Modularity may allow for applications beyond what the Perodua QV-E is right now, but one thing is for sure – there won’t be an internal combustion engine (ICE) model based on it. This was revealed by Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad in an interview with Careta‘s Hezeri Samsuri, in which a wide range of topics related to the automaker were discussed.
One of the questions was about the possibility of the platform being used to spawn an ICE model, not surprising given that the platform, which was developed in partnership with Magna Steyr, has been touted as being suited not just for EVs but also range extenders and hybrids.
However, Zainal said that while the platform will spin off models, there would not be a pure ICE one, as the automaker’s collaboration with Daihatsu precludes any development of a self-developed pure combustion-engined model. “It’s a bit difficult because our agreement with our partner (Daihatsu) means that for ICE, we will continue along the lines of our traditional partnership, that’s the agreement,” he said.
He did however hint of a possibility of a range extender model as the platform shapes up down the line, beyond the QV-E. “The platform as well as more than 20% of the tooling will be carried over to future models, because they are common internal parts mostly, and since it is a multiple platform, we are studying the possibility of doing an REEV,” he said.
More importantly, Perodua’s move into electrification looks set to expand its involvement with Daihatsu beyond the conventional scope. “We’ve done the EV ourselves. But we’ve gotten enquiries from them to join us in our EV development,” he said, adding that there has also been an offer from Toyota to build EV cars for them.
Zainal said that going the journey alone hasn’t been easy, especially from a cost perspective, but it is one that needed to be done. “If you ask me, the learning process is really expensive, and it’s hard for us to recover 100% of the investment, unlike how we do it with ICE cars, but I feel proud of our people that we can develop a car and that it has opened their eyes (Daihatsu and Toyota), and they’re now talking about collaboration,” he said.
Still, it’s not quite something Perodua can do single-handedly. “If we’re going to export the QV-E, we would definitely need assistance – not specifically from the government or any other side, but from governments that will accept it,” president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said in a Careta video interview.
“For example, say I want to export it to the Middle East – a country in the Middle East without a national car policy – and they’re interested in developing their automotive industry, and at the same time interested in establishing a factory, using our QV-E as a base. That’s how we are planning our strategy.”
The specific Middle East mention is almost too convenient for coincidence. Iran Khodro (IKCO), Turkiye’s Togg and Egypt’s Ramses (1960s) come to mind as existing examples, but can anyone think of a country there lately eager to have their own national car?
Why not Indonesia, who has wanted a national car for so long? “Indonesia is also something we want to study, but we understand that their latest (national car) partner is Chinese. We also want to go and enquire. It’s difficult to enquire directly, so we will do so through their suppliers, particularly battery suppliers,” said the president and CEO.
At last year’s Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), we saw no fewer than three ‘national cars’ – Aletra, Polytron and i2C. The first two are the result of Chinese partnerships; i2C’s donor car has not been officially disclosed.
Vendors for Perodua are currently working hard to supply parts for the QV-E, and the national carmaker will push for sales volume after that, Zainal said. Perodua is aiming for full localisation to be achieved in June, and the full localisation of the QV-E is expected to bring cost savings. In the interview, Zainal alluded to a fully-localised QV-E price in the region of RM60k, including its battery.
While the QV-E is not only built locally, but also with 100% Malaysian research and development, the carmaker’s first EV also has “many critical items from China”, Zainal said in the interview.
Although Perodua had initially planned for a monthly production output of 500 units, the carmaker has had to delay production and limit test drive units to eight outlets handles quality issues from its new suppliers, including those from China, Zainal said.
The Perodua QV-E was launched in December 2025, priced at RM80,000 on-the-road without insurance, and the EV battery is paid for separately through a RM275 monthly subscription fee (RM297 after 8% SST).
Its first battery-electric vehicle is also its most powerful model yet, with a single front-mounted motor producing 204 PS and 285 Nm, propelling the QV-E from 0-100 km/h in a claimed 7.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 165 km/h.
A 52.5 kWh LFP battery from CATL offers a quoted 445 km of range on the NEDC cycle, or closer to 380 km on the more realistic WLTP standard. Maximum charging rate is 60 kW DC, enabling a 30-80% recharge in 30 minutes, while up to 6.6 kW AC charging brings a 0-100% charge in eight hours.
“Internally, we are facing some production problems with regard to the QV-E. We have been accustomed to very high quality standards, learnt from Japan. With the QV-E, we have found that some of our new suppliers, including from China, do not meet our quality standards,” Zainal said, adding that there are now 30 Perodua personnel in China monitoring the supplier(s) to ensure adherence to standard operating procedures.
Exactly which and how many of the QV-E’s numerous components are sourced from China is not public knowledge except for the 52.5 kWh LFP battery, which comes from CATL – the world’s biggest EV battery manufacturer. The Proton eMas 5 also uses CATL batteries.
So what about the 500-unit monthly target? “To be fair, at launch time (December), we weren’t going to achieve production of 500 units a month; we’d planned to start full production in January. It’s achievable based on our initial plan, but we decided to limit test drive cars to eight outlets as this is our first EV and also our first vehicle with many critical items from China, so our confidence to push for sales here is relatively low, despite there being market demand,” said Zainal.
The Edge now reports, citing executives privy to the deal, that Perodua is considering buying Tan Chong’s Serendah plant – located just 3 km away from the former’s Sungai Choh base – for about RM500 million.
“Perodua is leasing a capacity of 30,000 units per year at Tan Chong’s Serendah facility, which has a production capacity of around 40,000 units per year. It is also looking at the possibility of acquiring the Serendah plant,” one of the executives said, adding that the leasing deal is expected to contribute some RM80 million to Tan Chong.
It would appear to be a win-win situation. Perodua is already operating beyond its maximum capacity of 320,000 units annually (its two plants – Perodua Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Perodua Global Manufacturing Sdn Bhd – combined), while Tan Chong has been facing under-utilisation at its Serendah and Segambut plants, which have a combined capacity of 65,000 units a year, say research analysts.
