Proton opens new R&D centre in China in collaboration with Geely

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton inaugurated a new R&D facility in China, in collaboration with Geely (Zhejiang Geely Holding Ltd) to complement its existing facilities in Malaysia. It is located within the Geely Automobile Research Institute (GRI) at Hangzhou Bay and coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia.  

The ceremony was led by Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Chairman of Proton, alongside Jerry Gan, CEO of Geely Auto Group; Li Chuanhai, President of Zhejiang Geely Automotive Research Institute; Cai Shijie, Deputy Director of Hangzhou Bay New District Administrative Committee; Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton; and Roslan Abdullah, Deputy CEO of Proton.

Also in attendance were Muhammad Zulhilmi Ahmad, Director of the Industry Development Division at MITI; Steven See Chee Kong, Senior Director of Services Sector Development Division at MITI; representatives from the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii); and members of Proton's senior management team.

What sets Proton apart from other national brands is that it can conceptualise, design, develop, and manufacture new vehicles from scratch. It has been consistently investing and expanding R&D facilities in Shah Alam and Tanjong Malim and has developed specialised expertise over decades, which is unique across the ASEAN region. 

With the opening of the new R&D centre in China, Proton’s focus is directed toward the following objectives and areas:

• The new facility aims to strengthen the synergies between Proton’s in-house competencies and Geely's resources to enhance cross-border collaboration, facilitate knowledge transfer, and drive innovation for customer-centric products.
• It aims to take Proton closer to grabbing the 6th position in the Geely Group’s global network of R&D centres by emulating the success of China Euro Vehicle Technology in Sweden.
• The new centre will utilise the combined expertise of engineers from Malaysia and China to maximise strengths and adapt to strategic development needs, ultimately serving as a framework for international talent training.
• It will act as a platform to realise new concepts in various areas such as vehicle integration, intelligent driving, and project management. The national automaker will leverage Geely's resources to upgrade its models and enhance competitiveness.
• Proton’s new R&D centre will also serve as a liaison platform to connect with capable vendors, particularly for the continuous development of the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley in Tanjong Malim.

Proton’s R&D facility in China is organised into the following three departments - 

• Central Research Institute: It oversees vehicle R&D coordination to enhance the brand’s technology capabilities. 
• Data Intelligence Development Centre: It focuses on researching and implementing big data and artificial intelligence, followed by product deployment planning.
• R&D Digitization Centre: It manages R&D digitisation needs and formulates strategies for digital transformation.

Additionally, an external cooperation research institute is also there, which is responsible for delivering vehicle functions and integrating ecosystems for external projects.

Upon inaugurating the new facility, Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton said, “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.” 

“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 added.

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