It is no surprise that Proton is working hard on the upcoming X50 – spyshots of the said SUV have been circulating on social media since early this year and the X50 name has been trademarked.

Another missing piece to the puzzle is when Proton will launch its new B-segment SUV.

According to sources familiar with the matter, we can expect the Proton X50 to be introduced as soon as late-2020. However delays in the introduction of the locally-assembled X70 could push the X50’s launch well into 2021.

Furthermore, considering that Proton has invested RM 1.2 billion to upgrade its Tanjung Malim production facility to assemble the X70 CKD, it is safe to assume that the X50 will be introduced as a locally-assembled model – unlike the X70, which was introduced first as a fully imported model.

Earlier, Geely Automobile Holdings (parent company for Geely) announced that the company has allowed Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which owns 49 percent of Proton, to sub-license three Geely models to Proton until 2020. The first model is the X70.

The other two models that will be licensed are the Binyue (Proton X50) and Jiaji (VF11 MPV).

With the help from Geely, Proton also plans to introduce, on average, one new model every year.

To recap, the upcoming Proton X50 is based on the Geely Binyue, a B-segment SUV that will challenge the popular Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, and Peugeot 2008.

Depending on variant, engine choices include a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that was co-developed with Volvo.