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Proton

With the renewal of its brand, product and business model, smart has entered a new era of development. The company, which has a history going back to 1994, had struggled to get a strong footing but lack of profitability hindered its development. By 2020, Daimler AG established a joint-venture with Geely which would give the brand a new lease of life.

The joint-venture company will produce the new generation of cars in China and the first of these was revealed in 2021 as a concept car referred to as Concept #1. While the pandemic has slowed down development, the production program has been able to continue between the Mercedes-Benz global design team and smart’s R&D team.

Concept #1 shown in 2021.

Concept #1
The Concept #1, painted glossy white, has smart elements but also shows that its design language will evolve for the new generation of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). “The new sporty Concept #1 is a redefinition of the smart brand in a very cool grown-up way,” said Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler Group. “We have created a completely new design DNA that has the potential to establish smart as the leading design brand.”

Balanced proportions, a powerful sculpture, the usual short overhangs at the front and rear and a progressive design language characterise the concept vehicle which is in the form of a compact SUV. One of the central design features is the large panoramic glass roof with a striking ring of light. The seamless transition to the windscreen and to the window surfaces of the frameless doors makes the roof appear to float above the body – an impression further enhanced by the atmospheric roof lighting.

In  contrast to this visual lightness, striking design elements in anthracite and black in the lower body area emphasise the robustness of the sport utility vehicle. This is further accentuated by the distinctive 21-inch wheels with their unique design.

A first hint of the new dimension of digitalisation of future smart vehicles is provided by the concealed door handles, which are merely indicated by light elements. The rear doors of the smart Concept #1 are hinged at the back and open in the opposite direction from the front doors. This portal door concept makes it particularly easy to get in and out of the car. Plus, the absence of a B-pillar facilitates an unobstructed view of the generously dimensioned interior when the doors are open.

The LED headlights and taillights, with their striking signatures, make a significant contribution to the unique and emotional appearance of the smart Concept #1. At the same time, they are fundamental components of an attention-grabbing light display around the vehicle. In this sophisticated orchestration of the exterior and interior lighting in harmony with specially arranged sound elements, the front light strip divides into small triangles which flicker in rhythm. Starting from the illuminated radiator grille, light effects also move in time to the music along the sides of the vehicle to the rear diffuser.

Of course, many of the features seen on the Concept #1 will not be adopted for the production car. However, recent pictures of the car, albeit camouflaged, show that the concealed door handles will be present although those ‘suicide doors’ which open in opposite directions will not. Such doors often appear in concept cars but rarely continue into production models.

Prototypes undergoing testing in winter conditions in China.

Final testing of prototypes
Prototypes have been undergoing endurance testing in winter conditions and aerodynamic work was done at the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute in Chongqing. Testing in the facility’s wind tunnel showed the smart #1, as the new model will be known, to have a drag coefficient performance of 0.29 Cd. This is thanks to the features like the flush door handles as well as an Active Grille Shutter (AGS) to lower wind resistance.

Win tunnel testing has shown the cd to be 0.29, important for an EV especially which needs low wind resistance to go further.

The smart #1, which will be the brand’s first all-new production car as a purely electric brand, will be unveiled on April 7, 2022 at STATION-Berlin, a historic landmark and disused train station in the German capital.

Coming to Malaysia too
Proton Edar has been appointed distributor for Malaysia and Thailand so we should be seeing the smart #1 on Malaysian roads in future. They are unlikely to be associated with the Proton brand and would be an additional business venture for the subsidiary which handles sales and marketing in the Proton Holdings Group. Proton’s own electrification program would likely start off with hybrids and then move to fully electric vehicles, perhaps towards the end of the decade.

 

 

Proton doesn’t have solar-powered cars (yet) but it is making use of sunshine in another way – to power its factory in Tg. Malim, Perak. The initiative is one of the ways the Malaysian carmaker is helping meet the government’s target of becoming a carbon-neutral nation by 2050. The green initiative will reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions by 11,536 tonnes a year, helping to address climate-change by lowering the generation of the global-warming gas.

Additionally, generating electricity from solar power also helps Proton save money on its electricity costs. The total amount generated is 12 MWp (MegaWatt peak) which is able to cover up to 25% of the electricity needs of the factory. Which began operations in 2003.

The solar panels are installed over two areas – one area is on the roofs of the manufacturing buildings and the other is a newly constructed covered carpark. The latter has the largest installation of solar panels over a parking lot in Malaysia and covers a land area of 23.4 acres (slightly more than 13 football fields).

