Proton kicked off the Year of the Dragon with a bang at their closed Chinese New Year dinner this week, dropping some exciting updates that’ll surely get Malaysian car enthusiasts talking.
The national carmaker has announced plans to roll out three new models this year while setting their sights on matching Perodua’s production numbers by 2030. Bold move, Proton.
Let’s dive into the juicy details!
The Models We’ve All Been Waiting For
Alright, let’s start with the real headliner here: the new cars. Proton has kept the actual names under wraps, but they’ve given us some intriguing codenames – AMA, GMA, and X/S Series.
For those of you keeping tabs on Proton leaks, you’ll already know that the AMA is almost certainly the revamped Saga.
Yep, the beloved national icon has been spotted in spy shots recently, and the hype is real. Fingers crossed, though, that this is a snazzy facelift and not a complete overhaul.
However, one key thing that was noted was the signs of the new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature.
Next up, we’ve got the GMA. According to Proton’s CEO, Dr Li Chunrong, this could be either the eMas 3 or 5.
Good news is, both are reportedly in the pipeline for local release. Beyond that, Proton’s keeping their cards close to their chest, leaving us guessing about what exactly to expect.
Now, the X/S Series. This one’s exciting because Proton seems ready to add a fresh face to their SUV lineup.
Judging by leaked images, a facelifted X50 is a solid bet, featuring some tweaks to its exterior. There’s also chatter about an X90 update, which makes sense given it’s the oldest sibling in the Proton family.
And while the “S” in the codename might hint at another addition, Proton’s been tight-lipped about any new S model. Let’s hope they surprise us!
Proton’s Bold Vision: 330,000 Cars by 2030
Beyond shiny new rides, Proton has thrown down the gauntlet to their biggest rival, Perodua.
Dr Li announced an ambitious target: matching Perodua’s production numbers within the next seven years.
To put this into perspective, Proton sold 152,352 cars last year. Meanwhile, Perodua flexed with a whopping 358,102 units. Yep, that’s more than double.
But Proton isn’t here to mess around. Dr Li has declared that 2024 will be the last year they hover in the 150k range, with plans to hit 330,000 annual sales by 2030.
“I wish we can achieve this before that,” he said. With determination like that, we can’t wait to see how this rivalry plays out!
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