On November 27, Malaysia's homegrown brand Proton officially launched its core product, the all-new SAGA, which has already secured over 20,000 orders. Dubbed the "National Car of Malaysia," the Proton SAGA has surpassed cumulative sales of 2 million units. The latest iteration features an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) to enhance active safety performance.
As the ADAS supplier, IMOTIONTECH (01274) collaborated with Tsinghua Alumni Association's Life Sciences and Healthcare Committee, AI & Big Data Committee, and other partners to support the all-new SAGA. The vehicle has become the first in the ASEAN market to achieve two perfect scores in the ASEAN-NCAP (2021-2025) ADAS certification program. It is also the first ASEAN model to receive CMR (AEB motorcycle-triggered) safety certification.
"The active safety system in the new SAGA is the best in Malaysia," Proton customers remarked to the IMOTIONTECH team during the launch. Building on their prior collaboration with the Proton X90, IMOTIONTECH was selected as the ADAS supplier for the new SAGA, developing a system tailored to Malaysia and ASEAN's regulatory requirements, road conditions, and driving habits. The system includes features like AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking), LDW (Lane Departure Warning), and FCW (Forward Collision Warning).
Beyond technical sophistication, active safety demands system reliability and robustness. To achieve this, IMOTIONTECH conducted extensive parameter tuning and vehicle integration tests in China, accounting for the right-hand drive configuration of the new SAGA. Additionally, the company dispatched a team to Malaysia for over 10,000 kilometers of real-world road testing to refine system adaptability.
For instance, Malaysia's uniquely shaped tunnel entrances often trigger false AEB activations in many vehicles, mistaking them for large obstacles. IMOTIONTECH addressed this through dedicated tunnel testing, optimizing software to ensure smooth passage for the new SAGA.
With motorcycles prevalent in Malaysia and mixed traffic conditions posing challenges for AEB systems, IMOTIONTECH leveraged extensive road data and deep local insights to fine-tune its algorithms. The result was the establishment of a safety baseline for motorcycle detection, earning the new SAGA ASEAN-NCAP's first CMR certification and a perfect score in the "Advanced Motorcycle Safety (Advanced MST)" program.
IMOTIONTECH's rigorous engineering and localization efforts have positioned the new SAGA as a leader in active safety performance and cost efficiency across Malaysia and the ASEAN market. Looking ahead, Proton stated, "We believe IMOTIONTECH and Proton will become the top choice in the ASEAN region."
With the new SAGA now on the market, IMOTIONTECH is accelerating production line setup and validation at its Malaysian facility, aiming to equip the model with locally manufactured active safety systems by 2026. Earlier this year, IMOTIONTECH partnered with Malaysia's leading auto parts supplier, Delloyd, to establish a joint production and sales base, marking its transition from product exports to technology, systems, and service globalization.
The successful mass production of the new Proton SAGA underscores IMOTIONTECH's growing capabilities in Southeast Asia and other overseas markets.