The Edge writes that according to a November 26 Kenanga Research report, Tan Chong has a 13% production capacity utilisation rate (8,450 units). Only 7,785 Nissans found Malaysian homes last year – TCMA Serendah currently assembles the Serena and Almera while TCMA Segambut makes the X-Trail, as well as non-Nissan vehicles such as the GAC GS3 Emzoom, GAC Emkoo and TQ Wuling Bingo.
The Edge reports that Kenanga Research forecasts a RM185.5 million net loss for Tan Chong in FY2025 and a RM164.3 million net loss in FY2026, while RHB Research forecasts RM166 million and RM107 million respectively. In the first nine months of 2025, the company’s net loss shrunk to RM114.3 million from RM146.11 million in the same period last year, while its revenue increased 3.23% to RM1.62 billion.
Perodua has announced that it is increasing the number of sales outlets that can collect bookings for its QV-E electric vehicle, expanding it from the nine locations originally indicated at point of launch to 34 across the peninsular.
This comes after the automaker received healthy interest from potential customers about the EV, which was launched on December 1, prompting it to increase the number of locations for customers to book a test drive and make a reservation for the car.
Initially, the list of nine authorised outlets consisted of Perodua Sentral (PJ), Glenmarie and Putrajaya in the Klang Valley; Juru (Penang), Ipoh (Jalan Lahat), Senawang (N9) and Johor Bahru (Jalan Tampoi) on the West Coast and Kota Bharu (Batu 4, Jalan Kuala Krai) and Kuantan on the East Coast. The expanded list of locations are as indicated in the panels below.
Click to enlarge.
UPDATE:Perodua reported a mistake on its end in the Perodua sales outlet listing it shared last week. The company said its Balakong outlet is no longer in operation, and its place in the list has been replaced with PSSB Semenyih, as highlighted in the attachment above.
According to Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, the company is also including manual bookings for the QV-E to simplify the process for customers. “Originally, we requested our customers to make their booking through our super-app, P Circle, but some of our customers asked to include the normal option of booking collection,” he said.
He added that the brand has come up with an infographic to simplify the communication about the terms and conditions for its battery leasing programme.
Click to enlarge the infographic panels.
As previously highlighted, the Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) charges a RM275 subscription (all-in and final monthly price) fee per month for 108 months (nine years), the price being capped to ensure customers are protected from future price hikes.
The electric battery will be wholly maintained by Perodua as part of the package, and the automaker will also provide the administration assistance in transferring the BaaS subscription to a new owner, should the current owner wish to sell the QV-E, with its Pre-Owned Vehicle Department helping to de-list the original owner’s name from the subscription programme and register the new owner.
The company added that the 108-payment requirement is also transferable, meaning if the current owner has already paid 50 months for the plan, then the new owner only needs to continue the 58 months remaining under the same plan. Here’s a more detailed look at Perodua’s BaaS programme.
The QV-E’s RM80k price plus battery leasing scheme caught some by surprise, although that figure for the EV’s ‘body price’ has been reported before, with P2 sticking to its planned RRP even after Proton eMas 5 pricing was revealed.
There are cheaper ways to market an EV, but Perodua’s responsibility as an automotive sector ‘champion’ under Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 is to catalyse the growth of a local EV ecosystem.
“Thus, the selected OTR price, design and specifications are the result of balancing the needs of both the government and the Malaysian market. The P01A serves not just the consumer, but it’s a product that will kick-start and accelerate the BEV ecosystem in Malaysia,” Perodua says, adding that the short lead time and lower initial stage localisation directly impacts the QV-E’s price.
Perhaps this is why they couldn’t kick-off with a budget EV for the masses. But a smaller and cheaper EV based on the QV-E’s platform is in Perodua’s plans, Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said at the QV-E media preview last month.
“The platform development is not only for this model – longer range, current battery size, or we can adjust and put in a hybrid or REEV (range extender electric vehicle),” he said when explaining the modular nature of the QV-E’s platform, co-developed by Magna Steyr, the Austria-based engineering firm that’s also the world’s most famous contract manufacturer.
Click to enlarge
When quizzed about QV-E’s price – which is for ‘M40 and above’ young families with small children and T20 kids, described as ‘children of a rich family, living with parents’ – he said that “we have another model on the same platform, and the other model will have a better pricing than this model.” In other words, a smaller and cheaper model.
In the product presentation, Perodua explained that the P01A is the first of a family of models in the A-B segment, and possibilities range from a 2,550 mm wheelbase sedan and hatchback to a 2,700 mm wheelbase SUV (with a more practical, conventional shape; the QV-E has a 2,680 mm wheelbase and is defined internally a Sportback). Hybrid and REEV powertrains are possible with mid-floor and front beam modifications.
By the way, Magna Steyr has an electric car platform for sale, but the QV-E’s platform is not the Magna EV Platform as that one is made for the C/D-segment and has multi-link rear suspension. So, Perodua didn’t just purchase the rights to use Steyr’s off-the-shelf platform.
Strong bones to work on, as the QV-E is five-star ASEAN NCAP-rated with higher overall and adult occupant protection scores than the upcoming Toyota Yaris Cross – Perodua Nexis/Traz. Full QV-E specs (445 km NEDC range, 0-100 in 7.5s), battery leasing details (RM297 a month for nine years) and mega gallery here.
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E media preview
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E official presentation slides
With the launch of the QV-E yesterday, Perodua finally has an entry into the burgeoning electric vehicle market, priced significantly under the RM100,000 mark. But the headline RM80,000 figure does not include the battery, which has to be leased separately – the first EV sold in Malaysia in which this is the case.
UPDATE:Perodua has released a product disclosure sheet for its battery leasing service, containing more details and some significant changes to what was originally announced. The article has been edited with new information.