There are covered spaces for up to 2,880 vehicles which are stored prior to being sent to Proton outlets for delivery to customers. At this time, the new vehicles spend a very short time there as there is a backlog of orders so completed vehicles are sent off quickly.

While solar panels are generally the same in function and design, those installed over the carpark are ‘bi-facial’ as the underside of the 20,544 panels can also capture sunshine reflected off the roofs of the shiny vehicles. Obviously, it’s not as much as the direct sunshine from above but it is still enough to make it worthwhile to collect and turn into electricity. The total amount of electricity generated from the carpark is 75% of the total generation.

Besides providing shelter for the new vehicles, the undersides of the solar panels can also capture sunshine reflected from the roofs of the vehicles to convert to electricity.

For now, there is no storage of electricity generated so if there is an unused amount over a certain period, it is sent to the national power grid, for which Proton will be paid. The total savings in electricity costs are calculated to be up to RM5.85 million and in as far as the cost of investment in this solar power project is concerned, Proton did not actually have to invest directly for the installation. The installation was undertaken by Pekat Group and its associate MFP Solar, and Proton is leasing the installation.

Using solar energy as part of a holistic energy-saving plan formulated by Proton in 2015 with the launch of the Proton Green Wheel and Green Policy. This has 5 phases which started with implementing an Energy Management System in its production plants and head office to collect and measure usage data. Following 2 years of energy data gathering and analysis, the company established energy baselines across its plants and offices which provided an insight into areas to reduce energy consumption.

Phase 2 consisted of Energy Efficiency measures where a number of energy-saving projects were implemented. These ranged from switching to LED lighting and chiller replacement with magnetic chillers, to using a master compressor unit to synchronize the compressed air supply to match real-time demand at each production shop.

This was followed by Phase 3, which focussed on Waste and Water Management. To achieve its aims, Proton implemented a system where recycled water was reused for the compressor cooling tower and to top up water for hydrant water tanks at the Tanjong Malim plant.

Phase 4 is the adoption of renewable energy via the solar energy plant while Phase 5 aims to digitize all the energy data on a cloud server to introduce AI and Big Data Analytics technology to provide the company’s energy managers with energy consumption predictions and prescriptive measures to reduce energy consumption across all plants and office facilities.

Over a 5-year period (2015 – 2020), these initiatives have achieved an energy bill savings of RM20 million or equivalent to 55,000 MWh savings, with over 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emission reduction.

The year started on a low note for the Malaysian car companies as supply issues and the after-effects of the severe floods pushed new vehicle sales down. However, February – normally a low month due to the short working days – proved to be better in spite of the Chinese New Year holidays.

Proton was among the companies that saw sales rebounding, with a 107% increase in sales. The company sold 9,225 units (domestic + export) during the month, which would put it back in second position on the sales chart for 2022. The company estimates that it captured 20.2% in February although for the first two months of the year, the cumulative market share is estimated to be 15.9%.

Top-seller was the X50
The model with the largest sales volume was the X50 with 3,002 units delivered, bringing the total over the first two months of 2022 to 5,603 units. This SUV has been exceptionally popular and Proton reports that over 100,000 bookings have been received in 16 months.

Next was the evergreen Saga, with 2,951 units delivered; while this is less than its usual monthly average, the numbers are expected to return to their previous level in the coming months. The Persona, with 1,675 units delivered, was third on Proton’s chart. The Exora, though having been in the market for quite some time, remains the best buy for anyone wanting a C-segment MPV.

While domestic sales still trail last year’s volumes, export sales are trending upwards and have grown by 72.8% in 2022. For the first two months of the year, 323 units have exported, compared to just 187 units in 2021.

All production lines in operation
With all production lines in operation at the factories in Shah Alam, Selangor and Tanjung Malim, Perak, February’s rebound in sales was a direct result of being able to produce more cars. “This was only made possible by the outstanding joint efforts of our vendors and Proton staff, who worked and continue to work ceaselessly to get us back on track. Thankfully, our order bank remains healthy, and we remain hopeful of catching up to our targets for this year,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

“As for the Malaysian automotive industry, the first two months of the year has seen strong demand as evidenced by the growth in TIV compared to 2021. This is good news for both car companies and the vendor community and is also testament to the effectiveness of policies set by the government,” he added.

