Ailing national car maker Proton may have found a partner to boost it sales on the international market.

Delphi Corp, one of the world's largest automotive suppliers is ready to support Proton's move to forge international collaborations to help widen its vehicle base and push for export markets.

"It makes good business sense for Proton to take a multiple approach to collaboration, as it allows taking advantage of economies of scale through the sharing of technology," Delphi Corp's vice president, Choon T. Chon said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today. Bernama carried a report of Choon's statement.

"This will ultimately result in lower costs and better quality cars for the home market as well as for export. Proton's alliance route will allow it to build a wider range of vehicles in the shortest time possible," said Choon, who is also Delphi Asia Pacific's president.

Widen product range

Delphi Corp is based in Troy, Michigan, USA and supplies components and systems to all of the major OEMs worldwide including Porsche, Mercedes Benz, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Honda, Audi, VW, and several commercial vehicle manufacturers. Its global business encompasses dynamics, propulsion, thermal, interior, electrical, electronics and safety.

Managing director of Delphi Packard Electric, Asia Pacific, Majdi Abulaban said, "Through Proton, Malaysia has forged ahead of its neighbours by being the only country in Asean with a home-grown auto manufacturing capability, spanning the full value chain of automotive development, design, production and marketing,"

Abulaban added that Delphi is keen on being Proton's strategic teammate to help in fast tracking its plans to improve quality and widen its product range by sharing its global know-how in designing and manufacturing top quality components.