The Proton X50 has achieved yet another sales record with 4,763 units sold in July 2022, not only marking the highest monthly volume the model has seen since its launch here some two years ago, but also the title of the best-selling car in Malaysia for July 2022, knocking the venerable Perodua Myvi off its perch.
Proton says that this is the first time a vehicle in this segment has led the overall market in sales volume, and it has also helped Proton retain its position as the leader of the hotly-contested SUV segment.
In total, Proton sold 11,477 cars in July 2022 (including domestic and export sales), marking two consecutive strong months following its best sales month of the year in June – that is with the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for July retreating to the median of an estimated 50,500 units, following the expiry of SST incentives on June 30.
The results also mean Proton retains its second position in the national automotive sales table, with an estimated market share of 22.7% for the month. Overall sales for the year, meanwhile, now stands at 71,601 units, which is an increase of 19.7% over the same period in 2021. Year-to-date market share for Proton now stands at an estimated 18.7%.
Aside from the X50, the Proton X70 also enjoyed continued strong sales in the month of July, with 1,704 units registered last month. Recently updated in June, the X70 retains its sales leadership for C-segment SUVs thanks to its strong sales performance this last month, while also helping the brand boost its SUV volume in 2022 past 31,500 units for the first seven months of the year.
The Proton Saga also continues its track record as the best-selling A-segment sedan with 4,521 units registered last month, pushing cumulative sales for the year to 28,005 units. The model, which was only recently updated in May, managed to achieve 9,811 registrations in just 80 days.
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Also at the top of its segment is the Proton Exora, which saw a total of 476 units registered in July. However, the Proton Persona and Iriz both suffered in their July sales performance due to “approval delays” resulting in registrations being temporarily halted, the company says.
“Following a hectic June where automotive industry players scrambled to lock in bookings before the end of SST incentives, July was a month of consolidation where market demand fell to normal levels, and everybody concentrated on fulfilling orders already received,” said Proton Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah.
“The company is immensely proud of the [X50] becoming the first SUV to be crowned as the best-selling vehicle in Malaysia and we are thankful for the support from our customers. This achievement and Proton’s sales leadership in other segments shows our business plan is on the right track and repays the confidence placed in the brand by buyers, investors and other stakeholders,” he added.
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As for export sales, the national carmaker saw a total of 380 units registered in the month of July 2022, bringing the total cumulative export sales up to 3,102 units, surpassing last year’s total in just seven months. The Proton Saga, X70, and X50 remain as the leading export models, with the latter achieving a new export sales high of 126 units.
“The easing of restrictions in global trade has been a major boost for PROTON’s export division. With five months to go, we are on target for yet another year of double-digit percentage growth, though our enthusiasm is couched by economic issues faced in overseas markets,” Roslan Abdullah commented.
