Proton's Islamic car idea

I couldn't believe it when I read about Proton's plan to come out with an Islamic car on Ainee's blog. Read the Reuter's report here.

So what's Islamic about the car?

Well, it will come equipped with a compass that points to Mecca, and a compartment meant specifically to put the Koran, the Islamic holy book. Proton plans to develop the car jointly with Iran and Turkey.

Apparently the idea came from the Iranians.


Pic from the Proton site.

Zagross Khodro Car Industries Co., the sole assembler and distributor of Proton in Iran has recently ordered 5,000 units of the Waja (called Impian in foreign markets) to be used as taxis in Iran. This is part of a US$200 million urban public transportation renewal initiative in Tehran. The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Mohd Effendi Norwawi unveiled the green coloured taxi at a ceremony there. Read the press release: 'Proton clinches orders for 5,000 WAJA for Iran'.

At first I thought it is a ridiculous idea but then it might be a great marketing idea. If that is what customers in Muslim countries want, why not?

Comments

Anonymous said…
all i know is, i'm not paying for extra digits, if i can get those stuff less than 100 ringgit. i also believe, to make one to pray is not the car, but one's heart.

PS: quite weird when they don't put up this kind of news in local mainstream Malaysian newspapers.
Anonymous said…
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/archive.asp?y=2007&dt=1118&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=rencana&pg=re_05.htm&arc=hive
Dilip Mutum said…
I guess it's just a marketing gimmick.

There might actually be a market for it. There is a huge untapped market there and whatever you say, a lot Muslims pay a lot of attention on what what they consider "Islamic" - most of which are external.
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
sooner
well since malaysian hate the car so much why dont they cater for the people who want them

it is not such a bad idea actually.

its a niche market to be exploited.why dont they give it a go.

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