24/08/2025

theSunday Special XV ON SUNDAY AUG 24, 2025

Is the future really electrified?

understand why it is so popular. It makes a lot of sense, particularly if you want a spacious, comfortable, easy to drive SUV. But Proton is also on the verge of introducing the smaller sibling to the big SUV, called the eMAS 5. The small hatchback is set to be priced at around the RM80,000 to RM90,000 region and that is bound to attract a whole new demographic of buyers. More interestingly though, Perodua is also set to introduce its first, fully home-grown EV later this year. And if the rumour mills are true, that will be priced at the RM60,000 to RM70,000 mark. So, things are looking up for the industry, but with that, I fear that the public charging infrastructure will not be able to keep up fast enough. The industry will not be able to meet its 10,000 chargers target set for the end of 2025. We are currently at just over 6,000 and have just about four more months. We have new cars on the horizon and we can be proud as a nation as we slowly trudge along, but the charg ing infrastructure needs to up its pace, and fast.

nal, especially on a month to month basis. Now though, the numbers seem to have an increment of a few hundred units at best. Except for the month of June, obviously. So why is this happening? I think that those who could afford EV’s have already bought them. And those that are on the fence are still not diving in as yet. The price war would have scared off some of them. Some car brands are notorious for dropping prices of their new cars by five digits, leaving buyers in a horrible position. Some models like the Leapmotor C10 was previously priced at RM159,000 but the price was later revised to RM125,000. Some other car makers did the same as well and this may have spooked new buyers. But what does this mean for the industry as a whole? I think the not so distant future is looking good for the industry. BYD has just introduced the Atto 2 at below RM100,000 and that has been well received. Proton’s eMAS 7 is now the most popular EV in Malaysia and after spending some time with it, I really

I WAS recently reviewing the updated Proton e.MAS 7, and while I was rather chuffed by Proton’s updated EV, I came across the official indus try sales figures

for all the world’s problems. But I analysed the data a little fur ther and noticed a trend building. EV sales seem to be stagnating, dropping even. Not exactly to worrying levels but they’re not skyrocketing in the manner the lobbyist would like them to. Let me breakdown the monthly numbers for this year:

WRITTEN BY KESHY DHILLON

January : 2,753 February : 2,751 March : 3,841 April : 3,677

PROTON’S electric ambitions continue to pay off, with the Proton e.MAS 7 is extend ing 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 July 31 this year, 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 inter national 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 for the month of July while waiting for our photographer to complete his work with the car. In a nutshell, it is safe to say that the Malaysian automotive industry is in a healthy place, having rebounded from 58,858 registrations in June to 75,663 registrations in July. The total registra tions for May were 74,393. Of course, the alarm bells always start ringing whenever sales drop and this is usually followed by articles in traditional media, videos by influenc ers and press releases from compa nies. More often than not, the blame for a lack of sales is pointed towards cars coming in from China. It is almost always the same thing, blame China

May : 5,088 June : 3,981 July : 3,979

I am not sure about you, but to me, these figures seem to have plateaued. The numbers are not all bad when you compare them with the same period of 2024, but I was just expecting bet ter. Particularly when you think of the sheer number of new brands and new models that have been introduced over a monthly basis. When EV’s first exploded onto the scene, the numbers were phenome

Still No. 1 Proton e.MAS 7 maintains top spot in locals EV market

bines comfort, performance, and advanced features at a competitive price. He credited the strong demand to cus tomer 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 equip ment, ride comfort, handling, and innova tive technology as decisive factors. In terms of personalisation, Platinum

points across 930 high-rise residential buildings. Ownership is further supported by Proton’s growing EV service infrastructure, comprising 29 service centres, 10 body and paint facilities, and 35 dealerships across Malaysia. To encourage even more drivers to make the switch, Pro-Net continues to run its Power Exchange programme. Customers trading in their current vehi cle – regardless of make or age – can receive a RM5,000 trade-in bonus on top of the assessed value, subject to inspection and regulatory approval. The initiative is aimed at making EV ownership more attainable while accelerat ing the move towards zero-emission mobil ity.

Silver remains the most popular exterior finish, accounting for a quarter of all orders. Responding to customer demand, Proton has expanded the palette to include Obsidian Black, as well as limited-run Turquoise Green and Quartz Rose, both matched with a premium Alabaster White interior. Market research conducted by Pro-Net shows that most Malaysian e.MAS 7 own ers travel between 21km and 40km per day, meaning a weekly recharge is sufficient for typical usage. Charging convenience is bolstered by the Live Integrated Charging Network, which offers more than 3,400 charging points nationwide and covers over 90% of the country. This includes over 1,100 charging

said the con tinued suc cess reflects the brand’s original goal of offering a wel l-bal anced EV that com