In May, Proton experienced a significant rebound in sales, recovering from a slow start to the second quarter of 2023. The Malaysian automotive market had initially been impacted by the festive period and the conclusion of tax-free car deliveries in March. However, last month saw a remarkable surge in sales, with a total of 13,268 units (domestic + export) sold. This translates to a sales growth of 40.9% compared to April and an impressive increase of 35.5% compared to May 2022.
The cumulative sales for the first five months of the year reached 62,970 units, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 38.9%. This exceptional performance places Proton as the leading brand in the Malaysian automotive sales table. Additionally, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) experienced an estimated rebound of 32.2% in May, reaching 61,600 units. As a result, Proton’s market share for the month was calculated at 21.5%, and its year-to-date market share stands at 20.9%.
May proved to be a milestone month for Proton’s export endeavours as it entered its first market of 2023 and its 12th overall, debuting in Mozambique on May 24th. The local importer launched the Proton X70 and Proton X50, highlighting their safety features and affordable luxury as unique selling points. This market entry contributed to the best month for export sales thus far in 2023, with 217 units sold, led by the Proton Saga.
Maintaining its position as the best-selling model, the Proton Saga recorded 5,819 units sold in May. This achievement places it second overall for A-segment sedans, with a total of 27,214 units sold year-to-date, representing a remarkable increase of 51% compared to the previous year.
Among the overall segment sales, three Proton models continue to lead the way. The Proton X50 remains the top seller in the B-segment and overall SUV category, with 2,801 units sold in May. Despite finishing second for B-segment sedan sales last month, the Proton Persona retains its position as the overall segment leader. Additionally, the evergreen Proton Exora achieved 440 sales, maintaining its dominance in the C-segment MPV market.
The year-to-date sales growth for these three segment leaders is equally impressive, with a 31% increase for the Proton X50, a remarkable 78% growth for the Proton Persona, and a solid 39% rise for the Proton Exora. These figures demonstrate the strong demand for Proton’s models, even in the face of competition from newer rivals. The Proton Iriz also experienced a surge in sales, with 732 units sold in May, resulting in a 47% increase in year-to-date sales.
In May, Proton sold 929 units of the Proton X70, while the all-new Proton X90, which was introduced just three weeks prior, achieved impressive sales of 257 units. This performance secured its position as the second best-selling model in the D-segment SUV market.
