PROTON SEES SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN SALES

SHAH ALAM (Malaysia), July 21 (Bernama) -- National car maker Proton Holdings Bhd has recorded slight improvement in sales in the first half of this year boosted by its newly launched multi purpose vehicle (MPV), Exora.

Speaking to reporters here, its managing director, Syed Zainal Abidin Syed
Mohamed said besides Exora, easier financing from financial institutions and the
scrap program introduced by the government supported the improvement.

Bookings for the MPV so far stands at 15,767 units, while 6,200 units have
already been sold since it was launched in February this year.

Proton is aiming to sell about 27,000 Exora units locally by end of this
year.

However, Syed Zainal said the second half of the year would remain
challenging due to the slower economic environment.

Nevertheless, sales of all Proton models including Exora are expected to
increase during the festive season including during Hari Raya (celebration to
mark the end of Ramadan month).

On the Indonesia market, where the Exora will be launched this Friday, Syed
Zainal said response had seemed encouraging judging from a session with the
media last week.

Meanwhile, Proton Edar Sdn Bhd's general manager of car sales division,
Sidik Abdul Hamid, said Proton aimed to sell some 500 units of Exora a month in
Indonesia.

He said the number was expected to increase going forward as Indonesia had a
large MPV market.
-- BERNAMA