Perodua and UTM sign MoU for xEV engineering programme

KUALA LUMPUR: As the Malaysian automotive industry accelerates its shift towards the next generation of electric vehicles (xEV), the development of future-ready personnel and advanced research capabilities has become a focus area for both carmakers and academic institutions. In line with this, Perodua and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) have joined hands for the xEV engineering programme. 

Notably, it is a continuation of the memorandum of understanding signed between both parties in January 2025, under which they agreed to equip future engineers with the skills required for xEV technology development.

Perodua-UTM xEV Engineering Programme: Key highlights

• 5-year strategic collaboration: The program has a 5-year tenure, focusing on human capital development and research, aimed at supporting the nation’s sustainability goals. 
• Selective intake: Under this programme, 10-15 high-performing students from top engineering schools (pursuing the Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with Honours programme) will be selected each year for this specialised purpose. 
• Structured 1.5-year course: The selected students will undergo a 1.5-year training programme, beginning from the second semester of their third year. 
• 10-week industry training: Under this training programme, students will get exposure to real-world automotive experience through a 10-week industry training at Perodua. 
• International certification: Students will get a chance to earn the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Level 3 certification, which will increase their global employability.
• Industry-supervised final year projects: To ensure alignment with real industry standards, the final year projects will be co-supervised by Perodua engineers. 
• Future-ready curriculum integration and a dedicated xEV lab: The programme will include BEV engineering electives and advanced simulation tools. These will be supported by a specialised xEV engineer lab equipped with advanced tools. 
• Real-world learning assets: For hands-on training, Perodua will provide technical equipment and two units of its pure electric car, the QV-E. 

"Through the establishment of the Perodua-UTM xEV Engineering Laboratory, equipped with advanced facilities, our graduates will gain a strong competitive edge. The integration of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) engineering elective courses into the curriculum, along with access to the latest simulation technologies such as Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) systems, will ensure that UTM graduates remain relevant and future-ready,” said. Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Abdul Rahim, UTM Vice-Chancellor.

“This collaboration goes beyond technology transfer; it is a long-term investment in developing future-ready engineers skilled in electric vehicle engineering. With direct guidance from our engineers, students will be exposed to the realities of the modern automotive industry,” said Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer.

This initiative represents a proactive step in creating a sustainable and globally competitive xEV ecosystem.

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