In conjunction with Teachers’ Day, which is celebrated in Malaysia today, Perodua is introducing a “Terima Kasih, Cikgu” package to “thank, honour and celebrate the country’s dedicated educators.”

The package offers a rebate of RM1,000, a personal accident insurance plan worth RM20,000 as well as competitive hire purchase rates from 2.7% by participating banks. The package, which is open to all educators from both public and private institutions of learning, starts from today till November 15, and is valid for all Perodua models.

“This package is our way of giving back to society’s unsung heroes and their selfless dedication in educating our young – from all of us at Perodua, thank you. On top of the offers given, early birds (those who book their cars this month) are entitled for a RM200 petrol gift card,” Aminar said.

“Along with the three years free service, we believe that this package offers the best value-for-money proposition on the overall motoring experience,” he added. More details, terms and conditions can be had a your neighbourhood P2 dealer.

The post Perodua’s ‘Terima Kasih, Cikgu’ package for teachers appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

First quarter results are out at Perodua, and it appears that the Rawang-based national carmaker has started 2013 strongly. Perodua sold 46,700 units in the first four months of 2013, 4.4% more than in the same quarter of 2012. Based on the Q1 estimated total industry volume of about 156,500 vehicles, Perodua is expected to maintain its 30% share of the Malaysian market.

This is a good result, especially when many car buyers are adopting a “wait and see” stance in view of the upcoming general elections. Lowering car prices is part of the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto, while the current government reiterated that import duties for cars from Japan and Australia will be gradually reduced to zero by 2016. This FTA-based import duty reduction is not new, and has been happening for some years. On the other hand, excise duty has been steadily creeping up.

In response, Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh has this to say: “We believe that if there is any reduction, the process will take time as the players need time to adjust to any changes. In addition, any sharp decrease in vehicle prices will have a negative impact to both players and consumers as prices of used vehicle will plummet. We kindly advise consumers not to wait on their purchases as change will likely be gradual.”

The recently launched Perodua S-Series cars comprising the Viva S, Myvi 1.3 SE and Alza S are doing well, with bookings reaching 14,000 units, with a total of 8,000 units registered since the cars were launched on March 13. At the S-Series launch, Perodua also announced that all its cars (not just the S-Series) now come with three years of free service.

Meanwhile, Perodua’s after sales division saw an increase in vehicle intake by 3% to 454,900 vehicles in Q1 2013. The compact carmaker’s parts sales also saw a 5.8% increase with over RM58.3 million worth of parts sold in the period.

Full info on what the Perodua S-Series is all about, specs and pricing can be found here.

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The ongoing E-Mobilia World conference in KL, attended by automotive and energy leaders to discuss and exchange views on the energy efficient vehicle (EEV) market, has yieled some interesting news so far. Learning that the first speaker for today is Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, we braved the morning rush hour to Hilton KL to see if there was anything newsworthy.

The P2 boss gave the delegates, many of whom were foreigners, a brief history lesson on Perodua, before talking about the current state of the Malaysian auto market and the impact of EEVs. By the way, the description isn’t just for hybrids and electric vehicles, but also includes small and light “normal” cars with good fuel economy and low emissions.

Aminar said that Perodua’s EEV approach will be focused on improving the basic internal combustion engine (ICE), so don’t expect hybrids from the Daihatsu-linked company anytime soon. “We will still be focusing on the ICE. This is our forte, and there’s still a lot that can be done [in terms of eco tech],” he said.

He further pointed out that only around 20% of energy created by combustion is used to move the car, once one factors in mechanical, cooling and driveline losses, among other leaks. Perodua will work towards cutting losses, making better use of available energy, while reducing weight and rolling resistance.

This led to the most interesting slide, future products. Aminar revealed that an entry-level A-segment family car is currently in development. It will be a low cost vehicle to serve low income households, taking Perodua back to its 90s Kancil roots. “This has been our objective since the establishment of the company,” he said.

The five-door hatchback will have top level fuel consumption and will be able to fit a family of five. It will sit below Perodua’s popular Myvi, and would be a successor to the Perodua Viva, which debut in 2007 as a Kancil/Kelisa replacement. That was six years ago, so it’s the right time for a new model according to the conventional car life cycle.

The Viva replacement model will roll out from a brand new SSC (simple, slim and compact) factory. In December 2012, Perodua announced that it will invest RM790 million to set up a new plant adjacent to its existing factory in Sungai Choh, north of Rawang.

The new plant, which had its first foundation stone laid by Deputy PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin earlier this month, is set to add 100,000 units to Perodua’s annual production capacity. 100k is a big number, and it hints at the volumes P2 is targeting for its new model.

No launch date was given today, but we know that the new plant is expected to be operational by mid-2014, so that could be when the Viva replacement model will debut.

The post Perodua working on Viva replacement model – A-segment, low cost, low fuel consumption appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Perodua has taken the wraps of its new S-Series models, comprising the Viva S, Myvi 1.3 SE and Alza S. The Perodua S-Series is a new trim level that replaces certain variants in the respective line-ups such as the Viva BZ, Myvi 1.3 Premium and Alza Standard.

‘S’ stands for special, and Perodua describes the S-Series as its “most value-for-money variants” so far, with added equipment over the phased-out variants but with “no additional cost to the customer” – not to be confused with the range topping SE tag traditionally given to the priciest Myvi.

Let’s start with the Viva S, which is the entry-level 1.0L Viva (above the 660 BX and 850 EX but below the Elite) and the cheapest automatic transmission-equipped car in Malaysia. Priced at RM34,774 OTR without insurance, the Viva S adds on equipment such as power steering, seat height adjuster, under seat tray, seat back pockets, driver’s vanity mirror, MP3/WMA stereo and silver accents for the cabin, among other things.

