The Leverage

We all have to admit it, our inability to become an ‘all rounder’ is just too frustrating, or much too sore to mention. So, perhaps, with much denying we resorted to leveraging the weak, towing it with our strength.

It is no shocker, we sees company like Apple tying its strong product like the infamous iPod to iTunes. In Apple website, it is made clear that these two products tightly integrate with each other forming a single entity of ‘iPod+iTunes’. Apple made virtually everyone in this planet that uses the iPod to also use the iTunes, thus leveraging the latter to a better and higher level. At first, I personally think that iTunes is a weak media player that wouldn’t become my preference, if not because of iPod.

Alternative software to load music into iPod is scarcely available. They are reluctantly supported by the music players, providing more trouble than solution. Until today many companies were trying to seek an anti-trust action against Apple Inc. for their monopoly in chaining iTunes with iPod

Geography wise, Putrajaya, when it was established as Malaysia administration centre had directly leveraged Puchong and Balakong ( now renamed to a subtly, and beautifully sound Seri Kembangan ) into a better place. Last time, these places just happens to be in the outskirts of urbanized Petaling Jaya/Subang and local council had just given up the land for landfills. Nowadays, concept housing estate spurn just like mushroom ( For example; Taman Equine, the concept of riding horse as your weekend activities ). Puchong has become a full fledge commercial center bustling with businesses and office building.

In real life, I witness people applying the same strategy, in order to maintain a clean and capable look. You may call it compensation or balancing-up; it all has the same mechanics of the strong tethered and trying to pull the weak into a much leveled field. We seek to make friend with popular, influential and outspoken people, in the sense, we might be endorsed by these people. The sayings of ‘friends forever’ being made motto of much people that I had stumbled upon are merely sayings that were picked up from Hollywood teleseries when indeed it boils down to popularity and influence.

Realistically, we all have to swallow it no matter how distasteful that we get lost without testifying to people an impressive list of ‘I know whom’

Sometimes, leveraging happens within social circle. It’s similar to doing a favor where a well-known person tries to bring another lesser known member to a better position. This is when the popular Malay saying of “ budak baru nak naik” applies. It’s a situation when a young person seems to become fascinated with the things surrounding him/her. As a result, they took a particular thing very seriously with much enthusiast.

Some even had resorted to ‘whatever happens, happens’ method where they struggled to be good in a single particular thing with the expectation that when they had reached the superb level, other aspect of life can be leveraged too. Such as trying luck in reality talent shows, where chances are there.On the other hand, parents reminded us that the only effective and reasonable leverage transporters are to graduate and finish our studies as quickly as possible. In short, social mobility where the leverage factor would be knowledge.

In politics, Tun Dr. Mahathir, which stills a fair amount of influence and followers, had leveraged the newly installed Prime Minister, Datuk Najib Tun Razak. Tun Dr. Mahathir had openly gave his endorsement towards him, and also his deputy, Muhyiddin Yasin. Datuk Najib, not to say weak, but had a gargantuan task of recovering the National Front from its trauma of political tsunami. Added with the much talked about the killing and exploding of Mongolian woman allegedly linked to him, it seems that Datuk Seri Najib had inherited so many problems. Whether he seeks it or not, a leveraging from renowned statesman like Mahathir seems to do as much as little to regain people trust.

In entertainment front, we see subscription based television channel had been doing heavy leveraging tactic. Overnight celebrities like Mawi were asked to act in lame dramas and host programmes, when he was originally auditioned for signing talent. He would become one of the overexposed faces that majority of the society never get bored to look at. When the company realized that he can such a great asset, they never hesitate to ‘perah habis’ before his fame flame lit out. This would be the finest example of how strong elements within an organization were mobilized to aid the weak elements. Well, nothing much can be said or done, after all, he is an entertainer.

Let’s move to the west. Movie studios across Hollywood tries to rope in established directors to direct movie title which they had rights upon. With superheroes movies are somewhat smeared with ‘boring and common’ label, studios which had purchased rights or made a joint agreement desperately needed to squeeze money from it, let alone, avoid loses. So they roped in established direction with intention to increase fanfare and leverage things up.

The reason I’m pointing this out is just to articulate matters that popped out of self-conscience. Whether it is wrong or right to tether ourselves so that the strong can pull us, that is not within my prerogative and broke neither any general rules nor principles. Possibly, if we are the influential person considering to do a big favor and tether someone else into the mainstage that we had enjoyed big audience, it is up to them too. In short, leveraging would be a subjective matter.

The Niche

Proton had a well done job by releasing its first MPV, the Proton Exora. It hinted that proton need not to try hard to reach that high sales pitch if....

Even though our economy is seriously at risk of collapsing, the spending power of Malaysian never seems to deter by the current occurrence. Some say that we never dealt with money trading like what Singapore and United States did, instead, we run our economy the ol’skool style. Selling tangible items for money. That is why we remained resilient and steadfast in facing uncertain situations.

