Extract from BusinessWeek Online:
AN. 12 7:57 A.M. ET Automaker Volkswagen AG said Thursday it was ending its strategic partnership with Proton Holdings BHD, abandoning their plan to build cars in Malaysia.
The companies set up the strategic partnership in September 2004 with the aim of setting up an assembly line for VW cars in Malaysia.
But the arrangement ran into a roadblock last year amid Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen's efforts to obtain a majority stake and management control of the national automaker.
Proton, controlled by the government's investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, had said it was open to selling an equity stake to Volkswagen but ruled out ceding control to Europe's biggest carmaker.
VW Chief Executive Bernd Pischetsrieder told analysts at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that the company had specific ideas about how to go forward with Proton. He did not elaborate.
"Unfortunately, the Malaysian government and Proton had other ideas," he said.
Shares of Volkswagen were up more than half a percent to euro47.90 (US$57.90) in Frankfurt trading.
Is it a blessing or a blow to Proton that Volkswagen to end the partnership with them? Even Proton themselves were thrown off guard with the annoucement was made in Detriot. Volkswagen did not even have the guts to announce it in front of Proton.
The previous big news on Proton was the disposal of Agusta for only Euro1. That created another controversy, an investment of more than RM700 million just went down the drain. Writing off RM700 million man.... how can any sensible business entity just pour out hard earned money just like that!!!
Well, we will have to wait for more announcement from Proton and the Government soon.
1 comment:
if rumours are correct, I believe I heard that our economy will go on a downturn next year...govern. spent too much money and no more money. Perhaps this is one of the example? TT
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