PROTON recorded a 37 percent drop in car sales to 9,440 units sold in May compared to April resulting in a market share of 20.3 percent.
Up to the end of May, total volume stands at 57,283 units with a year-to-date market share of 23.5 percent, an increase of 2.4 percent over the previous year.
Malaysia’s automobile sector shrank by almost 20 percent In May, as a result of chip shortages and the implementation of a national movement control order.
Roslan Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer, PROTON Edar said, “Car sales in Malaysia dipped in May due to factors such as chip shortages and the implementation of MCO in the middle of the month. As a result, total export sales for 2021 are now less than 100 units behind the total for the whole of last year.”
“Despite most industry players having healthy order books, most brands struggled to meet demand. For PROTON, our numbers were high enough to retain second overall in the sales table and we also received a welcome boost from our export division who set a 98-month high despite restrictions on international shipping,” he added.
In May, the smaller SUV sold 1,899 units, while the larger SUV sold 1,523 units, for a total of 3,422 units shipped to Malaysian and international consumers. The Proton Exora, the company’s fourth sector leader, maintained its position at the top of the C-segment MPV class.
Meanwhile, PROTON’s overseas sales efforts continue to gain momentum despite international markets going through varying degrees of lockdown. With 669 units comprising of the Proton Saga, Proton X50 and Proton X70 exported in May, the company’s international sales division recorded its best month since March 2013.
With a full lockdown set to take place on June 1st, auto sales will effectively be suspended for at least two weeks, and possibly longer if the Movement Control Order (MCO) is extended.
The company will also use the make use of the break to retool its sales plan for the rest of 2021, which was boosted by the extension of PENJANA incentives until the end of the year.
“2020 proved to the world that business as usual can be disrupted without warning. To remain competitive in an unpredictable environment, PROTON along with its vendors and dealers need to have the flexibility to pivot quickly to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. As such, we will intensify our efforts to implement a framework to meet upcoming regulations locally and internationally which is vital for future growth,” he concluded.
