PRO-NET, a wholly owned subsidiary of Proton, and TVETMARA recently honoured the country’s top-performing Proton e.MAS technicians and service advisors at the inaugural e.MAS Electrified Excellence Aftersales Awards 2026.
Held on 14 and 15 October at Proton e.MAS MBf EV Auto in USJ, the competition brought together talent from across the national dealership network, culminating in an awards ceremony at DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City.
A total of 20 finalists — 10 technicians and 10 service advisors — emerged from two online preliminary rounds involving participants from 49 authorised Proton e.MAS dealerships nationwide.
The competition was organised in collaboration with TVETMARA Masjid Tanah, with assessments designed to test both technical expertise and customer-facing skills under conditions reflecting actual dealership operations.
Testing skills beyond the workshop
For technicians, the challenges covered pre-delivery inspections, the use of electronic diagnostic equipment and troubleshooting high-voltage faults. Service advisors, meanwhile, were evaluated on customer consultations, vehicle reception and delivery procedures, as well as complaint handling.
The approach reflects a key challenge for EV brands: aftersales support requires more than conventional automotive knowledge. Technicians must be equipped to work safely with high-voltage systems, while service advisors need to communicate technical issues and servicing requirements clearly to customers.
For PRO-NET, the competition also serves as a way to identify skills gaps and determine where additional training is needed. The findings will help shape future certification programmes and improve service consistency across the Proton e.MAS network.
“Delivering an EV is only the beginning of our relationship with a customer. People also need to know that when they visit a service centre, there is a capable technician who can work safely on their vehicle and a service advisor who can explain the next steps clearly,” said Zhang Qiang, Chief Executive Officer of PRO-NET.
He added that the goal is to make service excellence a consistent part of the ownership experience, rather than simply an achievement recognised at an awards ceremony.
Building Malaysia’s EV workforce
The initiative comes as Proton e.MAS surpasses 40,000 vehicle deliveries within its first 20 months, increasing the importance of having enough trained personnel to support customers nationwide.
PRO-NET has already been investing in technical capability, with 37 Level 2-certified technicians from 25 dealerships completing seven technical training modules in August 2026. More advanced Level 3 and Level 4 certification pathways are also being developed.
TVETMARA’s involvement connects vocational training with the requirements of a rapidly evolving automotive industry.
“EV technology is changing the skills our automotive graduates need. Through this collaboration, we can connect classroom learning with the safety procedures, diagnostic methods and customer expectations that technicians and service advisors encounter at work,” said Shabudin bin Said, Director of TVETMARA Masjid Tanah.
The awards recognised the top five performers in each category, alongside four special award recipients. Ranking prizes ranged from RM1,000 to RM2,500.
Who took home the awards?
Technician category
- 1st place: Mohamad Nabiel Suhairudin — Proton e.MAS Kota Bharu, JM Otomobil (EV)
- 2nd place: Ng Zhi Kang — Proton e.MAS Kuantan, HK Electra
- 3rd place: Wang Zhi Feng — Proton e.MAS Ipoh, GB Auto
- 4th place: Lingeswa Kumar A/L Velu — Proton e.MAS Plentong, AG Autoworld (EV)
- 5th place: Muhd Azimzikrie Haiqal — Proton e.MAS Setapak, Igreen Premium
Service advisor category
- 1st place: Muhammad Hafiz Hassanudin — Proton e.MAS Muar, Mayang Holdings
- 2nd place: Normurni Kassim — Proton e.MAS Setapak, Igreen Premium
- 3rd place: Yogaraaj A/L Bala — Proton e.MAS Petaling Jaya, Regal Motors EV
- 4th place: Dheepan A/L Raveendran — Proton e.MAS Kuantan, HK Electra
- 5th place: Rusydina Azimah Sha’Aril — Proton e.MAS Klang, Bandar Botanic, Igreen Premium
Four special awards were also presented:
- Warranty Specialist Award: Muhammad Farhan — Proton e.MAS Ipoh, GB Auto
- Parts Specialist Award: Muhammad Afifi Shahrudin — Proton e.MAS Glenmarie, EON
- Aftersales Leadership Excellence Award: Tan Teck Wei — Proton e.MAS Kuantan, HK Electra
- Outstanding Female Technician Award: Nurul Izzah — Proton e.MAS Melaka, NHL Auto Tech
Expanding the aftersales network
PRO-NET currently operates 60 Proton e.MAS dealerships nationwide, including 46 authorised service centres and 10 Body & Paint facilities. By the end of 2026, it plans to increase these numbers to 70 dealerships, 57 service centres and 14 Body & Paint facilities.
The awards also acknowledged the contributions of TVETMARA Masjid Tanah and MBf EV Auto, with support from SATA, Shell and Goodyear.
As Proton e.MAS expands its presence in Malaysia, developing a capable aftersales workforce will be increasingly important. For customers, confidence in an EV depends not only on its range, technology or purchase price, but also on knowing that qualified people are available to support it throughout ownership.
