Proton expects showcase to rev up Lotus sales

The five-day showcase, which will end on Sunday, is a more aggressive sales pitch than what Proton normally does, to boost the Lotus volume in Malaysia from about 180 presently.

The national carmaker is confident of making decent sales.

Chairman Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh and managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir are targeting 50-60 units from now until the year-end.

Proton can expect a warm response from the public as the price of all Lotus models has been markedly reduced.
Models like the iconic Elise S and the more powerful Exige S used to sell at about RM400,000 or more, company officials said.

But since last year, it is understood that the price has gone down to as low as RM240,000, while the Exige S now costs about RM350,000.

This is possible as Lotus was finally considered a Malaysian-made product that allowed it to get an import duty waiver, a company executive said.

Lotus cars are now produced at a plant in Norfolk, the UK, and sold in 37 countries. The cars are also locally-assembled in Malaysia.

Lotus also has engineering facilities in the US and China and offices in Germany.

Mohd Nadzmi said bringing "the Lotus showroom" to the public will provide a greater appreciation for Lotus Engineering - one of two operating divisions of Lotus Cars Ltd - and Proton cars in general.

Syed Zainal said it would introduce Lotus' latest model, the Evora, next year.

The Evora is not featured in the Lotus Showcase 2009 at The Gardens Mall in Mid-Valley.

Besides the Elise S and Exige S, the showcase also features the Europa S and Lotus 2-Eleven track car.

Meanwhile, Nadzmi lauded the move to further liberalise certain industries and deregulate the Foreign Investment Committee guidelines.

He said Proton, too, would have to re-strategise its approach in tandem with the government's efforts to remodel the local economy amid the more globalised landscape.