Proton has achieved its best January sales performance since 2013 by selling 12,882 units (domestic and export). This marks a 1.3% increase compared to December 2023 and a significant 10.3% increase compared to January of the previous year. With this strong start, Proton comfortably retains the second position in the sales table, and its estimated market share for the month is 19.5%, showing a 3.3% increase from the previous month.
The Total-Industry-Volume for January is estimated to be 66,134 units, reflecting a decline of 15.6% compared to December. This drop is attributed to the traditional year-end push for higher vehicle sales in December 2023.
The newly launched Proton S70 has made a notable impact, with 1,442 units delivered in January and over 8,000 bookings. The model has received a positive response from customers and has already made its way to an export market in Brunei, with 15 units delivered ahead of its official launch this month.
The Proton X50 remains the most popular B-segment SUV in Malaysia, selling 2,002 units in January. Similarly, the Proton Persona leads B-segment sedans with 1,846 units sold. The Proton X90 maintains its dominance in the D-segment SUV market with 365 units sold, and the Proton Exora, despite the end of production, remains relevant with 203 units sold.
The Proton Saga, which concluded 2023 with 70,184 units sold, started 2024 strongly with 6,129 units sold, reinforcing its enduring popularity and significance in Proton’s portfolio. Sales for the Proton Iriz increased by 7% compared to December, with 523 units sold, and the Proton X70 saw 372 units sold.
Roslan Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar, expressed excitement about the strong start to 2024, highlighting the enthusiastic response to the Proton S70 and emphasising their commitment to meeting customer demand. Despite projections of a contraction in the Malaysian automotive sales for 2024, Proton remains optimistic and aims for continued sales growth through innovation, quality, and customer service.