Proton Sells 5,093 Units in October 2018 - Now Offering Zero SST as They are Absorbing Such Taxes Till Year End

September 2018 was not a great month for Proton and other car retailers in Malaysia. 1st September 2018 saw SST being reimplemented after a three month tax holiday as the Malaysian government scrapped GST and was going to revert to SST. However, October 2018 sales for PROTON cars grew by 12.6% in October where 5,093 units were sold, an increase of 569 units over the previous month and a slight improvement over the corresponding period in 2017. 

According to Proton, their market share as a percentage of the Total Industry Volume (TIV) is now estimated at 10.7%. Quite promising numbers for Proton actually even though they have also said that their market share actually shrunk slightly. So after that dip due to SST being reimplemented, sales have picked up for Proton as October sales were the highest outside of the June-end August 2018 zero GST period. 

Proton also believes that the much-hyped Proton X70 launch at the end of the year have added to increased and renewed interest in the current range of Proton cars. Aside from that, Proton have also decided to absorb SST for the moment as part of its year end promo.

Buyers enjoy zero SST pricing as the Company absorbs the tax amount for all models. This means there has been no change in price despite the GST tax holiday period ending and SST being enforced in September this year.

“PROTON is the only car manufacturer in Malaysia to adopt a zero SST pricing policy for all its current models. We aim to deliver better value for money to our customers by making ownership of a Proton car more affordable. Therefore, over the final two months of 2018 we are offering rebates of up to RM3,000 and will increase our participation in road shows and carnivals to ensure we reach as many Malaysian car buyers as possible,” said Abdul Rashid Musa, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON Edar.

The promotion isn't truly extraordinary as year end promotions usually take place around this time. But this is the best time to buy a car and offers like this make it a buyer's market in some ways. There are so many good offers out there at the end of the year and this one by Proton is one of it. Note the rebates offered - RM1,500 to RM3,000 for their cars like the Ertiga, Iriz, Persona and the Saga (go visit a dealer for more details). 

I must add that it is good to hear the number of sales for Proton have gone up even after the madness that is the zero GST period has passed us by.