The Myvi 1.3 SE, which is priced from RM44,924 for the manual (solid) to RM48,424 for the automatic (metallic), gives the buyer Myvi 1.5 SE looks previously not available on the 1.3.

The styling pack consists of SE front and rear bumpers, front grille, side skirting and rear spoiler. Perodua has also thrown in a muffler cutter, single tone interior and painted AC vents, meter surround and centre cluster.

The Alza S, which replaces the Alza Standard, includes new kit such as fog lamps, leather steering, rear spoiler, chrome door handles (inside) and painted door arm rests. It is priced from RM53,517 (MT solid) to RM57,017 (AT metallic).

All S-Series models also get a multi-purpose container and two hooks on the front seat head rests, useful for takeaways and shopping. A range of colours are available, but S-Series cars get a special “Ozzy Orange” colour, similar to the hue offered on the special edition Kelisa and previous-gen Myvi.

New cars aside, Perodua is now offering three years of free service for all models (not just S-Series cars) registered from March 15 onwards. The deal is worth RM1,100 to RM1,200, according to the company, and it includes parts and labour charges.

The launch was officiated by Deputy PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who earlier in the day placed the first foundation stone of Perodua’s new RM790 million factory, which is adjacent to the company’s existing factory in Sg Choh, north of Rawang. It was announced in December last year.

The new plant, which will add 100,000 units to Perodua’s annual production capacity, is expected to be operational by mid-2014. Read more on that, as well as P2′s future plans, here.

Full live gallery and official images added after the jump.

Perodua S-Series Pricelist – click to enlarge

The post Perodua launches S-Series Viva, Myvi and Alza – all Peroduas now come with 3 years free service appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Ah, something’s stirring at Perodua, and it’s due in a couple of days time. A teaser post both on the company’s website and official Facebook page offers a top-down glimpse of a vehicle nose, and judging from the headlamp assembly and the distinct side indicators in it, this could well be the Perodua Alza facelift.

The Alza has been around for more than three years now, having been launched back in November 2009. Since then, the seven-seater has chugged along, with new variants coming about. In 2011, there was the Alza M2 Edition, which was a limited run of 500 units.

Then, last year saw two versions arriving. First, there was the entry-level Alza SR in February, and then the Alza Advanced Version – which added leather seats, GPS navigation and bodykit – debuted in July.

But everything has been accomplished through kit, with no mechanical revisions – the 104 PS and 136 Nm 3SZ-VE 1.5 litre DVVT mill and five-speed manual/four-speed auto transmission have puttered along unchanged since launch, and there haven’t been any significant alterations elsewhere either.

Which means it’s just about time for the Alza to get a midlife reskin and rework. The eyeblaster teaser states that whatever’s popping up on March 14 will have more features and more value. What do you think, is it the new Alza?

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Perodua UK has introduced the Myvi Xtra, a special edition offered at £7,099 (RM34k) with interest-free finance until the end of March.

British buyers can spread their payment over 24 months, subject to a 50% deposit of £3,549.50 (RM17k), followed by 23 payments of £147.89 (RM708) and one final payment of £148.03 (RM709).

For an extra £100 (RM479) over the standard Myvi SXi, buyers get reverse park control, front entry guards, protective side mouldings and remote central locking added to standard-across-the-range items such as air-con, electrically-adjustable colour-coded door mirrors and an integrated radio and CD player.

The retail price includes Perodua’s £1,000 retail incentive, six months road fund licence and first registration fee, while the zero-interest offer applies to the manual variant only.

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UPDATE: A live demonstration of a side impact crash test was carried out by MIROS on a Honda Civic at the event. You can catch the video here.

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) released the results of the first phase of the ASEAN New Car Assessment Programme (ASEAN NCAP) at an open day held at its PC3 lab in Ayer Molek, Melaka yesterday. Eight car models were subjected to an offset frontal collision test at a closing speed of 64 km/h, yielding the following safety ratings:

• Ford Fiesta LX Ti-VCT Auto sedan built 2012, MY 2011 – Adult: 5 stars, Child: 66%, Airbags: 7
• Honda City Grade S built 2012, MY 2012 – Adult: 5 stars, Child: 81%, Airbags: 2
• Toyota Vios 1.5J MT built 2012, MY 2012 – Adult: 4 stars, Child: 48%, Airbags: 2
• Nissan March E MT built 2012, MY 2012 – Adult: 4 stars, Child: 48%, Airbags: 1
• Proton Saga FLX+ Standard built 2013, MY 2013 – Adult: 3 stars, Child: 58%, Airbags: 2
• Perodua Myvi SX built 2012, MY 2011 – Adult: 3 stars, Child: 54%, Airbags: 2
• Hyundai i10 1.1 Epsilon built 2012, MY 2008 – Adult: 2 stars, Child: 48%, Airbags: 2
• Proton Saga Standard built 2012, MY 2008 – Adult: 1 star, Child: 49%, Airbags: 1

The cars were tested over a period beginning November 15, 2012 and ending January 29, 2013. All of them are built in Malaysia, save for the Ford Fiesta and Nissan March, which are produced in Thailand. To be eligible for a five-star rating, a vehicle must have at least two airbags, electronic stability control and a seatbelt reminder, or it will only qualify for a maximum of four stars. Note that ‘MY’ above denotes the safety package introduction year.

No doubt you’re wondering why there are two Proton Sagas in the results list. The one-star car (base-spec, single airbag) was tested in December 2012; the three-star car, which was tested earlier this month, is fitted with the latest safety package that includes twin airbags, which will be standard across the range by February or March, according to Proton. It will be called the FLX+.

