It’s now official, Pro-net’s upcoming model is simply named the Proton eMas 7 PHEV, and it will be launched very soon. Proton eMas has just published the teaser you see here on its social media pages, showing the upcoming plug-in hybrid in a new blue and red wrap design alongside its claim of being “Malaysia’s 1st Dual-powered EV.” The post also announces the “ultimate live – drive” where the eMas 7 PHEV will be livestreamed doing a 1,000-km drive from Penang to JB, and then back to the Proton Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam over January 12 and 13 (Monday and Tuesday in the coming week). The convoy will be stopping by local attractions and Proton eMas dealerships, so you could catch an early glimpse of it along the way (stops and timing shown below). Obviously, the drive is to demonstrate the new model’s “exceptional range of over 1,000 km,” though it has to be said that other similarly sized China plug-in hybrid models like the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV and Jaecoo J7 PHEV will easily do the same journey too, with both having over 1,200 km NEDC range claims. Speaking of that, Proton’s over 1,000 km claim for the eMas 7 PHEV is a peculiar one, as the Australian-market Geely Starray EM-i (also known as the Galaxy Starship 7 in China, the donor model this is rebadged from) only claims a maximum combined WLTP range of 943 km. Whether the eMas 7 PHEV will be offered with a larger battery pack (available in China) or if Proton will revert to the more lenient NEDC test cycle claim to more closely match its Chinese rivals, or perhaps both, remains to be seen. If Proton is indeed moving towards the use NEDC range claims for this model, that would truly be a backwards step. The Proton eMas brand has so far been one of the strongest stalwarts of using the more realistic WLTP test cycle in Malaysia, going against most Chinese EV-makers that prefer the use of overly optimistic NEDC claims (one even uses wildly inaccurate CLTC numbers) that would look better on paper. Why change now? On the subject of questionable decisions, let’s get back to the tagline of “Malaysia’s 1st Dual-powered EV.” I’m sorry Pro-net, but that’s just wrong on so many levels. This is a PHEV, not an EV – its road tax will be based on its engine size like a regular ICE car and not its motor output like proper EVs, and it will wear 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, well, that’s just not right either. PHEVs have existed here since as far back as 2015, though admittedly only in premium segments until the two Chinese models mentioned above arrived last year. If the tagline is meant to signify it being the first “Malaysian” PHEV, well, that would be a contentious claim too given its rebadged nature. The Geely Starray EM-i or Starship 7 On a more positive note, look closely at the livery and you’ll just about make out the mention of seven airbags, so it appears the eMas 7 PHEV will gain back the front centre airbag that was dropped from the EV version. That would be a proper Proton-first, and a welcome addition indeed. We will have more details on the Proton eMas 7 PHEV very soon, so stay tuned! GALLERY: 2026 Proton eMas 7 PHEV at Proton Tech Showcase GALLERY: RHD Geely Starray EM-i at GIIAS 2025 Compare prices between different insurer providers to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services. Many payment method supported and you can pay with instalment using Atome, Grab PayLater or Shopee SPayLater.
