Proton to launch one model a year<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's national carmaker Proton will
\nintroduce at least one new model a year to prepare for the
\nopening in 2005 of the regional auto market, a report said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Tengku Mahaleel Ariff, chief executive of Perusahaan Otomobil
\nNasional Bhd. (Proton), said in an interview with the Star
\nnewspaper the company aimed to seize a larger share of the
\nSoutheast Asian market.<\/p>\n
In a separate statement Proton announced price rises for two
\nof its older models -- the first increases for five years.<\/p>\n
Proton now has more than 65 percent of the Malaysian market
\ndue to high tariffs on imported cars. This protection will
\nlargely disappear in 2005 under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).<\/p>\n
Mahaleel said Proton could compete effectively in an open
\nmarket because it had developed its own technology and design
\ncapabilities. This was evident in last year's launch of the Waja
\nwhich was fully designed by its own engineers.<\/p>\n
\"We will give you one new model a year. We gave you the
\nPerdana V6 and Satria GTi in 1998, the Waja in 2000 and this year
\nthere will be more,\" he told the Star.<\/p>\n
\"We have said we are looking at introducing a van. We also
\nhave plans to create some other unique vehicles.<\/p>\n
\"We will also go out of Malaysia more to take the markets in
\nASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations). That is what
\nwe have to do with AFTA.\"<\/p>\n
Under AFTA tariffs will fall to zero to five percent at the
\nstart of 2003. Malaysia has obtained a reprieve for its auto
\nindustry till 2005.<\/p>\n
Mahaleel said Proton's purchase in 1997 of an 80 percent stake
\nin Britain's Lotus Group had boosted development of its own
\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
Proton said in a statement the price of the 1.3 and 1.5 liter
\nversions of the Iswara and Wira was increased by between 1,400
\nand 3,200 ringgit (US$368 and $842) effective Jan. 31.<\/p>\n
\"Proton has not raised its selling price in the last five
\nyears despite rising costs, so as not to burden consumers during
\nthe economic crisis which affected the country,\" said its
\noperations director Kisai Rahmat.<\/p>\n
The Iswara and Wira were launched in 1992 and 1993
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
Proton was founded in 1983 as part of Malaysia's push into
\nheavy industry.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said the government is
\nprepared to authorize the sale of up to 30 percent of Proton and
\nthat a U.S. car manufacturer has expressed interest.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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