A Bursa filing shows that SIB Ventures, a subsidiary of Malaysian automotive parts maker Sapura Industrial, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zhejiang Zhongze Precision Technology Co. Ltd. (ZZ Tech) to locally manufacture battery packs.
The purpose of the MoU is for both companies to conduct feasibility studies, collaborating towards the establishment of a facility in Malaysia to produce and supply battery pack components for commercial and industrial applications.
ZZ Tech is one of the many suppliers for Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), whom Perodua has previously contracted to source lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs for the national carmaker’s first electric vehicle (EV).
While the filing made no mention of Perodua, it seems plausible that the national carmaker could soon source its batteries from the new facility if the partnership were to be confirmed, as Sapura Industrial already currently supplies parts to Perodua.
Perodua’s plans for its first EV was first announced with the EM-O concept at 2023 Malaysia Autoshow. This was followed up with the eMO-I development mule – a Perodua Myvi with an electric powertrain – in the 2024 Malaysia Autoshow. This was then followed up by the eMO-II concept, where it was shown off at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show 2024.
The national carmaker has not released official details regarding the upcoming EV model’s electric powertrain yet. But based on the targeted specs revealed, the yet-unnamed EV will have a single motor generating 160 hp (120 kW) and 220 Nm of torque to the front wheels.
Powering the car is a CATL-sourced 50-60 kWh LFP battery pack that has a targeted EV range of 400 km in a single full charge.
READ: Perodua eMO-II concept unveiled at KLIMS 2024 – functional prototype with CATL-sourced battery!
Pricing for Perodua’s EV is not fully confirmed as of yet, but it will be somewhere in the ballpark of RM100,000 or below, as revealed by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last year.
Once this new factory is up and running, and battery packs start to roll off the assembly line, could Perodua’s EV become even cheaper with locally-made battery packs?
READ: Perodua’s first EV due in December 2025, testing to begin in June
