Editing Proton Holdings (section)

=== 2010s ===

[[File:2013 Proton Exora Bold CFE Premium in Cyberjaya, Malaysia (01).jpg|thumbnail|left|The [[Proton Exora]], the company's first 7-seat MPV.]]

On 6 August 2008, the Proton Saga and Proton Persona were seen doing road tests at the Greater Noida Expressway, hinting at the potential to export Proton automobiles to India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://paultan.org/2008/08/06/proton-persona-and-proton-saga-on-test-in-india/|title=Proton Persona and Proton Saga on test in India - paultan.org|date=6 August 2008}}</ref> However, negotiations for Proton to establish an Indian branch did not materialize.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.zigwheels.my/car-news/proton-is-likely-to-enter-the-indian-market-with-x50 | title=Proton is likely to enter the Indian market with X50 }}</ref>

In December 2008, Proton resumed product collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors.<ref name="Proton Mitsubishi 2008"/> Under the agreement, Proton gained the rights to [[rebadge]] the 2007 [[Mitsubishi Lancer#2007–present|Mitsubishi Lancer]] to be sold exclusively in the Malaysian market. The result of the collaboration was the [[Proton Inspira]], which launched on 10 November 2010. It also marked a return to closer ties between Proton and Mitsubishi, the Japanese company which was instrumental in Proton's foundation in the 1980s.<ref name="Proton Inspira"/> Proton showcased the [[Proton EMAS|EMAS]] concept [[hybrid vehicle|hybrid]] city cars at the 2010 [[Geneva Motor Show]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2010/03/02/proton-showcases-the-emas-emas-country-and-emas3-trio-of-concepts-at-geneva-2010/ |title=Proton showcases the EMAS, EMAS Country and EMAS3 trio of concepts at Geneva 2010! |publisher=paultan.org |date=2 March 2010 |access-date=15 March 2013 |archive-date=12 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912194834/https://paultan.org/2010/03/02/proton-showcases-the-emas-emas-country-and-emas3-trio-of-concepts-at-geneva-2010/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They were designed by [[Italdesign Giugiaro]] and related to the [[Lotus Ethos]], a similar concept car from Proton's British subsidiary.