Perodua is instead introducing local customers to the battery-as-a-service (BaaS) concept, which it claims will solve issues with battery degradation and, ultimately, resale value – two of the biggest pain points of EV ownership. The cost of the lease, with a fixed contract period of nine years (you can’t get a longer or shorter tenure), is RM275 per month excluding the 8% sales and service tax (SST), the latter putting the total figure to just under RM300.
However, you will also need to come up with three months’ advance payment upon signing the least agreement, costing RM825 excluding SST, or nearly RM900 with SST. This amount will be used to either cover the final three months of the lease or settle any outstanding lease payments in case of an early termination, with any excess refunded to you. The upshot is that you will effectively need to pay for four months in lease payments up front, with an initial outlay of almost RM1,200.
Battery leasing product disclosure – click to enlarge
Payments are made on or before the fifth of each month, with a fee of 1% per year being charged for every missed or late payments. Perodua may disable the car’s startup or the battery’s functionality if users miss payments by two months, and the lease agreement will be terminated after month three, after which the company will begin the battery recovery process.
Perodua claims the Shariah-compliant BaaS scheme guarantees the QV-E’s future resale values, assuming the body itself (and the motor and associated components) holds its value. This is because the national carmaker will handle any and all maintenance related to the battery, including replacing the pack entirely if its state of health (SoH) drops below 70%.
The lengthy lease period also ensures that your battery (or rather, Perodua’s battery in your car) will remain in good condition for a very long time, being a year longer than a typical eight-year battery warranty. Crucially, the lease is uncapped in terms of mileage, rather than being limited to the usual 160,000 km as per a warranty. We should point out, however, that you will not be able to use the QV-E as an “e-hailing” (such as Grab) or delivery car, as this is prohibited under the lease contract.
With regards to resale values, Perodua says the lease contract will make owning a used QV-E more desirable. On a typical EV, the general perception (it doesn’t really matter if it’s a right or wrong one; it’s there) is that the battery is a “ticking time bomb” – in that it’s only a matter of time before its SoH degrades beyond a point in which it continues to be usable.
The worry is that a used EV will only have a few years of use left before the battery needs to be replaced – and if the replacement falls outside of the warranty period, the owner will be burdened with an enormous bill. A seven-year-old EV that gets put up for sale, for instance, will only have a year of battery warranty left; beyond that, the new owner would have to replace a faulty or degraded battery at their own expense.
The used car selling price would thus need to factor in the cost of a potential replacement, driving it to the ground. This is one of the main reasons why the demand for pre-owned EVs is low, and why even nearly-new examples can be bought at half their retail price.
No such worry for the QV-E – the new buyer will simply have to sign a new lease to effectively be guaranteed a further nine years of worry-free motoring. This should, in theory at least, increase buyer confidence in the car, leading to higher used demand and, thus higher resale values.
In addition, having the batteries under its own control means Perodua will be able to keep a close eye on its inventory and dispose of every spent or damaged battery safely and sustainably, improving the car’s eco-friendly credentials.
This goes hand-in-hand with the “battery passport” that Perodua is introducing, in line with the standard implemented by the ministry of investment, trade and industry (MITI) and the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) last month. This, according to the department of standards, provides a “comprehensive digital record of an EV battery’s life cycle, from production to disposal,” per Malay Mail.
The tracking of each battery’s lifecycle extends to the included GPS tracker, which enables Perodua to detect if a battery has been detached from the car was originally installed on, or if the said car has been abandoned. In such a situation, the company can locate the missing battery and send a team out to retrieve it.
As you can expect, there are also downsides to the BaaS approach. For one, the RM80,000 sticker price can lull buyers into thinking that the QV-E is more affordable than it actually is. Taking into account a 10% downpayment and an interest rate of 2.5% per annum, buyers can expect to pay around RM1,120 per month (RM820 for the body) on a nine-year loan, RM1,310 per month (RM1,010 for the body) on a seven-year loan and RM1,650 per month (RM1,350 for the body) on a five-year loan.
These figures are akin to financing a car costing around RM100,000, and the QV-E should be thought of as such – not as an “RM80k car”. As one reader put it, the circa-RM300 monthly lease is more than the fuel bill of an equivalent petrol model, and the buyer would still need to pay for charging.
Another disadvantage is that any necessary battery replacements – whether it’s been damaged by an accident or through the lessee’s negligence or misuse – will require the owner to sign a new nine-year contract. The exception is when the battery exhibits a manufacturing defect or fault, upon which it will be replaced under warranty without altering the original lease term.
The QV-E counters with expected lower maintenance costs, as it does away with expensive engine and transmission oil changes. And while the usual savings in EV service and running costs tend to be more than offset by the massive outlay of an eventual battery replacement (although a battery that is depleting faster than normal would typically be covered by a lengthy battery warranty anyway), this is simply not the case for the Perodua. In effect, you are paying for a replacement with the lease.
Also, offering the body separately from the battery means that the loan will only be calculated based on the RM80,000 amount, meaning that it should be easier to gain approval from the bank. The instalment and the lease payment are paid to the bank in one lump sum – the bank will split the amount and pay Perodua on your behalf, so there’s no need to make two separate payments.
If the loan tenure ends before the lease expires, subsequent lease payments will have to be made either through Perodua’s P-Circle app manually, or via a standing instruction through participating banks. One thing of note is that you will never own the battery outright. Even after the conclusion of the lease contract, the battery still belongs to Perodua, although you’ll no longer have to pay the RM275 free and can continue to use the battery as long as you want.
This may not matter much in the grand scheme of things, but it’s still something you should keep in mind. You can, of course, also sign a new contract, get a new battery and continue the lease for another nine years, ensuring that the battery is still maintained at a good SoH.
Selling the QV-E secondhand is also not such a straightforward affair. Within the lease period, the car can only be sold through POV, Perodua’s certified pre-owned vehicle service. This is the only way that the new buyer can legally become the lessee of the car’s battery. You cannot sell it directly to a private buyer, a used car dealer or even larger marketplaces like Carro or Carsome.
