KUALA LUMPUR: Compact carmaker Perodua has unveiled Alza's latest model, with over 30,000 bookings already placed since June 23.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who launched Perodua Alza's latest model at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today, expressed confidence that the car would be well-received by the people due to its competitive prices and enhanced safety aspects.
"At the same time, I hope Perodua will seek opportunities to market its products at the international level.
"I was informed that cars manufactured by Perodua are available in six countries. I'm confident that its exports value could increase in the future," he said in his speech.
Ismail Sabri said the government was willing to assist Perodua explore new market opportunities.
He also expressed hope that Perodua would enhance its production capacity and achieve a competitive economic scale, to be at par with other automotive companies in the region.
Perodua president and chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the bookings received within the period were the highest so far for a Perodua car and attributed its success to its enhanced safety features and others.
He said many people also took advantage of the sales tax exemption that ended on June 30.
"Beginning today, some of our customers will receive their all-new Perodua Alza from 195 authorised sales showrooms nationwide.
"Customers who booked their Alza on or before June 30 will receive their car before the March 2023 deadline," he said in a statement.
He said the company invested RM770 million to develop the model since 2018, made in collaboration under Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) where Malaysian designers and engineers had worked with their counterparts at Daihatsu Motor Co. of Japan.
It was the second Perodua car developed under DNGA after Perodua Ativa last year.
The latest Alza model is priced at RM62,500 for the X variant, RM68,000 for the H variant and RM75,500 for the AV variant, based on prices in West Malaysia with sales tax and without insurance.