Proton Achieves A Major Milestone As Three-Millionth Car Rolls Off The Line

25 August 2008 · posted by Staff

Proton has marked another significant milestone with the roll out of its three millionth car just 23 years after the first Proton rolled off the production line in 1985.

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was the guest of honour at the ceremony on August 7 which was part of Proton’s Technology week which was held to showcase the company’s capabilities in automotive technology, innovation and R&D.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Ms Penny Williams joined in the celebration as a guest at the ceremony along with the high commissioners and ambassadors of all the countries to which Proton exports cars.

In just over two decades, Proton has gone from the start up of an assembly line to full design-and-build capabilities, producing a range of fuel-efficient safe and reliable cars that are now sold around the world.

The company is now capable of taking a concept from initial idea through the detailed and complex process of 3D modeling, prototype creation, homologation and testing to final mass production of new cars.

Proton’s manufacturing facilities have also expanded with two factories in Shah Alam and a newer advanced factory located at Proton City in Tanjung Malim.

Proton’s Technology Week was held around the 3 millionth car ceremony to showcase the processes involved in the design and engineering of a car and also to encourage interest in automotive engineering for aspiring engineers, stylists and designers.

Proton has invested more than $AUD 1.2 billion in R&D activities and is one of the few international standard automotive facilities with its own ‘virtual reality’ lab.

Proton chairman Dato’ Mohammed Azlan Hashim said the company had built its capacity and capability over the last 23 years and in that time has produced 56 variants from 17 models which have been sold in Malaysia and in international markets around the world.

“Proton has progressed from merely assembling completely knocked down (CKD) cars to localising and developing its own products, and then into engine manufacturing and setting up a full-fledged research and development centre enabling us to design and manufacture our own product,” said Dato’ Mohammed.

“The focus of Proton’s R&D is to provide customers with a better driving experience, improving technology through in-depth R&D helps PROTON achieve that goal,” he added.

“Our technology focus is to meet customer requirements not only in design aesthetics, but also through improved fuel economy, enhanced safety and by producing vehicles that are increasingly environmentally friendly.”

The three millionth Proton was a new Saga manufactured at the Shah Alam plant.

The new Saga, a model which was launched into the Malaysian market in January this year, has been an enormous success in the domestic market and will be launched as an export model in the next six months.

Saga has showcased Proton’s development and progression as an automotive manufacturer and is testament to the company’s stature as the regional leader in Automotive R&D and Engineering Design.

The company’s plans to launch its first Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) are well advanced with the car due to be officially launched in Malaysia in early 2009.

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