A bit about the test conditions – it’s based on the 40% overlap front impact crash test regulation of the World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations (ECE: Reg. 94). Two Hybrid III 50th percentile adult male dummies are placed in the front seats, while two P3 and P1.5 (numbers indicate ages in years) child dummies are secured with a Child Restraint System (CRS) in the back seats. The test car then hits a crushable aluminium barrier at 64 km/h and the outcome is analysed.

Click to enlarge

The frontal occupant protection (adult) rating is derived like so: injury levels on body regions are recorded through sensors and accumulated, then a ‘modifier’ is introduced – this takes real-world situations into account and points are deducted accordingly to result in the final score, which then falls within its rating category.

The percentage-based child assessment result is based on the CRS used in the test as well as the injury levels recorded; being defined as “the level of protection for the child occupant by using the stated CRS model in that car with specified (available) CRS attachment method (for instance, ISOFIX, top tether or seatbelt only). It is therefore important that the respective CRS attachment methods and brands used are made known:

• Honda City (81%) – P3 (ISOFIX and top tether, Britax Duo Plus), P1.5 (ISOFIX, Britax Baby Safe Plus SHR II and Baby Safe ISOFIX base)
• Ford Fiesta (66%) – P3 (ISOFIX and seatbelt, Britax Duo Plus), P1.5 (ISOFIX, Britax Baby Safe Plus SHR II and Baby Safe ISOFIX base)
• Proton Saga FLX+ (58%) – P3 (seatbelt and top tether, Britax Duo Plus), P1.5 (seatbelt and top tether, Britax Duo Plus)
• Perodua Myvi (54%) – P3 (seatbelt, Britax Duo Plus), P1.5 (seatbelt, Britax Baby Safe Plus SHR II)
• Proton Saga (49%) – P3 (seatbelt, Britax Duo Plus), P1.5 (seatbelt, Britax Duo Plus)
• Hyundai i10 (48%) – P3 (seatbelt, Britax Duo Plus), P1.5 (seatbelt, Britax Baby Safe Plus SHR II)
• Nissan March (48%) – P3 (seatbelt, Britax Duo Plus), P1.5 (seatbelt, Britax Baby Safe Plus SHR II)
• Toyota Vios (48%) – P3 (seatbelt, Britax Duo Plus), P1.5 (seatbelt, Britax Baby Safe Plus SHR II)

MIROS is keen to point out that where the collision tests are concerned, the damage to the dummies (and the correlating injuries sustained by occupants) is more important than the damage to the car. So, a car which looks on the surface to be heavily deformed after the crash may not necessarily receive a low safety rating – in fact the opposite can be true, especially when one considers crumple zones and other impact-absorbing structures.

The second phase of ASEAN NCAP will involve side impact testing as per ECE: Reg. 95, and is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2013, with sponsored tests allowed.

A step in the right direction towards safer cars for the ASEAN region then, it seems. Accordingly, the event also saw the MIROS PC3 lab being awarded the title of “First Full-Scale Crash Test Laboratory” by the Malaysia Book of Records.

At the time of writing, video clips and high-res images of the crash tests have not yet been released by MIROS, but we’re told video clips at the point of impact should be made available in time. At this juncture, I’d like to apologise for the lack of a picture of the Fiesta’s interior – out of all the cars there I just had to miss this one; it is much regretted.

The post ASEAN NCAP first phase results released for eight models tested – Ford Fiesta and Honda City get 5 stars appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Perodua is initiating a “Preventive Measure Campaign” recall for 74,000 new Myvi variants produced between March 2011 and March 2012 to replace the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) column of the car.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers but this campaign is necessary as the car’s performance may not be at its best and could partially compromise the driver’s response time at low speeds,” Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said.

He added that based on studies conducted by Perodua, the problem could be detected when the EPS indicator is lit, after which, the driver would feel slight steering heaviness at speeds of between 30 km/h and 40 km/h. This issue can be temporarily fixed by switching off the engine and restarting the car.

“However, for a permanent fix and to eliminate any possibility of risk to our customers, we kindly request that an appointment to be made at any of our 170 service centres nationwide for the replacement of the EPS column,” Aminar urged.

After making an appointment at a service centre, a customer will be given a briefing on the replacement of the EPS column. The exercise will take approximately 80 minutes. The campaign time frame is open ended, but Perodua is encouraging customers to bring their Myvi in as soon as possible. All costs will be absorbed by the carmaker.

Perodua has already issued notification letters to affected customers.

The post Perodua Myvi ‘Preventive Measure Campaign’ to fix EPS steering column – 74,000 units involved appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Same news, different year. This time last year, we brought to you news that Perodua sold 180,000 vehicles in 2011, securing its market leader position for the sixth consecutive year. This morning, Perodua revealed that it sold 189,000 vehicles in 2012, its highest ever yearly total, beating 2010′s 188,600 units.

The 189k total translates to an estimated 30.2% market share, which means that P2 is #1 in Malaysia for the seventh year running. Total sales beat the company’s 188k-unit target for 2012, thanks to “aggressive promotional campaigns as well as a healthy demand for vehicles,” said Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh.

“The demand for vehicles this year has been very encouraging as competition is heating up, especially from the foreign carmakers. Nevertheless, we wish to thank all Malaysians for making us the most preferred compact car company for seven years in a row,” Aminar added.

Record sales aside, Perodua was also happy to announce that its after sales division posted a record intake of 1.78 million vehicles last year, a 5% increase from 2011. After sales was also boosted by RM240 million of parts sales, an increase of 17% from 2011. Currently, the brand has 170 service outlets nationwide.