Obviously, Perodua cannot control the manner in which owners ultimately sell their car through, but it’s worth pointing out that paying for a lease that’s under someone else’s name is an offence, just like in a sambung bayar arrangement. Controlling the secondhand QV-E market through POV is another way in which Perodua aims to guarantee future resale values.
And yes, even if the car is sold with a perfectly functional battery, the new buyer will have to sign a new nine-year contract and receive a new battery; there is no way for them to inherit the existing contract and battery. As mentioned, the rationale is that by changing the battery each time there’s a change in owner, the car will always be guaranteed to work for another nine years, improving resale values.
Of course, you can then make the argument that as there is no way to shorten the lease period beyond the standard nine years – and especially if resale values end up being as strong as Perodua says they’ll be – there would be little incentive to buy a slightly cheaper used QV-E instead of simply plumping for a new one. But that’s a story for another day.
Nio vehicles, including this Firefly, also come with battery leasing in China
Perodua may be the first carmaker in Malaysia to provide battery leasing, but there are other companies that offer a similar service in other markets – most notably, Nio in China. Its affordable Firefly sub-brand, for instance, offers a subsidised version of its eponymous hatchback starting from just 79,800 yuan (RM46,600), in return for a monthly lease payment of 399 yuan (RM230) for a smaller 42 kWh battery (QV-E 52.5 kWh).
No lease period could be found, but the biggest, most crucial difference is that the car can indeed be purchased including the battery, costing 119,800 yuan (RM70,000). That means the car body gets a 40,000 yuan (RM23,400) discount without the battery, which is about in line with what Perodua is offering.
So that’s a detailed look at the BaaS scheme for the QV-E, and why Perodua thinks it makes sense for the Malaysian market. What do you think – will it flop, or is there a chance it will actually be a success? Sound off in the comments.
Safety should be the most important aspect in a car, yet most of the time, it’s left behind the scenes – things like EV specs, performance and design are somehow more attractive, and tend to dominate the headlines and attention. Safety is bit like that vital holding midfielder who doesn’t get many goals – even ‘keepers get their flowers when they make good saves – but when he’s not playing…
The QV-E’s safety department is lengkap. There’s no need to elaborate on P2’s Advanced Safety Assist suite (ASA, available since 2017, offered on the Bezza since 2020) and driver assist features like ACC (since 2021 with the Ativa, but radar-based instead of camera on the QV-E), but there are some new safety kit debuting in the QV-E.
Click to enlarge
Remember the cases of children dying of heatstroke after being left in parked cars? The new Child Presence Detection (CPD) uses millimetre-wave to detect movement and breathing in the second row, even if the child is under fabric covering. If the car is turned off and CPD detects that a child is still in the cabin, it will sound the horn and flash the lights. The second stage of warning involves app and SMS notifications.
CPD works at night too, and up to 85°C. As for pet parents, yes, CPD also detects your furry child like it would with a human kid. Separately, there’s also an SOS call button above the rear view mirror, which you can press in case of an accident or emergency. It’s linked to Perodua Auto Assist and MERS 999 rescue services.
The proof of the safety pudding is in the NCAP score, and the QV-E has been awarded the full five stars by ASEAN NCAP in the current 2021-2025 protocol. The EV achieved a total score of 88.36 points, with Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) at 29.31 points out of 32 (weighted score 36.63), and Child Occupant Protection at 42.67 points out of 51 (weighted score 16.73).
In the Safety Assist segment, it’s 21/21 (SA weighted score 20), and the QV-E posted 12/16 in the Motorcyclist Safety area (MS weighted score 15). Again, the overall score is 88.36 points for the maximum five stars – we’ve attached the full report card below.
What should we compare this against? Fellow EV Proton eMas 5 is yet to be crash tested by ASEAN NCAP, but interestingly, the safety body recently crushed a Toyota Yaris Cross at its PC3 facility in Melaka. The report card for that car stated ‘Production Malaysia for Malaysia market’ and we know that the B-SUV will be introduced here both as a Toyota and Perodua, with the latter rumoured to be called Nexis or Traz.
In the same protocol, the Yaris Cross bagged the full five stars with a score of 83.02. The SUV’s AOP score is 29.28 points out of 32, COP 44.17 out of 51, SA 17.74 out of 21 and MS 9.76 out of 16. Zooming in, the Yaris Cross’ overall score is dragged down by its MS score, while the SA falls short of the QV-E’s perfect rating, resulting in a lower overall score of around five points.
If you only focus on the actual crash test portion, AOP has the biggest weightage at 40%, and here, the QV-E’s 29.31 points compares well with the Yaris Cross’ 29.28 points. Five stars is already a good start, but to be as strong as an SUV from the world’s biggest carmaker is reassuring for a homegrown product. Well done.
Full Perodua QV-E specs (445 km NEDC range, 0-100 in 7.5s), pricing (RM80k), battery leasing details (RM297 a month for nine years) and mega gallery here.
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E ASEAN NCAP results
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E media preview
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E official presentation slides
Finally, the Perodua QV-E is launched. Unveiled by prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at MITI’s HQ in KL moments ago, this ‘important national agenda’ is billed as the the first 100% Malaysian EV. If you followed the series of teasers leading up to today, you’d have seen Rawang leaning hard into the homegrown aspect of the P01A project, differentiating itself from Proton, which eMas EVs are rebadged Geely models.
The QV-E – which stands for Quest for Visionary Electric Vehicle (pronounced as ‘queue-vee’, like Myvi) – is priced at RM80,000 on-the-road without insurance, but that sum also excludes the EV battery, which is leased to car owners in what Perodua calls Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS). The monthly subscription fee is RM275 (RM297 after 8% SST), to be paid together with your monthly instalment in a single payment.
P2 has its reasons for this novel scheme, which it says addresses major EV concerns such as battery replacement costs and poor resale value. There’s also the issue of safe disposal. With it owning the ‘liability’ of the EV, P2 says that QV-E users will have peace of mind. More on this later.
