[volkman10]

PSA Group, Renault and Suzuki have signaled interest in a deal with ailing Malaysian automaker Proton, people familiar with the matter said, as the brand's owner seeks to sell a stake in a company once seen as a symbol of the country's drive to industrialize.

While Proton's fortunes have waned since its 1990s heyday, the potential attraction for foreign partners would be access to its under-utilized manufacturing capacity. Proton has two assembly plants in Malaysia that can make up to 400,000 cars annually, though it sold just 102,000 cars last year.
Foreign firms could look to make their cars in Proton's facilities to export around the economic growth hotspots of Southeast Asia, people familiar with the matter said.

Founded in 1983 during former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamed's industrialization push, Proton at its peak boasted a domestic market share of 74 percent in 1993, largely re-badging cars of foreign manufacturers to sell in the domestic market.
But after years of being plagued by quality and service issues, and with move to produce its own models failing to impress consumers, its market share has plummeted to about 15 percent.

While agreeing to support Proton in April, the government said its business model wasn't sustainable, and that it needed to find a strategic foreign partner.

Industry players say Proton also badly needs research and development support from a foreign partner if it is to build a viable future strategy.

Source

[Nissan1180]

That's good news for the ailing Malaysian company.
The Proton Saga is a very popular sedan in Malaysia and apart from the fuel efficiency, it is a good product. Most models have airbags and I've been driven in one-NVH is quite good.
Hopefully they'll be able to tide over this crisis.