Proton targets 115,000 sales by March 2010

MALAYSIA'S national carmaker, Proton, is confident of achieving annual sales of 155,000 units by March 2010 based on current market sentiment.

Mohamad Shukor Ibrahim, the chief executive officer of Proton Edar Sdn Bhd, said for the six months ended September 2009, car sales had already exceeded an initial target of 73,000 units.

Proton Edar Sdn Bhd is the main distribution arm of Proton Holdings Bhd.

"The market is encouraging with signs of consumer confidence in the automotive market," Shukor said during the prize presentation ceremony to winners of the "Proton Drive for Cash" contest.
"Confidence and acceptance in the market towards our brand has increased, and this is evident in the increase in sales numbers," he added.

Even after the festive season, Shukor said, bookings are still strong.

He also emphasised that car buyers have now started to notice how Proton had improved in its products and service quality, as evident from the "hot" selling models, the Persona, Saga and Exora.

On the contest, Shukor said it had successfully met its objective as car sales for June and July, increased impressively to 14,065 units and 15,809 units respectively.

This, he explained, had placed Proton in the top spot for Malaysian car sales, for the said months.

"Apart from cash prizes, the attractive offers under the campaign were also a hit with our customers," he said.

According to Shukor, the contest from June to August this year, received an overwhelming response from customers with cash prizes worth RM50,000 to be won weekly and monthly.

In general, winners were selected based on the creativeness of their slogans.

The monthly winners, who each won RM20,000 for their winning slogans, were Tan Kay Pau from Batu Pahat (June), Loh Kam Fook of Kuantan (July) and Lim Tzaw Feng from Johor Bahru (August).

The Grand Prize winner, Anisah Alias from Kota Bahru who bought a Persona 1.6L, won herself RM50,000 for her winning slogan.

As to developments on a possible tie-up with foreign partners, Shukor said, opportunities are always there for collaboration.

"We are looking at product collaboration. We are also looking at where a partner could add value for us," he explained. -- BERNAMA