Malaysia’s national automaker Proton Holdings must boost its overseas sales even while it tries to compete at home with foreign car importers, prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Thursday, according to the Associated Press (AP).
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“The expansion of imported cars is an ongoing thing, and I believe that it will continue to be that way,” Abdullah reportedly told Malaysian journalists while visiting Tokyo, adding: “If Proton were to produce more cars for the expanding automotive market in Malaysia … that is also good for Proton.”
“At the same time, Proton has to make serious efforts to a get a cut of the overseas market,” Abdullah was quoted as saying by Malaysia’s national news agency, Bernama, according to AP.
Abdullah reportedly expressed confidence in Proton’s future, noting the company has a new assembly plant that would help it produce better cars at competitive prices.
AP noted that Abdullah is expected to soon announce a new blueprint for Malaysia’s auto-making industry that analysts say will likely include measures to help Proton and other local automakers.
Proton has long been sheltered from stiff competition in the domestic auto sector because of high excise taxes and import duties on foreign cars, the report added, noting that its market share fell to 44% in 2004 from 48% the previous year, partly because foreign carmakers have been adopting more aggressive pricing strategies.
