Proton Saga Celebrates 40 Years with Over 2 Million Units Sold and Limited-Edition Hot Wheels Release
The Proton Saga, Malaysia’s pioneering national car, has officially reached its 40th anniversary—marking four decades of significance in the local automotive landscape. Since its debut on July 9, 1985, the Saga has grown into Proton’s longest-running and best-selling nameplate, with over two million units sold both locally and abroad.
Closing 2024 as Malaysia’s fourth best-selling car with 69,863 units, the Saga continues to remain relevant and popular, especially among first-time car buyers. As of May 2025, Proton has recorded 25,790 units sold for the year. According to recent market data, 64% of Saga customers are first-time buyers, with an additional 18% purchasing the model as a second car. Demographically, the breakdown indicates 59% of buyers are male, 41% female, and nearly half are married with children.
Proton attributes the Saga’s continued popularity to its practicality, affordability, and evolving build quality. Internally, the company has tracked a significant improvement in production standards through its Global Consumer Product Audit (GCPA) score, which dropped from 2,580 points in August 2024 to 1,050 points in May 2025. A lower score reflects fewer production defects, suggesting a higher standard of quality. While Proton notes this brings the Saga in line with its closest competitor, the Perodua Bezza, comparisons using the same scoring system outside of Proton remain unverified.
As the Saga enters its fifth decade, Proton hints at the future with a new model reportedly in the pipeline—promising to carry the nameplate forward while adapting to modern expectations and technologies.
Adding to the celebration, Proton has partnered once again with Mattel Malaysia to release a limited-edition Hot Wheels Proton Saga. The collectible model features the first-generation Saga in white, presented on a special blister card designed by nine-year-old Saw Jane Harn, the winner of the 2023 Hot Wheels x Proton Kids Design Competition.
The card design showcases several Malaysian icons, including the Petronas Twin Towers and the National Monument, alongside national symbols such as the wau, tiger, hornbill, and hibiscus flower. This edition follows the earlier release of a red version of the diecast model and shares the same RM9.90 price point. Available at selected retail locations nationwide, the special edition has already drawn interest from collectors and enthusiasts.
As Proton reflects on 40 years of the Saga, the milestone serves as a reminder of the model’s deep connection to Malaysian roads, families, and culture—and its evolving role in shaping the future of mobility in the country.
