Proton discussing powertrain JV with Mitsubishi
Proton Holdings Bhd and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced serious discussions are underway between representatives of both companies to further strengthen strategic collaboration between both companies. This new development builds on Proton’s long-running relationship with Mitsubishi which dates back to the founding of Proton.
Areas of collaboration that are being discussed at the moment cover:
– Joint production of engines in Malaysia.
– Production of MMC vehicles in Proton’s facilities.
– Parts sharing between MMC’s Global Small car, due for a March 2012 launch in Thailand, and Proton’s global small car.
– Provision of MMC’s future technologies.
Since the first generation Saga in 1985, Proton had a long tradition of utilizing Mitsubishi designs before gradually moving to chart its own path. Models such as the Wira and Perdana were effectively re-badged Mitsubishi vehicles, before the Waja eventually came around.
When the Campro engine was finally ready for commercial production, Proton began to scale back the use of Mitsubishi engines in its design, although it continued to source the bulk of its transmission supply from the Japanese company. A license agreement was signed between the two companies in 2008, which has now culminated in the creation of the Lancer-based Proton Inspira.