From the hands of Malaysians
Doesn’t Perodua have a foreign partner in Daihatsu? Yes, but Japan not being at the forefront of EV development is well documented, and Daihatsu – and parent Toyota for that matter – does not have a suitable donor car for P2 to base its first EV on.
An EV in 2025 wasn’t even on the company’s plans just a couple of years back. Tasked by the government to produce one, and with no help from Japan, Perodua had to start from scratch in August 2023. To make things even more ‘interesting’ the government announced the deadline publicly, which meant that P2 had to deliver in 2025, by hook or crook. After RM800 million and 266,000 man-hours on R&D, here we are, just in time.
Perodua says that the QV-E is ‘built with our hands’ and that it owns the intellectual property for the EV, including its platform. However, Rawang has sourced crucial components from the top names in the business (China’s CATL for the LFP battery) and we now know that Magna Steyr (MS) was a consultant in the EV’s platform. Yes, that Magna Steyr, the world’s most famous contract manufacturer.
Highest level consultant in Magna Steyr
Under the ownership of parts giant Magna since 2001, Austria-based MS currently produces the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, BMW Z4 and Toyota GR Supra. Recently, they contract manufactured Jaguar’s I-Pace EV and names further back include the Aston Martin Rapide, Peugeot RCZ and MINIs. More than just a factory, MS co-developed the first-generation E83 BMW X3 and came up with Mercedes’ 4Matic AWD system, among other things. That’s some portfolio.
P2 says that it and Steyr – appointed as consultant in Q4 2023 – jointly developed the all-new platform, which is modular – as such, the P01A is the first of a family of models in the A-B segment, and possibilities range from a 2,550 mm wheelbase sedan and hatch to a 2,700 mm wheelbase SUV (the QV-E has a 2,680 mm wheelbase and is defined internally a Sportback). Hybrid and range extender EVs (REEV) are possible with mid-floor and front beam mods, P2 says.
By the way, MS has an electric car platform for sale, but the QV-E’s platform is not the Magna EV Platform as that one is made for the C/D-segment and has multi-link rear suspension. So, Perodua didn’t just purchase the rights to use Steyr’s off-the-shelf platform.
What becomes then of the long marriage between Perodua and Daihatsu? Pressured into this project and forced to venture out for new partnerships due to circumstances, is this the first step of Perodua breaking free from the Toyota-Daihatsu orbit? Anyone else noticed the ‘P’ in the QV-E’s model code instead of the usual ‘D’?
A small car for T20s?
Recently, a leaked image of the QV-E at its media preview event at Sepang International Circuit made the rounds. It was a legit image, but a distorted one taken from afar showing a car that drew comparisons to a Peugeot 408 or smaller Kia EV6. It’s nowhere near that big!
The Aspirations show car from the Malaysia Autoshow (MAS) 2025 in May, and the cutaway that we shared with you from last month’s Global Automotive and Technology Expo (GATE) 2025 were accurate.
The QV-E measures 4,170 mm long and 1,800 mm wide, which is 275 mm longer and 65 mm wider than a Myvi. Coupled with a low roofline (1,502 mm, 13 mm lower than Myvi) and long wheelbase of 2,680 mm (+180 mm vs Myvi), it has the sportiest stance and proportions ever seen on a Perodua, and the 158 mm ground clearance is actually slightly less than a Myvi’s (160 mm). For contrast, the Ativa’s GC is 200 mm.
Also helping with the sporty image is a roofline that tapers to what P2 calls a Sportback – think Toyota C-HR versus a conventional SUV shape like the Ativa and Proton X50. The QV-E’s boot volume is 320 litres, which is just 10L less than the X50, but 49L smaller than the Ativa. The Myvi’s boot holds 277 litres.
Compared to the Proton eMas 5, the QV-E is 35 mm longer, 5 mm narrower and a substantial 72 mm lower. The P2’s wheelbase is 30 mm longer. Perodua said that it benchmarked the BYD Dolphin (not the eMas 5’s Geely Xingyuan donor car) and compared to that five-door EV hatch, the QV-E is 120 mm shorter, 30 mm wider and 68 mm lower, with a 20 mm shorter wheelbase.
That last comparison should tell you all you need to know about the QV-E’s actual size, despite its crossover styling. Step inside and the P2 feels even more compact, especially at the back, where the long wheelbase doesn’t fully translate into legroom. Both the Dolphin and eMas 5 are roomier for passengers.
This is by design. You see, Perodua’s most expensive car ever (if you discount the CBU Japan Nautica SUV) is not made for its usual clientele, but for ‘M40 and above’ young families with small children and T20 kids, described as ‘children of a rich family, living with parents’.
This feels like a car designed with two pax in mind, and if you’re looking to ferry adults at the back, they’ll be happier in the two EV models mentioned above. The sloping roofline, small rear windows and all-black theme follow the sporty script. Seems crazy, but Perodua has gone out and made a lifestyle car with practicality sacrifices!
The fastest Perodua ever
There’s performance to back up the QV-E’s sporty looks. Powered by a front-mounted motor with 204 PS (150 kW) and 285 Nm of torque, the QV-E isn’t just Perodua’s most powerful and fastest accelerating car ever (0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds), it’s much quicker to the century mark than the eMas 5, which is quoted with 0-50 km/h figures instead of the usual 100. Top speed is 165 km/h, which we hit on Sepang’s main straight.
Juice comes from a 52.5 kWh (gross) lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from CATL (same supplier as eMas 5). The IP69 (water and dust) rated liquid cool pack weighs 405.7 kg, which is around a quarter of the QV-E’s kerb weight of 1,600 kg (around 600 kg heavier than a Myvi, 50 kg lighter than Dolphin ER). NEDC range is 445 km, which should equate to around 380 km in the more realistic WLTP cycle. So that you don’t have to open a new tab, the eMas 5 Premium’s 40.16 kWh LFP pack offers 325 km of WLTP range.
