After starting 2026 with its strongest January sales performance in 15 years, Proton maintained solid momentum in February despite a softer market environment. The national automaker delivered 13,566 vehicles during the month, a decline of 31% compared to January but still a strong 20.8% improvement over the same month in 2025.
The latest results bring Proton’s year-to-date total to 33,399 units, representing a substantial 57.9% increase compared to the first two months of last year.
Industry-wide vehicle deliveries slowed in February as the festive period affected dealership operations and customer deliveries. Total Industry Volume (TIV) is estimated to have fallen 17.6% month-on-month to 52,996 units. Despite the softer market, Proton’s market share is expected to reach 25.6% for February, with year-to-date share currently standing at an impressive 28.5%.
A major contributor to Proton’s strong start to the year is the company’s aggressive product rollout strategy. Over the past five months, the automaker has introduced five new models spanning internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid and electric powertrains. The expanded lineup has helped sustain showroom traffic while strengthening the brand’s competitiveness across multiple vehicle segments.
The biggest volume driver remains the Proton Saga, which continues to dominate the Malaysian market. After recording its best-ever monthly sales performance in January, the entry-level sedan added another 6,047 units in February. This brings year-to-date deliveries to 16,332 units, a 69.8% improvement compared to the same period last year.
Those numbers are enough to keep the Saga firmly positioned as Malaysia’s best-selling vehicle so far in 2026, highlighting the model’s continued importance to Proton’s overall sales strategy.
Another key contributor is the Proton X50, which received an updated version in July 2025. The B-segment SUV has carried its strong sales momentum into the new year, with 1,842 units delivered in February alone. Year-to-date sales now stand at 4,271 units, representing a 31.1% increase compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, Proton’s newest sedan—the Proton S70—is also gaining traction in the market. The 2026 version of the C-segment model recently introduced the company’s new i-GT turbocharged engine, drawing positive feedback from media and enthusiasts.
With 1,940 units sold in February, the S70 emerged as Proton’s second best-selling model for the month. Year-to-date sales for the sedan have reached 3,544 units, an increase of 51.5% compared with last year.
According to Abdul Rashid Musa, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar, customer interest in Proton’s refreshed lineup has been a key factor behind the strong start to the year.
He noted that the brand’s new models offer a competitive mix of design, modern technology, efficiency and value—factors that continue to attract buyers across multiple segments. At the same time, improvements to the retail and aftersales experience are also helping strengthen customer confidence in the brand.
However, the strong demand has also created new operational challenges. Proton is currently focused on increasing production and delivery capacity in order to reduce waiting times while maintaining consistent product quality.
Investments made at Proton’s manufacturing facility in Tanjong Malim are expected to support this effort by enabling higher output levels in the coming months.
The strong early demand for the 2026 Proton S70 also indicates renewed interest in the C-segment sedan category. Less than a month after its launch, approximately 5,000 bookings have already been placed at dealerships nationwide.
Beyond product updates, Proton has also been working to improve the overall ownership experience. One example is the recent update to the Proton Link mobile application, which now allows users to book service appointments directly with Proton’s nationwide network of 3S and 4S dealerships.
The digital upgrade is part of a broader effort to modernise customer engagement and simplify vehicle ownership through better online services.
With a growing lineup of new models and stronger digital integration, Proton is aiming to maintain its momentum through the rest of 2026 while strengthening its position in Malaysia’s increasingly competitive automotive market.
