Perodua's name comes from Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua, and kedua is Malay for second. Founded in 1993, it became Malaysia's second national car company.
- Country
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Malaysia - Active
- Since 1993
- Website
- Official website ↗
A name that simply means number two
Some carmakers name themselves after gods or founders. Perodua went for plain arithmetic. The name is drawn from the official company name, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd, and kedua is Malay for second. Perodua was set up in 1993 as Malaysia’s second national car company, following Proton.
Things moved fast. Perodua’s first factory was officially opened on 1 August 1993 by the Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. A year later, on 29 August 1994, the first car rolled out: the Kancil, a small car developed through a tie-up with Daihatsu. The Japanese company has been a partner from the start, and Perodua says that besides investing, Daihatsu supports Malaysian suppliers with technical training and technology transfer.
The cars soon travelled. Brunei became the Kancil’s first export market in March 1996, and in August 1997 Perodua launched the car in the United Kingdom under the name Nippa. Today the company is based on a 522-acre site in Sungai Choh, Rawang, which holds its headquarters, two vehicle plants and an R&D centre with its own test track.
Green, red and a silver oval
The badge you see on a Perodua today belongs to a new corporate identity the company launched on 16 June 2008. In the official logo, a wide oval with a silver rim holds two bold shapes, one green and one red, separated by a curving white band. Below it sits the Perodua name in heavy black letters.
What do the shapes stand for? Perodua’s own website doesn’t say. A popular reading, repeated by logo sites, is that the green part forms a stylised P for Perodua and the white band hides a 2 for kedua, second. It fits the name neatly, but it doesn’t appear in any explanation published by Perodua itself, so treat it as an interpretation rather than the official story.
Earlier Perodua cars wore different versions of the badge before 2008, but reliable sources disagree on the details, including who designed them. If you’re curious how other makers have handled their own redesigns, our guide to how car logos are designed is a good place to start.
Small cars, big firsts
Perodua made its name with compact, practical cars for Malaysian roads. Look at its timeline and you’ll notice how often the word first turns up.
Landmark Peroduas, decade by decade
- 1994: Kancil. Perodua’s first car, launched on 29 August 1994. Production ended in July 2009.
- 1998: Kembara. Launched on 24 August 1998 as the first national four-wheel-drive vehicle.
- 2005: Myvi. The original Myvi arrived in May 2005, with new generations following in 2011 and 2017.
- 2009: Alza. Perodua’s first MPV, launched in November 2009.
- 2014: Axia. Launched in September 2014 as Malaysia’s first Energy-Efficient Vehicle.
- 2021: Ativa. Perodua’s first turbocharged vehicle, and the first built under its Perodua Smart Build philosophy.
- 2025: QV-E. Perodua’s first battery electric vehicle, launched in December 2025.
Perodua’s closest ties are Japanese. Daihatsu has backed it since the beginning, and in October 2004 the first Toyota Avanza rolled off the line at Perodua’s plant under contract assembly. At home, its natural point of comparison is Malaysia’s other national brand, Proton.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Perodua mean?
Perodua comes from the company’s official name, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd. In Malay, kedua means second, and Perodua was founded in 1993 as Malaysia’s second national car company.
What does the Perodua logo mean?
Perodua has not published an official explanation of its emblem on its website. The current logo is a silver-rimmed oval with green and red shapes divided by a white band, introduced with a new corporate identity in June 2008.
When did Perodua get its current logo?
Perodua launched its new corporate identity on 16 June 2008, and the oval emblem has been used since then.
Is Perodua connected to Daihatsu?
Yes. Perodua describes Daihatsu Motor Company of Japan as a partner that invests in the company and supports Malaysian suppliers with technical training and technology transfer. The first Perodua, the Kancil, came out of that tie-up in 1994.
Perodua at a glance
- Founded
- 1993
- Country
- Malaysia
- Headquarters
- Rawang, Malaysia
- Current emblem
- A silver-rimmed oval with green and red shapes, introduced with a new corporate identity in 2008
- Known for
- Compact, affordable cars such as the Kancil, Myvi and Axia
- Website
- Official website ↗
