Perodua And UTM Launch Strategic Partnership To Drive xEV Technology And Talent

Perodua and UTM have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the “Perodua-UTM xEV Engineering Program”.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Perodua (Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn. Bhd.) have officially entered a new phase of national automotive development. This strategic collaboration focuses on empowering human capital and advancing research in Electric Vehicle (xEV) technology to address Malaysia’s green mobility challenges.

Developing Future-Ready Automotive Engineers

The five-year partnership aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial requirements.

• Student Selection: Each year, 10 to 15 top students from the Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with Honours program will be selected for this specialized track.
• Program Duration: Selected students will undergo a comprehensive 1.5-year training period, beginning in the second semester of their third year of study.
• Industrial Exposure: Participants will complete a 10-week industrial internship at Perodua, gaining direct exposure to the realities of the modern automotive industry.
• Professional Certification: Students have the opportunity to earn the international Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Level 3 certification.
• Expert Supervision: Final Year Projects (FYP) will be co-supervised by expert Perodua engineers to ensure research meets high industrial standards.

Cutting-Edge Research and Facilities

As part of the initiative, the Perodua-UTM xEV Engineering Laboratory has been established to provide students with a competitive edge.

• Technical Support: Perodua has contributed technical equipment and two units of Perodua QV-E vehicles for practical, hands-on learning.
• Advanced Curriculum: The program integrates elective courses in Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) engineering and provides access to advanced simulation technologies, such as Hardware in the Loop (HIL) systems.
• Sustainable Ecosystem: This pro-active step is designed to build a sustainable and globally competitive xEV ecosystem within Malaysia.

A Paradigm Shift in Automotive Education

UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ts. Dr. Mohd Shafry Abdul Rahim, described the collaboration as a paradigm shift that ensures graduates are “future-ready” for the evolving sector. Meanwhile, Perodua President and CEO, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, emphasized that this is a long-term investment in developing the next generation of engineers skilled in electric vehicle engineering.

By aligning talent development with current industrial needs, UTM and Perodua are contributing directly to Malaysia’s sustainability agenda and the overall progress of the national automotive sector.