Proton starts 2023 off with impressive sales in February.
Proton has continued its impressive start to the year by reporting a 52% increase in sales in February compared to the same month last year. With a total of 14,033 units (including domestic and export sales) sold last month, the sales volume was 20.1% higher than January. The year-to-date (YTD) volume has swelled by 88% to 25,714 units, indicating a significant increase in demand for Proton vehicles.
According to industry reports, Malaysian car sales have continued to surge for the second month in a row, with an estimated total industry volume (TIV) of 62,300 units, as industry players rush to fulfil sales tax exempt bookings before the 31 March deadline. Proton’s market share for the month is estimated to be 22.7%, placing it second in the rankings, and representing a 7.3% increase over February 2022.
Proton’s Persona leads B-Segment sedan sales
Proton’s Persona model is proving to be a popular choice among consumers, with three models achieving segment sales leadership. The Persona is now in its second consecutive month of sales leadership for B-segment sedans. With 2,313 units sold in February, the model broke through the 2,000-unit barrier for a third consecutive month, the first time it has achieved the feat since doing it for five months in a row from June to October 2020.
Proton X50 and Exora leading their segments
The Proton X50 model has retained leadership of the B-segment SUV market and remains the most popular SUV overall. In February, 3,247 units were sold, and sales are up by 11% over the first two months of the year. The Proton Exora is also enjoying a resurgence, with sales of the C-segment MPV leader growing by 216% over the same period in 2022.
Other Proton models that performed well in February include the Proton Saga, which ended the month with 6,345 units sold, retaining its position as the best-selling Proton. The Proton X70 delivered 981 units in February and 1,914 units overall for the year. Finally, the Proton Iriz had its best performance since August 2022, with 811 units sold leading to an improvement of 156% for the first two months of the year.
What’s Next for Proton?
Proton’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah, believes that the company’s strong start to the year reflects the popularity of its current model offerings. He also stated that a lot of the sales volume is being driven by fulfilment of tax-exempt bookings. However, Proton’s new booking numbers remain healthy, indicating that the company is hopeful of continuing its sales growth trajectory for the rest of the year.
Over the next few months, Proton will be making several announcements to shape the company’s direction for 2023 and beyond. This will be a busy year for Proton as it establishes its presence in new segments, enters the new energy vehicle (NEV) market, and builds its EV credentials when sales of the smart #1 begin.
