Proton AMA platform to spawn new models beyond Saga, to be brand’s key weapon for export expansion

Proton AMA platform to spawn new models beyond Saga, to be brand’s key weapon for export expansion

At today’s launch of the 2025 Proton Saga MC3, DRB-Hicom group managing director Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar has announced that future models from the national carmaker will emerge from the Advanced Modular Architecture (AMA) that underpins the latest iteration of the Saga.

Being modular in nature, the AMA can be stretched or shortened to suit the vehicle to emerge from the platform, thus offering the potential for several new Saga bodystyles to emerge, including a hatchback, an MPV and an SUV.

In terms of the just-launched Saga MC3, Proton’s latest model gets hot-press-formed (HPF) steel B-pillars and floor cross member, along with an advanced-high-strength steel roof cross member and high-strength steel door bars. These updates have made the body stiffer to the extent that the new model is able to do away with the old car’s strut brace, and thus retain its four-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.

Proton Saga hatchback, Saga Cross rendered by Theophilus Chin

According to Proton, the AMA is “flexible, scalable and future-ready” and it is designed to meet international safety, performance and efficiency standards, and that Proton owns the full intellectual property rights to the platform, which reinforces its “growing engineering capability,” it said.

Proton has also said that it is open to collaboration across the wider Geely group, “potentially positioning Malaysia as a regional engineering hub for future model development,” it had said. The broadening of product offerings based on the AMA platform will go towards Proton’s growth ambitions, including on the international level.

The national carmaker is present in 18 export markets currently, and it is expecting to see a 10-fold increase in sales volume in the next five years through growth in international markets, minister of investment, trade and industry Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Aziz said at today’s launch of the 2026 Proton Saga MC3.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Dengar boleh percaya jangan

    Thumb up 13 Thumb down 9
    • Rakyat Malaysia on Nov 28, 2025 at 6:22 pm

      Just like this Gomen.
      Saga dulu mampu beli.
      Saga sekarang hanya mampu lihat.
      Kesian rakyat Malaysia dah semakin miskin.

      Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
      • plainb brain on Nov 30, 2025 at 6:18 pm

        ringgit-USD exchange rate was USD 2.5 30 years long ago, and it dropped to 4.8 thanks to thirty years of which gomen?

        Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
        • Make Malaysia Great Again on Dec 01, 2025 at 5:02 pm

          Under PM Najib the rate was RM 3.8 to USD now is RM 4.8 to USD. We are losing money today thanks to which gomen and which PM ?

          Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • usb brain on Dec 03, 2025 at 11:55 am

          USD was 4.8 in 2023 and it streghthen greatly until reach 4.1 in decmber 2025 , so this is thanks to which govt and which PM ?

          Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • DonkeyKong on Nov 27, 2025 at 9:22 pm

    From the early reviews, it seems that it does 110km/h at 2700rpm? That’s still a very high engine speed compared to competitors with similar engine capacities e.g Honda City and Toyota Vios. It remains to be seen whether they can achieve the fuel economy that they boasted about at that traveling speed, or, if it’s the same as past Protons in which the fuel economy ratings are for a constant speed of 90km/h.

    If it has a modern engine but rehashed old gearboxes, and have to run at much higher engine speeds vs competitors just to attain the same speeds on the highway, it might not be truly competitive in terms of refinement and fuel economy.

    Thumb up 17 Thumb down 8
    • no surprise that ancient 4-speed auto and junk punch cvt will consume lot of fuel

      Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • FrankC on Nov 28, 2025 at 10:33 am

      interesting observation.
      well it remains to be seen. hopefully our paul tan review team can have an actual test drive review.
      positioning proton as supplier of complementary models to Geely is a good strategy to go with. but cost remains biggest barrier. our local parts makers still not competitive enough to enter Geely supply chain. something proton must do to make them competitive.

      Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Jeremy on Nov 28, 2025 at 7:08 pm

      Due to using 4AT gearbox while others are using CVT. Ironic for you to praise them coz Saga had been using CVT but got such hatred that Proton had to go backwards back to 4AT and now your nitpicking on the rev counter bcoz its using exactly what the market customer wanted.
      Geez! If Proton cant win it all they just dont win at all.

      Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • fudgemesideways on Nov 28, 2025 at 8:12 am

    Are we talking about the same Savvy chassis?

    Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Yung Vern Cheah on Nov 30, 2025 at 1:46 pm

      Proton mgmt in short is really making a penny wise pound foolish decision.. Instead of stretching a newer and more expensive platform further they choose to milk an older and primitive platform instead. Something that Toyota Honda Hyundai VW wouldn’t do despite having a greater economies of scale than proton

      Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
      • Celup King on Dec 01, 2025 at 5:06 pm

        Yeah because for cheap rakyat friendly cars Toyota Honda Hyundai VW would rather rebadge cheap inferior China cars and slap their badge onto it instead of reusing a solid platform designed inhouse. So who is penny wise pound foolish? Wouldn’t that make Toyota Honda Hyundai VW penny wise but their car buyers pound foolish for getting a cheap inferior China rebadge? I would take an MC3 Saga any day.

        Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • yungvern us brain on Dec 01, 2025 at 6:58 pm

        you said it yourself “more expensive platform” if proton used that platform you think saga still can priced at 38k?

        Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Z900 2016 on Nov 28, 2025 at 9:01 am

    the rear is very nice but the front still has the boring previous gen saga look…hmmm

    Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Saga Aeroback Knight

    Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Tiktoxx on Nov 28, 2025 at 2:56 pm

    MC3

    Minor Change – 3rd time

    It is the same platform with SAVVY ages ago

    Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Jom Global on Nov 30, 2025 at 5:16 pm

    To enhance customer experience, Proton now provides a relief car for the Proton Saga if a service takes longer than 3 days. This initiative reflects the company’s dedication to quality assurance, which includes both parts quality and supplier standards.

    Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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