Malaysian national car maker Proton is planning to use Mexico as a base to tap the lucrative North American car market, Reuters reported, citing the New Straits Times.
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According to Reuters, Mexican ambassador to Malaysia Alfredo Perez-Bravo was quoted by the newspaper as saying that Proton chief executive officer Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff was co-ordinating a visit by several car manufacturers to Mexico soon.
“I know for sure that they are looking at the rich North American market. It would be good if Proton can start a plant in Mexico at a later stage,” Perez-Bravo said, according to the news agency.
Perez-Bravo said, according to Reuters, that Proton could use the North American Free Trade Agreement to ride on the back of Mexican companies which had access to the US and Canadian markets.
Mexican car makers exported some 1.5 million units in 2001, including Ford, Nissan, Chrysler and Volkswagen models, Reuters noted.
The report added that Proton, which controls over 60% of Malaysia’s car market, has said that it aims to tap new markets such as China and the Middle East to help boost its international profile. Overseas markets currently contribute less than 5% to Proton’s annual sales of about 200,000 units, Reuters noted.
