Perodua and Daihatsu Signal Potential Shift in Electric Vehicle Collaboration

The Malaysian government is exploring a potential collaboration between Perodua and Daihatsu to accelerate the development of electric vehicles, a move that could reshape the national carmaker’s future product roadmap.

This development follows a recent meeting between Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, and the Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Takuo Komori. During their discussion, the two ministers explicitly addressed the prospect of a Daihatsu-Perodua partnership specifically aimed at electric vehicle (EV) development within Malaysia. According to the original publisher, paultan.org, while this topic was broached at the ministerial level, there is currently no publicly disclosed partnership of this nature between the two entities.

The timing of this discussion is notable given Perodua’s recent trajectory. The national carmaker’s latest EV project, the QV-E, was developed entirely in-house. Perodua was forced to take this route primarily because Daihatsu did not have an existing EV platform for the company to leverage. Historically, Daihatsu has served as a core partner for Perodua, supplying engines, gearboxes, and platforms for 33 years. However, Daihatsu’s current electrification portfolio remains limited, restricted largely to the Rocky e-Smart hybrid technology, which was previously utilized for the lease-only Ativa Hybrid.

Industry observers note that this potential partnership could signal a significant shift in how Perodua approaches its future EV portfolio. There are two primary theories regarding how this relationship might evolve: either Perodua will continue its independent development while potentially incorporating Daihatsu technology, or Daihatsu may move to rebadge the Perodua QV-E for other markets, effectively reversing the traditional relationship where Perodua adapted Daihatsu’s legacy models for Malaysian roads.

For the average Malaysian consumer, this news carries implications for both vehicle pricing and market accessibility. As the local automotive sector transitions away from internal combustion engines, the affordability of EVs remains a critical concern. If a partnership leads to shared development costs and localized supply chains, it could potentially lower the entry price for Malaysian buyers. With RON95 fuel currently priced at RM2.05 under the SKPS system and the unsubsidized market rate significantly higher at RM3.82, the urgency for a mainstream, affordable EV option is mounting for the working population.

Furthermore, this development impacts local SMEs and the manufacturing workforce. As Malaysia maintains a robust real GDP growth of 6.0% and an unemployment rate of 3.0%, the automotive sector remains a cornerstone of the national economy. A deepened partnership between two industrial giants could drive further investment into high-tech manufacturing, potentially creating new roles for skilled workers and local component suppliers eager to participate in the electric vehicle supply chain.

This potential move comes at a time when Malaysia is under pressure to meet strict government deadlines for locally-badged EV production. While Perodua has already demonstrated its capability for in-house design with the QV-E, a strategic alignment with Daihatsu could provide the scale necessary to compete with the influx of affordable Chinese EV imports. The industry will be watching to see if this ministerial-level dialogue translates into a formal joint-venture agreement that leverages Daihatsu’s global R&D reach alongside Perodua’s localized market dominance.

Looking ahead, it remains unclear whether any concrete agreements have been signed or if this discussion is merely an exploratory phase. Neither company has provided a roadmap for what a formal EV partnership would look like, nor have they confirmed if current R&D efforts will be merged. For now, stakeholders and consumers await further official announcements regarding the future technical direction of Perodua’s next-generation electric models.