TOKYO: The new Government aims to have a new national car company now that Proton has been bought over by China’s Geely.

Speaking during a dialogue at the 24th Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said now that Proton was owned by Geely, it was no longer considered a national car.

“We are thinking of starting another national car - maybe with an Asian country,” he said here on Monday (June 11).

Pressed on the country in mind, Dr Mahathir said: “Maybe Thailand, South Korea or even Japan.”