We are waiting for our vendors to finalise their situation and the X50 will be launched virtually, says Roslan

by RAHIMI YUNUS / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

PROTON X50 will still be launched this month despite the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in the Klang Valley and Covid-19 infections among Proton Holdings Bhd’s staff.

Proton Edar Sdn Bhd CEO Roslan Abdullah said the timing of the launch and its manufacturing hub in Tanjung Malim, Perak, are not affected by the latest developments.

“(The launch) is not delayed, still on time. So far, the plant in Tanjung Malim is doing good, but we are waiting for our vendors to finalise their situation,” Roslan told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR) recently, adding that the X50 will be launched virtually.

He said Proton’s first B-segment SUV has received over 20,000 bookings to date.

Proton recently said following an employee having tested positive for Covid-19 on Oct 14, 49 others have been tested positive too — all of which are from the engineering division in Shah Alam, Selangor.

The company has requested all non-essential personnel who work at the Shah Alam facility to work from home as a precaution.

“Once again, the company would like to reassure all its customers that it will continue to strictly follow all guidelines and procedures to which it has been following from the start of the pandemic.

“The Centre of Service Excellence and showrooms are disinfected hourly and all customer-facing personnel follow a rigorous procedure,” the automaker said in a previous statement.

Meanwhile, the International Trade and Industry Ministry has agreed to allow a maximum of 10% of employees involved in accounting, finance, administration, law, planning and ICT (information and communications technology) to be in the office for four hours only from 10am to 2pm for three days a week.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the move was made considering the needs of the industry which requires the presence of a small number of management and supervisory level employees.

One million workers from both the public and private sectors in CMCO areas will be subjected to a work-from-home order as announced by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob recently.

The order involves management and supervisory personnel working in Sabah, Labuan, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor.

Proton is expected to launch the X50 this month though the automaker has yet to reveal the prices of the car.

The SUV comes in four variants, namely the 1.5T Standard, 1.5T Executive, 1.5T Premium and 1.5 TGDi Flagship.

Roslan previously said the X50 will allow Proton to enter a new competition with other brands in the segment or beyond.

“The X50 is capable of competing with some brands which we normally do not compete with before,” he said, adding that the technological features equipped in the X50 are comparable to models of other makes, which could be in a higher segment and prices.

He added that Proton brings advanced technology and affordability to Malaysians with the X50.

The X50 is said to be the first in its class with Level 2 autonomous driving in the local market because of its driving automation technological features.

TMR reported that the X50 is expected to impact the sales volume of other models of different brands in the same class.

Roslan said the models that could be hit more by the X50 competition are likely of Japanese makers’ compared to continental brands, as the latter is in a different market segment and is relatively small compared to other mass-market vehicles.