Proton Ventures Into Trinidad & Tobago Market with X-Series SUVs

Proton partners with ANSA Motors to expand its venture in Trinidad & Tobago, with a target of selling 300 units in 2024.

In case you missed it, national automaker Proton recently expanded its venture into the Caribbean region, as the brand entered the Trinidad and Tobago market with a new partner, ANSA Motors Limited.

Since the establishment of this partnership in March this year, it has yielded promising results, with buyer responses to its car models exceeding initial expectations. To date, Proton has managed to deliver 261 units in the Caribbean nation, achieving 101% of its target volume and bringing the total number of Proton vehicles shipped there to 366 units since CY2023.

Proton X50 (left) & Proto X90 (right)

To mark this newly-established partnership, Proton has launched two of its X-Series SUV models, namely the Proton X50 B-segment SUV and the Proton X90 D-segment SUV, in March this year. As local demands for Proton cars are set to increase in a few months’ time, Proton’s partner ANSA Motors aims to up the ante by increasing its annual sales target to 300 units in 2024.

While said target may seem miniscule compared to other markets, the numbers are quite promising after you consider the small population of this Caribbean island nation. Despite its population of merely 1.5 million, Trinidad and Tobago’s automotive industry mirrors that of more developed countries, with its young population having a knack for something with cutting-edge technology, which makes Proton fit the bill for market demand.

ANSA Motors Head of Regional Business Jerome Borde

“The technology and pricing of Proton vehicles are strengths we hope to exploit, so we are very enthusiastic about the future. We needed a value-for-money brand for segments we had no presence in, and the Proton brand certainly filled those spots,” said Jerome Borde, Head of Regional Business, ANSA Motors.

Besides the promising future sales prospects, Proton has also found a very experienced partner in ANSA Motors, as the company was founded more than 100 years ago with a wealth of experience handling several premium automotive brands in the country.

The success of Proton’s X-series SUV lineup is also reflected in other international markets, as the automaker has shipped a total of 6,501 units to 18 other countries, such as Egypt, Brunei, Nepal, Ghana, and many more. Riding on this positive momentum, the national automaker aims to expand its venture into more export markets, with the X-Series models leading the way.

Proton Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah

“Building a strong alliance with a local distributor with a solid presence in the region is crucial for us to expand into a new territory. Together, we can harness our collective strengths to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and drive lasting success in automotive markets overseas, thus expanding Proton’s footprint and creating opportunities for the local ecosystem through increased production volumes,” said Proto Edar CEO Roslan Abdullah.