Finally, the Perodua QV-E is launched. Unveiled by prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at MITI’s HQ in KL moments ago, this ‘important national agenda’ is billed as the the first 100% Malaysian EV. If you followed the series of teasers leading up to today, you’d have seen Rawang leaning hard into the homegrown aspect of the P01A project, differentiating itself from Proton, which eMas EVs are rebadged Geely models.
The QV-E – which stands for Quest for Visionary Electric Vehicle (pronounced as ‘queue-vee’, like Myvi) – is priced at RM80,000 on-the-road without insurance, but that sum also excludes the EV battery, which is leased to car owners in what Perodua calls Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS). The monthly subscription fee is RM275 (RM297 after 8% SST), to be paid together with your monthly instalment in a single payment.
Sample monthly payment calculation, 2.5% interest rate
- 9 years: RM910 + RM297 = RM1,207
- 7 years: RM1,120 + RM297 = RM1,417
- 5 years: RM1,500 + RM297 = RM1,797
- Cash purchase: RM297 a month
P2 has its reasons for this novel scheme, which it says addresses major EV concerns such as battery replacement costs and poor resale value. There’s also the issue of safe disposal. With it owning the ‘liability’ of the EV, P2 says that QV-E users will have peace of mind. More on this later.
From the hands of Malaysians
Doesn’t Perodua have a foreign partner in Daihatsu? Yes, but Japan not being at the forefront of EV development is well documented, and Daihatsu – and parent Toyota for that matter – does not have a suitable donor car for P2 to base its first EV on.
An EV in 2025 wasn’t even on the company’s plans just a couple of years back. Tasked by the government to produce one, and with no help from Japan, Perodua had to start from scratch in August 2023. To make things even more ‘interesting’ the government announced the deadline publicly, which meant that P2 had to deliver in 2025, by hook or crook. After RM800 million and 266,000 man-hours on R&D, here we are, just in time.
Perodua says that the QV-E is ‘built with our hands’ and that it owns the intellectual property for the EV, including its platform. However, Rawang has sourced crucial components from the top names in the business (China’s CATL for the LFP battery) and we now know that Magna Steyr (MS) was a consultant in the EV’s platform. Yes, that Magna Steyr, the world’s most famous contract manufacturer.
Highest level consultant in Magna Steyr
Under the ownership of parts giant Magna since 2001, Austria-based MS currently produces the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, BMW Z4 and Toyota GR Supra. Recently, they contract manufactured Jaguar’s I-Pace EV and names further back include the Aston Martin Rapide, Peugeot RCZ and MINIs. More than just a factory, MS co-developed the first-generation E83 BMW X3 and came up with Mercedes’ 4Matic AWD system, among other things. That’s some portfolio.
P2 says that it and Steyr – appointed as consultant in Q4 2023 – jointly developed the all-new platform, which is modular – as such, the P01A is the first of a family of models in the A-B segment, and possibilities range from a 2,550 mm wheelbase sedan and hatch to a 2,700 mm wheelbase SUV (the QV-E has a 2,680 mm wheelbase and is defined internally a Sportback). Hybrid and range extender EVs (REEV) are possible with mid-floor and front beam mods, P2 says.
By the way, MS has an electric car platform for sale, but the QV-E’s platform is not the Magna EV Platform as that one is made for the C/D-segment and has multi-link rear suspension. So, Perodua didn’t just purchase the rights to use Steyr’s off-the-shelf platform.
What becomes then of the long marriage between Perodua and Daihatsu? Pressured into this project and forced to venture out for new partnerships due to circumstances, is this the first step of Perodua breaking free from the Toyota-Daihatsu orbit? Anyone else noticed the ‘P’ in the QV-E’s model code instead of the usual ‘D’?
A small car for T20s?
Recently, a leaked image of the QV-E at its media preview event at Sepang International Circuit made the rounds. It was a legit image, but a distorted one taken from afar showing a car that drew comparisons to a Peugeot 408 or smaller Kia EV6. It’s nowhere near that big!