Looking forward, Perodua has set a 194,000-unit sales target for 2013, with an estimated market share of 30%. Should it achieve the target this year, 2013 will be yet another record breaking year for the maker of the Viva, Myvi and Alza.

“The target is based on the expected strong economic performance of above 4% this year. In addition, we are also improving our sales and after sales strategies and operations to ensure that we are able to meet our customers’ motoring needs,” Aminar explained, adding that one possible speed bump is a hike in interest rates.

New for 2013 is a pre-owned vehicle division (based in Subang Permai) that started quietly last month. Currently, Perodua is only selling traded-in cars to used car dealers, but retail sales are expected to start in the second half of this year.

On Perodua’s expansion plans, Aminar said that the company will invest some RM2.32 billion between 2012 and 2016 to further boost efficiency in manufacturing, sales and after sales. A large portion of the CAPEX will be used to strengthen core businesses so that Perodua will be able to compete in a fully liberalised auto market post-2016, Aminar said.

Three weeks ago, Perodua announced that it will invest RM790 million to set up a new company and a new manufacturing plant adjacent to its existing factory in Sg Choh. The 65,000 square metre facility and its holding company will add 100,000 units to Perodua’s annual production capacity, which now stands at 200,000 with a two-shift cycle. Click here for full details.

Finally, Perodua turns 20 years old this year, and the company launched its 20th Anniversary Celebration and logo this morning. We’re expecting plenty of corporate responsibility activites and a celebration come August, with possibly a new variant of some sort debuting the same time.

The post Perodua sells a record 189,000 vehicles in 2012 – retains market leading position with 30.2% share appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

December is a quiet month for the auto industry, for obvious reasons, so we didn’t see this coming. Instead of holidaying, the management of Perodua and Daihatsu held a media briefing this morning, revealing huge plans for the Rawang-based carmaker. Perodua will invest RM790 million to set up a new company and a new manufacturing plant adjacent to its existing factory in Sungai Choh, north of Rawang.

The new 65,000 square metre facility and its holding company (same shareholder ratio as now) will create 1,200 new jobs and add 100,000 units to Perodua’s annual production capacity, which now stands at 200k with a two-shift cycle. The 100k figure is based on a single shift, so full capacity should be even higher. Mass production is scheduled to start in mid-2014.

Perodua managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said that the new plant will be “world class” and have the same hardware, systems and processes as Daihatsu’s factory in Japan. While the “new plant and old plant will complement each other,” the reason Perodua is building a new plant is because it’s easier to build a top level plant from scratch than upgrading a 19-year old one to meet the best standards.

“We want to jump start immediately, start from day one on a global level,” Aminar said. “This new company will be a role model for our existing manufacturing plant. It will have improved systems, new tech, more automation and is environmentally friendly,” he added.

The new plant will feature, among other things, increased automated welding (full automation for under and main body), automatic body accuracy measurement, the latest 3-Wet Waterborne Paint, enhanced dustproofing for the paint shop and a brighter/quieter working environment.

Besides adding more capacity, the new plant is part of a structural transformation process Perodua is undergoing to better face market liberalisation post-2016. The new culture and practices from the new company/plant and will be implemented on the current plant via a process Daihatsu calls Yokoten.

We’re some years away from 2016, but Perodua admits that it is already feeling the heat – recent arrivals like the Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Almera (the latter sparking a price war of sorts) are encroaching into a price territory previously exclusive to national makes. Price aside, the new entries tout fuel efficiency as a selling point, and FC is one of the main reasons why Perodua is where it is today.

Faced with this, Perodua wants to reduce costs and improve quality to stay in the game. “We have to do something about it, and we have to do it quickly – it’s do or die for us. We cannot afford to be juara kampung,” Aminar declared. For readers outside of Malaysia, juara kampung can be translated to “village champion.” Think of a big fish in a small pond.

“This new plant is part of our five-year strategic roadmap to stay competitive in the ever liberalising automotive industry by helping us be more productive and efficient, while at the same time reducing cost,” he added.

An extra 100,000 units per year sounds like a big jump, and it is – with exports expected to account for only 20,000 units of total volume by 2015, some on the floor were scratching heads, wondering where all those extra cars will go.

Aminar replied that Perodua is only trying to protect is market leading share of 28% to 30%, and the big volume corresponds with projected total industry volume (TIV), which is expected to grow from the current figure of around 600,000.

CEO of Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) Mohamad Madani Sahari was at the event, and he told us that projected TIV for Malaysia is 750,000 units for 2015. You do the math.

With this announcement, Perodua is definitely ending the year with a bang. Some might have expected Daihatsu, which is big in Indonesia, to focus on our fast-growing neighbour as its base for ASEAN growth, but DMC has described Malaysia as a “key base for its overseas business.”

The post Perodua to build new RM790m plant in Rawang, adding 100,000 units to annual production capacity appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Perodua sales for the first nine months of 2012 increased 10% to 139,400 vehicles from 127,200 units in the same period last year. This is attributed to healthy Myvi sales and an increase in demand for the Alza MPV. In the most recent quarter, Perodua sold 46,500 vehicles, down 3% year-on-year as tighter guidelines on responsible lending impacted Viva sales.

“We believe that there is still an upside for our sales in the fourth quarter as the demand for our vehicles is still healthy with bookings recorded in 3Q12 reaching 61,800 units against a registration of 46,500 units in the same period,” Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said.

He added that baring no unforeseen circumstances, and based on the number of bookings Perodua received so far, the market leading carmaker is cautiously positive in achieving its 188,000 sales target for 2012, and maintain its 30% share of the Malaysian market.

