Proton recently announced that it managed to deliver 7,615 cars for the month of June 2019, allowing the national carmaker to command a market share (based on internal data) of 18.1% during the month, which is its highest since July 2015.
Following the announcement, Proton provided a slightly deeper insight into its sales performance for the year so far at a Hari Raya media event, where we got a month-by-month breakdown of the numbers.
For the first six months of 2019, the company sold a total of 43,679 cars, representing a 61% increase from the same period in 2018. There’s no denying the impact the launch of the X70 has had on Proton’s sales figures, as the SUV became a major contributor, accounting for 40%, 53% and 49% of total cars sold from January to February.
Meanwhile, the Persona, Iriz, Exora and Saga (bundled together as PIES), collectively accounted for the other significant portion of the pie, registering 54%, 44% and 50% during the first three months of the year.
The launch of the facelifted Persona and Iriz in April, as well as the new Exora RC in May, saw a gradual shift in these percentages, as the PIES quartet held the majority of total vehicles Proton sold from April right on through to June with a 60%, 76% and 78% share. Keep in mind that the Saga has yet to be given an update since it debuted almost three years ago.
Proton adds that the newer models have resulted in a total of 11,500 bookings being made for the new Persona, which is 108% more than what it received with the pre-facelift model in 2018. This is echoed for the Iriz as well, with 3,500 bookings for the new car (180% more than the 2018 model), and 1,500 bookings for the latest Exora RC (135% more than 2018).
During these months, the X70 conceded its commanding position during this period, with sales of the SUV making up just 36%, 23% and 21%. As for the models classified as “others,” namely the Perdana, Ertiga and Preve, they only commanded no more than 6% of total sales at the start of the year, which has since diminished to 1% in June.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
The comments mainly discuss Proton's sales performance in the first half of 2019, highlighting the success of models like X70, Persona, Iriz, and Saga, attributing improvements to new upgrades and Chinese collaborations. Many express pride in Proton’s rising sales and market share, often comparing Proton favorably to Perodua and other brands, while some attribute Proton’s growth to Geely’s support. The decline of older models like Preve, Suprima, and Exora is acknowledged, with suggestions for discontinuation to boost profitability. There is also criticism of Perodua’s dominance, and debates about sales figures, model success, and market perceptions. Overall, sentiments are mixed but generally positive regarding Proton’s recent performance and future prospects, with some skepticism about the sustainability of current trends and concerns over older model sales.