Quote:KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysia's leader said Monday he will meet with Volkswagen's top officials in hopes of wrapping up talks on a foreign alliance for beleaguered national car maker Proton.

"I am waiting," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badwawi told reporters. "I am expecting (them) to come anytime." He did not elaborate.

The Malaysian government missed a self-imposed deadline Saturday to finalize a strategic partnership for loss-making Proton with a foreign company.

The government is in talks with Volkswagen AG and General Motors Corp., the two remaining foreign contenders after France's PSA Peugeot pulled out last month.

"At the level of the officials, (the talks are) nearing completion," Abdullah said. "We want to conclude the talks as soon as possible."

Malaysia's government owns around 43 percent of Proton through its investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Bhd., and has stressed the need for foreign expertise, preferably via a stake investment, to revitalize Proton.

Over the past seven years, Proton has seen its market share plunge from nearly 60 percent to 32 percent in Malaysia, Southeast Asia's biggest new passenger car market with about half a million units sold each year.

Proton, which has set its sights on becoming a significant exporter of cars, reported a net loss of 281.5 million ringgit (US$80 million; €61 million) for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2006, from a net profit of 86.5 million ringgit a year earlier.

For years, the company thrived in a protected environment, which included high taxes on foreign cars that forced many Malaysians to buy Proton cars. But the taxes have been slowly lowered in line with a regional trade agreement, and Malaysians have sought out imported vehicles.

Is the Proton available in Thailand?

Good question, I have not seen them running in Bangkok but I have seen them in Hatyai, Songkla couple of months back, when I was there.

Yeah same here, I have never seen one in BKK