PRO-NET has announced the expansion of its charging infrastructure network in response to the increasing demand for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in Malaysia. With a commitment to accelerating adoption and facilitating convenient travel for EV owners, our organisation is dedicated to providing seamless access to fast and efficient charging solutions across the country.
Since the introduction of the Proton DC Charger at its headquarters last October, PRO-NET has been proactively expanding the charging infrastructure at its Proton Edar Dealerships. In collaboration with partner Gentari, we have successfully deployed six (6) DC Chargers, totalling twelve (12) charging bays, each equipped with two nozzles. This rollout includes a variety of charger types, including 50 kW, 60 kW, 100 kW, and 120 kW DC chargers.
Proton, mencatatkan kadar pertumbuhan sebanyak 17.1% berbanding bulan yang sama pada tahun 2023, dengan 11,025 unit (domestik dan eksport) terjual berbanding 9,415 unit pada April tahun lalu. Jualan bagi empat bulan pertama tahun 2024 juga meningkat kepada 50,175 unit, lebih tinggi daripada 49,702 unit yang terjual dari Januari hingga April 2023. Jumlah Keseluruhan Industri (TIV) bagi pasaran automotif Malaysia pula juga meningkat kepada anggaran 59,100 unit untuk tempoh yang sama, dengan jumlah kumulatif sebanyak 261,345 unit bagi tahun ini.
Pegangan pasaran Proton dianggarkan pada 18.7% pada bulan April, manakala pegangan pasaran dalam tahun ini dijangka pada 19.2%, mengekalkan kedudukan kedua dalam tangga jualan automotive negara. Jualan eksport khususnya, memainkan peranan penting dalam prestasi syarikat, melonjak sebanyak 38.5% dari 603 unit kepada 835 unit sejak awal tahun hingga bulan April.
Proton X50, SUV kegemaran Malaysia selama tiga tahun yang lepas, mendahului semula jualan SUV segmen-B walaupun menghadapi persaingan yang semakin sengit, ia mencapai jualan 1,642 unit pada bulan April. Sementara itu, Proton S70 telah mendahului jualan sedan segmen-C sejak awal tahun dan berterusan dengan 1,635 unit terjual pada bulan April. Bagi tahun 2024, ia telah mencapai jualan kumulatif sebanyak 7,463 unit.
Para pembeli di Malaysia menunjukkan minat yang besar terhadap model sedan terkini ini yang menampilkan reka bentuk yang menepati cita rasa generasi muda, ketersambungan, keselesaan dalaman, dan enjin turbo. Ia juga dilengkapi dengan ciri-ciri keselamatan yang komprehensif yang memberi keutamaan kepada kebajikan pemandu dan penumpang, terbukti dengan penarafan ASEAN NCAP 5 bintangnya.
Model terlaris Proton, Proton Saga, mencatatkan 5,031 unit pada bulan April dengan jualan awal tahun sehingga kini meningkat 8.8% kepada 23,278 unit, mengekalkannya sebagai pilihan utama bagi pembeli kereta dengan gabungan ciri, kemudahan pemanduan, dan nilai. Bagi model Proton yang lain, jualan untuk Proton X70 mencapai 552 unit, manakala sedan segmen-B Proton Persona, dan SUV perdana syarikat, Proton X90, mencatatkan jualan sebanyak 1,429 unit dan 312 unit masing-masing. Proton Iriz, kenderaan hatchback segmen B, menambah 424 unit kepada jumlah jualan April, membawa jumlah jualan awal tahun sehingga kini kepada 1,958 unit.
Sejak awal tahun, jualan eksport Proton telah meningkat sebanyak 38.5% kepada 835 unit berbanding 603 unit yang didaftarkan dalam tempoh yang sama tahun lalu. Proton Saga telah mendahului jualan eksport dengan 427 unit terjual sejak awal tahun. Proton X50 pula menduduki tempat kedua dengan 176 unit terjual, manakala Proton S70 merekodkan 89 unit dalam pasaran eksport tunggalnya, Brunei, untuk empat bulan pertama tahun ini.
Proton continues to show robust growth in sales, posting a 17.1% increase in April 2024 compared to the same month in 2023, with 11,025 units sold domestically and for export. This growth trend has also extended to the first four months of 2024, with total sales reaching 50,175 units, surpassing the 49,702 units sold during the same period in 2023.
The Malaysian automotive market as a whole has seen growth, with an estimated total industry volume (TIV) of 59,100 units for the same period and a cumulative total of 261,345 units for the year.
Proton has maintained its position as the second-highest seller in the overall national automotive sales ranking, with an estimated market share of 18.7% in April and a year-to-date market share forecasted at 19.2%.
