KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd is closing in on its first 200,000-unit annual sales milestone since 2002.
The national carmaker recorded 182,510 vehicles in the first 10 months of 2026, already surpassing its full-year sales volume for 2025.
Proton sold 21,624 units in October, its second-highest monthly sales performance this year and the strongest start to the fourth quarter since 2005.
Year-to-date (YTD) sales rose 40.5 per cent year-on-year, giving Proton an estimated market share of 27.1 per cent.
Its October market share was estimated at 30.6 per cent, against an estimated total industry volume (TIV) of more than 70,000 units.
Deputy chief executive officer Datuk Ir Abdul Rashid Musa said 2026 was shaping up to be a year of significant sales growth as the group pursued its long-term ambitions.
“2026 is proving to be a year where Proton makes a quantum leap in sales volume as we strive to achieve our long-term goals.
“While we continue to expand our range of xEV offerings, demand for Proton ICE (internal combustion engine) models continues to grow and as a result, we are the market leader for SUV sales and the leading brand for sedan sales,” he said.
Proton Saga remains the company’s biggest-selling model, with 7,352 units sold in October, bringing its YTD total to 75,589 units.
This has already exceeded the model’s entire 2025 sales volume, keeping it Malaysia’s second best-selling vehicle this year.
Proton S70 recorded 3,029 units in October, its second-best monthly performance this year, taking YTD sales to 23,448 units, up 63.5 per cent.
Meanwhile, the newly launched 2027 S70 i-GT 1.5 sold 2,338 units in October, making it the leading B-segment sedan, while the existing S70 retained its C-segment leadership.
Proton X50 remained the country’s leading B-segment sport utility vehicle with 1,925 units sold in October and YTD sales of 22,088 units.
The X90 posted its best monthly performance with 478 units, taking YTD sales to 3,728 units, up 75.6 per cent.
Proton’s electrified vehicle (xEV) range also continued to drive growth, with the e.Mas brand recording 35,730 units in YTD sales and a 33.2 per cent share of the xEV market.
The e.Mas 5 contributed 23,189 units, followed by the e.Mas 7 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle at 6,962 units and e.Mas 7 at 5,579 units.
Pro-Net chief executive officer Zhang Qiang said growing brand confidence and an expanding dealership network helped attract buyers to its electrified models.
“Malaysia’s appetite for xEV vehicles continues to grow as evidenced by the strong demand for Pro-Net’s range of Proton e.Mas products,” he said.
Proton also recorded a monthly export high of 2,610 units in October, taking YTD exports of Proton and Geely models to 9,980 units, more than double the previous year’s volume.
Abdul Rashid said export growth supported higher parts orders, better production utilisation and economies of scale.
He added that the segment was expected to contribute a larger share of group sales in the coming years.