Perodua is Malaysia's largest automobile manufacturer, with the full name Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Second Automobile Manufacturer Private Limited). It is headquartered in Sungai Chua, Rawang, Selangor. The brand was established in 1993 through a joint venture between the Malaysian government, Daihatsu Industries of Japan, and several private enterprises. The goal was to create Malaysia's second national car company after Proton, focusing on producing economical, fuel-efficient small cars. The brand identity adopted by the company is light and modern, symbolizing its commitment to providing practical, high-value mobility solutions for the public.
In the highly competitive Malaysian automotive market, Perodua is known for its unshakeable leadership position. Since 2006, Perodua has been the new car sales champion in Malaysia for many consecutive years. In 2025, Perodua sold 359,904 new cars, breaking the 300,000 mark for three consecutive years and setting a new historical record. During the same period, the company produced 370,370 vehicles, with both figures breaking brand history records. In the 2025 new car registration data released by the Malaysia Road Transport Department (JPJ), Perodua held the top spot with a market share of 43.9%, accounting for nearly half of the national new car sales for that year. Its sales were more than double those of second-place Proton.
The birth of Perodua originated from Malaysia's national strategy to promote localization of the automotive industry. Ten years after the establishment of Proton, the government hoped to introduce a second national car manufacturer, further activating the automotive industry through competition and providing broader travel options for low- and middle-income groups.
In 1993, Perodua was officially established. Its equity structure was unique, bringing together domestic and international forces: UMW Group (holding 38%) as the major controlling shareholder, Daihatsu (holding 25%) providing key technologies and vehicle platforms, MBM Resources (holding 20%), and other local enterprises and government investment institutions also participated. This model of government-enterprise collaboration and the combination of local and international capital laid the technical, financial, and policy foundation for the brand's initial development.
In 1994, Perodua's Sungai Chua factory in Rawang went into production, and the first model, the Perodua Kancil, rolled off the line. This small car, developed based on the Daihatsu Mira prototype, quickly captured the local market with its low price and extremely high fuel economy, helping Perodua gain a foothold in its early stages.
In 1998, Perodua launched its second model, the Kembara, entering the small SUV market for the first time and expanding its product line. After entering the 21st century, Perodua's product development pace accelerated. In 2005, the brand launched its first independently designed model, the Myvi, which achieved great success. It became one of the best-selling models in Malaysian automotive history, completely subverting the local automotive market landscape and establishing Perodua's status as a national brand.
Subsequently, Perodua launched the Alza in 2010, the Axia in 2014, and the Bezza in 2016. Its product line continued to expand, and its market share steadily improved. In terms of technology, Perodua firmly implemented the "National Car" concept, fully introduced Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) technology, and became Malaysia's first and largest EEV manufacturer. Through a combination of technical cooperation with Daihatsu and independent R&D, Perodua successfully built a brand moat of high cost-performance and low operating costs.
Perodua's current product line covers A-segment sedans, hatchbacks, small MPVs, and multiple SUVs. Its vehicle matrix is based on fuel economy, high cost-performance, and reliability as core selling points, accurately targeting the mass market. As of April 2026, Perodua has a total of eight main models on sale in the Malaysian market, with a price range covering RM 22,000 to RM 82,000 (OTR excluding insurance).
| Model | Class | Power/Technology | 2026 Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perodua Axia | A-segment Hatchback | 1.0L Naturally Aspirated (NR-VE Engine) | RM 22,000 - 49,500 |
| Perodua Bezza | A-segment Sedan | 1.0L/1.3L Naturally Aspirated (NR Engine) | RM 34,580 - 49,980 |
| Perodua Myvi | B-segment Hatchback (National Iconic Car) | 1.3L/1.5L Naturally Aspirated (NR-VE Engine) | RM 46,500 - 59,900 |
| Perodua Alza | Small MPV | 1.5L Naturally Aspirated (2NR-VE Engine) | RM 62,500 - 75,500 |
| Perodua Ativa | A-segment SUV (Compact Crossover) | 1.0L Three-Cylinder Turbo (Turbocharged) | RM 62,500 - 73,400 |
| Perodua Aruz | B-segment SUV (Large Crossover) | 1.5L Naturally Aspirated (2NR-VE Engine) | RM 72,900 - 77,900 |
| Perodua QV-E | B-segment Pure Electric SUV (First Self-developed EV) | Pure Electric (BEV) Motor + 445km Range | RM 80,000 |
| Perodua Traz | B-segment SUV (City Five-Seater) | 1.5L Naturally Aspirated (2NR-VE Engine) | RM 76,100 - 82,000 |
The Axia and Bezza are Perodua's two pillars in the A-segment market, covering entry-level market needs in hatchback and sedan forms, respectively. The Axia has undergone several generations (the latest model is based on the DNGA platform) and is known for its class-leading space utilization and small-displacement economy. The Bezza achieved sales of 100,488 units in 2025, breaking the 100,000 mark for two consecutive years.
