I had to rub my eyes and do a double take when I saw a Proton Saga on the streets of Cape Town a few years ago, not realising that our national carmaker had a presence in South Africa. Yes, Proton sells cars in South Africa, but that has now come to an end after one decade.
South Africa’s IOL reports that Proton has stopped selling new cars in the republic, although it will continue to honour warranties and provide after-sales support to customers. There are six multi-franchise dealers supporting Protons, located in Nelspruit, East London, Pinetown, Bloemfontein, Edenvale and Menlyn.
“The brand is still active, however, given the exchange rate and the local cost of the units out of Malaysia, importation of new models is not viable as the cars can just not compete on price. After sales service is, however, continuing as per normal, and will continue for the forseeable future as long as there’s a demand,” said Kyri Michael, GM of Associated Motor Holdings (AMH) Shared Services.
In 2004, Proton was launched in South Africa as a joint venture with Pearl Automotive Pty Ltd. A year later, AMH introduced the Gen.2, before gradually expanding the range to include the Saga, Satria Neo Savvy and Persona. As is the norm with unestablished brands from the East, Proton cars were offered with keen pricing, and around 5,000 units have been sold there to date. South Africa is a right-hand drive market.
As it exits South Africa, recent reports say that Proton is trying to get a piece of the Bangladesh car market.
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It appears that South Africans are not as dumb as they seem to be. Perhaps you will have better luck in the Mongolian market.
Never heard them selling there, now suddenly stop selling! HAHAHA!!!
Should stop selling in Malaysia. Without protection, how can Proton price their cars competitive in Malaysia?
Even in Thai Accord is 180k, go figure
What does Thai Accord got to do with this?
The only relevant thing is Thai is Automotive Hub while Malaysia is Proton’s Protection Hub
Use brain. Even without p1 the tax is still there, even will be more, GST is the perfect example
Africa people use brain, unlike the supporters here. That’s why they reject P1
Why compare South Africa and bolehland. Use your brain. Maybe its too long to wait for spare parts there
Why can’t compare? Just stop selling in Malaysia like Africa for the sake of the rakyat! People reject your product pun tak tahu malu
Proton 5S Principle:
1. Sendiri Cakap
2. Sendiri Syok
3. Sentiasa Rosak
4. Sales Carnival
5. Safest in Showroom
Same Lorr, are you a real Toyota salesman or just a fictitious writer?Where is your outlet,I wish to cham koon.
In 2 years time,at the rate protong is declining in sales,they will also stop production in Bolehland and go the direction of MAS….even more severe….close shop and mass layoff.You got any vacancy for protong salesmen? Be merciful,they have big families to feed.
Toyot 7O
1.Overpriced
2.Overhyped
3.Obsolete
4.On garbage lorries
5.Out of proportion
6.Outdated
7.Overrrated
Toyoto and p2 good quality control:
1. Looks Bad
2. Sounds Good
3. Promised Good
4. But never Good
Why always drag T and P2 in P1 article?
Your Proton too sucky even Africa reject ah?
Why cannot, p1 dragged in even in BMW article so can other cars
hmmm….africa ppl think that also..no wonder stop selling..hehhe.
OMG…Good job…P1 GOING BACKWARD…HAHAHAHA..
It is so sad to see that even the malaysians themselves hate their own home made cars.
I gues proton has a lot to work on their cars.
well, the only positive thing for the past 10 years was the attempt to slow down the population growth of African continent with its shoddy unsafe cars
Proton are like pandemic disease that affects the world
What’s the cure?
Are you equating Protong with ebola?
So what, at least p1 quality is same, unlike Japs cars like Maruti Swift and Datsun Go failed crash test in India. They have different quality in different places.
Proton did a lowsy job to slow population growth here in Malaysia!
Aisay…
Add ‘E’ to that number plate. Muntah.
Rubbish comment
Add ‘I’ to the number plate. Ok?
Another rubbish comment
now who said proton is on par with bmw? Its very obvious proton target market is more on lagged countries (easier to lie and conceive) Still some ‘xxx’ claiming proton is quality. If it is quality, bring it out to advance country, that’s when you said its quality and good.