Talking about tangible item, there is nothing more satisfying for a family man getting a vehicle that moves his family comfortably, safely and economically. This kind of concern was shown by Proton Exora. These were the things running in their mind perhaps when the first lines were drawn to form its silhouette till the details of dashboards and cup holders.

Proton is of course, a national carmaker company which we either hate or like it. For nationalists Proton represented a national pride that showcases the nation possibilities and marvel of automotive engineering. The Perak Tanjung Malim production plant are hailed as one of the most latest car assembly line; if you have not seen it, then take a time and look at the Malaysian RM100 banknotes, Frankly, It is not easy to establish a car making company with its own platform, design studios and production facilities. Countries that had their own car company could only be hand counted during the inception of proton itself in 1983. That is why, when proton were brought into the United Kingdom some when around 1987, proton motto goes by “Japanese technology, Malaysian style “

Like other carmakers elsewhere, Proton had a long and painful teething period. Widely known, Proton has somehow become one of the most protected companies in Malaysia, its road down the carmaking business are full of thorns; starting from partnership with Mitsubishi which lets us improvise their design but refuses to share drivetrain engineering knowhow. Then, Proton turned to Renault, a French carmaker that we hoped to turn into sexy French maid and make Proton wishes come true; instead, Renault had thrown us dirty laundry to be cleaned off. They supplied us with engines that are barely reliable, as a result, Proton Tiara turned out to be troublesome car that sells cheaper than Vitara VR150 scooter for second hand.

Then, we turned our heads, back on Mitsubishi shoulder supplying us blocks of drivetrains without our engineers practically knowing what formulas were used by Japanese to achieve such reliable, compact and robust engines. Mitsubishi were not there for long, final batches of engines were fitted into the Proton Waja 1.6 ( The 1.8 variant were supplied by French Renault ), then, our engineers came out with purely homegrown CAMPRO engines which can be considered as excellent starting point. Then, Proton seek to synergize its production after realizing that lots of other carmakers began to merge and share platform. That is when the idea of ‘strategic partner’ first mooted.

It gave me a ray of hope when Proton strategically approached Volkswagen for talks of co-operation. Volkswagen is not a performance car company, but, it’s a legendary car company. It’s the living brainchild of Hitler ideas of personal mobility within the fatherland of Germany. Volkswagen can have the bragging rights of first successful mass produced vehicle through its Beetle. Volkswagen is a testament of German affinity for technical precision (have you saw Volkswagen Eos retract its hardtop? ), plus, Volkswagen had a successful track record of reviving troubled carmakers; for instance the incorporation of Czech Republic Skoda in 1990. The pale yellow Skoda Fabia that you may see on road actually shares the same floorplan as Volkswagen Polo, frankly

Yet, we failed to reach ultimatum for some unforeseen reason. I was daydreaming that Perdana would be sharing its base with the sleek, sexy Gisele Bunchen-esque Passat CC. Now, we’re back hunting for foreign partners.

History teaches us something

Renault, the French carmaker that we wished magically turn into a wickedly sexy French maid had been through thorns earlier than Proton had gone through. Their ‘saga’ started during the launch of 1982s’ Renault25, which Renault intended to fight head on with German marquees such as Mercedes Benz and BMW. Quite an ambitious aim to offer the world an alternative of French taste.
They were engulfed with quality problems and production flops. Equipment keeps falling off even though the power of this car is nothing short of 5-Series and E-classes. Luckily, the nationalistic French did check this car out, which in turn helped Renault to stay afloat in the executive market segment.

Renault felt that hope is still alive, and head on to release the Renault Safrane ( beautiful name indeed ) . That was in 1992 which year I recognizes car had a clean cut design that tries to reduce materials similar used inside homes; such as furniture look alike wood paneling and wall analogue clock. Again, the bad reputation of the previous car had lingered to this model.

French, usually dissed for their giving-up never really applied this attitude for Renault, when its third tryst resulted in the awkward looking Vel Satis (a term referring to Velocity Satisfaction). Anyone in the industrial design would like to read stories what kind of erotic and exotic images were playing in the car designer minds while blueprinting this vehicle. Must be the ‘avant-garde’ (ahead of time) attitude which French designers subscribed themselves to). The Vel Satis is still positioned as an alternative option for Beemers and Mercs, which had already earned distinctive reputation.

This time around, Renault did what Proton did, but with a different twist. Getting engines from Japanese is nothing short of reliable. They got their engines from Nissan, a company which were partially acquired sometime in 2000. They kicked Japanese MD and replaced it with Carlos Ghosn, a figure which my dad used to enthuastically tell when I was more interested in Digimon. His leadership skill helped to turn Nissan fortune around.

