Editing Proton Holdings (section)

=== 2000s ===

{{Multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | width =
| image1 = 2005 Proton Waja 1.6 (4G18) in Puchong, Malaysia (01).jpg
| caption1 = The [[Proton Waja]], the first indigenously designed Proton car.
| image2 = 2005 Proton Gen-2 1.6 in Cyberjaya, Malaysia (01).jpg
| caption2 = The [[Proton GEN•2]], the first model to be offered with Proton's [[CamPro engine]]
}}

The [[Proton Waja]], the company's first indigenously designed model, was launched in August 2000. However, it still had a Mitsubishi 4G18 engine at launch as Proton's first in-house [[CamPro engine]] was unavailable. The Waja marked the end of Proton's extensive reliance on other car manufacturers for vehicle platforms and components.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kon |url=https://www.carlist.my/news/used-car-review-proton-waja-underrated-gem/36600/ |title=Used Car Review: Proton Waja – Underrated Gem |publisher=Carlist.my |date=18 January 2016 |access-date=2 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111408/https://www.carlist.my/news/used-car-review-proton-waja-underrated-gem/36600/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the model was only a moderate seller, being significantly outsold by Proton's own much older and slightly smaller [[Proton Wira]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.proton.com/about_proton/facts_figures/car_sales.php|title=Proton – About – Facts & Figures – Car Sales 2003–2007|publisher=proton.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211165607/https://www.proton.com/about_proton/facts_figures/car_sales.php|archive-date=11 February 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> The Waja also marked the start of a decline in the local market-leading Proton marque which led to [[Perodua]], the second Malaysian vehicle manufacturer, eventually capturing Proton's sales crown in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mahalingam |first=Eugene |url=https://www.carsifu.my/news/proton-perodua-rivalry-to-boost-auto-sector-in-2018 |title=Proton-Perodua rivalry to heat up auto sector in 2018 |work=CarSifu |publisher=Carifu.my |date=26 December 2017 |access-date=2 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111423/https://www.carsifu.my/news/proton-perodua-rivalry-to-boost-auto-sector-in-2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2002, Proton introduced the [[Proton Arena|Arena]], a [[Ute (vehicle)|ute]] based on the [[Proton Wira]] platform and thus far the only Proton model to enjoy significantly more popularity in its export markets (specifically Australia) than domestically. The [[Proton Gen-2]], a hatchback model, was launched in late 2004. It was the first Proton vehicle equipped with the new [[CamPro engine]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-01 |title=Proton CamPro VVT engine R&D has ended - 1.5T is the future - paultan.org |url=https://paultan.org/2021/09/01/proton-campro-vvt-engine-rd-has-ended-1-5t-is-the-future-for-next-homegrown-malaysian-models/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Paul Tan's Automotive News |language=en-US}}</ref>

The RM1.8 billion (US$580 million) Proton [[Tanjung Malim]] manufacturing plant in the Malaysian state of [[Perak]] commenced operation in November 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://corporate.proton.com/About/Manufacturing/Tanjung-Malim/Profile.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217011818/https://corporate.proton.com/About/Manufacturing/Tanjung-Malim/Profile.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 December 2012 |title=Proton Holdings Berhad – About – Manufacturing – Tanjung Malim |publisher=corporate.proton.com |access-date=28 March 2013 }}</ref> The new plant had been projected to open in August 1998, but it was deferred due to the [[1997 Asian Financial Crisis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WywhAAAAIBAJ&pg=1890,4570677&dq=proton+tanjung+malim&hl=en |title=Proton's second plant to make new models |publisher=[[New Straits Times]] |date=20 August 1997 |access-date=28 March 2013 |archive-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330235751/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WywhAAAAIBAJ&pg=1890%2C4570677&dq=proton+tanjung+malim&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> However, it was revived in 2001 and completed in late 2003 instead.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hamsawi |first=Roziana |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oqktAAAAIBAJ&pg=3933,5089849&dq=proton+tanjung+malim&hl=en |title=Multi-billion ringgit car city 'to be revived' |publisher=[[New Straits Times]] |date=19 September 2001 |access-date=28 March 2013 |archive-date=31 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331000516/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oqktAAAAIBAJ&pg=3933%2C5089849&dq=proton+tanjung+malim&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sagaran |first=P. Chandra |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WywhAAAAIBAJ&pg=1890,4570677&dq=proton+tanjung+malim&hl=en |title=New Proton from Perak plant in 2003 |publisher=[[New Straits Times]] |date=17 October 2001 |access-date=28 March 2013 |archive-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330235751/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WywhAAAAIBAJ&pg=1890%2C4570677&dq=proton+tanjung+malim&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> The new 1,280 acre plant was also developed as part of the [[Proton City]] project, which would span 4,000 acres of land in [[Tanjung Malim]] and consist of residential, commercial, institutional, industrial and recreational areas.<ref name="Proton Tanjung Malim"/> The plant has an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, but could be expanded to 1 million units in the future. The Proton Tanjung Malim plant complements the original Proton plant in operation since 1985, located in [[Shah Alam]], [[Selangor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://corporate.proton.com/About/Manufacturing/Shah-Alam/Profile.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217011748/https://corporate.proton.com/About/Manufacturing/Shah-Alam/Profile.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 December 2012 |title=Proton Holdings Berhad – About – Manufacturing – Shah Alam |publisher=corporate.proton.com |access-date=28 March 2013 }}</ref> Despite a combined production capacity of around 350,000 units, both plants are underutilised with just 52,235 and 114,645 units produced at the Tanjung Malim and Shah Alam plants in 2011 respectively.<ref name="Proton Tanjung Malim"/>