To better serve its customers and enhance sales growth, Proton continues to grow its sales and service network. The 147th 3S/4S outlet was officially opened in Alor Setar today and is the tenth outlet for EON, a leading dealership. It is also the fifth Proton Platinum Showroom in the country.

A new Proton Platinum outlet operated by EON in Alor Setar.

Addressing customer complaints
“Proton is aware of the issues it faces regarding after sales and parts availability. Our customers have reached out to us, and we deeply regret any inconvenience caused. I would like to reassure them we take every complaint seriously and senior management has identified several bottlenecks and operational issues that require fixing,” Encik Roslan said.

He said that the first step taken to address the availability of parts has been implementation of a mandatory requirement where all dealers are required to have 3 months holding stock of 22 fast-moving parts. “Our central parts centre is also subject to the same requirement, and we hope this will ease waiting times for customers. We are also strengthening the capability and knowledge of our dealers to provide excellent aftersales service to all Proton customers. There is still a lot left to do, but we will give updates on our progress throughout the year,” he added.

R3 is well known among Malaysian motorsports enthusiasts, especially Proton fans. As the motorsport and performance division of Proton, it has been active in ‘Race, Rally and Research’, which is what R3 stands for. Almost 20 years old, R3 has made a name for itself in local and international motorsport events, particularly in rallying.

With R3 now ‘parked’ under Proton Global Services (PGS), a fully owned subsidiary of Proton Edar, there is new impetus going forward and while there will continue to be racing activities, R3 is also diversifying with the addition of a new range of lubricants that would be ideal for Proton cars.

The new R3 range of Premium Genuine Oils has been developed together with Petronas and is available in fully-synthetic (P1) and semi-synthetic (P2) formulations. Both genuine oils are formulated using Petronas’ latest Etro 6+ base oil and are designed to fight excessive heat to ensure better performance for the current generation of direct injection turbocharged engines. With SP and SN Plus ratings, they meet the latest levels of service certification by the American Petroleum Institute (API).

The R3 Premium Genuine Oil is priced at RM208 for the P1 fully-synthetic formulation and RM158 for the P2 semi-synthetic product. Until April 30, 2022, they will be offered at an introductory price of RM178 and RM128, respectively.

“The launch of our new R3 Premium Genuine Oil range is the first step in R3’s rebranding journey. They will be sold to the public via our Premium Merchandise Partners in 20 locations throughout Malaysia. There will be more product launches coming up in the future, including accessories for Proton car owners, which will help us build our connections with R3 fans,” said Lee Yeet Chuan, CEO of Proton Global Services.

Mr. Lee said that there will also be a new range of merchandise to reconnect with fans and expand the reach of the brand as well as bring R3 heritage and products closer to the public. The new range of t-shirts and caps are priced between RM49 to RM60 and will also be available at all Premium Merchandise Partner locations.

Proton R3 MCS

The future of the auto industry is electric and Proton does not intend to be left behind. Soon, electric vehicles may appear in Proton showrooms although they may not be Proton products. The Malaysian carmaker has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with China’s smart Automobile Company (smart) which is a joint-venture company between Mercedes-Benz AG and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent company of Proton.

The agreement will see Proton collaborating via Proton Edar with smart to introduce the latter’s range of New Energy Vehicles (NEV) into the ASEAN automotive market. For a start, Proton Edar will be appointed as the importer, distributor and dealer for smart in Malaysia and Thailand. smart Automobile (Nanning) Sales Co. Ltd. (a  fully owned subsidiary of smart Automobile), will fulfil the role of a gateway for smart to the region.

NEVs are battery electric vehicles (BEVs) which are a new generation of vehicles that will be designed by the Mercedes-Benz Design network and developed by the Geely global engineering network. Production is in China for global markets. As part of the vehicle-development program, the smart product portfolio will be extended into the fast-growing B-segment that are in line with smart’s brand positioning with a focus on pure premium electric and connected vehicles.

“With the signing of the MoA, Proton is taking its first steps on its New Energy Vehicle strategic journey. By  collaborating with smart, we will be able to gain experience in the selling, servicing, and charging of NEVs and build up the skill sets we require to be a force in ASEAN’s rapidly expanding NEV sector. This is also an opportunity to tap on smart’s customer base, which will open up more opportunities for the Proton brand,” said Dato’ Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Chairman of Proton.

