Proton e.MAS 7 Leads ASEAN Meeting, Luxury EVs for Officials

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced that the Proton e.MAS 7 will serve as the official car for the upcoming ASEAN meeting, marking a significant milestone for Malaysia as it chairs the summit next year.

Expanding on the announcement, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad clarified that while the e.MAS 7 will be the official car, it will not be the sole EV used during the event.

“Actually, there are other EVs that will be used. Only the e.MAS 7 is designated as the official vehicle, but there are other vehicles for various levels. These include transport for heads of state, heads of government, ministers, officials, and so on, depending on specific requests and needs,” Nik Nazmi stated at a press conference following the Handover Ceremony of the Guidelines for the Transition of Government Vehicles to EVs.

From the information provided, the e.MAS 7 is expected to primarily transport ministerial support staff and key senior officers (KSUs). Meanwhile, high-ranking officials, such as heads of state and government, are anticipated to be ferried in premium EVs like the BMW i7, Mercedes-Benz EQS, or other models specifically requested by delegates.

Nik Nazmi underscored the government's firm commitment to ensuring that all vehicles used during the summit will be electric, aligning with Malaysia's broader sustainability and carbon neutrality goals.

This initiative places Malaysia among the first countries to deploy an all-EV fleet for an international event of this scale. The move follows a precedent set by the G20 Summit in Indonesia, where 962 EVs, 454 electric motorcycles, and 36 electric buses were used to transport delegates, journalists, and security personnel.

However, this ambitious effort has sparked discussions about Malaysia’s charging infrastructure readiness. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof recently announced the government’s target of establishing 4,000 EV charging bays before the ASEAN Meeting.

While this target highlights Malaysia’s ambitions, questions remain about whether the infrastructure can fully meet the logistical demands of the event without disrupting public access.