VW Exige. Does that sound right?
Could VW become Lotus' next owner?
According a speech by a senior Proton man, reported in Autocar, the German giant could be about to take a controlling interest in Proton, Lotus' parent company. This much is hinted at with the manufacturing deals that VW already has with Proton in Malaysia by Proton advisor, Mahathir Mohamad.
Other reports suggest that Proton would be willing for VW to buy a stake in the company; Mitsubishi already owns some 18 per cent. Apparently, the biggest fear in Proton is that whomever buys the company might stop making Protons and make their own in the company's plants instead. Question is, would that be a great loss for the car industry?