ID :
92754
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 16:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/92754
The shortlink copeid
MASS PRODUCTION FOR PROTON HYBRID CARS IN 2011
MASS PRODUCTION FOR PROTON HYBRID CARS IN 2011
By Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysian automobile manufacturer Proton is
hoping to embark on mass production for its hybrid cars by 2011, said its
managing director Syed Zainal Syed Mohamad Tahir Wednesday.
He said it was being developed through collaboration with its Britain-based
subsidiary Lotus and several component suppliers like battery manufacturers.
"We have a dedicated team at Lotus to develop and test the car using Lotus
technology. I tested the cars two weeks and I am impressed with it," he told
Malaysian media on the sideline of the Thailand International Motor Expo here.
Earlier Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who launched the Expo,
was given a briefing on Proton's venture in Thailand and its latest model Exora
which hit the Thai market during the expo.
Syed Zainal said several Exora hybrid cars are currently being tested in
Britain and would be shipped to Malaysia by end of December or early next year.
Under the second stage, Proton would assemble hybrid vehicles as government
fleet vehicles, especially in Malaysia's new administrative capital Putrajaya
before going for mass production in 2011.
"This can be expanded to fleet for private sectors like Pos Malaysia, DHL or
others who are using big number of vehicles for their business," he said.
He said it was part of Proton's move to support Prime Minister Najib Razak's
initiative to enhance green technologies for vehicles that could pave way for
fuel efficiency and a greener environment.
Asked about the investment involved, Syed Zainal said it was not big as they
were working with Lotus and other component manufacturers.
"We are developing the hybrid with battery manufacturers. By doing so, our
investment will not be high," he said.
On the pricing, he said it has not been decided yet, but added that it would
initially be higher than the conventional models.
Hybrid vehicles, which deliver power by switching between a petrol engine
and an electric motor, can save up to 30 per cent on fuel costs but they are
more expensive than conventional models.
He also said Proton has been developing electric cars since early this year,
using models like Saga, Persona and Exora, adding that mass production would
take longer as it needed expensive infrastructures like charging stations
and power plants.
-- BERNAMA
By Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysian automobile manufacturer Proton is
hoping to embark on mass production for its hybrid cars by 2011, said its
managing director Syed Zainal Syed Mohamad Tahir Wednesday.
He said it was being developed through collaboration with its Britain-based
subsidiary Lotus and several component suppliers like battery manufacturers.
"We have a dedicated team at Lotus to develop and test the car using Lotus
technology. I tested the cars two weeks and I am impressed with it," he told
Malaysian media on the sideline of the Thailand International Motor Expo here.
Earlier Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who launched the Expo,
was given a briefing on Proton's venture in Thailand and its latest model Exora
which hit the Thai market during the expo.
Syed Zainal said several Exora hybrid cars are currently being tested in
Britain and would be shipped to Malaysia by end of December or early next year.
Under the second stage, Proton would assemble hybrid vehicles as government
fleet vehicles, especially in Malaysia's new administrative capital Putrajaya
before going for mass production in 2011.
"This can be expanded to fleet for private sectors like Pos Malaysia, DHL or
others who are using big number of vehicles for their business," he said.
He said it was part of Proton's move to support Prime Minister Najib Razak's
initiative to enhance green technologies for vehicles that could pave way for
fuel efficiency and a greener environment.
Asked about the investment involved, Syed Zainal said it was not big as they
were working with Lotus and other component manufacturers.
"We are developing the hybrid with battery manufacturers. By doing so, our
investment will not be high," he said.
On the pricing, he said it has not been decided yet, but added that it would
initially be higher than the conventional models.
Hybrid vehicles, which deliver power by switching between a petrol engine
and an electric motor, can save up to 30 per cent on fuel costs but they are
more expensive than conventional models.
He also said Proton has been developing electric cars since early this year,
using models like Saga, Persona and Exora, adding that mass production would
take longer as it needed expensive infrastructures like charging stations
and power plants.
-- BERNAMA
