On 20 March 2025, H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, was invited to the Flag-Off Ceremony of the “ASEAN Unity Drive 2025 (AUD2025)”, organised by the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and Internet of Things Institute (MARii) at the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry of Malaysia (MITI). The event was presided over by YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry of Malaysia, whereby MARii executives, led by YBrs. En Azrul Reza Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of MARii, along with foreign ambassadors and representatives from ASEAN embassies in Malaysia, as well as representatives from public and private sectors in Malaysia, were in attendance.

 

MITI Minister stated that AUD2025 is an initiative of Malaysia, as the 2025 ASEAN Chair, aiming to promote cooperation and integration among ASEAN member states to develop an ecosystem conducive to the growth of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, cross-border electric mobility and next-generation automotive innovations with the goal of positioning ASEAN as the global leader in sustainable transportation.

 

AUD2025 is the 9,000 km. journey by six Proton e.MAS electric vehicles travelling in 2 routes covering 9 ASEAN countries, including (1) the Northern Route starts from Viet Nam, passing through Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand before reaching Malaysia; and (2) the Southern Route begins in the Philippines, passing through Brunei Darussalam, In