Proton says will not sell Lotus unit teamcar - Proton Holdings Bhd will not sell its unit Lotus even if things get tough, Proton's group managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said.

'We will make sure that Lotus will work. We must ensure Lotus is a success; there is no other way,' Syed said.He said that Proton will have to make radical changes soon in the UK-based sports car maker. One of the first priority will be 'rightsizing' the company, he said.

This is in addition to other cost saving measures outlined in its business turnaround plan. Group Lotus has embarked on a five-year strategic plan which aims for growth in the company's engineering business as its pursues strategic pacts with other auto firms.

Proton and Group Lotus announced earlier this week that Lotus will cut jobs at its plant in Hethel, Norfolk, with British reports saying some 200 jobs would be lost out of its workforce of 1,200.  ¶ 11:24 AM