SHAH ALAM, April 27 -- Proton's energy vehicle arm, PRO-NET, is reporting steady consumer interest for its plug-in hybrid SUV, attributing the trend to rising fuel costs and recent cuts to the BUDI95 fuel subsidy.

Since its launch in February, the Proton e.MAS 7 PHEV has secured over 6,500 bookings, with data showing that 75 per cent of buyers are family-oriented men aged 36 and above.

PRO-NET chief executive officer Zhang Qiang said that with households becoming more conscious of long-term costs, the model is arriving at the "right moment" for Malaysians seeking more economical mobility.

The majority of buyers (63 per cent) are trading in their existing petrol-powered compact SUVs and sedans, signalling a decisive shift towards electr...