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Proton

Proton launched the Saga on 9 July 1985, making the saloon the first model of Malaysia’s national car project. Created within an industrial programme approved by the Malaysian government in 1982, the brand initially relied on a partnership with Mitsubishi while gradually developing its own engineering, production and research capabilities. Its range later expanded across several categories, including small sedans, compact cars, family saloons, hatchbacks and MPVs. The Saga remains Proton’s key historical reference, while the Wira, Persona, Iriz and Exora represent different stages in the company’s development. After a strategic agreement with Zhejiang Geely Holding was established in 2017, Proton also accelerated its move into SUVs and connected vehicle technology. These changes help explain the clear contrast between earlier Mitsubishi-influenced products and the newer generation of Proton vehicles.

29Tracked models
40Versions
1985 - 2024Covered years

Models from A to Z

2

200-Series

1 variants
3

300-Series

1 variants
4

400-Series

1 variants
A

Arena

1 variants
C

Compact

1 variants
E

Ertiga

1 variants
E

Exora

1 variants
G

Gen-2

1 variants
I

Impian

1 variants
I

Inspira

1 variants
I

Iriz

2 variants
J

Juara

1 variants
J

Jumbuck

1 variants
P

Perdana

1 variants
P

Persona

5 variants
P

PERT

1 variants
P

Prevé

1 variants
P

Putra

1 variants
S

S70

1 variants
S

Saga

6 variants
S

Satria

1 variants
S

Savvy

1 variants
S

Suprima S

1 variants
T

Tiara

1 variants
W

Waja

1 variants
W

Wira

2 variants
X

X50

1 variants
X

X70

1 variants
X

X90

1 variants

Proton overview

Proton history

Malaysia’s national car project was approved in November 1982, and Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional was incorporated on 7 May 1983. Launched in July 1985, the Proton Saga was based on a Mitsubishi model and quickly became a symbol of Malaysia’s industrial development. Early exports began with Bangladesh in 1986, followed by the brand’s arrival in the United Kingdom and Ireland during the late 1980s.\n\nDuring the 1990s, Proton broadened its range with the Saga Iswara, Wira, Satria, Perdana and several more specialised models. The company also expanded its research and development activities and acquired a controlling interest in Lotus in 1996. In 2000, the Waja became the first Proton described by the manufacturer as fully developed locally.\n\nThe 2000s and 2010s brought further diversification. The Persona was introduced in 2007, followed by the Exora in 2009 as Proton’s first MPV developed in-house, and the Iriz in 2014. In 2017, DRB-HICOM entered a strategic partnership with Zhejiang Geely Holding. The X70, launched in 2018, opened a new phase for Proton, followed by the X50 and a stronger focus on SUVs, connected features and electrified vehicle technology.

Proton positioning

Proton has historically positioned itself as Malaysia’s national carmaker, with a mission that extended beyond selling vehicles: building a local automotive industry, supporting a supplier network and making car ownership more accessible to Malaysian buyers. This explains the importance of practical models such as the Saga, Persona and Wira, as well as the introduction of a family-oriented MPV in the form of the Exora.\n\nThe brand has nevertheless changed significantly. Models launched before the Geely partnership reflect a period shaped by Japanese technical cooperation and the gradual expansion of Proton’s own engineering capabilities. From 2017 onwards, the company sought to combine its Malaysian identity and local production expertise with Geely’s access to newer platforms and technologies. Proton’s positioning consequently became broader: family-focused compact cars, models associated with tuned ride and handling, and connected SUVs intended to strengthen the brand across several markets.

Recognizing a Proton in a photo

Identifying a Proton starts with placing the vehicle in its period and examining its body style. The Saga is generally a small family saloon, while the early generations and Saga Iswara belong to the brand’s formative years. The Wira was offered as both a four-door saloon and a five-door Aeroback hatchback, whereas the Persona represents a later compact-sedan line.\n\nThe Iriz is a hatchback introduced in 2014, with a shorter and taller profile than the Saga or Persona saloons. The Exora is easier to distinguish through its seven-seat MPV body and family-focused interior layout. More recent vehicles from the Geely partnership period, particularly the SUVs, have a different design language and technology package from earlier Proton products. To avoid misidentification, check the model badge, rear-end shape, number of doors, generation and year-specific trim details. Export-market versions may also differ in equipment or presentation, so photographs should be compared with market and model-year information whenever possible.

Important Proton models

The Saga is Proton’s founding model: launched in 1985, it established the company as Malaysia’s national carmaker and accompanied its first export programmes. The Wira, introduced in 1993 as a saloon and later as an Aeroback hatchback, expanded Proton’s presence in the family-car segment. The Persona, launched in 2007, brought a more modern compact-sedan formula and remained one of the brand’s core models for many years.\n\nThe Exora, introduced in 2009, is significant because Proton describes it as the company’s first MPV developed in-house. The Iriz, launched in 2014, represents Proton’s move into a newer generation of compact hatchbacks and received a five-star ASEAN NCAP rating before launch, according to the manufacturer. The historical catalogue also includes less common entries such as the 200-Series, 300-Series, 400-Series, Arena, Compact and Ertiga. Together, these models show how Proton experimented with different body styles, market segments and technical partnerships over time.

References