Proton was founded in 1983 as part of the Malaysian government’s plan to establish an industrialised economy and two years it later produced the country’s first car in the form of the Saga. The company relied heavily on Mitsubishi in its early years, as the Japanese manufacturer provided parts and expertise as well as basic designs.

Exports began as early as the late 1980s, though these were mostly limited to countries that used right hand drive, as in Malaysia. Proton’s greatest overseas success has been in the United Kingdom, where the Saga was introduced in 1989. Initially the cars found favour as a low-cost option, though this popularity has dwindled in recent years due to an unfashionable image.

Proton cars were immediately popular in Malaysia and this continued until 2002, when the company was responsible for over 60% of cars sold. However this position in the market has been challenged by new Malaysian manufacturers and by 2005 the share was halved. The Saga is still Proton’s best selling model despite the introduction of newer vehicles to the range, which include the Impian - the first car to be entirely designed by Proton.

Recent models have benefited from the company’s acquisition of Lotus, which was finalised in 2003 and has given access to extensive engineering expertise. A strategic partnership with Volkswagen began the following year with the aim of increasing Proton’s technical knowledge. Volkswagen was to gain access to the South-East Asian market, but pulled out of the partnership after just 15 months.

EuroNCAP Safety Ratings for Proton cars
The European New Car Assessment Programme produces reports on the safety of vehicles based on the results of several crash tests. As well as measuring how the car will hold up in a crash the risk to a pedestrian struck by the car is assessed. The star ratings (maximum 5) of key Proton models are shown below.