The Malaysian automaker Proton is all set to introduce another one of its vehicles, a 1300cc sedan labelled Saga. Last year, in December, the company launched its SUV X70.
It’s expected that the vehicle will be sold at a reasonable price owing to the fact that it’s a lower end sedan vehicle used in Malaysia by members of the lower income group. Hence, expecting value for money won’t be too much to ask from Proton, the manufacturer of the car.
Recently, in the Sedan segment, Changan’s Alsvin and Toyota’s Yaris were launched. Both of which fetch immense consumership as most middle class buyers throng auto markets to buy the most affordable vehicle in the sedan segment. Changan Alsvin, the Chinese sedan reported that the vehicle became out of stock soon after booking lines were open.
Proton has collaborated with a local company Al-Haj Automotive to establish its footprint in the country.
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Reportedly, the completely built-up units (CBU) of the sedan have already started reaching the local dealerships ahead of its official launch. We are expecting the official launch of the vehicle by the Malaysian auto brand in January – once almost 100 units have reached the country – after which it will go on sale. The local production of Proton Saga, on the other hand, is still in line for the next year.
Trim Levels
Standard MT (1299 cc)
Standard AT (1299 cc)
Premium AT (1299 cc)
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Proton Saga sedan will come packed with alloy rims, fog lamps and rear spoilers. Moreover, features like dual front airbags, Anti-lock braking system (ABS), DRLs (Premium AT), Stability control (Premium AT), Traction control (Premium AT), Front parking sensors (Premium AT) and Reverse camera (Premium AT).
The sedan is expected to be priced at 2.5 million rupees but the actual cost will be confirmed once the vehicle is officially launched.
Recently, Pakistan has seen various automobile launches, particularly in the SUV segment. The South Korean companies Hyundai and KIA launched Tucson and Sportage respectively. This was followed by the untimely launch of the British auto manufacturer based in China, MG, which unveiled its HS model.
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Hence, the climate is already pretty tough for the upcoming Saga sedan by Proton. But what could’ve been a better time of launching a sedan when auto sales are climbing by the day in the country?
In the last few years, Pakistan’s auto sector has generated immense interest among international automobile companies who have expanded their operations to the country with increased investment and domestic setups. Even small brands – some previously involved in bike manufacturing, have expanded the scope of their operations to include small cars/ hatchbacks in their products e.g. United’s Bravo.