Malaysia’s second national carmaker, Perodua, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to collaborate in the development of next-generation electric vehicle technologies (xEVs).

Perodua, Malaysia’s largest vehicle manufacturer, said the comprehensive agreement with UTM includes training future engineers to develop new technologies, with the aim of helping the company reduce its dependence on technology transfers from overseas.

Perodua’s CEO Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said in a statement: “We look forward to exploring a future where Malaysia can develop its own xEV technology and share the benefits with future generations. With this MoU, Perodua is taking a step further from our original mandate of being a vehicle for technological transfers to becoming an entity that drives technological development.”

Professor Dr Rosli Md Illias, UTM’s deputy vice-chancellor and head of Research and Innovation, added: “This collaboration underscores the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry that can empower graduates with the skills and knowledge.”

Perodua was established in 1993 as a national car manufacturer with Japan’s Daihatsu Motor as a key shareholder and technology partner. It has overtaken Proton, the country’s first national car company, which was established a decade earlier with Mitsubishi Motors as its main technology provider.

Perodua sold a record 358,102 vehicles in 2024, mostly to customers in Malaysia.