Proton has begun preliminary talks with a Turkish automotive company to assemble Proton vehicles in Turkey and, at some point in the future, is set to initiate a joint venture with the firm to develop a Turkish car, according to Bernama.

The report quotes former PM Tun Dr Mahathir, who is Proton’s advisor, as saying that the two parties are already talking to each other. “The idea is initially of course to probably assemble Proton cars there and eventually develop a Turkish car through the collaboration,” he told the national news agency.

“When we get a good partner other than the said collaboration, Malaysia should also be able to export more Proton cars to Turkey,” he said, adding that Protons had in the past been exported to Turkey, but these exports had to stop due to certain circumstances.

The Turkish automotive industry has a number of automakers, including Tofas (Turk Otomobil Fabrikasi Anonim Sirketi), which builds Fiat models as well as some locally-designed vehicles, and Oyak Renault Otomobil Fabrikalari. The country is the sixth largest automobile producer in Europe and 15th largest in the world.

-Paultan
KUALA LUMPUR: DRB-Hicom Bhd has been urged to transform Proton and look at ways to stem the financial losses.

In making the call, former premier and adviser to the national auto maker Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the new management after the takeover, scheduled to be completed this month, has to bring the national automotive company to its old glory.

"Obviously, you (DRB-Hicom) need to beef up the organisation, examine all the losses to see how you can reimburse the losses.

"Generally, the new company will have to look at all aspects of management of Proton as it is weak in all angles," Dr Mahathir said in an interview.

The national car maker's pre-tax loss widened to RM84.054 million for the third quarter ended Dec 31, 2011 compared to a pre-tax loss of RM51.535 million in the same period in 2010.

Revenue for the period also decreased to RM1.432 billion from RM1.833 billion previously.

Turnover for the first nine months also dipped to RM5.92 billion from RM6.36 billion on the back of a RM36.530 million loss before taxation against a pre-tax profit of RM134.3 million recorded in the corresponding period in the preceding financial year.

On the new Proton chief, Dr Mahathir said it is up to DRB-Hicom whether to name a new successor or to retain the old management.

Asked whether Proton can regain its glory with the old management under a new parent, Dr Mahathir said: "Obviously, there might be some new inputs from DRB-Hicom. For sure it is not just going to buy Proton and leave it as it is."

He said the current management did not see the urgency to make a profit.

"Well, they (Proton) are not making a profit. Business must make profit. So we must find out why they are not making profit," Dr Mahathir said.

In January 2012, DRB-Hicom struck a deal to buy Khazanah Nasional Bhd's 42.7 per cent stake in Proton for RM1.29 billion or RM5.50 per share.

DRB-Hicom is expected to take Proton private later this month, after complying with take-over codes and regulations.

-Bernama
SUBANG JAYA: Cycling’s elite competing in the 17th edition of the Le Tour de Langkawi Starts Stage 6 of the prestigious race at the PROTON Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam today and what awaits them is a challenging 108km charge to the peak of Genting Highlands.

Le Tour de Langkawi 2012 has attracted a total of 122 cyclists representing 22 local and top international professional teams who are competing in a gruelling 1,414km stretched over 10 days. 

As a long-time sponsor of the tour since it was first held in 1996, this is the third time the event has been flagged off from the PROTON Headquarters. As in previous years, this year’s sponsorship of the tour involves a fleet of vehicles, as well as in terms of technical support, maintenance, manpower and merchandise giveaways. PROTON is also spearheading the cavalcade which is a procession of vehicles that proceeds ahead of the main peloton as it races through the country.

This is also the third consecutive year PROTON is sponsoring the coveted Blue Jersey which will be worn by the Sprint Champion of every stage, as well as the tour’s overall Sprint Champion.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with the prestigious tour, PROTON had also, prior to the start of this morning’s Stage 6, organised Le Tour de PROTON, a short race for cycling enthusiasts within the company to promote healthier living. 200 PROTON staff, including members of the Group’s senior management, will be taking part in this race, which will begin at the PROTON Plant in Shah Alam and will end at PROTON Centre of Excellence before joining the main peloton as they begin Stage 6.

“Beyond the realm of racing, Le Tour de Langkawi has more importantly become a powerful, impactful and successful branding exercise for the country, in which it has not only contributed in terms of driving up inbound tourism but has significantly elevated Malaysia’s status internationally,” said PROTON’s Group Managing Director, Dato’ Sri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

“Branding is also a key objective we at PROTON hope to fulfill in our support and sponsorship of the Le Tour de Langkawi. It provides us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase our range of vehicles not only to the local audience, but also the international riders, teams, officials and television viewers who follow the race.”

“And after being involved with LTDL for 17 years, it has become something that all PROTONians look forward to every year. This year, to celebrate our long-standing involvement with LTDL, and to create excitement amongst PROTONians, we are doing something new called Le Tour de PROTON for the very first time. 

It is more than a cycling activity to promote health, but we also see it as a different approach to strengthen the relationship between PROTON senior management and staff. And I’m happy to say that the response was very encouraging, so it was a shame that we had to limit entrants to 200. We certainly look forward to doing this next year too,” added Dato’ Sri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin. 

Le Tour de Langkawi was flagged off with 20.3km individual time trial around Putrajaya on 24 February 2012 and will end on 4 March 2012 in Kuala Terengganu.

-Proton
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