First topic message reminder :
After many years of going around in circles talking to companies
such as PSA Peugeot Citroen, Volkswagen and GM, Proton has finally
ended up at a familiar place, Mitsubishi Motors. Proton announced to Bursa Malaysia
today that it has entered into a product collaboration program with
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Japan. The following is the scope of the
product collaboration:
- A Development Agreement, to develop a new Vehicle Model for PROTON
based on details of work, target specifications, job sharing and time
schedule as determined by both parties (“Licensed Product”).
- A Licence Agreement, where MMC grants PROTON a non-exclusive
license to use technical assistance and patents solely for the purpose
of utilization of technical information for restyling, modification and
improvement work, manufacturing of local parts, assembling, selling and
after sales services / support of the Licensed Product to be sold under
PROTON’s trademark and styling; and
- An Engineering Services Agreement, wherein MMC will provide the
work and services for PROTON’s manufacturing of the Licensed Product.
StarBiz
revealed today that the Mitsubishi vehicle to be provided to Proton is
the new Lancer, which will be used to replace the Waja. A quick check
with sources inside Proton revealed that the vehicle would pretty much
be a Lancer with only minor changes to the design, even less than what
Mitsubishi Taiwan has done to their version of the Lancer.
The Lancer Fortis is shown in the image above, just compare it to
the original Lancer (chopped by Theophilus with Proton badges) shown
below, it’s a world of a difference! So the good news is our version
will likely keep the Lancer’s original aggressive looks.
The new Lancer-Waja will likely be priced at a higher price point
than the current Waja CPS, but lower than the Perdana. We’ll also get
the GEMA series of engines that comes with the Lancer, though it’s not
clear at this moment which one. The GEMA engine is available in 1.8,
2.0 and 2.4 liter displacements.
Other proposed areas that Mitsubishi and Proton are in discussions about include the rebadging of the Persona and the 2009 Proton MPV
as a Mitsubishi in certain markets and the joint development of an
A-segment hatchback (a new Savvy-sized vehicle), but when contacted by
this blog, sources in Proton indicated these additional projects are at
best only in discussion stages only, and not something confirmed.
In fact, an A-segment hatch may not be such a good area for Proton
to venture into right now, given how price sensitive the A-segment
market is. Maybe later, if Proton gains enough technical know-how on
how to build a car cheaply and once it has enough economies of scale to
price it low yet make a sufficient profit.
The only two car manufacturers enjoying success in that market
segment are Suzuki and Daihatsu, who are experts in small cars. It’s
very hard to profit and with the current condition of Proton’s
economies of scale, I doubt Proton could create an A-segment hatch that
could have the right features, quality and price to enjoy a decent
amount of success whether in Malaysia or overseas.
I doubt even accounting for the potential units sold under the
Mitsubishi badge could help out there as Mitsubishi themselves do not
have much successful experience in that area.
source paultan.org
Subject: The new Waja evolution lancer 
6/2/2010, 2:31 pm
