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Proton sold 73,696 cars in first six months of 2024

PROTON has announced that for the month of June 2024, it successfully sold a total of 10,999 vehicles for the domestic and export markets. This allowed the national car manufacturer to strengthen its hold of second place in the automotive sales table.

The figures for June show a slight drop from May, during which the company recorded sales of 12,522 units. Proton said in a statement that sales volume was affected by a planned one-week plant shutdown for scheduled operations improvement activities.

However, overall, the company achieved a market share figure of 19.1% for the month, the same as its year-to-date (YTD) market share figure. Total sales for the first half of 2024 closed at 73,696 units.

According to Proton, total industry volume (TIV) for June is forecast softer than any month this year. An estimated 57,700 units were sold last month, lower than April, the previous low point in 2024 during a period affected by the long festive holiday.

Cumulatively however, the forecast TIV figure for the first six months of 2024 is approximately 386,600 units, which is nearly 20,000 units more than the same time period in 2023 when it reached a new record high.

June was a busy month for Proton. Aside from launching its e.MAS EV brand, it also celebrated the roll-out of the 5 millionth vehicle from its production line and launched the 2024 Proton X50.

This resulted in an immediate improvement in sales volume with the X50 returning to the top of the B-segment SUV class with 1,711 units, its best performance in three months. With production set to increase after the improvements to the plant, sales are expected to rise in the coming months.

The other model to finish at the head of its segment was the S70 with 1,440 units sold last month. The new model has lead C-segment sedan sales every month in 2024.

The Saga raked in a further 5,441 units in June, bringing its YTD sales figure to 34,838 units. On average over 5,800 units have been sold each month, making it easily one of the best-selling vehicles in the country.

NEWS

Proton celebrates milestone with five million cars produced in 41 years

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PROTON achieved another historic milestone in its 41-year history when it broke through five million units produced barrier.

The record setting vehicle, a Proton X90 Flagship was revealed during a visit to the company headquarters at the Centre Of Excellence (COE) complex by Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, and Jin Zhuanglong, Chinese Minister of Industry, and Information Technology.

In a statement, Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer, Proton said the national automaker was tasked with mobilising Malaysians and establishing a local automotive ecosystem when it was formed in 1983.

“Today, we continue to play a critical role in the nation’s economy. Over 100,000 people earn a living through activities linked to Proton and each of them played a role in driving the company towards this landmark achievement of five million units,” he said.

Since joining forces with the Geely Group in 2017, Proton has launched four all-new models jointly developed with its shareholder, upgraded its locally designed models, and introduced intelligence and connectivity to its entire lineup.

Together with improvements in product quality, investments in after sales and parts management as well as the establishment of a dealer network with the highest number of 3S/4S outlets, these activities have led to five consecutive years of sales growth with a corresponding increase in production.

From the introduction of the Proton X70 on 12 December 2018, more than 217,000 units of the company’s X-series SUVs have been sold thus far to local and export market customers. This makes Proton far and away the overall leader for SUV sales in Malaysia during that time period.

Sales of the Proton Saga meanwhile have surpassed 2 million units, allowing it to keep its position as the most popular Malaysian-made car of all time.

“Just last week, we confirmed e.MAS as the brand name for future Proton EV products and today as we set yet another milestone, the future is ripe with opportunities for PROTON to continue to provide sustainable mobility for Malaysians and our export markets,” added Dr Li.

NEWS

e.MAS: This is Proton’s EV sub-brand, first model to launch by end of 2024

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PROTON today introduced e.MAS as a sub-brand of their fully electric (EV) models. Before we proceed further, the pronunciation of e.MAS is “imas”, with the letter ‘e’ connected to the word ‘mas’. It stands for Electrifying Malaysia.

Proton also unveiled the e.MAS logo, featuring the display of a tiger’s head without confinement. According to Proton, it aligns with the current design trend for EV brands that lean towards cleaner and less complicated graphics.

“The unveiling of the e.MAS brand and logo today marks a significant step forward in Proton’s journey towards launching our own EV model,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer, Proton.

“We are aware that as a company tied to the industrialisation of Malaysia, we have a responsibility to provide mobility solutions relevant and within reach of all Malaysians.

“This is why Proton has been deliberate in its approach towards EVs, developing our knowledge base step by step to ensure we have a thorough understanding of the products, technology and user concerns before sales even begin,” he added.

Also announced at this event is the appointment of the first 17 Proton EV dealers who have signed their agreements earlier today.

“As Malaysia’s first automotive brand it is important for Proton to invest in infrastructure to offer a full range of services to EV buyers, instead of just selling product.

