No Recall For Thai King's Savvy

[Thaising]

KUALA LUMPUR: The Proton Savvy which was presented to Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej as a birthday gift will not be recalled.

Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said yesterday the specially-painted angel blue car did not have the defect that affected local Savvy cars.

"The same goes for all Proton Savvy cars exported to Thailand," he said at the Proton Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam.

In February, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin presented the Proton Savvy to the Thai king in conjunction with his 80th birthday.

Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, Datuk Shaarani Ibrahim, handed the car to the king at the Chitralada Palace.

Proton launched three models in Thailand last year -- Savvy, Gen2 and Satria Neo.

Proton has since sold 1,200 cars there. The Savvy, currently the cheapest car in the Thai market, accounted for half of the sales.

Earlier this month, Proton announced that it was recalling Savvy cars after discovering that water could enter the rear wheel-bearing housing.

The exercise is said to cost the company some RM7 million. Industry experts said in the long run, it would bolster consumers' trust.