Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (center) attended the launch event of Proton's new electric vehicle. (Photo: Proton)
As the electric vehicle (EV) trend continues to gain momentum, Malaysia's first homegrown automaker, Proton, launched its first EV, the e.MAS7, on Dec. 16.
The base model is priced at under RM 110,000, making it highly competitive compared to existing players such as China’s BYD and the United States’ Tesla.
Proton launches EV in collaboration with China’s Geely
Founded in 1983 by then-Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, Proton has traditionally focused on gasoline-powered vehicles. Despite the Chinese automaker Geely purchasing a stake in Proton in 2017, the brand largely maintained its traditional offerings until 2023 when it began distributing electric vehicles (EVs) produced by a Geely and Mercedes-Benz joint venture.
