20 May 2008

Proton Might Make It To India

After months of waiting, it seems like Proton is heading for India finally. The Malaysian car manufacturer, who had been involved in failed talks with India’s Sonalika Group and car major Hindustan Motors, is said to be now looking at separate manufacturing and marketing distribution pacts.

According to a report, the Malaysian major is in talks with Argentum Motors for getting its vehicles contract-manufactured in India. The Indian company, has manufacturing facilities at Surajpur in Haryana, and is promoted by B V R Subbu and Ajay Singh. Proton is said to be looking at getting its vehicles made to specification without having to invest significant amounts of money in putting up a manufacturing facility all by itself.

The report on this appeared in a prominent daily in India, but Proton has not yet made any statement regardin its plans. However, going by the report, it seems like Proton is serious about its India plans.

Even as it zeroes in on a manufacturing partner, Proton reportedly is in discussions with two other Indian automobile majors such as Mahindra & Mahindra and the Hero Group, for marketing and distribution of its cars . Though this is also unconfirmed news, the report may be believed considering the Malaysian major’s keenness on an India presence.

Though decisions might take a while, owing to the fact that Proton is a government-owned company, the car maker would soon be seen in India. Proton has its own manufacturing facility only in Malaysia and assembly units in Indonesia and Iran. Despite having low production volumes, Proton has access to some of the latest vehicle technology through its acquisition of British marquee Lotus Technologies a few years ago, the report added. Lotus Technologies make models such as Saga, Wira and Satria.

[Source:Dancewithshadows]

Proton has a big line-up on cars below 10Lakhs, except the Proton Chancellor. But most of its cars like the Proton Perdana, Waja CPS and the Saga is quite old and boring, but are good in specs.

The best possible good cars that might come to India are:
1. Proton savvy
2. Proton Persona IAFM
3. Proton Satria Neo
4. Proton Saga
5. Proton GEN.2
6. Proton Impian (nice interiors)

1 comments:

Dipanjan Roy said...

Its a good news that the international car manufacturers are intervening the Indian market. Proton saga looks very promising, lets see how well it does on road.

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