Bufori And Td Car Companies Options

[Iron Malayan]

Malaysia's automobile industries is being dominated by Proton and Perodua.The bigger one Proton posess the capability to design a car from the ground up.Perodua meanwhile is producing clones of Daihatsu with a capacity of 250,000 cars a year.

Ironically,this small developing country also has two small private companies building cars with the same 1930s theme.They are the Bufori Motor Car Company and TD Cars.

TD was started by a Malaysian Edward Teo and is still only offering a single model,the TD2000.This car was originally developed by an Australian company but they have sold the rights to a group of Malaysian businessman led by Edward Teo.

(IMG:http://www.mtbc.org.my/mtbc/TD2000.jpg) TD2000

It is powered by a 2 litre 4 cylinder Toyota engine and priced at US$50,000.This company has beaten Proton to the Japanese market.

Bufori is a higher profile company and has been the only Malaysian car company to penetrate the lucrative US market.It was founded by a Lebanese Australian Gerry Khouri and his two brothers and their first model the Classic Roadster also was developed in Australia.In 1997 they reregisterd their company in Malaysia and since then,all administrations,R&D and manufacturing were done in Malaysia.

(IMG:http://www.bufori.com/New%20pics/red-back.jpg) Bufori Mk2 Classic

Last year they unveiled the La Joya,their first model to be developed in Malaysia.Costing US$110,000,power is provided by a 2.7 litre Hyundai V6 with or without turbocharging.
(IMG:http://www.bufori.com/gallery3/mk3-side.jpg) Bufori La Joya

Demand has been so encouraging that they are building a factory in the German state of Saxony.Some 70 Germans are being trained to build these handmade composite cars in the company's Malaysian plant.Upon completion ,the German plant will have the capacity to make 300 cars a year.Bufori is also planning to build similar factories in China and the USA.Mr Khouri said his company is now working on a 4 door limousine.

Bufori

TD2000

This post has been edited by Iron Malayan: Jun 28 2004, 10:17 AM

[Kewell7]

Proton is the only one I recognise. To Malaysians, do u think I was a good idea for Proton to export overseas? because they didn't actually sell like hot cake here in Ozland.

[Iron Malayan]

I know what you are thinking.....These cars are somewhat ugly.Please don't tell Mr Khouri and Mr Teo.They are doing a good job for Malaysia and some clients find them attractive enough to part with $50-110K

[Kewell7]

I find the appearance pretty good actually but its just that people in Australia don't trust this brand thats why its not popular.

[Iron Malayan]

Proton is the only one I recognise. To Malaysians, do u think I was a good idea for Proton to export overseas? because they didn't actually sell like hot cake here in Ozland.

Proton is still not ready to enter the US market since they only have two decent models to offer. Before the Waja model was introduced in 2000, all Proton cars were low quality clones. Starting from the Waja, Proton is developing their own original designs. Earlier this year the Gen2 was unveiled. Don't mind the silly name .The car is very competitive in any market. Another model is due later this year and two or three more next year. The additional demand created by these new models would be met by the new factory in Proton City. This new manufacturing facility has just been opened and the timing couldn't be better.Proton has learned from mistakes made by the Japanese in the 70s and the Koreans in the 80s. They didn't rush into the US market with substandard products and they are also making sure the manufacturing capacity would be sufficient to meet demand from new markets.

(IMG:http://www.tourism.gov.my/Logo/Event/proton_gen2.jpg) (IMG:http://sc.groups.msn.com/tn/BB/72/TeamMatrixMotorsports/11/273.jpg)

Proton Gen2


(IMG:http://www.geocities.com/wdn9692_1999/waja2000/004.jpg)
(IMG:http://us1.webpublications.com.au/static/images/news/aw/pro0106271amg.jpg)

Proton Waja


www.proton.com


BTW here's a picture of Gerry (right) and company

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/ironmalayan/Lajoya.jpg)

[Ek-ek]

Beautiful cars!

I liked the design.

[malaccan]

I've never actually seen a Bufori in KL. I'm still amazed at the number of Protons being driven here in Scotland, out of proportions compared to those you find south in England. You been on the Gen2 yet Iron Malayan? My car back home is a plain ol Proton Satria. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Iron Malayan]

Looks like Malaysian car buyers will be able to buy some VW models at standard international price soon; and Proton City may have to expand capacity sooner than later. Bravo!!

PROTON Holdings Bhd is expected to sign a deal to assemble cars for German car giant Volkswagen AG (VW) this week, sources said.

They said the deal will strengthen VW¡¦s presence in the South-East Asian market and for Proton it is anticipated to drive sales upwards and increase production at its new factory in Tanjung Malim.

¡§(The potential deal) is not about the setting up of a 50:50 joint venture as speculated earlier,¡¨ one of the sources told Business Times.

Proton chief executive officer Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff was said to have flown to Germany after an emergency board meeting last Saturday to sign the deal.

It was reported that VW was hoping for a partnership with Proton as it seeks to gain a foothold in the fastgrowing South-East Asian automotive market.

The German carmaker recently confirmed that it was in talks on forming a venture with Proton.

¡§We are talking with Proton about some cooperation but I can¡¦t comment any more than that,¡¨ VW spokesman Hartwig von Sass was quoted as saying by a newswire early this month.

