Proton likely to cooperate with SAIC? Perdana Replacement Is From China?

Shanghai, February 24 (Gasgoo.com) Malaysia's Proton Holdings Bhd is in talks with China’s Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) possible cooperation, an executive of Proton told Gasgoo.com today.

A recent report said that Malaysian automaker Proton is planning to cooperate with SAIC to build its premium models by using SAIC’s Roewe and MG platforms.

"SAIC’s products' export to Malaysia is a topic of our cooperation talks," the Proton executive disclosed. He said the MG, developed by SAIC after the Chinese automaker acquired British Rover brand, could be the exported model.

Proton refused to tell the details but said the result will come out in two or three months. However, sources from SAIC denied the cooperation talks.

The SAIC is involved into a lot of trouble, such as the likely bankruptcy of its Korea-based subsidiary Ssangyong Motor. The troubled automaker couldn’t spare time to acquire other automakers or have other cooperations, sources noted.

Does this mean that the ancient Proton Perdana will be replaced by a rebadged Roewe 750, which is also a rebadged Rover 75? Or the shorter Roewe 550, based on shorted Rover 75?

Proton Perdana. It's design is more than two decade old, based on an old Mitsubishi Eterna designed back in the late 80s.



Roewe 550



Roewe 750

Roewe currently sells the 750 with either a 2.5V6 Rover K-series engine or a 1.8-litre turbo four cylinder. The 550 is powered by either a 1.6-litre or a 1.8-litre 4 cylinder Rover K-series. There is nothing much to shout about Rover K-series engine. It is a very old design and is to be retired soon as it can't keep up with the EU's increasingly strict exhaust emission regulation.

SAIC was also rumoured to launch a smaller Roewe 450, but there hasn't been any new news on the 450 for more than a year. Not sure if its another still born, could be revived by Proton though.

Image from WCF.

Computer generated image by Auto Express.

The news follows earlier announcement by Proton on joint collaboration with its former technical partner Mitsubishi Motors. Proton is to rebadge the Lancer to replace its aging Waja while Mitsubishi will rebadge Proton's Persona and Exora MPV for sale in export destinations.

*Back in 2005 SAIC initially tried to bid for MG-Rover Group, but lost the bid to Nanjing Automobile Co. At the end of 2007, after much "request and advice" by the Chinese government, SAIC merged with Nanjing Automobile Co. as part of a greater effort by the Chinese government to consolidate the Chinese auto industry.

Related link :
Waja Replacement Model by 2010.
Proton to jointly develop Waja II with Mitsubishi
Proton Exora MPV
Proton Perdana Replacement model
Pakatan Rakyat Ditches Proton Perdana In Favour of Toyota Camry