RM 6.70 For ANY MODEL of Proton's Car TEAMCAR - Do you know that you can book a Proton for just one pound sterling (RM6.70) in the United Kingdom?And if you choose the Gen.2, you can get 36 months of free service or a free leather interior?

These juicy deals can be accessed from Proton Cars UK's official website, www.proton.co.uk/savvy/offers/index.asp. However, the one pound deposit is only available when the purchaser buys through Proton Finance Ltd, Proton Cars' financing unit.

This financial carrot has been dangled for quite a while.Alternatively, would-be buyers of Proton Savvy and Gen.2 can opt for a zero financing offer also through Proton Finance.

Both the one pound deposit and zero financing offers end on Sept 30, 2006.Some quarters, however, feel that this is not the right way to promote the national car in the competitive UK market as it would jeopardise Proton's image and branding over the long run.

They believe that having just a one pound deposit would cheapen the brand given that millions of ringgit had been spent to build a strong image of the national car in domestic and international markets.

In a press release posted on the website, Proton Cars UK said Proton cars registrations in the United Kingdom increased 3.3 percent in April 2006 compared to the same month of 2005.

Proton Cars UK targets to triple sales in the British market in 2006 with the Savvy accounting for 50 percent of the total.

Ever since sales for Proton stagnated in the British car market about two years ago because of the lack of new and exciting models, Proton Cars UK is banking on the Gen.2 and Savvy to ring in more sales.

MORE NEWS AT BERNAMA  ¶ 6:54 PM