On the export front, figures jumped 53% to 7,800 units for the first nine months of 2012. Indonesia, which imports the Myvi as the Daihatsu Sirion, accounted for 4,600 units of the total, or 59%. At the recent IIMS 2012, Daihatsu showed a jazzed up concept of the Sirion, which you can view here.

The post Perodua sales for the first three quarters up by 10% appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Test drive and win! Seems simple enough, but how many actually believe that one will win something big if he/she does not purchase the car. Well, Nur Hasmawati Mohd Yusof, 24 and Hoo Che Khong, 33, have just walked away with RM5,000 each in Perodua’s “You Drive, You Win” contest, and all they did was test drive a Perodua.

“Winning this contest is a great surprise for me, what more winning a grand prize as I have never won any contest before. I just tried my luck by submitting the contest form after test driving a Myvi. Insyaallah, my husband and I are planning to purchase a Myvi as we only have one car currently and we find it difficult to travel to our workplaces in separate locations at Parit Buntar. Thank you Perodua!” said Hasmawati, a Viva owner.

A total of 16,000 entries were received during the contest period from June 4 to 30. 27 winners of the main prizes have been announced, while 300 consolation winners will be announced by end of the month.

The 27 lucky ones took home two RM5,000 cash prizes, five 46-inch LED TVs, 10 units of the Samsung Galaxy Note and 10 units of the Samsung Galaxy S Advance. 300 consolation prize winners will get a Petronas gift card worth RM100 each.

The post Perodua’s You Drive, You Win contest pays off for 327 appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

For a limited time only, Perodua UK is throwing in a set of 16-inch Ravenna alloys and tyres for Myvi Sport buyers, at zero cost. The wheel and tyre package, worth over £1,100 (RM5,500), is offered to those who purchase an Ivory White or Ebony Black Myvi Sport or Sport+ SXi. The deal is limited to a selected number of vehicles and works on a first-come, first-served basis subject to availability.

The Myvi Sport was available in the UK from 2010, featuring an all-round bodykit, colour-matched side mouldings, chrome door handles and ‘imitation quad exhausts,’ amongst others. It retails for £7,799 (RM39,000).

The Sport+ costs a further grand (in pounds sterling) up on that price, offering a leather and Alcantara interior with red and grey stitching on the seats. It comes with Perodua’s current £1,000 retail incentive offer that is valid until September 30.

Recently Perodua UK made the Myvi available on the Motability Car Scheme, which helps the disabled obtain a new car.

The post Perodua UK offers free wheel and tyre upgrade for Myvi Sport buyers appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

For a tiny carmaker in mature market like the UK, finding your own niche is important. Rawang-based Perodua is making an attempt at the disabled community via the Motability Scheme, which enables disabled people to exchange either their Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance or their War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement to obtain a new car.

The deal is for the Myvi, Malaysia’s best selling car that competes in the ultra-competitive supermini market in the UK. The Malaysian-made five-door hatch is available on the Motability Car Scheme from as little as £47.22 (RM232) per week. The package includes insurance, servicing and maintenance, full RAC breakdown assistance, annual car tax and tyre/windscreen replacement over the course a three-year lease.

Besides standard kit like power windows, electrically adjustable door mirrors, dual airbags, ABS and EBD, Perodua is throwing in a choice of metallic or high gloss paint at no extra cost and the option of having reverse park control supplied and fitted free of charge. If one opts for the Glittering Silver manual Myvi SXI, free 14-inch “Milano Titanium” alloys are also included, while stocks last. These exclusive Motability offers are for orders made before September 30.

Short of a specially modified car, I can imagine that the Myvi would make a good set of wheels for the less mobile. Not only is the Perodua effortless to drive, with great visibility and light controls, headroom is generous and those doors open very wide.

The post Perodua targets UK’s disabled via Motability Scheme appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

We dropped by the Sungai Buloh Overhead Bridge R&R area this evening, where Perodua launched its Road Safety Campaign in time for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations. Perodua joined forces with the Road Safety Department on this one, which is part of the carmaker’s corporate responsibility programme.

At the R&R area, Perodua offered free 22-point inspection service for all Perodua vehicles and distributed road safety flyers to PLUS highway users.

Perodua will be part of the Petronas Coffee Break campaign over the balik kampung period, so the same free car inspection will be repeated at the Tapah R&R (northbound) and Ayer Keroh Overhead Bridge R&R (southbound) from August 15 to 17 and only at the Ayer Keroh rest stop (northbound) from August 24 to 26.

This is in addition to the company’s earlier announced Tweckbot service. Tweckbot, which returns for the third time this Raya season, allows customers to make an appointment with a mobile inspection team via Twitter (@MYPerodua), Facebook (MYPerodua) or SMS to 016-6020287.

The Tweckbot 20-point safety check includes inspection of the engine, transmission, cooling system, brake system, power steering system, clutch system, tyres, suspension system, electrical system, passenger compartment and doors.

Perodua or not, make sure that your car is in good running condition before making the long journey home. Do take some time to share any tips or experience from the annual exodus here.

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Perodua is donating 13 units of the Myvi to various non-government organisations, institutions of higher learning and selected government agencies as well as cash to a religious institution as part of its Corporate Responsibility Programme. The handover ceremony was incorporated into the company’s Majlis Iftar Ramadhan yesterday evening in KL.

The organisations are Muslim Aid Malaysia, Perbadanan Wakaf Selangor, Pusat Jagaan Rumah Insan Ipoh, Yayasan Nurul Yaqeen, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Industri Pendidikan Negeri Selangor (Inpens), Kolej WIT and Institut Kemahiran Mara (IKM).

Balai Polis Serendah, Cawangan Khas Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Hulu Selangor and the Ministry of Higher Education were also given one Myvi each.

