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Malaysia Debuts 1st Home-Grown Car

5 May 2000

On Monday, May 8th, Proton, Malaysia's national carmaker, will take the wraps 
off the first car it's ever fully designed and built. Proton is hoping that the 
first "Malaysian-made car" will put the company on the road to 
recovery following their financial misadventures.

Mitsubishi, Proton's strategic partner, will supply the new vehicle's 1.8 
litre engine.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who conceived of the idea of a national car 
project as a means of driving Malaysia's industrialisation, will officiate 
at the launch of the car.  All parts for the car are being sourced in Malaysia.  
In addition, this week, Malaysia asked its regional neighbours to allow it to 
keep protective tariffs on vehicle imports until 2005 to help Proton.

The still-to-be-named four-door vehicle was built with the help of Lotus, 
the UK-based car company in which Proton has an 80 per cent stake. The 
platform is thought to have been designed with the help of EDAG, a German 
consultancy.

Depending upon options, the price is estimated to be between 
$15,800-$21,050 (US).  Sales should begin in September, with deliveries 
starting October or November. Projected sales are 40,000 units annually.