Proton (short for Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional) is a Malaysian passenger car brand based in Kuala Lumpur. It was established in 1983 under the name Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Berhad.
Meaning and history
Initially, the star on the company logo, like the flag of Malaysia, symbolized the unity of 13 states of Malaysia along with the federal territories, and the crescent moon was the symbol of the country’s religion (Islam), and yellow was the royal color of the Malay rulers.
1985 – 1992
The first logo of the company was in the form of a three-dimensional shield, inside of which a crescent and inverted moon with the sun inside (similar to a flag of Malaysia) were depicted on a blue rhombus.
1992 – 2000
In 1992, in connection with the export of the company’s products, three logos were developed. The first one was in the form of a flattened blue rectangle with a silver rim inside which the sun and the moon were depicted, as in the previous logo. This logo was used exclusively in Malaysia.
The second logo had an identical shape, but only a stylized sun was depicted inside. This logo was used for export to Europe. The third logo was in the form of a rhombus, inside of which another stylized sun was placed on a blue background. The text inscription retained its appearance and was located under the logos.
2000 – 2008
In 2000, there was now one logo used around the world. It had the shape of a shield, inside of which a tiger was depicted in a circle, and above it was the name of the company in golden color.
2008 – 2016
In 2008, the logo was identical to the previous one, only now it was designed in black and white tones.
2016 – 2019
In 2016, the logo was noticeably smaller, the company name was located under the logo, and a circle with the image of a tiger was closely inscribed in the outline of the shield.
2019 – present
In 2019, the logo was depicted without a shield, the tiger’s head was refined, and the entire logo (along with the company name below) now has a light silver color.
Emblem and symbol
The tiger on the company’s emblem was also not chosen in vain. He is the country’s national animal and symbolizes power and strength.
The Legends
The Proton Impian
It’s a compact, lower-middle class passenger car produced by a Malaysian automotive company. The car appeared in 2000 as a successor to the Wira model and was the first model built exclusively by Proton.
