PROTON Holdings Bhd is planning to sell about 2,000 units of its 2022 Proton X70, following overwhelming demand.

Deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah said the national carmaker is aiming to produce about 3,000 units per month amid a chip supply crunch.

“For this model, we expect a waiting period of about two months,” he told a virtual media briefing on the launch of the new model today.

The 2022 X70 is priced from RM93,900 to RM121,800 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM95,900 to RM123,800 for East Malaysia.

Roslan said the company is experiencing an improvement in its supply chain, as the country moves towards the endemic phase and the overall stable economic situation in China.

“We have observed that the supply chain is getting better since early May, and we are monitoring it on a daily basis.”

Proton has increased its spare parts stock and is ensuring its dealers have adequate stock for all models, he added.

“We are going to minimise the long waiting period that we experienced in the last two years.”

Proton will also refrain from raising its prices, except for the new X70 and newly launched Saga, despite a production price hike.

Roslan said the company will try to absorb the rising production costs as much as possible.

“For the past two years, due to the pandemic, we have been absorbing a substantial amount of component price hikes.

“If we are unable to absorb them, we will have to pass them on to… our customers.” – Bernama, June 9, 2022.