Perodua Receives RM37 Million Boost From Japan, Ativa Hybrid Is Finally Coming To Showrooms?

Remember back in 2022 when you could only look at the Perodua Ativa Hybrid on the road but couldn't actually buy one? The national carmaker brought in just 300 fully-imported (CBU) units from Japan for a super-exclusive "market study," locking them behind a strict 5-year rental lease of RM500 a month.

If you were one of the many Malaysians who wanted to own one permanently but were rejected by the subscription model, your patience has officially paid off.

Perodua President and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad has officially confirmed that the Ativa Hybrid is heading into local assembly (CKD) production, meaning it will finally be available for standard purchase in open showrooms across the country!

The JPY1.5 Billion Cash Injection 

This massive milestone isn't just a casual lineup update, it has major backing. During a special press conference at the Perodua factory in Rawang, which coincided with an official tour by Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Noriyuki Shikata, the carmaker dropped a major financial detail.

Perodua has received about 1.5 billion yen (more than RM37 million) from the Global South Fund. This cash injection is specifically earmarked to support and expand Japanese hybrid technology right here in Malaysia, funding the localization setup needed to bring the Ativa Hybrid directly to mainstream local production lines.

"No Charger? No Problem" — The 31.3 km/L Fuel Saver 

While everyone is currently talking about full electric vehicles, Perodua's head honcho kept it completely real about why they are investing so heavily in local hybrid production right now instead of forcing full EVs onto everyday buyers.

"We still have a problem because of the few charging stations in the country," Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad bluntly admitted.

Because Malaysia's charging infrastructure is still uneven for a lot of people living in high-rises or traveling long distances, a hybrid setup is the perfect middle ground. To understand what we are getting, we have to look back at that original subscription unit.

The initial CBU imported trial cars featured Daihatsu’s clever e-Smart Series Hybrid system. Here is how it works under the hood in plain English:

• A 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine sits under the hood, but it never actually drives the wheels.
• Instead, the engine acts purely as an on-board, automated generator to charge the hybrid battery pack.
• The battery pack then sends power to a front-mounted electric motor delivering 106 hp and 170 Nm of instant torque.

The result? You get the exact smooth, quiet, instant-torque driving feel of a full EV, but you never have to plug it into a wall. You just pull up to a normal Petronas or Shell station and pump petrol like any other car.

While the Japanese-spec Rocky Hybrid claimed a fuel consumption of 27.8 km/l under global WLTP cycles, Perodua famously noted that the CBU trial cars were capable of a mind-boggling 31.3 km/l under a specialized "Malaysian Driving Cycle" designed to simulate real-world local traffic and idling conditions.

When Is It Launching & How Much Will It Cost? 

Perodua is currently finalising the production timelines, pricing structures, and launch details. While a formal price tag hasn't been set, we can make an educated guess based on the current market.

The standard, petrol-only turbocharged Ativa currently retails between RM62,500 to RM73,400. Given the advanced localized tech and the massive RM37 million development fund cushioning the R&D costs, expect a reasonable premium over the top-spec AV variant.

It's the perfect middle ground for middle-class Malaysians who want maximum fuel savings and cutting-edge tech without dealing with range anxiety or finding a public DC fast charger.

Read: Special Perodua Ativa Hybrid ‘subscription’ program begins