10 higher learning institutions have competed in this competition with their own go-kart-style EVs.
The inaugural NxGV Challenge 2025 has officially kicked off with 10 institutions of higher learning competing in a unique go-kart-style EV competition, held at the APD test track in MAEPS Serdang. This pioneering initiative aims to influence the development of Malaysia’s national EV policy by tapping into the innovation and academic insights of local students and faculty members.
Organised through a strategic partnership between Perodua, the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), and the Society of Automotive Engineers Malaysia (SAEM), the NxGV Challenge 2025 has been touted to be more than just a race, it is instead apparently a research-driven collaboration that could shape Malaysia’s EV roadmap under the Malaysia Industrial Master Plan 2030.
Speaking at the event, Perodua President and CEO Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said, “We thank all participating institutions. Their findings will go a long way in creating an EV policy that reflects Malaysia’s unique conditions.” He added that Perodua, as a national carmaker, is committed to supporting local academic and engineering talent in order to ensure Malaysia remains relevant in the global EV transition.
Initially launched in December 2024, the challenge extended invitations to 15 institutions, out of which 10 were selected based on the strength of their proposals. The final participants include:
- Universiti Malaya
- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah
- Institut Perindustrian Jitra
- ILP Kuala Lumpur
- Universiti Malaysia Perlis
- Politeknik Port Dickson
- Politeknik Kota Bahru
- Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin
- Taylor’s University
- Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah
The NxGV Challenge 2025 is split into two major components:
- Static Challenge – Participants are evaluated on their EV’s business plan, cost analysis, and design presentation.
- Dynamic Challenge – The EVs undergo rigorous testing through a skip pad, autocross, and acceleration trials to assess real-world performance.
This competition is said to not only nurtures engineering and entrepreneurial talent among Malaysian students, but also serves as a vital data collection platform for crafting policies that are tailored to local infrastructure, climate, and market conditions. “We’re proud to lead the charge alongside MARii and SAEM,” Dato’ Sri Zainal concluded. “This is just the beginning of a long-term journey to make Malaysia a key player in the EV sector.”