You never been to South Africa, do you?
South Africa more like New Zealand rather than Egypt.
It is quite a developed nation, in some aspects, better than us.
That’s why they reject Proton. Only country like us can accept Proton
Sushi and Kimchi ages ago were not that good neither. Lucky they had big capital and supporters but p1
Huh? Even Toyota sells cars that have rubbish quality in safety here. If you dun believe in NCAP standard then noone can help you or your safety.
People buy real BMW, not “BMW of Asia” clone lah. If you believe in Proton marketing, then none can help your stupidity
People are not as dumb as you make them out to be… they don’t foolhardly accept the prevailing marketing buzz… they buy coz it suits their needs and affordability.
That was based on the NCAP test, learn to read right.
Decade ago and now still the same case “praise high themselves but end with failure”.
No wonder all the investment end in loses… Bolehland and Proton manage under the same person haha.
Next market Proton exits might be Thailand which is really a shame since it’s right next to Malaysia. Proton dealers in Thailand has been shutting down constantly due to low sales. The sales of Proton in Thailand today is even less than one third of the volume they were selling when introduced to Thai market in 2007.
The Thai who buys Protong is really sorchai.
They have Toyota,Honda,Nissan,Subaru,mazda…so many choices at cheaper prices and better quality without the Punch CVT gearbox.
Japs cars handling is sucky, not all people are into sampan handling, some cannot tolerate its rubbishness
The only rubbish is Proton that Africans don’t want
Low sales number doesn’t mean it’s not good
Ya, Proton close shop mean it’s good
Car is so cheap in South Africa. Why would people buy Proton?
You are not sure of yourself neither
5000 car is ten year. that mean 500 car a year and less than 50 month . n there is 6 dealer available . meaning less than 8 car sold in a month per dealer.. that is so lame.
I don’t mind if Proton is cutting its ties to South Africa if they plan to shift their focus on far bigger markets like China, Indonesia and India. South Africa is a major market on the African continent, but it’s only moderately-sized at 644,523 cars registered in 2014, compared to Malaysia’s 666,465 units. I’d much rather see Proton focusing on the big ‘1 million markets’ instead.
I have long learnt that Proton is not known for keeping their word… I remember Dato’ Lukman mentioning in 2013 that Proton had plans to re-enter South Africa with the Prevé and Suprima S. That didn’t happen. There’s still no Prevé / Suprima S 6-speed manual, or R3 models (bodykits don’t count). There is still no Prevé facelift either.
So yes, when it happens, it happens. Otherwise, don’t get your hopes up.
And you keep hoping Proton for not being hopeless. Joker.
And you are a loser, coward to fight
And Proton still hides behind protection. What fighter? Supporters like you are only supporting a coward
Yeah please tell to Toyota Hyundai Nissan etc they have sort protection too, incl China
Sorry, i’m loser
Potong is neither selling or build car.
Potong is making money.
Unfortunately is not for everybody.
It’s for personal.
It;s using everybody’s money make money for somebody only!
All slogan is fooling people.
Stop foolish,dont be naive to support potong!
No budget? you may buy a KE30/70 which outperform than potong in your investment, maintainance, reliability.
“It;s using everybody’s money make money for somebody only!”
Proof?
Hopefuly the day news headlines
“STOPS SELLING IN MALAYSIA”
Definately fireworks/kompamg & liondance celebration.
You sure from Bangla Indon Nepal etc LOL
Come on.. keep buy Toyota.. good RV. Proton, KIA & Hyundai bad RV!
If you’re always worried about RV, better still don’t buy car. Better than buying Toyota. Car is never a good investment, unless you buy a priceless rare classic car, which is non Toyota because Toyota classic car is worthless. And who said all Toyota got good RV?
Come on.. keep buy Toyota.. good RV, enough to cover exhorbitant medical and hospital bills and repair cost at workshop (if not funeral costs) simply because most of them no VSC. Proton, KIA & Hyundai bad RV, but at least still safe and sound only if got VSC!
