After years of speculation and teasing, it’s finally here. Say hello to the Perodua QV-E, Perodua’s first electric vehicle (EV), and Malaysia’s first fully homegrown EV, the company claims. Priced at RM80,000 on the road and without insurance, it also debuts a new ownership model, where buyers own the car but lease the battery from Perodua by paying a monthly fee of around RM275.
The Perodua QV-E measures 4,170 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, 1,502 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,680 mm. It’s a crossover coming in slightly larger than the Perodua Ativa, and is comparable in size with other B-segment crossovers like the BYD Atto 2, Omoda E5 and the Mazda CX-30.
The Perodua QV-E presents a sleek and sporty look thanks to its sportback proportions and a sloping roofline, accented by its blacked-out side pillars. The front sports a split headlight design with a full-width front lightbar and LED light beams on the bottom that resemble side vents. The rear also gets a full-width light bar and is flanked by LED taillights with sequential signals. Standard exterior equipment include:
- LED headlights with automatic on/off function
- Full-width front LED light bar with daytime running lights
- LED taillights
- Full-width rear LED light bar
- Sequential turn signals
- Follow me home light feature
- Blacked-out side pillars
- 18-inch wheels
- Integrated roof spoiler
- Auto-retractable side mirrors
- Flush door handles
- Rear quarter door handle
Inside, the Perodua QV-E features two separate 10.25-inch displays for the digital instrument cluster and centre infotainment system. It also gets a two-spoke multifunction steering wheel and, thanks to the absence of a conventional gearbox, a double-layered centre console that houses more storage spaces, charging ports, a wireless charger, and a rotary gear selector. Standard interior features include:
- 10.25-inch centre infotainment screen with support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 10.25-inch TFT digital instrument cluster
- Split-two spoke flat-bottom steering wheel
- Network connectivity
- Black leather upholstery
- Digital rearview mirror
- Rotary gear shifter
- Partial leather seats
- Power-adjustable front seats
- Ambient lighting
The Perodua QV-E is driven by a single front-mounted electric motor that delivers 204 hp (150 kW) and 285 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 165 km/h.
Energy comes from a CATL-sourced 52.5 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that offers up to 445 km of NEDC range. Charging options include 6.6 kW AC charging for a full charge in about eight hours, and 60 kW DC fast charging that brings the battery from 30-80% in 30 minutes. A vehicle-to-load (V2L) function is also included for powering external devices when needed.
Perodua says the QV-E sits on an all-new platform jointly developed with Magna Steyr, a renowned Austrian-based automotive manufacturing specialist for major global brands. This new chassis is said to be capable of adapting across multiple body types in the A- to B-segment range, and can also be adapted for hybrid and range-extender electric (REEV) applications in the future with only mild modifications.
In terms of safety, the Perodua QV-E comes equipped with six airbags, a surround view camera, front and rear corner sensors, and a built-in driving video recorder as standard. Notably, it is also the first Perodua model to feature a Child Presence Detection (CPD) system and integrated emergency SOS vehicle services, combining both eCall and SOS Call functions to ensure timely assistance through the Perodua Call Centre.
Further adding to its safety is the Perodua Smart Drive Assist suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), now powered by a radar in front, and includes the following features:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)
- Highway Assist (HA)
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Blind Spot Detection (BDS)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
- Auto High Beam (AHB)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Currently only available in two colour options: Ice Blue and Caviar Grey, the Perodua QV-E is priced at RM80,000 on the road without insurance, with the battery offered exclusively through a leasing programme. The vehicle comes with a three-year/100,000 km general warranty and a six-year/150,000 km body warranty.
For now, the Perodua QV-E will only be available in nine authorised Perodua outlets in the peninsular region of Malaysia. This includes:
- Selangor
- Perodua Sentral
- PSSB Glenmarie
- PSSB Putrajaya
- Negeri Sembilan
- PSSB Senawang
- Perak
- PSSB Ipoh 2
- Penang
- PSSB Juru
- Johor
- PSSB Johor Baru 1
- Pahang
- PSSB Kuantan
- Kelantan
- PSSB Kota Bharu 1
To address concerns surrounding battery degradation and second-hand values, Perodua is introducing a “Battery as a Service” (BaaS) model, where the company retains ownership of the battery pack while customers purchase the vehicle itself. Under this arrangement, buyers will have to sign a nine-year lease agreement and pay a fixed monthly fee of around RM275. Notably, payment is made through a single payment to the bank, so owners need not worry about separate payments.
In case you’re wondering how the payment structure would look, here are some samples of monthly instalment calculations with an interest rate of 2.7%.
- 9-year loan: RM921 + RM275 = RM1,196
- 7-year loan: RM1,133 + RM275 = RM1,408
- 5-year loan: RM1,513 + RM275 = RM1,788
When the hire purchase of the car is completed, the battery will still be rented from Perodua. The monthly payments will have to continue via the company’s P-Circle app.
READ MORE: Perodua launches P-Circle app – e-wallet, EV charging, streaming services
Because the battery remains under Perodua’s ownership, its insurance is fully covered by the company, while the owner remains responsible for insuring the rest of the vehicle. The battery pack also comes with a lifetime warranty, allowing customers to return the car to Perodua for a replacement if its state-of-health (SoH) drops below 70%. After this point, Perodua will handle the proper disposal of the old unit.
Perodua says this leasing model helps to reduce the initial down payment, lower annual insurance costs, and improve resale value, thanks to the added assurance that the battery is managed and guaranteed by the manufacturer. When selling the vehicle, it must be done through Perodua Pre-Owned Vehicles, where the next owner will have to sign a new battery lease agreement.
ALSO READ: Perodua and Maybank Islamic launch Malaysia’s first Shariah-compliant agility financing
The Perodua QV-E is being built at the company’s new manufacturing facility, the “Smart Mobility Plant”, under Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd. Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, promises that the company is “able to produce 500 units a month, but we would be able to offer 3,000 units a month by the third quarter of 2026”.
While it is said to be Malaysia’s first “fully homegrown EV”, some parts of the car are still produced overseas. Perodua says it is working with local vendors to localise the components to over 50% by early 2026 and to 70% by 2030. So far, a total of 52 Malaysian companies supply auto components for QV-E. Perodua assures that it is looking to increase the number to 70 vendors by 2030.
GALLERY
