In expanding its global reach, Proton has been exporting its cars to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Since March this year, it has partnered with ANSA Motors Limited and market response is exceeding initial expectations.
This year, Proton has shipped 261 vehicles – the X50 and X90 – to the country, achieving 101% of its target volume and bringing the total number of Proton vehicles shipped there to 366 units since 2023.
The market is actually not new to the Malaysian automaker as it was among the 5 countries in the Caribbean which Proton sold cars in during its earlier years.
In March this year, Proton launched its SUV models together with ANSA Motors which was picked to represent the Malaysian brand because of its impressive record and strong automotive background going back one century.
Proton’s models, being suited for the market due to the geographic and demographic characteristics of the region, have attracted the attention of car buyers in Trinidad and Tobago, which has a population of just 1.5 million.
The country’s automotive market mirrors that of more developed countries, with car buyers increasingly gravitating towards the new energy vehicles – hybrids and electric vehicles. As there is more wealth creation in that part of the world, there is also demand for luxury vehicles and brands such as Proton have great potential to grow.
“The technology and pricing of Proton vehicles are a strength we hope to exploit so we are very enthusiastic about the future. We needed a value for money brand for segments we had no presence in, and the Proton brand certainly fills those spots,” said Jerome Borde, Head of Regional Business, ANSA Motors.
Since the X70 went on sale in 2019, Proton has exported 6,501 X-series vehicles (including X50 and X90) to 17 other countries besides Trinidad and Tobago. These countries include Brunei, Egypt, Nepal, South Africa and Ghana, paving the way for future expansion into more export markets.
“Building a strong alliance with a local distributor with a solid presence in the region is crucial for us to expand to a new territory. Together, we can harness our collective strengths to navigate challenges, seize opportunities and drive lasting success in automotive markets overseas, thus expanding Proton’s footprint and creating opportunities for the local ecosystem through increased production volumes,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.