On the back of three months of consecutive sales growth, perhaps the biggest achievement during that period for Proton is the return of the Saga to the top of the domestic sales chart for April 2021 with 5,472 units.
Although lower than the preceding month of March 2021, those numbers were sufficient to help the kereta rakyat pip its archnemesis; the Perodua Myvi, as the best-selling model in the country; a first since May 2020.
In total, Proton sold 15,017 units last month for a marginal 0.18 per cent growth over March. That brings the marque’s cumulative sales for the year to 47,843 units; still behind Perodua.
Both SUVs under the carmaker continued to carry the bulk of the sales with the X50 contributing 3,583 units and the larger X70 coming in at 2,101 units. Interestingly, the combined SUV sales of 5,684 units marks the second-best month for SUV sales after its new record in March 2021.
The rest of the range all had record-setting months as well with the Persona accounting for 2,266 units, the Iriz with 974 units and the Exora on 616 units.
“April was a good month for the automotive industry and aside from Proton, several other brands also had their best month of the year so far. TIV is estimated to be over 56,000 units as all brands are trying to fulfil sales orders before the expiry of Penjana sales tax incentives at the end of June,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.
Proton also broke ground on a new RM200 million stamping facility extension to its Tanjung Malim plant last month. Expected to be operational by Q3 of 2022, the facility will allow for the stamping of larger body panels; indicative of possible new models for the carmaker.