Geely seems to be reneging on a promise it made to turn Proton and essentially Malaysia as its hub for right-hand drive (RHD) markets following the launch of the Geely Galaxy E5 at the ongoing 2024 Thailand International Motor Expo.

Fully imported (CBU) from China, the twin to the upcoming Proton e.Mas 7 battery electric vehicle (BEV) is called the Geely EX5 in Thailand and is offered in two variants:

• EX5 Pro – THB 899,000 (~RM 116k)
• EX5 Max – THB 989,000 (~RM 128k)

The EX5’s launch in Thailand makes the Kingdom the first RHD market to launch the car, which on one hand scuppers Proton’s plans to reenter the market. Thailand is one of the biggest automotive markets in Southeast Asia as well as the region’s biggest in BEV sales volume.

Aside from possibly ruffling its Malaysian partner, Geely is also aggressively pushing towards potential customers by offering a special price for the first 1,084 customers. Under this special offer, the EX5 is priced between THB 859,000 to THB 949,000 (~RM 111k-123k).

For comparison, the BYD Atto 3 is priced between THB 899,000 to THB 1,049,900 (~RM 116k-136k).

Geely’s two sub-brands, the BEV pick-up maker Riddara and the high-end luxury BEV brand Zeekr are currently available in the Kingdom. The Geely brand is being distributed by the Thonburi Group which also handles local assembly (CKD) of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Thailand.

But let’s head back to the EX5. The electric SUV is powered by a front-mounted electric motor that makes 218 PS/320 Nm across the two variants. Unlike the China-spec E5 and the e.Mas 7, the Thai-spec BEV is only offered with one battery size across the two variants, a 60.22-kWh Aegis lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that provides a maximum range of 495 km (NEDC).

The difference between the base Pro and top-of-the-line Max then is the equipment offered. Standard features include automatic LED headlights with active high beam (AHB) control, powered concealed door handles, an active grille shutter, and 18-inch wheels.

Inside, the Thai-spec EX5 is available with two choices of interior colours – Cloud White-Black and Dusk Blue-Black combinations. Aside from that, most of the features offered are similar to the ones available in the upcoming e.Mas 7.

Standard features on the EX5 in Thailand include a 15.4-inch touchscreen display of 2.5K resolution running on Flyme Auto OS with Apple CarPlay support, a 10.2-inch driver display, powered front seats with ventilation and massaging functions, a wireless charger, and a 16-speaker Wanos premium sound system from Flyme Sound.

The Max variant adds a powered tailgate, a head-up display, a panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting with up to 256 colours, and a powered zero gravity-type front passenger seat.

The Thai-spec EX5 comes standard with Level 2 ADAS which includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian recognition, lane change assist (LCA), and intelligent cruise control (ICC).

Meanwhile in Malaysia, the e.Mas 7 will be expected to make its long-awaited launch here next month. It will be the first BEV to be offered by a Malaysian brand and bookings are opened with an estimated starting price of RM 120,000 with two variants to choose from, Prime and Premium.

Also read: Estimated from RM 120k, Proton e.Mas 7 bookings now open - Cheaper than top-spec X70

Special thanks to our Thai sister site, AutoFun TH for providing live photos.