Proton has opened its first R&D centre outside Malaysia (although it once had Lotus Engineering in the UK providing R&D services) at Hangzhou Bay in China’s Zhejiang province. Officially known as the PROTON R&D Centre (China), the facility is located within the Geely Automobile Research Institute.
While the leading carmakers have established R&D centres in different parts of the world to be closer to the markets they do business in and gain a better understanding of customers’ needs, Proton’s R&D facility has a different role.
The new facility will strengthen its collaborative efforts with its Zhejiang Geely Holding Ltd (Geely), DRB-HICOM’s partner in the carmaker. It will complement the long-established R&D facilities in Malaysia.
Enhancing R&D capabilities
Since the late 1990s, Proton’s ability to conceptualise, design, develop and manufacture new vehicles from the scratch differentiated it from other brands in Malaysia The company continues to invest and expand R&D facilities locally in Shah Alam and Tanjong Malim, and is also developing an experienced human capital pool.
Over the past few decades, Proton has built up a wealth of competencies unique not only to Malaysia but the ASEAN region as well. With the opening of the Proton R&D Centre (China), these abilities will now been strengthened by enhancing the synergies of the carmaker’s existing in-house competencies with the resources and know-how of Geely.
The centre will also help to enhance cross-border collaboration, facilitate knowledge transfer between Proton and Geely, as well as drive innovation for products tailored to meet the needs of Proton’s customers.
Aspiring to be 6th Geely Group R&D centre
Aspiring to mirror the success story of China Euro Vehicle Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, this latest development moves Proton’s R&D organisation in Malaysia closer to becoming the sixth in the Geely Group’s global network of R&D centres.
To maximise the respective strengths of each partner and to adapt to the strategic development needs of the group, the new centre will draw on the combined expertise and experience of engineers from both Malaysia and China. Eventually, with a workforce of approximately 50 employees, it will become a framework for Proton and Geely’s international talent training and output.
Window for joint development
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 combustion engine and future EV models to intelligent driving, and project management. This includes the upgrading of Proton’s legacy models (eg the Saga, Iriz and Persona)
Proton will also be able to enhance its competitiveness by leveraging on Geely’s global footprint. Additionally, it can function as a critical liaison platform for the carmaker engage with capable vendors for the continuous development of the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley in Tanjong Malim, Perak, including focusing on full business life cycle areas such as quality, procurement, and manufacturing.
Three core departments
The new centre has 3 departments – the Central Research Institute, Data Intelligence Development Centre, and R&D Digitisation Centre. 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.
The Central Research Institute is responsible for coordinating the R&D system for vehicles and to strengthen Proton’s technology capabilities. The Data Intelligence Development includes the research, development and delivery of big data and artificial intelligence before formulating product deployment plans, while the R&D Digitisation Centre explores and manages the digitisation needs of the R&D system and formulating of strategies for digital transformation.
In addition, the centre has also established an external cooperation research institute which will be tasked with the delivery of whole vehicle functions and the development of ecosystem integration for external projects.
“We have witnessed the birth of a facility that allows us to work closer than ever with our partners and will inspire connections for years to come while helping to expand Proton’s global presence,” said Proton CEO Dr. Li Chunrong at the opening ceremony recently which coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia.
“It is our hope this important milestone would enable us to move towards our goal of Proton becoming the sixth Geely Group R&D centre, while bolstering Proton’s existing capabilities that are already well established in Malaysia. We remain steadfast in our commitment to pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo, and making endless possibilities for the future of mobility,” he said.