Proton Reviews

Proton, short for Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional (National Car Project), is a Malaysian car manufacturer initiated in 1983 by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Proton cars are exported to countries in the Far East and Europe. An entry into the U.S. market was considered, following Hyundai’s successful launch in the mid 1980s. However, exports never materialized, as the cars required hundreds of changes to meet American safety standards. In Western Europe, the popularity and high quality of Proton cars among budget-oriented motorists led to the demise of Eastern-bloc manufacturers such as Lada and Zastava.