SUBANG JAYA: The Proton Exora MPV is ending production after selling 196,583 units.
In October, 393 units were sold, bringing the year-to-date total to 3,910 units.
Despite being in its final year of production, demand for the Exora has increased by 11.5% in 2023, making it the highest volume C-segment MPV in Malaysia.
Overall, Proton is on track for its fifth consecutive year of sales growth as vehicle sales in Malaysia continue to rise.
In October, the company sold 12,772 units, bringing its year-to-date figure to 129,604 units for the first 10 months of 2023, a 12.3% increase compared to the previous year.
October sales grew by 4.4% compared to the previous month, and the total industry volume (TIV) is expected to have exceeded 70,000 units for the third time in 2023.
Proton's overall market share is estimated to be 20.1%, and the entire automotive industry is on track to break the all-time sales record set in 2022.
The demand for Proton models, particularly the X50, remains strong.
In October, 2,021 units of the X50 were sold, making it the market leader in the B-segment SUV category. Since its launch in October 2020, the X50 has sold a total of 100,210 units, achieving this milestone in the shortest time for any SUV in Malaysia.
The Persona, a B-segment sedan, ended October as the third most popular in its category, with 2,041 units sold.
It has exceeded the 2,000-unit mark eight times this year and remains the market leader with year-to-date sales of 20,655 units, a 65.5% increase compared to 2022. The X90, a D-segment SUV, continues to lead its category with 479 units sold in October.
Proton is nearing completion of its product update initiative for the X90, and it is expected to see an increase in demand in the coming months, especially from export markets.
The Saga, the company's most popular model, sold 6,322 units in October, surpassing its total sales from 2022.
Year-to-date sales for the Saga now stand at 57,806 units, thanks to a 26% increase in demand for the A-segment sedan.
The Iriz, a B-segment hatchback, saw an improvement of 37.2% in sales compared to the previous year, with 589 units sold in October.
The X70, a C-segment SUV, sold 927 units in October, an 18.9% increase compared to the previous month.
Despite recent challenges, Proton's sales have outpaced the overall market growth, with a 12.3% increase this year.
The company remains optimistic about exceeding its targets as it prepares to introduce more new models in 2024.
According to Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah, the strong sales performance reflected customer demand and the liquidity in the market.
The automotive industry in Malaysia is expected to set a new sales record for the second consecutive year, he added.
