Proton X70 Indonesia debut put on hold

KUALA LUMPUR: The Proton X70’s debut appears to be postponed from the 2019  Indonesia International Motor Show to a later date. This comes as a considerable jolt as Proton had previously declared on multiple occasions that the X70 was to debut at either the IIMS or the Gaikindo International Indonesia Auto Show. IIMS 2019 is due to start from April 25 and end on May 5.

Proton X70 was introduced in the Malaysian market in December 2018. The SUV’s design is a significant outcome of the merger between Proton and Geely. It is a cut above the Honda CV-R, which is its closest price competitor and comes equipped with a 1.8-litre turbo engine and a six-speed automatic gearbox. The car can reach up to 181 hp at 5,500 rpm and 285 torque between 1,700 to 4,400 rpm. The Advanced Driver Assistance System comes with a five ASEAN NCAP safety rating along with 552-litre boot space and a state of the art voice-controlled entertainment system.

According to reports, the Head of Marketing of Proton Edar Indonesia, Rully Septiadi said that the company would not be taking part in the motor show. He also added that the X70 would not be introduced in the Indonesian market any time soon.

However, those worried about Proton abandoning the Indonesian market altogether, need not worry. Steven Xu, Proton’s Director of International Sale, has provided assurances that the Malaysian car manufacturer has no plans of turning its backs to its loyal customer base in Indonesia.

The director further added that Proton continues to consider Indonesia as an important market considering the fact that it is the largest market in the ASEAN region. He also said that this change in Proton’s business position would not be affecting the company’s decision to introduce future models in Indonesia.