ID :
152113
Fri, 12/03/2010 - 01:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/152113
The shortlink copeid
AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES MUST UPGRADE AND INNOVATE, SAYS DR M
By Zarul Effendi Razali
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Automobile companies must upgrade and innovate
or otherwise see a rapid inglorious end, says Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The former prime minister cited examples of well-known old makes which have
disappeared, especially British cars.
"We no longer see British Austins and Morris, the German Borgward and the
Studebaker and Hudson of America and many others," he told a special luncheon
keynote address at the third Kuala Lumpur International Automotive Conference
2010 here Thursday.
With much innovation going into a vehicle, Dr Mahathir said the model and brand
which offered the most powerful torque, higher speed and good road handling,
were the ones that would sell well.
At the same time, there are also specialty cars carrying well-known brands and
selling only in limited numbers each year but they can still survive because of
their special attributes, he said.
Dr Mahathir said it would be difficult for a company to survive if it cannot
sell in the world market.
"Though brands and makes may have disappeared, he said, the use of
automobile as personal transport will always be there because of the demand from the
people.
"No matter how good the public transport system, the automobile will still
remain with us for the possible future.
"In fact, people would rather rent a house and be quite happy, but no one could
rent a car except for temporary use away from home," he said.
Dr Mahathir predicted that there would be less number of players in the
automotive industry but the industry itself would not disappear.
He said that only the aggressive and people with extensive research
development capacity would remain.
As for Malaysia, Dr Mahathir said the country has too many cars and the price
was too low.
He pointed out that in 1985 when Proton was launched, annual vehicle sales was
about 50,000 but now the number is 570,000 annually.
"Therefore, we need to raise the price through high taxes to reduce the number
of cars," said Dr Mahathir, who is also advisor to Proton Holdings Bhd, the
national carmaker.
He said the number of cars could be reduced with efficient and non-polluting
mass transit electrified rail system and electric power railways.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Automobile companies must upgrade and innovate
or otherwise see a rapid inglorious end, says Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The former prime minister cited examples of well-known old makes which have
disappeared, especially British cars.
"We no longer see British Austins and Morris, the German Borgward and the
Studebaker and Hudson of America and many others," he told a special luncheon
keynote address at the third Kuala Lumpur International Automotive Conference
2010 here Thursday.
With much innovation going into a vehicle, Dr Mahathir said the model and brand
which offered the most powerful torque, higher speed and good road handling,
were the ones that would sell well.
At the same time, there are also specialty cars carrying well-known brands and
selling only in limited numbers each year but they can still survive because of
their special attributes, he said.
Dr Mahathir said it would be difficult for a company to survive if it cannot
sell in the world market.
"Though brands and makes may have disappeared, he said, the use of
automobile as personal transport will always be there because of the demand from the
people.
"No matter how good the public transport system, the automobile will still
remain with us for the possible future.
"In fact, people would rather rent a house and be quite happy, but no one could
rent a car except for temporary use away from home," he said.
Dr Mahathir predicted that there would be less number of players in the
automotive industry but the industry itself would not disappear.
He said that only the aggressive and people with extensive research
development capacity would remain.
As for Malaysia, Dr Mahathir said the country has too many cars and the price
was too low.
He pointed out that in 1985 when Proton was launched, annual vehicle sales was
about 50,000 but now the number is 570,000 annually.
"Therefore, we need to raise the price through high taxes to reduce the number
of cars," said Dr Mahathir, who is also advisor to Proton Holdings Bhd, the
national carmaker.
He said the number of cars could be reduced with efficient and non-polluting
mass transit electrified rail system and electric power railways.
-- BERNAMA
