Proton has begun construction of its first dedicated electric vehicle (EV) production facility at its Tanjung Malim site, taking a significant step towards localised EV manufacturing.
The plant, which is slated to be completed by the end of 2025 at an investment of RM82 million, will initially have a capacity of 20,000 units per year.
The first model to be assembled will be the Proton e.MAS 7, marking the launch of the first EV by a Malaysian automotive brand.
The facility will later produce other models based on Proton’s Global Modular Architecture (GMA) platform.
Present at the groundbreaking ceremony today were Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Proton CEO Dr Li Chunrong and other government officials.
The plant also promises to be a model of smart manufacturing, incorporating robotics, cloud-based management, and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to enhance efficiency and minimise environmental impact.
By creating over 200 job opportunities in its first phase, Proton aims to drive the development of the EV sector and stimulate local employment, with the potential for further job creation as the facility scales up.
Proton has plans for a second phase to increase production capacity to 45,000 units per year, responding to anticipated demand for EVs in the Malaysian market.
