Future models of Proton vehicles will be shaped by the Advanced Modular Architecture (AMA) platform, which underpins the all-new Saga design.
Proton chairman Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar said the AMA platform was designed to be agile and scalable so it could be adjusted accordingly to meet the size and build specifications of the vehicle models that the national car maker is looking to produce.
The new Saga models, built on the company’s new AMA, represents a future-ready, globally compliant platform whose Intellectual Property Right (IPR) are fully owned and developed by Proton. This would represent a major step forward in Malaysia’s automotive capability.
With full ownership of the IPR, the AMA platform reinforces Proton’s growing engineering capability and opens new collaboration opportunities across the Geely Group ecosystem, potentially positioning Malaysia as a regional engineering hub for future model development.
“Today’s launch is different. It is about our pride and joy because the intellectual property rights to this car truly belong to Proton. When Proton started its partnership with Geely eight years ago, it was easy for the public to say that Proton simply changed the badge on Geely cars.
“However, the years in partnership were planned for Proton to have ownership of its own vehicles through technology sharing between the two partners,” he said at the launch of the all-new Proton Saga at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here on Thursday.
Partnership with Geely accelerates Proton’s technical capability
He added that throughout the partnership, over 2,500 Proton staff members have been sent to undergo training at Geely headquarters in Hangzhou and currently, 119 local engineers are based in China. The efforts were undertaken for Proton to own the IPR of its vehicles.
Owning IP meant that more production of components could be localised, hence creating a multiplier effect for the local industries.
“Proton’s ambition to become a global brand – future models produced under the AMA platform will be the ticket for Proton to go global on a bigger scale.
“To penetrate the overseas market, we can’t rely on a single model. We need a consistent supply of exciting products. The AMA platform will be the weapon in our export strategy,” he said.
Syed Albar added that the launch of the all-new Saga was significant, as it also marked the launch of the AMA platform, which would shape the future of Proton cars.
“In Malaysia, our car sales are around 800,000 units annually. For Proton to achieve its ambition of becoming a global player, it cannot rely on the size of the domestic market. We must expand our export market rigorously.”
Saga remains Proton’s strongest global model
Proton is currently present in 18 export markets, including countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Since its inception, the Saga model alone has garnered two million units in sales, which is half the total number of Proton cars that have been sold, he said.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz expressed confidence that Proton will expand beyond the current market to strengthen Malaysia presence and reputation in the global automotive market.
Proton has exported more than 20,000 vehicles since 2020. He believes that the sales volume could increase tenfold over the next five years.
On another note, Zafrul said Proton had sourced RM3.2 billion worth of parts and components from local vendors, underscoring its commitment to a localised supply chain that will continue to grow in scale and value.
The doubling of Proton’s total industry volume and its expanded local sourcing have ensured that Malaysian vendors benefit from the economic spillover that is captured within the country.
“Our national automotive policy has played a significant role in strengthening local industry players, especially Proton. These policies have enabled the development of a supportive ecosystem, it encourages technology upgrading, strategic foreign partnerships, and increase competitiveness in both domestic and regional markets.
“Our national automotive policy is our guiding framework to position Malaysia as a regional leader in automotive manufacturing, engineering, and technology.”
EV development aligns with NIMP 2030 goals
Beyond producing cars, he said that Proton continues to strengthen the country’s automotive industrial backbone, from electric vehicles (EV) platforms and powertrain testing to localisation of key components, deepening the nation’s competitiveness.
Zafrul said that, in alignment with the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, Proton’s EV investments and localisation efforts are not just corporate strategies but a spearhead for Malaysia’s transformation into a high-tech and digitally vibrant nation.
“This commitment also drives investments that generate jobs, increase spillover, and create economic value for the country.”
Proton’s localisation programme has created 18 new technologies and forged joint ventures in key areas such as fuel pumps, electronic gear shift modules, and continuously variable transmission (CVT) systems, thus expanding vendor base while elevating technological mastery.
