logo
Proton ends first six months of 2025 with increased market share

Proton ends first six months of 2025 with increased market share

The Suna day ago
PETALING JAYA: Proton has closed its books for the first six months of the year with an increased share of the Malaysian automotive market.
Group sales in June amounted to 11,069 units, a slight increase over the same month in 2024, while total year-to-date (YTD) sales totalled 72,156 units, the second highest in the industry.
Market share for the month is estimated to be at 20.7%, an increase of 1.1% over the previous month and 1.2% ahead of the YTD figure of 19.5%. Conversely, total industry volume (TIV) is estimated to have closed at 53,500 units in June, a reduction of 21% compared to the TIV figure of 68.007 in May.
One of the constants for Proton's sales performance has been the strong performance of its B-segment SUV model, the Proton X50. Launched in October 2020, over 140,000 units have been sold in Malaysia and overseas markets, firmly cementing its position as the sales in its class for five years in a row.
For June 2025, 1,657 units of the Proton X50 were sold, keeping it ahead of all competitors in the class. The total includes 353 units for the export market where the model accounts for 47% of the company's total export volume.
For the first half of the year 11,361 units have been sold, marking an increase of 11.3% over the first six months of 2024. While sales of the current model remain strong, Proton is launching an all-new Proton X50 this month.
Depressed market conditions in June resulted in lower sales compared to May but there were three Proton models that ended the month as segment leaders. One of these was the Proton X50 while the other two were the Proton X90 and Proton S70, which continued to lead the D-segment SUV and C-segment sedan markets, respectively.
The model with the highest sales growth figure for the first half of 2025 is the Proton X70.
'After performing strongly in May, automotive sales dropped by 15,000 units in June due to external factors such as rising tensions in the Middle East and the expansion of the scope of SST affecting buyer sentiment. Despite this, Proton managed to outperform the market to increase our market share percentage ahead of a busy second half of the year where we have a full slate of events and model introductions. With new models arriving in our showrooms, the outlook is for the company to have a stronger second half to 2025 as we seek to increase sales for our ICE and EV offerings,' said Proton Edar deputy CEO Zhang Qiang.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

[Watch] Durian Dreams Turn Sour: Malaysian Fruit Vendor Reports RM5,000 Loss In Challenging Market
[Watch] Durian Dreams Turn Sour: Malaysian Fruit Vendor Reports RM5,000 Loss In Challenging Market

Rakyat Post

time5 hours ago

  • Rakyat Post

[Watch] Durian Dreams Turn Sour: Malaysian Fruit Vendor Reports RM5,000 Loss In Challenging Market

