Proton to continue operations in RP

Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz said yesterday that the Malaysian car manufacturing firm, Proton Pilipinas Corp., will continue its assembly operations in the country.

This was confirmed by PPC senior vice president and chief financial officer Ernesto V. Tan who said Proton is committed to continue its operations under the Motor Vehicle Development Program (MVDP).

Petronas, the Malaysian government’s oil firm, acquired recently a majority stake in Proton Malaysia.

Even though there has been a change in ownership in Proton Malaysia, which would in turn affect PPC, Aziz assured "they will want to continue with the earlier plans of the previous owners."

She added: "I doubt if they will make any change."

Tan said PPC is currently studying which ones are the best models to assemble.

Meanwhile, PPC must wait for policy directions from its new majority owner, he added.

According to Tan, PPC is also awaiting the Malaysian government’s action on applicable tariff rates on completely built-up units (CBUs) and completely knocked down (CKD) packs.

PPC started operations in the country in 1992 and has a 27-hectare assembly plant in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

PPC, however, has not been active in the local market and has not introduced any new model. – Marianne Go