Today’s official announcement of the 2023 Perodua Axia raised a question or two among some industry watchers and perhaps a petrolhead or two. I say some, because the majority of Malaysians will be well served by the four variants on offer, and won’t be missing a cheap but kosong Axia E with a manual transmission.
Unless you’re a driving school operator. If you are, don’t worry, because the “driving school spec” Axia with a stick shift is not dead, even if it will not be present at the D74A’s launch next month. At today’s 2023 outlook event, Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad vowed to continue to produce a manual transmission Axia.
“Rest assured, we will still produce manual cars for driving schools, don’t worry,” he said, adding that the Axia MT is supposed to surface after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which falls in April. “In fact, I think the driving schools will like it – same car, good spec, maybe cheaper. Perodua will continue to make the manual Axia,” he added.
Cheaper? It’s not easy to make a new model cheaper, especially when it it sits on a new, safer and more sophisticated platform (DNGA). Could this upcoming Axia MT be a variation of the outgoing Axia instead of the D74A with a stick shift? Zainal’s subsequent comments might contain further hints.
“Just now I mentioned six or seven models, we now have six models (Axia, Bezza, Myvi, Ativa, Alza, Aruz), Axia MT is the last model. The Axia MT that we’re continuing, we’re supposed to launch it after Hari Raya. There’s some modification,” he said.
It’s not very likely that a variant with a different transmission is categorised as a separate model, which might point to the base MT car being a carryover, albeit modified. We could be reading too much into the P2 chief’s words, but Perodua has done it before.
Back when the Viva – a Kancil-replacement model – was introduced, the bug-eyed final version of the Kancil continued to be sold alongside the Viva as a cheaper model to serve basic motoring needs. Will the upcoming Axia MT play the same role today with a sub RM25k RRP (the 2019 Axia E’s launch price was RM24,090)? Perodua says that there is demand for the bare-bones Axia MT beyond driving school use, although not as much as the better-appointed variants. We’ll see. For now, full details on the all-new Axia here.
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Why not? I guess a new bare-bone Axia MT is a better choice than a second-hand car with an unknown history.
P2 penipu scalper, in the past RM 50k can get you full spec Myvi. Now P2 downgraded buyers from Bsegment to Asegment. Shame on you for insulting buyers P2!
In the past RM 50 can get you full trolley at GIANT, now you barely fill a basket..
Perodua car with DNGA is so much more improved, what is so shame about.
how much is chicken rice today & 10 years ago?
think before u speak..
how much is chicken rice today & 10 years ago?
think before u speak..
Why P2 cant offer a no frills 1.0 auto Axia at 30 grand?
Kosong spec Auto would be a hit!
Unpopular opinion: driving schools should use large cars (e.g. Innova)
1. Make Axis manual redundant
2. Make driving course more inaccessible
2a. Make obtaining driving license more difficult
2b. Decrease road fatalities
More rasuah to pass your driving license
Someone can’t drive a manual I see.
What you fail to understand is that no matter how strict you put the difficulty on getting license, little to no difference will be made as road fatalities usually stems from DUI, bad habit on the road (I.e Constantly driving fast and cutting others, text and driving), and environmental related incidents.
basic car, still have its small market.
Take car rear seat, good for delivery.
If Jack up, good for Plantation Road.
Mod it, can create own iconic Manual Axia.
Plenty Mod Kits for the MK1 Axia.
Thank you peroduo for making our roads more congested and more importantly contributing to the accidents and mortality rate in Malaysia. Where is the peaceful environment for living in those day where children can run around in the neighbourhood ?
Why blame peroduo? They make cars. Safety comes from drivers like you.
Good
what cheap?? this price i can buy a Mustang Mach e in North Murika!
mach e in the us starts at 46k usd, around 200k myr. before dealer markup
want to bushit also make it believable lah
RM25K carryover? Yes, with rear seat removed. Driving school don’t need rear passenger seat.
To ferry around fellow students to the school perhaps? They yet have licenses to drive or ride themselves right?
Just bought one Mt version. Personally I like it. Even barebone is good enough for me as utility car that gets me around town. Save petrol and good enough power. Thanks Perodua for providing a manual car for this die hard manual driver.
Current G spec rm33k best to have. Doing the daily commute job welldone and safe fuel. If said upgrade dnga for better handling ok lah. If rm5k for 6 airbags, eco idle, asa..etc no need those lah for an entry level car.
I think this should be ok with low salary person
I drove manual but not out of poverty. I just love manual car. Wish we do have high spec manual car some day
No point comparing prices dulu and sekarang. The segment category is what matters. Your budget is your problem, not our problem.
already past raya mid of May already, where is the manual version? also how about the safety cheating scandal?
Looking forward Perodua will come out with a Axia auto kosong. Can use it for daily simple use.