Proton April sales up 14.7pct, boosted by e.MAS 7 EV debut
KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd's sales increased 14.7 per cent in April, led by the brand's first electric vehicle (EV) model e.MAS 7.
Proton's group sales closed the month at 12,692 units, which also pushed the company's market share to 20.8 per cent.
In comparison, total industry volume (TIV) for April is estimated to have grown by just 1.8 per cent year-on-year to 60,886 units and declined 16.3 per cent from March, reflecting slower sales during the festive period.
"The strong results have strengthened the company's grip on second position in the overall automotive sales table in Malaysia," it said in a statement.
"This comes at a time when offerings and price cuts from new brands have created an extremely competitive market environment, leaving car buyers with a wide range of options," it added.
The e.MAS 7 has seen its numbers climb each month since its launch in December last year.
The trend continued in April as the model breached the 800-unit barrier by achieving 863 units. This brought year-to-date (YTD) sales to 2,716 units.
Proton said this positioned the model as the best-selling EV in the country and the Proton e.MAS brand in second place for overall EV sales despite currently having only one model in its range.
"More importantly, the result means EVs now account for six per cent of overall Proton sales," said Proton.
Proton Edar chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said automotive sales in Malaysia continue to be robust with TIV in 2025 sits behind the record- setting pace from the previous year.
"Our figures show the deficit currently stands at five per cent, which is respectable after two big festive periods in the first four months of the year.
"With many new models slated for introduction over the next eight months, expect the gap to shrink as buyers are presented with a bevy of new options," he said.
Meanwhile, the Proton X50 took the lead in the B-segment SUV market last month.
A total of 2,389 units were sold in April, its highest volume for 2025. YTD sales climbed to 7,506 units as well as 420 units ahead of YTD sales from the previous year.
The Proton X90 remains the default choice for buyers looking for a D-segment SUV, with 194 units sold in April, bringing YTD sales to 873 units.
The Proton S70 remains as the dominant C-segment sedan model in Malaysia with another 1,716 units sold in April to boost its YTD total to 6,181 units.
As for Proton X70, its YTD sales stood at 2,839 units after it sold 682 units last month.
As for the other models, the Proton Saga achieved 5,213 sales last month, the Proton Persona finished the month as the second ranked B-segment sedan with 1,328 units
sold while the Proton Iriz posted 290 sales and currently sits fourth for B-segment hatchback sales.
Proton also saw export growth gathered momentum in April as the company had its best month for export sales in 2025.
A total of 520 units were exported last month led by the Proton X50, Proton Saga and Proton e.MAS 7, the latter being previewed at The Car Expo in Singapore during the first weekend of May.
"Export sales remain a vital area of focus for Proton as we view it as the main driver of sales growth in the future. We continue to lay the groundwork for our expansion by adding our EV offerings to our export markets, which will help keep us ahead of the curve when EV adoption takes off overseas," added Roslan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Focus Malaysia
3 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Madani slammed for EV perks to rich, burden on poor
THE Madani government's push for electric vehicles (EVs) was initially praised, as EVs are seen as better for the environment than fuel-powered cars. However, the high prices of EVs have made them unaffordable for most Malaysians — especially since almost 35% of formal workers earn less than RM2,000 a month. Under current policies, EVs are exempt from import and excise duties until the end of this year. This has triggered criticism on social media. Some users on X pointed out that while EV buyers — often the wealthy — get to enjoy tax-free benefits, regular Malaysians who buy fuel-run cars must still pay high taxes. One user said that someone buying a locally made car like the Proton Saga would still pay around RM15,000 in excise and sales taxes. Many Malaysians need a car just to go to work, especially in a car-dependent country like Malaysia. Meanwhile, luxury EVs like the Porsche Taycan — which costs RM675,000 — are completely tax-free. When a low-income M'sian buys a Proton Saga, he pays RM15,375 in excise & sales tax. But when a rich man buys an EV Porsche Taycan, he pays zero — saving over RM600,000. Tesla Model 3 saves RM225k. BYD Dolphin saves RM120k. Well done, Madani. Reward the rich, tax the poor. — khalid karim STEMKITA (@khalidkarim) June 6, 2025 To put things into perspective, that car costs nearly as much as the median house price in the Klang Valley, which is around RM745,000. Another user pointed out that even if Malaysians pay less income tax than in some countries, they still end up paying a lot of 'indirect' taxes on daily goods and services. Malaysia's income tax may be lower than many countries but we pay a lot more indirect taxes — 1negara (@1negara1) June 7, 2025 Many Malaysians online feel that the current EV policy seems to benefit the rich while leaving the poor behind. There's growing frustration over why Malaysia has set an RM100,000 minimum price for EVs — especially since brands like BYD offer much cheaper EVs in places like Thailand and China. This price gap has raised concerns about fairness and accessibility in Malaysia's EV market. — June 7, 2025 Main photo credit: Shutterstock
The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
Proton posts strong sales growth in May