[[File:2013 Proton Prevé CFE Turbo (Front) in Thailand.JPG|thumbnail|right|The [[Proton Prevé]], the first 5-star [[Australasian New Car Assessment Program|ANCAP]] safety rated car from Malaysia.]]
The [[turbocharged]] [[inline-four]] petrol engine from Proton was revealed at the 2010 [[Kuala Lumpur]] International Motor Show.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://funtastickodesign.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/enjin-campro-cfe-turbo-di-klims-2010/ |title=Enjin CAMPRO CFE (Turbo) di KLIMS 2010!!! |publisher=funtastickodesign.wordpress.com |date=5 December 2010 |access-date=14 March 2013 |archive-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707192642/https://funtastickodesign.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/enjin-campro-cfe-turbo-di-klims-2010/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Officially known as the 1.6L [[Campro engine|CamPro CFE]], it is capable of producing power and torque figures of 138&nbsp;bhp (103&nbsp;kW) at 5,000 rpm and 205 N·m at 2,000–4,000 rpm respectively, comparable to a 2.0L [[naturally aspirated engine]], while achieving better [[fuel efficiency]] and reduced [[greenhouse emissions]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Danny |url=https://paultan.org/2011/12/15/official-details-proton-exora-bold-premium-prime/ |title=OFFICIAL DETAILS: Proton Exora Bold Premium & Prime |publisher=paultan.org |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=14 March 2013 |archive-date=10 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910153855/https://paultan.org/2011/12/15/official-details-proton-exora-bold-premium-prime/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2012, Proton was acquired by [[DRB-HICOM]], a Malaysian conglomerate in a transaction between [[Khazanah Nasional]] and DRB-HICOM which totalled [[Ringgit Malaysia|RM]]1.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2012/01/16/drb-hicom-takes-over-proton-for-rm1-2b/ |title=DRB-Hicom takes over Proton for RM1.2b |publisher=freemalaysiatoday.com / Bernama |date=16 January 2012 |access-date=21 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223639/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2012/01/16/drb-hicom-takes-over-proton-for-rm1-2b/ |archive-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The [[Proton Prevé]], the company's latest [[saloon (car)|saloon]] car was unveiled on 16 April 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lim |first=Anthony |url=https://paultan.org/2012/04/16/proton-preve-launched-rm60k-to-rm73k/ |title=Proton Prevé with 1.6 turbo launched: RM60k – RM73k! |publisher=paultan.org |date=16 April 2012 |access-date=14 March 2013 |archive-date=28 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228013918/https://paultan.org/2012/04/16/proton-preve-launched-rm60k-to-rm73k/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zerotohundred.com/2012/auto-news/launch-proton-preve-rmrm59990-rm62990-rm72990/ |title=LAUNCH: Proton Preve (From RM59,990 to RM72,990 OTR)! |publisher=zerotohundred.com |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=14 March 2013 |archive-date=22 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322064539/https://www.zerotohundred.com/2012/auto-news/launch-proton-preve-rmrm59990-rm62990-rm72990/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It became the first Proton car, and to an extent, the first Malaysian car to be awarded the full 5-star safety rating in the [[Australasian New Car Assessment Program]] (ANCAP) of Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ancap.com.au/pdf/516.PDF|title=ANCAP Safety Rating – Proton Prevé (From 2013)|publisher=ancap.com.au|access-date=15 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302150921/https://www.ancap.com.au/pdf/516.PDF|archive-date=2 March 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In December 2012, Proton acquired all of [[Petronas]]' [[Proton E01 engine|E01 engine]] technologies in addition to associated technology patents at a cost of RM 63 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lim |first=Anthony |url=https://paultan.org/2012/12/11/reports-proton-acquires-petronas-engine-technology/ |title=Reports: Proton acquires Petronas engine technology |publisher=paultan.org |date=11 December 2012 |access-date=12 April 2013 |archive-date=21 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721053248/https://paultan.org/2012/12/11/reports-proton-acquires-petronas-engine-technology/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The deal encompassed a family of [[naturally aspirated]] and [[forced induction|turbocharged]] 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2-litre engines to complement Proton's own [[Campro engine|CamPro]] 1.3L N/A, 1.6L N/A and 1.6L turbo engines.

[[File:Proton Suprima S Front Three Quarter Facing Left.jpg|thumbnail|right|The [[Proton Suprima S]].]]
On 17 August 2013, Proton launched the [[Proton Suprima S|Suprima S]], the hatchback complement to the Prevé saloon.<ref name="Proton Suprima S Launch 1-Live Stream (Archived)"/> It became the second 5-star ANCAP rated Proton and the first to offer extensive standard safety features in its domestic market. On 11 December 2013, the [[second generation Proton Perdana]] was finally unveiled after a three-year gap in the nameplate's production.<ref name="Proton Perdana (second generation) launch"/> The new Perdana is a [[badge engineered]] [[Honda Accord (North America eighth generation)|eighth generation Honda Accord]] and is for exclusive sale to Malaysian civil servants and government officials.<ref name="Proton Perdana (second generation) launch"/>

[[File:2014 Proton Iriz 1.6L Premium in Shah Alam, Malaysia (01).jpg|thumbnail|right|The [[Proton Iriz]].]]
The [[Proton Iriz]] was unveiled on 25 September 2014 as the company's first [[B-segment]] 5-door hatchback.<ref name="Proton Iriz launch"/> The new Iriz competes directly against the [[Perodua Myvi]] in its domestic market.

