Akmal Azhar
End of Production in Shah Alam
After a 40-year run, Proton has officially ended the production of the Saga MC2 at its Shah Alam facility. The first Proton Saga rolled off the line on 9 July 1985, and over the decades the Saga grew to become Proton’s longest-running and best-selling nameplate. Until now, every generation of the Saga had been manufactured in Shah Alam. According to postings by Proton staff and dealers on social media, the final MC2 unit, bearing chassis number 454321, was completed on 26 September 2025.
Transition to Tanjong Malim
This move had been anticipated for some time, as Proton announced in July that it would shift Saga production to its Tanjong Malim plant by 2026. To support this transition, the company is investing RM 253 million to set up two new stamping lines, thus boosting its capacity to produce stamped parts. Centralizing production in one location has been part of Proton’s longer-term strategy since DRB-Hicom and Zhejiang Geely entered into their agreement in 2017. At that time, Proton aimed to relocate all Shah Alam operations to Tanjong Malim within five years; however, factors such as the global pandemic delayed that timeline.
Iriz Ends, Saga Continues
Notably, the end of Saga production in Shah Alam comes just days after Proton ceased production of the Iriz at the Tanjong Malim plant on 9 September 2025. Unlike the Iriz, however, the Saga is set to continue with the upcoming MC3 version, which will be built in Tanjong Malim. With the Shah Alam plant no longer producing any Proton vehicles, its future role within the company is uncertain. Previously, the Saga shared Shah Alam with the Exora, whose production there ended in October 2023.
Looking Ahead
As Proton forges ahead with the MC3 and its Tanjong Malim operations, many will be watching closely to see how the Saga evolves and whether it continues to deliver the affordability and reliability that made it a pillar of Malaysia’s automotive landscape.
Zakirin
