The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Li Qiang, were given an exclusive first look at the all-new Proton Saga and Proton e.MAS 5 during their visit to the ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The occasion marked the public debut of two key national models that represent a new chapter in Malaysia’s automotive journey.
Joining the session were Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan, Geely Holding Group Chairman Eric Li Shufu, and Proton Chairman Tan Sri Syed Faisal Albar. The gathering was more than a product presentation—it symbolised the growing partnership between Malaysia and China, reflecting both nations’ shared commitment to industrial innovation, sustainable development, and regional cooperation.
The showcase served as a reminder of how far Proton has come under the collaboration between DRB-HICOM Berhad and Geely Holding Group. This partnership has been instrumental in driving Proton’s transformation into a modern, globally competitive carmaker. By combining Malaysian engineering know-how with Geely’s technological capabilities, the collaboration has advanced local expertise, supported sustainable industrial development, and created opportunities for Malaysian talent in the evolving mobility landscape.
Central to the display was the all-new Proton Saga, a model that carries deep national significance. Built on Proton’s Advanced Modular Architecture (AMA) platform, it is the first car to be entirely designed, engineered, and validated by Malaysian teams, with technical input from Geely. The model also represents a new level of autonomy for the brand, as it holds full intellectual property rights under Proton—demonstrating Malaysia’s growing ability to design and produce vehicles that meet international standards through homegrown expertise.
Alongside it, the Proton e.MAS 5 stood as the country’s first truly affordable electric vehicle, representing Proton’s continued progress in electrification following the success of the e.MAS 7 introduced in 2024. Developed with Geely’s design and engineering support, the e.MAS 5 is a practical step forward in Malaysia’s push for sustainable mobility and is aligned with the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which aims to accelerate the shift towards a cleaner and greener transportation future.
For both Malaysia and China, the display of these two models during the ASEAN Summit went beyond automotive milestones. It reflected a deeper industrial relationship built on technology sharing, joint innovation, and human capital development. The cooperation between both countries continues to evolve into a blueprint for how regional collaboration can drive economic progress and sustainable growth.
The success of this collaboration is closely linked to Malaysia’s vision of becoming a regional automotive hub through the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim, Perak. Designed to attract investment and serve as a centre for advanced manufacturing and innovation, the AHTV project underpins the country’s long-term strategy to strengthen its position within Southeast Asia’s automotive sector.