Subscribe to our FREE A Malaysian durian vendor's Facebook post has shed light on the financial pressures facing fruit retailers, as she detailed losing RM5,000 in what she describes as an increasingly difficult market. 'Selling durians until I'm exhausted, still can't recover RM5,000 in costs,' the vendor posted, sharing her experience of the current durian trade conditions. The vendor provided a detailed cost breakdown for Grade A durians to illustrate her situation: Purchase price: RM20 per kilogram Daily water loss: 10-20% weight reduction (she calculated minimum RM2 loss per kg) Staff costs: RM3 per kilogram Transport and fuel: RM1 per kilogram Total cost: RM25 per kilogram According to her account, the market selling price also sits at RM25 per kilogram, leaving no profit margin. 'Cost RM25, sell RM25. When durians go bad, I have to compensate myself – these orchard owners and wholesalers don't pay for damages,' she wrote, describing the financial responsibility that falls on retailers. The Middleman Problem Exposed In her most recent post, the vendor directly confronted what she sees as the root of retailers' struggles—exploitative middleman practices. 'Middlemen, you're making too much money from water weight,' she posted, revealing that wholesalers are adding up to RM6 per kilogram in charges related to weight loss during transport and storage, while simultaneously supplying substandard, watery durians to retailers. 'Middlemen make the most money, and they don't offer return guarantees. They're the ones profiting the most,' she wrote, highlighting how the supply chain structure leaves retailers vulnerable to losses while middlemen secure their profits. The vendor also criticised the fruit selection skills of her suppliers: 'This middleman is quite stupid at picking fruit,' she added, expressing frustration at receiving poor quality durians despite paying premium wholesale prices. The Perishability Challenge The vendor emphasised the time-sensitive nature of durian sales, explaining that the fruit must be sold within a day to maintain its freshness and appeal to customers. She also described the exacting quality standards that buyers expect. 'Some customers want compensation if the durian is slightly wet, and also want compensation if it's too dry,' she posted, outlining the narrow quality parameters she must meet—standards that become nearly impossible to achieve when receiving subpar fruit from suppliers. In 'This isn't selling cheap – this is market reality,' she explained in the video. The vendor attributed some challenges to what she sees as inconsistent fruit selection by suppliers: 'These wholesalers need to learn how to properly select fruit! They know how to make money but don't know how to pick good durians!' Industry Comparison Reflecting on market changes, the vendor noted: 'The market situation isn't like it was 10 years ago.' She mentioned that while some vendors might misrepresent fruit grades for profit, she maintains she deals in genuine Grade A products, though the quality she receives from wholesalers often doesn't match the premium prices she pays. The vendor concluded her posts by stating: 'Now I can only try to protect my costs. Making big money has become an unreachable dream.' Her candid account offers insight into the operational challenges faced by durian retailers in the current market environment, highlighting the narrow margins and financial risks associated with selling perishable, premium fruit. While her experience represents one vendor's perspective, it illuminates broader issues within Malaysia's durian supply chain, where the structure appears to systematically favour middlemen while leaving retailers struggling to break even despite handling a fruit that commands premium prices from consumers. The case underscores how agricultural supply chains can create situations where those closest to the final consumer—and bearing the most significant operational risks—may paradoxically be the least profitable participants in the trade. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

FMM seeks swift diplomatic and domestic interventions to counter US tariff impact
FMM seeks swift diplomatic and domestic interventions to counter US tariff impact

The Star

time6 hours ago

  • The Star

FMM seeks swift diplomatic and domestic interventions to counter US tariff impact

Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) has called on the government to intensify its diplomatic and policy response following the United States' announcement of a 25 per cent blanket tariff on Malaysian exports. Its president, Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai, said these efforts must be escalated to secure an immediate deferral of the Aug 1, 2025, implementation and work toward a longer-term exemption or rollback. He said the newly announced 25 per cent blanket tariff, if implemented as scheduled, is expected to intensify these pressures across the board, particularly for companies operating on thin margins or bound by long-term supply contracts. "Malaysia's case must be urgently elevated at the highest levels of US policymaking, supported by strong data and strategic positioning that highlight our value to US supply chains. "At the same time, domestic countermeasures must be rolled out to support affected industries, including targeted financial relief, strengthened export promotion, and fast-tracked structural reforms to enhance cost efficiency and competitiveness," said Soh in a statement today. To support exporters in weathering current shocks and repositioning for growth, he recommended enhancing export facilitation by increasing the Market Development Grant ceiling, removing the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) administrative fees for trade missions led by associations, and providing targeted incentives for branding, certification, and digital market access. Soh noted that Malaysia must drive productivity-led growth by accelerating Industry 4.0 adoption through tax incentives, digitalisation grants for small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), and low-interest financing for technology upgrades. "These incentives must be backed by workforce upskilling programmes and inclusive access to government support funds, ensuring all firms can participate in the transition. "In addition, foreign worker levy collections should be redirected into dedicated funds to support apprenticeship schemes and high-tech investment," he said. Soh highlighted that Malaysia should lead efforts under its ASEAN chairmanship to establish a regional ASEAN Supply Chain Coordination Council. He said that this will ensure cohesive regional responses to global trade shocks, reduce overreliance on external supply chains and enhance intra-ASEAN production linkages, policy alignment, and supply chain resilience. "At the strategic level, Malaysia must actively expand its trade architecture by accelerating the conclusion of the Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement and intensifying negotiations with new and emerging markets, including in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. "A broader and more diversified trade base is essential to reduce reliance on any single export destination and reinforce Malaysia's global competitiveness amid continued external shocks," Soh emphasised. The federation also urges the government to review and reform the Sales and Service Tax (SST) structure by introducing a business-to-business (B2B) service tax exemption for licensed manufacturers, automatically applied upon provision of a valid sales tax licence number. He said the long-term solution must be the creation of a tax framework that fully removes the tax-on-tax element and restores neutrality across the manufacturing supply chain. - Bernama

