Proton 2020 car sales volume up 8.8% year-on-year at 109,716 units

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): Proton said today the Malaysia national car manufacturer sold 109,716 vehicles in 2020, an increase of 8.8% over 2019, helped by volume growth for its Persona, Iriz, Exora and Saga (PIES) and X50 models and as export volume increased at a time when the global automotive industry contended with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Proton’s statement today, its total sales volume rose despite the company contending with car production and sales disruption due to Malaysia’s Covid-19-driven Movement Control Order (MCO).

“Despite losing over two months of car production and sales to the MCO, the company sold 109,716 vehicles for the whole of 2020 after shifting 13,306 units in December. Market share for the year also increased to an estimated 21.1%, equating to a significant 4.4% increase.

“All four PIES models were extensively updated in 2019 and the investment has paid off with each model posting higher sales numbers this year (2020) despite the pandemic. This performance, combined with a 49.8% increase in export volume, allowed Proton to buck the trend of the Malaysian automotive industry which is expected to contract by an estimated 13%,” the company said.

Proton chief executive officer Dr Li Chunrong said in the statement that to describe the operating environment as challenging would be an understatement but the company persevered.

Li said Proton’s results were backed by many factors including trust from its customers, support from the government, commitment from Proton’s vendors, resilience of the company’s dealers and diligence of the car manufacturer’s staff.

“2020 was a real test of Proton’s mettle as we had only just begun our new trajectory. The nature of this pandemic for an organisation like ours, which depends on global supply chains, put great strain on the business.

“However, a combination of good strategy and hard work has left us not only with an increase in sales against a decreasing market but a renewed belief in our product strategy, quality and commitment to our customers.

“At the same time we also saw to it that we did our part for the country, which all of us at Proton are especially proud of. We will continue to put the pedal to the metal in 2021 and strive to improve all aspects of the business,” Li said.

Source: TheEdgeMarkets