Author: jeremy

  • Bali’s EV fleet passes 17,700 as PLN opens charging to private investors

    Bali’s EV fleet passes 17,700 as PLN opens charging to private investors

    Top image: Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Bali now has 17,725 electric vehicles on its roads, made up of about 5,000 cars and more than 12,000 motorbikes, according to figures reported by Antara on 8 October.

    The island had about 14,000 EVs in March 2026 and about 15,000 in July, Antara said. By our own calculation, that is an increase of roughly 3,700 vehicles, or about 27%, in around seven months, with some 2,700 of them added since July.

    About 304 public chargers at 115 locations

    Bali has around 304 public charging units (SPKLU) spread across 115 locations, a total that includes both PLN-run and privately operated sites.

    Ajrun Karim, general manager of PLN’s Bali distribution unit (UID Bali), said the state electricity company is open to private investment in charging. Under the approach he described, PLN would leave high-demand locations to investors and build where investors are not interested. He argued that charging access is no longer a barrier: “Where to charge is no longer an issue, because it is already very easy,” he said (translated from Indonesian).

    Denpasar points to low-emission policy

    Denpasar Deputy Mayor I Kadek Agus Arya Wibawa linked the growth to the city’s own rules, citing Mayor Regulation No. 40/2023 on battery electric vehicles and Regulation No. 39/2025, which created a low-emission zone in Sanur. He presented the push as part of the island’s goal of becoming a higher-quality tourism destination.

    Part of a wider regional trend

    Bali is one of several provinces where PLN has recently reported fast EV growth. This week we covered PLN’s plans for battery-swap stations for electric work vehicles in Klungkung and Nusa Penida, and we have also reported on a 4.5-fold jump in charging use in West Sumatra and EV growth in South Sumatra.

    The Bali figures describe the total fleet on the road, so they cannot be compared directly with national monthly sales data. Still, with motorbikes making up more than two-thirds of the island’s EVs, Bali stands out at a time when national e-motorbike sales have slumped while buyers wait for a government incentive, as our report on September motorbike sales explains.

    What it means for buyers

    For Bali residents and long-stay visitors considering an EV, a public network of about 300 chargers, and PLN’s stated willingness to let private operators expand it, should make day-to-day charging less of a worry than in many other provinces. Most owners still do the bulk of their charging at home; our guide to charging an EV in Indonesia explains SPKLU, home charging and battery swapping. Drivers heading to Sanur should check the local rules for its low-emission zone.

    Sources: Antara News Bali (8 Oct 2026)

  • Motorbike sales jump 15% in September as e-motorbikes wait on incentive

    Motorbike sales jump 15% in September as e-motorbikes wait on incentive

    Top image: Photo: Focusfeel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Indonesians bought 654,343 new motorbikes in September 2026, according to Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI) data reported by Kontan on 8 October. That was 15.37% more than in September 2025 (567,173 units) and 9.7% up on August’s 596,461 units.

    The rebound is welcome news for the conventional two-wheeler makers that dominate AISI. It also highlights how far behind the electric segment has fallen, as e-motorbike buyers continue to wait for a government purchase incentive that has been promised repeatedly but not yet paid.

    The wider market

    Domestic sales for January to September reached 5.02 million units, 3.71% ahead of the 4.84 million sold in the same period of 2025. AISI is targeting 6.4 million to 6.7 million units for the full year, and Kontan calculates that the industry has already reached about 78.4% of the lower end of that range.

    Exports also grew. AISI members shipped 55,098 fully built (CBU) motorbikes abroad in September, up 9.64% on August, plus 688,319 knocked-down (CKD) kits, almost unchanged month on month. CBU exports for the first nine months totalled 487,940 units.

    Electric motorbikes: still a sliver of the market

    AISI’s monthly figures, as reported, do not break out electric models. The most recent number comes from the Indonesian Electric Motorcycle Industry Association (Aismoli), whose chairman Budi Setiyadi told a parliamentary hearing on 21 September that members sold roughly 18,900 e-motorbikes in January to August 2026, CNN Indonesia reported. That compares with about 77,000 in 2024, when a Rp 7 million per-unit subsidy was available, and about 70,000 in 2025.

    By our own rough calculation, 18,900 units is well under 1% (about 0.4%) of the roughly 4.37 million motorbikes AISI recorded over the same eight months (5.02 million minus September’s 654,343). The two associations represent different companies, so the comparison is indicative only. At the January–August pace of about 2,400 a month, the electric segment would end 2026 at around 28,000 units; that is also our own extrapolation, not an industry forecast.

    Budi blamed buyers’ hesitation on policy uncertainty, describing it as a matter of “government policy, which is sometimes there and sometimes not” (translated from Indonesian).

    Incentive “this year”, says Airlangga

    The latest official signal came on 4 October, when Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the electric vehicle incentive would take effect in 2026, detikOto reported. He said the technical work sat with the Industry and Finance ministries, while the programme’s budget allocation (DIPA) is held by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. He gave no amount or start date.

