Editing Proton Holdings (section)

== Partnerships ==

=== Mitsubishi ===

[[File:2012 Proton Inspira 2.0 Premium 4-door sedan (19699612942).jpg|thumbnail|right|The [[Proton Inspira]], the last of the Mitsubishi-based Protons.]]
[[Mitsubishi Motors Corporation]] (MMC) and [[Mitsubishi Corporation]] (MC) were instrumental in the foundation of Proton. The large majority of vehicle platforms, engines, parts and technical expertise were once sourced from Mitsubishi Motors. Additionally, the managing director of Proton between 1988 and 1993 was Kenji Iwabuchi, a former Mitsubishi Motors executive.<ref name="Proton 1980s 2"/> Proton's staff were also trained by Mitsubishi in Japan as part of a bilateral agreement. Management of Proton was gradually assumed by Malaysians in the 1990s.<ref name="Proton 1980s"/> All Proton cars launched between 1985 and 2000 with the exception of the [[Proton Tiara]] were based on Mitsubishi vehicles. Proton began producing indigenously designed models after 2000, but resumed product collaboration with MMC in 2008.<ref name="Proton Mitsubishi 2008"/> The result of the renewed collaboration is the [[Proton Inspira]], a [[rebadged]] 2007 [[Mitsubishi Lancer#2007–present|Mitsubishi Lancer]] for sale exclusively in the Malaysian market. It marked a return to closer ties between Proton and MMC.<ref name="Proton Inspira"/>

MMC and MC held a minority 30% joint stake in Proton, while a majority 70% stake was held by the Heavy Industries Corporation of Malaysia (HICOM).<ref>{{cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Joe |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=71lPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6631,2081111&dq=proton+kenji&hl=en |title=Dramatic Saga of a best-seller |publisher=[[New Straits Times]] |date=9 July 1989 |access-date=29 March 2013 |archive-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330234820/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=71lPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6631%2C2081111&dq=proton+kenji&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> The Mitsubishi joint stake was later reduced to 15.86%, or 7.93% each for MMC and MC respectively until it was fully sold to [[Khazanah Nasional]] in January 2005.<ref name="Proton Mitsubishi share"/> Mitsubishi Motors, Japan's sole unprofitable carmaker of that period sold its 7.93% Proton stake earlier in March 2004 in an effort to reduce its ¥1.14 trillion (US$11 billion) debt.<ref name="Proton Mitsubishi share"/> The sale of Mitsubishi's joint stake in Proton marked the end of its 22-year investment in Proton.

=== Citroën ===

[[File:Proton Tiara (front), Sungai Besi.jpg|thumbnail|left|The [[Proton Tiara]].]]
In 1994, French car manufacturer [[Citroën]] announced plans for the production of [[Diesel fuel|diesel]]-powered cars in Malaysia under a joint venture with Proton.<ref>{{cite web |last=Raj |first=Charles |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xDdOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5760,87886&dq=proton+citroen&hl=en |title=Citroën plans to build diesel run Proton cars |publisher=[[New Straits Times]] |date=1 June 1994 |access-date=30 March 2013 |archive-date=31 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331000741/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xDdOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5760%2C87886&dq=proton+citroen&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Proton's then CEO, Tan Sri [[Yahaya Ahmad]] also advocated an alliance with [[PSA Peugeot Citroën]] for the purpose of technology transfer. Negotiations continued until 1995, but materialised in 1996 with the launch of the [[Proton Tiara]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AFpIAAAAIBAJ&pg=4910,1773819&dq=proton+citroen+ax&hl=en |title=Proton and Citroën still discussing joint venture |publisher=[[New Straits Times]] |date=25 February 1995 |access-date=30 March 2013 |archive-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330234918/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AFpIAAAAIBAJ&pg=4910%2C1773819&dq=proton+citroen+ax&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> It was based on the [[Citroën AX]] and powered by a 1.1L Citroën [[Straight 4|I4]] petrol engine, in contrast to the plans for a [[Diesel engine|diesel]] option. The joint venture between Proton and Citroën stagnated after the death of [[Yahaya Ahmad]] in a helicopter crash the following year. The Proton Tiara failed to compete against its rivals from Perodua and production ended in 2000, four years after its launch.
{{clear}}

