Fresh on the back of customers taking deliveries of their 2022 Perodua Ativa Hybrid today, the obvious question on everyone’s mind is, “Will Perodua locally-assemble the Ativa Hybrid?”

Well, even with lungs the size of Aquaman, we’re hoping you’re not going to hold your breath for it.

Perodua were resolute from the start that the Ativa Hybrid wasn’t going to be for sale but would instead be leased to selected customers under its EZ MOBi arm.

Also Read: 300 units of Perodua Ativa Hybrid handed to customers; 5-year lease, only RM 500/month

The selected 300 customers will have ponied up an initial payment of RM 2,150 before leasing it for RM 500 a month for a period of 5 years. There’s a 100,000 km mileage cap for the entire tenure of the lease. Additionally, the monthly lease covers road tax, insurance and service costs.

Back to the elephant in the room, is local assembly on the cards?

The answer is a resounding no, unfortunately.

For starters, the Ativa is very new and the full-model change (FMC) is years away. Furthermore, the factory isn’t equipped for local assembly of a hybrid as this batch of Ativa Hybrids was meant as a feasibility study for the introduction of hybrids and EVs in the future.

Also Read: 2022 Perodua Ativa Hybrid in Malaysia: Leasing only, 40% better fuel consumption than regular car!

Perodua CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad mentioned this during the press conference at the handover ceremony for the Ativa Hybrid that CKD hybrids is possible after 1 or 2 FMCs.

Plans are in place for EVs as well but it isn’t as simple as slapping them together and hoping people buy them. Hence the need for this feasibility study with the 300 units of Ativa Hybrid, among others. Furthermore, Perodua will require the cooperation of Daihatsu as well to CKD hybrids and EVs down the road.

Also Read: Perodua: Sufficient semiconductor supply till end-2022, on track to achieve 247,800 units target

The long-term goal is obviously CKD EVs but Daihatsu are logically taking baby steps in that direction by recommending hybrids first to survey the market and gather data before deciding that EVs are feasible.

Discussions between Perodua and Daihatsu has resulted in plans to CKD current platform models with hybrid powertrains but it definitely won’t be PHEVs. Both sides will need to decide on which systems that can be installed in the existing platforms.

Daihatsu’s main concern is the need for localisation if CKD hybrids or EVs are going to happen.

That aspect requires much more data gathering and case studies aside from the feasibility case with the Ative Hybrid. Aspects such as environmental studies and others have to be taken into consideration.

Odds are the feedback and data gathered after the 5-year leasing programme for the Ativa Hybrid will indicate a promising demand for hybrids and EVs that will push both parties towards the next step in realising that goal.