3 Dec: Perodua with the support from its technical partner, Daihatsu Motor Company of Japan will start production in Malaysia of the high-tech Electronic Automatic Transmission (E-AT) system. E-AT is a high-tech product that requires very high skills and very sensitive controls in its production process. Perodua Managing Director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said production of E-AT is targeted to start in the next couple of years after due planning and preparations. Aminar said E-AT system which is now incorporated in 2 of Perodua current models namely Myvi and Alza, helps improves fuel consumption and smoother gear shifting feel. The E-AT system works under the automatic transmission (AT) – ECU which judges the various conditions. It can also co-ordinate with the engine ECU and finely control a gear shift pattern or the lock-up clutch operation.
“It gives a smoother ride with very little shock and better gear shifting feeling. The best gear shifting pattern can also be chosen according to preference of the driver and road conditions,” Aminar said.
“The E-AT Project is in line with the National Automotive Policy (NAP) which encourages the investment of high-technology projects. We believe that this project will contribute considerably to the automotive industry in Malaysia,” he pointed out.
“We also believe that this E-AT system project will be able to bring benefits and confidence to Malaysian domestic economy under the strong leadership of our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,” Aminar said. “This will complement the initiatives under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) recently announced by the government,” he said. “It is Perodua’s commitment to participate in the Domestic Direct Investment projects,” Aminar said.