On 18 January 2016, Proton unveiled their all-new four-cylinder GDI/TGDI and three-cylinder VVT engines.<ref name="Proton GDI/TGDI engine announcement carlist.my"/> The new engines, of which there are six in total, are being developed in collaboration with [[Ricardo plc|Ricardo]] and [[Lotus Engineering]], and are slated to enter production by late 2017.<ref name="Proton GDI/TGDI engine announcement carlist.my"/>

Proton unveiled their new logo in February 2016, and appointed a new CEO and Deputy CEO in April.<ref name="Proton new logo 2016 paultan.org"/><ref name="Proton new CEO/DCEO 2016 thestar.com.my"/> The government had also granted Proton a RM 1.5 billion soft loan in mid 2016.<ref name="Proton soft loan RM1.5b thestar.com.my"/> The loan came with a number of conditions, including a mandatory tie-up with a foreign automobile company in the near future. Several companies have expressed interest, including [[Suzuki]], [[Škoda Auto|Škoda]], [[Groupe PSA]], [[Renault]] and [[Geely]].<ref name="Proton foreign partnership 09/2016 carlist.my"/> This culminated with the entry of China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in June 2017, after the Chinese carmaker acquired 49.9% equity in Proton from DRB-HICOM.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}

[[File:Proton-Persona-Red.jpg|thumbnail|left|The [[Proton Persona (BH)|third generation Proton Persona]].]]
Proton introduced four new models in 2016. The new [[Proton Perdana (second generation)|Perdana]] launched on 14 June,<ref name="CP Proton Perdana 2016 launch paultan.org"/> followed by the new [[Proton Persona (BH)|Persona]] on 23 August,<ref name="BH Proton Persona 2016 launch paultan.org"/> the new [[Proton Saga (third generation)|Saga]] on 28 September,<ref name="BT, Mk4 Proton Saga 2016 launch paultan.org"/> and the new [[Proton Ertiga|Ertiga]] on 24 November.<ref name="EZ Proton Ertiga 2016 launch paultan.org"/> The launch of four new Proton models within the span of six months was unprecedented in the company's history. Masazumi Ogawa was recruited as the director of quality control in Proton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://paultan.org/2016/02/16/proton-aims-to-resolve-improve-upon-quality-issues/|title=Proton aims to resolve, improve upon quality issues - paultan.org|date=16 February 2016|access-date=6 February 2018|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005041/https://paultan.org/2016/02/16/proton-aims-to-resolve-improve-upon-quality-issues/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 24 May 2017, parent company [[DRB-HICOM]] announced plans to sell a 49.9% stake in Proton to [[Geely|Zhejiang Geely Automobile Holdings]].<ref name="Proton Geely stake paultan.org"/><ref name="Proton Lotus Geely Volvo alliance thestar.com.my"/> Eventually, DRB-HICOM also sold 51% controlling-stake in [[Lotus Cars|Lotus]] to Geely, and the remaining 49% stake to Etika Automotive.<ref name="Lotus Geely Etika stake paultan.org"/> The definitive agreement was in July 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tirto.id/proton-mobil-nasional-malaysia-dengan-cita-rasa-cina-cDfy|title=Proton, Mobil Nasional Malaysia dengan Cita Rasa Cina|date=15 January 2018|work=Tirto.id|access-date=19 January 2022}}</ref> Proton had owned Lotus since 1996, and largely struggled to turn the fortunes of the sports car maker around. Nonetheless, in late 2016, Lotus announced their first operating profit in over 40 years.<ref name="Lotus profitable 2016 autoexpress.co.uk"/> Their presence in Proton is said to not affect Japanese auto manufacturers due to being in the market for a very long time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/06/07/business/corporate-business/geely-bid-proton-not-major-threat-japanese-automakers-expert-says/|title=Geely bid for Proton not a major threat to Japanese automakers, expert says|date=7 June 2017|website=The Japan Times|access-date=3 July 2020|archive-date=4 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704154120/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/06/07/business/corporate-business/geely-bid-proton-not-major-threat-japanese-automakers-expert-says/|url-status=live}}</ref> Still, many of Proton's cars benefitted from the Lotus relationship, with the Satria GTi specifically mentioned by car reviewers as possessing good handling traits. Subsequent Proton some models received "Lotus Tuned" input.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}

