What are brand histories?

Brand histories are structured narratives that document how companies were founded, scaled, pivoted, and competed over time using verified business data.

Where can I read company histories?

You can read company histories on BrandHistories.com, including profiles across industries, timelines, and strategic analysis.

Why study business histories?

Studying business histories helps founders, investors, and researchers understand strategic decisions, failure patterns, and long-term competitive advantages.

What does Perodua do?

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd, commonly known as Perodua, is Malaysia’s largest car manufacturer and a key player in the Southeast Asian automotive industry. Founded in 1993, Perodua specializes in compact and subcompact vehicles, with a focus on affordability, reliability, and fuel efficiency. The company is headquartered in Rawang, Selangor, and has become synonymous with accessible mobility for Malaysian consumers. Perodua operates as a joint venture primarily with Malaysian and Japanese partners, leveraging Toyota and Daihatsu technology to produce vehicles adapted to local conditions. Perodua’s first vehicle, the Kancil, was launched in 1994 and rapidly became popular due to its compact design and affordability. Over the years, the company expanded its portfolio with models such as the Myvi, Axia, Bezza, and Alza, capturing significant market share in the domestic passenger car segment. Exports and collaborations with Japanese partners have allowed Perodua to maintain high production quality and incorporate modern technologies. The company places a strong emphasis on fuel efficiency, low emissions, and user-friendly designs, targeting urban and first-time car buyers. Perodua has also focused on service network expansion, ensuring strong after-sales support. Its success has contributed to Malaysia’s industrial development and automotive employment, while ongoing investments in hybrid technology and safety innovations signal a commitment to future mobility trends.

Who is the CEO of Perodua?

The current CEO of Perodua is Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

When was Perodua founded?

Perodua was founded in 1993 by Perodua Founding Consortium, based in Rawang, Selangor.

Perodua Revenue Model: Annual Figures, Segments & Financial Growth (2026)

Financial Narrative

Perodua operates as a private limited company (Sdn Bhd) and does not publish full audited financial statements in the public domain. However, financial data disclosed by its listed shareholders — UMW Holdings (before its Sime Darby acquisition) and MBM Resources — combined with Statista-compiled disclosures from Sime Darby Group, provides a reasonably reliable picture of Perodua's financial scale and trajectory. Revenue for the fiscal year ending June 2024 (FY2023/2024) was approximately MYR 10.64 billion — a figure that places Perodua among the largest private manufacturing companies in Malaysia by turnover. For comparison, this revenue base is larger than many listed Malaysian conglomerates and reflects the extraordinary scale of Perodua's manufacturing and distribution operation. In MYR millions, this translates to approximately 10,640 — a revenue level achieved on the back of record unit sales of 330,000+ vehicles in the period. The revenue trajectory over the past decade reflects consistent growth punctuated by the COVID-19 disruption in 2020–2021. Prior to the pandemic, Perodua's revenue tracked broadly with unit volume growth — the company sold approximately 240,000 vehicles annually in 2018–2019 at an average revenue per vehicle of approximately MYR 42,000–45,000. Post-pandemic, a combination of pent-up demand, the SST exemption policy introduced by the Malaysian government, new model launches (Ativa in 2021, Alza refresh in 2022), and supply chain normalization drove a surge in both volume and revenue. By FY2022, revenue had crossed MYR 8 billion for the first time. Profitability has been consistently positive throughout Perodua's history — a notable achievement in an industry notorious for thin margins and cyclical losses. Profit after tax was reported at approximately MYR 759 million in 2022, up from MYR 599 million in 2021. This profit trajectory reflects Perodua's structural cost advantages: scale manufacturing economics, Daihatsu technology access without full platform R&D cost, a high proportion of locally sourced components reducing forex exposure, and a diversified revenue base across new vehicles, parts, and services. Net profit margins in the 7–9% range — unusual for a mass-market automotive manufacturer — reflect the company's pricing discipline and operational efficiency. Capital expenditure has been significant, reflecting ongoing plant investment, technology upgrades, and EV development. The opening of the PGMSB plant in 2016 required several hundred million MYR in capital investment. Engine and transmission facilities at Sendayan TechValley represent additional capex that has been partially offset by the export of components to Daihatsu and Toyota — effectively monetizing the manufacturing investment through third-party production. EV development expenditure is expected to be the largest single capex program in Perodua's history, though the company has indicated it is accessing government support through MITI and leveraging Daihatsu/Toyota EV platform technology to moderate the development cost. Perodua's financial model is also shaped by its ownership structure. As a Sime Darby subsidiary (following UMW's acquisition by Sime Darby), Perodua contributes materially to Sime Darby's consolidated automotive segment performance. MBM Resources, a listed entity, provides public market visibility into Perodua's associate contribution — MBM's share of Perodua's profits has historically been one of the largest contributors to MBM's own earnings, providing investors with an indirect lens into Perodua's profitability trajectory. Working capital management at Perodua benefits from the company's dominant market position. Dealers typically pay for vehicles on delivery or within short credit terms, given strong consumer demand, meaning receivables days are low. Perodua also maintains significant bargaining power over its Malaysian vendor ecosystem — given that many vendors are heavily dependent on Perodua contracts — enabling favorable payment terms on the payables side. This working capital efficiency, combined with consistent profitability, means Perodua has historically generated strong operating cash flows that fund expansion without excessive leverage.

Perodua Revenue Breakdown & Fiscal Growth

Key Takeaways

Financial Narrative

Frequently Asked Questions

Deep Dive: Perodua Analysis