Malaysia’s Proton, Perodua Plan 'Strategic Collaboration'

Malaysian auto maker Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua (Perodua) says it expects to sign a collaborative agreement with local rival Proton late this year or early next year.

Viva maker Perodua eyes export expansion.

Managing Director Aminar Rashid Salleh says specifics are in discussion stage.

“I think we are happy with the items,” Aminar tells the government-owned Bernama news agency. “We have had meetings at the highest level. This is a strategic collaboration for both parties and will benefit the shareholders.”

He says Perodua remains opposed to a merger with Proton. “We have our own plans, going forward.”

Aminar says Perodua within the next two months will release details of an electronic automatic-transmission plant to be built with Japanese auto maker Daihatsu.

“We are setting up a joint venture,” he says. “We’ll make an announcement on the equity structure of both Perodua and our Japanese partner, as well as the location of the plant.”

Construction is to begin next year on the MR200 million ($63 million) facility that will produce transmissions for domestic and export markets.

Perodua hopes its plan to export vehicles to South Africa will become a reality in the next year or two.

“We would love to go to South Africa, but it is not finalized yet,” Aminar says. “We are in preliminary talks via Daihatsu on various issues like the models to be exported and whether it will be under the Perodua brand or Daihatsu brand.”

He says if the exports go under the Perodua name, much work in branding and identification of distributors lies ahead.

“If we export under the Daihatsu brand, we’ll just ride through the existing network,” Aminar tells the news agency.

South Africa is included Perodua’s 5-year plan that aims to export 20,000-25,000 units by 2015.

While focusing on right-hand-drive countries, Aminar says Perodua also will venture into left-hand-drive nations within Asia, including Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as Middle East countries.

Perodua hopes to export 8,000 units this year, half of them to Sri Lanka. Other markets include the U.K., Singapore, Brunei, Mauritius, Fiji and Nepal.