National car manufacturer Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional's (Proton) failure to introduce new models has resulted in its international sales to decline drastically - with o­nly 8,209 cars exported last year.

International Trade and Industry Ministry parliamentary secretary Fu Ah Kiow told the Dewan Rakyat today that 14,052 cars were exported in 1999 and the following year 14,598 cars were shipped out.

He said the downward trend began in 2001 when Proton o­nly managed to export 8,838 cars due to "the failure by the manufacturer in introducing new models."