The Myvi is Perodua's most legendary flagship model. Since its launch in 2005, with its excellent powertrain, chassis handling performance, and extremely low failure rate, it has firmly held one of the best-selling model positions in the Malaysian local market. In 2025, the Myvi sold 72,724 units, ranking third on the annual sales list.
The Alza, as a perennial sales leader in the seven-seater small MPV segment, saw its second-generation model based on the DNGA platform launched in 2022. With generous space and high cost-performance, the Alza has maintained considerable monthly sales for a long time.
The Ativa is positioned as an A-segment SUV, using a 1.0L three-cylinder turbo engine combined with advanced chassis tuning. It was one of the domestic vehicles that introduced the DNGA platform earlier.
The Aruz features a seven-seater layout and is an SUV product launched by Perodua for larger crossover needs. In November 2025, the Aruz's single-month sales reached 2,264 units, setting a new high for that year.
Two new cars released in December 2025 are of great strategic significance. The first self-developed pure electric model, the Perodua QV-E, sells for only RM 80,000 (battery leasing model / car price excluding battery), focusing on a locally scalable electric vehicle new ecosystem. Following closely is the Perodua Traz (internal code D66B), a B-SUV echoing the Toyota model.
According to 2025 new car registration data reported by Malaysia's JPJ, Perodua sold 359,904 new cars, a year-on-year increase of 0.5% compared to the 2024 total of 358,102 units. In the same fiscal year, Perodua's total production was 370,370 units, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%.
2025 Malaysia Market Major Brand Sales Data
No. 1 Perodua: 359,904 units (+0.5%) — Firmly ranked first.
No. 2 Proton: 151,561 units (+2.7%) — Sales only about half of Perodua.
No. 3 Toyota: 129,085 units (+1.5%) — Ranked third.
No. 4 Honda: 75,599 units (-11.3%) — Sales decreased.
(Data Source: JPJ, December 2025 Statistics)
The Bezza achieved 100,488 units, becoming the single best-selling model in Malaysia for 2025, followed by the Axia (84,291 units). The Myvi (72,724 units) continues to play a sales pillar role for the brand in the compact hatchback field. These three models firmly occupy the top three positions in the Malaysian annual sales ranking. In the context of intensified price competition, Perodua's Aruz single-month sales in November surged to 2,264 units.
From a macro market perspective, Malaysia's total new car sales in 2025 are expected to reach 820,000 units, surpassing last year's 816,747 units. This marks Malaysia surpassing Indonesia for the first time to become Southeast Asia's largest automotive market. Perodua contributed 43.9% of the industry share.
At the same time, Perodua's cumulative sales from January to October 2025 reached 289,200 units, exceeding its 345,000 unit annual sales target in advance. From 2022 to 2025, Perodua achieved record-breaking sales and production for four consecutive years, gradually consolidating its scale advantage.
Perodua's technological core is deeply bound with its strategic partners Daihatsu and Toyota. Its core competitiveness lies in the flexible use of mature, low-cost, and highly modular platform technologies.
DNGA Platform: Modular Efficiency and Performance Revolution. The DNGA is a new global architecture led by Daihatsu, equivalent to a low-cost simplified version of the Toyota Group's TNGA platform for the Southeast Asian and Oceanian markets. By optimizing the use of high-tensile steel plates (over 40%), this platform has significantly improved body stiffness, is approximately 80 kg lighter than the previous generation platform, lowers the center of gravity, and improves handling and fuel economy. Perodua's new generation products, such as the Ativa (2021), Alza (2022), Axia (2023), and Traz (2025), were successfully launched based on the DNGA-B and DNGA-A technology systems. The Traz (D66B) was developed alongside the 2023 Toyota Yaris Cross for the Thai and Indonesian markets.
