Proton to Make Hybrid Car in 5 Years

Advanced Battery Technology, Aug 2005

Proton Holdings Bhd plans to develop a hybrid electric vehicle in the next five years, says its adviser Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Dr. Mahathir did not say if the carmaker, based in Shah Alam, would buy technology from Toyota Motor Corp. or Honda Motor Co.

"It's not been easy going into hybrids and also electric cars," Dr. Mahathir said. "Proton is working hard, doing research, but the allocation is very, very minimal and the number of engineers we can allocate for research is also very limited."

Proton, set up in 1985 to lead Malaysia's push to industrialize, is trying to develop new car models to compete with Toyota, Honda and other overseas assemblers ahead of a possible government move to end tax rebates for local manufacturers. The carmaker needs new technology after Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp., which provided their engine and chassis platforms for Proton cars, sold their stakes in Proton last year.