RAWANG: Perodua has introduced an app-based car-rental service for students and university staff.
The national automaker had partnered with three local universities, namely Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology).
The application, which is called UCar-e (pronounced as ‘You Car”), represents Perodua’s latest initiative under its “Mobility as a Lifestyle” concept, which emphasises transforming the driving experience from conventional vehicle ownership into a more service-oriented mobility solution.
“We are initially providing 50 Perodua vehicles to these universities for use by students and staff, where they can book, access, and utilise the vehicles to travel from their accommodations to lecture halls within university grounds,” said Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
Recently, Zainal had launched the UCar-e initiative at Inasis Perodua, UUM.
He explained that the UCar-e application enables users to locate vehicles parked at designated locations within the campus.
Users are also provided with specific parking zones where the vehicles can be returned after use.
“We want to make this experience as simple and hassle-free as possible for students and staff."
“Perodua is also working closely with the respective universities to appoint students to manage the vehicles, including maintaining cleanliness, monitoring fuel level, and ensuring proper upkeep. In return, the student will receive commission-based payments,” he said.
“By responsibly appointing students as vehicle management agents, we are also incorporating entrepreneurship training and exposure for the younger generation, which is an essential life skill,” he added.
The service is expected to begin in June 2026, with implementation taking place in stages depending on each university’s readiness and rollout schedules.
According to Zainal, the introduction of UCar-e forms part of Perodua’s broader efforts to expand its automotive business through innovative mobility services aligned with evolving consumer trends and lifestyle preferences.
“We realise that many from Gen Zs are more interested in the driving experience rather than owning a vehicle, as the maintenance costs, limited parking availability, and traffic congestion are encouraging them to seek alternative mobility solutions,” he said.
