Proton is about to start making electric cars right here in Malaysia at their new factory in Tanjung Malim, Perak. The first of their EV-focused manufacturing.

When Are They Starting?

The plant is almost ready lah. As of August 2025, they’re sitting at 90.4% completion. The equipment installation is at 83.5% done, and the whole project is 86.9% finished. Production starts mid-September 2025.

So by the time you’re reading this, they might already be churning out cars.

What Cars Are They Making?

They’re using something called the Global Modular Architecture platform. Sounds fancy right? But basically it’s designed specifically for making electric cars.

First car rolling out is the Proton e.MAS 7. This is supposedly the first electric car from a Malaysian brand. Then they’ll follow up with the Proton e.MAS 5, which they’re calling Malaysia’s most anticipated entry-level EV.

You might have seen the e.MAS 5 during their nationwide tour and during the Merdeka 2025 parade. They’ve been bringing it around the country to let people check it out.

How Many Cars Can They Make?

They’re starting with 20,000 cars per year. But here’s the smart part. The factory can scale up to 45,000 cars annually if demand picks up.

And they’re not just thinking local. The whole setup is designed to export cars to other countries too. Malaysia becoming a regional EV hub? Who would have thought?

Jobs and Training

The plant is creating over 200 new jobs for now. Most of these are specialized positions in EV manufacturing and technical services.

They’ve already hired 30 people for key operational roles. These folks are going through proper training now to get ready for the September launch.

Geely Partnership Makes the Difference

You know what’s making this whole thing possible? Their partnership with Geely from China. These guys are providing serious technical support:

  • Helping design the production systems
  • Choosing the right equipment
  • Sending experts to supervise installation
  • Training Proton staff overseas
  • Making sure everything meets international standards

Without Geely’s backing, I doubt Proton could pull this off on their own.

What This Means for Malaysia

Wan Yousry Mohamed from Proton’s manufacturing team said this plant represents “Proton’s transformation and the group’s commitment to a sustainable, high-tech future.”

He’s not wrong. This could actually position Malaysia as a leader in Southeast Asia’s EV market. We’re talking about exporting Malaysian-made electric cars to other countries.

That’s quite a shift from just assembling imported parts, which is what most of our car industry has been doing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will these cars be sold outside Malaysia? Yes, the plant is designed for both domestic and export markets. Proton plans to expand into overseas markets.

Can the factory handle increased demand? Yes, it can scale from 20,000 to 45,000 units per year based on market demand.

They’ve got proper backing, real technology transfer, and a clear production plan especially with the Geely partnership.

Source; The Star