Proton safe? Where is VSC of Saga? Proton not only bad RV but comes with free cremation service(reduce funeral costs)
Saga will be replaced by Iriz sedan 5 with VDC , unlike Vios which is no VSC even after several generations
When Proton close shop, Saga will be replaced by City
Good move. Realising the lose and taking remedies is good management.
Proton is definitely the pride of Malaysia. Not many countries can take pride of manufacturing cars from scratch. But the challenge is to manage it successfully or else just shut it down. There is no harm in that too.
Without protection, Proton early already close shop. What’s the pride when you can only hide behind protection?
Do you have any idea how protected Hyundai is in Korea?
Yea.. But then again Korean cars have quality unlike proton.
Quality what? Same hard plasticky dashboard, so so ride and handling, fuel guzzler engine etc
and korean happily buys korean products.. Because korean government treat koreans as koreans!
Stop selling in Africa but still got Zimbabwe, Somalia, Congo, Swaziland, etc
The only marketable Proton is the Saga (S16 in Australia).
No need to bring other models, as the Saga is among the cheapest sedan around with an acceptable safety specification.
Acceptable safety? Supporters say no VSC is rubbish worr
It HAS ESC
Stop selling in Malaysia too.. PLEASE
None forces you to buy p1
Close potong
no more potong our money.
Proof?
After so many years of protectionism, government help, money poured and all sorts of tactics that burdened the people, Proton still cannot compete in the international market. Well done Malaysia!
Why stop selling in Africa??
Must be tak laku lor……
Kesian Proton….Global car konon……
Still living in cave? It’s PCC
Not global anymore?
Read more la…
Read what? Either it’s global or kampung
Proton can go global on 3rd world countries only.
Actually race rally recycled 4potong.the most unbranded car in the world.only donkeyman around the world get it.that is true.
Tell that to NCAP that gives 5 star to some p1 cars. Look who will be donkeyman then. Lol
Nowadays so many pariah sports cars like this sucker rally kg car . actually nobody want to buy plotong except for those who r really desperate cuz they ‘ve no choices 2buy cars.only pangang 4ever get it.
They should shop selling cars here as well. lol
Yes and we buy moving coffins at expensive price
Exit from SA, a lesson learn by Proton marketing and research team what it does has to match your competitors globally in market branding, new models, pricing and technology. Even after 6 months of Proton Iriz released, a global car did not make it SA either. In China, your JV partner prefer to promote Lotus brand name instead of Proton.
ASEAN nation are evolving much faster than Malaysia, in export of cars and investments. Proton Iriz news in ASEAN has been quiet, since VIP Indonesia visit or Proton Iriz as choice of ASEAN car cast doubt now. Soon Proton Iriz out of pictures as global car and ASEAN car. No worries, Proton may still be a “Jagoh” kampung undisputed instead “jagoh” ASEAN and stop daydreaming please.
You’re very smart sir.
I am the stupidest person alive. So far I have owned 5 protons.
All because I could not afford Koreans, japs and Continentals.
Pity me.
even in Klang Valley, how many Iriz you see daily?
i seen more Merc-A and even latest HRV in car parks than Iriz, what a disaster similar to Savvy outcome…(Savvy might complain he is better than Iriz!)
now whoever decide on that platform should jump into klang river..money gone..
This satayria r rubbish in global market.their plotong supporter always talking rubbish to our people.only stupid guys trust them.
This satayria is rubbish !shok sndiri pueehhh!!
SA was dominated by their locally made VW cars.
i guess Proton is only now finding out that it does not have a market out of the protected Malaysian market.
10 years…5000 cars…so avg, 500 cars/year.
Dunno what to say.
Well I have to say that Proton had the worst marketing strategy in South Africa. I never saw it on television, never saw it on news papers or magazines, but it existed and selling in the country, while I met friend who also still drives protons like the Product and continue to own one, although getting parts and services had become complicated, but then I do still believe that Proton can do better in South Africa with better selling strategy, and making parts and services simpler to get.
The American, European, and Korean car parts and services have grown much more expensive, but remains affordable due to comparison of rand’s strengths with their currencies.