SHAH ALAM: National automaker Proton has posted strong sales results in March, bringing total sales for the first quarter (Q1) to a 22-year high point and its highest level since 2022.
A total of 15,706 vehicles were sold by Proton in March.
This brings total sales for Q1 to 49,140 units.
Proton's Q1 results also bucked the current automotive sales trend in Malaysia as total industry volume (TIV) is estimated to have shrunk by 4.9% during the same period.
New energy brand Proton e.MAS ended 2025 as the second most popular EV brand while the Proton e.MAS 7 was the highest volume EV model in Malaysia.
With the introduction of the Proton e.MAS 5 and the recent launch of the Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV, sales have taken off to new levels.
For March, 3,023 Proton e.MAS units were sold, led by the e.MAS 5 with 2,071 units.
Its year-to-date sales for Q1 are 6,701 units, easily making it Malaysia’s most popular EV (electric vehicle) model.
Meanwhile, 646 units of the e.MAS 7 PHEV (plug-in hybrid) were sold in March, its first full month of sales, while volume for the e.MAS 7 EV climbed for a second consecutive month to 306 units.
Pro-Net CEO Zhang Qiang said, “We are humbled by the warm reception Malaysians have given Proton e.MAS since the brand was launched in 2024. Our community outreach programme to expose
Malaysians to EV technology and our products as well as build trust in our efforts to support customers with a dealer comprehensive network and easily accessible charging infrastructure are now paying dividends."
Meanwhile, the Proton S70 saw 2,254 units sold in March, its best performance since February 2024, and held on to the title of best selling C-segment sedan.
Its sales volume was also higher in March than smaller B-segment rivals.
The new Proton X90 had a resurgent March, achieving its highest sales volume in over 12 months.
Despite not benefitting from a full month of sales efforts, 323 units were sold in March, making it best-selling seven-seater D-segment SUV (sport utility vehicle).
Meanwhile, the new Proton Saga saw sales of 5,438 units in March, which brought Q1 sales to 21,770 units – or over 7,256 units per month.
The Proton X50 retained its title as the leader for B-segment SUVs.
3,265 units were sold in March to bring the Q1 total to 7,571 units, an increase of 48% over sales from 2025.
“Proton’s Q1 sales performance is the result of the investments the company has put into its technology, dealer network and after sales service, which in turn has built customer confidence in our products and services," said Proton Edar CEO Datuk Abdul Rashid Musa.
"These investments also include various localisation and assembly programmes that results in better value for customers while creating a multiplier effect for the country’s automotive ecosystem," he added.