“Therefore, when Proton e.MAS models go on sale, customers can be reassured their every need will be taken care of just like it would be for buyers of the current Proton range,” added Dr Li Chunrong.

Proton also shared with the media practitioners that when the cooperation with Geely began in 2017, plans were made to introduce Proton EV models.

Despite delays during the pandemic, activities resumed with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Proton and smart on January 19, 2022.

This was followed by the signing of the General Distribution Agreement (GDA) between the two parties on August 18, and the establishment of PRO-NET on September 9 to oversee sales and distribution of smart vehicles and future EV offerings from Proton.

The next step was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gentari in October to collaborate on establishing charging infrastructure.

This was followed by sending 16 engineers to China in December 2022 for On-Job Training (OJT) in EVs and related fields such as charging and servicing.

In 2023, Proton appointed dealers for smart and recruited staff from various industries to strengthen the workforce to manage the brand.

Commenting on the new EV brand, Dr. Li Chunrong added, “The e.MAS brand and its products are an extension of Proton’s three core values: innovative technology, reliability, and international standards. This is the next step in the company’s evolution, and in the coming months, we will make new announcements to build brand recognition and product promotion ahead of the launch of the first Proton e.MAS EV in December this year.”

NEWS

Proton’s export strategy begins to bear fruit, sales rise 13.6% in May

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PROTON has announced its sales performance for May 2024, which saw the national carmaker record sales of 12,522 units for both the domestic and export markets.

The figure represents a 13.6% increase compared to the previous month, bringing the total sales for the first five months to 62,697 units.

The achievement allows Proton to cement its second position in the overall national automotive sales ranking sales table with a forecast market share of 19%.

In a statement, Proton stated that the sales growth is in line with the trend for Total industry volume (TIV) which is estimated to have grown by 20.7% to approximately 70,000 units in May.

Cumulatively, the year-to-date (YTD) figure for TIV is estimated to be at 330,236 units, equivalent to 8.8% increase over 2023.

The automakers’s plans to expand and reestablish its brand in countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Bangladesh, and Iraq this year have proven fruitful as its export sales came in at 509 units in May, the highest shipment recorded for 2024 thus far.

Since February this year, the best-selling export model is the Saga, which again led the pack with 360 units exported in May.

Most models also saw an uptick in May export sales, bringing the cumulative export sales to 1,344 units since January this year compared to 820 units for the same period in 2023. This represents a 63.9% increase in year-to-date export sales.

In Malaysia, the X90 reclaimed the title of the most popular D-segment SUV with 364 units sold. Sales of the S70 increased by 23% to 2,011 units, up from 1,635 units recorded in April.

Meanwhile, Saga sales increased by 21.6% to 6,119 units in May, with year-to-date sales growing by 8% to 29,397 units.

NEWS

Proton X50 updated for 2024 – Better NVH and connectivities, from RM86,300

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PROTON today launched the 2024 X50, an updated version of the compact B-segment SUV. This model has received improvements in four aspects: comfort, safety, connectivity, and reliability/durability.

Before we delve into its updates, let’s first look at the variants and offers. The Proton X50 2024 is available in four variants as follows:

X50 1.5T Standard – RM86,300
X50 1.5T Executive – RM93,300
X50 1.5T Premium – RM101,800
X50 1.5 TGDi Flagship – RM113,300

In terms of improving comfort, Proton has introduced a new NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) package with 20 spots on the car’s body. This is said to reduce noise in the cabin during driving.

Furthermore, the X50 is now equipped with power boot (available in Premium and Flagship variants only).

In terms of safety, the 360-degree camera (available in Premium and Flagship) now provides clearer visibility for night-time driving. It has gained 3.3 times more pixels, blind spot display, and live 3D display when changing lanes.

Another enhancement is in the connectivity department. All 2024 X50 variants now come with a 10.3-inch infotainment screen that also features faster processing for better touch response.

This new X50 also supports the PROTONLink application that allows you to access several functions from your smartphone.

Other aspects remain unchanged in this SUV. The Proton X50 is still offered with two engine options: the 1.5-liter turbo 3-cylinder for the Standard, Executive, and Premium variants, while the Flagship gets the 1.5-liter direct injection turbocharged engine.

The 1.5-liter turbo 3-cylinder engine generates 150PS at 5,500rpm and 226Nm of torque at 1,500 to 4,000rpm. The more powerful 1.5-liter TGDi unit produces 177PS at 5,500rpm and 255Nm of torque from 1,500 to 4,000rpm.

The gearbox is standard for all, which is a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, transmitting power to the front wheels. There are still no paddle shifters for this 2024 X50.