The Aspirations show car from the Malaysia Autoshow (MAS) 2025 in May, and the cutaway that we shared with you from last month’s Global Automotive and Technology Expo (GATE) 2025 were accurate.
The QV-E measures 4,170 mm long and 1,800 mm wide, which is 275 mm longer and 65 mm wider than a Myvi. Coupled with a low roofline (1,502 mm, 13 mm lower than Myvi) and long wheelbase of 2,680 mm (+180 mm vs Myvi), it has the sportiest stance and proportions ever seen on a Perodua, and the 158 mm ground clearance is actually slightly less than a Myvi’s (160 mm). For contrast, the Ativa’s GC is 200 mm.
Also helping with the sporty image is a roofline that tapers to what P2 calls a Sportback – think Toyota C-HR versus a conventional SUV shape like the Ativa and Proton X50. The QV-E’s boot volume is 320 litres, which is just 10L less than the X50, but 49L smaller than the Ativa. The Myvi’s boot holds 277 litres.
Compared to the Proton eMas 5, the QV-E is 35 mm longer, 5 mm narrower and a substantial 72 mm lower. The P2’s wheelbase is 30 mm longer. Perodua said that it benchmarked the BYD Dolphin (not the eMas 5’s Geely Xingyuan donor car) and compared to that five-door EV hatch, the QV-E is 120 mm shorter, 30 mm wider and 68 mm lower, with a 20 mm shorter wheelbase.
That last comparison should tell you all you need to know about the QV-E’s actual size, despite its crossover styling. Step inside and the P2 feels even more compact, especially at the back, where the long wheelbase doesn’t fully translate into legroom. Both the Dolphin and eMas 5 are roomier for passengers.
This is by design. You see, Perodua’s most expensive car ever (if you discount the CBU Japan Nautica SUV) is not made for its usual clientele, but for ‘M40 and above’ young families with small children and T20 kids, described as ‘children of a rich family, living with parents’.
This feels like a car designed with two pax in mind, and if you’re looking to ferry adults at the back, they’ll be happier in the two EV models mentioned above. The sloping roofline, small rear windows and all-black theme follow the sporty script. Seems crazy, but Perodua has gone out and made a lifestyle car with practicality sacrifices!
The fastest Perodua ever
There’s performance to back up the QV-E’s sporty looks. Powered by a front-mounted motor with 204 PS (150 kW) and 285 Nm of torque, the QV-E isn’t just Perodua’s most powerful and fastest accelerating car ever (0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds), it’s much quicker to the century mark than the eMas 5, which is quoted with 0-50 km/h figures instead of the usual 100. Top speed is 165 km/h, which we hit on Sepang’s main straight.
Juice comes from a 52.5 kWh (gross) lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from CATL (same supplier as eMas 5). The IP69 (water and dust) rated liquid cool pack weighs 405.7 kg, which is around a quarter of the QV-E’s kerb weight of 1,600 kg (around 600 kg heavier than a Myvi, 50 kg lighter than Dolphin ER). NEDC range is 445 km, which should equate to around 380 km in the more realistic WLTP cycle. So that you don’t have to open a new tab, the eMas 5 Premium’s 40.16 kWh LFP pack offers 325 km of WLTP range.
As for charging, the QV-E’s max DC rate is 60 kW, which takes SoC from 30-80% in 30 minutes. Home AC charging at 6.6 kW takes eight hours for a full 0-100% charge. For context, the eMas 5 Premium takes in 71 kW DC and 6.6 kW AC.
A catalogue of Perodua-first features
It’s fitting that Perodua’s first EV carries with it a list of Perodua-first features. Some are expected of a modern EV but some made us sit up straight. How about a digital rear view mirror found in high-end Toyota and Lexus models? Solves any natural visibility issues caused by the Sportback’s shallow, raked rear glass (no need for a rear wiper) and thick C pillars.
