KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd sold 12,882 units (domestic and export) in January, bringing its best start to a year since 2013.
This led to Proton being the only car brand to report improved sales performance in comparison to December 2023, up 1.3 per cent, while sales grew by 10.3 per cent in comparison to January of the previous year.
The national automaker said it easily maintained second place in the sales table as a result of the year's good start.
According to estimates, Proton's market share for the month is estimated to be 19.5 per cent, up 3.3 per cent over the previous month.
"The total industry volume for January is estimated to be 66,134 units, which would translate to a decline of 15.6 percent compared to December, which saw the numbers inflated by the traditional year-end push for higher vehicle sales to close 2023," it said.
According to Proton, the deliveries of the newest addition to the Proton lineup, the Proton S70, have begun with a commendable 1,442 units delivered in January.
It said the model currently boasts an order book with over 8,000 bookings, reflecting the strong and positive response it has received from eager customers.
"The model S70 also made its way to its first export market in Brunei, as 15 units were delivered ahead of its official launch there in February," it said.
Proton Edar chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said Proton is thrilled to start 2024 strongly, highlighted by the strong delivery numbers for its latest addition, the Proton S70.
He said the enthusiastic response to the company's lineup confirms how its models resonate with buyers searching for innovative vehicles.
"Rest assured, we are fully dedicated to meeting the heightened demand from our customers, and the team is diligently working to ensure timely deliveries to ensure customer expectations are not only met but exceeded," he said.
Roslan said that after a record-breaking year in 2023, many estimate that Malaysian automobile sales will decline in 2024.
He noted that this is because of factors like the new luxury goods tax and the rise in sales and service taxes (SST).
"Proton however, remains optimistic; our strong start to the year will set the tone for the next 11 months as we target more sales growth with our continued focus on innovation, quality, and customer service," he added.