Driveaway pricing and World Series Sprintcars for Proton

Malaysian manufacturer Proton has announced it will adopt driveaway pricing on all models it sells Down Under.

Proton says it decided to make the move "to simplify the buying process for customers and to enhance its reputation among buyers as a trustworthy, no nonsense car company."

According to Proton Cars Australia, National Sales Manager, Mr Steven Thomas driveaway pricing will become industry-standard in the future. Thomas says and the convention will make it "easier and simpler for dealers and customers."

"Our dealers are happy because the move will enhance their profitability while buyers won't be surprised by variable delivery or statutory charges," said Mr Thomas.

"Customers can rest assured that while they can still negotiate an even lower price for a new Proton with any of our 34 dealers across the country they should not be charged any more than the recommended maximum driveaway pricetag".

The new pricing structure will see the company's current model line up including the Jumbuck, Gen 2 and Satria GTi feature a recommended retail price which includes dealer delivery, registration, compulsory third party insurance and stamp duty.

Jumbuck GLi will be priced at $15,990 driveaway while the GLSi will have a recommended retail of $17,990. The Proton GEN-2 range now starts from $17,990 for the L line manual up to $23,990 for he H line automatic, while the last remaining stocks of current Satria GTi hatch will have a recommended retail price of $23,990.

Proton says its 2005 Australian sales volumes have grown by almost 60 per cent over 2004. It claims the Malaysian carmaker is set to record its best sales result in Australia in more than five years.

Meantime it has also confirmed it will again be naming rights sponsor of the World Series Sprintcar Championship.

The 2005–2006 series will be contested over 19 rounds between November and January. It is the third year the company has sponsored the high-profile high-action series.

Proton says the success of the sponsorship of the national sprint car series over the past two years has enabled Proton to increase its market penetration particularly in a number of key regional areas.

According to Proton Cars Australia's managing director, Mr John Startari, the sponsorship has enabled Proton to deliver its marketing message to regional and rural areas as well as key city markets.

"Speedway attracts enormous numbers of loyal fans who range across a broad spectrum of occupations and socio-economic groups," said Mr Startari.

"With the majority of the Proton World Series rounds being run in rural or semi rural areas and close to a number of our key dealers it has provided perfect vehicle to showcase the Proton brand and product like the Jumbuck," he added.

The expanded 19-round 2005-2006 Proton World Series Sprintcars will for the first time feature a round in Rockhampton as well as two rounds at Latrobe Speedway near Launceston in Tasmania.

Following the opening two rounds in Brisbane there will be two rounds in Adelaide, Toowoomba, Geelong  and Warnambool with single rounds in Wagga, Mildura, Moama Echuca, Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier before the finale in Brisbane on January 14.