When Proton was founded in 1983, it was tasked with more than just producing a national car. The company was entrusted with the responsibility of driving Malaysia’s economic transformation from a resource-based economy into one focused on manufacturing. In the process, Proton also reshaped personal mobility, putting cars within reach of the rakyat while spreading skills, investments and industrialisation across the nation.
Forty-two years later, the national carmaker continues to play a pivotal role — not just in building cars, but in developing people. As the automotive industry undergoes its most profound transformation in history, Proton recognises that success no longer rests solely on manufacturing capability but on advanced technologies, global partnerships and the cultivation of a new generation of talent ready for electrification and beyond.
Malaysia, however, faces a challenge. Despite a 10 per cent increase in STEM enrolment over the past five years, there remains a shortage of skilled workers in critical areas such as Artificial Intelligence, digital literacy and green technologies. Proton sees this gap not as a hindrance but as an opportunity, positioning itself as a training ground for the next wave of industry leaders.
