It seems Proton is building up hype for its first-ever EV. The national carmaker just launched a brand name contest for the upcoming EV model – which is expected to be released sometime in 2025 – and a RM8,000 prize pool (in cold hard cash) is up for grabs.

The winner of the Proton EV brand name contest will walk away with RM5,000, while the first and second runner-ups will receive RM1,500 and RM1,000 respectively. Aside from that, the top five entries will also receive RM100 cash.

“This contest isn’t just about naming a brand; it’s about inviting Malaysians to be integral participants in shaping the future of mobility. Proton is grateful for the support we received from Malaysians over the past 41 years and aims to embark on this EV journey with people at the forefront of its vision,” said the CEO of Pro-Net, Zhang Qiang.

Looking at the promotional image for the Proton EV brand name contest, the silhouette of the car pictured looks to be an SUV of sorts. Does that mean Proton’s first EV will be an SUV? Well, it’s certainly possible, though there’s also a chance the image is simply a placeholder. Nonetheless, you can head to this website to join the brand name contest, which is set to end on 5 June 2024.