SHAH ALAM: Newly-formed Proton International Corp Sdn Bhd (PICSB) is aiming for export sales of 6,000 units this year, with a target to double that figure in 2026, and exceed 10 times that volume by 2030.
PICSB is national automaker Proton's wholly-owned subsidiary and international arm.
Currently, Proton exports to 19 countries, namely Brunei, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, Bermuda, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Iraq, Ghana, Angora, Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.
“The official registration of Proton International Corporation Sdn Bhd marks a pivotal moment, sharpening our focus and increasing our agility to drive global expansion," said PICSB CEO Edmund Lim Meng Thong.
"We are setting ambitious targets for the next few years and to achieve this, we are actively hiring more talent for our regional sales and marketing teams."
"We are also excited about the progress made at the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV), which will boost our production capability to meet growing international demand,” said Lim.
With export sales identified as a key driver of future sales growth, PICSB is tasked with enlarging Proton’s global footprint.
To recap, after starting exports to Bangladesh in 1986, just a year after its first car was produced, Proton quickly expanded its international reach, notably becoming the fastest-growing new car franchise in the UK by 1992, with annual sales reaching 15,000 units.
By the early 2000s, Proton models were present in 64 countries globally, with the company then strategically shifting its focus to high-growth regional markets such as Asean, China, India, the Middle East, and North Africa.
As of this year, Proton has exported 20,169 vehicles to 19 countries since 2020 - making it the leading exporter of vehicles from Malaysia.
Proton's top three exported models since 2020 are the Saga with 10,998 units, the X50 with 3,986 units and the X70 with 3,316 units.
However, the Proton e.MAS 7 has quickly gained favour, rising to third place in export sales this year.
Since its export began to Nepal and Trinidad and Tobago, a total of 233 units have been delivered.
Since its launch in December 2024, the model has maintained strong sales with 916 units sold in May for domestic and international markets, bringing its total year-to-date sales to 3,632 units.
Meanwhile, February 2025 saw the launch of the locally assembled Proton Saga in Egypt with local distributor Ezz Elarab Group while the Proton e.MAS 7 made its international debut in Nepal the following month followed by its introduction in Trinidad and Tobago in June.
Singapore will be next on the list following a special sneak preview of the new C-segment SUV at The Car Expo 2025 in May, which will mark the re-entry of Proton into the island nation after an absence of over a decade.