Marketing in Malaysia and Thailand
The MoA with Proton Edar is for the company to establish a multi-level sales and service network in Malaysia and Thailand, as well as a brand experience centre and a number of sales locations, providing the two markets with sales and aftersales services for smart vehicles.

From the description of the MoA, it does not appear that there is any technical collaboration such as transfer of technology or product development and the statement also stresses that ‘currently, there are no plans to collaborate beyond the tenets of the agreement’. This would mean that smart vehicles will be imported and distributed by Proton Edar as an additional business activity, and the vehicles will also not use the Proton brand.

However, as mentioned by the Proton Chairman, it will be an opportunity for the carmaker to gain experience and knowledge about electrification and BEVs which it would also have to offer at some point in the future. Whether the relationship with smart evolves into something broader (eg joint product development) remains to be seen.

The Proton EMAS city car concept by Giugiaro in 2010 was proposed with a hybrid electric powertrain.

Electrically-powered cars are not unknown at Proton. In the 1990s, the first known project was initiated with a company in California to develop electric Wiras, but it never went far. Then, eleven years ago, the company’s EMAS prototype city car proposed by Giugiaro had a hybrid electric powertrain. It has also done R&D on electric powertrains over the past 10 years but has not brought a model to the market.

Proton Saga EV prototype displayed in 2012.

History of smart brand
As for smart, the name may be familiar to some Malaysians as the original smart cars were sold in the mid-2000s, imported by DaimlerChrysler Malaysia (now Mercedes-Benz Malaysia). The smart company (which was founded by the man who created the Swatch watches) had been acquired by Mercedes-Benz which invested heavily to make city cars. However, it may have been a bit ahead of its time and though having a clever design (the vehicles used combustion engines), the relatively high prices and compact size were not so appealing globally. Perhaps the Japanese would have appreciated it but they already had their own kei cars.

Mercedes-Benz tried to make the smart business work and even tried to offer a larger model called the smart forfour that sat on a Mitsubishi Colt platform. That too didn’t sell too well and smart as a company was closed down, with the products being placed under the Mercedes-Benz division up to 2019. To try to keep the brand going, Mercedes-Benz formed a partnership with Geely which would see smart-branded vehicles – using electric powertrains – being developed and produced in China for sale globally.

The original smart cars were sold in Malaysia in the mid-2000s by DaimlerChrysler Malaysia (now Mercedes-Benz Malaysia).

“The smart brand has a unique value and global influence, it has grown to be a leader in urban mobility. Geely Holding will fully support the smart brand with its full advantages in R&D, manufacturing, supply chain and other fields into the joint venture and support its development in China and globally. We will work together with Mercedes-Benz to transform the smart brand into a leading player in urban premium, electric and connected vehicles to successfully develop the brand’s global potential,” said Li Shufu, Geely Holding Chairman.

Proton has announced the appointment of Roslan Abdullah as its new Deputy Chief Executive Officer, effective from January 1, 2022. Encik Roslan takes over from Dato’ Radzaif Mohamed, who retired from the company at the end of December 2021.

Encik Roslan has been with Proton in other roles such as Vice-President, Sales and Marketing for Proton, and then Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar from June 2020.

A finance & accountancy degree holder from the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom, Encik Roslan has over 3 decades of experience in the automotive sector which included working with suppliers. His management roles have been at Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (MODENAS), and ISUZU HICOM Malaysia, as well as Honda Malaysia, where he was President & Chief Operating Officer.

Encik Roslan was also in Honda Malaysia as President/COO and was actively involved in the company’s efforts to get owners to replace the defective Takata airbag inflator module in their vehicles.

“Roslan Abdullah has played a key role in supporting the leadership of Proton and guiding the overall management of the business, particularly by strengthening the sales and marketing functions. I am confident we will be able to form a strong partnership to lead the company to greater heights,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.

“Proton would also like to place on record our appreciation to Dato’ Radzaif Mohamed for his  invaluable contribution and unwavering commitment towards our success. The importance of getting it right in the early days of the partnership with Geely has been critical towards the company’s turnaround thus far and his leadership during this period was invaluable,” Dr. Li added.

Appointed to the role on 1 April 2016, Dato’ Radzaif  was instrumental in overseeing the eventual partnership between DRB-HICOM and Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely) and helped steer the company to its current standing in the automotive industry today.

