It is expected that Fernandes will beforcedtoabandon the Lotus name, and that Proton will buy into the Renault team, which may be renamed Lotus-Renault.
While larger companies will be able to continue developing projects, albeit on a smaller scale, without loan guarantees, small-business owners may beforcedtoabandon their projects.
The news that a powerful carmaker would beforcedtoabandon a fully built factory and start over was stunning not only because of the staggering sunk costs of building a now-worthless factory.
Preliminary data released in February had raised fears that companies offering the plans would beforcedto cut benefits, increase customers' premiums or abandon some markets.