Other features starting from the Standard variant include four airbags, LED headlights with DRL, 17-inch rims, and a reverse camera. The Executive variant adds six airbags, leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic headlights, fog lights, and leather seats.

Moving up to the Premium variant, you’ll get the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Security Tint, 18-inch rims, power boot, power driver seat, and 360-degree camera.

For the top-tier Flagship variant, the X50 comes with the addition of the 1.5 TGDi engine, Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), two-tone body color, and panoramic sunroof.

The Proton X50 2024 is available in five color options – Snow White, Armour Silver, Jet Grey, Ocean Blue, and Passion Red.

NEWS

Proton introduces 5-star after sales rating initiative

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PROTON has announced the commencement of a 5-Star Rating initiative to further raise the level of after sales service for customers at its outlets nationwide.

The new initiative recognises Proton dealers who have achieved an outstanding level of after sales service and is an extension of the Proton Operational Excellence (POE) initiative that was begun on March 6, 2024.

The new rating is awarded to dealers based on their POE score and Service Quality, encouraging all outlets to achieve and maintain a high level of customer service and satisfaction.

Service Quality is evaluated in two categories, namely Speed and Compliance, and these are then measured over six focus areas. The end goal is for outlets to manage customers concerns effectively and to deliver the best customer experience.

Proton’s POE initiative emphasizes adherence to a thorough list of requirements such as service process, technician competency, stock inventory and customer management.

“It was launched with the primary aim of enhancing the business performance of outlets and improving the operations efficiency of service centres nationwide,” the company says in a statement.

Each outlet is assessed on a monthly basis and the results shared with all dealers to clearly indicate where they stand within the network.

The automaker’s After Sales Division works closely with the outlets to proactively raise their service levels and scores with quarterly roadshows also held to give recognition to top achievers as well as reinforce standards by the sharing of best practices.

With the beginning of the 5-Star Rating initiative, five dealerships will be awarded the top accolade every month, marking them out as centres of excellence for after sales and customer service.

To ensure parity and buy-in from its network, KPI’s for the initiative are set based on feedback from all outlets as well as after benchmarking of best practices from other OEMs.

To mark the commencement of the 5-Star initiative, a launch event was held at Melinau Auto in Kuching, one of the top three Proton outlets to be recognised for meeting all the requirements to earn the new accolade.

Following the launch the 5-Star Initiative, the list of outlets to obtain the ranking will be published on Proton’s corporate website, www.proton.com, accompanied by a distinctive badge for dealership recognition.

NEWS

Here’s the Proton S70 R3 race car, see it at Malaysia Autoshow 2024

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Here, ladies and gentlemen, presenting the racing machine Proton S70 R3 set to compete in the Sepang 1000km (S1k) event.

If you wish to get a closer look at this Proton S70 R3, you can visit the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) from May 22 to 26 as it will be displayed to the public for the first time.

The S70 R3 is Proton R3’s first all-new racing car since the Saga R3 in 2019, marking the brand’s return to the S1k race. To date, Proton R3 has secured five victories, surpassing other teams, including three consecutive wins from 2017 to 2019.

Still under development, the showcased car displays the latest evolution of an aerodynamic package customized for this racing car. Two new car units will be competed by the team in this year’s S1k race.

“Proton has a long history in motorsports, starting with the original Proton Saga, and our involvement increased with the establishment of Proton R3 in 2003,” said Roslan Abdullah, Deputy CEO of Proton.

“Since then, we have competed and won in various competitions globally with models such as the Proton Satria, Waja, Suprima S, Iriz, and the latest Saga.

“Now with the Proton S70 R3, we are achieving another milestone in our legacy, not only marking the return of the Proton name to the S1K event but also introducing the first racing car based on a model co-developed by Proton and Geely,” he added.

Buyers and visitors can enhance their experience at Malaysia Autoshow 2024 with exclusive promotions and rewards from Proton during the event. Visitors making direct bookings for Proton models will receive exclusive gifts such as sunshades, toll readers, and wireless chargers for selected models.

Special promotions are also offered specifically for bookings made at Malaysia Autoshow with registration before June 30, 2024. This includes two years of free maintenance for X50, X70, and X90 models, as well as an RM500 cash voucher for S70, Saga, and Persona models.

There is also the Test Drive Lucky Spin where participants can spin the lucky wheel to win exclusive Proton merchandise after test-driving Proton models.

NEWS

Proton organizes naming contest for first EV, launching soon?

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Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (PRO-NET), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Proton, has announced a competition for the people of Malaysia to name their first EV.

