Proton renews Mitsubishi ties
Friday, February 3rd, 2006 | 12:56 am @ SK
Proton has confirmed a new alliance with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation of Japan as it seeks out a partner to reverse its losses and after the breakdown of joint-venture talks with Volkswagen.
Two decades ago, Mitsubishi in a partnership with MMC, a former shareholder of Proton helped Proton to produce its first car.
Proton managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Tahir said the collaboration will be restricted to technology and will not involved any equity stake.
"Proton being small, I don’t see any reason why it should not be collaborating. That’s the journey that we would like to go."
Not long ago, the new MD claimed to be able to turn around the ailing national car maker in one year time. But now, he had something else to share.
"In the auto industry, a change is not going to happen in one week, even one year."
If Proton colloborate with Mitsubiship for being small, how about the Volkswagen case? Proton "acted" big?
February 3rd, 2006 at 1:25 am
Anyone wanna guess the next excuse after this alliance failure?
February 4th, 2006 at 9:06 am
[…] DAP International Secretary and NGO Bureau Chief Ronnie Liu said the national car concept does not work for Malaysia and thus Proton should allow Volkswagen to take up controlling stake. He was also puzzled as to why Mitsubishi has been chosen to re-partner Proton as it is not doing well in many parts of the world. "Proton should take a bolder approach to ensure its long-term survival. No car maker bigger or stronger than Proton would want to be led by a smaller one like Proton." […] […]