Nepal becomes first international market for Proton eMAS 7

Proton has made its debut in the international electric vehicle (EV) market with the launch of the Proton eMAS 7 in Nepal.

According to the automaker, the launch follows the model’s strong performance in Malaysia since its debut on December 16 and helps to pave the way of a broader international strategy.

In the Nepalese market, the eMAS 7 is distributed by the brand’s authorised distributor, Jagdamba Motors. Similar to Malaysia, it is available in Prime and Premium guises, priced at NPR 5,699,000 (RM 183k) and NPR 6,799,000 (RM 218k), respectively.

There are six colours to choose from, namely Platinum Silver, Turquoise Green, Slate Grey, Quarts Rose, Moyu Black, and Lithium White. Notably, Moyu Black is not offered in Malaysia.

Aside from the addition of the black colour, the specifications of the eMAS 7 for the Nepali market are the same as those for the Malaysian market. The Prime variant comes with a 49.52 kWh Aegis Short Blade battery that promises a WLTP range of 345 km, whereas the Premium variant, equipped with a 60.22 kWh battery, offers a range of 410 km.

According to Proton, the eMAS 7 embarked on a tour in Nepal from February 21 to March 4, prior to its official launch. The tour covered all seven provinces and included 18 stops, such as Janakpur, Birtamod, and Itahari.

The company said its entry to the market is timely and aligns well with Nepal’s Green Mobility Vision. Over the past four years, the EV penetration rate in the country has increased from 6% of its total industry volume (TIV) in 2021 to 73% in 2024, equivalent to a nine-fold increase from 1,138 units to 10,794 units during that period.

Currently, Jagdamba Motors has three operational dealers, with plans to finalise agreements with 12 dealers nationwide by the end of 2025. It also has plans to establish charging infrastructures and build a robust service center network nationwide.

“Nepal is just the beginning. Plans are already in motion to introduce the Proton eMAS 7 to other international markets to support the brand’s global growth ambitions,” said Dr Li Chunrong, Chief Executive Officer, Proton.

“Going forward, we will be bringing our EV model to Trinidad & Tobago, Mauritius as well as Singapore,” he added.