since 1976
since 1976
National carmaker PROTON picked up two awards for its newest models at the Allianz DSF.my Vehicle Of The Year (VOTY) 2024 awards ceremony yesterday. The company’s market-leading C-segment sedan, the Proton S70 Flagship X received its first accolade when it won the Sedan of The Year category, despite having been on sale for less than six months. Meanwhile the smart #1 BRABUS, launched in November 2023 and distributed by PROTON subsidiary PRO-NET, beat out stiff competition to win the Electric Crossover of The Year award.
Both award winners are representative of a significant change in direction for PROTON, with the Proton S70 being the first all-new sedan to be developed together with Geely. The smart #1, designed by Mercedes-Benz, is the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) to be introduced by the company and is the precursor to the arrival of more EVs in the future including locally assembled models bearing the Proton badge. The recognition gained with the awards is proof of the effectiveness of the new business model.
“PROTON had a busy close to 2023 when we launched two all-new models in the space of just one week with both taking the company into unchartered territory. After the introduction of the three X-series SUV models in five years, the Proton S70 was the first sedan we developed together with Geely, targeting buyers looking for a family car with sporty performance, connectivity technology and a comprehensive list of features. The response has been tremendous, and it has dominated sales in its market segment since the beginning of 2024.
“The smart #1 is a different proposition, being the first EV model offered by PROTON as we start to expand into a new market space. Everything about it, from charging, servicing, software and even the way we interacted with customers, put us on a steep learning curve and gave the company invaluable experience to launch new EV offerings in the near future,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar and Board Member of PRO-NET.
