The ministry of international trade and industry (MITI) says it is confident that the review of the National Automotive Policy (NAP) will be completed by the end of the year, The Sun reports.
According to its deputy minister Dr Ong Kian Ming, the NAP will look at new mobility pathways and trends in driving patterns, and it will also be adjusted with the improvements in public transportation and look at vendor development within the ecosystem.
The proposed third national car will also be taken into account, and Ong assured that the project mooted by prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad “will not be like Proton.” He said that Mahathir’s concept of the national car project is not about having another Proton.
“There are many things that can be updated in terms of how we want to make the aspiration of Dr Mahathir to propel the automotive industry into something more sustainable and green. Input from the industry and stakeholders is important to help MITI shape this NAP. We hope the public does not think that Dr Mahathir’s intention is to revive Proton as Proton 2.0. There are many more ideas that he has,” Ong said.
Ong added that the third national car project – which is set to get underway by 2020, according to entrepreneur development minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof – will be open to all input and ideas of cooperation.
“Dr Mahathir has spoken on the possibility of having an ASEAN car with cooperation with Indonesia, so there is opportunity to explore with other players, but looking at the angle of how the NAP is going at an international level, moving towards electric cars and energy efficient vehicles (EEV), and the value chain that comes along it, which includes electronics, artificial intelligence, internet of things – that would be part and parcel of the ecosystem,” he explained.
