biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/10/busin -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 1/1/2007
Last Visited: 9/9/2007
By DANNY YAP
...
He said there now appeared to be light at the end of the tunnel, with Proton being hopeful of sealing the deal by year-end.
He noted that the Malaysian Government was also going all out to save the loss-making national car manufacturer by engaging in high-level talks with Volkswagen management.
The analyst said top government officials had expressed optimism that the deal could be worked out soon.
"The Volkswagen management in recent times has also expressed greater interest in wrapping up the deal," he said.
He said Proton, while working on the Volkswagen deal, had not rested on its laurels and came out recently with a new car model, Persona, to stem its dwindling local market share (It went from a high of nearly a 60% share to slightly over 20% currently).
"The Persona, launched several weeks ago, was well received by car buyers," he said, adding that Proton must come out with more "winning models" if it wanted to regain its market share locally.