“The Proton EV brand naming contest signifies our readiness for the imminent launch of the first electric vehicle,” stated Proton in a press release today.

The grand prize winner stands a chance to win RM5,000 in cash, with RM1,500 for the second place and RM1,000 for the third place. The top five will also receive rewards, with each winner getting RM100 cash. Show your creativity and stand a chance to win exciting prizes.

Here are three easy steps for you to unleash your ideas for Proton’s first EV:

Step 1: Fill out the registration form at Proton EV contest website.
Step 2: Decode and rearrange the images or statements provided.
Step 3: Share the contest link with friends to participate.

Visit Proton EV contest website to decode and guess the name for your chance to win exciting prizes. The contest ends on June 5, 2024.

“Proton is grateful for the support we received from Malaysians over the past 41 years and aims to embark on this EV journey with people at the forefront of its vision,” said Zhang Qiang, Chief Executive Officer of PRO-NET.

NEWS

EON opens revamped Proton 3S centre in Banting

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EDARAN Otomobil Nasional Berhad (EON), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Berhad (DRB-HICOM) has launched its revamped Proton EON 3S centre in Banting, Selangor.

The new centre, which previously only operated as a showroom, has now been upgraded to offer 3S services, namely sales, after-sales service and spare parts replacement.

With a total of RM6 million invested in refurbishment and upgrades, the Proton EON Banting 3S centre offers customers enhanced experience through digital sales and after-sales services within a comfortable and modern enlarged showroom.

The upgraded showroom spans an impressive 18,775 square feet build up area capable of displaying eight units of Proton vehicles.

Complementing the showroom is an advanced service centre covering 12,347 square feet, equipped with 10 service bays featuring state-of-the-art technology for efficient and reliable servicing of various Proton models.

Customers also stand to benefit from EON’s digitalisation push with the introduction of Workforce Management (WFM) platform that enables customers to get appointments for car servicing online and enjoy real-time service updates. Those who are car hunting can even book for new vehicles online via www.eon.com.my.

The showroom is open from 8:30am to 5:30pm Mondays to Saturdays, and 10:00am to 4:00pm Sundays and public holidays. Its service centre operates from 8:30am to 5:30pm Mondays to Fridays, and 8:30am to 1:00pm on Sundays.

NEWS

Proton sales up 17.1% in April as S70 builds momentum

PROTON has announced its sales performance for April 2023, which saw the national car manufacturer recording sales of 11,025 units for the domestic and export markets.

The figure represents a 17.1% increase compared to the 9,415 units achieved in April last year.

Sales for the first four months of 2024 have also increased to 50,175 units, higher than the 49,702 units sold from January to April 2023.

Total industry volume (TIV) for the Malaysian automotive market meanwhile also grew for the same period to an estimated 59,100 units and a cumulative total of 261,345 units for the year.

Proton’s market share is estimated at 18.7% in April alone while year-to-date market share is forecast to be at 19.2%, maintaining its second position in the overall national automotive sales ranking.

According to national automaker, the X50 years, regained the top spot for B-segment SUVs despite growing competition from the market with 1,642 units sold in April.

Meanwhile, the S70 continues to lead the C-segment sedan sales with 1,635 units sold last month, resulting in cumulative sales of 7,463 units for 2024.

The Saga remains Proton’s best-selling model, recording sales of 5,031 units in April, with year-to-date sales up 8.8% to 23,278 units.

The X70 came in at 552 units, while the Persona and X90 recorded sales of 1,429 units and 312 units, respectively. Iriz added 424 units to its April sales volume, making the total sales to date1,958 units.

“The slowdown in automotive sales in April, where TIV shrank by 16.8% compared to March 2024, can be attributed to the long holiday period as OEMs, dealerships and other members of the local automotive ecosystem took time off to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” said Roslan Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar.

Year to date, Proton export sales volume has surged 38.5% to 835 units as compared to 603 units registered in the same period last year.

Leading the export sales chart is the Saga with 427 units sold year-to-date, an increase of 16% from 368 units from the same period last year. The X50 came in second with 176 units sold while the S70 recorded 89 units in Brunei, its only export market.

VIRAL

Proton S70 found to have 73 problems with just 300 km on the odometer

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A Proton S70 owner is facing stroke of bad luck as his newly purchased sedan was reported to have encountered a total of 73 issues despite being brand new.

In a post on the Proton S70 Malaysian Community (MYS70COM) group, Ku Azhar mentioned receiving a Space Grey S70 Flagship X on February 2, 2024. However, the car reportedly began facing issues the following day (February 3), after merely traveling 300 km.

