The unveiling of the Proton X90 marked a significant moment in Bangladesh’s automotive landscape on February 29. Presenting two variants, the six-seat Flagship and the seven-seat Premium, the X90 garnered substantial attention, with 25 units registered within a fortnight of its debut.
Bangladesh, now the fourth export market for the X90, joins the league of countries embracing Proton’s offerings. With the Proton X70 already making waves in the country, coupled with a surge in orders, optimism prevails regarding Proton’s debut New Energy Vehicle (NEV), poised to carve its niche before local assembly operations commence later this year.
Addressing attendees and the media, Dr Li Chunrong expressed confidence in RANCON Holdings as the ideal partner for Proton’s success in Bangladesh. Highlighting their efforts in establishing robust sales and after-sales networks, coupled with plans for local assembly, Dr Li Chunrong outlined Proton’s ambition to become one of the top three automotive brands in Bangladesh within three years.
Central to Proton’s ambitious targets is the establishment of an assembly line, a move poised to unlock numerous advantages. Apart from enabling favorable tax rates, a local plant fosters the development of skilled local labor and stimulates the vendor ecosystem through technology transfers. Targeting operations as early as 2024, stringent production standards will be enforced to ensure that the quality matches that of vehicles built in Tanjong Malim.
Dr Li Chunrong emphasized Proton’s commitment to maintaining consistent product quality across export markets with local assembly. Leveraging the Volvo Global Quality Standard, Proton aims to ensure that vehicles produced in Bangladesh uphold the same high standards as those manufactured in Malaysia. Despite acknowledging the challenges ahead, Dr Li Chunrong expressed confidence in the partnership’s potential to elevate the Proton brand into a prominent player in Bangladesh’s automotive sector.
