proton - Why have Proton failed to get established?

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Sun 5 May 2013 22:31
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - daveyK_UK

A Query,

why have Proton failed to establish themselves in the UK?

Are they established in mainland Europe?

What is the set up with Proton UK? Do they import themselves or do they have an agent acting on their behalf?

I presume their cars are generally reliable? The old stuff use to be bagged Mitsubishi's and ran forever.

Not so sure on the latest offerings?

Edited by daveyK_UK on 05/05/2013 at 22:42

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Sun 5 May 2013 22:57
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - mss1tw
I presume their cars are generally reliable? The old stuff use to be bagged Mitsubishi's and ran forever.

Yup. We've had a 1996 1.5Mpi in our family since 1998 (I think). It just keeps on going. Head gasket has been fixed with radweld numerous times, the autobox fluid has never been changed, it gets little servicing these days and still starts and runs well.

When it finally goes to the carpark in the sky the replacement is to be a Gen 2 I believe.

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Sun 5 May 2013 23:23
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - daveyK_UK

I must say, the new ones have a more realistic list price than many other manufacturers.

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Mon 6 May 2013 01:32
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - Auristocrat

Think in the early 2000's they needed a partner to develop models with. VW did enter into prolonged talks with them but the deal stalled as the Malaysian government didn't want Proton to become just a manufacturer of VW clones (at the time Proton were part Government owned).

They also lost market share in their domestic market to Perodua, who were producing vehicles under a collaborative agreement with Toyota - with vehicles like the Myvi (a licence produced version of the Daihatsu Sirion), which were more modern and up-to-date than the Protons.

They re-entered a collaborative arrangement with Mitsubishi in 2007, and produce a version of the current Lancer for the domestic market. They also entered into collaboration with Honda in 2012 to produce new models.

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Mon 6 May 2013 02:45
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - daveyK_UK

Thanks Auristocrat

I read today they are working on a re-bagged, cheap interior fit out of the current Honda Accord.

Now that would be interesting.

Perodua UK have been (allegedly) blocked from bringing the Alza to the UK by Toyota.

The Myii is a good reliable car built on proven Toyota/Daihatsu components, but is now starting to show its age.

I wonder if Perodua will continue in the UK if/when the Myii production is halted.

In many ways the original Sirion/Myii/Jimny was a car ahead of its time with high mpg from a petrol engine, lots of space in a small package and low road tax.

Edited by daveyK_UK on 06/05/2013 at 02:46

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Mon 6 May 2013 11:01
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - Collos25

Some years ago they pulled out of Germany and in doing so signed their own death warrant.

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Mon 6 May 2013 19:06
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - Talking Hoarse

I do recall that they were used as hire cars by a major fleet 10 years ago - and were (in my opinion) awful. Notwithstanding that the Mitsubishi Colt based Satrias /Compacts from a few years back are covetted as cheap competion cars for road etc rallying.

Proton are (or were until recently) used as police cars around Hull, I think complete with LPG conversions. They are one of the very few UK suppliers to have a factory approved etc LPG conversion.

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Tue 7 May 2013 00:30
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - daveyK_UK

Did they pull out of Germany because of the hassle of supplying left hand drive?

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Tue 7 May 2013 01:36
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - Auristocrat

Their first car to be produced in left hand drive was the Wira which they exported to Continenal Europe from '94 - sales were modest in both Germany and Belgium and they later withdrew from both Continental Europe and Latin America.

Current export markets include the UK, Cyprus, Australia, Japan, China - total of about 24.

Their latest model is the Preve - a 1.6 engined C segment sized car (Focus/Golf) - which was introduced in 2012. Replaces the Persona/Gen2, and is supposed to be coming to the UK later this year.

Don't suppose they really helped themselves in the UK with names like the Proton Savvy - which is called the Saga in the domestic market (as was their first Lancer-based model which later became the MPi).

Edited by Auristocrat on 07/05/2013 at 01:40

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Tue 7 May 2013 02:36
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - jamie745

Is this the rag and bone merchant who made a car called the Impian?

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Tue 7 May 2013 13:26
proton - Why have Proton failed to get established? - Auristocrat

Yes - the Impian was made by Proton

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