Proton Opens New R&D Hub At Geely HQ In China

National carmaker Proton established a brand new research and development (R&D) centre located within the same grounds as the Geely Automobile Research Institute (GRI) in Hangzhou Bay, China.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Proton's Chairman, and Jerry Gan, CEO of Geely Auto Group. Other notable participants included Li Chuanhai, President of the Zhejiang Geely Automotive Research Institute, Cai Shijie, Deputy Director of the Hangzhou Bay New District Administrative Committee, Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton, and Roslan Abdullah, Deputy CEO of Proton.

Representatives from the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) were also in attendance, as were senior directors from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Proton's senior management team.

The new R&D centre is poised to deepen Proton's partnership with long-term partner Geely. Strategically, the centre also aims to improve the capabilities of Proton's existing facilities in both Shah Alam and Tanjong Malim, Malaysia.

This expansion not only demonstrates Proton's dedication to innovation, but it also deepens the synergies between Proton's in-house competences and Geely's resources. It also intends to replicate the success story of China Euro Vehicle Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Drawing on the pooled knowledge of engineers from Malaysia and China, the centre strives to harness each partner's capabilities to suit the group's strategic development needs. With an initial workforce of roughly 50 personnel, it is expected to serve as a hub for Proton and Geely's international talent training and development.

Furthermore, this facility will serve as a collaborative platform for Proton and Geely joint development projects, including everything from the integration of new vehicle platforms and top-hat designs for ICE and future EV models to intelligent driving and project management.

The centre will operate as a critical interface for Proton in connecting with capable vendors, supporting the continuous development of the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley in Tanjong Malim, Perak, and focusing on quality, procurement, and production throughout the whole business lifecycle.

The new facility comprises three major departments: the Central Research Institute, the Data Intelligence Development Centre, and the R&D Digitization Centre. These departments will collaborate closely with their Geely counterparts to use local resources in China, and they are accountable for the development outcomes of their particular teams.