PRO-NET has been awarded the prestigious “Best Oversea Pioneer Partner” by smart Automobile, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely Holding, during the recent smart Global Forum held in Beijing. This accolade highlights PRO-NET’s remarkable performance and leadership in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
Selected from a pool of companies across 22 countries, PRO-NET emerged as one of the top three candidates for this award. The recognition from smart Global is attributed to PRO-NET’s outstanding network construction quality, significant EV market share, and innovative marketing efforts, all of which have greatly advanced sustainable mobility solutions.
Proton New Energy Technology (PRO-NET), peneraju dalam sektor kenderaan elektrik (EV), menandatangani perjanjian untuk mengembangkan rangkaian pengecasan EV bersama ChargeSini. Kerjasama ini menekankan komitmen penting PRO-NET dalam membangunkan lanskap EV dan menyediakan ekosistem terbaik demi kemudahan pelanggan dan pengguna EV yang dihargai.
Sementara itu, kerjasama ini menerapkan nilai dedikasi PRO-NET dalam meningkatkan kebolehcapaian infrastuktur pengecasan EV awam di seluruh negara. Dengan mengintegrasikan rangkaian stesen pengecas ChargeSini termasuk pengecas pantas DC yang terletak di hotel, pasar raya, dan pusat beli-belah yang boleh diakses melalui Aplikasi Hello smart, PRO-NET terus membuka jalan bagi pengalaman pengecasan EV yang lancar kepada semua pengguna. Integrasi ini menandakan satu tanda aras yang ketara kerana ia dapat meluaskan rangkaian pengecasan awam daripada 70% hingga kepada lebih 75% di seluruh negara.
Proton New Energy Technology (PRO-NET) has announced a partnership with ChargeSini to expand its EV charging network. This collaboration underscores PRO-NET’s dedication to enhancing the EV infrastructure in Malaysia, aiming to provide a seamless and comprehensive charging ecosystem for its customers.
The agreement with ChargeSini focuses on increasing the accessibility of public EV charging infrastructure nationwide. ChargeSini’s network, which includes a substantial number of DC fast chargers at strategic locations such as hotels, supermarkets, and shopping malls, will be integrated into PRO-NET’s existing network. This integration, accessible via the Hello smart app, will elevate PRO-NET’s public charging points coverage from 70% to over 75% nationwide.
Membalas kepada permintaan yang semakin meningkat bagi Kenderaan Tenaga Baharu (NEV), PRO-NET memperkenal pengembangan rangkaian infrastruktur pengecasannya. Dengan misi untuk mempercepat penerimaan dan melancarkan perjalanan yang selesa kepada pemilik kenderaan elektrik, smart Malaysia komited dalam menyampaikan akses yang lancar kepada penyelesaian pengecasan yang efisien di seluruh Malaysia.
Sejak diperkenalkan Pengecas DC PROTON di ibu pejabat pada bulan Oktober tahun lalu, PRO-NET telah mengambil langkah proaktif dalam memperluas infrastruktur pengecasannya di seluruh Pengedar PROTON Edar. Dengan bekerjasama rakan kongsi Gentari, organisasi ini telah berjaya melaksanakan enam (6) Pengecas DC, dengan jumlah keseluruhan dua belas (12) ruang pengecas dengan setiap satunya dilengkapi dengan dua nozel. Pelaksanaan ini termasuk satu (1) unit setiap satu daripada 50 kW, 100 kW, dan 120 kW, serta tiga (3) unit pengecas 60 kW DC.
PRO-NET has announced the expansion of its charging infrastructure network in response to the increasing demand for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in Malaysia. With a commitment to accelerating adoption and facilitating convenient travel for EV owners, our organisation is dedicated to providing seamless access to fast and efficient charging solutions across the country.
Since the introduction of the Proton DC Charger at its headquarters last October, PRO-NET has been proactively expanding the charging infrastructure at its Proton Edar Dealerships. In collaboration with partner Gentari, we have successfully deployed six (6) DC Chargers, totalling twelve (12) charging bays, each equipped with two nozzles. This rollout includes a variety of charger types, including 50 kW, 60 kW, 100 kW, and 120 kW DC chargers.
Dalam satu langkah penting yang memberikan kestabilan untuk pertumbuhan dan penaklukan pasaran, Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (Pro-Net), anak syarikat sepenuhnya milik Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd, telah mengumumkan bahawa ia telah memperoleh pembiayaan sebanyak RM200 juta dari CIMB Bank Berhad.
Dana tersebut adalah untuk inisiatif mobiliti hijau dan pengimportan serta pengedaran smart #1 EV untuk pasaran Malaysia.
