PROTON READY TO AGGRESSIVELY MAKE ITS GLOBAL FORAY

From Umi Hani Sharani

GENEVA, March 1 (Bernama) -- After 25 years in the automotive industry,
Malaysia's national car manufacturer Proton Holdings Bhd is now ready to
aggressively make its foray into the global market and will start by
participating in the 80th Geneva International Motorshow this year.

Its group marketing and after-sales director Yohani Mohd Yusof said Monday
that the national carmaker's goal was to enter as many countries as possible and
it was already taking a bold step to be more aggressive.

"After 25 years in the automotive industry, it's time to make our foray into
the global market," she said when speaking to Malaysian media here.

At the prestigious Geneva International Motorshow, Proton will be unveiling
its first concept car, which was designed in collaboration with Italdesign
Giugiaro and uses Lotus' Range Extender engine.

The concept car, which is also a hybrid, is expected to be launched by
Proton's adviser Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Proton's chairman Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh and managing director Syed Zainal
Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir will also be present.

In addition, Proton's subsidiary Lotus will be unveiling its Elise facelift
at the motorshow.

According to Yohani, different motorshow have different platforms to show
off various things but the Geneva International Motorshow was the best to
showcase all and is regarded as a level playing field for the world's
automakers.

Venue for the motorshow, which is held annually in the Swiss city in March,
is the Geneva Palexpo, where exotic supercars more often steal the limelight
from others such as the unveiling of prototypes, new equipment, technical
breakthroughs and international partnerships announcement.
-- BERNAMA