Proton has kicked off 2025 on a high note, capping off the first quarter with a strong sales rebound in March. The national automaker recorded 13,918 units sold last month, marking a 23.9% increase over February and a 9.6% gain compared to March 2024. This impressive performance is projected to give the company a 19.4% share of the estimated Total Industry Volume (TIV) of 71,596 units for the month.
Cumulatively, Proton’s Q1 2025 sales climbed to 35,068 units, securing an 18.9% market share from an overall TIV of 184,652 units. The growth was driven by consistent demand across the internal combustion engine (ICE) lineup, a surge in export sales, and promising results from the company’s electric vehicle (EV) segment—especially the newly launched Proton e.MAS 7.
The Proton S70 continues to dominate the C-segment sedan category, with March sales jumping 77.5% month-over-month to 2,125 units and bringing its Q1 total to 4,465 units. Its appeal lies in a sleek design, performance refinement, and a tech-rich, spacious interior, striking a balance between style and practicality that resonates with a wide range of buyers.
The D-segment SUV, Proton X90, also posted solid gains with a 73.6% surge in March sales, totaling 302 units and pushing its Q1 tally to 679 units. Meanwhile, the Proton X50 maintained its reign as the best-selling Proton SUV with 1,858 units sold in March and a robust 5,117-unit total for Q1.
The Proton X70 saw a resurgence in demand, registering 835 units in March—a 11.9% increase over February—and bringing Q1 figures up to 2,158 units, a notable 52% jump from the same period last year.
Not to be outdone, the iconic Proton Saga had its best month of the year so far, crossing the 6,000-unit mark with 6,154 units sold in March, up 22.5% from February. The Persona and Iriz models also achieved their highest monthly sales in 2025, with 1,482 and 337 units sold, respectively.
Proton’s foray into the EV market continues to show strong momentum. The Proton e.MAS 7, launched earlier this year, has quickly become Malaysia’s best-selling electric vehicle. With 797 units sold in March alone, it has racked up a total of 1,853 units in Q1—a promising start that underscores consumer interest in Proton’s new energy direction.
“Proton’s month-on-month sales grew by 23.9% in March, outpacing overall TIV growth of 12%. Our aggressive promotions and best-in-class nationwide 3S/4S network have proven vital to this growth,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.
Looking ahead, Roslan expressed confidence that upcoming model launches and attractive deals in Q2 will further strengthen Proton’s position in the market, highlighting the company’s long-term commitment to delivering exceptional ownership experiences.
Export operations were another bright spot in Q1, with March export volumes climbing 211% compared to February. Total export sales are now 11.4% ahead of Q1 2024, led by the Proton Saga, which accounted for 410 units shipped abroad.
Contributing to the export gains are Proton’s CKD (Completely Knocked Down) operations and market entries in Nepal and Trinidad & Tobago. The inclusion of new energy vehicles in these exports is expanding Proton’s international footprint and enhancing its global competitiveness.
“Exports are central to Proton’s long-term strategy. While there’s still much to achieve, we’re optimistic about the trajectory we’re on and believe our expanding lineup will continue to gain traction overseas,” Roslan added.
As Q2 begins, all eyes are on Proton to sustain this momentum. With strong domestic performance, a growing EV presence, and renewed export strength, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the national carmaker.
