Proton Holdings Bhd expects to seal a joint-venture agreement with Mitsubishi Motors Corp to produce Mitsubishi sedan models at its Tanjung Malim plant by year-end.

Its group managing director, Syed Zainal Abidin, said under the agreement, Mitsubishi would manufacture 60,000 units a year which were equivalent to 90 percent of the plant’s production capacity.

“The plant currently operates at between 56 and 58 percent capacity,” he told a media briefing after the announcement of the company’s second quarter 2011's results in Subang Jaya today.

Syed Zainal said under the memorandum of understanding it signed with China’s car firm, Hawtai Motor Group Ltd, Proton would expand its presence in the Chinese market, where it would sell four Proton models under the Hawtai badge.

Meanwhile, Proton recorded a lower pre-tax profit of RM47.524 million for the six months ended Sept 30, 2011 versus RM185.914 million chalked up in the corresponding quarter last year.

On the second-half outlook, Syed Zainal said although the Malaysian Automotive Association has forecast a downtrend, Proton would overcome it with the introduction of its Saga face-lift, Saga FLX Special Edition, in December.

“2012 will be an exciting year for us with the introduction of four models - Exora Bold and Exora Prime, Inspira R3 and a sedan codenamed ‘P3-21A’ - which are expected to be launched early next year,” he said.

He said the ‘P3-21A’ would be the first of Proton’s new generation of global cars that are being built according to the latest global rules and regulations which governed various parameters such as emission and safety standards.

“In line with aspirations of becoming a global car manufacturer, the group’s fleet of Saga electric vehicles and Exora range extender electric vehicles that are currently being used by the government are also expected to be made commercially available by 2013,” he said.

- Bernama