Proton, MARii Inks Collaboration Agreement To Establish NATC

At the recent GATE 2025 held last week, Proton and MARii had signed several collaborative agreements.

At the recent 2025 Global Automotive and Technology Expo (GATE 2025) held last week, national automaker Proton and the Malaysia Automotive & Robotics & IoT Institute (MARii) jointly signed several collaborative agreements.

In a press release issued earlier today, the national automaker revealed that the agreements inked by both parties covers shared facility collaboration, investments towards setting up a National Automotive Test Centre (NATC), and jointly develop 200 R&D talents.

A key agreement inked here involved Proton's famed banked oval Shah Alam test track - it has been designated  towards the proposed new NATC (National Automotive Test Centre).

“There is a lot of potential for the NATC to contribute towards developing new technology and new models, and we hope it leads to the realisation of the country’s ambitions to be a regional automotive force,” said Proton CEO Dr. Li Chunrong, via said release.

“This collaboration strengthens Malaysia’s capabilities in next-generation mobility through shared testing facilities, structured R&D development, and expanded engineering capacity for new energy vehicles,” adds MARii CEO Azrul Reza Aziz.

The famed banked oval track in Shah Alam will soon be opened to other OEMs, as well as relevant bodies that includes academia and research institutes.

Critically, a shared facility collaboration agreement inked here sees Proton designating its Semi High-Speed Test Track in Shah Alam – the automaker’s famed banked oval course – plus its test lab at its main Tanjong Malim production hub as part of the NATC.

Following which, both Proton and MARii will collaborate further and equally fund the construction of a new NATC facility. As its name aptly directs, the purposed-built centre is poised to become an industry-wide open facility.

Notably, the proposed NATC will be opened to other OEMs and relevant bodies including academia and research institutes. Marii will lead the NATC’s operational tasks, and it will be supported by various other relevant stakeholders besides Proton.

Another key target laid out from which is the plan to nurture up to 200 Proton research and development (R&D) talent that will contribute to the development of future products and components, especially those related to new energy vehicles (NEVs).

Over the long term, this effort is poised to also assist in reaching the goal of turning the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) initiative into a regional NEV model and components development and production hub, adds Proton further.