Ku Azhar said he sent his car to the service center on February 5, where it remained for 15 days. He stated that the car was also sent to the Proton headquarters for a day and to the Proton factory in Tanjung Malim for 15 days.

It was revealed that 33 issues were pinpointed during the Tanjung Malim visit, and as of March 17, a total of 69 problems had been detected.

Ku Azhar highlighted that the latest count of issues reached 73, with 54 problems remaining unresolved at the time of the visit.

Here are some of the problems experienced by Ku Azhar’s S70 Flagship X:

  • Noisy steering rack/absorber
  • Excessive engine vibration (confirmed by Service Center, abnormal compared to other S70s, vibrating after being returned by Proton Tanjung Malim)
  • AEB suddenly brakes when taking corners
  • IHU lagging, unable to change mode/do anything on the screen
  • Loud brake pad noises: Proton Tanjung Malim replaced brake pads and discs due to overheating spots.
  • Loud bubbling noise from AC: Proton Tanjung Malim replaced o-ring, piping, condenser, and topped up coolant tank to maximum
  • Loud knocking sound every time compressor starts running
  • Low gear makes very loud noise compared to test-driven S70 – confirmed by Service Center, borrowed test drive unit for comparison.
  • Powertrain missing next service mileage while at Proton Tanjung Malim, odometer not working but next service mileage shows 776 km left – HQ instructed to have service at 10,000 km at 9,400 km, with owner covering costs to avoid warranty issues later.
  • Car difficult to start, remote start also not functioning. No response from HQ/SC in when stranded at R&R.
  • Auto-hold gear not engaging even after pressing brake and stopping, car still moves forward, green P symbol did not come on

Additionally, he mentioned his car also suffered from exterior and interior cosmetic issues due to improper installation after returning from Proton Tanjung Malim.

These included stone chip marks on bumpers and hood, and scratch marks on the dashboard. He even claimed there were shoe prints on the rear seats.

According Ku Azhar his last meeting with CRM on March 18 at the Proton Center of Excellence (COE) in Shah Alam. He explained that the rectification plan, initially scheduled for the following week, was postponed to April 15, 2024, due to the promised replacement car not being available yet.

He claimed that the date was further pushed to April 16 as the contact person was on leave on April 15, 2024. In the meantime, Proton suggested continuing to use the car until the rectification is done.

NEWS

Proton X90 makes debut in Bangladesh

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PROTON has announced that the X90 has been launched in Bangladesh on February 29. This is the fourth export market for the automaker’s flagship SUV after Mauritius, South Africa, and Brunei.

Held in the capital city of Dhaka, the event was officiated over by H.E. Haznah Md. Hashim, High Commissioner of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of Proton and Romo Rouf Chowdhury, Group Managing Director, Rancon Holdings Limited, the exclusive distributor for Proton in Bangladesh.

Two variants of the X90, the six-seat Flagship and seven-seat Premium, are offered to buyers, and to date, 25 units have already been registered in less than two weeks following its unveiling.

In a statement, Proton states that there is optimism for its first New Energy Vehicle (NEV) to carve out a market niche prior to local assembly (CKD) operations starting later in the year.

“Proton is confident Rancon Holdings is the perfect partner for Proton to be successful in Bangladesh. They are already establishing a sales and after sales network and will invest in a manufacturing line to locally assemble Proton vehicles in the future,” said Dr. Li Chunrong.

“With more offerings in the pipeline, as well as our commitment to support all facets of the partnership, we aim to be a the top-3 brand in Bangladesh within three years,” he added.

A critical component to Proton achieving its lofty targets in Bangladesh will be the setting up of an assembly line. Aside from allowing its products to qualify for more favourable tax rates, a new plant also encourages the development of skilled local workers while energizing the vendor ecosystem through technology transfers.

Operations are targeted to begin as early as 2024, with strict production standards enforced to ensure the output matches the quality of vehicles built in Tanjong Malim.

“To ensure product quality in export markets that have local assembly are the same as the vehicles built in Malaysia, Proton is leaning on its experience of using the Volvo Global Quality Standard, which has been instrumental in improving the quality of our products,” said Dr. Li.

NEWS

Proton sold 13,602 cars in February, S70 sales up by 60.5%

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PROTON continued its positive growth trajectory to start the year by reporting 13,602 sales (domestic and export) in February. By doing so, total sales for the first two months grew to 26,484 units, an increase of 3% over the same time period from 2023.

The achievement is particularly noteworthy as automotive sales are traditionally slower at the beginning of the year after the year-end sales push in December.

