"A picture is worth a thousand words"

My proposal revolves around setting up physical campuses at/on Motorsport venues, combined with on-line learning.
Lotus is where I first suggested this. Reaction was tepid to very anti. No-one said this was going to be easy!
DRB Hicom own Lotus and Proton. They have just received University status for their ICAM campus it is now being renamed

DRB-Hicom University Of Automotive Malaysia

Petronas has a private University UTP. They, like Lotus and Proton are involved in Motorsport.

Below are 3 video's. Spend five minutes watching them, and you will understand what I am trying to achieve...

Proton looking for RM 3 billion funding (about 1/2 billion pounds)

The Malaysian paper The Star has a couple af articles about Proton asking the Malaysian Government and the Malaysian national oil company Petronas for funding to develop new products.
http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/03/05/Up-to-RM3bil-needed-to-develop-new-models-including-electric-car/
It makes interesting reading.

I have on many occasions approached both companies Proton (owned by DRB Hicom) and Petronas for help in making my proposal a reality.

Up until now it has not materialised.

I think that now DRB Hicom have publicly stated that they intend to make 'Education' (ICAM) a core business, Petronas already has a fully fledge University under its ownership, and both have multiple Motorsport divisions and in the case of Petronas sponsorship of Mercedes F1 team. the official title of Mercedes is Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.

Lotus, the car company based in the UK are owned by DRB Hicom. Westfield cars have a development and sales agreement with DRB Hicom. Proton has a Motorsport team R3 and Proton also support an international Rally team.

Whilst Petronas may feel that funding for product development should come directly from the Government, it may be open to an educational partnership based around Motorsports.

Proton (DRB Hicom) obviously talks to Petronas.

How about looking at my proposal? I'm sure both parties would have much to gain!

Both are looking having a global presence. Both are looking to make 'Education' one of their core businesses. Both have Motorsport as part of their businesses.

On a personal note... It would be nice if they could find a position for me in their business plan.

Petronas and Group Lotus educational partners.

I was browsing the web. I found an old Lotus Engineering article.
http://www.autoworld.com.my/v2/news/nb_details.asp?awReviewID=551&awCatID=RT.ATC.CAR.NW

The article was written in 2001. At this time the University of Petronas had an agreement with Lotus.

UTP and LotusIn a related developed Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and Lotus have joined forces in an industrial partnership that will spearhead a new technology transfer relationship between the two organisations.

The partnership between UTP (one of the leading academic and technology institutions in the ASEAN region) and Lotus, will include the following:

- Joint research programmes such as Advanced combustion, Optical diagnostics and Active valvetrain;
- Industrial placements at Lotus for UTP students and staff;
- Technical papers, presentations and journal publications;
- Advanced engineering lecture programme by Lotus;

"By pooling resources from Lotus and UTP, we have a great opportunity to stretch the boundaries of research for the car of the future. I can see the scope within these two skilled teams to research into safer, more efficient and more advanced vehicles to take the car not just 5 years ahead but well into the next decade and beyond," said Mr Wood.

Mr Wood is in Malaysia as part of a team visiting local universities and presenting the ‘Lotus Engineering Roadshow’. The event was also presented at Proton’s premises in Shah Alam today and attended by Lord Sainsbury, the British Minister of Science & Technology, who also took the opportunity to visit the factory.

Picture copied from article: autoworld.com.my
Simon Wood on left, Lord Sainsbury and Tengku Mahaleel (Proton CEO at the time).



I visited UTP some years ago and met with it's CEO. I didn't know that there was official co-operation between Lotus and Petronas.

Petronas and DRB-Hicom both have private Universities. Petronas have a huge Motorsport budget.

They could make my vision a reality.  I hope they do!

Lotus. Ten Years and counting!

I have just checked my email account. Ten years ago this week I was working in Lotus. I had been laid off and was working my notice period.
My job title:Training & Resource Engineer
I had a job offer from EDAG to join them as (the whole) Vehicle Integration Manager on a Chrysler program.

Time flies!

Overall, I did not enjoy working at Lotus. So why am I so keen to get them to implement my MUM proposal?

Many would say its because I'm stupid! They are entitled to their opinion.

I would say its because I believe that it will be a huge success. Huge success and (Group) Lotus are not terms oft used in a single sentence!

Training as a business is not a core part of Group Lotus. My ideas, were a little different from the mainstream.

Recently, Proton were bought by DRB-Hicom. DRB-Hicom therefore own Group Lotus.

DRB-Hicom own a private University. Education is a core business for them.

I have written to them, asking to leverage their University know how with Proton and Group Lotus.

Together, they can set up institutions globally.

ICAM being the OEM and Proton and Lotus being tier one suppliers.

Perhaps DRB-Hicom are a little more education friendly than Group Lotus.

Lucky I'm patient!

Lotus plan must be successful. New Management will hopefully see what I can see.

Well, its birthday time for me in a week or so. Fifty seven years and counting! I'm older than Lotus car company.
I am happy and healthy, and looking forward to the future!
Group Lotus on the other hand are in turmoil.

I read in today's New Zealand Herald

Lotus position looks uncomfortable

The syndicate lent the money to Lotus on the basis of a back-to-back guarantee with Proton, which is said to have cash of around 255.2 million pounds.

Indeed, it is this guarantee that worries some insiders who are concerned Lotus could have a domino effect on DRB because of its debts.

"That is why Lotus is such a big problem for them," said one source. "They have to get it right."

My proposal MUM will clearly work. They need to make it part of the overall plan.

DRB-Hicom own a private University ICAM, and have links with British Universities.

IT IS PART OF THEIR CORE BUSINESS

If they are looking for synergies between DRB-Hicom/Proton and Lotus look no further!

I have dealt with a series of Managers and CEO's in Lotus. None impressed me. Conversely, I probably didn't impress them.

I hope this changes in the near future.

For the sake of DRB-Hicom, Proton and Group Lotus. I hope so.