Proton has opened its CKD plant in Egypt, its third currently in operation after Kenya and Pakistan. The plant in Al Oula Industrial Park, Giza was inaugurated by Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, minister of investment, trade and industry Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Egyptian deputy prime minister Kamel Al-Wazir, among others.
The facility is owned by Ezz Elarab Elsewedy Automotive Factories (ESAF), a joint venture between Ezz Elarab and Elsewedy Capital Holding. Valued at US$35 million (RM155.9 billion), it has a production capacity of 20,000 units per shift and, at full capacity, is expected to provide jobs for up to 400 people.
The first CKD Saga packs were shipped to Egypt on September 9; the first completed units are expected to roll off the production line in December with a projected 2024 volume of 1,400 units. This is set to increase to 5,000 units next year, and Proton expects to ship a total of 16,000 CKD packs to the North African country across three years by the end of 2026.
In addition to local consumption, the CKD Sagas will be exported to countries in North and Sub-Saharan Africa, as the national carmaker looks to penetrate those markets as well as the Middle East. Proton expects to rake in RM570 million through these exports, along with a further RM20 million in revenue through parts exports.
“Proton is not just an automotive company; it is a source of pride and part of Malaysia’s identity,” said Anwar, adding that such joint ventures are crucial for advancing local industries; he also urged Proton to fully utilise local facilities as soon as possible.
Company chairman Syed Faisal Albar added: “Proton has been Malaysia’s leading vehicle exporter for decades with our current export volume accounting for approximately three per cent of our total sales volume. While these efforts have borne fruit, our own history shows there is a lot of untapped potential for the company in markets outside of Malaysia.
“Egypt is central to our plans for the region and going forwards, we will be keen to engage in more collaborations with partners such as ESAF to unlock the sales potential for our cars in countries where car ownership numbers are still increasing.”
The post Proton opens Egypt CKD plant with PM Anwar Ibrahim – 12k units of Saga by end-2026, exports to Africa appeared first on Paul Tan’s Automotive News.
