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Anak syarikat Geely, Livan Auto, telah melancarkan model terbarunya, Livan Smurf, sebuah kereta bandar elektrik kompak yang disasarkan untuk pemandu bandar yang mahukan kenderaan kecil, bergaya dan berpatutan.

Smurf sebenarnya ialah versi berlencana semula daripada Geely Panda Mini EV, yang terbukti berjaya di pasaran China dengan lebih 101,000 unit terjual antara Januari hingga Julai 2025. Dengan pengenalan Smurf, Livan menyasarkan golongan pembeli muda serta mereka yang mencari pintu masuk mudah ke dalam dunia mikro-EV yang semakin berkembang pesat.

Dari segi reka bentuk, Smurf tampil dengan rupa comel dan mesra bandar. Lampu depan “Forest Spirit Eye” yang diinspirasikan kartun memberi watak ceria, dipadankan dengan bampar berkemasan perak. Port pengecasan pula disembunyikan kemas di bahagian hadapan. Pelanggan boleh memilih warna satu tona atau dwi tona, dengan padanan rim aloi “Pin Wheel” 14 inci yang unik.

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Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (PRO-NET), anak syarikat Proton, mengumumkan bahawa Proton e.MAS 7 terus mengukuhkan kedudukannya sebagai Model EV Nombor 1 di Malaysia selama tujuh bulan berturut-turut, dengan mencatatkan jualan dan tempahan kukuh sepanjang tahun pelancarannya.

Sehingga 31 Julai 2025, sebanyak 4,959 unit Proton e.MAS 7 telah diserahkan, merangkumi 4,689 unit di Malaysia dan 270 unit dieksport ke pasaran antarabangsa. Bulan Julai turut mencatatkan pencapaian baharu dengan 1,365 tempahan, iaitu angka bulanan tertinggi sejak pelancaran model ini, sekali gus mengukuhkan lagi populariti berterusan e.MAS 7 dalam kalangan pembeli EV.

“Sejak hari pertama, matlamat kami adalah untuk menawarkan kepada rakyat Malaysia sebuah EV yang memberikan keselesaan luar biasa, prestasi seimbang dan ciri-ciri canggih pada harga yang berpatutan,” kata Zhang Qiang, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif PRO-NET. “Permintaan berterusan yang kami lihat hari ini adalah hasil daripada komitmen tersebut. Kami amat berterima kasih kepada para pelanggan kerana menaruh kepercayaan kepada Proton dan jenama e.MAS, serta menjadikan e.MAS 7 sebagai pilihan nombor satu mereka.”

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Proton’s electric ambitions continue to pay off, with the Proton e.MAS 7 is extending its reign as Malaysia’s best-selling EV for a seventh consecutive month. The milestone comes as the model records strong sales both at home and abroad, reinforcing its position as a key player in the nation’s transition to electric mobility.

As of 31 July 2025, PRO-NET — Proton’s New Energy Technology division — confirmed that 4,959 units have been delivered since launch. Of these, 4,689 were registered in Malaysia, while 270 found homes in international markets. July also proved to be a record-setting month, with 1,365 bookings logged — the highest monthly total since the e.MAS 7 made its debut.

PRO-NET Chief Executive Officer Zhang Qiang said the continued success reflects the brand’s original goal of offering a well-balanced EV that combines comfort, performance, and advanced features at a competitive price. He credited the strong demand to customer trust in Proton and the e.MAS brand, noting that the model has become the first choice for many EV buyers in the country.

The e.MAS 7’s appeal spans a wide range of customers, with the Premium variant dominating at 86% of total deliveries, while the Prime variant — making up 14% — remains a popular choice among urban drivers for its ease of use and comfort. Buyers frequently cite the EV’s value for money, spacious interior, safety equipment, ride comfort, handling, and innovative technology as decisive factors.

