Proton S70 selected for Program Pembaharuan Teksi MADANI

Since the 1980s, Proton has been a major supplier of vehicles for the country’s public transport system, especially taxis. In support of the Transport ministry’s aim of modernising Malaysia’s public transport ecosystem, the national automaker will provide vehicles for the fleet renewal framework.

Equipped for taxi use
As a start, Proton has developed a variant of the Proton S70 sedan with additional features required by taxi operators. Based on the Premium version, the additional items, approved for licensed commercial public transport operations, are installed at the factory in Perak.

The additional items on the cars, which are finished entirely in Ruby Red, are LED panels on the top left corner of the windscreen and at the rear which will show ‘TEKSI’ or ‘E-Hailing’. This eliminates the need for attaching the TEKSI indicator on the roof and also extends the car’s use to e-hailing instead of having stickers.

Inside, the dashboard layout is the same modern one that is found in the S70 but at the front of the centre console is an additional display screen. This serves as a meter to show charges and could also be used to show advertisements. Proton has also added a small printer that can provide receipts for those who request for them.

While taxis have used ‘H*’ for their registration plates, the S70 taxi will have its own registration. The numberplate, referred to as GET, stands ‘Gabungan E-hailing dan Teksi‘.

Similar technical specs
The technical aspects of the S70 taxi are the same as those in the showrooms. The powertrain is the powerful turbocharged 4-cylinder i-GT engine producing 181 ps/290 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s not known if Proton engineers have made any adjustments to strengthen the engine for the demands of daily use as a taxi, or tuned for higher fuel efficiency.

Nevertheless, the S70 has a claimed fuel consumption of 17.5 kms/litre, which means the 50-litre fuel tank can provide a potential range of almost 900 kms. It has also been proven at an economy run event in Penang last year that each litre of petrol can be stretched up to as much as 31.61 kms/litre (and that was with the earlier engine).

Built on the B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) platform, the S70 has generous dimensions that allow for interior spaciousness. There’s good legroom for rear occupants – important for taxis – as well as up to 500 litres of space in the boot.

Besides intelligent connectivity, the modern engineering of the sedan also has higher safety standards and ASEAN NCAP’s assessment awarded the model the full 5-star rating.

Only for qualified transport operators
Participation in the fleet renewal scheme – known as Program Pembaharuan Teksi MADANI – is restricted to transport operators who fulfil the strict eligibility guidelines set by APAD (Land Public Transport Agency. Financing and purchase incentives will be coordinated jointly through government channels and Proton to facilitate purchase. Information regarding application criteria and car availability can be obtained at Proton showroom nationwide.

“For more than four decades, PROTON has grown alongside Malaysia, and we have always believed our responsibility extends beyond building cars. We have a role in supporting national development, strengthening local industry and improving everyday mobility for Malaysians,” said Dato’ Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa, Deputy CEO of PROTON Holdings Bhd.

“Program Pembaharuan Teksi MADANI Nasional demonstrates what can be achieved when the government and industry work together with a common purpose. We are honoured the Proton S70 has been selected to support this effort because it reflects confidence in Malaysian engineering, manufacturing capability and the quality of our products,” he said.

Find a Proton showroom to view, test or buy a Proton S70

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