PROTON added another international market to the current Proton Saga’s portfolio when the company’s best-seller made its debut in Pakistan earlier this month. With the addition of the fifth most populous nation the Saga, which received a significant update in 2019, is now available in eight international markets - Brunei, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritius, Nepal and Pakistan.

PROTON’s strong start to 2021 continued in March as the company posted not only a new high point for the year but also achieved its best sales month since September 2013. 14,989 units (domestic + export) were sold last month, equivalent to a 26.2% increase over February and an estimated market share of 23.5%.

February was a productive month for PROTON as the Malaysian automotive brand reached market highs that had not been experienced for several years. By delivering 11,873 units (domestic + export), PROTON had its best February in over a decade equivalent to an estimated market share of 27.1%, the highest for the company since September 2013.

PROTON launched four Special Edition models which it unveiled simultaneously during the company’s third virtual launch. The limited production models have been given the moniker Black Edition (Persona and Exora) and R3 Limited Edition (Iriz and Saga); and were designed to
broaden the appeal of each model while offering more choice to customers.

As Malaysians live through a second Movement Control Order (MCO) to help bring Covid-19 infection rates down, the economic effect on various industries are being seen. Malaysia’s automotive sales for January is forecast to be slightly above 32,000 units, corresponding with a major drop in volume for most major players.

Following a year that saw it successfully overcoming challenges posed by the pandemic and launching a second SUV, Malaysian car manufacturer PROTON has set its sights on growing export sales in 2021. A flurry of activity in December that included the beginning of CKD operations in Kenya and the launch of the Proton X70 in Pakistan saw export sales end the year with an increase of nearly 50% compared to domestic sales that grew by 8.8%.

After a year of unprecedented challenges, PROTON closed 2020 on a high with an increase in sales over its landmark performance in 2019. Despite losing over two months of car production and sales to the MCO, the company sold 109,716 vehicles for the whole of 2020 after shifting 13,306 units in December. This 2020 total represents an increase of 8.8% over the 100,821 units sold in 2019, making PROTON the only major automotive company to record growth in Malaysia. Market share for the year also increased to an estimated 21.1%, equating to a significant 4.4% increase.

To celebrate the end of 2020, national carmaker PROTON will collaborate with Huawei in a nationwide year-end campaign dubbed ‘PROTONxHuawei Better Together’. The contest will reward lucky customers with attractive prizes including a brand-new Proton X70 as the grand prize.

While PROTON has continued to buck the local industry trend with steady growth in 2020, its export activities have also been able to sustain some momentum. PROTON’s export business has grown 10.6% so far this year despite global restrictions put in place to curb the coronavirus pandemic. As the company strives to meet strong local demand for its products in December, traditionally the best month for automotive sales, PROTON will also be growing its presence internationally thanks to an unprecedented launch schedule.

National car maker PROTON today handed over eight units of the Proton X70 to the Ministry of Health (MOH) for use in Sabah. The vehicles will be used to assist in the Ministry’s logistics and surveillance efforts in the ongoing COVID-19 fight. The handover was done at Fook Loi Corporation’s Proton 4S outlet in Kota Kinabalu.