Although it is estimated that the Total Industry Volume (TIV) of new vehicles sold in Malaysia last year dropped by at least 4.6% to just over 505,000 units of passenger cars and commercial vehicles, Proton’s sales for the year rose by 4.5% over its 2020 volume. With December contributing 14,147 units, the Malaysia carmaker ended the year with a total of 114,708 units delivered (including export sales). It was the highest closing figure since 2014 and is the third consecutive year of volume growth for the company.

The brand’s market share in December is estimated to be 20.6% but for the whole of 2021, it would likely be 22.7% (pending official data from the Malaysian Automotive Association). This would be an increase of 2% over the market share in 2020, putting it is a firm second position in overall sales.

SUVs make big contribution
It’s not surprising that the two SUV models – the X70 launched in December 2018 and the X50 in October 2020 – have made major contributions to Proton’ sales numbers. This mirrors the global trend that has been going on many years now where SUVs are very popular.

With a total of 45,149 SUVs sold in 2021, Proton can claim to be the best-selling SUV brand in Malaysia. That number accounted for nearly 40% of its total sales volume. Individually, the X50 ended the year with 28,774 units, with December being its best month when 4,310 units were delivered nationwide. It was the second consecutive month the model exceeded more than 4,000 units.

Meanwhile, 16,375 units of the bigger X70 were delivered in 2021 with a final month figure of 1,616 units. This put it at the top of the SUV C-segment, and third in terms of overall SUV sales.

Saga still the bestseller
Nevertheless, the bestselling model for Proton was still the evergreen Saga, with 42,627 units sold. The model is also sold overseas and assembled in some countries as well, enabling better supply of cars to those markets.

Other models that performed well in 2021 were the Exora (4,035 units), Persona (16,153 units) and Iriz (6,708 units). Deliveries rose a bit during December as chip supply issue improved slightly.

Growing international sales
International sales were also a major highlight for the company. With 3,018 units exported in 2021, the total volume grew by over 100%. This made Proton the number one local automotive brand for export sales last year. With local assembly operations ramping up in overseas markets coupled to a hopeful loosening of trade restrictions, there is optimism the upward trend will continue in coming years.

“2021 was tough for the automotive industry as a whole and this is reflected in the reduction in TIV compared to the previous year. From a global chip shortage to a spike in COVID-19 numbers that led to another lockdown to skyrocketing transport costs, there were many challenges for industry players to overcome. That is why PROTON’S sales growth in a year where the market contracted was significant as it was the result of careful planning and juggling of available resources,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

“Regarding export sales, we are equally proud about being the brand with the highest export volume in 2021 as it proves we are gaining traction overseas thanks to the joint efforts of our International Sales division and our foreign partners. While increasing shipping costs are a growing concern, our planned activities in 2022 means we expect export sales growth to accelerate in the coming years,” he added.

7 new outlets opened
The Proton network of 3S/4S outlets started 2021 with 140 outlets and despite the challenges faced in terms of financing and construction works, another 7 outlets were in operation by the end of 2021.

“The growth of Proton’s ancillary businesses such as Proton Commerce and the increase in the number of outlets is directly linked to the number of vehicles we sell. As sales have grown so have our facilities to cater to an increased number of customers. I would also like to announce we have extended the warranty for the 6-speed automatic gearbox used by the CBU Proton X70 to 5 years with unlimited mileage. This is to further benefit our customers and give them added peace of mind,” added Encik Roslan.

The recent flooding has had a severe impact on thousands of lives in Malaysia, and sadly, lives have been lost too. Properties have been heavily damaged and thousands of vehicles will require extensive repairs and replacement of parts, not to mention a thorough cleaning.

Many carmakers were quick to come forward and offer various forms of assistance to their customers so as to help ease the financial burden. As the scale of the damage becomes more apparent, it is clear that more help is needed and Proton has announced an enhanced assistance package for its customers whose cars were damaged in the floods.

The enhanced package now offers a 50% discount on selected replacement parts for all models,  except for the X50 and X70. Towing services and cleaning of vehicles (exterior and engine bay) will also be done at no charge at authorised Proton 3S/4S service centres.

“Proton is deeply sympathetic to the plight of the victims of the recent floods as many of them consist of B40 households. To date, our service centres have received approximately 600 cars and we estimate there to be many more that will arrive in the coming days and weeks. Therefore, we have enhanced our assistance package in the hope that it will provide some financial relief to these families,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

Proton

For owners of the X50 and X70 SUVs, the discount for selected parts has been increased to 25% from the 20% that was previously announced. The discount for labour charges has also been boosted to 25%, which is applicable to all models (terms and conditions apply).

