The significant management changes announced about a week ago by Proton is undoubtedly a turning point in the national car manufacturer's long-term quest to emerge as a successful international brand.
Dr Li Chunrong, who takes over as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Proton Holdings Bhd's manufacturing arm, comes armed with global automotive credentials that make him to be the best man for the job to turn around Proton and penetrate ASEAN in a big way.
With 30 years experience in the auto sector and having worked for major automakers such as Honda Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp. and China Dongfeng Motor Group, he will be well-placed to bolster operations at Proton.
The changes at Proton will be positive by way of protecting the jobs for the locals, facilitate transfer of technology, introducing new models, injecting cash, as well as improving sentiment in the local supply chain, among other things.
Responsible for the entire operations of Proton, Li spelt out a 10-year plan to revitalise the national carmaker and vowed to make Proton among Southeast Asia's top vehicle brands.
In a way, Sept 29 may well go down as the date when Proton got its act together, bit the bullet and started thinking like an international class auto corporation.
Although DRB-Hicom Bhd, which owns 50.1 per cent in Proton, and Zhejiang Geely Holdings Group (49.9 per cent), did not announce a new car model, but more importantly was the choice of a new Proton CEO and management line up.
In an instant, Proton switched roles from a standalone, domestic car manufacturer with only one primary market - Malaysia -- to become part of an international auto group whose stable includes several well-regarded auto marques -- Geely in China, The London Taxi Company of Great Britain and Volvo of Sweden.
This instant transformation vaulted Proton into its long-awaited role to become an international auto player within a stable of globally known brands which share technology, design, parts, platforms and marketing know-how.
Belonging to a stable of several marques that specialise in specific market segments, geographic territories and pricing points, is an automotive business model well proven by the likes of Volkswagen, Peugeot-Citroen, Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi, Mercedes and BMW.
Together with Li as CEO, the announcement included a high-profile auto personality joining the board of Proton.
That man is auto veteran Winfried Vahland, who was Chairman of the board and CEO at Skoda Auto, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.
Vahland is credited with turning Czech Republic's auto brand, Skoda, into a respected global marque.
So, not only is Proton manufacturing now led by a CEO from Honda, Li is being helped at board level by an ex-CEO from Volkswagen Group whose turnaround experience with Skoda is almost a mirror image to what needs to be done with Proton.
So obviously, the leadership is in place not just to make Proton the number one car manufacturer in Malaysia but beyond domestic shores.
As Li clearly said in his first media announcement, he was squarely looking at the promising ASEAN market of 600 million people for Proton to become among the top three regional brands and then move on to make Proton a full-fledged international player.
With this move, Geely with its 49.9 per cent stake will begin the transformation of Proton by pouring in technology, European Union Euro 6 compliant engines, a boost in parts quality and the just-in-time injection of an entire model transfer- the Boyue sports utility vehicle, which is missing from the Proton model line-up.
Both bankers and auto analysts are united in their assessment that DRB-Hicom and majority shareholder, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhary, did the right thing to search for right strategic partner, an idea backed by the highest levels of the Malaysian government.
Geely's injection of cash is not what matters most.
Instead, what is of value will be Geely's contribution of managers, technology, new models, global marketing network and platform sharing, which saves Proton from spending billions to uplift it from local to global player in one swift move.
DRB-Hicom made a good deal on many levels, for instance, protecting jobs by taking on a global partner rather than going it alone and inevitably sinking under year-on-year mounting losses in the billions of ringgit.
Supplier network is kept intact, now ready for its own quality improvement makeover to meet the most stringent international standards and gaining inroads into a global network of brands that include Geely, Lynk
Looking ahead, Proton's staff, suppliers and Malaysians in general now can see that Proton is going international at last, a move that has been a long time in coming and one that will lift Malaysia's automotive sector to new heights.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Sun Oct 08 2017
Dr Li Chunrong (pic), who takes over as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Proton Holdings Bhd's manufacturing arm, comes armed with global automotive credentials that make him to be the best man for the job to turn around Proton. - FILEpic
TSMC akan hasilkan cip 1.6nm menjelang 2026
Menurut TSMC, teknologi 1.6mm akan memberikan peningkatan prestasi sehingga 8-10% untuk voltan yang sama serta pengurangan penggunaan kuasa antara 15-20% pada kelajuan yang sama.
Anak syarikat SPNB berdepan tindakan penggulungan
Syarikat Wiradani Development Sdn Bhd telah menyerahkan notis untuk menggulung SPNB Aspirasi pada 3 Mei tahun lepas.
