Proton to enter Thai market

The signing ceremony to mark the appointment will be held on Sept 27 in Bangkok, between Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir and Phranakorn managing director, Thawatchai Jungsanguanpornsuk.

 Thawatchai said Proton models, including the latest Proton Persona, were expected to be launched during the Thailand Motor Show in early December.

 The company is one of the largest car distributors in Thailand, with the mega dealer status for Honda, Isuzu and Chevrolet.

 It also does body painting for several BMW models manufactured in Thailand.

 Previously, the company was distributor for Daihatsu, Opel, Hyundai and Holden.

 Its parent company, the PNA Group, had a turnover of US$510 million (US$1=RM3.44) in 2005, with profit of US$20 million.

 Last month, Syed Zainal said Proton hoped to export the new car to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Britain and Australia to reap economies of scale.

 "We are finalising the product portfolio. Thailand is a competitive market, so whatever products that we plan to introduce there will have to be what the people want and based on the right specifications and pricing," he had said.

 Proton's entry was made possible after the Thai Government agreed to give tariff of between zero to five percent to vehicles coming from Malaysia under the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations Free Trade Agreement that would make it competitive in the crowded Thai market.

- By Bernama

Publication date/09/21/07