After the first two months of 2024, total-industry-volume is estimated to have grown by 13.8% year-to-date to 129,353 units as an influx of new brands launching both traditional and EV models generates a lot of buyer interest.

The national carmaker’s market share is forecast to be at 20.5%, placing it comfortably in second position in the overall national automotive sales ranking.

Launched at the end of November 2023, the S70 has unlocked pent up demand and interest from buyers in both domestic and international markets. Sales increased by 60.5% to 2,314 units in February, as production continues to ramp up.

About to enter its 39th year of continuous production, the Saga recorded sales of 6,212 units in February, making it the fifth consecutive month the car has exceeded the 6,000 unit a month barrier.

More impressively, with a total of 12,341 units sold in the first two months of 2024, year-to-date sales for the model are now 10.9% higher than the previous year.

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Apart from the S70, other models also ended February as sales leaders for their respective segments. The Persona and the X90 both continued to reign in their categories respectively with 1,859 and 374 units sold, respectively.

The X50 meanwhile ended February in second place for B-segment SUVs with 1,816 units, while the X70 saw an uptick of 19.6% to 445 units. The Iriz added 3.8% to close at 543 units.

Finally, although production has ended for the Exora, 39 units were sold in February and to date, over 194,250 units of the model have been sold, making it the most successful C-segment MPV in Malaysia’s automotive history.

Notably, its export business leapfrogged by 223% to 346 units in February as compared to January this year while year-to-date export growth stands at 50.5% with 453 units sold to overseas markets this far.

NEWS

Proton sold 12,882 units in January 2024, their best start to year since 2013

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PROTON has announced its sales performance for the month of January 2024, with 12,882 units (domestic and export) sold last month.

According to the national car manufacturer, this marks their best start to a year since 2013. The figure represents a 1.3% increase compared to December 2023 and a gain of 10.3% compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the national automaker’s market share for January is estimated at 19.5%, which is 3.3% higher compared to the previous month.

The Total-Industry-Volume (TIV) is estimated at 66,134 units, which would translate to a decline of 15.6% compared to December that saw the numbers inflated by the traditional year-end push for higher vehicle sales to close 2023.

On individual models, the Saga maintains its popularity with 6,129 units sold, followed by Malaysia’s most popular SUV, the X50, with 2,002 units, and the B-segment sedan leader, Persona, with 1,846 units.

In fourth place is Proton’s newest model, the S70, which recorded sales of 1,442 units last month. Proton says the sedan now has over 8,000 orders, reflecting the strong and positive response it has received from eager customers.

The S70 also made its way to its first export market in Brunei, as 15 units were delivered ahead of its official launch there in February.

Proton’s flagship model, the X90, also performed well with 365 units sold last month, solidifying its position as the leader in the D-segment SUV market.

TIPS

Owners surprised to find Proton X70’s resale value less than 50% after only 3 years

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The owners of Proton X70 are generally surprised to find that the resale value of their cars is less than 50 percent only after three years of purchase.

Screenshots from the vehicle sales website are being shared on several forums and Facebook groups. A brief survey by Engear also discovered that the 2018 Proton X70 is being resold at prices below RM50,000, approximately RM47,800.

The 2019 model, on the other hand, is advertised at around RM59,000, with a range between 50,000 and 94,000. For us, this depreciation is not too severe, it’s still quite normal. However, only some units of the 2020 Proton X70 are being sold for as low as RM56,700 for the 1.8 Executive AWD variant.

This model was priced at RM115,800 at launch, so indeed its value has depreciated by less than 50 percent over three years. But not all units are the same, as there are still 2020 models priced at over RM80,000.

In reality, the depreciation of a vehicle depends on many factors, including the vehicle’s age, condition, accident records, service history, mileage, and perhaps accessories.

Prices also vary between direct sales from owners and used car dealerships. Another thing to consider is, even if the depreciation value is significant, why? Did you buy the car solely for resale?

If the purchased car serves us well, is enjoyable to drive, and we are satisfied with the purchase, then that should be enough. Not everyone buys a car for resale.

NEWS

Proton sold 154,611 cars in 2023, best performance since 2012

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PROTON ended 2023 with 12,711 units sold in December, bring its year-end total sales figure to 154,611 units for domestic and export markets.

The sales figure represents a 9.3% increase compared to the 141,432 units recorded in 2022.

That being so, Proton has successfully achieved its best sales performance since 2012 and a fifth consecutive year of sales growth.

The company’s overall market share is calculated to be 19.4% of the estimated total industry volume of 794,948 units, approximately 10.3% than the previous year.

This positions Proton in the second place in overall sales for the fifth consecutive year.

