Subang Jaya, 5 July 2023 – PROTON, the national carmaker of Malaysia, is celebrating a highly successful first half of 2023, recording its best sales performance since 2012. With a total of 77,321 units sold in the first six months of the year, PROTON has experienced a significant increase of 28.6% compared to the previous year, surpassing the overall industry sales growth by more than three times.
In June alone, PROTON sold 14,351 units (including domestic and export sales), contributing to the impressive sales figures for the first half of the year. The total industry volume (TIV) for June is estimated at 61,900 units, giving PROTON an estimated market share of 23.2% for the month. The year-to-date market share has also risen to 21.3%, showing an impressive improvement of 3.2% over the same period in 2022. Notably, PROTON has achieved the highest growth rate among the top five brands in Malaysia’s automotive market, which saw a 9.4% growth in the first half of the year.
The outstanding performance of PROTON can be attributed to the success of its flagship models, as well as the introduction of new models in the market. Five PROTON models led sales in their respective segments in June, contributing to the brand’s overall success. The Proton Saga, a popular A-segment sedan, reclaimed its position as the leader in its segment by surpassing 6,000 units in June, marking the third time this year.
The cumulative sales for the Proton Saga so far have reached 33,325 units, showcasing its best performance since 2012. Another significant achievement was seen with the Proton X90, the brand’s first new energy vehicle (NEV) and a D-segment SUV. The Proton X90 made an impressive debut by delivering 1,082 units in June, securing the top position in the D-segment SUV category.
In the B-segment sedan category, the Proton Persona regained its leadership position with 2,254 units sold in June. Despite the presence of newer and more expensive rivals from other brands, the Persona displayed remarkable individual sales growth of 79.4% in the first half of the year. Maintaining its dominance, the Proton X50 continued to lead the B-segment SUVs and remained the most popular SUV in Malaysia since its market launch in October 2020. With 2,449 units sold in June and a cumulative total of 17,562 units this year, the Proton X50 demonstrated a steady increase of 9.9% compared to 2022.
The Proton Exora, an unchallenged C-segment MPV, retained its position as the segment leader with 368 units sold in June, resulting in a cumulative 21.5% increase in sales. The Proton Iriz, with 842 units sold in June, secured the third-best position in its segment, while overall sales reflected a substantial jump of 58.6% this year.
Additionally, the Proton X70 showcased its second-best performance of the year, selling 1,245 units last month. CEO of Proton Edar, Roslan Abdullah, expressed his satisfaction with PROTON’s performance in the first half of 2023, stating, “PROTON’s performance in the first half of 2023 is noteworthy as we achieved our best start to a year since 2012 and are also on track for the fifth consecutive year of sales growth.
The numbers demonstrate the strong demand for our products, even in the face of projections indicating reduced consumer liquidity. Our growth rate surpassing the overall market by over three times further validates our strategy of offering high-quality products with cutting-edge connectivity technology at various price points, appealing to a wide range of Malaysian car buyers.”
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, PROTON remains confident in its ability to sustain its growth trajectory. With a strong lineup of products and strategic promotional campaigns in place, the company is well-positioned for continued success. PROTON is also committed to updating its range of vehicles, entering the Malaysian electric vehicle (EV) market with PRO-NET, and enhancing the quality of its products through investments aimed at improving production capabilities. With these initiatives, PROTON aims to further strengthen its position in the automotive industry and provide customers with innovative, reliable, and value-for-money vehicles.
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