Proton, through its new-energy vehicle division Pro-Net, has finally unveiled the upcoming Proton eMAS 5 (stylised as e.MAS 5) in a private preview session for the media, revealing its full interior, alongside key details of its second electric vehicle (EV) model.
A fully uncamouflaged pre-production model was on show, but we were not allowed to photograph or film its exterior aside from pre-selected angles. Free roam privileges were valid for its interior, though, and you can find the full gallery of the display cars below.
There’s no denying that the Proton eMAS 5 is based on the Geely Xingyuan – in fact, it was even proudly mentioned in the model’s product briefing, highlighting that the latter was the best-selling model in China in the first half of 2025.
That said, Proton claims that this is more than just a rebadge exercise; the national carmaker spent over 752,000 man-hours in its localisation effort, making big changes to cater the EV hatchback to Malaysian roads, including an upgraded chassis that is supposedly “stronger” than its Chinese counterpart.
ALSO READ: 200,000 units of Geely Xingyuan (Proton eMAS 5) produced since launch last year
None of the changes come in the form of exterior design updates, though, as the Proton eMAS 5 essentially mirrors the Xingyuan on that front, save for the Proton roundel badge on the front, and the ‘PROTON’ script across the tailgate behind.
The rounded silhouette, paired to its compact footprint (4,135 mm in length, 1,805 mm in width, and 1,580 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm), gives the Proton eMAS 5 a rather cutesy, youthful vibe – a look that’s further emphasised by the star motif on the C-pillar panels, and the unique “featherlike” shape of the LED headlights and tail lights.
Other exterior appointments will include 16-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels, “semi-concealed” door handles, and depending on the variant, a two-tone floating roof. Uniquely for a car in this segment, the Proton eMAS 5 also gets a powered tailgate, which the carmaker says is the “first in class” to offer such a feature.
Inside, the Proton eMAS 5 has also inherited the Xingyuan’s dual-cockpit-esque dashboard layout, although instead of the cityscape ambient lighting on the passenger-side trim, the eMAS 5 has instead opted for a simpler, non-illuminated design pattern.
The dashboard is devoid of any physical buttons, with the centre console only housing a handful of critical controls and a “crystal” gear selector paddle. All other UX inputs are done through the massive 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment display, running on the marque’s own Atlas Auto operating system that was developed by ACO Tech.
The software suite comes with the “world’s first” English-Malay dual-language voice assistant, and yes, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be supported at launch in both wired and wireless connections. Proton also claims that the eMAS 5 will be the only model in its segment to come with an on-board integrated charging map.
All of that is powered by an “automotive grade chip” for its processor, which Proton says was specially selected to be able to withstand the searing Malaysian heat. Drivers, meanwhile, have access to their own 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster behind the two-spoke, two-tone steering wheel.
The same blue-and-white colourway is applied throughout the cabin, with the leatherette upholstery coming in white, which we presume will be an option rather than the default.
ALSO READ: Aisyah, the “world’s first” Bahasa Melayu voice recognition system, debuts in the all-new Proton X50
The key selling point of the eMAS 5’s interior is its space performance, Proton says, highlighted by its 32 individual storage compartments inside, including a 20-litre under-seat compartment beneath the rear bench. That is further complemented by the 70L ‘frunk’ underneath the hydraulic struts-supported bonnet, and a 375L rear boot space, expandable up to 1,320L by folding down the rear seats.
For passengers, the 890 mm seat distance, along with the flat rear floor (0.61 metres-square, Proton claims), means there’s also plenty of room for activities in the rear seats. Proton calls it a “lifestyle-ready cabin”, with the wide door opening angle (up to 65 degrees) and the “triple no crouch entry” seat configuration making it easier for ingress and egress.
The Proton eMAS 5 will be rear-wheel drive (RWD) only, powered by a single motor on the rear axle (with multi-link rear suspension, by the way). The national carmaker has only revealed detailed drivetrain specifications for a “Premium” variant thus far, which sees the motor making 116 hp (85 kW) and 150 Nm, sufficient to propel the EV hatchback from 0-50 km/h in 3.9 seconds.
Electric juice is fed from a CATL-sourced 40.16 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, offering up to 325 km of range (WLTP). Charging is supported at up to 6.6 kW AC and 71 kW DC, the latter enabling a 30-80% top up in 21 minutes.
Those specifications are identical to the higher-end variant of the Geely Xingyuan in China, and we expect a lower-end, less powerful variant to also join the Proton eMAS 5 line-up here, powered by a smaller 30.12 kWh battery pack that should translate to under 250 km of driving range.
READ MORE: Geely Galaxy Xingyuan at Auto Shanghai 2025 – the soon-to-be Proton eMAS 5
As for safety, the Proton eMAS 5 – in its Premium guise at least – will come with six airbags as standard (front, front-side, and curtains), alongside electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock braking system (ABS), a 360-degree surround view monitor with 3D display, and a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
For the latter, features include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot detection and lane-change assist, front vehicle departure alert, traffic sign recognition, rear collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and door opening warning.
More information on the Proton eMAS 5 should filter out progressively, as the EV hatchback embarks on a nationwide tour starting today. Proton did not mention any launch dates for now, but we expect the official launch to happen shortly after the conclusion of the tour in October.
Pricing is still up in the air, too, although the national carmaker did previously mention that it’ll be a more affordable model compared to its elder sibling, the eMAS 7, aimed towards young families. As the Proton eMAS 5 will be built at the new EV factory in Tanjung Malim, we expect pricing to dip below the RM100,000 mark, too – stay tuned.
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