The Perak Menteri Besar at the groundbreaking ceremony of PROTON's EV production plant.

TANJUNG MALIM, 6 February 2025 – The construction of the National Automobile Company's (PROTON) Electric Vehicle (EV) Plant, scheduled for completion in 2026, will make the national automotive company the largest investor in Perak.

Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad said the construction of PROTON's EV PLANT is not only an assembly facility, but also a long-term investment that reflects Malaysia's commitment to green technology and the advancement of the country's automotive industry. The plant will be the first in the country to be built specifically to assemble new energy vehicles and is an important step in developing the EV industry in Malaysia.

"This commitment is guided by the confidence that Malaysia has an edge in the EV industry, including a strong automotive ecosystem, expertise in semiconductors and automotive electronics, as well as the government's initiative to install 10,000 EV charging stations by 2025.

"This uniqueness not only provides a competitive advantage, but also attracts strategic investments from major automotive companies such as PROTON, which continues to strengthen Malaysia's position in the EV industry," he said in his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of PROTON's EV Production Plant here today.

Also present were State Secretary Dato' Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, State Legal Adviser Dato' Azmir Shah Zainal Abidin, State Financial Officer Dato' Mohd Zaki Mahyudin, State Exco Members, Deputy State Secretary (Development) Halizah Sipun, PROTON Board Member Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, PROTON Chief Executive Officer Dr Li Chunrong, and heads of state and federal departments.

Dato' Seri Saarani said that since 2018, PROTON has invested RM2.3 billion, proving its long-term commitment to developing a sustainable and competitive EV ecosystem.

With the construction of a new plant, a stamping facility this year, and a modern warehouse scheduled for completion in 2026, PROTON will become the largest investor in Perak, thus strengthening AHTV as Malaysia's automotive centre of excellence.

"To enhance efficiency and competitiveness, the gas pipeline to AHTV is now almost 98% complete and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2025, enabling companies to operate with energy efficiency and more competitive costs.

"Moreover, the entire AHTV area has been equipped with 5G services. This not only enhances AHTV's competitiveness, but also make it more ready to receive high-tech investors," he added.

In line with these developments, the Perak State Government is confident that access to strong connectivity and infrastructure is crucial in advancing high-tech industries.

Thus, after the West Ipoh Span Expressway (WISE) project connecting Gopeng and Kuala Kangsar, the Perak Government also has long-term plans to enhance the logistics networks.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.