perodua

A brief history about perodua: Perodua, short for *Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sendirian Berhad* (Second Automobile Manufacturer Private Limited), was founded in 1993 and quickly rose to become Malaysia’s largest car manufacturer, surpassing its main domestic rival, Proton. From the beginning, Perodua focused on producing compact and supermini cars that were efficient, affordable, and tailored to the needs of urban drivers.

Unlike Proton, Perodua has never sought to build its own engines or transmissions. Instead, it has relied on partnerships with Japanese automakers for technology and engineering. Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota, played a key role from the start, holding a 20 percent stake in Perodua at its inception. This collaboration shaped the company’s product line and ensured a consistent level of quality and reliability in its vehicles.

In 1994, Malaysia’s Prime Minister officially inaugurated Perodua’s manufacturing plant, and just 28 days later, the first model—the Kancil—rolled off the production line. The Kancil became an instant success, appealing to budget-conscious drivers with its compact size and low running costs. Within its first year, Perodua produced 50,000 units and began exporting to Brunei. By 1997, the company celebrated the production of its 100,000th Kancil, and the model was introduced to the UK market under the name “Perodua Nippa,” known as one of the most affordable cars available.

That same year, Perodua modernized its brand image by adopting a new oval logo, symbolizing a more dynamic and forward-thinking approach. In 1998, the company expanded into new territory with the launch of the Kembara, Malaysia’s first locally assembled four-wheel-drive vehicle.

By 2004, Perodua had sold more than half a million Kancils and celebrated its tenth anniversary with an expanded lineup that included the Kenari and Kelisa. The following year marked a major milestone when the company produced its one-millionth vehicle and launched the Myvi, a compact city car that would become one of Malaysia’s most beloved models. The Myvi was crowned Autocar ASEAN’s *Car of the Year* in 2006 and became a defining symbol of Perodua’s success.

In 2007, the long-running Kancil was retired and replaced by the ViVA, which carried on its legacy of affordability and practicality while winning its own *Car of the Year* award in the supermini segment. The company also introduced the Nautica 4WD in 2008, a short-wheelbase SUV based on the Daihatsu Terios and partially assembled in Malaysia. That same year, Perodua began fitting all its models with rear seatbelts, setting a new safety standard for its category.

As the brand matured, it expanded into new segments with the Alza compact MPV, a collaboration with Daihatsu that reinforced Perodua’s position in the family-car market. The Alza became Malaysia’s best-selling MPV and was refreshed in 2014 and again in 2019. To support growing production, Perodua established the Perodua Global Manufacturing (PGM) facility—a modern energy-efficient vehicle (EEV) plant covering 64,000 square meters and built with an investment of RM1.3 billion. The factory featured advanced automation and precision assembly systems, allowing production capacity to reach up to 200,000 vehicles annually.

Perodua’s partnership with Toyota and Daihatsu has continued to drive innovation and maintain affordability. The company not only assembles rebadged versions of Daihatsu and Toyota models for the local market but also develops its own variants tailored to Malaysian consumers. This strategy has ensured its dominance in the compact and entry-level segments.

Safety and quality have become central to Perodua’s recent achievements. In 2019, the Bezza sedan became the brand’s first model to receive a five-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, proving that budget-friendly cars can also offer exceptional protection and engineering. Through a combination of smart partnerships, customer focus, and technological advancement, Perodua has secured its reputation as Malaysia’s most trusted and accessible automaker.

Current Models

Browse through this perodua’s current models below and explore their specifications