=== Youngman ===

[[File:Youngman-Lotus L3 GT hatch 2 China 2015-04-06.jpg|thumbnail|right|2014 [[Youngman]] [[Europestar|Lotus L3]] GT 5-door, a [[rebadged]] [[Proton Gen-2]].]]
Proton entered the People's Republic of China in 2007 under a strategic joint venture with China [[Youngman]] Automobile Group Co., Ltd. The agreement involved a minimum of 30,000 [[Proton Gen-2]] CBU units which were [[rebadged]] in China under Youngman's [[Europestar]] marque.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2007/07/13/youngman-to-sell-proton-gen2-badged-as-europestar-in-china/ |title=Youngman to sell Proton GEN2 badged as Europestar in China |publisher=paultan.org |date=13 July 2007 |access-date=6 February 2013 |archive-date=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021055311/https://paultan.org/2007/07/13/youngman-to-sell-proton-gen2-badged-as-europestar-in-china/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2007/12/15/europestar-rcr-rebadged-gen2-in-china/ |title=Europestar RCR – rebadged GEN2 in China |publisher=paultan.org |date=15 December 2007 |access-date=7 February 2013 |archive-date=8 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108024530/https://paultan.org/2007/12/15/europestar-rcr-rebadged-gen2-in-china/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2008, the [[Proton Persona]] became the second model to be sold under the Europestar brand.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2008/11/19/new-europestar-jingyue-based-on-proton-persona/ |title=New Europestar Jingyue based on Proton Persona |publisher=paultan.org |date=19 November 2008 |access-date=1 April 2013 |archive-date=17 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917161318/https://paultan.org/2008/11/19/new-europestar-jingyue-based-on-proton-persona/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Gen-2 and Persona were known as the RCR (short for RaCeR or Racing) and Jing Yue between 2007 and late 2009, but both cars were facelifted and renamed as the L3 5-door and L3 4-door (or L3 Sedan) for the 2010 [[model year]] respectively. Both models received unique parts and [[facelift (automobile)|facelifts]] from Youngman between 2007 and 2013. The most recent facelifts of the Europestar L3 GT 5-door (Proton Gen-2) and Europestar L3 GT 4-door (Proton Persona) offer new front bumpers, unique grilles and mirror-mounted turn signals on the exterior, in addition to a redesigned climate control cluster and leather upholstery on the interior.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youngmanlotus.com/detail.aspx?id=713 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412052150/https://www.youngmanlotus.com/detail.aspx?id=713 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2013 |title=高性能运动风 莲花汽车L3GT再进一步 |publisher=youngmanlotus.com |date=19 December 2012 |access-date=1 April 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youngmanlotus.com/detail.aspx?id=733 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412055433/https://www.youngmanlotus.com/detail.aspx?id=733 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 April 2013 |title=撞击都市运动梦想 莲花汽车L3 GT静态体验 |publisher=youngmanlotus.com |date=5 March 2013 |access-date=1 April 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lim |first=Anthony |url=https://paultan.org/2012/05/08/youngman-lotus-l3-sedan-given-a-minor-facelift/ |title=Youngman Lotus L3 sedan given a minor facelift |publisher=paultan.org |date=8 May 2012 |access-date=1 April 2013 |archive-date=27 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427083326/https://paultan.org/2012/05/08/youngman-lotus-l3-sedan-given-a-minor-facelift/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Youngman has also introduced less expensive variants of their L3 hatchback and saloon models, powered by the 1.5-litre [[Mitsubishi Orion engine#4G15|Mitsubishi 4G15M]] engine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://car.bitauto.com/lianhual3/m103715/ |title=莲花L3三厢 1.5L 手动 精英型 2013款 |publisher=car.bitauto.com |access-date=2 December 2013 |language=zh |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004410/https://car.bitauto.com/lianhual3/m103715/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://db.auto.sohu.com/model_2756/trim_122173.shtml |title=青年莲花L3三厢 2013款 1.5L 手动 精英型参数 |publisher=db.auto.sohu.com |access-date=2 December 2013 |language=zh |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020052/https://db.auto.sohu.com/model_2756/trim_122173.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

