Proton unveils its first SUV EV

Malaysian automaker Proton has announced its first-ever electric car – the e.MAS 7. It is a mid-size crossover that comes in at 4.6 meters long and will be available in early 2025.

As you may have guessed by now, the car seen here is a rebadged Geely Galaxy E5 from the last summer. It’s not surprising, since Proton is a subsidiary of Geely in Malaysia. It wears new badges and lacks an illuminated front grille, but otherwise looks identical. The wheelbase length stays the same at 2,750 mm.

Things look familiar in the interior as well with sharp rectangular dash and infotainment displays, a steering wheel that’s squared off at the bottom, and other Geely design cues. A stacked center console with a compartment for small items separates the driver from the front passenger.

Like its Chinese cousin, the Proton e.MAS 7 makes do with a single 218-PS (215-hp / 160-kW) electric motor taking it from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds. Customers can decide between two battery pack sizes: 49.52 and 60.22 kWh. They deliver 345 and 410 kilometers (214 and 254 miles) of WLTP-rated range, respectively.