Perodua ICE model to start Q2 2027 production

MCE Holdings announced that it has secured RM54.28 million in supply contracts with Perodua, valid for 40 months or three years. The agreement covers a range of automotive electronics and mechatronic components - including audio display, reverse camera and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) - for an internal combustion engine (ICE) model.

Contract Details

The supplier will provide the components through its subsidiary Multi-Code Electronics Industries. The contract marks MCE’s first time supplying vehicle audio display and ADAS-related components for an ICE vehicle, in addition to its existing work on the QV-E electric vehicle. This expands the firm’s portfolio of higher-value components and systems. Group managing director Goh Kar Chun said the long-standing relationship with Perodua has allowed MCE to grow alongside the carmaker, enabling the company to take on more sophisticated products and move up the automotive value chain.

Production Timeline

Production of the new ICE model is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of the financial year ending 31 July 2027, which translates to the second quarter of the next calendar year. The components will be built at MCE’s newly-launched RM4.95 million Auto Hub in Serendah, Selangor. The contract’s 40-month duration will supply Perodua up to 2030, aligning with the expected arrival of a next-generation Bezza.

Implications for Perodua Models

Perodua has not yet confirmed which model will receive the new components. The most likely candidates are the Myvi and the Bezza. The Myvi, which has been on the market for eight years, appears in need of a refresh, while the Bezza, Malaysia’s most popular car, may receive a major facelift before a full next-generation launch. A teaser shown at the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) displayed QV-E-inspired design cues, suggesting the new model may adopt a similar aesthetic.

The use of MCE’s infotainment and ADAS technology, which is also employed in the fully home-grown QV-E, indicates Perodua’s increasing control over these systems. Currently, Perodua’s ICE models rely on Daihatsu for driver-assist features, whereas the QV-E’s systems were developed in-house. As Perodua gains more experience in developing its own models, it may eventually rely on its own engines and gearboxes, with Daihatsu supplying only the powertrain.

The new ICE model will almost certainly continue to use the Toyota/Daihatsu NR range of four-cylinder engines, offered in 95 PS 1.3-litre 1NR-VE and 103 PS 1.5-litre 2NR-VE variants, paired with a Dual-Mode CVT (D-CVT). Perodua also has plans to introduce hybrid powertrains, and the new model could serve as a springboard for that effort. It might employ either Daihatsu’s e-Smart Hybrid - where the electric motor provides propulsion and the combustion engine acts as a generator - or Toyota’s system from the Vios and Yaris Cross, which uses a planetary gearset to manage the two power sources. The forthcoming Ativa Hybrid is expected to lead the way in bringing a petrol-electric powertrain to market.

Source: paultan.org

The contract’s timing suggests Perodua is not in a hurry to launch the new model, despite losing market share to a resurgent Proton. The next generation of the Myvi, codenamed D10D, could help the nameplate climb the sales standings, while a facelifted Bezza may keep buyers engaged until a full next-generation vehicle arrives.

For more on Perodua’s market position, see the current standings. The potential impact on sales and safety ratings can be tracked in the upcoming stats.