According to the company, the the rebound in demand for the PIES models (Persona, Iriz, Exora and Saga) powered its sales growth in 2023.

The Saga remains Proton’s best-selling model with 70,184 units sold, its best performance since 2012 and placing it as the fourth best-selling vehicle in Malaysia for 2023.

The Persona saw the most significant growth as sales rose by 48.9% to 24,362 units. The Iriz, which also suffered delays due to last year’s chip shortage, posted a tidy 33.8% increase in sales to 7,639 units in 2023.

The Exora signed off with a sales increase of 4.6%, ending the year with 4,473 units sold. Since its launch in 2009, Proton has sold over 194,000 units of the Exora, making it the most successful C-segment MPV in Malaysia’s automotive history.

Proton’s SUV lineup also ended the year on a positive note. Demand for the X50 remains strong with 31,829 units sold in Malaysia and overseas throughout the past year. Following this is the X70 with 11,200 units and the X90 with 4,815 units sold.

As for the S70, customer deliveries will begin in 2024 and to date, more than 5,000 bookings have been received.

NEWS

Proton Arena ‘GTi’ for sale in the UK, for RM14.7k only!

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THE Proton Arena is among the national car company’s models that didn’t sell well initially, but is now in high demand. The price is still steep, a brief survey on sales websites shows prices are still around RM25,000 to RM35,000.

However, in the United Kingdom (UK), there is a Proton Arena for sale at only £2,500 (RM14,739)! The Arena is known as the Proton Jumbuck in export markets such as the UK and Australia.

Not only is the price quite attractive, but this yellow Proton Jumbuck unit is even ‘copied’ with parts from the Satria GTi!

This can be seen in the front bumper, side fenders, and interior parts such as the dashboard, Recaro seats, pedals, and original GTi carpets. Quite handsome, if I may say so myself…

According to its owner, Paul Atkinson, who advertised the Jumbuck on the Proton gti owners UK page on Facebook, the engine is also from the GTi, a 4G93P 1.8-liter 16-valve unit.

The Proton Jumbuck GTi is painted in a sporty yellow color. It is further given a rally image with items such as WRC side mirrors, mud flaps, 15-inch white Momo rims, and the writer’s favorite, a pair of round spot lights at the front!

According to Atkinson, the Jumbuck is being sold because there have been changes to its design. “Jumbuck’s are getting quite rare now and especially modified ones,” he said.

“It always gets lots of compliments and is pretty quick for what it is (circa 140bhp), early Evo engines do drop straight in.

“MOT until August 2024, 100,000 miles, and the car is in Grantham, Lincolnshire,” Atkinson wrote.

Imagine if this Proton Arena were available in Malaysia, its price would surely easily reach RM55,000. Perhaps even more. This is because its other specifications are also quite tempting.

Below, we list what Atkinson shared:

Modifications:

• Satria GTi engine and gearbox (1.8 16v)
• Hockley exhaust manifold
• Custom stainless exhaust
• Pipercross induction kit
• Satria GTi interior
• Deep dish steering wheel
• Rearview camera
• CB radio
• Satria GTi body kit (front bumper & arches)
• Evo front suspension
• 15” Momo alloys (recently refurbished)
• 195 50 15 Avon ZV7 tires (new)
• WRC-style mirrors
• WRC-style mud flaps
• Rally spot lights
• Truckman cab
• LED rear work lights
• Air horns
• Tow bar
• Rear step

NEWS

Proton S70 officially launched – 4 variants, priced from RM73,800

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IT’S safe to say that many have been waiting for the arrival of the newest sedan from Proton, especially considering that the last time the national car maker brought a sedan to the market was the Persona back in 2016.

The wait ends today with the official launch of the Proton S70, which enters the Malaysian market as the fourth Proton model to be jointly developed with Geely after the X70, X50 dan X90.

As previously reported, the S70 will be available in four variants, namely Executive, Premium, Flagship, and Flagship X.

All four variants feature a combination of a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that produces 150 PS and 226 Nm of torque.

Note that this is the same port-injected engine and transmission used in the X50 Standard, Executive, and Premium models. The 1.5-litre TGDi engine with 177 PS and 255 Nm, found in the X50 Flagship and the new X70, is not offered in the S70, at least for the time being.

Built on the B-Segment Modular Architecture (BMA) platform, the S70 measures 4,602 mm in length, 1,809 mm in width, 1,466 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,637 mm, making it slightly smaller than the Geely Emgrand it is based on.

In terms of equipment, the entry-level Executive variant comes with six airbags, Lane Change Assist, electronic parking brake, 16-inch alloy wheels, fabric seats, and an 8-inch infotainment screen.

