Proton and MARii sign 5 year NATC and R&D collaboration at GATE 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: PROTON has signed a new five year collaboration with the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), aimed at sharing test facilities and building up local engineering talent for future products, especially in the new energy vehicle (NEV) space.

The Strategic Collaboration documents were exchanged during the 2025 Global Automotive and Technology Expo (GATE 2025). MARii was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Azrul Reza Aziz, while PROTON was represented by Proton Saga Vehicle Programme Executive, Desmond Pinto.

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The ceremony was witnessed by MARii Chairman Datuk Aminar Rashid and PROTON Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Ainol Azmil.

Proton facilities to form part of NATC

A key part of the agreement is PROTON’s involvement in the National Automotive Test Centre (NATC). Under the deal, PROTON will open up two key facilities to be part of the NATC network, namely its Semi High-Speed Test Track in Shah Alam and its R&D test lab in Tanjong Malim.

On top of that, MARii and PROTON will work together to develop a new NATC facility, with both parties helping to fund its construction. Once up and running, the NATC is meant to function as an industry wide resource, not a closed shop for a single brand.

Other carmakers, suppliers, research bodies and universities will be able to use it, with MARii handling operations and PROTON listed as one of the supporting stakeholders.

The agreement also makes room for a structured talent programme involving 200 PROTON R&D engineers and technical staff. They will gain hands on exposure through R&D activities linked to the NATC and related projects, particularly those focused on NEV technology.

In the bigger picture, this is meant to support the plan to turn the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) into a regional centre for NEV development and production.

“MARii is committed to supporting the national industrial agenda outlined in the National Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the National Automotive Policy 2020 (NAP 2020). This collaboration with PROTON strengthens Malaysia’s capabilities in next-generation mobility through shared testing facilities, structured R&D development, and expanded engineering capacity for new energy vehicles,” said Azrul Reza Aziz, CEO of MARii.

“PROTON’s agreement with MARii enhances the company’s commitment to the automotive industry in Malaysia while fulfilling our responsibility in realising the goals of the National Industrial Master Plan. There is a lot of potential for the NATC to contribute towards developing new technology and new models, and we hope it leads to the realisation of the country’s ambitions to be a regional automotive force,” said Dr. Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer, PROTON.

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