Why was the Proton X90 launch held on a Sunday? That’s highly unusual, and our first guess was that May 7 was chosen to fit prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s busy schedule, but it turns out that Proton intentionally picked the date, as it is the carmaker’s birthday.
That’s right, yesterday was Proton’s birthday, and it’s a big milestone, the big 40. Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional was formed forty years ago on May 7, 1983, and on July 9, 1985, the first Proton Saga was launched. The original Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore-based Saga was displayed at MITEC, along with other landmark sedan models such as the Waja, Persona and Perdana.
Also part of the 40th anniversary special display is the enthusiast favourite Satria GTI. The Lotus-tuned local hot hatch legend sat alongside the Exora, X50 and X70 – check out the gallery below.
This is of course just a small selection of past Proton models. We’ve compiled a list based on memory – did we miss anything? Saga (3x), Wira, Satria (2x), Putra, Arena, Perdana (2x), Tiara, Juara, Waja, Chancellor, Gen 2, Persona (2x), Savvy, Exora, Iriz, Preve, Suprima S, Inspira, Ertiga, X70, X50 and the latest X90.
Interestingly, the list covers different eras of various Proton marriages and partnerships – you’ll find cars based on models from Mitsubishi, Renault, Citroen, Suzuki and even Honda. Of course, the X family of SUVs are from Geely, which umbrella Proton is now under. Which are your top three favourite Protons of the past four decades?
“Today’s 40th anniversary celebration is a significant landmark moment for Proton and is an opportunity for the company to briefly look back at the journey while also looking ahead to the future. Over the past four decades, Proton’s contribution can be quantified not only by the number of sales achieved, but also by the number of engineers and professionals participated, jobs provided, value added to the ecosystem in the form of local purchases, and the overall uplifting of the economy because of our business activities,” said Proton chairman Datuk Seri Syed Faisal.
“Going forward, our mission to provide mobility solutions to our customers while helping develop the nation’s automotive industry has not changed, but we will explore new segments that are aligned to the government’s aspirations and changing consumer demand as buyers start transitioning to NEVs. The Proton X90 is our first step towards executing this new strategy and there are many more products in the pipeline as Proton looks to grow our presence in this exciting new market segment,” he added.
At the event, Proton also unveiled its 40th anniversary logo, which combines the round tiger head logo with the line “40 years of growing together”. To date, Proton has produced nearly five million cars, and in his speech, Syed Faisal said that the carmaker has to date contributed RM25 billion in taxes to the Malaysian government.
We won’t be surprised if Proton rolls out some 40th anniversary special editions this year, in the vein of this 25th anniversary Proton Saga BLM and this 35th anniversary R3-flavoured Saga. Full launch report of the X90 here.
GALLERY: Heritage Proton models at the X90 launch
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Proton, king of special edition. Edisi wawasan 2020, edisi merdeka, edisi 1 Malaysia, edisi Madani, edisi 3R, edisi MC1-MC37, edisi thomas cup, edisi piala afc, edisi sukan komanwel dan macam -macam lagi.
Waiting for Edisi Rahmah…should be cheaper
Not king of rebadge kah? Lmao.
General motors has been rebadging cars even b4 proton was founded. Do some reading.
Semua kereta Perodua tu rebadge aja abang oi. There is nothing wrong with rebagding. Mazda pun rebadge Yaris….
Perodua salesman spotted
I wonder where Proton got the Persona and Exora units from. Doesn’t look like units previously displayed in COE.
since the day the Satria Gti is being launched until now, i’ve always like the car.
What is the reason for having a national car?
1. Rakyat can afford to own a car, less than RM40k
2. Create jobs and develop own IP technologies
3. Export high volume to develop nations
I am sorry but Proton has failed, this is just a very expensive rebadged car for domestic consumption
Proton is having headaches with Perodua on its budget cars and now Chery with their premium offerings
Round tiger head logo with the line “40 years of growing together” (first our rebadge partner Mitsubishi then 2nd our rebadge partner Geely) 2gether it is.
Proton contributed RM25bil to taxes (but how much of this goes to support Proton Vendors)? Also would how much injection from Malaysian government thus far?
Satria GTi looks so good
Yeah good
Models yg pamer tu bolehlah.. ada jugak bagi memory sedap. Model tak boleh pakai seperti JUARA TIARA tak letak.
Proton the best
Contributed RM 25billion in taxes, but how much had it taken from tax payer for the pass 40 years? How much extra tax had Malaysian paid in order to get a decent build quality nicely design foreign car? Most importantly, how much had Malaysia lost due to Protek policy? We could had been Detroit of the East exporting cars and growing part suppliers like those Thai company but we choose to membela useless cronies suppliers, politicians, and lazy ass kampung minded workers. Assembling cars is not a skill, it’s just like assembling IKEA furniture, on the other hand designing and engineering of the furniture is a skill.
Still under the coconut shell?
“Social media made y’all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it.”- Mike Tyson
“Siapa makan lada dialah berase pedas, siapa yg malas dialah berase maruah tergugat” – Mr Fakta
If they’re malas, you penipu.
Nobody malas- husband n wife work 12 hrs a day,6 day a week for peanuts and called malas by kaki penipu taukeh.
Just be happy your identity is not known, for now. When it gets leaked. We’ll find you
Everything is connected to cronyism. So whom shall we give businesses to? Monkeys of Kalimantan?
What about to those who can provide the best price, service and quality? Shouldn’t it be like that?
Is it available in Bahrain