New X50 lifts Proton’s July sales, Saga hits best month, X70 soars

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton has opened the second half of 2025 on a positive note as Malaysian car sales rebounded sharply in July after a quieter June.

The national carmaker recorded 13,518 units sold last month, up 22.1% from June, bringing its year-to-date (YTD) total to 85,674 units for the first seven months of the year. This performance keeps Proton in second place in the national sales chart.

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The company’s market share for July is estimated at 19.2%, with its YTD share now at 19.3% — a 0.6% improvement over the full-year figure for 2024, when the industry hit a new sales record. July’s Total Industry Volume (TIV) is projected at 70,545 units, marking a 28.7% increase from June and the second-highest monthly sales total for 2025.

All-New X50 steals the spotlight

The main driver for Proton’s July momentum was the all-new Proton X50, officially launched on 24 July. In just the final week of the month, 999 units were delivered, contributing to a monthly total of 2,068 units — the SUV’s third time crossing the 2,000-unit mark this year.

The latest X50 arrives with a fresh exterior design, upgraded cabin, new intelligent features, and a marketing push aimed at younger buyers. With production expected to reach 5,000 units by the end of August and bookings approaching five figures, Proton is confident of even stronger results in the coming month.

Proton’s larger X90 SUV and S70 sedan also maintained their positions as segment leaders in the D-SUV and C-sedan categories. The X90 added 229 units in July, while the S70 registered 1,404 units, pushing its YTD tally to 10,750 units.

Saga hits best month of 2025, X70 sales surge over 50%

July was also a standout month for the Proton Saga, which celebrated its 40th anniversary on 9 July. Demand was boosted by a special white Hot Wheels collectible — following last year’s red edition — that proved difficult to find at retail outlets. In showrooms, Saga sales soared to 6,638 units, the model’s best result of the year, taking its YTD total to 38,345 units.

The Proton X70 continues to defy segment competition, posting a 51.7% YTD growth rate after adding 617 units in July for a cumulative 4,971 units. Meanwhile, the Persona and Iriz contributed 1,499 units (the Persona’s best performance of 2025) and 329 units respectively.

According to Proton Edar Deputy CEO Zhang Qiang, the new X50 has boosted interest across the range, and the company plans to maintain this momentum with more new model launches and a technology showcase at the Global Automotive and Technology Expo (GATE) 2025 over the remaining months of the year.

Exports and EV sales on the rise

Proton’s export business is also gaining traction, supported by the recent establishment of Proton International Corporation Sdn Bhd (PICSB). Export sales have reached 2,258 units YTD, up 44.1% from the same period in 2024. The X50 has overtaken the Saga as the brand’s top export model, with the e.MAS 7 placing third.

In July, 20 more units of the e.MAS 7 were exported, bringing its total export volume to 270 units. Overall, the model sold 706 units in July (including exports), pushing its YTD total to 4,959 units and cementing its place as Malaysia’s best-selling EV.

“The success of the Proton e.MAS 7 has exceeded expectations and validates our strategy in EV brand building, charging infrastructure, and network expansion,” Zhang said. “With the upcoming e.MAS 5 joining our EV line-up and increasing overseas interest, we expect both EV and export sales to play a bigger role in the future.”

Also Read: Proton delivers 999 units of new X50 in just 5 days after launch