As for charging, the QV-E’s max DC rate is 60 kW, which takes SoC from 30-80% in 30 minutes. Home AC charging at 6.6 kW takes eight hours for a full 0-100% charge. For context, the eMas 5 Premium takes in 71 kW DC and 6.6 kW AC.
A catalogue of Perodua-first features
It’s fitting that Perodua’s first EV carries with it a list of Perodua-first features. Some are expected of a modern EV but some made us sit up straight. How about a digital rear view mirror found in high-end Toyota and Lexus models? Solves any natural visibility issues caused by the Sportback’s shallow, raked rear glass (no need for a rear wiper) and thick C pillars.
The QV-E is also the first Perodua to come with a powered driver’s seat and ambient lighting. Also on are a 10.25-inch infotainment screen (it would have been easy to just stick on a huge screen, but they wanted a more familiar/traditional driving feel, replete with physical AC controls), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charger and tyre pressure monitoring. There’s a tyre repair kit in the boot in place of a spare tyre – another Perodua-first.
You already know about the P-Circle app, which allows the QV-E user to monitor the EV’s vitals and perform some functions remotely. Technically it’s not a feature, but this is the first Perodua to have a soft touch dashboard.
Safety wise, the usual full ADAS pack is included, but there’s a new safety feature. Remember the cases of children dying of heatstroke after being left in parked cars?
The new Child Presence Detection (CPD) uses millimetre-wave to detect movement and breathing in the second row, even if the child is under fabric covering. If the car is turned off and CPD detects a child (or pet) in the cabin, it will sound the horn and flash the lights. The second stage of warning involves notifications via app and SMS. CPD works at night too, and up to 85°C.
There’s also an SOS call button above the rear view mirror, which you can press in case of an accident or emergency. It’s linked to Perodua Auto Assist and MERS 999 rescue services.
Anyway, the QV-E has been awarded the full five stars by ASEAN NCAP in the current 2021-2025 protocol. The EV achieved a total score of 88.36 points, with Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) at 29.31 points out of 32 (weighted score 36.63), and Child Occupant Protection at 42.67 points out of 51 (weighted score 16.73). In the Safety Assist segment, it’s 21/21 (SA weighted score 20), and the QV-E posted 12/16 in the Motorcyclist Safety area (MS weighted score 15).
Click on the image below to check out the full list of features. There are also two new-to-Perodua colours – Ice Blue and Caviar Grey.
BaaS – P2 takes ownership of an EV’s liability
As if a first-timer coming up with an EV in just two years isn’t difficult enough, Perodua brainstormed about the pain points in EV ownership and set out to tackle each one of them.
They figured that battery health, and replacement costs, is something that the general public fear. To nullify this, Perodua takes ownership of the batteries and leases them to QV-E owners. This Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) scheme, the first of its kind here, lowers the cost of the car and ensures that owners will always have a battery in the best condition (replacement if battery state of health falls below 70%).
Click to enlarge
Another EV fear factor is poor resale value. It’s clear that depreciation for EVs are beyond the level we’ve seen with ICE cars – the risk of a degraded battery that will be very costly to replace (and fewer years of warranty left) is factored into the poor RV. Battery leasing erases this issue as the second owner starts a new contract (for the same battery) and should SoH drop below 70%, the car will get a fresh pack. As the battery belongs to Perodua, insurance for the pack is also borne by the carmaker.
BaaS is mandatory for the QV-E, and there’s no option to purchase the battery outright. The lease is for nine years at RM275 a month, on top of the vehicle’s financing. The monthly instalment is paid to the bank and the battery leasing fee is paid to Perodua – but as far as the customer is concerned, he/she will pay one single payment to the bank, and the bank will then pass on what’s owed to P2. Single payment, just like a regular HP loan.
It’s not mentioned a lot, but P2 is also doing this to take responsibility for the battery’s disposal, which must be done properly to not harm the environment. Each QV-E battery will have a ‘Battery Passport’ (just like an ICE engine number), and this is why selling the car can only be done via Perodua’s POV (Pre-Owned Vehicles) arm – Mr A can sell to Ms B, but it must be via POV as BaaS needs the new owner’s data.
By the way, there’s a battery tracker that will be triggered if the battery has been detected as detached from the car, of if the car has been left idle for a long time (abandoned). Perodua says that such cases will lead it to carry out a ‘Battery Rescue’ to avoid improper disposal.
What if you’ve finished paying for the car, but have a couple years of battery lease to go? With no bank as intermediary, you’ll have to pay the RM275 to Perodua directly via the P-Circle app. The same applies to cash buyers – one will have to pay the BaaS fee every month. Anyway, the vehicle warranty is six years or 150,000 km, while the drive unit is covered for eight years or 150,000 km. Battery? It’s as good as a lifetime warranty with BaaS.
“This concept is our solution towards reducing owner’s anxiety when owning a battery electric vehicle. By offering this service we will be able to offer a lifetime guarantee on the battery for our customers’ peace of mind,” Zainal said.
As for public charging, the role of P-Charge Mobile is to fill the gap, literally, in the public charging network. This giant 184 kWh ‘powerbank’ can refill EVs at a DC max rate of 60 kW and can be placed anywhere.
It’s still a concept for now, as is the larger On The Go charging trucks that will offer mid-journey ‘nourishment’ for both EVs and their owners, perfect for highway R&R deployment during festival periods. Click on the links to learn more about these ancillaries.
EV as a national duty
There are cheaper ways to market an EV, but Perodua’s responsibility as an automotive sector ‘champion’ under Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 is to catalyse the growth of a local EV ecosystem.
On this front, Perodua is targeting around 50% local content for its EV by early 2026, and 70% by 2030 (likely to include EV components such as the traction motor) which is an admirable goal. While way below the 90+% rate of P2’s ICE models, Malaysia is starting from zero in the EV sector. Currently, 52 local vendors are involved in the QV-E project and P2 is aiming for 70 suppliers by 2030.
