KUALA LUMPUR – A misunderstanding in internal communication, specifically regarding a Shariah-compliance clause, was the cause of confusion that went viral over the terms of use under Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd’s (Perodua) Battery as a Service (BaaS) scheme for its first electric vehicle (EV), the QV-E.
Perodua’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the clause was never intended to require customers to operate the vehicle according to Shariah-compliant usage, contrary to interpretations circulating on social media.
He said the reference appeared due to a misunderstanding of its actual meaning during the initial preparation of the document.
“It was never our intention to impose Shariah-compliant usage obligations on customers,” he said in a statement following the circulation of excerpts from the BaaS document on social media, which created confusion over possible usage restrictions.
The issue emerged when a screenshot of the BaaS terms and conditions went viral, showing a clause stating that the vehicle and battery must be used for
Shariah-compliant purposes. The post sparked heated discussion, with users on Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook speculating that QV-E owners could face restrictions such as bans on e-hailing or other non-Shariah-compliant uses.
In response, Perodua promptly updated the BaaS disclosure sheet, removed the clause, and clarified the official terms of the scheme. The company’s statement confirmed that the reference arose from a misunderstanding during the initial document preparation.
Under the BaaS model, Perodua sells the vehicle body while the battery is leased to customers via a long-term subscription based on a Shariah-compliant Ijarah Operating model. This approach aims to reduce the initial purchase price and alleviate concerns over battery replacement costs and resale value.
Reportedly, battery rental is estimated at RM275 per month for nine years, excluding sales and service tax (SST), with all maintenance handled by Perodua. Replacement is provided if battery health falls below 70 per cent.
The launch of the QV-E drew significant attention, with the model priced at RM80,000 on-the-road without insurance and not including the separately leased battery under the BaaS scheme. – December 3, 2025