| On a report that Volkswagen AG may have | | | | Azman Mokhtar, the Managing Director of |
| agreed to share technology with Proton | | | | Khazanah, said in June 26 that he plans to |
| Holdings Bhd., and to acquire a stake in its | | | | look for a partner for Proton before the end |
| manufacturing unit, shares of the | | | | of this year. |
| unprofitable Malaysian automaker rose. | | | | |
| | | | The Edge also states that collaboration |
| After the Edge magazine said that Volkswagen | | | | between Proton and U.S. carmaker General |
| may pay several hundred million ringgit and | | | | Motors Corp. is unlikely to happen because |
| supply vehicle platforms as part of an | | | | Proton sells vehicles in Iran. According to |
| agreement, the stocks of Proton jumped as | | | | the magazine, GM particularized that Proton |
| high as 5.2 percent. The report also said | | | | must pull out of Iran, a condition that will |
| that the biggest carmaker in Europe, | | | | be met. |
| Volkswagen, will own 51 percent of a new | | | | |
| company that will own Proton's manufacturing | | | | About Volkswagen and the environment |
| division. | | | | |
| | | | Protecting the environment is increasingly |
| Analyst Mohd Hanafi said that the agreement | | | | becoming an important part of the whole |
| seems to be just waiting for a formal | | | | process chain from product planning and |
| decision. The analyst at Alliance Research | | | | product development to the recovery of |
| Sdn. in Kuala Lumpur, with a ``buy'' rating | | | | end-of-life vehicles. In this connection, |
| on Proton stock, added that any kind of new | | | | when a new Volkswagen is developed, several |
| positive development would surely have an | | | | line-ups of activities guarantee the long |
| impact on the share price. | | | | life of the vehicle and improve subsequent |
| | | | recovery. |
| Based on the estimates of Hwang-DBS Vickers | | | | |
| Research Sdn., the control of Proton's car | | | | All engineers who are involved in the |
| making division may cost 900 million ringgit | | | | development process use the internal |
| ($263 million). The state-owned automaker | | | | respective guidelines and broad information |
| needs an ally to help roll out new models and | | | | as the basis for creating recyclable |
| turn out increasing sales. | | | | products. Aside from avoiding the use of |
| | | | hazardous substances, they are also |
| Khazanah Nasional Bhd. spokesman Mohd Asuki | | | | increasingly using recycled materials as well |
| Abas refused to comment on the report. | | | | and labeling the materials of all applicable |
| Khazanah, a Malaysian government investment | | | | vehicle components with their material types, |
| unit, holds 43 percent of Proton. Proton | | | | to succor identification and subsequent |
| Spokeswoman Faridah Idris said that she was | | | | recycling. |
| not able to comment immediately. | | | | |
| | | | Through a recycling analysis, the |
| Proton shares jumped as high as 30 sen to | | | | environmentally friendly properties of the |
| 6.10 ringgit. The stock has dropped 11 | | | | new vehicle are checked. |
| percent this year as compared with a 26 | | | | |
| percent increase by the Kuala Lumpur | | | | Documentation is prepared and made available |
| Composite Index. | | | | to the recycling companies to guarantee |
| | | | environmentally friendly recycling at the end |
| The Magazine said that according to the | | | | of a vehicle's life. |
| agreement, Proton will control domestic | | | | |
| vehicle distribution and Volkswagen will | | | | The company engineers are the experts behind |
| monitor international sales. | | | | quality Volkswagen Jetta parts. |
| | | | |