At the function, Perodua also donated RM3,000 to Maahad Tahfiz Nurul Iman, Serendah and RM100 cash each to 22 students from the home. Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said that the institutions were chosen based on the need of each organisation and the impact these cars will have on the community at large.

Recently, Kembara Ramadhan Perodua to Masjid Al-Falah, Ulu Yam Baru saw around 50 Perodua staff distributing bubur lambuk to 500 people, donate food aid to 138 needy families and give RM100 duit raya each to 52 orphans.

In conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya and balik kampung exodus, Perodua is also providing free 20-point vehicle inspections via the Perodua Tweckbot programme. Click here for more info on that.

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Perodua is offering customers free 20-point vehicle inspections for the upcoming Hari Raya balik kampung rush, with the added convenience of having it done right at their doorsteps.

Launched in July 2011, Perodua’s Tweckbot programme allows customers to make an appointment with a mobile inspection team via Twitter (@MYPerodua), Facebook (MYPerodua) or SMS to 016-6020287.

Perodua’s Tweckbot team visited Kulai, Senai and Johor Bahru last weekend and will be stopping at the following Klang Valley locations this weekend:

August 3 – Taipan USJ, Shah Alam
August 4 – Jelatek, Keramat
August 5 – Sg Buloh, Kota Damansara

The Tweckbot 20-point safety check includes inspection of the engine, transmission, cooling system, brake system, power steering system, clutch system, tyres, suspension system, electrical system, passenger compartment and doors.

If repairs are needed, the Tweckbot team will advise the customer to bring his/her car to the nearest Perodua service outlet. Discounts of 20% for selected parts and accessories are available, and Kelab Automotif Perodua Malaysia (KAPMA) members enjoy an additional 10% discount.

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It was the first time in three years that we have missed the Perodua Eco-Challenge due to commitments, so instead of live coverage, here are some belated updates. 2011 champs Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO) has been crowned overall champion at Perodua Eco-Challenge 2012, held once again at the Melaka International Motorsports Circuit.

Competing against 13 other institutions of higher learning, Ipoh’s PUO was able to score the most points in all four categories – Engineering & Design, Longest Distance and two new for 2012 categories: Marketing and Time Attack. In the former, students must “sell” their product by way of events and a product presentation, while Time Attack is a dynamic test. In the main event, machines must go the furthest on half a litre of petrol.

PUO was the winner of the “Longest Distance” category last year with 24.07 km from 500 ml of Petronas RON 95 petrol. They also won the “Manual Transmission Long Distance” category in 2009 with 23 km from one litre of petrol.

This year, PUO finished second in the km/l race, doing 18.77 km from 500 ml of petrol. The winner was UNISEL with 21.88 km. Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was second runner up with 15.80 km.

PUO won the Engineering & Design category followed by Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). For the Marketing challenge, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) was champion, followed by UiTM and UNISEL. Time Attack was won by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Second and third runners-up places were taken by UNISEL and Politeknik Port Dickson (POLIPD) respectively.

Other participants were from Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Universiti Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia Spanish Institute, Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah, Universiti Teknologi Petronas and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka.

The incumbent teams had to improve on their 2011 vehicles built using a ViVA 660cc engine and transmission. Perodua provided RM10,000 to each team for mods and RM5,000 for the marketing challenge. Total prize money for this year’s race has been increased to RM103,000 from RM77,000 last year to cater for the three new categories. Congratulations to all winners!

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Good news! Perodua announced yesterday that all its cars will come with dual airbags and seat belt pretensioners from July 2012. This includes the Viva, which is Malaysia’s cheapest new car. The compact car maker added that there will be no price increase with this move.

One thing that led to this is the UN ECE R94 new safety regulations regarding frontal collision that the government has been pushing. Although R94 regulations aren’t just about SRS, the airbags and seat belt pretensioners (they preemptively tighten the belt to prevent the occupant from being thrown forward in a crash) will go a long way to prevent serious injury and deaths from road accidents.

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Perodua has moments ago officially revealed the new Alza Advanced Version at KL Hilton, where we’re attending a first half performance review briefing. As its name implies, this is a fully kitted up version of the Alza MPV with new features.

This new range topping Alza does not bring any mechanical changes, but adds on some cool features. The highlight here is an integrated six-inch touch screen multimedia system, which includes GPS navigation and a reverse camera. The latter has coloured parking guidelines.

The GPS map is provided by Telekom Malaysia. One can also search for TM WiFi hotspots, Perodua outlets and search the Yellow Pages via the ICE system, which supports mini USB, SD cards, DVD (only when stationary for safety), Bluetooth and MP3/WMA.

Apart from the headline ICE system, the latest Alza Advanced comes with new leather seats with what Perodua calls Luxvelvet finish. All glass panels are tinted. The film is Smart Tag and GPS friendly, and has a three-year warranty. PVC coil mats are also in the package.

As for the exterior, the Advanced comes with the familiar bodykit consisting of front and rear bumper extensions, side skirts and a tailgate spoiler. There’s also a new Advanced Version grade mark, P2 speak for emblem.

Available in three colours – Mystical Purple, Ebony Black, Ivory White – the new Alza Advanced Version (automatic transmission only) is priced at RM69,503.50 for solid white and RM70,003.50 for the other two metallic colours. There is no price increase over the previous version.

Full live gallery after the jump.

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Perodua has opened its most disabled-friendly sales showroom to date in Taman Wahyu Jaya, KL. Operated by Faresh Motor (M) Sdn Bhd, the showroom was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The facility features ramps for easy wheelchair access as well as disabled friendly wash rooms and prayer room. “Generally, the disabled who wish to purchase a vehicle will be facing difficulties to view the vehicles in the showroom and only prefer to view from outside of the showroom. Based on my observation, there are limited facilities for this group and I will try to provide one for them,” said Ahmad Faresh Ahmad Zahid, MD of Faresh Motor.

