Well, folks, it’s happened: Proton has officially entered the ring to be a contender in the EV space in Malaysia with the eMAS 7, and it’s a pretty big deal. Why? Because it’s the first-ever (production) electric car from Proton. And they didn’t just dip a toe into the EV market—they cannonballed right in with an all-electric SUV that’s actually quite compelling.

Let’s talk about the basics first. There are two versions of the eMAS 7: the Prime and the Premium. Proton calls it an SUV, but it’s sized closer to something between an SUV and a midsize crossover. At 4,615 mm long and 1,901 mm wide, it’s bigger than their very own Proton X70, which means it’s roomy—like, shockingly roomy. Proton even says it’s got 33 storage compartments, which is an oddly specific but delightful feature.

Both versions come with the same electric motor producing 218 PS (160 kW) and 320Nm torque, meaning this EV scoots from 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. That’s faster than some hot hatches from a decade ago and no doubt the fastest accelerating Proton to date. Top speed? A respectable 175 km/h. But here’s the real party trick: range.

• The Prime gets a 49.52kWh battery for 345 km of range.
• The Premium bumps it up to a 60.22kWh battery for 410 km of range.

Those numbers are WLTP-rated, which means they’re not just Proton’s wishful thinking. Charging is also solid. The Prime model can take in 80kW of DC charging (30-80% in 20 minutes), but the Premium takes it up a notch with 100kW charging. Proton says you can get around 135 km of range with 10 minutes of charging.

Now let’s talk about the interior. The eMAS 7 has a 10.2-inch LCD instrument cluster, a 15.4-inch touchscreen, and a steering wheel that looks similar to that in a Fisker Ocean (remember that?). The Premium adds some goodies like a head-up display, ventilated front seats, a 16-speaker audio system by Wanos (headrest speakers too!, 6 speakers on the Prime variant), and—get this—a panoramic glass roof. Other notable features include ambient lighting, memory seats for the driver, power tailgate and active grille shutter.

Proton’s also decided to throw in Level 2 ADAS as standard, which is impressive. But here’s the kicker: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are missing. Yup. Proton says they’ll fix that with an OTA update within six months, but until then, you’re stuck. It’s like getting a new phone without a charger in the box.

The Proton eMAS 7 is also affordable. The Prime starts at RM109,800, and the Premium comes in at RM123,800. And because Proton knows you need a little nudge to try something new, they’re offering RM4,000 off for the first 3,000 buyers, plus a launch package worth RM8,000 that includes a free home charger, a V2L adaptor, and low-interest financing with colours such as Platinum Silver, Turquoise Green, Slate Grey, Lithium White and Quartz Rose pink.

So, to sum up: Proton made its first EV with the help from Geely, and it’s pretty darn compelling for a budget EV. It’s fast, it’s roomy, and it’s packed with features—all for less than RM125k. Sure, there are quirks—no CarPlay at launch is mildly annoying—but as a first effort, the eMAS 7 feels like a big win.

And if nothing else, it’s proof that Proton and Geely is taking the EV game seriously.

What is your take on the eMAS 7? Do you think Geely would push to bring it here to Singapore and compete with the likes from BYD or MG?