2026 Proton Saga Sales Slowdown? Q1 Sales Hit 22-Year High as e.MAS EVs Drive New Growth

After a "crazy start" in January this year, the sales performance of the Proton Saga in March seems to have returned to regular levels. According to the latest data, 5,438 units of the Saga MC3 were sold in March, representing a drop of approximately 10.07% compared to the 6,047 units sold in February.

Sales Decline: "Cooling Down" or "Limited Production Capacity"? 

Although March sales of 5,438 units were lower than the MC2's performance in the same period last year (6,154 units), the Saga's position remains strong when viewed across the full first quarter.

Bright Q1 Performance: Thanks to the robust sales momentum in January and February, the Saga recorded total first-quarter sales of 21,770 units in 2026—a significant 38% increase year-on-year, with an average of more than 7,200 units delivered per month.

Order Backlog: As of two months ago, Saga bookings had approached the 100,000-unit mark. The current delivery pressure stems primarily from the manufacturer's production bottlenecks rather than any weakness in market demand.

New Energy Surge: e.MAS Brand Delivers Standout Performance 

Beyond traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, Proton's new energy brand, Proton e.MAS, emerged as a dark horse in March: 

Monthly Sales Exceed 3,000: The e.MAS brand sold 3,023 units in March. Its flagship model, the e.MAS 5, led the charge with 2,071 units delivered in a single month.

Q1 Champion: From January to March 2026, cumulative e.MAS sales reached 6,701 units, securing its position as Malaysia's best-selling EV model.

PHEV New Force: The recently launched e.MAS 7 PHEV recorded 646 units in its first full sales month (March), demonstrating growing market acceptance for locally developed plug-in hybrid models.

Proton's Overall Performance: Strongest First Quarter Since 2004 

Proton's total lineup sales reached 15,706 units in March, representing a solid 15.77% quarter-on-quarter increase.

S70 and X50: The S70 and X50 continue to dominate their respective segments. In particular, the S70, which recently switched to a more efficient 4-cylinder engine, has firmly retained its position as the champion in the C-segment sedan category.

Q1 Summary: Proton's cumulative sales for the first quarter of 2026 reached 49,140 units, marking the brand's strongest first-quarter performance since 2004.

Summary 

Malaysians currently waiting for their Saga MC3 may need a little more patience. Although March sales figures appear to signal a "cool-down", Proton's overall start to 2026 remains exceptionally strong, driven by massive order volumes and the impressive surge of its e.MAS electric vehicles.