Proton Is Spending RM37 Million To Build More EVs Because Malaysians Are Buying Them Like Crazy

Just nine months after opening its brand-new EV assembly plant in Tanjung Malim, the national carmaker is already aggressively pumping in a RM37 million investment to expand its operations.

Why the sudden rush? Because Malaysians are buying their new eMas models at a rate that has completely shattered the company’s original expectations.

If you want to know how crazy the local EV hype is right now, here is the full breakdown of what is happening behind the factory doors:

1. The numbers are wild (and the eMas 5 is leading the charge)

To put it bluntly, Proton's gamble on electrification is paying off big time. The decision to accelerate the factory expansion comes down to pure, undeniable market demand:

• The Best-Seller: The compact Proton eMas 5 recorded a jaw-dropping 8,472 deliveries in just the first four months of 2026. This officially crowns it as Malaysia’s best-selling EV model by a massive margin.
• The 329% Exploded Surge: When you combine the sales of the eMas 5, the eMas 7, and the eMas 7 PHEV, Proton shifted a total of 11,617 electrified units between January and April. That is a mind-blowing 329% increase compared to the exact same period last year!

Proton Deputy CEO Datuk Abdul Rashid Musa openly admitted that customer demand has completely exceeded their initial projections, forcing them to speed up their localisation plans.

2. They are literally doubling the factory's output capacity

Currently, Proton's high-tech EV facility sits on a 5.57-acre site within the massive Tanjung Malim complex. It originally cost RM82 million to launch last September, featuring a first-phase capacity of 20,000 units per year.

But because cars are flying out of the showrooms faster than they can build them, this new RM37 million expansion will aggressively push the plant's annual production capacity to 42,000 units!

To support the massive influx of orders and significantly shorten delivery waiting times for eager customers, Proton has confirmed that the eMas 5 is set to join its sibling, the eMas 7, on the local assembly line very soon.

3. What this means for local jobs and the economy

This isn't just great news for car buyers; it’s a massive win for local talent and the Malaysian automotive industry as a whole.

At the moment, the specialized EV plant runs on a staff strength of 391 employees. However, Proton has explicitly stated that this rapid expansion phase is expected to generate a wave of brand-new employment opportunities.

According to Proton management, expanding local assembly activities allows them to invest heavily in local talent development, create high-value technical jobs, and strengthen the local automotive supply chain as Malaysia transitions toward an electric future.

The Big Picture

A 329% sales surge is no joke. Proton’s massive RM37 million factory expansion proves that the local shift toward EVs isn't just a passing trend, it is happening right now, and it's happening fast. With production capacity more than doubling, waiting times for the eMas 5 and eMas 7 are bound to drop significantly, making it easier than ever for everyday Malaysians to make the switch to electric.