Perodua is working to finalise production of its first electric vehicle (EV) by October, with plans to launch it by the end of this year.
The company’s president and CEO, Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, mentioned that the car will initially be over 30% locally assembled at their new factory in Rawang, Selangor, and priced below RM80,000, according to Bernama.
He added that after a few months of production, they aim to increase local assembly content to over 60% by sourcing more critical components locally.
The EV is expected to have a monthly production of 500 units and will be targeted at younger buyers and small families, offering them an affordable electric car option. Zainal also emphasised the importance of long-term value, particularly in terms of battery quality and resale price.
In a first for Malaysia, Perodua will introduce a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) leasing model. Instead of purchasing the battery outright, buyers will lease it, paying a minimal rental fee.
According to Zainal, surveys show strong support for this approach, as it reduces the upfront cost of the car and guarantees that owners always have a battery in top condition. He also noted that swapping out a battery can be done in just 30 minutes, making the process quick and convenient.
He explained that if buyers aren’t confident in the battery’s durability, the car’s value could drop significantly over time.
To address this, Perodua is ensuring that even after eight or nine years, the car will retain its value by maintaining strict control over battery quality. Buyers will always have the option to get a new battery directly from Perodua.