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In a move to introduce its latest electric vehicle (EV) to the Malaysian public, Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (PRO-NET), a subsidiary of Proton, has launched the MISI 5 Tour — a nationwide preview campaign for the upcoming Proton e.MAS 5. Spanning five regions and 13 states, the tour will reach 29 towns across Malaysia from August to October 2025, giving Malaysians early access to the brand’s entry-level EV before its official release.

The Proton e.MAS 5, positioned as the most accessible electric vehicle in the country, is the second model in the e.MAS line-up. Building on the success of the Proton e.MAS 7 — currently the best-selling EV in Malaysia — the new model is aimed at urban youth, families, and first-time EV owners, and is designed to integrate seamlessly into the daily lives of a broad demographic.

Zhang Qiang, Chief Executive Officer of PRO-NET, explained that this nationwide initiative is rooted in engagement and experience. He said Proton is confident that allowing the public to interact directly with the e.MAS 5, supported by insights from product experts and local influencers, will foster trust and enthusiasm ahead of the car’s commercial debut. He further noted that the tour was crafted to connect with Malaysians at a grassroots level, bringing the future of mobility to familiar environments and vibrant community spaces.

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Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (PRO-NET), the electric mobility arm of national carmaker Proton, has launched a nationwide roadshow to introduce the highly anticipated Proton e.MAS 5, the second model in the brand’s e.MAS electric vehicle (EV) series. The initiative, branded as the MISI 5 Tour, will run from August to October 2025, covering five key regions across Malaysia, including both Peninsular and East Malaysia.

The Proton e.MAS 5, aimed at urban first-time EV users, young professionals, and families, is expected to offer Malaysians an affordable entry point into sustainable mobility. Designed with real-world utility in mind, the e.MAS 5 promises practicality, efficiency, and advanced technology, characteristics PRO-NET intends to highlight through this public engagement campaign.

PRO-NET Chief Executive Officer Zhang Qiang noted that while the Proton e.MAS 7 has already become Malaysia’s top-selling EV, the best way to generate confidence and excitement around the upcoming e.MAS 5 is through direct public interaction. He explained that the roadshow will allow Malaysians to inspect the vehicle, interact with product specialists, and experience how the car fits into everyday life scenarios.

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Toyota Motor is reshaping its supply strategy in Southeast Asia, turning to Chinese component manufacturers in Thailand as part of a broader cost-reduction initiative for its upcoming electrified vehicle set for launch in 2028. This strategic realignment, which involves substantial procurement from Chinese firms, marks a notable shift in Toyota’s traditional sourcing model and signals a broader transformation of the automotive landscape in the region.

Thailand, Toyota’s largest production hub in Southeast Asia, is at the centre of this shift. The Japanese automaker has begun to diversify its supplier base by incorporating parts from Chinese companies, a move that includes a partnership between Summit Group and China’s Wuhu Yuefei to establish a new components factory. This collaboration marks the first formal entry of a Chinese parts manufacturer into the Southeast Asian supply chain of a Japanese automotive firm.

The decision reflects growing pressure on Japanese carmakers in the Thai market, where their dominance is waning. Japanese brands now account for 71% of the market share, a drop that coincides with the steady rise of Chinese automakers, whose share has climbed to 16%. The increasing presence of Chinese manufacturers has not only altered market dynamics but also brought more competitive pricing and production advantages.

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Mitsubishi Motors Corporation secara rasmi telah menamatkan penglibatannya dalam sektor pembuatan automotif di China selepas lebih dua dekad beroperasi, dengan pembubaran usaha samanya bersama Shenyang Aerospace Mit. Engine Mfg. Ltd. Langkah ini menandakan titik noktah kepada kehadiran jenama Jepun itu dalam industri automotif China, susulan pemberhentian pengeluaran kenderaan tempatan Mitsubishi sejak tahun 2023. Keputusan ini juga mencerminkan tindak balas strategik syarikat terhadap perubahan drastik dalam landskap industri automotif China, yang kini semakin didominasi oleh kenderaan elektrik (EV).