“Thus, the selected OTR price, design and specifications are the result of balancing the needs of both the government and the Malaysian market. The P01A serves not just the consumer, but it’s a product that will kick-start and accelerate the BEV ecosystem in Malaysia,” Perodua says, adding that the short lead time and lower initial stage localisation directly impacts the QV-E’s price. Perhaps this is why they couldn’t kick-off with a budget EV for the masses.
Mass production has already started at the new Smart Mobility Plant within Perodua’s sprawling Sg Choh base, and certain functions will be performed at the underutilised Tan Chong Serendah plant, which is just around the corner from P2. The initial sales target for the QV-E is 500 units a month, but Perodua is looking at 3,000 units a month after Q4 2026.
Finally, outlets. The QV-E will be sold and serviced at selected Perodua EV authorised outlets in Peninsular Malaysia. In the Klang Valley, you can find it at Perodua Sentral (PJ), Glenmarie and Putrajaya. The other outlets on the West Coast are Juru (Penang), Ipoh (Jalan Lahat), Senawang (N9) and Johor Bahru (Jalan Tampoi). On the East Coast, the EV is sold in Kota Bharu (Batu 4, Jalan Kuala Krai) and Kuantan.
So, what do you think of Malaysia’s first homegrown EV (check out the meter graphics!), the QV-E’s looks and its features? At RM80k + RM275 BaaS monthly fee (RM297 after 8% SST), it’s certainly costlier to own than the Proton eMas 5, which is more family friendly, but the Perodua offers better performance and range, more kit and (although subjective), more alluring design. Road tax is RM160 a year but they belanja for 2026. The AC wallbox is priced at RM1,850, with an installation fee of RM1,200. Share your take.
Click to enlarge
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E media preview
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E official presentation slides
It’s finally happening – the eagerly awaited Perodua electric car will be launched tomorrow morning (December 1 2025) at 9:30am. Perodua announced on their social media pages today that the launch will be livestreamed on the company’s Facebook and Tiktok platforms.
UPDATE:The livestream has started and you can watch it here.
The new Perodua QV-E is significantly larger than a Myvi, and rather closer to the B-segment Proton X50 in exterior size. It is expected to be priced around the RM80k mark. Perodua is not targeting the masses with this model, and thus ultimate affordability isn’t the main goal.
The QV-E will have a 52.5 kWh battery, as revealed at Perodua’s exhibit at GATE 2025. We’ve been told to expect real-world range of between 400 to 410 km. Perodua also targets a 0-100 km/h acceleration time between six and seven seconds, and a top speed of around 160 km/h.
One brave and novel feature is the ‘guaranteed future value’ scheme, will is intended to shield buyers from the steep depreciation of EVs. The EV will launch with what P2 calls Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), the first EV battery leasing scheme in Malaysia, where you buy the car but you do not have to buy the battery. Instead, you lease it with a monthly fee. There will also be the option of purchasing the battery outright, which will come with an 8 year warranty.
Are you excited for the launch of the new Perodua EV tomorrow? We have written extensively based on what we know – read our Perodua QV-E archive of articles for all you need to know ahead of the launch tomorrow.
The latest video is a brief one, just nine seconds long, and like the video teasers that have come before, this one aims to emphasise the homegrown aspect of the carmaker’s first EV. “Because no one builds for Malaysians like Malaysians do”, reads the text.
The latest video reveals an exterior that wears angular shapes on its side, complementing those of the front fascia of the vehicle as revealed in a screengrab from an earlier Perodua video. Certain, now-popular design cues can be found here, such as the full-width light bars at the front and rear of the QV-E.
Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad has said earlier that the carmaker holds the intellectual property (IP) for the EV’s design and platform, even it it uses LFP batteries supplied by CATL. The QV-E will also be launched with a battery leasing scheme, the first passenger car in Malaysia to do so.
On that subject, battery capacity for the QV-E has been disclosed to be 52.5 kWh, and the EV’s real-world range can be expected to be between 400 km and 410 km. In terms of rivals from fellow Malaysian brand Proton, the QV-E is more closely comparable to the eMas 7, which has a claimed range of 410 km (WLTP).
Performance targets for the QV-E is a 0-100 km/h time of between six to seven seconds, and a top speed of around 160 km/h, whereas the recently-launched Proton eMas 5 has an acceleration time quoted in the 0-50 km/h measure instead, which is elapsed in 4.4 seconds.
From our earlier look at a cross-section display example of the QV-E, this upcoming model has been observed to be significantly larger than a Myvi, and rather closer to the B-segment Proton X50 in exterior size, though the QV-E wears a lower, sportier roofline.
Its observed size makes it larger than the Proton eMas 5, and the upcoming battery-electric Perodua is certainly not priced to undercut the eMas 5, as the QV-E is expected to be priced around the RM80k mark. Perodua is not targeting the masses with this model, and thus ultimate affordability isn’t the main goal.
Perodua’s first electric vehicle will be a big deal, not just for the carmaker; this will be made an ‘important national agenda’ in line with the government’s efforts to strengthen governance, social responsibility and protection of the environment, said prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier this month.
“I will instruct the cabinet that the launch of Perodua’s new EV is made to be a big national agenda. It’s not just a product launch, but it combines governance, social responsibility dan environmental protection,” Anwar said.
Perodua has followed up its QV-E video teaser released last Friday with smaller teasers showing glimpses of its first EV. Honestly, there’s nothing much to share in terms of new angles/features that we’ve not seen so far – what’s more striking for us is the messaging.
The fourth and latest teaser released a few hours ago repeats the line “from the hands of Malaysians comes the power to move Malaysia”. The YouTube clip’s caption reads “Built with our hands. Charged for our tomorrow. A spark lighting the road ahead and ready to move every one of us forward. The future is almost ready to roll out.” The second video titled “Engineering the Next Era of Mobility” emphasises “100% Malaysian R&D”.
