The next show stop for Proton’s EMAS hybrid is possibly Japan. According to a Bernama report, the organisers of the 2011 Japan Automotive Engineering Exposition (AEE) in Yokohama – which runs May 18-20 – are hoping Proton will exhibit the EMAS at the Malaysian Auto Industry Exhibition (MAIE), to be held within the AEE.
The report quoted Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro)’s director of international trade fairs in the Trade Fair Department Yoichi Kimura as saying the event’s organisers were hoping Proton will respond positively, given the ever-increasing growing interest in hybrid vehicles against the backdrop of rising oil prices, which is now at US$105 a barrel.
The annual exhibition – which is organised by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan – attracts about 70,000 visitors, including top auto industry officials and motoring enthusiasts.
The MAIE, which began in 2007, has been instrumental in getting more Japanese companies to evaluate the capability and export quality of Malaysian automotive products, Kimura said.
He said an example is the Satria Neo hatchback, which first caught the eye of Japanese auto parts manufacturer CUSCO at the 2007 exhibition. Plans are afoot to import the car from the middle of this year, which is set to be developed and sold as rally cars for Japanese rallying enthusiasts.
Proton has indicated it will exhibit the Tuah concept car at this year’s MAIE, according to another official from Jetro’s Trade Fair Department.
