Perodua Ativa's hybrid cousin a hit in Japan, sets new sales record
Sanjay · Feb 4, 2022 01:11 PM
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Daihatsu Rocky hits new sales records
Rocky e-Smart Hybrid a big contributor
Year-on-year sales also increased
Sales of the Daihatsu Rocky – our Perodua Ativa's base car – reached a record high in November 2021, an effect owing to the introduction of the Daihatsu Rocky e-Smart Hybrid.
3,615 units of the Rocky found new homes in November 2021, up 158 percent from the same month a year prior. Of those, 63 percent or 2,270 units were of the Rocky e-Smart Hybrid.
The hybrid Rocky gets a blue-tinged badge, and different 17-inch wheels
These figures made it the 17th best-selling car in Japan for that month, eclipsing the likes of the Nissan Kicks and Toyota Passo, models the Rocky found itself behind for much of the year.
As a whole, this also boosted the Rocky's year-on-year sales standings: 21,392 units were sold from January to December 2021, a 68 percent increase from 2020.
Can we expect a Perodua Ativa Hybrid?
The e-Smart Hybrid is a one-motor full-hybrid system
Electrification – which spans hybrids (HEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) – are among the focus for Perodua's 2022 business plan.
Development work is already in progress for electrified Perodua models, and though no specific details were mentioned, it's clear that they are referring to the Perodua Ativa Hybrid.
The Rocky e-Smart hybrid is a series hybrid, which means it can accelerate from standstill via electric power alone but the engine does not drive the wheels. Instead, the engine only serves as an on-board generator, similar to the Nissan e-Power hybrid system.
The car has been spotted in Malaysia multiple times, which lends further credence to this. Meanwhile, Indonesia is expected to launch the Rocky e-Smart Hybrid later this year, so it's reasonable to expect a hybrid Ativa to come in 2023.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
