Proton executive chairman and owning conglomerate DRB-Hicom’s Group managing director, Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil explains, Proton is not of the opinion to rebadge vehicles and confirms such practice will not be part of their immediate future. The new Perdana model which is often called the Accordana is the closest badge swap Proton has done. A measure taken in reaction to the Government’s plea to replace the ageing fleet of Perdana V6 machines. Khamil states that Proton is developing a new car, however, it will be built on a Honda platform. The practice of rebadging a car and platform-sharing between two brands is an acceptable practice. However the Perdana project is a platform shared product and not the other way round.

Proton deputy CEO Datuk Lukman Ibrahim believes the 2016 model will have larger degree of differentiation, thus creating a visual difference between it and the other car it borrows cues from. Hidden components however, will be retained and the car will have aunique exterior and interior.