3 days ago
- Automotive
- 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.