On 7 July 2004, Proton purchased a 57.57% stake in [[MV Agusta|MV Agusta S.p.A.]] of Italy, valued at €70 million. Proton failed to reverse the misfortunes of MV Agusta and sold the marque to Gevi S.p.A. in December 2005 for €1, with Gevi assuming the €139.44 million debt carried over from MV Agusta.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2005/12/28/proton-disposes-of-mv-agusta-for-1-euro/ |title=Proton disposes of MV Agusta for 1 Euro |publisher=paultan.org / [[The Edge (Malaysia)]] |date=28 December 2005 |access-date=28 March 2013 |archive-date=8 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108023713/https://paultan.org/2005/12/28/proton-disposes-of-mv-agusta-for-1-euro/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Proton Persona (front), Serdang.jpg|thumbnail|right|The [[Proton Persona (CM)|second generation Proton Persona]], the successor to the [[Proton Wira]] saloon.]]
The latter half of the 2000s marked Proton's comeback in the domestic market, with its vehicle sales growing a total of about 37 percent from 2006 to 2011, significantly above total passenger car sales growth of about 10 percent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.motortrader.com.my/news/bestsellers-of-2007/ |title=Bestsellers of 2007 |publisher=Motortrader.com.my |date=19 February 2008 |access-date=2 March 2019 |archive-date=7 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707033434/https://www.motortrader.com.my/news/bestsellers-of-2007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.maa.org.my/pdf/market_review_2011.pdf |title=Malaysian Automotive Association Market Review For 2011 and Outlook for 2012 |publisher=Malaysian Automotive Association |date=19 January 2012 |access-date=2 March 2019 |archive-date=28 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828223643/https://www.maa.org.my/pdf/market_review_2011.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The comeback was spearheaded by the [[Proton Persona (CM)|Proton Persona]] saloon launched in August 2007, the long-overdue replacement for the best-selling but ageing [[Proton Wira]] saloon. The Persona was based on an extended version of the 2004 [[Proton GEN•2]] hatchback platform and shared most of its components and external appearance.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2007/08/15/proton-persona-protons-new-sedan-details/ |title=Proton Persona launched: Proton's new sedan |publisher=paultan.org |date=15 August 2007 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-date=14 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814050756/https://paultan.org/2007/08/15/proton-persona-protons-new-sedan-details/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Persona successfully sold 19,840 units in the first three months following its launch.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2007/11/07/both-proton-persona-and-perodua-myvi-doing-well/ |title=Both Proton Persona and Perodua Myvi doing well |publisher=paultan.org |date=7 November 2007 |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-date=2 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102191251/https://paultan.org/2007/11/07/both-proton-persona-and-perodua-myvi-doing-well/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:2013 Proton Satria Neo R3 in Cyberjaya, Malaysia (01).jpg|thumbnail|right|The [[Proton Satria Neo]].]]
The [[second generation Proton Saga]] was launched on 18 January 2008.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2008/01/18/proton-saga-test-drive-report/ |title=New Proton Saga Launch and Test Drive Report |publisher=paultan.org |date=18 January 2008 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=16 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216210022/https://paultan.org/2008/01/18/proton-saga-test-drive-report/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Previously, the [[first generation Proton Saga]] had been Proton's first and most successful model, having had a long 23-year lifespan, the longest of all Proton models to date. The new Saga proved to be a successful model Proton with over 23,000 bookings two weeks into its launch.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2008/02/01/proton-saga-23000-bookings-5-month-wait/ |title=Proton Saga: 23,000 bookings, 5 month wait! |publisher=paultan.org |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=26 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626131426/https://paultan.org/2008/02/01/proton-saga-23000-bookings-5-month-wait/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It has consistently ranked as Proton's best-selling vehicle domestically, while placing 3rd overall in 2008, and 2nd between 2009 and 2012, beaten only by its archrival, the [[Perodua Myvi]] in overall vehicle sales.<ref name="Malaysia '08,'09"/><ref name="Malaysia '10,'11"/><ref name="Malaysia '12"/> Proton further widened its model base when it introduced the [[Proton Exora|Exora]], Malaysia's first indigenous 7-seater [[Minivan|MPV]] in April 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tan |first=Paul |url=https://paultan.org/2009/04/15/proton-exora-malaysias-first-mpv-from-rm69998/ |title=Proton Exora: Malaysia's first MPV from RM69,998! |publisher=paultan.org |date=15 April 2009 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=28 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228021012/https://paultan.org/2009/04/15/proton-exora-malaysias-first-mpv-from-rm69998/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Exora was based on Proton's next generation P2 platform and helped satisfy the growing demand for a budget 7-seater in the domestic market, which had been monopolised by the [[Nissan Grand Livina]] and the smaller [[Toyota Avanza]]. For several years, it consistently positioned in the Top 10 best-selling vehicles in Malaysia.<ref name="Malaysia '08,'09"/><ref name="Malaysia '10,'11"/><ref name="Malaysia '12"/>