Geely vs. Proton
Talk about cars. Geely Automotive Company will be making cars in Malaysia soon. But, the cars are meant for South East Asia market excluding Malaysia. To quote from the Chairman of Geely, Li Shufu on the percentage of cars will be sold in Malaysia, “Is so low that I don’t even want to mention it.” Hmm, this is really interesting.
But the real killer is, Geely was never an automotive company, in fact, they had just begun assembling cars in 2001. Prior to that, they make refrigerator compressor. Wow, a refrigerator compressor making company is now making cars. I am really impressed by all this. Maybe after this any company can just turn themselves into carmaking business if they want to. I mean, Lamborghini did not make cars when they started business. They make tractors for God’s sake.
Looking at Geely’s ability to expand outside China just after 6 years into the market, make me think about Proton. I mean, having been around for almost 20 years, surely Proton should be able to achieve more than Geely has in 6 years. Maybe it is time for the government to actually let Proton works as a commercial and independent entity because they have been acting as government agency for 20 years now and it has got to STOP!
Or it would be better if the government could just privatize it completely like what the French government did with Renault or just sell it to another foreign firm just like Perodua (Malaysian 2nd carmaker). OK Hairi, I have to admit that I have to agree with you.
Proton can produce good cars because Waja was dubbed as the 3 series of South East Asia. That shows how good Proton cars can be. But, why can’t they be competitive in the international market? Is it because they have been using wrong strategies all along? Or is it because they have been protected for too long that they have become so inefficient?
On a happier note, I will be buying Proton as my first car. Yes I will, so at least Proton knows that they have at least one customer in 2009. Ciao.
SOURCE: The Star, Paultan.org.
But the real killer is, Geely was never an automotive company, in fact, they had just begun assembling cars in 2001. Prior to that, they make refrigerator compressor. Wow, a refrigerator compressor making company is now making cars. I am really impressed by all this. Maybe after this any company can just turn themselves into carmaking business if they want to. I mean, Lamborghini did not make cars when they started business. They make tractors for God’s sake.
Looking at Geely’s ability to expand outside China just after 6 years into the market, make me think about Proton. I mean, having been around for almost 20 years, surely Proton should be able to achieve more than Geely has in 6 years. Maybe it is time for the government to actually let Proton works as a commercial and independent entity because they have been acting as government agency for 20 years now and it has got to STOP!
Or it would be better if the government could just privatize it completely like what the French government did with Renault or just sell it to another foreign firm just like Perodua (Malaysian 2nd carmaker). OK Hairi, I have to admit that I have to agree with you.
Proton can produce good cars because Waja was dubbed as the 3 series of South East Asia. That shows how good Proton cars can be. But, why can’t they be competitive in the international market? Is it because they have been using wrong strategies all along? Or is it because they have been protected for too long that they have become so inefficient?
On a happier note, I will be buying Proton as my first car. Yes I will, so at least Proton knows that they have at least one customer in 2009. Ciao.
SOURCE: The Star, Paultan.org.
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