Proton recruited Yoshiya Inamori as the vice president of manufacturing, who had previously been involved with Proton back in the 80s when it was founded during his time in Mitsubishi from April 1982 until July 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://paultan.org/2017/11/21/yoshiya-inamori-get-to-know-the-new-vice-president-of-manufacturing-at-proton/|title=Yoshiya Inamori - get to know the new vice president of manufacturing at Proton; 35 years of experience - paultan.org|date=21 November 2017|access-date=6 February 2018|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005037/https://paultan.org/2017/11/21/yoshiya-inamori-get-to-know-the-new-vice-president-of-manufacturing-at-proton/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 29 September 2017, DRB-HICOM announced changes to the board of Proton Holdings Berhad.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.drb-hicom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MEDIA-RELEASE-JOINT-MEDIA-STATEMENT-BY-DRB-HICOM-ZHEJIANG-GEELY-HOLDING.pdf |title=Joint media statement |publisher=www.drb-hicom.com |date= |access-date=2021-02-27 |archive-date=29 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929135519/https://www.drb-hicom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MEDIA-RELEASE-JOINT-MEDIA-STATEMENT-BY-DRB-HICOM-ZHEJIANG-GEELY-HOLDING.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the signing of a Definitive Agreement with China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Limited on 23 June 2017,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.drb-hicom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MEDIA-RELEASE-DRB-HICOM-ZGH-INKS-HISTORIC-AGREEMENT.pdf |title=Agreement |publisher=www.drb-hicom.com |date= |access-date=2021-02-27 |archive-date=29 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929140312/https://www.drb-hicom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MEDIA-RELEASE-DRB-HICOM-ZGH-INKS-HISTORIC-AGREEMENT.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> the Chinese carmaker acquired 49.9% equity in Proton. The announcement on 29 September saw a new board of directors put in place in Proton Holdings, Proton Edar (the local distribution arm) and Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (PONSB).

Three nominees from Geely Holding joined the boards; Daniel Donghui Li, the Executive VP and CFO of Geely Holding; Dr Nathan Yuning, the Executive VP of International Business of Geely Holding, and Feng Qing Feng, the Group VP and CTO at HK-listed Geely Auto. DRB-HICOM are represented by Dato' Sri Syed Faisal Albar, who chairs the boards, and Amalanathan Thomas and Shaharul Farez Hassan. Both are part of the senior management team<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.drb-hicom.com/about-us/our-leaders/board-of-management/ |title=Group Management Committee – DRB-HICOM Berhad |publisher=Drb-hicom.com |date=2019-12-31 |access-date=2021-02-27 |archive-date=29 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929184112/https://www.drb-hicom.com/about-us/our-leaders/board-of-management/ |url-status=live }}</ref> at DRB-HICOM. On the same day, Dr Li Chunrong joins PONSB as CEO.<ref>{{cite web|date=29 September 2017|title=DRB-Hicom, Geely announce new Proton board - Li Chunrong is CEO, Winfried Vahland joins board - paultan.org|url=https://paultan.org/2017/09/29/drb-hicom-geely-announce-new-proton-board-li-chunrong-is-ceo-winfried-vahland-joins-board/|access-date=6 February 2018|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207010641/https://paultan.org/2017/09/29/drb-hicom-geely-announce-new-proton-board-li-chunrong-is-ceo-winfried-vahland-joins-board/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=29 September 2017|title=Li Chunrong named CEO of Proton manufacturing arm|url=https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/li-chunrong-named-ceo-proton-manufacturing-arm|website=The Edge Markets|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=4 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304235413/https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/li-chunrong-named-ceo-proton-manufacturing-arm|url-status=live}}</ref> Dr Li is the third foreigner to head Proton. Between 1993 and 1997, the early years of Proton, two different Japanese nominees of their partners, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, led the carmaker.