PRO-NET adalah pengimport dan pengedar yang diberi kebenaran eksklusif untuk kenderaan smart di Malaysia dan Thailand, khususnya smart #1 untuk masa ini dengan lebih banyak model dalam perancangan.
Dengan ekosistem menyeluruh yang merangkumi 13 lokasi pengedar, perkhidmatan selepas jualan, serta aplikasi digital yang mesra pengguna yang dikenali sebagai ‘Hello smart’ untuk memberikan akses kepada lebih daripada 70% rangkaian pengecasan awam, PRO-NET menawarkan penyelesaian mobiliti elektrik yang holistik bersama dengan jaminan pelan perkhidmatan pelanggan yang kukuh.
Syarikat ini juga diberi tanggungjawab untuk memenuhi komitmen pengeluar kereta nasional PROTON terhadap agenda kenderaan elektriknya dan dijangka memainkan peranan penting apabila ia memimpin peralihan ke arah pengeluaran Kenderaan Tenaga Baru (NEV) dan pembangunan Lembah Teknologi Tinggi Automotif (AHTV) di Tanjong Malim.
CIMB pula menyediakan pelbagai penyelesaian untuk segmen EV pengguna dengan pengenalan rangkaian penyelidikan yang komprehensif bagi penyelesaian kewangan EVnya untuk menggalakkan penggunaan EV dan menyokong peralihan ke arah mobiliti lestari di seluruh ASEAN. Ini termasuk kadar pembiayaan kenderaan otomatik yang istimewa, perlindungan insurans, dan pelbagai hak istimewa eksklusif lain, memudahkan keperluan pengguna dalam setiap aspek memiliki EV.
In a significant move that provides stability for growth and capturing of market share, Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (Pro-Net), a wholly owned subsidiary of Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd, has announced that it has obtained RM200 million in financing from CIMB Bank Berhad.
The funds are for its green mobility initiative and the importation and distribution of the smart #1 EV for the Malaysian market.
PRO-NET is the exclusive authorised importer and distributor for smart vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand, particularly the smart #1 for now with more models in the pipeline.
With a comprehensive ecosystem spanning 13 dealer locations, aftersales services, as well as a user-friendly digital app known as ‘Hello smart’ to provide access to over 70% of the public charging network, PRO-NET offers a holistic electric mobility solution together with the reassurance of a robust customer service plan.
The company is also charged with fulfilling national carmaker PROTON’s commitment to its electric vehicle agenda and is set to play a pivotal role as it leads the transition towards the production of New Energy Vehicles (NEV) and the development of the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim.
CIMB on the other hand provides an array of solutions for the consumer EV segment with the introduction of its comprehensive suite of EV financial solutions to drive the adoption of EVs and support the shift towards sustainable mobility across ASEAN. These include preferential auto financing rates, insurance protection and a range of other exclusive privileges, facilitating consumer needs across every aspect of owning an EV.
Proton New Energy Technology Sdn Bhd (PRO-NET) announced the expansion of its smart dealership network, bringing the innovative smart #1 electric vehicle closer to enthusiasts across Malaysia. The opening of a smart hub in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah marks a significant milestone in our journey, promising a dynamic space that caters to the vibrant community of electric vehicle enthusiasts in East Malaysia.
In addition to Kota Kinabalu, our commitment to accessible and community-centric mobility extends to Petaling Jaya and the city of Kuantan in the Peninsular. We are excited to announce strategic partnerships with Fook Loi Eurocar Sdn Bhd for smart Kota Kinabalu, Naza Automotive Group for smart Petaling Jaya, and Hoi Keen Service Sdn Bhd for smart Kuantan. These alliances are aimed at streamlining the adoption of the smart #1 electric vehicle, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience for customers nationwide.
Proton and smart Automobile inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) during the 2023 China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), an annual trade show fostering economic collaboration between China and ASEAN nations. This agreement follows the signing of a comparable document in 2022, marking 20 months since the initial agreement that designated Proton as the official distributor of smart vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand.
The initial Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) focused on assessing the possibility of Proton selling smart’s electric vehicle (EV) range in ASEAN. The latest agreement delves deeper, aiming to investigate the viability of locally assembling smart vehicles at Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant. This indicates a step towards potential local production and integration of smart cars within the ASEAN region.
Pro-Net, a subsidiary of Proton, has just introduced the smart #1 into the electric vehicle (EV) market in Malaysia. The all-electric compact SUV, which is a touch bigger than the smart ForFour, is the result of a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Geely.
The smart #1 actually made its global debut in April 2022 where during the second half of 2022, China, Europe, and the UK were some of the first places to receive it.
