SHAH ALAM: Proton Holdings Bhd today appointed an Indian national, Behara Venkata Rama Subbu, 56, as a new member of its board with immediate effect.

Subbu had served as president of Hyundai Motors India and after leaving Hyundai in 2006, he took on advisory roles in several automotive outfits based in India.

In a statement today, Proton's chairman Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said the new board member's extensive experience in the Indian automotive market would be valuable to Proton in its plans to expand its business in India.

"With BVR Subbu on our board, the company is now more equipped in its effort to focus on Proton's long term export strategy, particularly in the Asean, China and India markets," he said. Subbu also holds a directorship in Avasarala Technologies Ltd, a specialised component and module manufacturer.

Meanwhile, reporting from Geneva, Bernama cited Proton group marketing and after-sales director Yohani Mohd Yusof as saying today that after 25 years in the industry, Proton was now ready to aggressively make its foray into the global market and would start by participating in the 80th Geneva International Motorshow this year.

Speaking to the Malaysian media there, he said Proton's goal was to enter as many countries as possible and it was already taking a bold step to be more aggressive.

At the prestigious Geneva International Motorshow, Proton will be unveiling its first concept car, which was designed in collaboration with Italdesign Giugiaro and uses Lotus' Range Extender engine. The concept car, which is also a hybrid, is expected to be launched by Proton's adviser Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In addition, Proton's subsidiary Lotus will be unveiling its Elise facelift at the motorshow.

According to Yohani, different motorshows have different platforms to show off various things but the Geneva International Motorshow was the best to showcase all and is regarded as a level playing field for the world's automakers.

The venue for the motorshow, which is held annually in the Swiss city in March, is the Geneva Palexpo, where exotic supercars more often steal the limelight from others such as the unveiling of prototypes, new equipment, technical breakthroughs and international partnerships announcement.