UNIVERSITI Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) are stepping up their collaboration to support the country’s development of electric vehicles (EVs).
UTM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim said the new chapter of the partnership with Perodua was forged through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the implementation of an initiative known as “xEV Perodua-UTM”.
“Under the initiative, between 10 and 15 top-performing students from UTM’s Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with Honours programme will be selected annually over a five-year period.
“They will undergo a structured programme lasting one and a half years, beginning in the second semester of their third year, which includes a 10-week industrial training stint at Perodua,” he told reporters after the exchange of the MOA documents at UTM.
Prof Mohd Shafry added that through the initiative, selected students would also have the opportunity to obtain the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Level Three international certification.
“The students will have their final-year projects co-supervised by Perodua engineers to ensure alignment with industry standards,” he said.
The agreement also included the establishment of the Perodua-UTM xEV Engineering Laboratory, sponsored by Perodua and equipped with advanced facilities to support research, training and development in electric mobility.
Prof Mohd Shafry said the collaboration would also provide students with direct industry exposure, as elements of industrial practices are embedded within the university environment.
“When industry exists within the university, students are required to meet real industry specifications in their coursework, making them more competent and job-ready,” he said.
He added that the collaboration was aligned with national efforts to advance green technology and strengthen the country’s automotive ecosystem.
“Beyond academic collaboration, UTM is also taking steps to promote EV adoption within its campus.
“Any replacement of vehicles within the university will be shifted towards EVs.
“We have already started acquiring EV cars and motorcycles. More will follow,” he said.
According to him, UTM also planned to introduce EV buses and develop charging infrastructure across campus to encourage both students and staff to adopt greener mobility.
Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the collaboration was a long-term investment in building a resilient and competitive xEV ecosystem.
“This partnership goes beyond technology transfer.
“It is about nurturing a new generation of engineers who are equipped with the skills required for the future of mobility,” he said.
The collaboration is expected to further strengthen industry-academia ties while contributing to sustainable growth in Malaysia’s automotive sector.
