Company overview
Proton Holdings Berhad, known as Proton, is a Malaysian multinational automotive company established in 1983. Initially created under majority ownership by HICOM and with a minority stake from Mitsubishi Group members, Proton began its operations rebadging Mitsubishi Motors products in the 1980s and 1990s. The company’s first indigenous car, the Proton Saga, launched in 1985 based on a second-generation Mitsubishi Lancer Fiore. Throughout the 1990s, Proton produced a range of vehicles including the Wira and Satria, all utilizing Mitsubishi engines. In 2000, Proton achieved a significant milestone by designing and manufacturing its first car entirely in Malaysia. By 2017, Geely Group acquired a majority stake in Proton and Lotus Cars. The company’s history includes collaborations with PSA Peugeot Citroën, resulting in the Proton Tiara and a joint venture that was later terminated. In 2012, DRB-HICOM fully acquired Proton, and the company has since introduced several new models, including the Prevé, Iriz, Perdana, and Saga, consistently achieving high safety ratings.
