Zakirin
Proton’s long-awaited successor to the Exora has taken a significant step toward production, with tier-1 automotive supplier EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) confirming the existence of a new model codenamed AMA05. Revealed during the official opening of a new chassis component assembly plant in Tanjung Malim, the model will be built on Proton’s proprietary Global Modular Architecture (AMA) platform.
Supply Chain and Manufacturing Backbone
The project confirmation surfaced through Peps Sanly JV, a joint venture established in February 2025 between EPMB and China’s Sanly. The venture’s newly operational RM9.5 million facility spans 9,909 square metres and boasts an annual capacity of up to 480,000 car sets (40,000 sets monthly).
The plant will supply three critical chassis modules for the AMA05, alongside the upcoming Saga MC3 and AMA02:
- Front corner modules
- Subframe modules
- Rear axle modules
Platform Architecture and Dedicated Hybrid Powertrain
Proton originally mapped out its AMA family—consisting of AMA01 (next-gen Saga), AMA02, AMA05, and AMA06—to modernize its core entry- and mid-tier lineups. While Proton has yet to explicitly label AMA05 by name as the Exora successor, prior disclosures confirmed that the AMA platform will yield a dedicated hybrid MPV.
Unlike the AMA02, which will feature traditional internal combustion options, the upcoming MPV will bypass pure petrol variants entirely. Key powertrain highlights include:
- Transmission: Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT120), shared with the e.MAS 7 PHEV platform.
- Electric Drive: Integrated electric motor delivering an estimated output of 163 PS.
- Architecture: Suspected to be an extended 7-seater platform variant derived from the AMA02 SUV architecture.
Segment Comparison
| Feature / Metric | Proton AMA05 (Expected) | Perodua Alza (Current Target) | Proton Exora (Predecessor) |
| Segment | B/C-Segment MPV | B-Segment Compact MPV | C-Segment MPV |
| Powertrain | Hybrid-Only (DHT120) | 1.5L 2NR-VE Pure Petrol | 1.6L CFE Turbo Petrol |
| Electric Output | ~163 PS (Electric Motor) | N/A | N/A |
| Platform | Advanced Modular Architecture (AMA) | DNGA (Daihatsu New Global Architecture) | Proton P2 Platform |
| Target Market | Electrified 7-Seater Family Segment | Mass-Market Family Mover (#5 Best-Seller) | Discontinued Budget 7-Seater |
By skipping a standard petrol variant in favor of a dedicated DHT hybrid system, Proton aims to leapfrog conventional competitors in fuel efficiency and torque delivery. While Proton has not announced an official launch timeline, the operational readiness of the Tanjung Malim supply chain indicates that development is well past the conceptual stage as Proton prepares to challenge the market dominance of the Perodua Alza.
