Tag Archives: Saga

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Proton champions sedan sales in Malaysia, 3.85 million units sold since 1985

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In a statement, Proton said that it continues to be the top-selling brand for sedans in Malaysia, with 3.85 million units sold since its establishment more than 40 years ago.

According to the national car manufacturer, this success is attributed to national icons such as the Saga, Wira and Waja, which were once used as police cars in Humberside County, UK, two generations of the Persona, the Prevé, and its latest offering, the S70.

Launched last November, the S70 has quickly become the favourite in the C-sedan category, with year-to-date sales as of September totalling 14,877 units.

Overall sales have surpassed those of other competitors in the same category, with an average of 1,640 units sold per month since January of this year. The model leads sales in its segment, with top three states being Selangor, Johor and Penang.

However, the biggest contributor to the pool is clearly the evergreen Saga, which has clocked in over 2 million sales since its launch on 9 July 1985 till September this year. The model has undergone massive change through three generations, with improvements in safety, design updates, performance improvements, interior comfort and features, platform and chassis development and receiving a stronger body structure.

For Proton sedans, the responsive driving experienced, safety record and sheer fun behind the wheel played a major role in appealing to car buyers.

Evolving with the times, the models also introduced timely safety updates such as anti-lock braking system (ABS), airbags, seat belt pretensioners, hot-press forming body structures.

With the S70, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) level 2 features such as lane change assist, automatic emergency braking, intelligent cruise control, and traffic sign information keep Proton sedans at the leading edge of safety technology.

A recent survey by Insight Asia, involving 277 participants aged 22 to 59, revealed that buyers prioritise affordability, comfort, and safety, alongside a stylish and modern design.

Key reasons for choosing it include its attractive aesthetics, good power delivery, and overall value for money, starting from over RM70,000. Many owners upgraded from smaller segments and did not consider other models, viewing the model as unique in its class.

Overall, S70 owners express high satisfaction with cabin comfort, storage space, and security features. While most reported no significant issues, some experienced minor Noice, Vibration and Hardness (NVH) problems, which did not detract from their overall experience.

Suggestions for improvement include the introduction of features like auto wipers and ventilated seats, according to Insight Asia.

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Proton commences CKD assembly of Saga in Egypt, to generate up to RM570mil in revenue

Proton took another step towards expanding its footprint in international markets by announcing the start of CKD operations in Egypt.

The announcement was made during an event at Proton’s Centre Of Excellence headquarters, which was highlighted by a flag off ceremony to send 120 units of left hand drive (LHD) Proton Saga CKD packs to the country.

Proton’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah said the addition of CKD operations in Egypt brings the number of plants involved in CKD and SKD activities for Proton outside of Malaysia to five.

“As the Malaysian automotive market reaches a natural saturation point, future volume growth potential will come from overseas markets where consumer demand is expected to be on an upward trend in the future,” he added.

The Proton brand has been present in the Egyptian automotive market with its partner, Ezz Elarab since 2004. Overall, nearly 17,000 CBU units have been exported to the country in that time and in 2024, it is forecast that
over 1,400 units will be shipped there.

With the local assembly targeted to start in December this year at an assembly plant owned by Ezz Elarab Elsewedy Automotive Factories (ESAF), the targeted volume for 2025 is expected to grow to 5,000 units of the Proton Saga.

“Locally assembling the Proton Saga in Egypt, allows the company to meet the aim of the Egyptian government
to limit the number of CBU imports into the country while also encouraging local assembly activities.

“This in turn creates the potential for greater future capacity expansion in the country, especially after we launch new models, with the aim to make Egypt the hub for Proton vehicle exports in the North African region,” said Steven Xu, Director of International Sales, Proton.

For the first three years up to the end of 2026, revenue earned by Proton from the export of CKD packs to Egypt is forecast to be RM570 million with a further RM20 million projected as revenue from parts export activities.

At the same time, the local Egyptian economy is expected to earn up to RM180 million in duties and taxes on the assembly of Proton vehicles in the country.

NEWS

Proton, Geely join forces to upgrade Saga

In a recent statement, Proton has confirmed that it is working closely with Geely to explore model enhancement activities for the existing Saga.

According to the national car manufacturer, the collaborative efforts with Geely, which have been conducted for several years, have been accelerated after the establishment of the Proton R&D Centre (China) in April this year.

Detailed information and a timeline for the launch of the new Saga were not disclosed; however, Proton stated that the upgrading of the Proton’s homegrown models involves leveraging joint resources with Geely and is led by Proton R&D engineers in Malaysia.

“The ability to conceptualise, design, develop and manufacture new vehicles from the ground up is unique for Proton as a national brand. These abilities have now been strengthened by enhancing the synergies of Proton’s existing in-house competencies with the resources and know-how of Geely,” the company said.

In the same statement, Proton informed that the Saga, which is now in its 39th year of production, recorded remarkable sales of 7,855 units last month. This marks the best single-month achievement for the model since October 2013.

Cumulatively, year-to-date (YTD) sales for the model have grown 8.8% year-on-year to 42,693 units, setting the stage for a stellar sales year ahead.

Since the first Proton Saga began rolling off the production lines on 9 July 1985, its sales have surpassed the 2 million mark this year, solidifying its status as the most popular model from a Malaysian automotive brand.

