Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional (Proton) opened a new research and development (R&D) centre in China this week as Malaysia’s first national car maker strengthened collaboration with Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely).
Geely, which has a 49.9% stake in Proton, had replaced Mitsubishi Motors as the Malaysian automaker’s strategic partner and now provides most of its new vehicle technology requirements.
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The new R&D centre is located within the Geely Automobile Research Institute in Hangzhou Bay and comprises three key units: the Central Research Institute; the Data Intelligence Development Centre; and R&D Digitisation Centre.
Proton said these departments “will coordinate closely with their Geely counterparts to leverage local resources in China and are responsible for the development results of their respective teams”.
Proton said in a statement: “The new centre is envisaged as a window for joint development between Proton and Geely where new concepts across all areas are brought to fruition from top hat and platform integration for internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) models to intelligent driving and project management.
“This includes the upgrading of Proton’s homegrown models where the centre will leverage its joint resources with Geely and Proton R&D engineers in Malaysia.
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By GlobalData“Proton will also enhance its competitiveness by leveraging on Geely’s global footprint.”
The automaker added the centre would also function as a critical liaison platform to engage with capable vendors for the continuous development of the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley in Tanjong Malim, Perak, including focusing on business life cycle areas such as quality, procurement and manufacturing.
An opening ceremony was attended by Proton’s top executives including chairman Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar, CEO Li Chunrong; deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah; as well as Geely Auto Group CEO Jerry Gan; Zhejiang Geely Automotive Research Institute president Li Chuanhai; and Hangzhou Bay New District Administrative Committee deputy director Cai Shijie.
