Recently, spyshots of a mysterious vehicle surfaced on social media, sparking widespread speculation that it could be Perodua’s upcoming battery electric vehicle (BEV).
Let’s take a closer look.
That B3598A trade plate looks familiar
First things first: the B3598A trade plate seen on this test mule almost certainly belongs to Perodua. This same plate has been spotted on several of their test vehicles in the past, including the previous-generation Perodua Myvi (M600), Perodua Axia (B200), and the Perodua Ativa Hybrid.
Yours truly even spotted the same plate on a Daihatsu Thor a couple of years ago.
What can we tell from the design?
With that connection established, let’s break down what we can observe from the spyshots.
The clearest view of the mule is from the rear three-quarter angle, which reveals some interesting design cues.
The window line rakes upward toward the rear, resembling the design of the Perodua eMO concept shown at last year’s Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). While not immediately obvious, the large rear wing could be concealing a more conventional rear spoiler, similar to the concept.
Although the front end remains heavily camouflaged, it appears to feature split headlights, echoing the concept car’s design. Unlike the concept, however, the test mule is equipped with regular side mirrors rather than camera-based ones.
But what if it’s not an EV?
Additional photos from MalaysianMotoring and Mike Kong further support the idea that this mule is, in fact, an EV. MalaysianMotoring shared a rear-end photo showing no visible muffler or exhaust, while Mike Kong captured the same vehicle at an EV charging station.
Furthermore, it appears that the charging port for the Perodua eMO may be located above the front left tyre, as seen in this spyshot by Mann Haron.
What has Perodua revealed so far?
For starters, Perodua’s technical partner, Daihatsu, does not have an EV in the line-up. This means that the second national carmaker has to hit the ground running with its first-ever EV.
Since unveiling a scale model of the eMO-1 back in 2023, Perodua has released preliminary specifications for the EV. Highlights include:
- An estimated 400 km driving range
- A CATL-sourced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack
Uniquely, Perodua plans to lease the battery pack instead of selling it with the car (just like every other brand). According to the company, this approach helps keep the vehicle’s cost down while ensuring that customers always have a battery in good condition. This also solves the issue of resale value of the EV, Perodua added.
The estimated price of Perodua’s EV is expected to be around RM80,000, excluding the battery pack cost.
When can the public see the Perodua eMO?
Perodua aims to begin sales of its first EV by the end of the year. However, we believe the company may preview a near-production concept version of the eMO in the coming months.
Photo credit: MalaysianMotoring, Mike Kong, Mann Haron, Meng Lee Chen