Proton to re-enter Chile again, says envoy

By BERNAMA | 9 November 2015


KUALA LUMPUR: Proton is set to re-enter the Chilean market next month, said Malaysian ambassador to Chile, Datuk Dr Mohammad Rameez Yahaya.

He said Proton's three models - Saga, Preve and Exora - would arrive in Chile as the test cars before they were scheduled to be launched next April by its distributor in the country, Andes Motor.

"I had met Andes Motor general manager, Jorge Greene, and commercial manager, Maximiliano, last Thursday to discuss the matter. The company signed a distributor agreement with Proton and will receive its first three models in December," he was quoted as saying in his Facebook.

Mohammad Rameez said Andes Motor was expected to import a minimum of 500 Proton cars each year for the next five years.

"That will increase trade between Malaysia and Chile to US$6 million a year," he said.

Last week, the three units were tested for approval before being transported from Port Klang. The cars are expected to arrive in Chile next month.

In April, Chile's ambassador to Malaysia, Christian Rehren, said Proton could re-enter the Chilean market this year following the signing of the Malaysia-Chile Free Trade Agreement.

Proton was selling in Chile in the 1990s and has become a familiar name there.

In a related development, DRB-Hicom Bhd said it was eyeing sales of RM45 million at the three-day DRB-Hicom Autofest 2015 which ended on Sunday.

At the weekend sales, the company was promoting 11 vehicle brands under the group and the entire ecosystem of the car industry within its stable such as Puspakom, Avis and Pos Malaysia at this year's event.

Among the brands featured are Proton, Lotus, Spyder Can-Am, Audi, Volkswagen, Honda, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Tata and Modenas.

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