In 2023, the national carmaker Proton continued its remarkable sales momentum, with an impressive addition of 12,230 units (both domestic and export) sold in September. This surge brings the total sales for the first three quarters of the year to an impressive 116,832 units, marking a substantial increase of 14.1% compared to the previous year, and setting the stage for a final push in the fourth quarter to surpass the total sales of 141,432 units achieved in 2022.
While September saw a minor dip in sales compared to August, with a decrease of 1,725 units, the total industry volume (TIV) also dropped below the 70,000-unit threshold. However, Proton’s sales growth still outpaced the industry, maintaining a lead of more than 3.7%. Additionally, Proton’s market share remains strong, standing at 20.5%, which is 0.7% higher than the previous year.
As Proton enters the final quarter of 2023, four of its models continue to dominate their respective segments. The Proton Persona, a B-segment sedan, finished September as the second most popular in its category with 2,053 units sold. Impressively, it retains its year-to-date (YTD) market leadership with total sales of 18,614 units, a significant increase of 72.6% compared to the previous year. This reflects the appeal of its combination of connectivity, safety, functionality, and premium design for buyers seeking a reliable family sedan.
The company’s newest addition, the Proton X90, has also garnered attention from buyers seeking a premium family SUV with mild-hybrid technology. Although a service update briefly affected production, causing a delay in September with only 491 units delivered, the situation is expected to return to normal this month. With a total of 3,435 units sold so far, the X90 remains the sales leader in the D-segment SUV market
Two more Proton models that lead their respective segments are the Proton X50 and the Proton Exora. The former achieved 2,210 sales in September, maintaining its status as the best-selling B-segment SUV. Meanwhile, the Proton Exora, an MPV, continues to dominate its segment, with 367 units sold in September, bringing its total sales for the year to 3,517 units.
Among the remaining Proton models, the Proton Saga stands out as the second best-selling A-segment sedan and the second most popular vehicle in Malaysia. With an impressive 5,648 units sold in September, its YTD sales figure reached an astonishing 51,484 units, representing a remarkable increase of 26.8% compared to the previous year. The Proton Iriz has also seen substantial growth, with 682 units sold in September and a YTD total of 6,044 units, marking an impressive improvement of 44.8%. Lastly, the Proton X70 regained its second position in the overall C-segment sedan class, with 779 units sold in the month and a cumulative total of 8,778 units.
