Appears to be like nice, doesn’t it? These are renders of Perodua’s first EV by Theophilus Chin, primarily based on what we noticed (Theo was additionally there) on the Malaysia Autoshow 2025, which is ongoing at MAEPS Serdang. Referred to as Aspirations, this MAS showcar is definitely a closing prototype of the manufacturing EV that will probably be launched on the finish of the 12 months, reduce into half to indicate each the automotive’s exterior and cabin/innards.
It’s the third and closing episode of Perodua’s first EV journey at motor exhibits, and like all good final chapters, there’s a twist concerned. The eMO-II was offered in five-door ‘scorching hatch’ kind late final 12 months at KLIMS 2024, however the EV has morphed right into a crossover of kinds – we’re not speaking a few conventional SUV however a taller bodied automotive with a sloping roofiline and a few coupe flavour. Suppose Toyota C-HR. In actual fact, the newest eMO sort of resembles the C-HR+ EV that surfaced in March.
Theo took observe of all of the traces and options of the outside and replicated them on a base automotive, which you’ll by no means be capable to guess its identification. Base? Probably the greatest in what he does, Theo has been engaged on renders method earlier than you may immediate a automotive design – the whole lot is finished manually with good detailing. Take a look at his steps within the video beneath, which additionally exhibits the bottom picture.
Cues from the ultimate prototype embrace flush entrance door handles and rear handles ‘hidden’ subsequent to the home windows (just like the C-HR and Honda HR-V), full-width LED bars at each ends and 18-inch wheels, the largest ever to seem on a Perodua. The wheelarch hole appears a bit of exaggerated on the Vantablack-style-skinned showcar, however you get the thought.
No dimensions but, however to our eyes the eMO is greater than the Myvi and can simply dwarf over the upcoming Proton eMas 5 and TQ Wuling Bingo, EVs that can play within the sub-RM100k bracket that Perodua is focusing on (the Bingo is CKD, which permits RRPs beneath RM100k, and Proton will finally assemble the eMas 5 in Tanjung Malim). That is ‘very very shut’ to the manufacturing automotive, Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad stated.
Additionally very near actuality is the EV’s inside, in contrast to the fantasy dashboard of eMO-II. The showcar right here is in cutaway kind to disclose the EV’s mechanicals and inside. The latter features a full near-production dashboard with a excessive centre console dividing the entrance seats, comfortable contact sprint floor, digital instrument panel and a rotary gear selector.
There’s a 360-degree digicam, however what’s shocking is a digital rear view mirror, as seen in some high-end Toyotas. Extra excellent news within the type of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and bodily air conditioning switches (single-zone auto), which we a lot choose over in-system touchscreen controls. By the best way, there’s a separate darkish room the place you may sit within the inside, however we had been barred from taking footage of that show. You’ll be able to attempt it out at MAEPS.
Specs sensible, we all know that the EV battery is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit from CATL, with a goal real-world vary of between 400 to 410 km. The efficiency goal is a 0-100 km/h time of between six and 7 seconds and high velocity could be round 165 km/h. If achieved, all these figures ought to higher these of the eMas 5 and Bingo.
Being an EV, there are various Perodua firsts within the automotive, however what’s actually attention-grabbing about Rawang’s first non-ICE product is that they considered the EV issues carbuyers fear about, and have devised options to counter them.
Battery well being, and substitute prices, is one thing that most of the people concern. To nullify this, Perodua takes possession of the batteries. The EV will launch with what P2 calls Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), the primary EV battery leasing scheme in Malaysia. This lowers the price of the automotive and ensures that house owners will all the time have a battery in the most effective situation. Swapping batteries is one thing that may be completed in simply half-hour, P2 says.
One other main concern that most of the people has about EVs – and P2 prospects absolutely aren’t the sort that ‘can afford’ or are prepared to lose an enormous chunk of the automotive’s buy worth – is resale worth. It’s plain to see that depreciation for EVs are method past the extent we’ve seen with ICE automobiles – the danger of a degraded battery that will probably be very pricey to exchange (and fewer years of guarantee left) is factored within the poor RV. Battery leasing erases this problem.
There may even be the choice of buying the automotive with the battery outright. Choose out of BaaS and also you’ll get a normal guarantee of eight years, Zainal says.
Talking of resale values, the P2 chief stated that Rawang is taking a look at a ‘assured future worth’ scheme the place the EV’s RV is protected. With GFV in black and white, you don’t have to fret in regards to the carmaker dropping costs drastically or participating in a worth conflict, though that’s unlikely with market chief Perodua.
Pre-production will begin in September and Perodua is on observe to fulfil its promise to launch this self-developed EV (Daihatsu has no appropriate donor automotive, this platform is P2’s personal IP) earlier than the 12 months ends. Be a part of us on a walk-around tour of Perodua’s closing prototype of the its first EV and inform us what you suppose.
For those who want some context, right here’s a walk-around video of the upcoming Proton eMas 5. The MAS 2025 showcar has a camouflaged exterior and no entry to its cabin, however other than badging, the LHD instance needs to be an identical to the Geely Star Want we detailed in March in Bangkok.
GALLERY: Perodua eMO closing prototype at MAS 2025
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