Perodua will debut an electrified, Internet-enabled concept car at next week’s 2023 Malaysia Auto Show at MAEPS in Serdang, Selangor.
The sole teaser video released by Perodua says Electric Motion Online, giving clues to the product concept.
We still don’t know if ‘Electric’ refers to a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), though we think the latter is more likely.
The price range of Perodua vehicles is around RM 40k to RM 80k, which is still too low for a BEV that is decently practical enough for the mass-market buyers that Perodua is aiming for, so you can rule out glorified golf cart BEVs.
Also, as a national car company Perodua cannot sell imported models but at the same time, local suppliers are not yet ready to support a locally produced BEV.
Perodua has previously mentioned that a locally produced hybrid model, to be launched in 2024, will prepare local suppliers to support the company’s future BEV product plans, which is targeted to be launched in Malaysia in 2029.
It also said that around 17 local suppliers may not survive the transition to BEVs.
Perodua’s own study shows that demand for hybrid vehicles (HEVs) will exceed conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) models by 2030 but by 2033, BEVs will outsell both ICE and hybrids.
Also read: Perodua: Readiness of local suppliers crucial for electrification; hybrid as stepping stone to EV