Next-gen Daihatsu Move (aka Perodua Kenari) to be brand's first EV, will debut in 2023

The next-generation Daihatsu Move is expected to undergo a full model change at the end of 2023, and with it comes new powertrains with hybrid and full electric, reports Japanese publication BestCarWeb.

How will the electric powertrain come about? Well in 2021, the Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT) was established between Toyota, Daihatsu, and Suzuki to jointly develop battery electric vehicles (EV) for commercial use.

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As such, BestCarWeb believes there’s a possibility that the fundamentals when it comes to EVs such as motor and battery technology will be shared between Toyota and Daihatsu.

Daihatsu currently doesn’t make EVs, which means the Daihatsu Move is set to be the brand’s first. This ties in to the purpose of the Perodua Ativa Hybrid and its leasing program.

Also read: Here's the explanation of why you can't buy the Perodua Ativa Hybrid

The goal of the leasing program is to provide insights into Malaysian customer interests, needs, driving habits and running costs (especially in high-traffic cities) to give Perodua, and by extension Daihatsu, the data they need to develop hybrids and later EVs.

Also read: Hybrid 101: Demystifying MHEV, HEV, PHEV, and understanding whether Toyota, Honda, or Perodua hybrids are best for you