The QV-E is also the first Perodua to come with a powered driver’s seat and ambient lighting. Also on are a 10.25-inch infotainment screen (it would have been easy to just stick on a huge screen, but they wanted a more familiar/traditional driving feel, replete with physical AC controls), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charger and tyre pressure monitoring. There’s a tyre repair kit in the boot in place of a spare tyre – another Perodua-first.
You already know about the P-Circle app, which allows the QV-E user to monitor the EV’s vitals and perform some functions remotely. Technically it’s not a feature, but this is the first Perodua to have a soft touch dashboard.
Safety wise, the usual full ADAS pack is included, but there’s a new safety feature. Remember the cases of children dying of heatstroke after being left in parked cars?
The new Child Presence Detection (CPD) uses millimetre-wave to detect movement and breathing in the second row, even if the child is under fabric covering. If the car is turned off and CPD detects a child (or pet) in the cabin, it will sound the horn and flash the lights. The second stage of warning involves notifications via app and SMS. CPD works at night too, and up to 85°C.
There’s also an SOS call button above the rear view mirror, which you can press in case of an accident or emergency. It’s linked to Perodua Auto Assist and MERS 999 rescue services.
Anyway, the QV-E has been awarded the full five stars by ASEAN NCAP in the current 2021-2025 protocol. The EV achieved a total score of 88.36 points, with Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) at 29.31 points out of 32 (weighted score 36.63), and Child Occupant Protection at 42.67 points out of 51 (weighted score 16.73). In the Safety Assist segment, it’s 21/21 (SA weighted score 20), and the QV-E posted 12/16 in the Motorcyclist Safety area (MS weighted score 15).
Click on the image below to check out the full list of features. There are also two new-to-Perodua colours – Ice Blue and Caviar Grey.
BaaS – P2 takes ownership of an EV’s liability
As if a first-timer coming up with an EV in just two years isn’t difficult enough, Perodua brainstormed about the pain points in EV ownership and set out to tackle each one of them.
They figured that battery health, and replacement costs, is something that the general public fear. To nullify this, Perodua takes ownership of the batteries and leases them to QV-E owners. This Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) scheme, the first of its kind here, lowers the cost of the car and ensures that owners will always have a battery in the best condition (replacement if battery state of health falls below 70%).
Another EV fear factor is poor resale value. It’s clear that depreciation for EVs are beyond the level we’ve seen with ICE cars – the risk of a degraded battery that will be very costly to replace (and fewer years of warranty left) is factored into the poor RV. Battery leasing erases this issue as the second owner starts a new contract (for the same battery) and should SoH drop below 70%, the car will get a fresh pack. As the battery belongs to Perodua, insurance for the pack is also borne by the carmaker.
BaaS is mandatory for the QV-E, and there’s no option to purchase the battery outright. The lease is for nine years at RM275 a month, on top of the vehicle’s financing. The monthly instalment is paid to the bank and the battery leasing fee is paid to Perodua – but as far as the customer is concerned, he/she will pay one single payment to the bank, and the bank will then pass on what’s owed to P2. Single payment, just like a regular HP loan.
It’s not mentioned a lot, but P2 is also doing this to take responsibility for the battery’s disposal, which must be done properly to not harm the environment. Each QV-E battery will have a ‘Battery Passport’ (just like an ICE engine number), and this is why selling the car can only be done via Perodua’s POV (Pre-Owned Vehicles) arm – Mr A can sell to Ms B, but it must be via POV as BaaS needs the new owner’s data.
By the way, there’s a battery tracker that will be triggered if the battery has been detected as detached from the car, of if the car has been left idle for a long time (abandoned). Perodua says that such cases will lead it to carry out a ‘Battery Rescue’ to avoid improper disposal.
What if you’ve finished paying for the car, but have a couple years of battery lease to go? With no bank as intermediary, you’ll have to pay the RM275 to Perodua directly via the P-Circle app. The same applies to cash buyers – one will have to pay the BaaS fee every month. Anyway, the vehicle warranty is six years or 150,000 km, while the drive unit is covered for eight years or 150,000 km. Battery? It’s as good as a lifetime warranty with BaaS.
