I in the middle of reading this in goauto news

link :- http://www.mellor.net.au/mellor/mellorweb.nsf/weben/GoAuto%20e-News

Interest news, might help the employees of MMAL

Sounds perfect although Proton are notoriously fickle negotiators....

I don't see why it wouldn't suit Malaysia either. Though, they could keep the Mitsubishi badge on it over there, just sell the cars through Proton dealers, cos don't Mitsu own part of Proton anyway?

Further on in the article it says mitsubishi sold their share in Proton a couple of years ago, probably when they were really strapped for cash. Would definately be good news for the factory if it did go ahead.

I don't care, as long as the people in Adelaide are gainfully employed and MMALis still making cars at Tonsley, then it is all good.

Expect some more Malasian members soon! :P

I don't care, as long as the people in Adelaide are gainfully employed and MMAL is still making cars at Tonsley, then it is all good.

:stoopid:

FF

I will be the first to say tumbs down and will let the Malaysians to voice their opinions.
First of all is not good for Mitsubishi as Proton is NOT a growing CAR company, lots of decisions are DONE POLITICALY and therefore their cars dont sell well in Singapore which is the neighbouring country. I have seen other brands in Singapore made by Malaysians selling WAY better and making heaps of profits. Sad to say Proton has not been marketing well enough and is very stand alone exclusive to their own country.

I will be the first to say tumbs down and will let the Malaysians to voice their opinions.
First of all is not good for Mitsubishi as Proton is NOT a growing CAR company, lots of decisions are DONE POLITICALY and therefore their cars dont sell well in Singapore which is the neighbouring country. I have seen other brands in Singapore made by Malaysians selling WAY better and making heaps of profits. Sad to say Proton has not been marketing well enough and is very stand alone exclusive to their own country.


I agee with you.

I will be the first to say tumbs down and will let the Malaysians to voice their opinions.
First of all is not good for Mitsubishi as Proton is NOT a growing CAR company, lots of decisions are DONE POLITICALY and therefore their cars dont sell well in Singapore which is the neighbouring country. I have seen other brands in Singapore made by Malaysians selling WAY better and making heaps of profits. Sad to say Proton has not been marketing well enough and is very stand alone exclusive to their own country.

Yeah, that and the cars are just plain crap. There's only one Proton dealer from Newcastle to Northern NSW. Wasn't Pooton suppost to take over the Mitsubishi dealerships if MMAL closed? The last thing we want here is overpriced, poor build quality cars from overseas. Oh wait, silly me forgot about the rebadged 'Holdens'.




Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reached a basic free-trade agreement Wednesday that abolishes most tariffs between the two countries by 2015.

Under the deal, Malaysia has agreed to immediately remove tariffs on all parts imported for local car production.

Customs duties on most finished vehicles and other car parts will be removed gradually by 2010, with tariffs to be lifted on small vehicles with engine displacements of 2000cc or less in 2015.

The grace period is designed to shield the market for small Malaysia-made autos, like those produced by Proton Holdings Bhd., from outside competition for five years.

Malaysia imposes high import and excise duties on imported cars to protect its national Proton model and the privately manufactured Perodua, which together have more than a 70 percent share of the market in Malaysia, the region's largest vehicle market.





There are two national car manufacturers in the country—Proton and Produa. There have, however, been links with Japanese automakers.

Mahathir initially said, "We need to gain technologies from foreign countries." In 1983, Proton was established in alliance with Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

Produa, the second national car manufacturer, which mainly focuses on the production of compact cars, was born in 1993 with financial and technological assistance from Japanese automaker Daihatsu Motor Co.

Up until 2003, a tariff of up to 300 percent was levied on cars with engines bigger than 3 liters. This increased the cost of importing such vehicles fourfold.

Malaysia still taxes cars imported from outside the ASEAN region by up to 300 percent.

Proton’s flagship 1.6-liter Waja sedan is priced at 1.6 million yen ($18,599.58) to 1.8 million yen ($20,925.28) . The price appears reasonable, but not when its poor performance is taken into consideration.

Foreign carmakers have been expanding their production in Malaysia.

Honda Motor Co.’s 1.7-liter Civic, which it makes in Malaysia, costs as much as 3 million yen ($34,874.13) when tariffs and sales taxes are added.


Doesn't really look good. Even if the 380 does make it overseas under a Proton badge, is anyone going to buy it? Will the car just fade into mediocrity like all Protons?

I am sure the Engine will be lowered to a 2.4L or so, there are rarely any 3.0L and above in Asia. Proton do make good cars but they make it very exclusive to themselves. They did not let Mitsubishi in Singapore to take over and sell their cars.

Honestly it should be handled under Mitsubishi dealers in Asia.

.... I'll say any sale of the 380, including to Proton to rebadge and sell as one of their own, is a good sale for MMAL.

Ferrari nor Porsche, MMAL is not, hence they don't have the luxury of being choosy with customers.

If the car was ok in the first place customers will goto them not the other way around?
Yes it would help the unemployment problem but may not help in building any image for it.
I would rather had Hyundai to do it than Proton. If you know what problems in the organisation in Proton you will know what I mean. Overall it will not good as a whole.

A vice-president of an automotive organisation told me yesterday that the exporting of 380s to Malaysia is not a rumour. This is the first bit of good news about the 380 I have heard for some time. Lets hope it sells well as it could be what saves MMAL.

FF

While we talking about the 380,I saw a white one,today down the road in a car park, with no badges on the back?
It was a rental car.Do they buy then that way?

While we talking about the 380,I saw a white one,today down the road in a car park, with no badges on the back?
It was a rental car.Do they buy then that way?

I am sure they will make the required badge for it. So yes they probably do and make changes as needed. If I ever can get one in Singapore, I will remod it back to Mitsubishi 380 lol.

I don't see why it wouldn't suit Malaysia either. ...

Good luck to the 380 if they ever bring it to Malaysia, but the market will be very small
unless Mitsu can stick in a smaller engine like 2.0 or 2.4L.

Malaysia has a road tax system, and the rate is based (logarithmically!) on engine size.
Something with a 3800cc you'll be paying like RM6000 pa... a 1300cc is like RM400 pa.
(for relativities, a uni graduate would be earning RM2000 pm)

Holden's Stateman gets a 2600cc engine for Asia... :doubt: