Perodua EV Will Offer Battery Leasing Scheme, New Bezza By 2027/2028

The Perodua eMO II concept during KLIMS 2024 being presented by President and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad (left).

At a recent press dinner hosted by Perodua, the automaker not only laid out its business plans for the year, a slew of details surrounding upcoming new products were also confirmed. Much of this was dished out by President and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad informally during said dinner.

Aptly, the most hotly debated subject was P2’s first electric vehicle (EV) offering, and Datuk Seri Zainal confirmed one very important detail – it will feature a battery leasing scheme. In fact, the automaker will be the first to offer such a scheme to local EV buyers.

Datuk Seri Zainal confirmed that the production version of the eMO II concept will be offered with a battery leasing scheme.

 “This was the best, fairest and most effective way to keep the car’s eventual sale price reasonable,” explained Datuk Sri Zainal further, and he initially stopped just short of confirming a ball park figure for which. Only much later in the session were we hinted at an RM80,0000 figure.

Another major concern raised by Datuk Seri Zainal was that the typical prospecting Perodua buyers aren’t the type that ‘can afford’ or are willing to lose a sizeable chunk of the car’s purchase price, meaning they also aren’t ones willing to lose out on resale value either.

A production version of the Perodua eMO II concept is scheduled to debut by end of this year (2025), and it will likely be priced just around RM80,000, as hinted by Datuk Seri Zainal.

Critically, another element driving this battery leasing scheme for what is effective the production version of the Perodua eMO-II concept shown at KLIMS 2024 is the responsibility of recycling the battery at the end of its life by the manufacturer – something most EV-makers rarely address.

Perodua isn’t leaving any stone unturned for its first EV, which it is spearheading independently of ‘parents’ Daihatsu – and Toyota. “Perodua is using self-developed technology with the help of local and foreign vendors,” confirms Datuk Seri Zainal further.

The eMO II concept's development - and eventual production - sees Perodua engaging both local and foreign vendors. The former includes the likes of Bufori.

Amongst said vendors is leading battery maker CATL, and the eventual production version of the eMO-II Concept is expected to adopt LFP-type battery packs from said firm. As a refresher, the concept previews an upcoming Myvi-sized electric hatch with at least  400 KM range.

Besides CATL, Perodua also recently inked an agreement with Petronas' green energy arm Gentari to establish EV charging infrastructure and network using Perodua’s own service centre network. Expect more details as we get closer to the model’s eventual debut by end of this year.

Development of the new D66B model, which is Perodua's redux of the Toyota Yaris Cross, is also back on track. Datuk Seri Zainal confirms this is one of two new metals P2 will launch this year.

Apart from first EV, Perodua is also set to launch its redux of the Toyota Yaris Cross this year. Codenamed D66B, seasoned readers will remember that this model was initially set to highlight Perodua’s 2024 plans, but was eventually delayed due to the Daihatsu scandal.

Said model is back on track this year, confirms Datuk Seri Zainal, and will debut ahead of the brand’s EV detailed. The exec skirted away from confirming if the model will feature a hybrid powertrain, but this was largely expected given how the model is marketed in neighbouring countries.

A successor for the Bezza will likely arrive sometime in 2027 or 2028, says Datuk Seri Zainal.

In regards to the Bezza compact sedan, which now stands as the ‘oldest’ metal in Perodua’s current line-up, Datuk Seri Zainal had hinted that a successor will likely debut sometime in 2027 or 2028. Launched in 2016, the Bezza has generated the most sales for Perodua since.

Development work for the Bezza’s successor has already begun, as confirmed by Perodua Vice President Datuk Ahmad Suhaimi Hashim back in Dec 2023 at the Asian Compact Sedan Design Challenge 2023 (ACSDC 2023). Moreover, it will also underpin a winning design from which too.

Both the Ativa and Myvi models are due for a refresh too, but it's likely the former will be treated with a face-lift first, likely this year too.

New metal aside, several other model are also due for a refresh, and these could materialise either this year or next year. Key amongst which are of course the third-gen Myvi hatch and the Ativa crossover, though no timelines was given regarding either.

Given that the Myvi already underwent a major upgrade in 2022, we can likely expect the Ativa model to be refreshed first. Expect light styling changes inside and out, followed by light enhancements for its on board features and kit – as per Perodua’s usual minor model update affair.