PROTON Holdings Bhd recorded a robust performance in May 2025, with total sales, including domestic, export, smart, and Proton vehicles, reaching 13,328 units. This figure represents a 6.1% increase compared to May 2024, and marks the third consecutive month of sales growth for the national carmaker. Between March and May, Proton experienced a year-on-year growth of 10%, pushing year-to-date (YTD) sales to 61,087 units. Market share for the month is projected at 19.2%, with the same percentage forecasted for the YTD share, based on an estimated Total Industry Volume (TIV) of 69,495 units. Key contributors to this upward trajectory included the Proton X50 and X70, both of which have sustained strong demand following the launch of their updated variants last year. Export sales surged by 36.6% over 2024 figures, while Proton's flagship electric vehicle, the 7, continued to lead EV sales in Malaysia for a fifth straight month, achieving a new milestone by surpassing 900 units sold in May. Across Proton's model range, May emerged as the second-best sales month in 2025, bolstered by nationwide promotional campaigns that stimulated consumer interest. The Proton X70 recorded the highest growth rate among individual models, with sales increasing by 44% to 982 units. This placed the C-segment SUV 53.1% ahead of its YTD sales from the previous year, a trend Proton expects to sustain throughout the remainder of 2025. The Proton X50 also maintained its dominant position in the B-segment SUV category, contributing 2,198 units to the monthly total and pushing its YTD tally to 9,704 units—a 14.3% rise over 2024. Meanwhile, the premium D-segment Proton X90 expanded its market footprint with a 15.5% increase in sales to 224 units. Sedan models also enjoyed a steady rise in demand. The Proton Saga, the company's A-segment offering, registered 5,513 units, reflecting a 5.8% improvement over April. The B-segment Persona followed suit with 1,385 units sold, a 4.3% month-on-month increase. The C-segment Proton S70, a recent addition to the lineup, posted a modest gain of 2.7% to close at 1,763 units. Meanwhile, the Proton Iriz recorded a 14.1% increase in May, reaching 331 units and retaining its status as Malaysia's fourth most popular B-segment hatchback. Proton's EV sales continued to gain momentum, with the 7 hitting a record high of 916 units across domestic and international markets in May. This achievement pushed its YTD total to 3,632 units, reinforcing its position as the country's top-selling electric SUV in the premium C-segment category. Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong attributed the positive sales momentum to targeted promotional activities and the appeal of the company's technologically advanced product range. He emphasised the strength of Proton's retail network, comprising 3S and 4S centres, as instrumental in enhancing customer experience and driving conversions. Looking ahead, Dr Li expressed confidence that Proton would maintain its momentum into the second half of 2025, with several new model launches and events lined up under the next phase of the company's business strategy. With the Malaysian car market approaching saturation, Proton has increasingly focused on expanding its international footprint. In 2025, the company launched several overseas initiatives, including the introduction of the CKD Proton Saga in left-hand-drive configuration for Egypt and EV-centred events featuring the 7 in Nepal and Singapore. June will see the company's electric SUV enter the Trinidad and Tobago market, marking its second export destination for the EV after Nepal. To date, 233 units of the 7 have been exported, a number that is expected to climb with the latest market entry. Leading Proton's export sales is the Saga, with 710 units, followed closely by the X50, which posted a staggering 360% increase in YTD exports, reaching 694 units. Proton's renewed export strategy is showing early success, with sales volumes already on the rise. Dr Li stated that while short-term gains are promising, the company remains committed to a long-term plan for overseas market development. He noted that achieving sustainable success in international markets demands consistent effort and structured planning, both of which Proton is prepared to deliver.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Proton sales up 6pct in May, marking third straight month of growth
KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd sold 13,328 vehicles in May, comprising domestic and export sales as well as units from its smart and Proton ranges. In a statement today, the national carmaker said the figure represents a 6.1 per cent increase from May 2024 and marks the third straight month of sales growth. For the March-to-May period, year-on-year (YoY) sales rose 10 per cent, bringing year-to-date (YTD) sales to 61,087 units. Proton estimates a 19.2 per cent market share for May, based on a projected total industry volume (TIV) of 69,495 units. The YTD market share is also forecast at 19.2 per cent. According to Proton, individual volume drivers this year include the Proton X50 and Proton X70, which have sold strongly since the introduction of their updated variants last year. Export sales have also been strong, now 36.6 per cent ahead of 2024, while the Proton 7 led EV sales for a fifth consecutive month in May while breaking through the 900-unit sales barrier for the very first time. Proton chief executive officer Dr Li Chunrong said after a slow start to 2025, sales of Proton vehicles have shown an upward trend over the last three months. He added that this is a direct result of the group's promotion efforts as well as the strong attraction car buyers have to our range that offers stylish, technology driven products sold via an industry leading network of 3S/4S outlets. "Going into the second half of 2025, Proton is confident we can maintain our momentum as we initiate a flurry of events and model introductions in line with the next phase of our overall business plan," he said. With new vehicle sales in Malaysia nearing saturation, Proton said it is ramping up efforts to strengthen its presence in overseas markets. It added that 2025 has seen multiple events promoting its overseas presence, kicking off with the launch of the CKD Proton Saga in LHD form for the Egyptian market and two 7 focussed activities in Nepal and Singapore. The carmaker noted that June will see the introduction of the company's EV in Trinidad & Tobago, its second export market after Nepal, which is expected to increase its numbers beyond the 233 units exported thus far. The top export model is the Proton Saga with 710 units followed by the Proton X50, which has grown its YTD export sales by 360 per cent to 694 units. "The increased focus placed on growing export sales is paying short term dividends as we see an immediate uptick in volume. "Penetrating and being successful in overseas markets requires long-term commitment and Proton is confident we can achieve our goals with a structured plan to manage our expansion," Li Chunrong said.