Additionally, customers insured under the Proton Insurance Programme (PIP) can also claim RM1,000 in flood relief benefits.

“Aside from the assistance package, the company is also negotiating with the banks to allow customers to pay for their repairs via instalment using their credit cards. This will further assist their cashflow as they will neither be charged interest fees nor have to come up with a lump sum payment,” added Encik Roslan.

Click here to locate the nearest authorised Proton Service Centre or call the Customer Care hotline at 1800-888-398.

The floods have affected thousands around Malaysia and for many families, there will be big expenditures ahead as they repair and replaced damaged property, not to mention the tiring job of cleaning up houses that were flooded with muddy water. And then there will also be the costs of repairing cars that were flooded; as you will have seen in pictures, it’s not just vehicles parked at home but also some that were on roadsides and got submerged.

The repair costs can run to many thousands and electronic systems that need to be replaced will be expensive. Not to mention the fact that the vehicle, even after being cleaned, is likely to have a smell and might just not feel the same.

To help relieve some of the stresses and reduce expenses, a number of car companies are offering assistance to their customers. The latest to announce such an initiative is Proton, which will offer a 20% discount on selected parts as well as a 20% discount on labour charges for all customers  affected by the flood who have lodged a police report regarding the incident. Additionally, towing charges of up  to RM200 as well as cleaning charges for the exterior and engine bay up to RM100 will also be borne by the  company.

“Exceptional circumstances require an exceptional response. Proton will be working hard to ensure we can  repair cars as quickly as possible and advise all affected customers to visit our authorised service centres to  enjoy these benefits. Furthermore, our genuine parts are offered with a warranty so they can be assured of the  quality of the repairs,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

Although Proton has a factory in Tg. Malim, Perak, its original factory is still operating in Shah Alam, near to where much of the flooding has occurred. According to Encik Roslan, the company has been lucky the production lines were spared from any flooding. However, more than 1,000 of its staff have been affected so the company is mobilising Kelab PROTON, an  in-house social and wellbeing organisation for all staff, to create care packages and offer clean up assistance to them and their families.

Encik Roslan advises those who require assistance and information on vehicle repairs to call PROTON’s customer care line at 1-800-88-8398.

In spite of being a challenging year for the auto industry, 2021 will still see Proton staying above the 100,000-unit level for the third year in a row. In fact, even with one month left, the Malaysian carmaker has already reached a cumulative total volume of 100,566 units. This has been achieved with a sales volume of 14,187 units (domestic + export) during November

Another month of growth
With the market on the upswing, Proton too has enjoyed revived interest by car-buyers, with a 6.2% increase over October sales. This would be the third consecutive month of growth. And looking back at a year ago, November 2020 sales were 24.3% lower.

*Volume for 2021 is from January – November.

The market share of the Malaysian market for the month is estimated to be 24.5% and for the 11-month period, the share has grown by 1.9% to an estimated 22.8% at the end of November 2021.

Saga remains bestseller of the brand
The evergreen Saga remained the brand’s bestseller and had its best sales month since December 2020. 5,666 units were sold nationwide, placing it at the top of the A-segment sedan class, a position the company is hopeful it will retain to the end of the year.

The younger X50 also had a record month in November with 4,010 units delivered. That is significantly better than its previous high of 3,839 units set in October. Its bigger brother, the X70, remained in high demand and gained 1,901 new owners in November, also giving it leadership in the C-segment SUV class.

TOP THREE PROTON MODELS IN NOVEMBER

Proton X50

Proton X70

The Exora MPV is still dominant in the C-segment MPV market and saw a fourth consecutive month of growth 434 units sold. There is demand for the other models but, as with many carmakers, Proton has experienced component supply issues for the Iriz and Persona. This has limited their production volumes and only 642 and 1,534 units, respectively, were available for delivery to customers.

Limited by supply, not demand
“November was a good sales month for Proton though overall industry numbers continue to be limited by supply and not low demand. Crossing over the 100,000-unit threshold with a month to go is a high point for us after another year disrupted by COVID-19,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.

“We are humbled by the achievement and are now confident of ending the year with an increase in total sales. This will make Proton the sole national brand to grow sales and market share this year and give us a strong base heading into 2022 as we look to consolidate and improve our ranking both domestically and overseas,” Encik Roslan added.

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