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Proton President Syed Faisal Albar speaks during the X50 sport utility vehicle (SUV) preview ceremony at its Tanjung Malim, Malaysia plant on September 15, 2020. Malaysian national automaker Proton unveiled the Tuesday the X50 sport utility vehicle (SUV). of the partnership with Geely of China. (Proton / Handout via Xinhua)
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) – Malaysia’s national automaker Proton launched the X50 sports utility vehicle (SUV) on Tuesday thanks to a partnership with China’s Geely.
The vehicle will be assembled at Proton’s new assembly plant and is the second all-new product to result from the partnership between the two manufacturers, the company said in a statement.
Built on the platform that also underpins Geely and Volvo products, the model will feature turbocharged engines, a seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) gearbox, as well as the next generation of advanced driver assistance systems.
The addition of the new model is expected to benefit the auto supplier community, with purchase intent expected to amount to at least RM 1.8 billion (US $ 440 million) annually, with another RM 1 billion (240 million) million US dollars) in parts purchases for the Proton X70, it added.
Geely acquired 49.9 percent of Proton from leading Malaysian conglomerate DRB-HICOM, which owned 100 percent of Proton in 2017. The X70 was the partnership’s first product and has been a success in the Malaysian market.
Proton President Syed Faisal Albar, who spoke during a vehicle preview ceremony at the plant, said the company, as a local manufacturer, would contribute to creating more jobs and wealth creation for the national auto industry.
“This is vital at a time when COVID-19 has significantly affected the Malaysian economy,” he said.
The addition of the new vehicle is expected to keep the Proton-Geely partnership on a growth trajectory as the industry grapples with the COVID-19 outbreak, being the only company in the industry ahead of its sales volume for the year. previous. Final product