Export sales have played a significant role in Proton’s performance, experiencing a remarkable 38.5% increase from 603 units to 835 units year-to-date in April.
Notably, Proton’s models have performed well in their respective segments. The Proton X50 regained its position as the top-selling B-segment SUV in Malaysia, with 1,642 units sold in April. The Proton S70 has led sales for C-segment sedans since the beginning of the year, with 1,635 units sold in April and a cumulative total of 7,463 units for 2024.
The latest addition to Proton’s lineup, featuring a youthful design, seamless connectivity, and advanced safety features, has garnered significant interest among Malaysian buyers, contributing to the brand’s overall success.
The Proton Saga remains Proton’s best-selling model, with 5,031 units sold in April and year-to-date sales up by 8.8% to 23,278 units. Other models, including the Proton X70, Proton Persona, Proton X90, and Proton Iriz, have also contributed to Proton’s sales volume.
In terms of exports, the Proton Saga leads the pack with 427 units sold year-to-date, followed by the Proton X50 and Proton S70. Overall, export sales have seen substantial growth, reflecting Proton’s expanding presence in international markets.
Proton telah membuka pusat penyelidikan dan pembangunan (R&D) di China baru-baru ini untuk mengukuhkan usaha kerjasama dengan rakan kongsi Zhejiang Geely Holding Ltd (Geely) dalam langkah untuk melengkapkan kemudahan sedia ada di Malaysia. Bertempat di Institut Penyelidikan Automobil Geely (GRI) di Teluk Hangzhou, pembukaan pusat R&D Proton (China) juga bertepatan dengan ulang tahun ke-50 hubungan diplomatik antara China dan Malaysia.
Keupayaan Proton untuk mengkonseptualisasikan, mereka bentuk, membina dan mengeluarkan kenderaan baharu dari awal telah membezakannya daripada jenama nasional yang lain. Proton akan terus melabur dan mengembangkan kemudahan R&D tempatan di Shah Alam dan Tanjong Malim, Malaysia, sambil membangunkan kumpulan modal insan yang berpengalaman. Sejak beberapa dekad yang lalu, Proton telah memupuk kecekapan yang unik bukan sahaja di Malaysia tetapi juga di rantau ASEAN.
Dengan pembukaan pusat R&D Proton (China), kebolehan ini kini telah diperkukuhkan dengan meningkatkan sinergi kecekapan dalaman Proton dengan sumber dan pengetahuan Geely. Pusat ini juga akan membantu meningkatkan kerjasama rentas sempadan, memudahkan pemindahan pengetahuan antara Proton dan Geely, serta memacu inovasi untuk produk yang sesuai bagi memenuhi keperluan pelanggan Proton. Dengan aspirasi yang mencerminkan kisah kejayaan Teknologi Kenderaan Euro China (CEVT) di Gothenburgh, Sweden, perkembangan terbaharu ini mampu mendorong pusat R&D Proton di Malaysia menjadi pusat R&D global kumpulan Geely yang keenam dalam rangkaian tersebut.
Untuk memaksimumkan kekukuhan masing-masing dan menyesuaikan diri dengan keperluan pembangunan strategik kumpulan, pusat baharu itu akan mengabungkan kepakaran dan pengalaman jurutera dari Malaysia dan China. Akhirnya, dengan tenaga kerja kira-kira 50 pekerja, ia akan menjadi rangka kerja untuk latihan dan output bakat antarabangsa Proton dan Geely.
Proton recently opened its research and development (R&D) centre in China, marking a significant milestone in its partnership with Zhejiang Geely Holding Ltd (Geely). Situated within the Geely Automobile Research Institute (GRI) at Hangzhou Bay, the Proton R&D Centre (China) aims to complement its existing facilities in Malaysia and enhance collaborative efforts with Geely.
This new centre is poised to strengthen Proton’s R&D capabilities by leveraging synergies between its existing competencies and Geely’s resources and expertise. It will facilitate cross-border collaboration, knowledge transfer, and innovation to develop products tailored to meet the needs of Proton’s customers.
Mengikut laporan Motoqar minggu lalu berhubung pemilik Proton S70 Flagship X mengalami 73 masalah pada kereta sedannya, pemiliknya, Ku Azhar Ku Razi, 34, telah memberikan maklumat terkini mengenai situasi tersebut. Ku Azhar mendedahkan keretanya telah dibawa ke Pusat Kecemerlangan Proton di Shah Alam untuk penilaian.
“Pada 17 Mac, tiga wakil daripada Proton tiba dan mengesahkan sejumlah 83 isu tulen dengan kereta itu, yang akan diperiksa secara menyeluruh,” kata Ku Azhar.
