For a fifth consecutive year, Proton has passed the 100,000-unit barrier, this year doing so in August which was a month earlier than in 2022.
With 13,955 units delivered (inclusive of exports), the cumulative volume for the Malaysian carmaker for 2023 has reached 104,602 units. This is 19.6% or 17,121 units more than the volume recorded for the first 8 months of last year.
With the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for the month estimated to be at 74,200 units, Proton’s market share would be 18.8% for August, while the share after 8 months would be 20.8%. The company’s volume growth continues to be ahead of the TIV, which is now estimated as 12.2% for 2023.
Popularity of models
The growth in volumes is indicative of the resurgence of the Malaysian brand in the market, not just as the market recovers but also reflecting the popularity of its current range of models. For example, the X90, X50, Persona and Exora are leaders in their respective segments.
This is best exemplified by the X90 flagship SUV – only 3 months in the market – which leads monthly and cumulative sales for D-segment SUVs with the addition of 719 units in August and a cumulative total of 2,944 units.
Mirroring its dominance, the X50 has been leading the B-segment SUV market with 2,558 units last month contributing to a cumulative figure of 22,750 units this year. That volume also places it right at the top of SUV sales in Malaysia.
Malaysians still love the Saga, the original Malaysian National Car, as evident by it being the best-selling Proton in August. In fact, with 6,585 units delivered, August saw the highest monthly figure of 2023, placing it second overall for sales for a third consecutive month.
Buoyant market, strong competition
“After setting a new volume record the previous year, Malaysia’s automotive industry is on a trajectory to reset the record books again in 2023 as Proton and other brands continue to compete for sales. The buoyant mood of buyers is reflected in the high number of new products introduced, and with many more models making their debut before the end of December, we expect market conditions to remain highly competitive,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.
“For Proton, our sales growth is a reflection of how the company’s focus on delivering better quality products – paired to a premium experience delivered by the 154 3S/4S dealerships in our network – have a positive effect on customers. Going forward, these efforts towards better products and services will continue and Malaysians can also look forward to the company’s impending entry into the EV space with smart Malaysia,” added Encik Roslan Abdullah.
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13 years ago, Proton was already developing electric vehicles