Subang Jaya, 4 March 2026 – Proton continued its strong start to 2026 despite a softer overall market in February, recording 13,566 units sold for the month.
While this represents a 31% drop from January’s record-breaking performance, the figure still marks a 20.8% increase compared to February 2025.
Year-to-date sales for the first two months now stand at 33,399 units, reflecting a significant 57.9% increase year-on-year.
Market Conditions: Festive Period Slows Industry Volume
February’s automotive market was affected by the long festive period, which slowed vehicle deliveries across the industry.
Malaysia’s Total Industry Volume (TIV) is estimated to have fallen 17.6% to 52,996 units for the month.
Despite this softer environment, Proton’s performance remained resilient:
- Estimated February market share: 25.6%
- Year-to-date market share: 28.5%
Proton Saga Leads National Sales
The biggest contributor to Proton’s strong start remains the Proton Saga.
Following its best-ever sales month in January, the popular sedan continued its momentum with 6,047 units sold in February.
This brings year-to-date sales to 16,332 units, representing a 69.8% increase compared to the same period last year, making it Malaysia’s best-selling vehicle so far in 2026.
Proton X50 Continues Strong SUV Performance
The updated Proton X50, introduced in July 2025, remains one of Proton’s key growth drivers.
Sales performance for February:
- 1,842 units sold
- 4,271 units year-to-date
- 31.1% growth compared to 2025
The B-segment SUV continues to benefit from strong demand in Malaysia’s fast-growing compact SUV market.
2026 Proton S70 Gains Early Momentum
Meanwhile, the latest Proton S70 is already showing promising results.
The refreshed 2026 version, equipped with Proton’s new i-GT turbocharged engine — recorded 1,940 units sold in February, making it Proton’s second-highest selling model for the month.
Year-to-date sales now stand at:
- 3,544 units
- 51.5% increase year-on-year
Strong Bookings Signal Positive Market Reception
Customer interest for the new S70 has been particularly strong.
Within less than a month after launch, Proton has already received approximately 5,000 bookings nationwide, signalling encouraging acceptance for the C-segment sedan.
CEO Statement
According to Abdul Rashid Musa, Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar:
“2026 has started brightly for Proton with strong customer interest for our new range of models that offer a compelling mix of design, the latest technologies, efficiency and value.”
He added that Proton’s immediate focus will be on reducing customer waiting times by increasing production output while maintaining quality standards.
Writer’s Take
Even with February’s market slowdown, Proton’s numbers tell a very clear story.
The Saga continues to dominate the volume game, the X50 keeps Proton competitive in the SUV boom, and the S70 looks like it may finally give Proton a serious presence in the C-segment sedan space again.
What’s interesting is that Proton’s strong start isn’t just coming from one model anymore. It’s coming from a portfolio refresh across multiple segments.
If the 5,000 S70 bookings convert into deliveries over the next few months, Proton’s momentum going into mid-2026 could be even stronger.
Safe to say: the year is off to a very solid start for the national carmaker.