Dia seterusnya menyebut keretanya telah selamat diangkut ke ibu pejabat Proton di Shah Alam. Selain itu, jumlah isu meningkat kepada 83 selepas panel pemeriksaan mengenal pasti kecacatan kosmetik tambahan.
Following Motoqar’s report last week regarding a Proton S70 Flagship X owner experiencing 73 problems with his sedan, the owner, Ku Azhar Ku Razi, 34, has provided an update on the situation. Ku Azhar revealed that his car has been taken to the Proton Center of Excellence in Shah Alam for assessment.
“On March 17, three representatives from Proton arrived and confirmed a total of 83 genuine issues with the car, which will be thoroughly examined,” Ku Azhar stated.
He further mentioned that his car had been safely transported to Proton’s headquarters in Shah Alam. Additionally, the tally of issues increased to 83 after the inspection panel identified an additional cosmetic defect.
Proton has come a long way since the launch of the first-generation Proton Saga back in 1985. They have evolved and adapted to current trends to ensure their survival in the ever-changing automotive market.
How? Well, we all know Proton’s collaboration with Geely to introduce models that can compete with other manufacturers. But does it stand out from the rest? We recently got to test out Proton’s latest model, the Proton S70. Now, Proton claims it to be a C-Segment sedan. This means the S70 is competing with the Toyota Corolla Altis and the Honda Civic.
However, the S70 is a rebadge of the Geely Emgrand sedan, which is a B-Segment sedan. So we don’t think that the S70 belongs in the C-Segment and it should actually be competing with the Honda City and Toyota Vios. But even then, is the S70 better than the two?
Visually, the car looks pleasing. It has a sporty yet elegant design with refined lines and curves. The LED taillights are something we really love because of their striking light bar that does a little dance when you unlock and lock the car. The front grille is adorned with chrome pin inserts and LED projector headlamps, which also does a little dance.
If you’re getting the Flagship X, which is the variant we drove, you get a sunroof. Not ideal for our Malaysian weather, but it looks cool. It also comes with 17-inch 10-spoke wheels wrapped in Goodyear Assurance TripleMax 2 tires.
There was nothing not to like about the S70’s visual cues because it is a pretty good-looking car. We were given the one in Teal Bayou Green, which is one of the best options because it brings out the elegance in the car. We managed to turn some heads too! However, the more popular choice is Marine Blue because it has a three-month waiting period.
Moving on to the interior. This is where we have some complaints. Now, the S70 measures 4,638mm long, 1,820mm wide, and 1,460mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,650mm. This makes it slightly smaller than the Emgrand but larger than the Proton Preve. This writer has owned a Preve before and would like to point out that the Preve had more legroom than the S70. For the driver, it’s no issue to adjust the seat to however you’re comfortable with. However, if you’re a rear-seat passenger, you may struggle as the rear legroom space is horrible.
For it to be a family sedan or a “C-Segment” sedan, this should not be an issue. We took our family for a drive, and they struggled to get in and out of the car. The driver and front passenger had to get out of the car and push the seats to the front to allow the rear-seat passengers to get out. If the ones sitting at the back are elderly, tall, and people, they might struggle a bit more. So we were very disappointed with the interior spacing. If it’s just the driver and a front passenger, it’s fine because you have the luxury of pushing your seats to the back.
Now on to the infotainment system. The S70 comes with a 10.3-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Decent sizing compared to the TV screens that some cars nowadays get. The biggest flaw is that it does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and we absolutely hate this. If this were integrated, it would have made life so much easier. But not to worry, Proton has stated that these features will soon be added, and a simple software update is needed. Unless you own older models, then a hardware upgrade will be needed.
Adding to the frustration, the positioning of the infotainment screen on the S70 is rather annoying. We feel like it is too close to the air conditioning vents. If you are the type of person who relies on using your phone for Google Maps or Waze, it’s going to be an issue because the only option you have for a phone holder is the one with the suction cup that sticks to the windshield.
Although it can be done, it will leave a mark on the windshield. This writer personally uses the one that clips onto the air conditioning vents and that was a hassle because the pop-out buttons that are below the vents were in the way of the phone, and the infotainment screen was bulging out a bit that the clip could not fully be latched on. So we had no choice but to use the driver-side air conditioning vent. Which meant that the said vent was useless, other than cooling down the phone.
Yes, we know that there are many options when it comes to phone holders, but it is still a hassle to find one that suits this car perfectly.
Sometimes, physical buttons are the best way to go, in our books at least. But some somethings were not taken into consideration such as switching the drive modes, adjusting the air conditioning temperature, and operating the sunroof. You must go through the infotainment screen to do so.
