Proton

Proton

Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn. Bhd.
🇲🇾 Malaysia

Malaysia's national carmaker, founded in 1983 as a government project and now controlled jointly by conglomerate DRB-HICOM (50.1%) and China's Geely (49.9%), which bought in during 2017. Its e.MAS electric sub-brand, launched December 2024, became the fastest brand in Malaysian history to reach 30,000 electrified registrations.

Proton models

Engine
Body
e.MAS 5
EV
e.MAS 5

The e.MAS 5 is Proton's electric hatchback, built on a Geely platform and assembled in Malaysia. The base Prime trim carries a 30.12 kWh battery for 225 km WLTP; the Premium's 40.16 kWh pack extends that to 325 km, from RM72,800 (about $17,800). It is Malaysia's best-selling EV outright.

78 hp 225 km FWD
e.MAS 7
EV
e.MAS 7

The e.MAS 7 is Proton's electric SUV, the model that launched the e.MAS sub-brand in December 2024. Three trims share a 215 hp motor; battery size sets the difference, from a 49.52 kWh/345 km WLTP Prime at RM103,800 (about $25,400) to a 68.39 kWh/450 km Premium Plus at RM125,800.

215 hp 345 km FWD
e.MAS 7
Hybrid
e.MAS 7

The e.MAS 7 PHEV pairs a 1.5-litre hybrid engine with a plug-in battery, launched in Malaysia from RM109,800 (about $26,800). The base Prime's 18.4 kWh pack gives 83 km of electric-only WLTP range; the Premium Plus's 29.8 kWh pack extends that to 146 km and 996 km combined, the longest total range Proton has offered.

262 hp 83 km FWD

News about Proton

Proton's e.MAS became the fastest brand to 30,000 electric cars in Malaysia
Proton's e.MAS became the fastest brand to 30,000 electric cars in Malaysia

Proton's e.MAS sub-brand passed 31,504 electrified registrations as of 31 July, the fastest any brand has reached that mark in Malaysian history - 20 months after the e.MAS 7's December 2024 launch. e.MAS now holds 42.6% of Malaysia's EV market, led by the e.MAS 5 hatchback.

9 Aug 2026

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About

Proton was founded in 1983 as Malaysia’s national car project, built to give the country its own domestic auto industry rather than relying on imports. Its early models were developed with Mitsubishi, and for decades Proton was the default choice for Malaysian buyers, backed by tariff protection that shielded it from foreign competition.

That protection eroded as Malaysia opened its car market, and by the 2010s Proton needed a partner with modern platforms and capital. In 2017, conglomerate DRB-HICOM, which had held Proton since 2012, sold 49.9% of the company to China’s Geely for RM460 million. The same agreement handed Geely a controlling stake in Lotus, then a Proton subsidiary. DRB-HICOM retained 50.1% and control of the board.

Geely’s platforms became the basis for Proton’s newest models, including the electrified e.MAS sub-brand launched in December 2024 with the e.MAS 7 SUV. The e.MAS 5 hatchback and a plug-in hybrid version of the 7 followed, all assembled in Malaysia rather than imported complete. Within 20 months, e.MAS became the fastest brand in Malaysian history to pass 30,000 electrified registrations.

Global website proton.com
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Proton?
Proton is owned by DRB-HICOM (50.1%) and Geely (49.9%).
What country is Proton from?
Proton is a Malaysia brand, headquartered in Shah Alam.
When was Proton founded?
Proton was founded in 1983.
What kind of cars does Proton make?
Proton makes national mainstream cars and, under the e.MAS sub-brand, electric and plug-in hybrid models built on Geely platforms.
Who owns Proton?
Malaysian conglomerate DRB-HICOM holds 50.1% of Proton and China's Geely holds the remaining 49.9%, a stake it bought in 2017. The same deal gave Geely a controlling stake in British sports-car maker Lotus, which was then a Proton subsidiary.
What is Proton e.MAS?
e.MAS is Proton's electrified sub-brand, launched in December 2024 with the e.MAS 7 electric SUV. It later added the e.MAS 5 hatchback and a plug-in hybrid version of the 7. All three are built on Geely-developed platforms and assembled in Malaysia.
Is Proton a Chinese or Malaysian company?
Proton is Malaysian, founded in 1983 as a national car project and still headquartered in Shah Alam, Selangor. Geely's 49.9% stake makes it a minority shareholder and technology partner, not the owner.
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