We are now receiving about 200 to 300 bookings per day, says Proton Edar CEO
By AFIQ AZIZ / Pic By ISMAIL CHE RUS
PROTON Holdings Bhd is expected to open the year with a bang as its new X70, which was launched last week, is already getting the right attention with about 12,000 bookings recorded so far.
The new SUV, which is jointly developed by Proton and its China partner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Ltd, has secured a higher rate of bookings compared to when it was first launched.
Proton Edar Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Abdul Rashid Musa (picture) said immediately after the media preview in September, the company recorded a total bookings of 10,000 units of X70 in less than two months.
“We are now receiving about 200 to 300 bookings per day after the launch ceremony. We are going to continue this momentum,” he told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR) in a phone interview yesterday.
The five-seater SUV was launched by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the man behind the brand that spearheaded the local automotive industry which began in 1983.
Abdul Rashid said based on the company’s observation, many of the customers are opting for the premium variant which is priced at RM123,800 on the road before insurance.
“The premium variant received the highest requests as it is considered the best in terms of value for money. At RM123,800, it offers high-end technology, connectivity and luxury to the consumers,” he said.
Abdul Rashid said Proton has started to deliver the SUV early this week, while it still accepts bookings.
Apart from that, he said Proton has also streamlined the X70 price tag for Sarawak and Sabah, to be at the same level as in Peninsular Malaysia, as part of its sale strategy.
“We are the first original equipment manufacturer corporation in the country which offers uniformed prices all over Malaysia,” Abdul Rashid added.
Meanwhile, Proton Edar dealers are giving the product their full support as most of them concurred that X70 has more to offer including the Internet of Things technology and artificial intelligence voice control system, which seems to have attracted consumers from various levels of income.
Some Proton dealers which have already upgraded their outlets from 1S centre to a one-stop 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre, observed that the X70 is also attracting a “more elite clientele”.
One of the 3S dealers, Rahman Brothers Automotive Sdn Bhd has received more than 130 bookings for the X70 since September.
“Our Shah Alam outlet has received about 80 bookings, while the one in Penang has recorded around 50 bookings so far, with the premium
variant leading the list.
While the model is getting all the right attention, sources in the distribution network also cautioned that the completely built-up X70 could face supply shortages.
“From what we heard, our principle is still negotiating with the government to approve extra imported units from China. We cannot afford to lose this high demand period as the locally assembled unit may only take off later next year,” a dealer said.
Prior to this, TMR reported that about 10,000 units of the model would be imported as a “bridging volume” before the product could be assembled in the carmaker’s Tanjung Malim plant by mid-2019.
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