National carmaker Proton marked a significant milestone in its 41-year history today by surpassing the production of five million vehicles. This landmark vehicle, a Proton X90 Flagship, was unveiled at the company’s headquarters, the Centre Of Excellence (COE) complex, during a visit by Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Y.B. Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, and Chinese Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong.
The visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia, officially celebrated on 31 May this year. Other notable attendees included Y.B. Ng Sze Han, Selangor State Executive Committee member for Investment, Trade, and Mobility, Eric Li Shufu, Chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Group Managing Director of DRB-HICOM, Dr Wei Mei, CEO of Geely International Holdings (Malaysia), Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton, and Roslan Abdullah, Deputy CEO of Proton.
“Proton was established in 1983 with the mission to mobilize Malaysians and create a local automotive ecosystem. Today, we continue to be a vital part of the nation’s economy, supporting over 100,000 jobs linked to Proton. Each individual has contributed to this remarkable achievement of producing five million units,” said Dr Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.
Since beginning its collaboration with the Geely Group in 2017, Proton has launched four new models developed jointly with its shareholder, upgraded locally designed models, and integrated advanced intelligence and connectivity features into its lineup. These efforts, alongside investments in product quality, after-sales service, parts management, and an extensive 3S/4S dealer network, have driven five consecutive years of sales growth and increased production.
Since the introduction of the Proton X70 on 12 December 2018, more than 217,000 units of the X series SUVs have been sold locally and internationally, making Proton the leading SUV brand in Malaysia. The Proton Saga has also surpassed two million units in sales, maintaining its status as the most popular Malaysian-made car of all time.
“The five millionth unit, a Proton X90 Flagship, symbolizes our progress since partnering with Geely. Last week, we announced e.MAS as the brand name for our future electric vehicles. Today, as we celebrate another milestone, the future holds immense opportunities for Proton to continue providing sustainable mobility for Malaysians and our export markets,” added Dr Li Chunrong.