The Premium adds LED headlights, rear light bars, leatherette upholstery, automatic air conditioning, and reverse camera.

The Flagship offers more additional features, including ADAS, tyre pressure monitoring system, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, power adjustment for the driver’s seat, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless charger, and a 360-degree camera with a 3D display.

The range-topping Flagship X only offers one additional feature over the Flagship, which is a sunroof.

Safety-wise, the Flagship and Flagship X variants come with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with 13 safety systems:

  • Autonomous Emergency Braking
  • Forward Collision Warning
  • Adaptive Cruise Control dengan Stop & Go
  • Intelligent Cruise Control
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Lane Departure Prevention
  • Lane Centering Control
  • Traffic Sign Information
  • Intelligent High Beam Control
  • Lane Change Assist
  • Door Opening Warning
  • Rear Collision Warning
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert

There are seven colour options available. Snow White and Space Grey are available for all four variants, while Armour Silver and Passion Red are only offered for the Premium and Flagship.

Marine Blue and Teal Bayou Green are exclusive to the Flagship and Flagship X, and Quartz Black is exclusive to the Flagship X.

Selling prices start from RM73,800 for the Executive, RM79,800 for the Premium, RM89,800 for the Flagship, and RM94,800 for the Flagship X.

The standard package for the S70 includes a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, a 1GB per month data package for five years, free labor for six times, financing interest rates from 2.34 percent, and Proton Insurance Program.

Additionally, the first 3,000 owners who register their cars before February 29, 2024, will receive an aero body kit worth RM3,130 (Flagship X only), a RM500 service voucher (Premium and Flagship only), and an upgraded Proton insurance program.

TIPS

Warming up engines: Do you perform it correctly?

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THE issue of engine warm-up has been debated for a long time, from casual conversations at coffee shops, hanging out at TT gatherings, to discussions in internet forums and Facebook groups.

Why is it necessary to warm up the engine? Is it just a fad, or does it serve a real purpose? We will attempt to explain this with an easy-to-understand explanation and relate it to several common situations we encounter.

Warming up the engine has been a practice since 30 to 40 years ago, when carburetor engines used a choke to mix air and petrol for combustion. In cold weather, petrol doesn’t vaporize, and since the carburetor doesn’t have a temperature sensor, it cannot adjust combustion efficiently and effectively. More fuel is used during this time. Therefore, the engine needs to be warmed up before driving.

For most modern cars that we drive today, their engines are equipped with sensors to precisely calculate the air-fuel mixture ratio. This ratio is also adjusted based on the temperature.

Therefore, in cold weather, engines with electronic fuel injection systems will inject more fuel (burning rich) to ensure proper combustion until the engine reaches the ideal temperature. This process is much faster compared to older engines with carburetor systems.

How long should you wait before driving?

The simple answer is to start the engine, wait just a little while, and then drive immediately. You actually don’t need to wait 15 or 20 minutes to warm up the engine. It’s just a waste of fuel.

Do you have deep pockets and don’t care about the cost of fuel? Well, a mechanical engineer from the Argonne National Laboratory reported that fuel is a solvent and can thin the engine oil on the cylinder walls if the engine is left idling for a long period.

As you may understand, if there is less oil on the cylinder walls, there will be more friction, and various components can be damaged or have their lifespan shortened if we warm up the engine for too long.

According to a representative from Volvo who conducted cold weather tests in the Arctic, they stated that new cars do not need to have their engines warmed up. “It’s best to start the engine for a short time to build fuel pressure, and then drive as usual,” they said.

But don’t start the engine and immediately press the accelerator hard. After about 20 or 30 seconds of starting the engine in the morning, you can slowly drive out of the housing estate, then a few turns before accelerating on the main road.

What about a car that’s been left unused for a long time?

There are times when we leave a car unused for a long period, regardless of the reason. This also raises the issue of warming up the engine, which means starting the engine briefly before leaving the car again.

But what is the correct way to warm up the engine, start and let it idle for 10 minutes? The answer is that the above method is not correct. If you have a car that is rarely driven, the best way to warm up the engine occasionally is to start the engine, drive it out of the house, and drive slowly in the surrounding area. There’s no need to do it for a long time. 10 or 15 minutes is enough.

This method is better because not only does the engine components move, but the fluid and oil in the transmission system also move around the entire area, as well as the tires and axles, everything moves. So, the grit and lubricating oil can be spread evenly.

To revisit the initial point of the article, merely warming up the engine by idling in place is less effective and can even jeopardize some components.