Mass production of Malaysian automaker Proton’s Saga model will launch within weeks, Proton Egypt General Manager Bassem Ashmawy told Al Mal. Elsewedy Electric sister company Elsewedy Capital and automotive group Ezz El Arab JV and project leader EzzElsewedy Automotive Factories is currently testing the locally assembled automobile on Egyptian streets with a technical team from Proton to ensure it meets certain quality standards ahead of the official launch of mass production.

The cars will be hard to spot on the roads though, with Ashmawy telling the outlet that they have obscured its distinctive and identifiable features to keep them out of the public eye until the new model is officially launched in February and price ranges announced.

The news follows the official opening of the new EGP 3 bn plant back in November, targeting an annual production capacity of 40k — to be doubled at a later stage — and a local component ratio of 48%. The plant is also planning to export some 10% of its production in the first year of operations, before expanding the amount of cars exported, and will create some 300 jobs.

Proton and its local partners are already eyeing the next step, with plans to double production to 80k a car, start assembling EVs, and establish a paint factory.

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