The time has come for Proton’s first electric SUV to start making money.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today launched the e.MAS 7. It is available in two versions: Prime at RM109,800 and Premium at RM 123,800. Prices are on-the-road without insurance.
The first 3,000 e.MAS 7 customers are in for a treat. They would enjoy a set of benefits for a limited time, worth up to RM8,000, which is on top of a RM4,000 rebate.
They would get the following:
Power Home
– complimentary 7kW home charger worth RM 1,500
Power Plus
– complimentary V2L Adaptor worth RM 500
Power Online
– five-year unlimited Internet data worth RM 1,800
Power Thru
– 6-year unlimited mileage vehicle warranty
– 8-Year /160,000km high voltage battery and component warranty
Power Financing
– 1.98% interest rate from Proton Commerce up to RM3,000
– Proton owner trade-in rebate worth RM1,200
Built on the Global Modular Architecture (GMA) platform, the e.MAS 7 is offered five colour options. They are Platinum Silver, Turquoise Green, Slate Grey, Quartz Rose and Lithium White.
Powered by a 12-in-1 intelligent electric propulsion system and the Aegis Short-Blade Battery, the C-segment SUV delivers 160kW of power and 320Nm of torque, achieving 0-100kph in 6.9 seconds.
This Geely battery technology uses lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and is known for its safety, thermal stability, and long cycle life, making it ideal for cheaper electric vehicles. LFP batteries are less prone to overheating and have a lower risk of thermal runaway compared to other lithium-ion chemistries, such as NCM (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese). LFP batteries are also cheaper than NCM batteries.
The Prime variant features a 49.52kWh battery with a 345 km WLTP range, while the Premium model includes a 60.22kWh battery offering 410 km. Both support DC fast charging, enabling 30-80% charge in 20 minutes and recovering up to 135 km of range in 10 minutes.
The e.MAS 7 prioritises comfort and technology.
Its interior features ventilated seats, 33 storage compartments, and a 16-speaker Flyme Sound system. A 15.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen integrates a charging map to locate over 1,700 charging points nationwide, supported by collaborations with Gentari, JomCharge, and others.
The Proton e.MAS 7 reflects the company’s efforts towards innovation and sustainability. Proton relied on Geely to come out with the e.MAS 7. At the time, Geely was developing its own Galaxy E5 electric SUV. One can see the many similarities between the two models if they are lined up side by side.
Proton took the E5 and ran with it. According to the Proton narrative, it put in more work into the e.MAS 7 to make it more suitable for Malaysian requirements and the local terrain.
It said its engineers worked with Geely and put in over 700,000 man-hours and conducted 100,000 km of testing across diverse Malaysian terrains and harsh conditions.
The e.MAS 7 has been customised to the Malaysian market in the following ways:
– Improved charging: It is equipped with 11 kW three-phase AC onboard charger, allowing for faster charging times compared to the Galaxy E5, which is equipped with a 6.6 kW single-phase charger.
– Better water wading ability: Proton said it has tested the e.MAS 7 to handle water depths of up to 400mm, which is relevant when you consider many parts of the country are prone to flooding especially in an era of climate change.
– Suspension firmed up: The E5 is notorious for its soft suspension that was tuned for China’s roads and their customer preference. The e.MAS 7 has a comparatively firm suspension to provide better ride comfort and body control on Malaysian roads.
The e.MAS 7 has achieved a 5-star safety rating from Asean NCAP with an accumulated score of 92.57 points.
“By collaborating closely with its partner (Geely), Proton has successfully developed a global product that allows us to take a major step towards a sustainable future for Malaysia’s automotive industry,” said Proton CEO Dr Li Chun-rong.
Proton’s electric vehicle line-up are being handled by its subsidiary Pro-NET, which also distributes and sells the smart brand of EVs.
Pro-NET CEO Zhang Qiang said e.MAS 7 has huge market potential. “Moving forward, we plan to export this latest model starting with Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Mauritius and Nepal next year.”
PRO-NET has appointed 37 nationwide dealers, with 30 expected to be operational by the end of 2024. Malaysians can explore the e.MAS 7 through the Proton e.MAS app or visit https://emas.proton.com/.