VW, the largest foreign carmaker in China, sells few cars in the 10 member countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations.

Proton, 35 per cent controlled by the Government¡¦s investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd, has been on the lookout for foreign partners to become more competitive.

Proton¡¦s special adviser and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said in late August that Proton was in talks with two parties, a German and a South Korean car manufacturer, and would make a decision by year-end.

Analysts said besides VW¡¦s own cars, it is possible that Proton would also produce cars for VW based on the vehicle platforms the national carmaker has developed.

Proton has built three vehicle platforms over the past 40 months.

Company officials had said it would complete the development of the fourth one called modular platform this year.

The four platforms will allow it to produce at least 20 different vehicles. Each platform caters to a specific segment ¡X small to medium-sized cars, middle-sized sedans such as the Waja and Gen.2, and large, executive-class cars.

The modular (or multi-purpose) platform will churn out high-technology aluminium lightweight powerful sports cars as well as luxury cars, sports utility vehicles and multi-purpose vehicles with new large powerful engines, company engineers said

Business Times

[Protoculture]

What .... between Proton & VW?

Good thing though .. but I wonder what hybrid design may come from this union ....

A new car named 'Kumbang'? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

[Iron Malayan]

What .... between Proton & VW?

Good thing though .. but I wonder what hybrid design may come from this union ....

A new car named 'Kumbang'? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)   (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)   (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

If Proton and VW ever get to that stage of joint development, that would be a cool name. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

This post has been edited by Iron Malayan: Oct 26 2004, 11:04 AM

[malaccan]

"Kumbang". How apt. hehehe (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Iron Malayan]

It's a done deal. They have signed an agreement.

Proton will assemble two Volkswagen models for Malaysia's car market by the end of next year and is forecast to sell 15,000 cars by 2006, the German automaker said in a separate statement to the Frankfurt exchange yesterday. Volkswagen doesn't plan to buy a stake in Proton, it said.
Bloomberg

Proton Holdings Bhd said that it will manufacture selected Volkswagen cars and sell the locally produced cars in Malaysia and for export to Volkswagen Aktiendgesellschaft (VWAG) of Germany and/or export such cars on behalf of VWAG to importers assigned by VWAG.Proton Holdings Bhd said that it will manufacture selected Volkswagen cars and sell the locally produced cars in Malaysia and for export to Volkswagen Aktiendgesellschaft (VWAG) of Germany and/or export such cars on behalf of VWAG to importers assigned by VWAG.

The company said this following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with VWAG, aimed at establishing a long term partnership and allowing each party to exploit the strengths of the other whenever suitable.

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia Wednesday, Proton said with the cooperation VWAG would allow it access to its engines and other components and would support Proton in adapting engines and gearboxes to an optimum fit into Proton cars, where-ever suitable.
Bernama

[Protoculture]

Kudos to Proton. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/biggthumpup.gif)

[Iron Malayan]

PROTON Holdings Bhd is abandoning plans to buy into Italian motorcycle manufacturer, Ducati Motor Holdings SpA, as it already owns MV Agusta SpA, sources said.

The sources said Proton would instead concentrate on developing MV Agusta.

Although the details remain sketchy, the sources said Proton is looking at turning the Ducati rival into an automotive company.

¡§Proton now has MV Agusta and the focus is on channelling resources to develop the company further,¡¨ a source said.

Proton has sent its technical team to Italy to see how the Malaysian company can assist the ailing MV Agusta.

MV Agusta owns three of the leading names in motorcycles ¡X MV Agusta, Cagiva and Husqvarna.

Proton rescued MV Agusta by pumping in 70 million euros (e1 = RM5), allowing it to pay off debts and giving the former the largest stake of 57.75 per cent. The exercise was completed last December.

Proton is said to have notified the media in Australia that it wanted to change the company¡¦s vision where the MV Agusta name would be suitable for high-end luxury performance cars, Cagiva would suit sports models while Husqvarna could turn into a maker of off-roaders.

The three marques would remain in the motorcycle business as well.

Proton also wanted to tap MV Agusta group¡¦s styling ability, technical expertise and well-developed distribution network.

Ducati, meanwhile, has seen profits decline over the past few years, and its top brass said a few weeks ago they were open to any merger talks.

This reignited speculations that US investment fund Texas Pacific Group would sell all its 33 per cent Ducati shares it bought in 1996.

Rumours of the American firm¡¦s intention to sell the Ducati stake started as early as 2002.

Ducati had higher sales of US$488.1 million (US$1 = RM3.80) in the year ended December 2003 than the US$433.7 million registered in 2002.

Net income, however, shrank to US$100,000 last year from US$6.9 million, US$9.4 million and US$10.0 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000 respectively.

Industry observers said the MV Agusta takeover could mean a substantial addition to Proton¡¦s current new model plans.

The national carmaker has planned to launch around 20 new models off four new platforms over the next few years.

Of the three Italian marques, Cagiva could be the cash cow for Proton because it is very well-known in Asia.

Cagiva could become a big player in that region¡¦s booming scooter and small motorcycle market, they said.

[HangPC2]

(IMG:http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/4575/buforilogocg7.gif)


http://www.bufori.com/



(IMG:http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2182/td2000logotx3.jpg)


http://www.td-2000.com/