Youngman unveiled the Europestar L5 hatchback and [[sedan (car)|saloon]] models at the 2011 Shanghai Motorshow. The exterior design and interior equipment are indigenous to Youngman, but both cars are based on an extended Proton GEN-2 platform (2,670mm, 70mm longer than the original) and powered by Proton's [[Campro engine|CamPro CPS]] 1.6-litre engine.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2011/04/21/youngman-europestar-l5-based-on-long-wheelbase-gen2-platform-launched-at-shanghai-2011/ |title=Youngman Europestar L5 based on long wheelbase GEN2 platform launched at Shanghai 2011 |publisher=paultan.org |date=21 April 2011 |access-date=9 February 2013 |archive-date=30 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830195538/https://paultan.org/2011/04/21/youngman-europestar-l5-based-on-long-wheelbase-gen2-platform-launched-at-shanghai-2011/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Europestar T5 was previewed on 23 April 2012, a [[SUV]] designed by [[Lotus Cars|Lotus]] and Youngman and based on the Proton Gen-2 platform.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jonathan James Tan |url=https://paultan.org/2012/04/23/youngman-lotus-t5-could-this-be-protons-new-suv/ |title=Youngman Lotus T5 – could this be Proton's new SUV? |publisher=paultan.org |date=23 April 2012 |access-date=1 April 2013 |archive-date=29 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229024324/https://paultan.org/2012/04/23/youngman-lotus-t5-could-this-be-protons-new-suv/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was scheduled for a late 2012 launch but it was never put into production.<ref name="Youngman 2015"/>

Between mid-2009 and February 2015, [[Youngman|Youngman Lotus]] had reported total production figures of 196,234 rebadged CKD [[Proton Gen-2|GEN-2]] and [[Proton Persona|Persona]] units, of which 189,872 were reportedly sold.<ref name="Marklines sales/production data marklines.com"/>{{lower|0.2em|{{#tag: ref | Does not include sales of rebadged CBU GEN-2/Persona units, or Youngman Lotus' indigenously designed models. | name=Youngman | group=N }}<!--end lower:-->}} However, by mid-2015, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) stopped reporting Youngman Lotus sales numbers because they were "way off" from registration numbers.<ref name="Youngman 2015"/> Youngman Lotus had ceased production and sales altogether by mid-2015.<ref name="Youngman 2015">{{cite web |first=Lei |last=Xing |url=https://autochina.comnews.cn/d/44.html |title=Industry Reshuffling Unavoidable |website=chinaautoreview.com |access-date=27 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311055915/https://autochina.comnews.cn/d/44.html |archive-date=11 March 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In February 2015, Proton announced that they would revive their joint venture with [[Fujian]]-based Goldstar, and would not renew their contract with Youngman.<ref name="Proton Goldstar JV paultan.org"/><ref name="Proton Goldstar JV 2 paultan.org"/>

=== Honda ===

[[File:A fleet of CP Perdanas (29224256866).jpg|thumbnail|right|The [[Proton Perdana (second generation)|Proton Perdana (CP)]], based on the [[Honda Accord (North America eighth generation)|eighth generation Honda Accord]].]]
{{further|Proton Perdana (second generation)|l1=Proton Perdana}}

On 29 October 2012, Proton entered a collaboration with [[Honda]] Motor Company, Ltd.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bursamalaysia.com/market/listed-companies/company-announcements/1102929 |title=OTHERS DRB-HICOM BERHAD ("DRB-HICOM" OR "THE COMPANY") COLLABORATION BETWEEN PROTON HOLDINGS BERHAD AND HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD |publisher=[[Bursa Malaysia]] |date=29 October 2012 |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214193811/https://www.bursamalaysia.com/market/listed-companies/company-announcements/1102929 |url-status=live }}</ref> Both companies have agreed to explore collaboration opportunities in the areas of technology enhancement, new product line up and the sharing of vehicle platforms and facilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.topgear.com/my/7728-proton-signs-agreement-with-honda/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411235331/https://www.topgear.com/my/7728-proton-signs-agreement-with-honda/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 April 2013 |title=Proton signs agreement with Honda |publisher=[[Top Gear (magazine)|Top Gear (Malaysia)]] |date=29 October 2012 |access-date=2 April 2013 }}</ref>

In November 2013, it was revealed that the PRM would be based on the [[Honda Accord (North America eighth generation)|North American eighth generation Honda Accord]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Tan |url=https://paultan.org/2013/11/07/spyshots-honda-accord-based-proton-perdana-replacement-model/ |title=SPYSHOTS: First look at the Honda Accord-based Proton Perdana Replacement Model (PRM) |publisher=paultan.org |date=7 November 2013 |access-date=8 November 2013 |archive-date=10 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110024007/https://paultan.org/2013/11/07/spyshots-honda-accord-based-proton-perdana-replacement-model/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The PRM will launch in two phases, the first in mid-December for sale exclusively to the [[Malaysian government]] and the second within the next two years for the Malaysian domestic market.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=184642:proton-5-year-plans-good-to-go?&Itemid=3#axzz2k2PIZLtN |title=Proton 5-year plans GOOD TO GO? |work=Malaysia Chronicle |publisher=malaysia-chronicle.com |date=8 November 2013 |access-date=8 November 2013 |archive-date=4 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204181807/https://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=184642%3Aproton-5-year-plans-good-to-go%3F&Itemid=3#axzz2k2PIZLtN |url-status=live }}</ref> Around 3,000 units of the PRM will be produced initially to replace the ageing [[Proton Perdana (first generation)#Perdana V6 (1999-2010)|Proton Perdana V6]] fleet in use by the federal government.<ref name="Proton 5-year forecast"/> The result of the collaboration, the [[second generation Proton Perdana]], was unveiled on 11 December 2013 at an official ceremony in [[Putrajaya]].<ref name="Proton Perdana (second generation) launch"/>

