Proton eMAS 5 confirmed as next national EV - CKD, sub-RM100k price, Q4 2025 tentative launch

As expected, Proton brought out the big guns at the 2025 Malaysia Auto Show with the public debut of their new battery electric vehicle model under their electric-only sub-brand, the eMAS 5, though admittedly very few details were revealed beyond the name. But good thing there’s plenty known about the car it’s very much based on.

The display unit presented at MAEPS has all its doors locked, its windows heavily tinted, and is clad in a full body wrap that even covers up its wheels, but it’s clear as to what exactly this compact hatchback is based on, confirming pretty much everyone’s suspicions.

Fitting for this status under Malaysia’s first national car, the eMAS 5 should also be the first - or at least one of the first - EVs to be priced below that RM100,000 floor price set by the Malaysian government for all fully imported electric vehicles due to its planned local assembly upon launch. The plant has been set with an initial capacity to produce 20,000 units annually, with capacity expandable to 45,000 units with further investment.

Proton has already confirmed spending, and indeed are hard at work building, an RM82 million production facility in Tanjung Malim for CKD electric vehicles to service all assembly needs for both the upcoming eMAS 5 and eMAS 7. However, just how much below that RM100k mark remains to be seen.

As we’ve stated before, the new model will be met with quite a few small EV entering the market roughly around the same timeframe, all vying for public attention as the sub-RM100,000 EV of choice. In fact, the highly camouflaged eMAS 5 shares the limelight at the Malaysia Auto Show with some of its closest rivals such as the Perodua EV1 and TQ Wuling Bingo.

On the other side of the coin, a more compact model was always on the cards for Proton’s eMAS which, following the rollout of the eMAS 7 last year, means the brand is keen to maintain its momentum with a follow up that should address a major sticking point for local would-be EV buyers: it’s price point.

The upcoming eMAS 5 is indeed based Geely Xingyuan, a product of Geely’s budget-friendly electric sub-brand, Geome (previously known as Geometry), though Proton seems to be much less keen on emphasising how it’s definitely ‘not a rebadge’ as they had during the lead up to the launch of the eMAS 7.

Like the Xingyuan, the eMAS 5 definitely fits squarely into the B-segment with measurements to match - 4,135mm in length, is 1,805mm wide, has a height of 1,570mm with a wheelbase 2,650mm - making it both longer and wider than other B-segment contenders such as the Perodua Ativa while also boasting a longer wheelbase.

In China, the Xingyuan’s uses either a 30kWh or 40kWh LFP battery from CATL with its electric motor outputting 79 PS or 116 PS depending on variant, and boasts a top speed to 135 km/h Range is quoted as being up to 410km on the more generous CLTC cycle.

Currently, direct competition in Malaysia is dominated by the BYD Dolphin, but aside from the efforts of Perodua and Proton, another contender has thrown its hat into the ring in the form of the TQ Wuling Bingo, which is set to launch in Q4 2025 locally assembled with a similarly sub-RM100k price tag.

If the frequency of Proton's pre-launch campaign for the eMAS 7 is any kind of benchmark, this will be far from the last we'll hear of this newest EV model. Stay tuned!