Proton Holdings Bhd expects 2015 to be a better year for the company with sales anticipated to triple as demand for affordable cars increase.

Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah said sales would be driven by its compact car model, Iriz, and the newly-launched Suprima S Standard.

"Iriz is doing very well currently and the introduction of Suprima S Standard reflects our commitment in meeting customers' demand for better value-for-money and affordable cars," he told a press conference here today after the launch of Suprima S. Standard by Proton Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir.

Passenger protection and safety is primary with Proton, and it starts with the reinforced safety structure whereby just like the Premium and Executive variants of the Suprima S, the bodyshell of the Standard variant is designed to absorb impact force.

Commenting on the Takata-made airbag installed in the Honda City car which caused a fatal crash of a local pregnant lady, Abdul Harith said: "Things like this happen sometime despite the manufacturers' effort in doing everything to avoid it from happening.

"We have to ensure during the early stage of testing that things like this will not happen. Testing at the early stage is very important. Once the testing is approved, do not change the specification, just follow".

He said the company did not source the airbags for its vehicles from Takata, adding that Proton vehicles were perfectly safe.

However, Abdul Harith declined to elaborate on the company's possible collaboration with Honda Motor Co Ltd, as announced by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed in the Dewan Rakyat last month.

Proton also announced the results for its inaugural Design Competition 2014 whereby two students, namely, Muhammad Amiruddin Abu Bakar, 17, and Pow Ying Hern, 25, emerged as winners for Category One (13-17 years old) and Category Two (18-25 years old), respectively.

Abdul Harith, who was impressed with the futuristic vision of local youths, said an amazing 337 entries were received for the competition.

"Proton will roll out a bigger competition next year and we will also include a professional category.

"The intellectual property of these submissions are ours and we will take into consideration the designs submitted for our future models," he added.