Ringgit eases against US dollar on US tariff adjustments
Ringgit eases against US dollar on US tariff adjustments

The Star

time6 hours ago

  • The Star

Ringgit eases against US dollar on US tariff adjustments

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit closed lower against the US dollar as market sentiment weakened amid the United States' (US) latest reciprocal tariff policy adjustments, ahead of Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting tomorrow. At 6 pm, the local note eased to 4.2365/2445 versus the greenback from Monday's close of 4.2310/2400. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit depreciated to as low as RM4.2470 to the US dollar during the morning session as worry over the impact of the 25 per cent import tariff by the US has led traders and investors to remain cautious. However, in the afternoon, the ringgit improved to RM4.2358. "Generally speaking, there is still room for discussion and negotiations, and the Malaysian government continues to opt for a diplomatic solution as indicated in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry's (MITI) press statement,' he told Bernama. The US has imposed a higher tariff of 25 per cent on all Malaysian products sent into the country, separate from all sectoral tariffs, effective Aug 1 this year. This is one percentage point higher compared to what was announced in April. MITI said in a statement that Malaysia is committed to continued engagement with the US towards a balanced, mutually beneficial and comprehensive trade agreement. "Tomorrow, the main focus is on the BNM's MPC meeting where economists are quite divided on whether the central bank would resort to a 25 basis point cut in the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR). "In our view, we foresee the BNM would be inclined to reduce the OPR by 25 basis points in order to provide support to domestic demand. As such, dollar-ringgit is expected to maintain its narrow range as traders and investors remain cautious,' said Mohd Afzanizam. Meanwhile, Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd retained its year-end US dollar-ringgit forecast of 4.08, supported by sound domestic fundamentals. Eroding confidence in US fiscal management is driving capital flows towards the European Union (EU) and reform-oriented emerging markets. "Malaysia, with its macro stability and steady foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, stands to gain from this rebalancing. "A US Federal Reserve (Fed) pivot to interest rate cuts could further lift the ringgit,' said Kenanga in its research note today. As for potential US tariffs targeting BRICS-aligned economies, the investment bank said any escalation could accelerate moves to develop alternative financial systems. "Whether BRICS can parlay this into a more coherent geopolitical front remains to be seen, but their response may help reshape the future of global economic and financial architecture,' it added. At the close, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies except the Japanese yen. The local currency appreciated versus the Japanese yen to 2.8970/9026 from 2.9091/9155 at Monday's close. It eased against the British pound to 5.7591/7700 from 5.7563/7685 yesterday and declined vis-à-vis the euro to 4.9745/9839 from 4.9647/9752 previously. Meanwhile, the ringgit traded lower against its ASEAN counterparts. It declined versus the Thai baht to 13.0182/0488 from 12.9837/13.0173 at yesterday's close, and slipped vis-à-vis the Singapore dollar to 3.3152/3217 from 3.3096/3172 on Monday. The ringgit weakened against the Indonesian rupiah to 261.4/262.0 from 260.5/261.2 previously, and edged down versus the Philippine peso to 7.51/7.53 from 7.46/7.48 at Monday's close. - Bernama

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store