Proton is exploring alternatives to introduce extra merchandise from its vary to Egypt, together with SUVs and NEVs (new vitality automobiles) “when market situations are proper”, the carmaker revealed in its assertion.
The Malaysian carmaker launched the Proton Saga in in CKD left-hand-drive type for the Egyptian market, which can obtain the sedan mannequin from the Cairo plant operated by Ezz Elarab Elsewedy Automotive Factories (ESAF).
Within the assertion, the Malaysian carmaker additionally stated that the presence of the Cairo plant signifies Egypt’s dedication to industrial growth, and the power’s use of domestically sourced parts, together with its plans for future enlargement – together with the manufacturing of EVs – aligns with Egypt’s Imaginative and prescient 2030.
In the meantime, a report by Egyptian publication Al-Masry Al-Youm reported that the ESAF-operated plant will assemble a brand new Proton sedan mannequin in 2026, adopted by an SUV mannequin in 2027.
This growth will allow Proton to enter the Center East and North African (MENA) markets, although it additionally implies that Proton and Geely may roll out overlapping fashions for the area because the Cairo plant will assemble Geely fashions together with the Emgrand, which serves as the bottom for the Proton S70, and the Coolray (Proton X50).
Opened in collaboration with Auto Mobility (Geely Egypt), that is Geely’s first industrial enterprise in Egypt, Africa and the Center East. As much as 10,000 Geely-badged automobiles for home consumption will be produced from its two manufacturing strains, and might output round 30,000 automobiles for export to the Center East and North Africa (MENA) areas.
Does this imply that Proton fashions such because the X50 and S70 may go head-to-head in the identical market as their respective Geely twins, the Binyue and the Emgrand, or may Proton promote a mannequin that Geely Egypt doesn’t have an equal for, such because the Proton X70?
By way of new vitality automobiles (NEVs), the time period refers to automobiles with electrified powertrains, starting from battery-electric automobiles to mild-hybrids. One such mannequin inside the Proton vary is the X90 SUV, which makes use of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.
On the BEV finish of the spectrum there’s the eMas 7 (Geely EX5). There might be additional potentialities for electrified fashions, as development of the Tanjung Malim EV plant has commenced, and can produce the eMas 7 by the top of this 12 months, whereas on the PHEV facet, the Geely Starship 7 is actually a petrol-electric model of the Galaxy E5/Proton eMas 7.
A brand new GMA-based mannequin has already been confirmed for launch this 12 months, which will likely be both the eMas 5 or eMas 3, and so these fashions may probably be earmarked for future meeting in Egypt.
Trying to promote your automotive? Promote it with Carro.