EEV Strategy and Fuel Economy Optimization. Perodua is the only and largest EEV manufacturer in Malaysia. All series models are fine-tuned in terms of power calibration, lightweight body, low wind resistance design, etc. For the third-generation Myvi, with its 1.5L engine and CVT combination, average fuel consumption is about 22.9 km/L. The new Traz has an average fuel consumption of only 4.7L per 100 km (MDC standard).
Powertrain: High Generalization and Reliability. Perodua widely uses Daihatsu's NR and NR-VE series engines (1.0L, 1.3L, 1.5L four-cylinder naturally aspirated engines), paired with D-CVT continuously variable transmissions. The performance is stable and reliable. The 2NR-VE engine shared by the Traz, Alza, and Myvi has a technology source already used in the local Toyota Vios, which helps dilute after-market maintenance costs.
Popularization of Intelligent Driving Assistance Systems (ASA). Perodua has widely popularized the intelligent driving assistance kit, ASA, on its main models. This kit integrates pre-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lead vehicle departure reminder, pedal misoperation control system, and other functions. It is available as an option on multiple replacement and facelift models (such as the Ativa, Alza, and third-generation Myvi).
Breakthrough in Self-developed EV Technology: QV-E. Perodua partnered with local R&D resources and, over 28 months, invested 800 million Ringgit to independently develop its first self-developed pure electric SUV model, the QV-E. This car is equipped with a 48.28 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, supports a maximum NEDC operating range of 445 km, and its 201 horsepower and 285 N·m torque output achieve a measured 0-100 km/h acceleration time of only 7.5 seconds.
Compared to its dominance in the local market, Perodua's overseas business layout is relatively cautious. The brand's commercial cooperation in the international market usually adopts product directional export, establishing joint venture agency companies with counterparts, or reverse supply to technical alliance partners.
Complete Vehicle Export: Opening the Bangladesh Market First. Perodua officially exported Axia, Myvi, Bezza, and Aruz models to the Bangladesh market via the CBU method in 2024 and plans to further introduce new cars such as the Ativa and Alza in the future, covering local mainstream consumer groups.
Exploring and Developing a New System for Used Car Export to Developing Countries. To alleviate traffic congestion and high-density, high-ownership vehicle situations in Malaysia, Perodua launched an innovative export strategy in October 2025. Used cars in circulation in the Malaysian market will be centrally refurbished, tested to standard, and then packaged for overall export to Bangladesh (as the first stop), Kenya, Mozambique, and other African countries.
Indonesia Market Assessment and Cooperation Precedent in the India Region. Perodua previously launched the Myvi badged (as the "Daihatsu Sirion") in Indonesia through technical sharing. In view of the fiercely competitive industrial landscape in Indonesia, Perodua is re-evaluating the Sirion's market development strategy and further examining its strategic adaptability in the Indonesian market. Additionally, Perodua had earlier entered the small car sales market with the Kancil model in places such as Sri Lanka.
Global Raw Material and Supply Chain Collaborative Platform. Perodua's two factories located in Rawang currently have a total annual capacity of about 320,000 vehicles and provide support for right-hand drive markets adjacent to Malaysia.
Looking ahead, Perodua's strategic blueprint is clear, aiming to consolidate its absolute dominance in the Malaysian automotive industry through core model updates, electrification transformation, and intelligent upgrades, and to play a more important role in the region.
Perodua management revealed on several occasions at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026 that the new generation Myvi and Bezza are already on the development roadmap. The new generation Myvi is expected to appear in 2027, when it will be equipped with a hybrid system. The launch of the new generation Myvi will complete the popularization iteration at the technical level. For the Bezza, Perodua has announced that this generation model will continue service until 2030, relying on the existing platform to dilute R&D costs.
In the field of electrification, the QV-E is just the beginning of Perodua's new energy strategy. The company has jointly cooperated with tech giant Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) to carry out deep strategic cooperation, jointly promoting the R&D of next-generation pure electric and intelligent connected technologies.
The current Southeast Asian market is in a period of high new car sales, but the new energy penetration rate still faces cost challenges. Perodua plans for 2030 to make its electric and hybrid vehicle total sales reach about 20% of the company's annual sales. Its "Perodua Smart Build" sustainable development blueprint aims to connect local suppliers, the R&D side, and electric vehicle technology bottlenecks.
From nearly half of the domestic market share, to the simple original intention of "making a car everyone can afford," from the pure electric model QV-E levering open the door to a new era, to the Myvi about to welcome a 2027 hybrid update and subsequent full-line model intelligent upgrades, Perodua is opening its own future new chapter with a steady, independent, and pragmatic attitude.
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