The Malaysia Autoshow returns this weekend, and alongside the usual array of new model launches will be a number of “bold concepts” from Perodua. The national carmaker is teasing future-ready smart mobility as the theme of its stand, which is a heavy hint at its forthcoming electrification.
It’s no secret the company is planning to launch its first production electric vehicle at the end of the year – in fact, we’ve already seen a prototype roaming the roads. Since 2023, the company has shown an eMO (Electric Motion Online) concept at every Malaysian motor show, starting with a scale model at that year’s Malaysia Autoshow, followed by the functional eMO-I (essentially a Myvi with electric running gear) last year.
Then at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) in December, Perodua unveiled the full-scale (and very green) eMO-II show car, and while it was definitely closer to production compared to its predecessors, in terms of detailing it was still more fanciful than realistic.
Perhaps the company is showcasing a close-to-production concept called the eMO-III as a proper preview of the car that people will actually be able to buy (although this would deviate from Perodua itself calling the production model “Episode 3”)?
and the production model (mule on right)
If so, we can expect such a car to feature some of the details seen on the test mule last weekend, including split headlights, flush pop-out front and hidden rear door handles, fast rear windscreen rake and proper taillights (we knew that thin light bar wasn’t reaching production). We may also see a more realistic interior that isn’t festooned with screens and an iPad (and with a centre touchscreen that isn’t obscured by the steering wheel).
Few technical details have been revealed just yet, but initial specs released at KLIMS include a zero-to-100 km/h sprint time of between six and seven seconds, as well as a range of between 400 to 410 km from a CATL-sourced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Perodua says it will initially import the battery and motor but plans to eventually assemble these components in-house.
The company has also floated a possible RM80,000 starting price without the battery, which it said may be offered through a subscription. As reported previously, the car will be Perodua’s first to be developed entirely in-house, as its usual partner Daihatsu does not have a suitable EV for it to crib notes (and powertrain) from.
The final production car is set to square off against Proton’s also-upcoming entry-level EV, widely tipped to be called the eMas 5 and also set to go on sale at the end of the year. We’re anticipating that car, expected to be based on the Geely Xingyuan or Star Wish, to also make an appearance at the show, meaning that buyers may well be able to see the two competing models, probably opposite each other. Which are you more interested in? Sound off in the comments after the jump.
GALLERY: Perodua eMO EV spyshots
GALLERY: Perodua eMO-II concept at KLIMS 2024
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