Perodua is Malaysia’s first locally developed electric car

Malaysian car manufacturer Perodua launched the country’s first domestic electric car, QV-E. The company developed its electric vehicle vehicle with an investment of 800 million ringgit (about 167 million euros). Under the ‘New Industrial Master Plan 2030’ introduced in September 2023, the Malaysian government appointed Perodua to lead the development of an electric vehicle ecosystem and launch a fully domestic electric car by 2025.

While Perodua generally relies on Daihatsu platforms, the QV-E Magna uses a new platform developed together with Steyr. The QV-E is a B-segment coupé-style SUV that is 4.17 m long, 1.8 m wide and 1.50 m high, with a wheelbase of 2.68 m. It has a ground clearance of 158 mm and a tight turning radius of 5.2 metres. It offers 320 liters of luggage space. Perodua introduced the QV-E in a front-wheel-drive configuration only; The permanent magnet synchronous motor delivers 150 kW and 285 Nm of torque and is paired with a CATL-made 52.5 kWh LFP battery. The EV accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and offers a range of up to 370 kilometers.

In the safety area, Perodua has included a suite of driver assistance systems such as Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Highway Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The QV-E also includes Child Presence Detection, a dashcam, 360º camera system and six airbags.