Proton and Smart have recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to explore the possibility of assembling Smart vehicles here in Malaysia at Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant in Perak. The two companies will study the feasibility of such a project in the near future.

The prospect of locally assembled Smart vehicles is certainly exciting, as it could bring down prices of cars from the brand. It’s worth noting that this is actually the second MoA signed between Proton and Smart; the first one was to appoint Proton as the official distributor of Smart vehicles in Malaysia and Thailand.

Speaking of which, the Smart #1 will be arriving in Malaysia as a fully imported CBU model sometime in Q4 2023. Local bookings of the EV have already started, with three distinct models to choose from. There’s the Pro, Premium, and range-topping Brabus trim, which will retail between RM200,000 to RM250,000 on our shores.

Bookings for the Smart #1 can be made through the Hello Smart app in Malaysia now, which is available for download on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei AppGallery. A RM1,000 fee is required to book the electric SUV, and it is refundable.