Proton to expand NEV plant capacity, e.MAS 5 CKD EV set to roll out soon

KUALA LUMPUR: As the demand for Proton e.MAS vehicles continue to rise, Proton has decided to expand the capacity of its New Energy Vehicle (NEV) assembly plant at the Automotive High-Tech Valley (AHTV), Tanjong Malim.

Built with an investment plan of RM 82 million, Proton’s NEV was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia in September 2025. The latest expansion plan comes less than a year after its inauguration. It is expected to involve an additional amount of RM 37 million to meet the overwhelming domestic as well as international demand for Proton e.MAS range.

Expansion to boost production and create jobs

• The NEV plant currently has the capacity to assemble 20,000 vehicles annually. Following the planned expansion, the capacity will increase to 42,000 units, 
• It will support both domestic demand and export opportunities while positioning Tanjong Malim as a regional hub for NEV manufacturing within the Geely Group ecosystem. 
• The facility currently has a staff strength of 391 employees, which is also expected to increase with this expansion. 

According to Dato’ Ir. Abdul Rashid Musa, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, PROTON, the expansion reflects both strong consumer confidence in the company’s products and PROTON’s long-term commitment to supporting Malaysia’s EV transformation.

“The need to expand the capacity for PROTON’s NEV plant has come earlier than anticipated due to the exceptionally strong market acceptance for our Proton e.MAS models. Customer demand has exceeded our initial projections, and this has accelerated our plans to localise production capacity,” he said.

“Beyond increasing production volume, this investment also reflects PROTON’s commitment to helping develop Malaysia’s EV ecosystem. By expanding local assembly activities, we are also creating opportunities for talent development, job creation, and the strengthening of the local automotive supply chain as Malaysia moves towards a more electrified future.”

Proton’s NEV plant is a highly flexible manufacturing hub that integrates advanced robotics, cloud-based production management, and Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Its expansion aligns with the nation’s broader aspirations to strengthen local EV manufacturing capabilities and accelerate the growth of the country’s automotive ecosystem.

Strong demand for Proton’s EV range

Proton e.MAS vehicles have quickly emerged as one of the strongest performers in Malaysia’s fast-growing EV segment -

• Proton e.MAS 5 is Malaysia’s best-selling EV model, with 8,472 units sold in the first four months of 2026
• The combined sales for the Proton e.MAS 7 and e.MAS 7 PHEV has reached 11,617 units between January and April 2026, representing a 329% hike over the same period last year. 

Proton has confirmed that the e.MAS 5 will soon join the e.MAS 7 on the local assembly line in Tanjong Malim, becoming the automaker’s second locally assembled EV model.

Also read: Proton introduces Malaysia’s first localised connected mobility platform