Proton CEO Li Chunrong has revealed the company is set to launch its own-brand electric vehicle (EV) “very soon.” This echoes what was said by Proton chairman Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar during the launch of the S70 last November, suggesting the carmaker is on track to meet the ministry of international trade and industry’s (MITI) expectations.
As a brief recap, MITI previously said the government is optimistic that Proton and Perodua can produce the first national electric vehicle (EV) by 2025, which is a target revealed by deputy MITI minister Liew Chin Tong in parliament.
A twist in the tale is Li saying in his welcome speech that Proton will be launching not one, but two EVs, with the second said to arrive between six to eight months after the first. The Proton CEO withheld from sharing further details for now.
Proton has done an EV before in the form of an Iriz prototype more than eight years ago, although that project never led to a series production model. Given the 2025 EV target for Proton (and Perodua) was set sometime in November 2023, it’s a rather open-ended discussion on what Proton’s first EV might be with such a supposedly tight timeline.
Could it be an all-electric version of an existing model currently on sale or will it be a re-engineered version of something that Geely already has in its line-up? On the latter, Geely’s Geometry line-up has some appropriate candidates like the A, C, E and Panda. Which of the two routes do you think Proton will go with? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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Launch the lemon law first,ahlokekor.We got Perodua fencing manis,now Potong EV manis soon.
Proton EV selling price should be above RM100K just like other EV brands. Agree??
“Same L0rrr on Oct 14, 2014 at 1:35 pm
In 2009, they said it is coming 2012
In 2012, they said it is coming 2014
In 2014, they say it is coming 2017
In 2017???”
Now it’s already 2024. Will we really see the EV soon?
See which car china taikor let u sell then just obey lor..LOL
Either way it’s gonna look fugly
Anybody can launch. Just slap a proton sticker at the front takes 5 mins.
And after launch, it could take another 6 months for actual delivery, with all the QC reasoning. Count on the deputy ceo to put on a good show.
P1 is becoming nothing more than a rebadge manufacturer. Say what you want P1, but it’s no longer represent national identity car maker. The current Saga, Persona, Iriz, Exora…these would be considered as national pride and make. X50/70/90, S7…these are primarily rebadge of Geely makes.
Agree. Proton and Perodua may still making cars however I feel like their future car models are going to be very blend.
anything is possible in proton. kononnya early bird aerokit for s70 FS-X. now everyone get aerokit as long book before april. those early bird booker looking like a joker now hahahaha
And you thought you are very smart getting the aero kit. After you take delivery, there comes the facelift..
Is just the cycle of how things are.
I hope Proton does well, very well in both pricing and specs.
Even if I don’t end up buying one, a great Proton EV will help spur the market into the right direction just like how Iriz once upon a time influenced competitors to have six airbags and ESC by having one at a sub-60k pricepoint.
If Proton/Perodua sucks, not much incentive for other carmakers to up their game.
How soon is soon? 1 week? ,1 month or 1 year or……forever
On the way… on the way..
Agree. Proton and Perodua may still making cars however I feel like their future car models are going to be very blend.
It is a loser’s game to play against China execution efficiency
Whatever nonsense proten want to say, just take it as a joke. Now those S70 flagship-x early booked being treated as joker because every flagship x will get Aerokit regardless early or not.