Proton, VW deal in the works again
National car maker Proton will announce a possible deal with German auto giant Volkswagon AG in the next two weeks, in another twist to on-off collaborations between the two companies.
By Lee Wei Lian, The Malaysian Insider
SUBANG JAYA, May 26 — National car maker Proton will announce a possible deal with German auto giant Volkswagon AG in the next two weeks, in another twist to on-off collaborations between the two companies.
“We will make an announcement in one or two weeks,” Proton chairman Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Salleh told a press conference today when asked about rumours of a possible tie-up. He however declined to reveal further details.
Speculation that Proton will strike a deal with Volkwagon has been growing after several years on the backburner when two previous attempts failed.
The Edge business weekly quoted sources as saying said that the collaboration could start with a rebadging of the Passat as a replacement model for the Perdana.
Last year, Proton was reportedly in talks with VW) that was to lead to a strategic partnership and the assembly of vehicles at the national car maker’s plant in Tanjung Malim.
The partnership was not expected to see the German auto giant taking an equity stake in Proton but a collaboration in platforms and engines was likely being negotiated.
The talks between Proton and VW come at a time when DRB-HICOM Bhd is also engaged in discussions with the German company to assemble cars in Pekan
