Proton

Proton was formed officially in 1983, four years after then Malaysian deputy prime minister (and future PM) Mahathir Mohamed had proposed boosting the nation’s industrial capabilities with auto manufacturing. The Saga sedan was launched in 1985 and entered the brand’s first new market: neighbour Singapore. Exports began in 1986, and in-house engine assembly in 1989. Proton entered the Australian market in 1995 with the Persona, with wholly owned subsidiary Proton Cars Australia established the next year. That would introduce our country to nameplates such as Satria (1997), Waja (2001), Jumbuck (2003) and Savvy (2006), with models benefitting from engineering input from one of Britain’s most famous sports car brands after Proton acquired Group Lotus in 1996. Proton switched from being a government-linked company to a private entity in 2012 with a takeover by the DRB-HICOM group.