PROTON Holdings Berhad
Company History
PROTON History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1983 in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
When was PROTON founded?
PROTON was founded in 1983 in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, making it 43 years old.
- Founded
- 1983
- Founding place
- Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- Founders
- Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
- Headquarters today
- Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- Milestones documented
- 11 (1983–2026)
- Current CEO
- Dr. Li Chunrong
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Proton founded as Malaysia's National Car Project |
| 1985 | First Proton Saga launched |
| 1988 | Kenji Iwabuchi becomes managing director |
| 1996 | Majority stake in Lotus acquired |
| 2007 | Persona Launched |
| 2012 | DRB-HICOM takes Proton private |
| 2017 | Geely buys 49.9% |
| 2018 | Proton X70 launched |
| 2025 | Production consolidated at Tanjong Malim; first EV plant opens |
| 2025 | Dato' Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa becomes CEO |
| 2026 | Best domestic month in company history |
- Where was PROTON founded?
- PROTON was founded in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia in 1983.
- Who founded PROTON?
- PROTON was founded by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
- When did PROTON start?
- PROTON was founded in 1983.
- How old is PROTON?
- PROTON is 43 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Proton was created in 1983 as Malaysia's National Car Project, a joint effort between state-owned HICOM and Japan's Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Corporation. Its first car, the Saga, rolled out in 1985 from a plant in Shah Alam, using Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore underpinnings, and quickly dominated domestic sales under tariff protection.
Founders
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad launched the National Car Project in 1983 as part of his heavy-industry policy, partnering state-owned HICOM with Mitsubishi to create Proton. He drove the first Saga at its 1985 launch, championed the company for decades and later served as Proton's chairman from 2014 until 2016. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
Proton founded as Malaysia's National Car Project
Incorporated on 7 May 1983 by HICOM with Mitsubishi as technology partner.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst Proton Saga launched
The Mitsubishi-based Saga began production in Shah Alam.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgKenji Iwabuchi becomes managing director
Kenji Iwabuchi became managing director of PROTON Holdings Berhad in 1988. Chief executive of PROTON Holdings Berhad from 1988 to 1993.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMajority stake in Lotus acquired
Proton bought control of British sports-car maker Lotus.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgDRB-HICOM takes Proton private
DRB-HICOM bought Khazanah Nasional's stake and delisted Proton.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgGeely buys 49.9%
Geely acquired 49.9% of Proton; Dr. Li Chunrong became CEO in October 2017.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgProton X70 launched
The first Geely-based Proton SUV started the brand's sales recovery.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgProduction consolidated at Tanjong Malim; first EV plant opens
Malaysia's first dedicated EV assembly plant opened in September 2025 and Shah Alam production ended on 30 September.
Source: proton.comDato' Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa becomes CEO
Dato' Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa became CEO of PROTON Holdings Berhad in 2025. Rejoined Proton as Deputy CEO from 1 November 2025, reporting to Dr.
Source: proton.comBest domestic month in company history
August 2026 group sales reached 22,632 units, lifting January-August sales to 141,421 (+40.2%).
Source: proton.comMajor Acquisitions
Lotus Group
1996Bought a controlling stake in the British sports-car maker and engineering consultancy for chassis and powertrain expertise.
MV Agusta
2004Took a majority stake in the Italian motorcycle maker.
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PROTON Company History FAQ
What are the major historical milestones in the evolution of PROTON?
Key milestones include founding in 1983, the first Saga in 1985, the Lotus purchase in 1996, the Tanjong Malim plant in the 2000s, DRB-HICOM's 2012 privatisation, Geely's 49.9% investment in 2017, the X70 in 2018, the e.MAS brand in 2024 and consolidation at Tanjong Malim in 2025.
How did PROTON become a surprise success in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s and 1990s?
Proton entered the UK in 1989 with a Mitsubishi-based Saga marketed as an affordable, well-equipped family car, and built a loyal following there in its early years.
What was the Proton Waja launched in 2000 and why was it historically important?
Launched in May 2000, the Proton Waja was the first vehicle featuring a chassis engineered and styled locally in Malaysia by PROTON engineers (in collaboration with Lotus), marking a key transition away from rebadged Mitsubishi models.
How did the development of the CamPro engine mark a milestone for Malaysian engineering?
In 2004, PROTON unveiled the CamPro engine, co-developed with Lotus Engineering in Hethel, UK. The CamPro engine powered a generation of Proton models (Gen-2, Satria Neo, Persona, Prevé), establishing indigenous powertrain manufacturing in Malaysia.
What led to PROTON's financial struggles between 2005 and 2016?
During the 2000s and 2010s, PROTON faced intensifying competition from Perodua, tariff reductions under ASEAN Free Trade Agreements (AFTA) that allowed cheap Japanese imports, high fixed R&D costs, and fragmented product platforms, resulting in declining domestic market share and operational losses.
How did the 2017 Geely partnership rescue and revitalize PROTON?
The 2017 transaction provided PROTON with modern vehicle platforms, high-efficiency turbocharged engines, advanced safety electronics, capital injection, and disciplined executive management, sparking a dramatic renaissance in build quality, consumer confidence, and sales volume.
When did Proton stop making cars in Shah Alam?
Proton ended 40 years of Shah Alam production on 30 September 2025, moving about 1,400 employees to its Tanjong Malim plant.
What is PROTON's strategic vision for the next era of Malaysian automotive mobility?
Proton is focused on e.MAS EVs and PHEVs, its own AMA platform, higher exports and Geely contract assembly at Tanjong Malim.
When and where was Proton founded?
Proton (Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional) was founded on May 7, 1983, in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, as the flagship initiative of Malaysia’s National Car Project spearheaded by Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.
What was Proton’s first production vehicle?
Proton launched the Proton Saga in July 1985, developed in technical partnership with Mitsubishi Motors and based on the Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore platform, becoming an instant national symbol of Malaysian industrialization.
What was Proton’s relationship with Lotus Cars?
In 1996, Proton acquired a majority stake in legendary British sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars, leveraging Lotus ride-and-handling engineering across its production sedans and hatchbacks before selling Lotus to Geely and Etika Automotive in 2017.
Why did Proton form a strategic partnership with Geely in 2017?
Faced with declining domestic market share, mounting financial losses, and heavy R&D costs, parent company DRB-HICOM sold a 49.9% stake in Proton to China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in 2017 to inject capital, advanced modular platforms, and modern engine technology.
How did the Proton X70 spark the company’s turnaround?
Launched in December 2018 as Proton’s first SUV based on the Geely Boyue platform, the X70 introduced voice-activated connectivity and luxury styling at accessible price points, breaking sales records and revitalizing Proton’s brand equity.
What is the significance of the Tanjung Malim manufacturing plant?
Proton shifted its primary manufacturing hub from Shah Alam to Tanjung Malim, Perak (dubbed "Automotive High-Tech Valley" or AHTV), creating a state-of-the-art production base capable of building next-generation hybrid and electric vehicles.
When did Proton launch its electric vehicle sub-brand?
In 2024, Proton launched "e.MAS", its dedicated new energy and electric vehicle sub-brand, debuting the Proton e.MAS 7 as Malaysia’s first homegrown all-electric SUV.
How did Proton perform in export markets historically?
In the late 1980s and 1990s, Proton achieved notable export success in the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia, and under Geely has re-established export growth across Southeast Asia, South Africa, and the Middle East.
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