Prior to its launch here in Malaysia, we had the opportunity to actually test it out. The right-hand drive Premium, left-hand drive Premium (China spec) and the Brabus variant.
The design of the smart #1, which is a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely. It was designed by the Germans and is built on Geely’s modular Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA), which also serves as the foundation for vehicles like the Lotus Eletre, Volvo EX30, and Zeekr 001.
The smart #1 will only be available as a rear-wheel-drive model, with a single motor generating 272PS and 343Nm of torque. It does 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds and has a driving range of 440km WLTP cycle. There are three available drive modes: eco, comfort and sport. However, these are the Premium variant specs.
The Brabus variant, on the other hand, puts out 428PS and 584Nm of torque. It does 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds! It has dual motors providing a four-wheel drive configuration. However, due to it having this much power, the driving range is reduced to 400km. There are four available drive modes: eco, comfort, sport and Brabus. Both variants are limited to a top speed of 180km/h.
Another feature included in the Brabus trim is the engine imitation sound that plays through the speakers. A Brabus engine sound and a V8 engine sound.
In addition, the Brabus variant has three additional trims to choose from: Pure+, Pro+ and Premium+.
It features a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 66kWh. The 10%-80% charge time is three hours with 22kW AC charging and less than 30 minutes with 150kW DC charging.
The exterior of the smart #1 Premium variant features an active grille shutter, flat-faced 19-inch wheels, and frameless doors and has a drag coefficient of just 0.29.
The Brabus trim, however, gets twin nostrils as a styling element, a sportier front bumper, an aggressive grille, a rear spoiler, 19-inch dynamo-styled alloy wheels and a two-tone paint scheme with red accents.
The central infotainment screen, which is 12.8 inches in size regardless of which variant you choose, controls almost everything. It features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chipset, a CPU and chipset designed for the gaming industry, and its home screen is filled with graphics and information.
Unlike the variants available in China, we get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Many important features of the system are hidden in submenus; for example, turning off the system’s excessively loud fake engine noise will lead you deep into the system, while adjusting your mirrors requires tapping the screen and then repeatedly pressing the buttons on the steering wheel.
It also has a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a ten-inch heads-up display, a panoramic glass roof and 13-speaker Beats sound system.
The majority of the materials are soft to the touch, especially the Alcantara swaths in the Brabus model. Also, note that Smart chose a combination of real and synthetic leather and not vegan alternatives here.
The Brabus gets a little extra on the interior as well with a black-themed interior, Alcantara/leather-wrapped steering wheel, microfiber suede seats, headrests with the Brabus logo in red stitching and alloy pedals. The booth space measures in at 323L but can be expanded to 986L while the frunk has a 15L available space.
Another neat little feature is that the front grille lights up and will follow the beat of the music that is playing in the car at the time.
The smart #1 has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. The safety features include:
Seven airbags
Full complement of driver assistance features
Autonomous emergency braking
Adaptive Cruise Control with stop and go
Lane centring assist
Lane change assist
Lane keep assist
Blind spot monitoring
Keshy’s Driving Notes: On top of the preview session that Timothy just touched on, we also got to drive the smart #1 around the Proton test track at the Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam.
Simply put, the #1 drives like any other EV, it is silent, power delivery is instantaneous and there’s pretty much nothing that truly makes it stand out from the rest.
Except for the fact that the #1 has a steering feel that I really like.
EV’s tend to feel dull and disconnect the driver from what happens at ground level with the tyres. But in the #1, there’s a good feel for what the tyres were doing, and the steering wheel feels chatty. And this gave me the confidence I needed to barge into the oval track (which goes up to a 20 degree banking, NASCAR like) at about 110-120km/h.
I have to say that this is one of the my favourite EV’s at the moment, but not only from a driving perspective.
But before I tell you about what else I like about the #1, I have to say that the Brabus model feels like a proper rocket. But that artificial sound it makes is a little too fake, and too loud. So loud, that it reaches a point where it started to hurt my ear drums. And I wasn’t the only one complaining about it. Good thing that it can be turned off.
So onto what I like about it. I like it’s size.
I believe EV’s should be small because EV’s are meant to be practical urban commuters. And the #1 is exactly that. It is perfectly sized. Slightly bigger than a MINI, perhaps about the size of a Countryman. Inside, there’s a lot of hints of Mercedes-Benz, such as the buttons, but we are not allowed to tell you much about the interior due to an ongoing embargo.
So if you are considering an EV, I would tell you to wait until smart Malaysia introduces the pricing because the #1 could just be the EV for you. It is for me at least.
