PROTON is working on increasing demand for its cars overseas, the house was told.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said 18,426 cars were sold in other countries from January last year until now.

By contrast, a total of 108,405 cars were sold locally.

"We admit that Proton should improve its ability to market the cars overseas. This is something that is being done by Proton."

He said Proton was also working on strategic partnerships with car manufacturers overseas to improve sales there. Awang was answering a supplementary question by Hee Loy Sian (PKR-Petaling Jaya Selatan) on the government's efforts to improve international sales of Proton cars.

Earlier, Awang, replying to Hee's main question, said so far 38,460 units of Proton Savvy had been manufactured, with 28,761 units sold locally and 6,026 units exported.

The Proton Savvy had been well received in Indonesia and Thailand, he added.

Awang said RM504 million (S$207 million) was spent on research and development of the Proton Savvy in the past five years. Sales revenue for the same period was RM694 million.

He said only 3,490 units of the Proton Juara were produced with 3, 422 units sold.

Proton Juara recorded sales of RM116 million, surpassing the RM38 million spent on research and development, he added.

To a supplementary question by Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah (BN-Jasin) on the government's efforts to find joint venture partners for Proton, Awang said there had been efforts to collaborate with companies in China.