Proton has taken a significant step toward its goal of local electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing with the groundbreaking ceremony for its first dedicated EV production plant at the high-tech Tanjung Malim facility. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, this RM82 million investment marks the initial phase of Proton’s EV assembly plan, which will have an annual production capacity of 20,000 units. The facility will produce multiple models based on the Global Modular Architecture (GMA) platform, starting with the Proton e.MAS 7, Malaysia’s first EV from a local automotive brand.
The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including the Menteri Besar of Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, members of the state government, and representatives from federal agencies and local authorities. Key Proton executives, such as board member Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, CEO Dr. Li Chunrong, and Deputy CEO Roslan Abdullah, also participated in the event.
Proton’s move to produce EV models in Tanjung Malim aligns with Malaysia’s broader EV industrialization plan, supporting policies such as the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP), National Automotive Policy (NAP 2020), Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint (LCMB), and New Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). This milestone signifies the culmination of efforts to consolidate all Proton manufacturing operations in Tanjung Malim and establish the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) as a center for innovation and EV production.
The purpose-built facility will incorporate “smart manufacturing technologies” to ensure efficient, high-quality production with minimal environmental impact. The factory will leverage automation, robotics, cloud-based plant management, industrial Internet-of-Things (IoT), and Industry 4.0 technologies.
Despite the high degree of automation, the new plant is expected to create over 200 specialized jobs in EV industrialization and technical services for the local community. Additionally, it will have a ripple effect on the AHTV vendor community, driving demand for value-added parts critical to assembly operations.
Proton has already outlined plans for a second phase of the plant, which will increase production capacity to 45,000 units annually. This expansion will depend on growing demand for EVs in both domestic and international markets.
“Proton began its transition to offering internal combustion engine (ICE) and new energy vehicle (NEV) models in 2023 with the establishment of PRO-NET to sell EVs, followed by the launch of the Proton e.MAS 7 in 2024,” said Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton. “This new plant takes us closer to realizing our vision of manufacturing and developing EV models in Malaysia. The vehicles produced here will serve both local and export markets while driving the growth of the EV ecosystem in the region.”
Dr. Li Chunrong emphasized that the factory will not only produce the Proton e.MAS 7 but also support future NEV models, helping to establish a robust automotive ecosystem in Malaysia. He added, “We hope our success will encourage more OEMs to consider Malaysia and AHTV as a regional base for EV production.” 
