Proton has collaborated with the ministry of entrepreneur and cooperatives development (MECD), the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) and Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF) to bring suppliers of government-linked companies as well as Proton to attend the Market Access, Technology Transfer and Vendor Enhancement Program in China, Proton said in a statement.
This programme was conducted in early July this year to accelerate the development of next-generation vehicles, including battery-electric vehicles through strategic partnerships and exchange of technology, according to the statement by the national carmaker.
In the programme, representatives from MBSB Bank, Tenaga Nasional, PLUS Expressways, UEM Edgenta, Telekom Malaysia as well as 22 Malaysian vendors were brought to visit EV component plants, such as plants for chargers and charging stations, batteries and charger producers across seven locations in China including Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou.
The tour visited Geely subsidiaries including EV maker Zeekr and EV battery and charger producer VREMT in Hangzhou Bay. Earlier this year in April, Proton opened its new research and development centre in Hangzhou Bay, China, and the new facility is located within the Geely Automobile Research Institute. This will complement Proton’s existing R&D facilities in Malaysia.
Proton found through a survey that 87% of local suppliers expressed intention to collaborate with suppliers from China, from categories including distributorship, collaboration in technology transfer, joint venture partnerships, collaboration in skills development and investments for joint businesses.
“This programme marks a key milestone in advancing Malaysia’s automotive capabilities. The partnership and tech exchanges during these visits are vital for strengthening our local supply chain, especially in electric vehicle components. This effort supports the National Automotive Policy (NAP2020), positioning Malaysia as a leader in the region’s EV industry,” said MARii CEO Azrul Reza Aziz.
The Malaysian government is committed to advancing electric vehicle technology, and the increased collaboration and partnerships aim to build essential infrastructure, and to support a sustainable EV ecosystem through technology transfer, MECD said. Malaysia also hopes to reduce its reliance on imports, create jobs and stimulate economic growth by developing the local supply chain, MECD added.
A separate, earlier visit by Proton to China in June was for a closed-door preview of upcoming models and design concepts, attended by representatives from the Proton Vendors Association (PVA) and Proton Edar Dealers Association (PEDA).
“This experience has provided vendors and dealers valuable insights into the global automotive market dynamics and reinforces Proton’s leadership in delivering cutting-edge vehicles tailored to diverse consumer preferences. Some of the safety technologies and luxurious interior in the model were way beyond its market segment,” said Proton Vendors Association president Thomas Lim.
“Proton’s recent trips have demonstrated a strong commitment to product innovation and a strategic approach for introducing new models both locally and globally. This underscores the need for increased collaboration and technology exchanges to ensure the long-term resilience of the automotive sector in Malaysia and to accelerate progress towards these ambitious goals,” said Proton CEO Li Chunrong.
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