Reason is less fleet taxi purchases, but retail sales show encouraging growth

Proton has revealed that it sold a total of 70,991 units of cars in year 2017, compared to the 72,291 units in the year before that. The immediate number shows a reduction, stemming from a drop in taxi purchases by 2,807 units.

However, there is a positive growth from the Central, South, East coast, and East Malaysia regions which contributed to a 2.5 per cent retail sales increase; or from 66,513 units in 2016 to 68,184 units in 2017.

Proton’s best seller in 2017 were the Saga, Persona, and Ertiga which made up 80 per cent of total sales. The Saga recorded more than 30,000 unit sales (from the total 70,991 mentioned above). The Persona saw 19,390 units sold, or a 27 per cent increase compared to 2016’s 15,390 unit sales. As for the Ertiga compact MPV, Proton sold 6,091 units last year.

Proton reckons that part of the sales performance – read: retails sales increase – can be contributed to improvements to quality. Geely had performed a strict quality audit that resulted in a threefold quality jump within three months.

Apparently, the quality audit aligned to the international standard of Volvo Cars (also owned by Geely).

Abdul Rashid Musa, Proton’s VP of Sales and Marketing, said, “We are looking at 2018 more positively and we hope to intensify our efforts to do better this year. This year will be a critical year for Proton as we shall be implementing activities aligned to the new 3-10 years Business Plan, key to the turnaround of the company. In order for us to pick up our sales numbers, we shall be taking further steps for more attractive consumer campaigns, and improvement of product and service quality.”

Proton also announced the start of their Chinese New Year promotion. Discounts available: up to RM3,500 for the Saga, RM4,500 for Persona, RM5,000 for an Iriz, RM5,500 for an Exora, and up to RM13,888 for a Perdana. This promotion is valid until 31 January 2018.