Proton recently opened its research and development (R&D) centre in China, marking a significant milestone in its partnership with Zhejiang Geely Holding Ltd (Geely). Situated within the Geely Automobile Research Institute (GRI) at Hangzhou Bay, the Proton R&D Centre (China) aims to complement its existing facilities in Malaysia and enhance collaborative efforts with Geely.
This new centre is poised to strengthen Proton’s R&D capabilities by leveraging synergies between its existing competencies and Geely’s resources and expertise. It will facilitate cross-border collaboration, knowledge transfer, and innovation to develop products tailored to meet the needs of Proton’s customers.
With aspirations to replicate the success of China Euro Vehicle Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, the Proton R&D Centre (China) positions itself as a key player in the Geely Group’s global network of R&D centres. It will draw upon the combined expertise of engineers from Malaysia and China, fostering international talent training and output.
The centre will serve as a platform for joint development initiatives between Proton and Geely, encompassing various areas such as vehicle design, platform integration, intelligent driving, and project management. Additionally, it will enhance Proton’s competitiveness by leveraging Geely’s global footprint and engaging capable vendors for the continuous development of the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley in Tanjong Malim, Perak.
To ensure efficient operations, the center comprises three core departments: the Central Research Institute, Data Intelligence Development Centre, and R&D Digitisation Centre. These departments will collaborate closely with Geely counterparts and oversee the daily operations of their respective teams, focusing on technology capabilities, big data and artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.
Furthermore, an external cooperation research institute has been established to deliver whole vehicle functions and integrate ecosystem development for external projects, further enhancing Proton’s research and development endeavours.
