Proton will continue to operate independently without interference from the government, said prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reported The Star.
“Proton’s illustrious history, founded by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has faced its share of challenges. The key lesson now is to strengthen its management while ensuring the government provides support and assistance without interfering in its operations,” said the prime minister.
“This is to ensure that Proton will have the freedom to conduct research and training, while guaranteeing that its administration and governance are at a good standard,” he added, during his speech at the official launch of the Proton eMas 7.
Citing the launch of Proton’s CKD assembly plant in Egypt, Anwar said that the national carmaker has laid the foundation for its manufacturing and distribution in the country, targeting northern African markets in particular.
The prime minister of Malaysia urged Proton to capitalise on the growing EV market by aligning with the National Automotive Policy 2020. “It is incumbent that companies that operate in our automotive industry do not just sell vehicles, but also open opportunities for investment and employment by setting up a holistic ecosystem,” the prime minister said.
Launched following a protracted teaser campaign, which began even before the order books opened at ACE 2024 in October, the Proton eMas 7 is offered in two variants – the base Prime variant at RM109,800, and the top Premium variant at RM123,800; both prices are on-the-road without insurance.
The eMas 7 Prime is specified with a 49.52 kWh version of the Geely Aegis ‘short blade’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which is rated for 345 km of range on the WLTP testing standard. The up-specced eMas 7 Premium gets the larger 60.22 kWh battery, rated for 410 km of range (WLTP).
Both variants can receive up to 11 kW in AC charging, which will top up the battery in the Prime in 4.9 hours, and the unit in the Premium in 6.1 hours. For quicker charging, the Prime takes up to 90 kW DC, while the Premium takes up to 100 kW DC, enabling both to receive a 30-80% recharge in 20 minutes.
Integration of live charging map information features in the eMas 7, where more than 1,700 chargers from the top charge point operators in Malaysia – or 85% of all charging points in the country – are featured in the system. To start, the Proton eMas 7 is fully imported (CBU) from China, with customer unit deliveries to begin next year.
GALLERY: Proton eMas 7 Premium
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