In celebration of Malaysia’s National Day and as a gesture of giving back to the rakyat, Proton has launched the “Saga-Merdeka Easy to Own” campaign, offering various incentives and exclusive deals throughout the month of August.

During the month-long period, the company is offering RM500 cash rebate on the purchase of any Proton Saga model. On top of that, Maybank customers are eligible for an additional RM200 rebate when the promotional message from Maybank is presented by the customer in any participating Proton dealers.

NEWS

7 most iconic rebadged Proton models

The word “rebadge” has quite a negative connotation among car enthusiasts in Malaysia. For them, rebadging is considered a somewhat shameful practice that should not be done by any aspiring car manufacturer.

But little do they know that rebadging has certain advantages that can help a company grow in the early stages of its business.

The main upside of rebadging is that it helps companies save on R&D costs. Developing a vehicle from scratch requires massive investment, and not all brands, especially new ones, are willing to break the bank as they do not want to face the risk of heavy losses.

So thanks to the magic of rebadging, companies not only can reduce R&D expenses but they are also able to sell their products at a much more affordable price to entice their target market.

For Proton, this has been the path taken since its inception in 1983. With Mitsubishi as a technical partner at that time, the national car manufacturer finally launched its first car, the Proton Saga, just two years after it was founded.

Fast forward today after nearly 40 years since the first Proton car was introduced, Proton is still in the business of rebadging cars but its involvement in the entire process is more profound, with the company taking part not only in design but vehicle tuning as well.

So without further ado, let’s take a walk down memory lane and look at the seven most iconic rebadged Proton models ever offered:

Saga

The car that started it all for Proton. Launched by Tun Mahathir, the Saga was based on the Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore and sold until 1992 before being replaced by the Saga Iswara. It is currently in its third generation but now uses Proton’s very own platform.

Wira

The second rebadged model from Proton, which was produced for 16 years from 1993 to 2009. Based on the 1991 Lancer, it was available as a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback known as the Aeroback. It had several notable versions like 1.8 EXI Limited (C99) and the ultra-rare Sembilu, which sadly never saw the light of day.

Satria

The first-generation Satria was produced from 1994 to 2006 using the Mitsubishi Mirage Cyborg as its base. This hatchback spawned two highly sought-after, performance-oriented versions co-developed with Lotus, namely the Satria GTi and Satria R3. It was later replaced by the Satria Neo, which was sold until 2015.

Putra

Photo: Wikipedia

The Putra was a surprise addition to Proton’s lineup because at that time nobody thought a newcomer like Proton had the cojones to offer a coupe. It was based on the Mitsubishi Mirage Asti and was only available with the 1.8-litre 4G93P engine that was also used in the Wira 1.8 EXI Limited and Satria GTi.

Arena

Photo: wheel-size.my

Also known as Jumbuck in international markets, the Arena was essentially a Wira that was cut in half and joined by a pickup truck cargo bed. In Malaysia, the Arena was offered in three variants – Freestyle, Sportdeck, and Fastback, each with different specifications to meet various customer needs.

Juara

Photo: ProtonPro Facebook

Another rebadged model produced in collaboration with Mitsubishi, the Juara was a microvan based on the Mitsubishi Town Box Wide. Marketed as a lifestyle vehicle, it received a lukewarm reception leading Proton to halt sales in 2004, just three years after its launch.

X70

Launched at the end of 2018, the X70 is a crucial model in Proton’s history as it is the first product to emerge after the merger with Geely, and also the first-ever SUV for Proton. Fair to say that the X70 is single-handedly responsible for restoring customer confidence in the national car manufacturer.

NEWS

Proton announces RM253 million investment in new stamping lines in Tg Malim

PROTON recently performed a groundbreaking ceremony for new additions to its stamping facilities in Tanjong Malim.

Known as stamping E and F-Line, the new lines will expand the volume of parts stamping at Proton Tanjong Malim as the company prepares to relocate production of the Proton Saga from Shah Alam by 2026.

A sum of RM253 million has been earmarked for the project, which is expected to also cater to growing overall
production volume as well as any new models to be introduced in the near future.

This is the second planned expansion to the national automaker’s parts stamping capabilities in recent years after the inauguration of the D-Line stamping plant on 14 March 2023 by the Menteri Besar of Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer of Proton said the addition of the parts stamping E and F-Line are critical to the company’s future volume expansion plans as it gives more flexibility to ramp up production and meet market demand.

“For the whole of 2023 and up to June 2024, our Tanjong Malim plant has stamped out 6,067,064 components, of which 395,211 are from the new D-Line, and this number will grow exponentially when production for the Proton Saga is relocated here in 2026,” he added.

The new E-Line will feature a four stage stamping process with a 1600-tonne stamping machine and three 800-tonne machines while the F-Line will have a five stage stamping process utilising a 2000-tonne, 1200-tonne and three 1000-tonne stamping force machines.

Aside from the stamping machines robots will also be used to transfer parts between workstations while IR 4.0 technology will be implemented using real-time data and machine learning to improve the quality of parts produced.

Additionally, the new stamping lines will help to further reduce PROTON’s reliance on imported parts for its models, insulating the company against potential disruptions to global trade, and improving local parts supply.

At the same time, the investment further builds on competencies available in Tanjong Malim and will contribute towards the ongoing development of the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV).

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.

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.