There will not be any rebadging involved

Proton has officially set foot in the EV game in Malaysia, as the brand today formalised its deal to sell and service Smart EVs in Malaysia and Thailand by signing a General Distributorship Agreement.

Contrary to popular belief, Proton will not be rebadging smart EVs, as the EVs will still be sold as smart vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand. That being said, the first model to be sold by Proton will be the smart #1, which is slated to be launched in Malaysia in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Designed by Mercedes-Benz, the smart #1 comes with a 66-kWh battery which enables the EV to travel up to 440 km before running out of juice, and a rear-mounted electric motor which produces 272 PS and 343 Nm of torque. 

In case you're wondering how much it will cost, it is safe to say that the asking price will be somewhere between RM150,000 and RM200,000 as it will not be assembled locally or sold as a Proton. 

While Proton's collaboration with smart is primarily for retail operation, the national carmaker did mention that there are plans to pave the way for its entry into the new energy vehicle market, meaning that there will be EVs carrying the Proton badge in the near future. 

Whether it will be rebadged Geely EVs or other models under brands owned by Geely remains a mystery for time being.

In addition to just selling and servicing smart EVs in Malaysia and Thailand, Proton also announced its intention to model retail operations for the smart brand in Malaysia like what smart is doing in other markets. 

What this means is that there will be a heavy emphasis on an integrated digital lifestyle and other elements that will marry customer preferences with a connected digital solution encompassing journey planning, charging availability, adn even purchase considerations.

Speaking of charging, Proton aso revealed that it will be collaborating with local service providers to set up a local charging network comprising public and domestic charging units in an effort to ensure that there are enough charging facilities for EV owners nationwide.

Another facet the company is exploring is to use its entry into the market segment to attract young talents.

With the rapid shift in job preference for new workers, Proton will use its long-term plans for sustainability and energy efficiency as well as increasing its ESG scores to appeal to the next generation of automotive industry workers.