Malaysia’s first car company, Proton Holdings, inaugurated its first assembly plant dedicated exclusively to the production of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with a ceremony attended by the country’s Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The plant, located in the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) complex in Tanjong Malim, is scheduled to begin full-scale vehicle assembly operations this month, just seven months after its groundbreaking ceremony in February 2025.
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Proton has completed the first MYR 47 million (US$ 10 million) phase of its planned MYR 82 million investment in the facility, generating an initial production capacity of 20,000 BEVs per year, with plans to scale this up to 45,000 units per year later on.
The first model to be assembled at the AHTV plant, from CKD kits imported from China, will be the Geely-based Proton e.MAS 7, which was launched locally in December last year. This will be followed shortly afterward by a second BEV model, the Proton e.MAS 5. Other models will be added at the plant later on, including premium models under Geely’s Zeekr BEV brand.
Proton said the new plant was “designed and built in close cooperation its technical partner Geely,” adding that the facility has “several key production lines and specialized equipment, including the tyre manipulator chassis line, rear sub assembly line, rear spring compress machine, and pallet sub assembly line. The final stages of production are handled by the final line conveyor, which works with the chassis line.”
Proton’s CEO, Dr. Li Chunrong, said in a statement: “The launch of this state-of-the-art EV plant marks a historic milestone for Proton and Malaysia’s automotive industry. This facility, built with advanced technology and a focus on scalability, will be the backbone of our commitment to producing world-class electric vehicles. The Proton e.MAS 7, which has already been embraced by Malaysian consumers, is just the beginning of our journey towards a sustainable future.
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By GlobalData