“Before this, disabled persons had to buy the car first before finding a suitable workshop to do the modifications. Now they can collect their cars with all the modifications already in place, like the braking system, accelerator and steering knob,” added Faresh, who himself is disabled.

At the function, Perodua donated an Alza to Baitur Rahah Foundation and Faresh Motor contributed RM10,000 to the Association of the Disabled People Malaysia (POCAM). Perodua now has 183 sales outlets throughout the country and wants to have 192 by the end of 2012.

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Reader Chris Song sighted this Honda Brio in Malaysia back in April this year. This Honda Brio is quite similiar as the Kia Picanto posted earlier in the sense that the car is completely undisguised, which is not what a car manufacturer would usually do if it were testing its own model for introduction. It’s even white in colour, just like the Picanto.

At least this time we have a clue as to who the trade plate on this car belongs to – it has been previously sighted on a disguised 2nd generation Perodua Myvi, which means this trade plate most probably belongs to Perodua. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Picanto we previously posted belonged to Perodua as well.

Perodua must be doing some kind of benchmarking exercise, and it so happens that the Brio and the Picanto are both A-segment cars, with wheelbase lengths between the 2,300mm to 2,400mm range and a both length of under 4 metres. Guess what Perodua is within that segment? The Perodua Viva.

It’s been about 5 years since the Perodua Viva was launched in May 2007, which means it’s at the end of its lifecycle (assuming a normal length lifecycle) and due for replacement. So I think what Perodua is doing is trying out different cars in the A-segment to see where the standard is right now, to get input for the next generation Viva.

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The talk that Perodua is mulling the possibility of producing sedan cars in the near future has resurfaced. It was initially reported in February that the second national car company was looking to go down the path of building cars with an engine capacity larger than 1.5 litres.

The company’s managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh told reporters yesterday that Perodua was currently studying the idea, but didn’t elaborate on details. “This is my aspiration. If there is opportunity and allowed by our partners and shareholders, this is what we would like to do,” he said.

The company showcased a sedan concept called the Bezza at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show back in 2010, but going down the sedan route will quite possibly see the involvement of a JV with UMW Holdings, according to reports. Incidentally, the rendering above is Theophilus Chin’s take on a Toyota Etios with Perodua badging.

Aminar added that Perodua would not be heading down the hybrid or electric vehicle path. “It’s expensive to build these cars and we don’t have the technology and research and development facilities,” he stated.

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If you’ve been thinking of test driving a Perodua vehicle, this is probably a good time to do so, because stand to be in the running to win a prize in the company’s You Drive, You Win contest, which is aimed at encouraging potential customers to know more about Perodua cars.

The contest, which runs from now until June 30, is offering up to RM93,000 in prizes, including two RM5,000 cash prizes, five LED TVs worth RM4,000 each, 10 units of the Samsung Galaxy S Advance and 300 units of petrol cards worth RM100 each.

To participate, all you have to do is test drive or register any Perodua vehicle at the company’s authorised showrooms from June 4 to June 30, after which you’ll be entitled to a contest form – fill it in and drop it into the contest box, and that’s that.

Test drive participants will double their chances of winning prizes by registering their new cars within the contest period. Winners will be drawn and announced in the week July 4 via mail and emails.

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Perodua has acquired 64 acres of land adjacent to its main headquarters in Sungai Choh, Rawang from UMW Corporation Sdn Bhd for RM16.7 million. The land will be for the construction of new facilities and the expansion of existing infrastructures. The facilities include a mosque, childcare centre, a mini gymnasium, more parking space and additional utilities.

“The plans we have in place for this land will be a great boost to our staff welfare and is part and parcel of our promise to place people first in whatever we do. The mosque is designed to accomodate approximately 4,500 people as part of our Corporate Responsibility programme and in line with our ‘you matter most’ philosophy,” said Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh.

Perodua is currently discussing with religious authorities on how best to manage the mosque that will also benefit the community at large. The new facilities will be completed towards the second half of 2013.

On the child care centre, Aminar said it will be a great asset to Peroduans as the centre will be operated by trained and certified professionals. Perodua is also discussing with a few developers on the most feasible arrangement to meet the accomodation needs its workers

“The concept, if accepted and approved, will create a Perodua Community area, which will not only improve productivity but will create a “peace of mind” atmosphere among Perodua staff since their workplace is near their home,” Aminar added.

With this purchase, the land size of Perodua’s Sg Choh headquarters jumps to 404 acres.

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Oh hello. It seems that Perodua in the UK is not done with the previous generation Myvi just yet because they have just launched the new Myvi Wolfrace Design. This comes from the concept car that was unveiled last year.

The car will be fitted with 17-inch Wolfrace Brooklands alloy wheels and adorned with a silver and red graphics kit including stripes along both sides of the vehicle with chequered flags. Wolfrace Design logo will be displayed on the rear doors and tailgate. The exclusive black and silver front entry guards will be individually numbered from one to ten.

Future owners can have their car painted in either Ebony Black or Medallion Grey. The car is available with manual transmission.

The Myvi Wolfrace will be exclusive, only 10 units will be built and it will be on your driveway for just £7,999. Top up an additional £1,000 and your limited edition car will be further tricked out with a sport style leather/Alcantara interior. All owners will also take home a Wolfrace travel mug courtesy of Wolfrace Wheels (UK) Limited.

