3rd national car project to proceed despite change in government

RAWANG: The government will pursue the third national car project despite the change in the administration in March, said Senior International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

He said Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) and its strategic partner, Daihatsu, had been asked to brief and present their proposal to the government.

“This is for the sake of expanding the country’s automotive sector. I have also requested the management (of DreamEDGE) to present a briefing on the project,” he said after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute and Perodua, Perodua Suppliers Association and Perodua Dealers Association, here, yesterday.

“We have identified the platform and its implementation.”

The government announced in August last year that Cyberjaya-based DreamEDGE would produce the third national car.

The first prototype reportedly was to have been ready in March, with the official launch likely in March next year.

It was also reported that Daihatsu had confirmed its involvement in the project last October.

Daihatsu would head powertrain and platform development and have no equity involvement.

Azmin also said the National Automotive Policy 2020 would continue.

Meanwhile, Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said it would heed Azmin’s call as soon as possible.

He said the proposal was not only limited to the development of the third national car, but also included the ecosystem as a whole.

“We will present the proposal to the government soon,” he added.