In a major milestone for the automotive and tech industries, Proton has officially introduced the world’s first Bahasa Melayu Voice Recognition (VR) system in its all-new Proton X50, further solidifying its position as a trailblazer in intelligent mobility. This development marks a global first and a uniquely Malaysian innovation, arriving seven years after the launch of Proton’s English-language “Hi Proton” VR system.
The revolutionary system—affectionately named Aisyah—offers a familiar, human-like interface designed to feel more like a helpful companion than just another feature. Aisyah runs on a powerful 14.6-inch infotainment display and now supports both Bahasa Melayu and English voice commands, setting Proton apart as the first automaker to offer such dual-language capabilities natively.
Developed in record time—just seven months instead of the projected one year—the Bahasa Melayu VR project saw Proton and ACO Tech (its smart mobility joint venture) invest over 336,000 man-hours. The process involved collecting 8,000 unique voice commands (split evenly between Bahasa Melayu and English) and recording more than 200 voice samples to ensure inclusivity and accuracy. Special attention was given to natural phrasing, allowing the system to understand everyday variations such as “buka tingkap” and “bukakan tingkap” (both meaning “open the window”).
First introduced in 2018 with the Proton X70, Proton’s VR journey began with the Geely Smart Ecosystem (GKUI), which evolved into the more locally-tailored ATLAS OS platform by 2022. In current models, the “Hi Proton” system already handles calls, music, air-conditioning, navigation, and more—all hands-free—offering not just convenience, but also a significant safety upgrade for drivers.
Recent data shows just how vital this system has become: in June 2025 alone, users issued 2.8 million commands, with 228,046 active users. Common commands included greetings like “Hello” (43,896 instances), weather-related queries, and phone calls.
Looking ahead, the Aisyah VR system is set to become even smarter. Thanks to over-the-air (OTA) updates, the system will continuously expand its command vocabulary and context recognition—responding to natural phrases like “I want to see the sky” by opening the sunroof. While Aisyah is currently optimised for female voice inputs, male voice recognition and additional languages and dialects are in the pipeline.
“This development is more than just a tech upgrade—it’s a reflection of who we are,” said Zhang Qiang, Deputy CEO of Proton Edar. “By integrating Bahasa Melayu voice recognition, we ensure our technology speaks the language of our people. It’s innovation made by locals, for locals.”
