Proton eMas 5 to launch in 2025, smaller but cheaper; more eMas models coming soon too, CKD in Tg Malim

During the launch of new exterior and interior colours for the eMas 7 yesterday, Proton reiterated that the eMas 5 will be launched this year, taking the fight to the also-upcoming Perodua EV tipped to be called the QV-E. According to Pro-Net CEO Zhang Qiang, the car will be smaller but “still offer space, comfort and smart features.”

That much we know, because Proton already showcased the eMas 5 at the Malaysia Autoshow in May. Essentially a twin of the Geely Xingyuan/Star Wish, it’s a hatchback designed to compete with the BYD Dolphin and is thus dwarfed by its SUV sibling.

We also already knew that the eMas 5 is set to be more affordable than the eMas 7, something Zhang Qiang reiterated. Given that the latter is already close to the RM100,000 floor price for CBU fully-imported EVs – and that the Tanjong Malim EV plant set to open later this year is expected to assemble the eMas 7 first – the CBU hatch will have to rely on a bridging price approved by the government.

As previously reported, the eMas 5 is expected to share its mechanicals with the Star Wish, including 79 PS/130 Nm and 116 PS/150 Nm rear motors mated to 30.12 kWh (for a range of just 310 km even on China’s lenient CLTC cycle) and 40.16 kWh (for a range of 410 km) lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs respectively. Proton would do well to install larger battery packs – perhaps from the eMas 7 – to increase the range and make the car better suited to Malaysian use cases.

The eMas 7 and 5 will be just the start of a full-scale electrified offensive, with Proton teasing three new models set to debut over the coming years. The carmaker has not released any details but we do know it has already trademarked the eMas 7 PHEV name, meaning that it will almost certainly bring the Galaxy Starship 7 (known as the Starray EM-i globally) here.

This model shares the eMas 7’s basic body structure and much of its interior but adds Geely’s efficiency-biased EM-i plug-in hybrid powertrain. This consists of a 111 PS/136 Nm 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine and a 218 PS/262 Nm electric motor integrated into the electrified dedicated hybrid transmission (E-DHT).

Zero to 100 km/h is achieved in 7.5 seconds, and with the largest 19.09 kWh Aegis short blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, you get a pure electric range of 120 km on the CLTC cycle. Total range is 1,420 km.

Another model that’s possible for the Malaysian market is the Galaxy A7, an “affordable” PHEV D-segment sedan. This uses an updated EM-i AI Hybrid system that incorporates a tweaked engine with a record-breaking 47.26% thermal efficiency, as well as an AI-powered energy management system for a fuel consumption of just 2.67 litres per 100 km, 150 km of electric range and a total range of over 2,100 km. Geely calls this car a “global” model, which is usually a good indicator of a car coming here.

The identity of the third car has yet to be defined, so we’ll probably have to wait and see which future Geely Galaxy model will be a candidate for Proton. Of course, it could very well just be that the eMas 5 is one of the three models coming soon.

These cars will eventually be produced at the aforementioned EV plant, which as we said is planed to be operational by the end of the year. Zhang Qiang said the facility is “coming up fast,” supporting the eMas lineup’s move from CBU to CKD.

GALLERY: Proton eMas 5 at Malaysia Autoshow 2025

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