PROTON 10,000 sMILEs Expedition Continues Through Sabah, Connecting Communities, Culture and Real-World Mobility

PROTON continued its 10,000 sMILEs Expedition in Sabah with a journey that connected people, places, and products through authentic real-world experiences on the road.

Travelling from the lively streets of Kota Kinabalu to the highland routes of Kundasang, the expedition brought together local culture, community contribution, sustainability efforts, and real-world vehicle performance under conditions familiar to Sabah motorists.

Held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, the Sabah journey reflected the campaign’s purpose of collecting smiles while strengthening PROTON’s connection with East Malaysia.

More than a convoy drive, the expedition became a moving showcase of how the Proton Saga, Proton X50, and Proton S70 support different lifestyles — from daily city driving and family practicality to intelligent parking assistance, long-distance comfort, and confident highland performance.

Real Roads, Real Product Confidence: From City to Cloud

From the vibrant streets of Kota Kinabalu to the winding highland roads of Kundasang, the Sabah leg of the expedition provided a real-world setting for PROTON to demonstrate how its latest models deliver confidence across varying driving environments and lifestyles.

Against the backdrop of Kaamatan celebrations in Kota Kinabalu, the urban environment allowed PROTON to showcase features focused on convenience, practicality, connectivity, and parking confidence.

The Proton Saga reinforced its reputation as Malaysia’s iconic sedan through practical features such as:

• Spacious 420-litre boot capacity
• Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
• Reverse camera and parking sensors
• i-GT 1.5L engine paired with a CVT transmission

Together, these features deliver dependable comfort and fuel-efficient mobility for families and first-time buyers.

Meanwhile, the Proton X50 — Malaysia’s King of SUVs — highlighted its intelligent SUV capabilities through:

• 360° HD Camera with 180° Transparent View
• Auto Park Assist
• 12 parking sensors
• Voice command functionality

Powered by an i-GT 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine alongside adaptive drive modes and Hill Descent Control, the X50 demonstrated confident performance across both urban roads and Sabah’s changing terrain.

As the convoy progressed towards Kundasang, uphill gradients and winding roads created the ideal setting to showcase real-world highland performance.

The Proton S70 reinforced its “city to cloud” character as Malaysia’s sporty sedan, powered by an i-GT 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). Features such as Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, and PROTON Ride & Handling contributed to smooth, responsive, and refined driving performance across highland routes.

Together, the Proton Saga, Proton X50, and Proton S70 demonstrated how practical usability, intelligent technology, and confident performance come together to support everyday mobility across Sabah.

Faster and Better Support on the Ground

Beyond demonstrating vehicle capability on Sabah’s roads, the expedition also highlighted PROTON’s continued commitment to delivering a faster and better ownership experience through its aftersales network.

At Fook Loi Corporation, one of PROTON’s dealership partners in Sabah, the convoy conducted a Fast Service 10-Point Service Check to demonstrate how quicker and more convenient aftersales support can enhance ownership confidence.

Supported by PROTON’s network of 12 service outlets across Sabah, customers are further backed by Regional Parts Centres (RPC) in Inanam to ensure faster parts availability and smoother aftersales support.

During the stop, expedition participants also experienced firsthand the professionalism, technical confidence, and service quality of PROTON’s aftersales team, whose attentive support and clear communication received positive feedback from the convoy participants.

The activity reflected PROTON’s “Faster and Better” Aftersales Commitment towards delivering a more seamless and reassuring ownership experience — reinforcing that customer confidence extends beyond the drive itself to every ownership touchpoint, from vehicle purchase to long-term maintenance and support.

Connecting Mobility with Purpose

Beyond product demonstrations, the expedition also carried a meaningful community mission.

PROTON visited Sabah Cheshire Home and Services, contributing essential supplies, food, care items, and a cash donation of RM10,000 to support the organisation’s daily operations.

The initiative reflected the campaign’s intention to create smiles not only through public engagement, but also through meaningful contributions to communities that play an important role in Sabah’s social fabric.

It also reinforced the idea that mobility is not only about reaching destinations, but about connecting with people throughout the journey.

Leaving a Greener Footprint

At Kinabalu Park, PROTON further strengthened its sustainability commitment through a collaboration with Sabah Parks to support environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and long-term sustainability initiatives in Sabah.

The engagement reflects a shared commitment towards future sustainability efforts, reinforcing how the PROTON 10,000 sMILEs Expedition extends beyond mobility to create positive impact across the communities and destinations it connects.

From demonstrating vehicle capability on Sabah’s roads to contributing to community and environmental causes, the expedition highlighted how the 10,000 sMILEs campaign goes beyond a traditional driving event.

“This expedition allows PROTON to experience Sabah in a more meaningful way — through its people, its communities, its culture, and its roads,” said Dato’ Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of PROTON.

“From Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang, we were able to show how our vehicles perform in real conditions while also contributing to Sabah Cheshire Home and strengthening collaboration on sustainability efforts at Kinabalu GeoPark. This is what the 10,000 sMILEs Expedition represents: connecting products with people, and mobility with purpose.”