Proton is heading towards a potentially historic sales milestone in 2026, having already surpassed its entire 2025 sales volume after just 10 months. With October’s performance bringing its year-to-date (YTD) sales to 182,510 units, the national automaker is now within reach of recording its first 200,000-unit sales year since 2002.

The company delivered 21,624 units in October, marking its strongest start to the fourth quarter since 2005 and its second-best monthly sales performance this year. This brought its YTD sales growth to 40.5% compared to the corresponding period in 2025. Based on an estimated Total Industry Volume (TIV) of more than 70,000 units for October, Proton secured an estimated monthly market share of 30.6%, taking its YTD market share to 27.1%. October also marked the fourth month in 2026 where Malaysia’s overall automotive sales exceeded 70,000 units, with the full-year TIV expected to surpass 800,000 units for the third consecutive year.

Among Proton’s internal combustion engine (ICE) offerings, the S70 has emerged as one of its strongest performers this year. Following the introduction of its updated version on 11 February, the sedan recorded 3,029 units in October, its second-highest monthly achievement in 2026. This brought the S70’s YTD sales to 23,448 units, representing a 63.5% increase over the same period last year. The figures exclude the newly introduced 2027 Proton S70 i-GT 1.5, which recorded another 2,338 units in October alone.

Available in Lite and Prime variants, the S70 i-GT has quickly established itself in the B-segment sedan category, with its combination of space, comfort, fuel efficiency and competitive pricing attracting buyers. Meanwhile, the regular S70 continues to lead the C-segment sedan market. The ever-popular Proton Saga also achieved an important milestone, with 7,352 units sold in October. Its YTD total now stands at 75,589 units, already exceeding its full-year 2025 sales volume. The Saga remains Malaysia’s second best-selling vehicle in 2026.

In the SUV segment, the Proton X50 maintained its position as the country’s leading B-segment SUV after recording 1,925 units in October. Its YTD sales have reached 22,088 units. The larger Proton X90, meanwhile, is showing the strongest sales growth among Proton’s models. October was its best month of the year, with 478 units delivered, bringing its YTD total to 3,728 units. This represents a 75.6% improvement compared to the corresponding period in 2025.

Commenting on the performance, Proton Deputy Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa described 2026 as a significant year for the company as it makes progress towards its long-term growth ambitions. He noted that while Proton continues to expand its electrified vehicle (xEV) portfolio, demand for its conventional ICE models remains strong. The company currently leads the Malaysian SUV market while also holding the top position in sedan sales. For the remainder of the year, Proton intends to maintain its sales momentum while working closely with its dealer network to ensure aftersales support, technician training and parts availability keep pace with its growing customer base.

Electrified models have been another major contributor to Proton’s growth, with its dedicated EV and hybrid brand, Proton e.MAS, continuing to gain ground in the local market. With an overall xEV market share of 33.2%, Proton e.MAS has established itself as Malaysia’s fastest-growing xEV brand, with its models performing strongly across their respective segments.

The Proton e.MAS 5 remained the brand’s biggest volume contributor, recording 2,437 units in October. Its YTD sales have now reached 23,189 units, maintaining its position as the country’s leading xEV model by volume. The Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV added another 710 units during the month, bringing its YTD total to 6,962 units. Meanwhile, the fully electric Proton e.MAS 7 recorded 616 units, taking its YTD figure to 5,579 units. Combined, the three models have contributed 35,730 units to Proton e.MAS’ sales in 2026.

PRO-NET Chief Executive Officer Zhang Qiang attributed the brand’s performance to growing consumer interest in electrified vehicles, alongside the confidence built through its expanding dealership network. He added that despite being a relatively new name in the Malaysian automotive market, Proton e.MAS has managed to establish a strong presence among buyers looking to make the transition towards electrified mobility.

Beyond the domestic market, Proton’s export business is also gaining momentum, with October setting a new monthly record for export sales. A total of 2,610 Proton and Geely vehicles were shipped from the company’s Tanjung Malim production facility to overseas markets during the month. This brought cumulative export volume for 2026 to 9,980 units, putting the company within touching distance of the 10,000-unit mark.

The strong performance is expected to help the Proton-Geely alliance establish a new annual export record by the end of 2026. According to Abdul Rashid, export growth is being supported by demand from Proton’s overseas distributors as well as Geely’s international markets. Higher export volumes also translate into increased component orders for local suppliers, improving production utilisation and generating economies of scale. While acknowledging that the company’s export revival is still at an early stage, he expects overseas sales to account for a growing proportion of total group volume in the coming years.