Proton R&D Centre In China Set On Doubling Its Manpower

Proton is poised to double its manpower at the Proton Research & Development Centre (PRDC) located in Hangzhou Bay, China, by the end of this year.

National automaker Proton revealed plans to double the manpower at its research and development (R&D) centre, known as PRDC, in Hangzhou Bay, China. Said plans were announced via a press release issued earlier today by the automaker.

Through said release, Proton firstly marked the one-year milestone since PRDC’s establishment within the facilities belonging to partners Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely). Included too were quotes by some of the key personnel present at this overseas facility. Moreover, Proton even touts that this overseas R&D base complements its existing R&D facilities right here in Malaysia.

Proton touts that the e.MAS 7 EV SUV stands as one of key fruits of labour by PRDC in China.

One of the fruits of the partnership forged by PRDC with Geely is the e.MAS 7 EV SUV – the first production EV to bear the Proton badge. Essentially a ‘twin’ to the Geely Galaxy E5/EX5, the e.MAS 7 was borne with aid of other arms from Geely present at Hangzhou Bay.

This includes the Chinese automaker’s battery labs, powertrain test benches, as well as its smart vehicle development centres that are all present in same vicinity.

Additionally, PRDC also achieved several key milestones on its own via validation efforts for thermal management, charging efficiency and regenerative braking, to that end improving safety, durability and battery range, says Proton.

PRDC personnel during an excursion to Auto Shanghai 2025 held recently. With double the manpower here, Proton seeks to deepen its technical grasp and expand its R7D teams in Malaysia too.

“Through these efforts, we are on track to introduce a reliable, high-value EV tailored to ASEAN consumers,” says senior engineer Omar Farhan Bin Omar. “We are in daily contact with Proton R&D in Malaysia, sharing technical knowledge and testing data that will help improve testing capabilities in Malaysia,” adds fellow senior engineer Zulkifli Bin Fadzlullah further.

With  increased manpower, Proton seeks to deepen its technical grasp and expand its R&D teams in Malaysia through enhanced exchange programmes. However, at the same time, the automaker also acknowledged the need for more rear-world testing in Malaysia.

Faces of some of the bright Malaysian minds present at PRDC right now, which includes senior engineers overseeing various areas and expertise.

All this aside, PRDC at Hangzhou Bay is also poised to play a critical role in developing Proton’s E&E architecture and EV development. By doubling its workforce here by year’s end, Proton is also set to significantly boost its R&D abilities as a group.

“This collaboration serves as a crucial bridge to Proton’s product development capabilities by providing engineers access to advanced facilities and empowering them without shifting core R&D operations away from Malaysia,” said Mohd Haizam Bin Ghazali, head of R&D in engineering and technical at Proton.

“Over the past three months, I have seen how PRDC is contributing to the development of Proton’s next generation of intelligent vehicles through the integration of advanced vehicle E&E technologies,” adds Wan Fatin Nur Amira Binti Wan Rusli, senior engineer overseeing electric and electronics as well as integration work at the PRDC.