Malaysia’s biggest carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd expects to export 100,000 cars a year by 2008.

The state-controlled company will focus on selling to the Middle East, Africa, the UK, Australia, and Asean, chief executive Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir said.

In the year to March 2005, Proton sold about 183,000 cars in Malaysia, up 20% on the year, and exported another 17,000 units, from an annual production capacity of 380,000 cars.