV will commence over the next few weeks.
“We want customers to get their cars as soon as possible. Some have had to wait for over six months, having given their name to dealers before bookings were even officially opened, so Proton is thankful to them for their patience and incredible brand loyalty,” he added.