Proton Saga

Proton, short for Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional, is Malaysia's first national car brand, established in 1983. It was founded as part of an ambitious national industrialization project spearheaded by the Malaysian government under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The brand's first model, the Proton Saga, was launched in 1985 and became a symbol of Malaysian technological progress and engineering capability.

Historically, Proton relied heavily on technology transfers from Mitsubishi Motors during its early decades. However, the company has since evolved through various strategic partnerships. In 2017, a major turning point occurred when the Chinese automotive giant Zhejiang Geely Holding Group acquired a 49.9% stake in Proton, with the Malaysian conglomerate DRB-HICOM retaining the majority share. This partnership has revitalized the brand, introducing a new generation of vehicles based on global platforms.

While Proton remains deeply rooted in its headquarters in Shah Alam and its primary manufacturing hub in Tanjung Malim, Malaysia, the brand's reach has expanded. Through its association with Geely, Proton utilizes international supply chains and has regional assembly plants to serve various export markets. Today, Proton stands as a hybrid of Malaysian national heritage and global automotive technology, operating as a key subsidiary under the joint stewardship of DRB-HICOM and Geely.