The message from P2 is clear – this is Malaysia’s first homegrown EV. “Electric mobility for all. It began as just a dream. But with local hearts and hands, that dream became real – the first 100% Malaysian EV. Not just built here, but built with vision, a vision to power an ecosystem, jobs, talent, technology. Making EVs more affordable, and sustainability more real. Because when we build from home, we build a future for everyone,” the first teaser‘s narrator reads. The videos are embedded below, check them out.
Is this a not-so-subtle dig at Proton, which eMas EVs are rebadged Geely models that are CBU imported from China? Only P2 itself knows… Anyway, the QV-E, branded as an ‘important national agenda’ by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will be launched by the PM at the end of this month.
Malaysia’s first homegrown EV is designed and developed in-house by Perodua and the company’s president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad told us that P2 holds the (IP) intellectual property for the EV’s design and platform. Yes, platform too – Perodua’s first electric car will use CATL-supplied LFP batteries, but that’s the extent of the Chinese battery giant’s involvement – no CATL skateboard.
We got up close with the QV-E cross section at the recent GATE 2025 show and saw that the battery capacity is 52.5 kWh. We’ve been told to expect real-world range of between 400 to 410 km. If true, this is usefully more than the eMas 5’s range and rivals the eMas 7, which maxes out at 410 km WLTP. Perodua’s performance targets for its EV – 0-100 km/h between six and seven seconds, and a top speed of around 160 km/h – are also streets ahead of the just-launched eMas 5, which is quoted with 0-50 km/h figures instead.
Price wise, the Perodua QV-E will not undercut the eMas 5 (RM57k to RM70k with early bird rebates) – expect it to be around the RM80k mark. The company says that it’s not targeting the masses with the QV-E, and as such ultimate affordability isn’t the main goal.
One brave and novel feature is the ‘guaranteed future value’ scheme that Zainal previously mentioned – GFV, used by premium makes such as Mercedes-Benz, will shield buyers from the steep depreciation of EVs. Also not offered by any other EV seller in Malaysia now is P2’s battery leasing scheme.
Ecosystem is one of Zainal Abidin’s favourite topics and the point of having a homegrown electric car is also to develop a local ecosystem for EV production. On this front, Perodua is targeting around 50% local content for its EV by the middle of 2026, which is an admirable goal.
This most probably won’t include key components such as the battery and electric motor – which will still come from China – but there are plans to localise these too. However, sufficient volume is needed before this makes business sense, and that’s a bridge to cross later.
Are you excited to see what Perodua came up with in just two years? We’re about a week away from the launch, when everything can be revealed, including the identity of a big-name global automotive company that consulted in the P01A project. Stay tuned!
Perodua has released a teaser of its first ever EV, and in the video, the car’s front end is shown for a split second. Our rendering whiz cum auto detective Theophilus Chin froze the frame you see above and brightened it to show the car’s number plate, which reads ‘QV-E’, confirming the name we’ve been using all this while to address the P2 EV.
“Electric mobility for all. It began as just a dream. But with local hearts and hands, that dream became real – the first 100% Malaysian EV. Not just built here, but built with vision, a vision to power an ecosystem, jobs, talent, technology. Making EVs more affordable, and sustainability more real. Because when we build from home, we build a future for everyone,” the narrator reads.
The video ends with the line “from the hands of Malaysians comes the power to move Malaysia”. Is this a not-so-subtle dig at Proton, which eMas EVs are rebadged Geely models that are CBU imported from China? Only P2 would know… Anyway, the QV-E, branded as an ‘important national agenda’ by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will be launched by the PM at the end of this month.
Malaysia’s first homegrown EV is designed and developed in-house by Perodua and the company’s president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad told us that P2 holds the (IP) intellectual property for the EV’s design and platform. Yes, platform too – Perodua’s first electric car will use CATL-supplied LFP batteries, but that’s the extent of the Chinese battery giant’s involvement – no CATL skateboard.
We got up close with the QV-E cross section at the recent GATE 2025 show and saw that the battery capacity is 52.5 kWh. We’ve been told to expect real-world range of between 400 to 410 km. If true, this is usefully more than the eMas 5’s range and rivals the eMas 7, which maxes out at 410 km WLTP. Perodua’s performance targets for its EV – 0-100 km/h between six and seven seconds, and a top speed of around 160 km/h – are also streets ahead of the just-launched eMas 5, which is quoted with 0-50 km/h figures instead.
Price wise, the Perodua QV-E will not undercut the eMas 5 (RM57k to RM70k with early bird rebates) – expect it to be around the RM80k mark. However, one brave and novel feature is the ‘guaranteed future value’ scheme that Zainal previously mentioned – GFV, used by premium makes such as Mercedes-Benz, will shield buyers from the steep depreciation of EVs. Also not offered by any other EV seller in Malaysia now is P2’s battery leasing scheme.
The point of having a homegrown electric car is also to build up a local ecosystem for EVs, and Perodua is targeting around 50% local content for its EV by the middle of 2026, which is an admirable goal. This most probably won’t include key components such as the battery and electric motor – which will come from China – but there are plans to localise these too. However, sufficient volume is needed before this makes business sense.
Tan Chong Motor Holdings (TCMH) has announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Perodua to provide assembly services for the national carmaker’s upcoming homegrown electric vehicle (EV) project.
In a filing witn Bursa Malaysia on Friday, it said the LOI was inked by its 70%-owned subsidiary Tan Chong Motor Assemblies (TCMA) and Perodua’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Perodua Sales.
Under the LOI, which came into effect on November 13, TCMA will be responsible for providing ED (electro deposition) coating and painting line services as well as rental and use of designated assembly lines to Perodua Sales.
In the filing, TCMH said that the arrangement would allow it to optimise its existing assembly plant capacity to enhance operational efficiency and maximise asset utilisation, and it would also provide it with the opportunity to expand its participation in the EV segment of Malaysia’s automotive industry. The LOI will lapse once both parties sign the definitive agreements, said TCMH.