“This concept is our solution towards reducing owner’s anxiety when owning a battery electric vehicle. By offering this service we will be able to offer a lifetime guarantee on the battery for our customers’ peace of mind,” Zainal said.
They thought of everything
Perodua didn’t just launch a car. In October, the company introduced the P-Circle app that QV-E owners will use, and we’ve also seen the wallbox home charger which has a CCTV camera, ambient lighting and a touchscreen control panel. There’s even a smartwatch called P-Go.
As for public charging, the role of P-Charge Mobile is to fill the gap, literally, in the public charging network. This giant 184 kWh ‘powerbank’ can refill EVs at a DC max rate of 60 kW and can be placed anywhere.
It’s still a concept for now, as is the larger On The Go charging trucks that will offer mid-journey ‘nourishment’ for both EVs and their owners, perfect for highway R&R deployment during festival periods. Click on the links to learn more about these ancillaries.
EV as a national duty
There are cheaper ways to market an EV, but Perodua’s responsibility as an automotive sector ‘champion’ under Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 is to catalyse the growth of a local EV ecosystem.
On this front, Perodua is targeting around 50% local content for its EV by early 2026, and 70% by 2030 (likely to include EV components such as the traction motor) which is an admirable goal. While way below the 90+% rate of P2’s ICE models, Malaysia is starting from zero in the EV sector. Currently, 52 local vendors are involved in the QV-E project and P2 is aiming for 70 suppliers by 2030.
“Thus, the selected OTR price, design and specifications are the result of balancing the needs of both the government and the Malaysian market. The P01A serves not just the consumer, but it’s a product that will kick-start and accelerate the BEV ecosystem in Malaysia,” Perodua says, adding that the short lead time and lower initial stage localisation directly impacts the QV-E’s price. Perhaps this is why they couldn’t kick-off with a budget EV for the masses.
Mass production has already started at the new Smart Mobility Plant within Perodua’s sprawling Sg Choh base, and certain functions will be performed at the underutilised Tan Chong Serendah plant, which is just around the corner from P2. The initial sales target for the QV-E is 500 units a month, but Perodua is looking at 3,000 units a month after Q4 2026.
Finally, outlets. The QV-E will be sold and serviced at selected Perodua EV authorised outlets in Peninsular Malaysia. In the Klang Valley, you can find it at Perodua Sentral (PJ), Glenmarie and Putrajaya. The other outlets on the West Coast are Juru (Penang), Ipoh (Jalan Lahat), Senawang (N9) and Johor Bahru (Jalan Tampoi). On the East Coast, the EV is sold in Kota Bharu (Batu 4, Jalan Kuala Krai) and Kuantan.
So, what do you think of Malaysia’s first homegrown EV (check out the meter graphics!), the QV-E’s looks and its features? At RM80k + RM275 BaaS monthly fee (RM297 after 8% SST), it’s certainly costlier to own than the Proton eMas 5, which is more family friendly, but the Perodua offers better performance and range, more kit and (although subjective), more alluring design. Road tax is RM160 a year but they belanja for 2026. The AC wallbox is priced at RM1,850, with an installation fee of RM1,200. Share your take.
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E media preview
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E official presentation slides
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E brochure
GALLERY: Perodua QV-E ASEAN NCAP results
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments express skepticism about Perodua QV-E's high price, especially with the battery leasing scheme costing around RM275 per month over nine years, which many consider financially burdensome. Critics highlight poor interior quality, cramped space, unattractive design, and the lack of long-term reliability data. Several mention that traditional buyers prefer full ownership and reject leasing models, fearing resale issues and ongoing expenses. Many are disappointed that the car is not more affordable, practical, or comparable to existing EV options like Proton or cheaper alternatives. Some sarcastically suggest the car is a fail or a prototype, and many question whether the target markets—T20 and M40—will accept such a costly, subscription-based EV. Overall, sentiments lean heavily towards disappointment and suspicion regarding value, affordability, and long-term viability.