Perodua, having retained No. 1 spot in car sales for the sixth consecutive year, with 180,000 cars sold last year, says it will be business as usual for the company despite recent developments in Proton Holdings Bhd, the national car maker.
Managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said the compact car maker expects more intense competition in the local automotive market, with DRB-Hicom Bhd becoming the new driver of the national automaker, Proton.
He said Perodua was still open to negotiations with Proton on proposed collaborative areas, which the two local automotive companies could work on, but dismissed that there would be discussions for a merger.
"It is still early for DRB-Hicom to approach us as they have just taken over Proton but we are always open for collaborative talks.
"I wish to stress that it will be only collaborative talks and will not be more than that such as a possible merger (between Proton and Perodua).
"We still abide by our earlier stand that a merger is not seem to be possible as Perodua has its own set of priorities to pursue and am sure that Proton too has its own set of plans for the future," he told reporters after a media briefing on Perodua's 2011 performance.
Asked on DRB-Hicom taking over Proton, Aminar Rashid said Perodua had and would always support any move for the betterment of the domestic auto sector.
"I am sure Khazanah (Nasional Bhd) has evaluated DRB-Hicom through a stringent process and a decision after the process should be a good decision.
"We expect better and enhanced products from them (Proton)," he added. -- BERNAMA
Managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said the compact car maker expects more intense competition in the local automotive market, with DRB-Hicom Bhd becoming the new driver of the national automaker, Proton.
He said Perodua was still open to negotiations with Proton on proposed collaborative areas, which the two local automotive companies could work on, but dismissed that there would be discussions for a merger.
"It is still early for DRB-Hicom to approach us as they have just taken over Proton but we are always open for collaborative talks.
"I wish to stress that it will be only collaborative talks and will not be more than that such as a possible merger (between Proton and Perodua).
"We still abide by our earlier stand that a merger is not seem to be possible as Perodua has its own set of priorities to pursue and am sure that Proton too has its own set of plans for the future," he told reporters after a media briefing on Perodua's 2011 performance.
Asked on DRB-Hicom taking over Proton, Aminar Rashid said Perodua had and would always support any move for the betterment of the domestic auto sector.
"I am sure Khazanah (Nasional Bhd) has evaluated DRB-Hicom through a stringent process and a decision after the process should be a good decision.
"We expect better and enhanced products from them (Proton)," he added. -- BERNAMA
