By AFIQ AZIZ / Pic By TMR

China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd held a meeting with Proton car dealers yesterday to give them the opportunity to visit the Shanghai Jinxi Automobile Sales and Service outlet, Geely’s 4S centre. The visit was for the dealers to learn from the China’s carmaker outlet, which could be emulated by Proton in the near future.

Proton Holdings Bhd CEO Dr Li Chunrong said it is a crucial move for the national car brand’s dealers to upgrade into a fullfledged one-stop centre as consumers demand a more conducive and centralised sales and services centre.

The upgrade is also to cater to the release of Proton’s upcoming SUV model — the Boyue.

According to Jinxi GM Xu Shi Ming, the model has been well received in China with over 30,000 units sold in a month.

“Customers had to be on the waiting list for six months, and they actually waited for the car,” he said.

The imported right-hand-drive Boyue is ex pected to be rolled out by the end of this year before the company plans to locally assemble the model later.

The SUV is a collaboration with Volvo Cars and is equipped with five-star China NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) safety and artificial intelligence infused features.

“It meets the high standards of regulation where the soon-to-be enhanced SUV engine from the existing Euro-5 will be of Euro-6 compliant.

“The sales of the Boyue has surpassed the other SUVs of the same segment,” Xu said, adding that the model has been one of the fastest-growing brands in China.

“We hope the Malaysian public can experience the same joy the car has provided for consumers in China,” he added.