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Own a Perodua? Have a memorable tale to tell about it? Well, Perodua wants to hear from you about your Perodua experiences, and with over two million Peroduas on the road, there surely has to be a great many stories waiting to be told.

The company has kicked off an initiative called What’s your Perodua story?, essentially a means to connect with its drivers and hear from them. In a nutshell, Perodua is looking to understand what matters to owners, and is hoping to find out what their needs and wants are.

So, it could well be a story about your car and the journey you’ve had together, or maybe a suggestion on how the company can further improve its cars or services. The point is, the company wants to hear what you, the Perodua owner, has to say.

The company is hoping to put the stories from the campaign to good use; bouquets will undoubtedly be appreciated and savoured, while suggestions will provide an avenue for change and improvement.

Perodua’s MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh will be closely involved with the campaign, and says that he’s keenly anticipating what owners have to say – as he puts it, who else better is there to learn from than the people who drive the cars?

You can share your Perodua story by clicking here.

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Perodua released a statement yesterday announcing sales figures for the first quarter of the year. Unusually for the market leader, it wasn’t another record breaking quarter, but a drop in sales.

Sales fell 11% in March to 16,000 vehicles sold, compared with 18,000 vehicles sold in the same month last year. In a quarter-to-quarter comparison, Perodua’s sales eased 2.2% to 44,700 vehicles for the first three months of this year, from 45,700 units recorded in Q1 2011.

The company attributes this drop in sales to the new guidelines on responsible financing introduced by Bank Negara Malaysia in January, which tightened the criteria for hire purchase loans.

“Based on the data we have compiled, the Viva is the worst hit with a 19% drop in sales in the first quarter of this year to 13,000 units from 16,000 units registered in the first three months of 2011,” Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said, adding that the current loan approval rate by banks were significantly lower than usual. He also said that BNM’s move is delaying loan approvals, while some loans were approved at a much reduced amount.

“Due to this delay it takes an average of 20 days to know the outcome of a loan application instead of three days previously, and this is having a huge impact to not just the manufacturers but also to the entire automotive eco-system,” Aminar added.

Combined, all these have resulted in high inventory levels at Perodua’s stockyards, which in turn has increased cost for the independent dealers, it was revealed. “We are currently compiling the data on the effects of the new guidelines to share with the relevant stakeholders and are still hopeful that a solution could be found and that the loan application process could be brought back to normal soon,” the Perodua boss said.

Another vocal opponent of BNM’s new guidelines is the Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia (PEDA). Read their list of grouses here. Media reports have quoted the Malaysian Automotive Association as saying that the total industry volume (TIV) for Q1 2012 shrank 12.6% to 138,544 vehicles year-on-year.

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Perodua and Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB) have signed a RM225 million deal to supply the carmaker with lubricant oil over the next five years. Dubbed the Perodua Genuine Oil agreement, the contract will see Perodua using Petronas SL/SM grade engine oil at all its service outlets nationwide worth RM45 million per annum.

“This deal is indeed very special for us as it strengthens the already good relationship that we are enjoying with Petronas Dagangan Berhad and I believe that this agreement will usher in a new chapter of cooperation between both parties,” said Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, who signed the agreement with PDB’s MD/CEO Amir Hamzah Azizan.

“Over the past 30 years, PDB has successfully grown to become Malaysia’s second largest lubricant company in a very competitive market. We aim to be the number one in Malaysia by 2015 through effective marketing initiatives, backed by our technological expertise and strong support from our strategic global partnerships. Today’s signing ceremony between PDB and Perodua is certainly a step forward to reinforce PDB’s position as the Brand of First Choice,” Amir said.

PDB is the principal domestic marketing arm of Petronas for downstream products. The national oil company has seven modern blending facilities worldwide including Italy and two research and development centres. Perodua and PDB have a business partnership since 2003.

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The Perodua Eco Challenge (PEC) is back for 2012, and things are about to get more interesting. This is the fourth edition of the annual event that’s part of Perodua’s CSR efforts, and it will be once again held at the Melaka International Motorsport Circuit (next to the Ayer Keroh Melaka toll) on July 15.

All 13 institutions of higher learning that participated in PEC 2011 will be back this year. Last year’s winners Politeknik Ungku Omar (longest distance), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (engineering category) and Universiti Malaysia Pahang (design and participation category) will be defending their position against Universiti Sains Malaysia (two time winners), Universiti Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia Spanish Institute, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Universiti Industri Selangor (UNISEL) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Also taking part are Politeknik Port Dickson, Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka. The latter competed last year as a guest team, but is now a full fledged entry.

The big news this year is that there will be no car or engine given – the teams will have to modify and improve on their 2011 machine using RM10,000 given by Perodua at a ceremony today.

Another big new challenge is that the machines will be tested dynamically as well, as opposed to the sole criteria of longest distance from previous years. This will be done via a new category called Time Attack. Here, cars will be tested on acceleration, cornering, braking and a slalom test. The scope is now much bigger, with the addition of performance into the mix.

There’s more! Perodua has opened a new category for Business, Commerce or Management faculties of the participating IPTs, where “Marketing Teams” have to submit their marketing, promotion and business plans for their team vehicle. RM5,000 was given to each team. The judging panel for this category will be industry professionals.

With the newly introduced categories, there will now be an Overall Champion. The total prize money for this year’s PEC has been increased to RM103,000 from RM77,000 to cater to the new categories. The overall champ will leave Melaka with RM25,000, while longest distance and engineering category winners take home RM10,000 each. The new Time Attack category offers RM7,000 for the most dynamic car.

Click here and here for our 2010 and 2011 Perodua Eco Challenge reports. Go to last year’s report to see the 2011 cars that this year’s teams have to work with.

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