Proton Exora set a new name for MPV will sell in thailand and indonesia

Proton Holdings Bhd expects to export its first home-grown multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) to Thailand and Indonesia by July, according to chairman Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh.

“However, our priority is to satisfy local demand first,” he said at a ceremony to unveil the name of the MPV yesterday.

Proton will mark its foray into the MPV market when the Exora, priced at below RM80,000, is launched in April.

“We need to export our vehicles as our local market is not big enough for us to became a major automotive player,” Nadzmi said, adding that Proton had invested RM450mil in the development of the MPV and production would be at its Shah Alam plant.

“We plan to produce 3,000 to 3,500 MPVs per month,” he said.

Powered by 1.6-litre CamPro engine, the new Exora will open for booking from Feb 21 at all 293 Proton Edar and EON sales offices nationwide. It is priced at below RM80,000 and the booking fee is set at RM1,000.

The Exora is based on the name of the Ixora flower.

Syed Zainal Abidin said delivery of the MPV will be in April for those who book this Saturday.

Asked on the response for the new Exora, Proton Holdings’ chairman Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said: “Even though the country is hit by the global financial crisis, the response for national cars is still very good.”

He said having a second car was the local trend as “the Malaysian family is quite big and this vehicle is a requirement in the market”.

Being designed for family, the model will be affordable, spacious and comfortable, he added.