The integrated GPS can be a little buggy as it stopped halfway while we were using it. But thankfully Proton’s voice command worked well so we were able to set the GPS again without messing around with the screen.
Now let’s talk power. The Geely Emgrand is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine that puts out 102PS and 142Nm of torque. Proton S70 has a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-three which is also found in the Proton X50. This pushes the power a little bit higher to 150PS and 226Nm of torque. It’s paired with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.
The S70 struggles a little bit when you hit the throttle because the power only kicks in after a few seconds. Only when it gets going, you will feel the power. We find it to be just enough. If you need a little bit more kick, you can switch it to Sports mode which sharpens the throttle response and the brakes become a bit more sensitive in a good way. However, the throttle can feel a little choppy at times but it takes getting used to. The auto-hold function works perfectly fine and you can play around with it to see which suits you best.
Another thing that we noticed is that the engine sound can get a bit loud especially if the car is idling. Inside, you won’t hear it that much unless you floor it, but when standing outside, it is very noticeable.
The flat-bottomed steering wheel feels comfortable and gives us the confidence to take corners and because of the front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion beam, the S70 takes corners like a champion. On the highway, Sports mode is the way to go, unless you’re stuck in traffic then we suggest switching it to Eco mode but around the city, Comfort mode would be the better choice.
When we picked up the car, we had a full tank and a total driving range of 777km. After all the driving and testing, we still had around 250km left. So it is safe to say that there will be no range anxiety when it comes to the S70.
For a car that is priced at RM94,800 (OTR without insurance), it comes with a decent amount of safety features. The ones that we used often were the Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention. And if anything were to happen, the S70 comes with six airbags.
The S70 1.5T Executive is priced at RM73,800, the Premium at RM79,800, the Flagship at RM89,800 and the Flagship X at RM94,800. We were amazed by how low the prices were when Proton first announced them.
The Honda City’s pricing starts from RM84,900 to RM111,900 and the Toyota Vios is from RM89,600 to RM95,500. So the S70’s prices are more affordable compared to the two competitors.
The question now is, would we get the S70? If we were willing to sacrifice legroom space, not having Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, then perhaps we might get it. But this is just our two cents about it. Perhaps you, the readers, might have a different perspective about the Proton S70.
Specifications
Engine: 1.5 litre turbocharged inline-three
Transmission: Seven-speed wet dual-clutch
Power: 150PS
Torque: 226Nm
Price (as tested): RM94,800
We like: Looks, Feel and Price
We don’t like: Lack of space, infotainment system, and choppy throttle
More than a hundred parts suppliers and vendors associated with Proton Holdings Bhd are facing severe financial strain due to escalating operational costs. Despite efforts by the Proton Vendors Association (PVA) to engage with the national carmaker regarding their challenges, appeals have gone unanswered, leading to a precarious business environment for suppliers.
According to NST, Datuk Liu Guoquan, president of the Malaysian Fujian General Chamber of Commerce, suppliers are grappling with decreased orders, resulting in financial instability. Proton’s failure to meet promised quantities of parts orders for its models, including the X50, X70, and X90, has led to a production output reduction of 30% to 50%, exacerbating the situation for suppliers.
The financial strain faced by suppliers poses a significant threat to the automotive industry chain, potentially affecting approximately 50,000 employees. Many vendors are experiencing financial losses and some are forced to cease operations altogether, raising concerns about the industry’s sustainability.
Lawatan media ke Proton Parts Centre Sdn Bhd (PPCSB) memberikan gambaran tentang ekosistem pergudangan syarikat dan menggariskan perkembangan terkini dalam pelan penambahbaikan pergudangan rantaian bekalan alat ganti Proton untuk 2024. Terletak di Taman Perindustrian Hicom-Glenmarie, Shah Alam, Selangor, PPCSB telah menjadi pemain utama dalam perdagangan komponen kenderaan bermotor, alat ganti, dan aksesori di seluruh dunia sejak penubuhannya pada tahun 1992.
Fakta dan angka yang dibentangkan semasa lawatan memberikan gambaran mengenai pelanggan yang luas di PPCSB, yang termasuk 354 Pengedar Badan & Cat, Stokis, dan Pusat Servis Berlesen, bersama dengan 26 pengedar luar negara. Secara ketara, PPCSB telah memperluas ruang gudangnya sebanyak lebih dari 35% dalam dua tahun terakhir, mencerminkan pelaburan strategik untuk meningkatkan pegangan stok dan memastikan bekalan pasaran tepat pada masanya di semua kawasan.
