Strong start for Proton

Proton Edar chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah

PETALING JAYA: National carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd kicked off the year with 12,882 units of registered sales in January, a 10.3% increase over sales recorded a year ago.

The carmaker said its January sales were 1.3% higher than in December, making it the second most-sold brand during the month.

In comparison, the total industry volume in January dropped 15.6% from December to 66,134 units.

This would translate to a decline of 15.6% compared to December, which saw the numbers inflated by the traditional year-end push for higher vehicle sales to close 2023, said Proton.

According to the national carmaker, deliveries of the newest addition to the Proton lineup, the Proton S70, have begun with a commendable 1,442 units delivered in January.

“The model currently boasts an order book with over 8,000 bookings, reflecting the strong and positive response it has received from eager customers.

“The model S70 also made its way to its first export market in Brunei, as 15 units were delivered ahead of its official launch there in February.”

Meanwhile, the company’s Proton X50 sports utility vehicle (SUV) saw 2,002 units sold in January.

Additionally, the carmaker’s Proton Persona also started the year well by leading sales for B-segments sedan with 1,846 units sold.

The company’s Proton X90, meanwhile, remained the leader in the D-segment SUV market with a total of 365 units sold in January.

“This was matched by the Proton Exora and although production has ended, the C-segment multipurpose vehicle remained relevant with 203 units sold,” said Proton.

After ending 2023 with 70,184 units sold, Proton said the Saga started 2024 strongly with 6,129 units sold, affirming its enduring popularity and significance within the Proton portfolio.

“The robust start to the year reinforces the Saga’s position as a cornerstone in Proton’s legacy and highlights its unwavering influence in Malaysia’s automotive industry.

“As for the other Proton model, sales for the Proton Iriz jumped by 7% compared to December with 523 units sold while 372 of the Proton X70 were sold last month.”

In the same statement, Proton Edar chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said the enthusiastic response to the company’s lineup confirmed how its models resonated with buyers searching for innovative vehicles.

“Rest assured, we are fully dedicated to meeting the heightened demand from our customers and the team is diligently working to ensure timely deliveries, to ensure customer expectations are not only met but exceeded.

He added that currently, many project Malaysian automotive sales to contract in 2024 after a record-setting year in 2023, due to factors such as increase in sales and service tax and the introduction of the luxury goods tax.

“Proton however remains optimistic our strong start to the year will set the tone for the next 11 months, as we target more sales growth with our continued focus on innovation, quality and customer service,” said Roslan.