Chile to become hub for Proton cars’ entry into Latin America

Proton Saga Plus 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: Chile will be made the hub for the entry of Proton cars into the Latin American market, says Malaysian Ambassador to the country, Datuk Dr Mohamad Rameez.

He said a meeting held last week between the embassy in Santiago with the Chilean Taxi Association or Federation, would further enhance the demand for Proton cars.

This is especially with the Saga model possibly being used as taxis in Chile.

“The Taxi Federation is currently looking into such an endeavour,” he told Bernama in a statement.

Proton made its debut again in Chile in May this year and is expected to sell the Preve, Exora and Saga models by the thousands by year-end. 

Andesmotor, an affiliate of the well-known Kauffman Group, is the distributive agent for Proton in Chile.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Mohd Rameez said Proton handed a Proton Exora 1.6 Supreme to the embassy last week, as part of a collaboration to promote Malaysia and tourism to Chile and Chileans. 

The Proton Exora had beautiful stickers portraying places of interest in Malaysia placed on it, alongside the Visit Malaysia motto as well as that of the Petronas Twin Towers, to ensure the promotion was done in a more creative and innovative way.

“The car was also exhibited during a Malaysian and Asean tourism promotion event in Santiago.

“Through this kind of innovative promotion of Malaysia, other than saving costs for the Government, (it) would also assist in promoting Proton to Chileans,” Mohd Rameez said. 

He said the move can also help further enhance trade, tourism and people to people links between Malaysia and Chile. - Bernama