Asia Tech Wire (June 13) -- Malaysian automaker Proton Holdings Berhad has launched Malaysia's first homegrown electric vehicle brand.

Proton, backed by Chinese automaker Geely, launched its electric vehicle brand e.MAS, the country's first homegrown electric vehicle brand, in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

The company will produce e.MAS vehicles at its existing plant in Selangor, expecting the first batch of cars to roll off the production line by the end of 2025.

In May 2017, Geely acquired a 49.9% stake in Proton for approximately 739 million yuan.