Entering its 39th year of continuous production, the first-ever Malaysian car produced by national carmaker PROTON, the Proton Saga, raked in a remarkable 7,855 units in sales last month, marking 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. Today, the Saga retains its position as the mainstay of PROTON’s range of offerings, having proven time and again its reliability and affordability, which remain relevant and resonate well with our target audience over the past three decades.
PROTON and Geely to explore model enhancement activities
While the Proton Saga continues to meet market demand, PROTON is working closely with its partner Zhejiang Geely Holding Ltd (Geely) to explore model enhancement activities from the existing platform. Already, collaborative efforts between the duo have been conducting over the years and continue to accelerate after the establishment of PROTON R&D Centre (China) in April this year.
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 upgrading of PROTON’s homegrown models will involve leveraging joint resources with Geely to support the work led by PROTON R&D engineers in Malaysia. PROTON will also be able to enhance its competitiveness by leveraging on Geely’s global footprint.
“The Proton Saga has come a long way in serving the nation by enhancing mobility. At PROTON, we are steadfast in our commitment to driving Saga sales forward, especially with our latest promotion timed to coincide with Merdeka month. This initiative not only reflects our commitment to bring Saga to newer heights but also celebrates our national pride, reinforcing the Saga as a symbol of Malaysian innovation and resilience,” said Roslan Abdullah, Chief Executive Office, PROTON Edar.