=== Suzuki ===

[[File:Proton Ertiga.jpg|thumb|The Proton Ertiga.]]
Proton partnered with Suzuki and rebadged the [[Suzuki Ertiga]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://paultan.org/2015/06/15/proton-suzuki-mou/|title=Proton signs MoU and Licence Agreement with Suzuki|date=2015-06-15|website=Paul Tan's Automotive News|access-date=2017-08-14}}</ref> Under the June 2015 agreement, 25 of its 3S and 4S Suzuki dealership outlets have been converted into Proton Edar outlets and bearing both Proton and Suzuki logos.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

=== Geely ===

PROTON Holdings parent company [[DRB-HICOM]] announced sold 49.9% stake in Proton to [[Geely|Zhejiang Geely Automobile Holdings]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paultan.org/2017/05/24/geely-to-acquire-49-9-percent-stake-in-proton-51-percent-in-lotus/|title=Geely to acquire 49.9% stake in Proton, 51% in Lotus – definitive agreement to be signed before end of July|date=2017-05-24|work=Paul Tan's Automotive News|access-date=2018-09-08|language=en-US|archive-date=4 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804215151/https://paultan.org/2017/05/24/geely-to-acquire-49-9-percent-stake-in-proton-51-percent-in-lotus/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://paultan.org/2017/05/24/proton-to-develop-its-first-suv-based-on-geely-boyue/|title=Proton SUV to be based on Geely Boyue|date=2017-05-24|work=Paul Tan's Automotive News|access-date=2018-09-08|language=en-US|archive-date=9 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509111943/https://paultan.org/2017/05/24/proton-to-develop-its-first-suv-based-on-geely-boyue/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the entry of China's [[Geely]] as a shareholder of PROTON, PROTON Holdings secured the intellectual properties to the design, development, manufacture, sale, marketing and distribution of the [[Geely Boyue]], [[Geely Binyue]] and [[Geely Haoyue]] for Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://paultan.org/2018/09/28/proton-secures-license-to-produce-and-sell-three-geely-models-for-asean-boyue-sx11-suv-vf11-mpv/|title=Proton secures license to produce and sell three Geely models for ASEAN – Boyue, SX11 SUV, VF11 MPV|date=2018-09-28|website=Paul Tan's Automotive News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-06|archive-date=11 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611141233/https://paultan.org/2018/09/28/proton-secures-license-to-produce-and-sell-three-geely-models-for-asean-boyue-sx11-suv-vf11-mpv/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Proton announced the launch of the Proton's first [[sport utility vehicle]] which is based on [[Geely Boyue]], with touches of local design elements introduced for the Malaysian market. The first batch of the locally named [[Geely Boyue|Proton X70]] will be imported from China, with localisation plans afoot with the expansion of their Tanjong Malim plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/business/2018/10/419947/proton-invests-rm12b-expand-tanjung-malim-plant|title=Proton invests RM1.2b to expand Tanjung Malim plant &#124; New Straits Times|first=Lizam|last=Ridzuan|date=10 October 2018|website=NST Online|access-date=19 November 2018|archive-date=19 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119132636/https://www.nst.com.my/business/2018/10/419947/proton-invests-rm12b-expand-tanjung-malim-plant|url-status=live}}</ref>

With the incoming sales and tax exemption plans for EVs coming in by 2022, Proton announced a roadmap of hybrid, PHEV and BEV products for the future.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://paultan.org/2021/11/15/proton-ev-phev-and-hybrid-in-the-plans-edar-ceo/|title=Proton EV, PHEV and hybrid in the plans - Edar CEO - paultan.org|date=15 November 2021}}</ref> While no specific electric model was mentioned, there is a possibility of the tech to be led by Geely's new powertrain brand, Leishen Hi-X.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}