Proton

Proton Holdings Berhad became Malaysia’s first automobile manufacturer in 1983. Proton’s first release – the compact Proton Saga – was unveiled in 1985, and remains a significant contributor to the company’s revenues today. Building on the success of the Saga, Proton released several models throughout the 1990s, including the Proton Wira (based on the Mitsubishi Lancer) and the Proton Perdana (based on the Mitsubishi Galant). In 2001, the company produced its first internally designed car, the Proton Wija. The full acquisition of Lotus in 2003 added a significant boost to Proton’s engineering and technological resources, leading to the design of the Proton Gen-2 – one of the first cars to be produced at the company’s new Tanjung Milam manufacturing plant, nicknamed ‘Proton City’. Proton City is 50 times bigger than Proton’s original Shah Alam factory. In 2005, the Proton Savvy 1200 CC was released and quickly followed by the Proton Sedan in 2007. Today, Proton exports to over 50 countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia. Proton models available in Australia include the compact Proton Savvy, the Satria Neo hatchback, the Jumbuck Ute and the Persona and Gen-2 small cars. Proton’s S16 is advertised as Australia’s lowest-priced sedan.