Proton Holdings Bhd’s (Proton) total sales in 2021 grew 4.5 per cent to 114,708 units comprising domestic and export markets, having recorded the third consecutive year of volume growth for the national marquee.
The carmaker said the sales recorded were the highest closing figure since 2014, despite the 12-month affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Proton Edar chief executive officer Roslan Abdullah said 2021 was challenging for the automotive industry as a whole, reflecting the reduction in total industry volume (TIV) compared to the previous year.
“From a global chip shortage to a spike in Covid-19 numbers that lead to another lockdown to skyrocketing transport costs, there were many challenges for industry players to overcome,” he said in a statement today.
For December 2021, Proton sold 14,147 units and conquered about 20.6 per cent of the local automotive market share.
The company continues to strengthen its hold on second place while further closing the gap to the top of the sales rankings.
Proton also sold 45,149 units of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in 2021.
The two SUVs comprised the Proton X50 and the Proton X70, which accounted for nearly 40 per cent of the group’s total sales volume.
Proton sold 28,774 units and 16,375 units of the X50 and the X70, respectively, in 2021.
Meanwhile, Proton’s best-selling model in the A-segment – the Proton Saga – recorded a total of 42,627 units in sales volume in 2021.
This included some complete knocked down (CKD) parts shipped and assembled in other countries.
Proton’s multi-purpose vehicle – the Proton Exora, posted 4,035 units of sales volume in 2021, followed by the Proton Persona and Iriz, bringing their total sales for the year to 16,153 and 6,708 units, respectively.
Proton’s international sales were also a major highlight for the manufacturer, with a total of 3,018 units being exported in 2021.
The company said there is optimism the upward trend would likely continue in the coming years for the group’s local assembly operations in overseas markets with the loosening of trade restrictions.
He said Proton had gained traction in overseas markets with the highest export volume in 2021, backed by the joint efforts of the group’s international sales division and its foreign partners.
“While increasing shipping costs are a growing concern, our planned activities in 2022 means we expect export sales growth to accelerate in the coming years,” he added.
Year-to-date, Proton had 147 outlets (3S/4S) in operation in 2021. – NST ONLINE