Usaha sama yang dikenali sebagai Shenyang Aerospace Mitsubishi, ditubuhkan pada Ogos 1997, pernah menjadi tunjang utama operasi Mitsubishi di China. Kilang enjin yang beroperasi sejak 1998 itu menghasilkan rangkaian kuasa bukan sahaja untuk model Mitsubishi, malah turut membekalkan kepada pelbagai pengeluar kenderaan tempatan. Namun, pada 2 Julai 2025, entiti tersebut secara rasminya dijenamakan semula sebagai Shenyang Guoqing Power Technology Co., Ltd., selepas Mitsubishi Motors dan Mitsubishi Corporation menarik diri sebagai pemegang saham.

Menurut kenyataan rasmi, Mitsubishi menjelaskan bahawa keputusan untuk berundur ini dibuat susulan peralihan pantas pasaran automotif China ke arah elektrifikasi. Transformasi menyeluruh ini memaksa syarikat untuk menilai semula hala tuju serantau dan menyusun semula fokus perniagaannya.

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Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has formally ended its decades-long manufacturing involvement in China by dissolving its joint venture with Shenyang Aerospace Mit. Engine Mfg. Ltd., marking the final step in its withdrawal from the Chinese automotive sector. The move follows the cessation of Mitsubishi’s local vehicle production in 2023 and is being seen as a strategic response to the sweeping transformation of China’s car industry, now heavily dominated by electric vehicles (EVs).

The joint venture, Shenyang Aerospace Mitsubishi, was established in August 1997 and had played a central role in Mitsubishi’s operations in China. The engine plant, which began production in 1998, manufactured powertrains for both Mitsubishi’s own models and a wide range of vehicles from Chinese manufacturers. However, on 2 July 2025, the entity was officially rebranded as Shenyang Guoqing Power Technology Co., Ltd., following the exit of Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Corporation as shareholders.

In announcing its exit, Mitsubishi Motors cited the accelerated transformation of China’s automotive landscape, particularly its rapid adoption of electrified vehicles, as the key reason for its strategic pullout. The company signalled that this decision was part of a broader reassessment of its regional business focus.

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Toyota Motor has officially announced its plans to begin electric vehicle (EV) production in Indonesia within 2025, marking a major strategic shift in the company’s regional manufacturing operations. This move aligns with Indonesia’s government-led push to accelerate EV adoption through generous tax incentives for locally assembled electric cars.

As part of this expansion, Toyota will start assembling its bZ4X all-electric SUV in Indonesia. This decision places the Southeast Asian nation alongside Japan and China as one of only three global manufacturing locations for the bZ4X. The company also confirmed it will begin production of electric pickup trucks in Thailand later this year, reinforcing its commitment to electrifying its commercial and passenger vehicle offerings in the region.

Toyota’s long-standing presence in Indonesia, where it commands over 30% of the automotive market, has previously been centred around hybrid vehicle manufacturing. However, this latest development marks Toyota’s first foray into full EV assembly in the country, positioning it in direct competition with a wave of Chinese manufacturers that have recently entered the Indonesian EV sector.

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Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (PRO-NET), a subsidiary of Proton, has reaffirmed its dominance in Malaysia’s electric vehicle sector with the continued success of the Proton e.MAS 7. The all-electric SUV maintained its position as the best-selling EV in the country for the sixth month running, having recorded 4,003 cumulative deliveries in the first half of 2025. This performance accounts for a commanding 23.4% share of the national EV market.

The consistent domestic uptake of the e.MAS 7 has been complemented by a growing international footprint. PRO-NET confirmed that 250 units of the model have been exported to emerging markets, including its latest entry into Trinidad and Tobago. These developments point to the e.MAS 7’s broader appeal beyond Malaysia’s borders, reinforcing its role as a viable global contender in the EV space.

The model’s sustained popularity has been attributed to Proton’s steadfast pricing strategy across both e.MAS 7 variants, underlining its long-term value for consumers. Instead of engaging in aggressive discounting tactics, the company has prioritised customer trust and satisfaction.

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