The PROTON X70, the Proton brand’s flagship model, was introduced to the Kenyan market by Simba Corporation today. The PROTON X70 is a high-end SUV made by the PROTON brand of Malaysian automobiles. One of Malaysia’s major automakers, PROTON is present in more than 30 markets globally. With Simba Corp investing more than USD 2 million into AVA for the local manufacturing of Proton vehicles, the Proton brand, which entered the Kenyan market in 2020, has sold over 150 vehicles.
Speaking during the event Dinesh Kotecha, Group CEO of Simba Corporation said, “We started this journey two years ago with the assembly of the Proton SAGA at our AVA facility in Mombasa. The local assembly of Proton SAGA has helped us to introduce the Proton brand into the Kenyan market. Today marks another milestone as we launch the PROTON X70. We are very excited that the market has embraced this brand, and we are happy to continue introducing new Proton products into the market.”
“We are proud to partner with a strong brand such as Proton, the largest automotive manufacturer in Malaysia. After the success of the Proton SAGA, the first fully built, locally assembled salon car, we are proud to now introduce the brand-new PROTON X70.” said Dinesh Kotecha, Group CEO of Simba Corp. “We have a wide service network countrywide, ensuring that we are never far away from our customers. We are continuously listening to our customer’s needs and growing our vehicle portfolio in line with what our customers are looking for,” he added.
Speaking during the launch, Fatin Zafirah Haris – Charge D’ Affaires – Malaysian High Commission, Kenya said “ The Proton X70 is a top of the range vehicle with the latest in safety and technologically advanced features making it one of Malaysia’s top selling SUV’s. Kenya is a very important market for Malyasia and a leading trading partner within East Africa. Currently Kenya is Malaysia’s number one export destination for Malysia’s products in the African continent and the total trade value is currently at USD 1,150.20 million an increase of 84% over the previous year. The addition of the X70 to Simba Corporation flagship product list shows a high level of trust and commitment between the two companies which Malaysia highly supports. These developments have been made possible by the goodwill and cordial relations that exist between the Republic of Kenya and Malaysia.”
On his part, Faruk Alibhai, PROTON Product Manager, had this to say about the PROTON X70. “We are proud to introduce the brand-new PROTON X70 to the Kenyan market. It is a luxury SUV with a 1.5 litre Turbocharged engine that delivers 180 Horsepower and 255 Nm of Torque. It comes with luxurious Nappa Leather seats, a beautiful panoramic sunroof, a modern state-of-the-art infotainment system, and one of the most Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. The PROTON X70 brings a new meaning to luxury at its price point.”
“The end user was taken into consideration when creating the PROTON X70. The PROTON X70 has cutting-edge features in addition to a 5-Year/150,000-km warranty. Our clients may relax knowing that we have their backs “Added he.
Growing demand for performance cars, increasing product offerings, rising preference for off-roading activities and expected entry of several automakers to drive the Middle East & Africa SUV market through 2023. According to TechSci Research report, “Middle East & Africa SUV Market By Length, By Engine Capacity, By Fuel Type, By Country, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2013 – 2023”, the Middle East & Africa SUV market is projected to reach $ 46.9 billion by 2023, on account of growing per capita income, technological advancements in SUV and foray of several automakers in the region. Additionally, growing popularity of SUVs for off-roading sports tournaments and increasing preference for premium SUVs would positively influence the region’s SUV market. As SUVs offer enhanced safety, superior comfort, higher seating position and several other benefits, demand for SUVs in the Middle East & Africa region is anticipated to keep growing in the coming years.