It’s now official: Pro-net’s upcoming model is simply called the Proton eMas 7 PHEV and will be launched very soon. Proton eMas has just released the teaser you see here on its social media pages, showing off the upcoming plug-in hybrid in a new blue and red wrap design, alongside the claim that it is “Malaysia’s first dual-drive EV”.
The post also announces the ‘ultimate live drive’, which will see the eMas 7 PHEV live-streamed on a 1,000km drive from Penang to JB and then back to the Proton Center of Excellence in Shah Alam on January 12 and 13 (Monday and Tuesday next week). The convoy will stop at local attractions and Proton eMas dealers, so you can get your first glimpse of the convoy along the way (stops and times shown below).
The aim is of course to demonstrate the new model’s “exceptional range of over 1,000 km”, although it must be said that other Chinese plug-in hybrid models of a similar size, such as the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV and Jaecoo J7 PHEV, will easily complete the same journey, with both claiming a NEDC range of over 1,200 km.
Speaking of which, Proton’s claim of over 1,000km for the eMas 7 PHEV is curious, considering the Australian market’s Geely Starray EM-i (also known as the Galaxy Starship 7 in China, the donor model it’s rebadged from) only claims a maximum combined WLTP range of 943km. Whether the eMas 7 PHEV will be offered with a larger battery pack (available in China) or whether Proton will return to the milder NEDC test cycle claim to better match its Chinese rivals, or perhaps both, remains to be seen.
If Proton is indeed moving towards using NEDC range claims for this model, that would really be a step backwards. The Proton eMas brand has been one of the strongest advocates of using the more realistic WLTP test cycle in Malaysia to date, going against most Chinese EV manufacturers who prefer to use overly optimistic NEDC claims (one even uses wildly inaccurate CLTC numbers) that would look better on paper. Why change now?
As for questionable decisions, let’s go back to the slogan of “Malaysia’s first dual-drive EV.” I’m sorry Pro-net, but that’s just wrong on so many levels. This is a PHEV, not an EV – road tax will be based on engine size like a regular ICE car and not engine power like real EVs, and it will carry the standard black number plates, not the EV-specific white ones. Marketing it as an EV is simply misleading.
As for it being Malaysia’s first, that’s just not true either. PHEVs have been around here since 2015, albeit admittedly only in the premium segment, until the two Chinese models mentioned above arrived last year. If the tagline is meant to indicate that it is the first ‘Malaysian’ PHEV, then that would also be a controversial claim given its rebadged nature.
On a more positive note, if you look closely at the paint scheme you can make out almost seven airbags, so it looks like the eMas 7 PHEV gets back the front central airbag that was missing from the EV version. That would be a real Proton first, and a welcome addition indeed.
We will provide more details about the Proton eMas 7 PHEV soon, so stay tuned!
GALLERY: 2026 Proton eMas 7 PHEV at Proton Tech Showcase
GALLERY: RHD Geely Starray EM-i at GIIAS 2025
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