Category Proton

Proton S70 – 1,442 units delivered in Jan 2024, over 8,000 bookings now; exports to Brunei have started

Proton has revealed that it delivered 1,442 units of the S70 sedan in January 2024. The new release has an order book of over 8,000 names now, which Proton says “reflects the strong and positive response it has received from eager customers”.
The total also includes 15 units exported to Brunei, which once again will be the first export market for a new Proton. The first batch was delivered ahead of the S70’s official launch in the kingdom later this month.
The S70 was launched on November 28 last year, but so far, we’ve hardly seen any on the road. Indeed, Proton’s 2023 sales performance announcement revealed that only 109 units of the S70 were registered in 2023, presumably as test drive units for dealerships. It looks like customer deliveries are truly starting now.
We posed this ‘lag’ question to Proton at the recent S70 media drive and deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah revealed two reasons in the delay of customer deliveries. One is to ensure quality, two is to have the cars registered in 2024 for resale value reasons. There are two aspects to the former – parts and process.

“Production is not slow, but what we’re maintaining is ensuring the quality, because this is a new model for us, and we have to ensure parts quality maturity, as well as our process – assembly maturity. The stock is being produced, but we’re checking thoroughly to ensure that we don’t face the similar problems as when we were so eager to deliver the car ..

Proton confirms sideloading Apple CarPlay, Android Auto on existing Atlas or GKUI IHU will void warranty

Proton has confirmed that existing owners who sideload Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (AACP) functions into their car’s Atlas or GKUI IHU will have their vehicle’s warranty affected. “If they do it, it’s on their own and they have to take full responsibility,” Proton deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah told the press at the S70 media drive.
Owners of Geely-Proton SUVs such as the X50 and X70 would be aware that some of their counterparts have sideloaded AACP into their Atlas or GKUI infotainment system. This is because the phone mirroring features are absent from Proton’s range, even in the X90 flasgship SUV and the company’s most recent model, the S70 sedan.
However, AACP is coming soon to a Proton near you. The rollout will happen this year, Roslan said, adding that AACP introduction will follow ‘protocol’.
Factory bro. From X90 group pic.twitter.com/7Zfa3pBKdZ
— Abah (@chairmanGLC) January 31, 2024
AACP on the Proton X90’s IHU, but it’s clearly a development build for nowWhat this effectively means is that the X90, which already has hardware capable of AACP, is set to be the first model in the range to get AACP. Customers can expect an official announcement of an OTA software update in the near future. The next new model from Proton will have AACP from the factory.
What about the S70? Its hardware is AACP ready, but Proton wants to avoid a ‘langkah bendul’ situation (Roslan’s words) and any update for the seda..

Proton confirms Apple CarPlay, Android Auto support this year; X90 to get OTA update, but not older models

Another Proton event, another round of questioning on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (AACP). At the ongoing Proton S70 media drive, the media asked for updates on AACP – which in case you forgot, Proton has confirmed will be coming, although it’s not ready in time for the S70.
Newly appointed head of R&D Mohd Haizam gave a straight answer that was to the point. “Today we’re still developing AACP with our supplier ACO Tech. It’s not on the S70, we go for the X90, but it’s going to be on our next model, coming soon,” he said, pointing out that sideloading software into the IHU voids warranty.
Proton’s default spokesman, deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah then took the floor, sharing about the challenges Proton faced with AACP. He explained that while some of the hardware (in current cars) is ready for AACP, ‘everything requires license’.

“Whenever an OEM produces, a license is required. The license needs certain approval, and of course, at the end of the day, it’s how much we have to pay for the license. But the licensing is resolved, now we’re ready for one model (AACP introduction) starting this year,” he said, adding that AACP introduction will follow ‘protocol’.
What this effectively means is that the X90 SUV – Proton’s flagship model that already has hardware capable of AACP – is set to be the first model in the range to get AACP. Customers can expect an official announcement of an OTA software update..

Proton would welcome lemon law in Malaysia: Roslan

Proton would welcome a possible introduction of a lemon law in Malaysia, according to its deputy CEO, Roslan Abdullah. However, car manufacturers should be protected under the rule too, he said.
“We are supportive of efforts to protect consumers. It is our fervent hope that such a law should protect manufacturers too, as we are also consumers. We also rely on parts from others and are exposed to the elements just like other consumers,” Roslan explained.
“Lemon” is a colloquial term for a vehicle that is found to be defective shortly after purchase. Lemon laws are in place in many countries, including Singapore, Australia, the Philippines, China, Japan, South Korea and the US. Coverage differs from place to place, but it’s a form of a legal structure to have car brands repair, replace, refund or reduce the price of the defective product within a reasonable time.

Calls for a lemon law in Malaysia are nothing new (we’ve reported it since 2014), but a recent case involving a Perodua Bezza (above) that caught the public’s attention via a viral social media post have reignited the push for such a law. Since then, quite a few complaints on other carmakers have gone viral too, including Honda and even Mercedes-Benz.
Most recently, domestic trade and cost of living minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali stated that the Malaysian government is reviewing and researching the possibility of introducing a lemon law. However, don’t hold your breath just yet ..

Proton S70 deliveries delayed to ensure high quality, 2023 reg would affect RV ‘just because of a few days’

Have you seen the Proton S70 on the road? Neither have we, despite it being over a month now since the sedan’s grand launch on November 28 last year. Indeed, Proton’s 2023 sales performance announcement revealed that only 109 units of the S70 were registered in 2023, presumably as test drive units for dealerships, as the company admitted then that customer deliveries were yet to start.
We posed this question to Proton at the ongoing S70 media drive and deputy CEO Roslan Abudllah revealed two reasons in the delay of customer deliveries. One is to ensure quality, two is to have the cars registered in 2024 for resale value reasons. There are two aspects to the former – parts and process.
“Production is not slow, but what we’re maintaining is ensuring the quality, because this is a new model for us, and we have to ensure parts quality maturity, as well as our process – assembly maturity. The stock is being produced, but we’re checking thoroughly to ensure that we don’t face the similar problems as when we were so eager to deliver the car to the market,” Roslan said.

“We had a good lesson learned in the past and we won’t make the same mistake, but we’re increasing deliveries starting this month,” he added, without naming the previous model.
“We launched it on November 28, and of course, some customers would like to have it in December, but at the end of the day if you deliver the car or register it in 2023, ..