Proton to Launch Affordable eMas 5 EV to Compete with Perodua eMO?
Proton to Launch Affordable eMas 5 EV to Compete with Perodua eMO?
Although it's only a few days into 2025, Proton CEO Dr. Li Chunrong has already confirmed that the company will launch its second all-electric model this year. The announcement was made during the opening of the Proton eMas Petaling Jaya showroom in Seksyen 13, operated by Regal Motors EV.
This is exciting news, especially coming less than a month after the launch of the Proton eMas 7, Malaysia's first locally-branded electric vehicle. While the details of the second model are still a secret, it’s widely believed to be the eMas 5, which is based on the Geely Xingyuan.
If this is true, the eMas 5 will be a smaller, more affordable electric car aimed at the mass market. It could also compete with Perodua's upcoming electric vehicle, which was recently previewed by the eMO-II concept.
In China, the Geely Xingyuan was launched in October 2024, offering a range of up to 410 km on the CLTC cycle (around 350 km on the WLTP cycle). We’ll have to wait and see if the Proton eMas 5 will offer similar smaller battery options, like the 30.12 and 40.16 kWh options. The larger eMas 7, on the other hand, comes with 49.52 and 60.22 kWh battery packs,offering a claimed range of 345 km and 410 km on the WLTP cycle.
Last September, we reported that Proton dealers in Malaysia were shown the Geely Xingyuan during a visit to China, sparking rumours that the smaller EV model could be launched as the eMas 5. It now seems more likely that this is indeed the plan.
The big question is when it will arrive and how much it will cost. The Proton eMas 7 starts at RM105,800, so it’s expected that the smaller eMas 5 will be priced under RM100k. However, this price is likely if the eMas 5 is locally assembled in Malaysia, as the eMas 7 is currently imported from China.
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