Proton relationship with Mitsubishi was just partnership. While Renault had purchased a portion of Nissan. When Renault acquired Nissan, it means less obstruction of engine-making know how transfers, for the benefit of mankind. Like you and me, we get fuel efficient and quicker cars. If you happen to see any Nissan Latios, then, from its design, you may quickly notice its unusual rear body wrap and slightly tall proportion, the car has reminiscence of Renault Vel Satis. I wonder if they had the same designers.

Vel Satis is eight years old at the moment this entry is written and has never seen any refreshes. Honestly, I’m excited to see what those ‘avant garde’ French designer going to come out this time around, but, nah, not much news on Vel Satis. It signifies Renault buried effort to compete with Beemer and Mercs, too far being an alternative, so where did Renault go when for the last eight years?

Instead of executive car market, Renault just went on to develop hot hatches. Cars like Clio and Megane seems to experience more development thus shedding more limelight on them. Renault knew after three trysts and a few decades of effort, they cannot achieve that ambitious aim to dethrone German marquee out of the ring, so they went to a lighter category which is the lightweight championship. Hot hatches really have lots of appeal for both young and old. In times where fuel price is very unstable, a hot hatch would be a cute, quick and efficient city transporter. You can park it easily without worrying much the rear would hit the concrete divider or you might want to trail another car as close as possible as hot hatch usually has shorter-spanned engine boot.

Renault instantly gained a reputation of making performance hot hatches. A reputation neither set or foreseen by the bosses last 15 years. A Blue Renault Megane had just passed me by a few months ago, and by its presence aura, I’m just impressed, until I can vividly remember till today. Not forgetting the red hot Renault Clio RS197 selling at price nearing Volkswagen Golf GT, which perhaps has got the same performance parity. Care for a chariot race with 197 French horses in-front of you?

This should give Proton an example that it wouldn’t be a handicapped carmaker if its product range lacked of four-door full sedan or two-door hatchbacks. It wouldn’t become a stumbling block if Proton lacked of its performance tuning division like R3. If that carmaker were mine, I would have dissolve R3 and dropped Gen.2, Satria Neo and Perdana. Instead a family-oriented, fuel saving cars like Savvy, Saga and particularly Exora will be farther developed and enhanced.

We all know, Proton wants to be the alternative carmaker for all categories of vehicle; minivans, sedans, hatches, entry-level, executives, but yet, if Proton can only compete for its price points, then, things can become really torture for customers that are forced to purchase a vehicle just because they are cheap but lacked certain necessities like ABS, fire extinguishers and airbags. I suggest Proton retreated to the value segment. Proton advertisement shall features users with their pets enjoying comfy smooth rides, or a mak cik going to surau for maghrib prayers signifying the practicality and fun. The dissolved R3 engineers shall be incorporated into researching for best shock absorbers that are suitable for Malaysian pot-hole rich roads, in the end of the day, Proton can have a reputation for silky smooth rides similar to what French Citroen had now with their unique Oleopneumatic suspension.

Although electric or hybrid engines are far out of reach, Proton can possibly make an outstanding fuel economic cars. Say, 5litres per 100kilometers? Sadly, we have sold MV Agusta due to bad management. Whatever is done is done, yet, if MV Agusta is still here, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad had predicted that the superbike company can produce small ‘potent’ engines to power supermini like Savvy. This make real sense, as Majlis Perbandaran contract workers responsible for grass cutting routine, had their backpacks powered by single cylinders engine (yes, they are wearing petrol consuming internal combustion engines on their back). Superbikes like Caviga had even powerful engines that may outrun Kancil if transplanted into four door compacts. Why not? Let Proton be known for low fuel guzzling car.

Performance is a subjective matter. If anyone is addictive to speed and burning petrol, they can get the Masseratis or Gumperts. When entering value segment, its mend for people who would want to spend their cash with prudence. It’s a balanced ratio of many features per ringgit. The Chinese preferred to purchase Honda City or Toyota Vios, most of them think they are economical, comfortable, spacious, low maintenance with reasonable resale values. If Proton had downsized its range, perhaps, they can gain more saving and concentrate researching to enhance Proton Saga. So that, the 3rd generation Saga would be the best competitors to next generation Vioses and Cities.

We surely wouldn’t want Proton to collapse or shamefully being eaten up by other company and seeing our contractors crying foul. Downsizing and retreating to the value segment would probably the next best thing to do. Let Savvy, Saga and Exora do the work to impress. The rest of ASEANS too would love comfy cars like them. Lets get back to the ol’skool way of doing business; selling something tangible.

When things seems to be better, Proton may just retain the family-movers image and establish a performance spin-off brand; like Lexus for Toyota. Perhaps Prestasi for Proton? Anybody seen a 250 Malaysian horses?