08-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Perodua to finalise maiden EV production and launch in Q4
KUALA LUMPUR: Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) plans to finalise production of its first electric vehicle (EV) by October and launch it by the year-end.
The EV, codenamed eMO, will initially be over 30 per cent locally produced at a new factory in Sungai Choh in Rawang, Selangor, said Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
Production will start at a rate of 500 units a month in the new battery EV plant, Zainal told a press conference after unveiling the EV prototype - presented in a half-cut form - at the Malaysian Autoshow 2025 (MAS 2025) here today.
Perodua hopes to increase the local content to over 60 per cent after a few months of production with the localisation of critical components, he added.
Perodua eMO's final prototype headlined the MAS 2025 that opened to the media today at MAEPS Serdang before making opening its doors to the public on Friday.
This is the third part of Perodua's Electric Motion Online and the final rehearsal before the launch of the production car by December.
Perodua first introduced the eMO-II concept at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) late last year.
The eMO-II five-door hatchback from KLIMS has morphed into a small B-segment SUV at MAS 2025.
In February, Perodua floated a possible RM80,000 starting price for the company's EV, but without the battery.
Zainal said the EV is targeted at the younger buyers and small families, enabling them to enjoy an affordable electric ride.
He now confirmed that Perodua EV will offer Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) battery leasing, a first in Malaysia.
The battery is a lithium iron phosphate unit sourced from CATL, with a target range of between 400km and 410km.
The performance target is a 0-100 km/h time of between six and seven seconds and top speed of around 165 km/h.
"The battery will be leased to buyers. The 'rental' fee is the minimum, and based on surveys by Perodua, many are in favour of this method," Zainal said.
He added that the EV battery leasing scheme lowers the cost of the car and ensures that owners will always have a battery in the best condition.
The EVs long-term value was a key priority, particularly regarding battery quality and resale price, he said.
"If people buy an EV but are not confident in the battery quality, the car's value will drop after eight years.
"So, we are ensuring that even after eight or nine years, the car will still retain its value because we control the battery quality. You can always get a new battery from us," he added.
