Malaysian automaker Proton has commenced construction of the country’s first electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant, with an initial investment of 82 million Malaysian ringgit ($18 million). The facility, located in Tanjung Malim, Perak, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Proton’s new factory will have an annual production capacity of 20,000 units in its first phase, with plans to expand to 45,000 units depending on market demand. Initially, the facility will not support full-scale manufacturing but will focus on assembling the e.MAS 7 from imported completely knocked-down (CKD) kits.
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Proton has provided mixed signals on the plant’s long-term production plans, referring to it both as a dedicated EV facility and a site for “future NEV offerings,” a category that includes plug-in hybrid and extended-range electric vehicles.
The e.MAS 7, based on Geely’s Galaxy E5, is Proton’s first electric model and Malaysia’s first domestically branded EV. Proton states that the vehicle features 49 modifications, including an increased water-wading depth of 400 mm, to better suit local conditions.
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Currently sold in Malaysia as a fully imported unit from China, the e.MAS 7 is offered in Prime and Premium variants, priced at 109,800 ringgit ($24,000) and 123,800 ringgit ($27,000), respectively. The company is offering a 4,000 ringgit ($867) discount for the first 3,000 customers.
Beyond domestic sales, Proton plans to export the locally assembled e.MAS 7 to several markets, including Mauritius, Nepal, Singapore, and Trinidad and Tobago, with Brunei also under consideration. The automaker is expected to lower the vehicle’s pricing once local assembly begins.
Source: theedgemalaysia.com, paultan.org