It’s the curtain call for Proton’s Shah Alam manufacturing plant which, as previously reported, churned out its last Saga on September 30. With that comes the end of operations for the facility that was the birthplace of the national carmaker, having produced much of its vehicles over the last 40 years.
The closure of the 83.48-hectare factory completes the transition of Saga production to Tanjong Malim, where it joins the Persona, the S70 and the X-series of SUVs, as well as the new EV plant; it’s perhaps no coincidence that the Iriz hatchback was also discontinued last month. The last 1,400 manufacturing staff at Shah Alam have been relocated to the Perak town to support the move.
This also means that Proton has likely begun producing the new MC3 version of the Saga in the run up to the car’s launch, expected by the end of the year. Based on an updated AMA platform for entry-level vehicles, it’s set to feature a heavy design refresh, a new interior, driver assistance technologies (finally) and a naturally-aspirated version of the facelifted X50‘s BHE15 1.5 litre four-cylinder engine.
Proton has telegraphed the move for a while now – it was revealed as part of the strategic partnership with Geely back in 2017 and was slated to be completed by 2022, although it is understood that the timeline was shifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the company broke ground on two new stamping lines to support the shift of Saga production from Shah Alam.
The shuttering of the original factory, which was built with an investment of RM370 million, has also resulted in the closure of the included facilities, such as Malaysia’s first automotive R&D centre, its test facilities and the semi-high-speed oval that has been the site of many media preview events over the years. So long and farewell, Proton Shah Alam, and thanks for the memories.
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That’s a transformation for Proton,
Congratulations.
How to congratulate?
For 4 decades n more,the poor rakyat has to spend an arm or leg if they wish to buy Japanese cars due to a failed experiment called P1.
Without P1,there will be no P2,which was supposed to create cheaper rebadgd Daihatsus.In the end P2 costs a bomb cos P1’s poor quality drove frustrated buyers to P2.
Even after dr m resigned way back in 2003, our failed policies continues. And even after dr m resigned second time and now on third PM after that, nothing changes. Like as if our politicians dont really know what the people want, or dont really care as long as they took care of the few that controls the monopoly over the many who suffered under it.
notching changed because all the PMs after that – sabri , mhyiddin, najib, anwar – are all former umno alumni. for the country to change can we have for once a PM not from umno? i nominate Loke.
Loke is a joke
If you notice Proton CEO trend, every changes of MY PM will effect change of Proton CEO?
So is it a success story considering the sole purpose of Proton WIra onwards is to create cronies to substitute to low quality parts at maximum prices and to make every Malaysian suffer for decades and when Geely taken over -30% or more cronies prices still able to survive just fine.
This shah alam plant i believe is not under drb-geely deal. Nor the vast industrial land around tg malim proton plant.geely got only the then current tg malim plant.
Those real estates i belueve could still under drb-hicom. Or under private ownership after it was hived off.
The shah alam land will be turn into mega commercial residential mix development for sure. So syed mokhtar will monetise at maximum.
Thank god bow he can give more to pesawah instead of political parties before.
in 1995, i joined my school for a field trip to visit proton’s factory in Shah Alam. So much sentimental value.
Good riddance of the nonsense and remove the car taxes now MITI!
Cannot remove. Our economy sole purpose is to support syed mokhtar. From rice and sugar we consume, to cars and electricity power plants.to prime KL gomen properties.
Ok la tu. I thought 1400 lost job or trnasferred to Tg Rambutan.Scared me just now. Tg Malim ok la. Good small town.
The best way to fully utilized this facility after it is decommissioned is to make it as a Malaysian Automotive Museum.
That would generate some kind of revenue for DRB and Geely I guess.
the real way to generate revenue is to develop the land into a township or industrial area. how the heck can car museum generate revenue ?
Museum of Automotive Failure.