Proton is currently working on its hybrid model while also developing electric engines with companies like Frazer-Nash Research, a Britain based company and LG of South Korea. Lotus Group, the British supercar maker, which is subsidiary of Proton too is involved in the developments. Dr Mahathir said that this is part of Proton’s move forward and its effort in moving into manufacturing and producing vehicles in green technology. Various incentives are being provided by the government of Malaysia for companies who are involved in research and development of green technology in the automotive sector with the latest in Budget 2011 of excise and import duty exemptions for hybrid vehicles until end of next year.
Mahathir was speaking to the media after handing over the limited edition Proton 25th Anniversary models to some 9 buyers added that design of the model has since been frozen and the company is currently in the process of improving the performance and an announcement will be made soon. He also said that the pricing of the hybrid cars would obviously be more expensive as compared to a normal cars because of the high cost of batteries and that in most cases, a hybrid car will usually be 3 times that of the ordinary models but Proton will keep the price low and might be below the RM100k mark. On top of that, he also said that come November 6, 3 hybrid models will be used in a race in Britain from Proton.
Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, the manging director of Proton added that 50 hybrid vehicles from Proton will be used as their first test fleet and will be used by the government before it is sent for production and that they are currently testing the Proton Exora hybrid version in Britain.
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