[car fanatics]

Source
Photo credit: Lotus
July 25, 2012
By: CF staff

Volkswagen is considering launching a new bid for Malaysia's Proton as Europe's largest car maker aims to tap growing southeast Asian markets in its quest for global dominance, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

VW, which failed in 2007 to form a tie-up with Proton, might seek either a minority holding in the owner of UK sports-car manufacturer Lotus or a controlling stake, two sources said on condition they not be identified.

Wolfsburg-based VW assembles the Passat sedan in partnership with Malaysian automotive and property conglomerate DRB-HICOM at the company's plant in Pekan. VW, which does not have a factory in Malaysia, also plans to produce the Jetta and Polo models at DRB-HICOM's factory.