Bekas CEO 7-Eleven, Hishammudin Hasan dilantik terajui Al-Ikhsan
Al-Ikhsan Sports Sdn Bhd melantik Datuk Hishammudin Hasan sebagai ketua pegawai eksekutif (CEO) baharunya berkuat kuasa 17 April.
'Inflasi diunjur meningkat suku kedua kesan pelarasan cukai perkhidmatan, rasionalisasi subsidi'
Momentum inflasi diunjur meningkat pada suku kedua tahun ini kesan daripada pelarasan cukai perkhidmatan serta rasionalisasi subsidi bahan api.
Kontroversi UM: Sarjana ‘berkualiti rendah’ tak patut dijemput - PM Anwar
Anwar menyindir ahli akademik AS yang terbabit dalam kontroversi pro-Israel sebagai sarjana berkualiti rendah dan tidak mempunyai pencapaian luar biasa atau istimewa.
Agong, Raja Permaisuri zahir ucapan Ulang Tahun Keputeraan kepada Sultan Terengganu
Ucapan itu dizahirkan Seri Paduka Baginda berdua menerusi poster yang dimuat naik di Facebook Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar hari ini.
Ada wajah kita tak mahu berpisah, tapi terpaksa melepaskannya - Datuk Red
Menerusi perkongsian itu, Adnan mengatakan ada perkara yang dia terpaksa reda dan menerima takdir yang sudah tertulis untuknya.
Komen jelik nahas helikopter Lumut, peniaga didenda RM23,000
Seorang peniaga dalam talian didenda RM23,000 di Mahkamah Sesyen di sini, selepas mengaku bersalah atas tuduhan memuat naik komen jelik berhubung nahas helikopter TLDM.
Bursa Malaysia dibuka rendah, jejaki prestasi Wall Street
Pada 9.10 pagi, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) susut 2.29 mata kepada 1,566.96 daripada 1,569.25 ketika ditutup pada Khamis.
AWANI Ringkas: Pesawat ringan mendarat cemas di Subang
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
PM Vietnam cadang ASEAN jadi model transformasi digital global
Perdana Menteri Vietnam mencadangkan orientasi kejayaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai model dalam transformasi digital di peringkat global.
Malaysia muncul destinasi utama pengembangan perniagaan di ASEAN - Kajian UOB
Malaysia telah muncul sebagai negara paling penting dalam ASEAN untuk diceburi perniagaan, seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh Kajian Tinjauan Perniagaan UOB 2024 (PKS & Perusahaan Besar).
Malaysia perlu masa untuk teliti cadangan visa bersama enam negara ASEAN
Malaysia memerlukan lebih masa untuk meneliti cadangan Thailand mengenai program visa bersama dengan enam negara ASEAN lain.
Konflik Myanmar: ASEAN tegas kepentingan laksana Konsensus Lima Perkara
ASEAN tegaskan semula komitmen bantu Myanmar cari penyelesaian dengan mewujudkan persekitaran kondusif melalu pelaksanaan Konsensus Lima Perkara.
Ringgit ditutup rendah berbanding dolar AS
Pada 6 petang, ringgit merosot kepada 4.7785/7815 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.7680/7730 semasa ditutup pada Jumaat.
Malaysia sedia jadi hab pusat untuk Pejabat Keluarga di ASEAN
ASEAN semakin mendapat fokus daripada firma pejabat keluarga berikutan kestabilan ekonomi dan pertumbuhan di rantau ini.
LRT Pulau Pinang: Mobiliti, pemangkin pelancongan dan tidak ancam perkhidmatan feri
Pelaksanaan projek LRT Laluan Mutiara Pulau Pinang, dilihat sebagai pengangkutan alternatif penduduk negeri ini bagi mengatasi masalah trafik.
Jenama “Kuasa Tenaga Boleh Diperbaharui Asia” bakal lonjak Sarawak ke persada global - Abang Jo
Abang Johari Tun Openg berkata, Sarawak berpotensi menjadi hab inisiatif peralihan kepada penggunaan tenaga tanpa karbon ketika dunia bergerak ke arah -net-zero- menjelang 2050.
ASEAN: Saifuddin gesa Malaysia lebih proaktif tangani isu Myanmar
Usaha proaktif akan membolehkan Malaysia membentuk persekitaran yang aman dan inklusif dalam rantau ASEAN.
Jadikan ASEAN platform pembelian ubat secara pukal - Dr Noor Hisham
Usaha berterusan perlu dilaksanakan kerajaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai platform pembelian ubat-ubatan dan peralatan kesihatan menerusi perolehan secara pukal.