    That keeps alive a promise first made for June. As we reported on 5 October, the file has passed to new Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji after the latest cabinet reshuffle. Periklindo chairman Moeldoko has told lawmakers that dealers and manufacturers are “stuck” and that many dealers risk closing, according to detikOto. A figure of around Rp 3 million per unit was reportedly mentioned earlier by former finance minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, but no scheme has yet been finalised. For background, see our earlier report on the e-motorbike sales slump.

    What it means for buyers

    There is currently no government discount on new e-motorbikes, and with less than three months of 2026 left, buyers holding out for one are betting on a scheme with no published amount or start date. Anyone who needs a bike now should compare total running costs rather than sticker price alone. Our electric motorbike buyer’s guide covers charging, battery swapping and the main models, and the IndoEVs directory lists the e-motorbike brands selling in Indonesia.

    Related: Car sales dip 2.7% in September as BYD and Jaecoo hold top-10 places.

    Sources: Kontan (8 Oct 2026); CNN Indonesia (22 Sep 2026); detikOto (4 Oct 2026)

  • BYD raises Seal and Sealion 7 prices in Indonesia by up to Rp 250 million

    BYD raises Seal and Sealion 7 prices in Indonesia by up to Rp 250 million

    Top image: Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    BYD’s two most expensive models in Indonesia, the Seal saloon and the Sealion 7 SUV, have become dramatically dearer this month. According to an October price round-up published by Ranah Auto, the Sealion 7 Premium has moved from Rp 629 million to Rp 879 million, a rise of Rp 250 million, while the Seal Premium has gone from Rp 639 million to Rp 869 million.

    The new figures match the October price lists compiled by CNN Indonesia and Moladin, which both list the Seal at Rp 869 million and the Sealion 7 at Rp 879 million in Jakarta on-the-road terms.

    How big are the increases?

    By our own calculation, the Sealion 7’s new price is around 40% higher than before, and the Seal’s is about 36% higher. Smaller rises have hit the locally produced M6 MPV, according to Ranah Auto:

    • Sealion 7 Premium: Rp 629 million → Rp 879 million (+Rp 250 million)
    • Seal Premium: Rp 639 million → Rp 869 million (+Rp 230 million)
    • M6 Superior (7-seat): Rp 423 million → Rp 435 million (+Rp 12 million)
    • M6 Superior Captain Seat: Rp 433 million → Rp 445 million (+Rp 12 million)
    • M6 Standard: unchanged at Rp 395 million

    The entry-level Atto 1 is unaffected for now, still listed at Rp 199 million to Rp 245 million depending on variant. The Dolphin (Rp 369–429 million) and Atto 3 (Rp 415 million) appear on the October lists too, though neither outlet says whether those prices changed.

    Outside BYD, Ranah Auto also reports a Rp 10 million rise for the Changan Deepal S07, now Rp 629 million. CNN Indonesia’s list, published a few days earlier, still shows the Deepal S07 at Rp 619 million, so buyers should check with dealers for the current figure.

    Why now?

    None of the reports we reviewed gives an official explanation, and BYD Indonesia has not publicly commented on the new prices in the sources we found. The timing is notable, however. The duty-free scheme for fully imported (CBU) electric cars expired at the end of 2025. In January, OtoDream reported that BYD had kept prices unchanged despite the incentive ending, with the Sealion 7 then listed at Rp 629–719 million and the Seal at Rp 639–750 million.

    The Seal and Sealion 7 are not among the models BYD has said it builds at its Subang plant, which currently focuses on the Atto 1 and M6 range. That pattern, with big jumps on the imported flagships and only modest rises on the M6, is consistent with import costs finally being passed on, but this is our interpretation rather than a confirmed reason. We covered a similar move by Jaecoo last month in Jaecoo raises J5 EV prices, and our guide to EV tax incentives in 2026 explains which support schemes still apply.

    What it means for buyers

    • Flagship shoppers face a new price bracket. At close to Rp 880 million, the Sealion 7 now sits alongside the Toyota bZ4X (Rp 889 million on CNN Indonesia’s list) rather than undercutting it by a wide margin.
    • Locally built models look better value. The Atto 1 and the base M6 have held their prices, and BYD’s plug-in hybrid M6 DM-i starts at Rp 298 million on Moladin’s list.
    • Check stock and order dates. Dealers may still hold cars ordered at older prices, so it is worth asking whether a quoted price is guaranteed until delivery.

    See all BYD models and local production details in our BYD directory entry, or browse every brand in the Indonesia EV directory.

    Sources: Ranah Auto (7 Oct 2026); CNN Indonesia (5 Oct 2026); Moladin (1 Oct 2026); OtoDream (11 Jan 2026).

  • iCAR V23 passes 1,000 deliveries in Indonesia as Chery brand builds network

    iCAR V23 passes 1,000 deliveries in Indonesia as Chery brand builds network

    Top image: Photo: JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    iCAR, the lifestyle electric-car brand owned by China’s Chery, says 1,000 Indonesian customers have now taken delivery of its V23 electric SUV. The milestone was reached by the end of September 2026, detikOto reported.

    “Reaching 1,000 customers who have received the iCAR V23 is a very meaningful moment for iCAR’s journey in Indonesia,” said Bayu Apriadi, iCAR Indonesia’s regional sales manager, as quoted by detikOto (translated from Indonesian).

    A niche model with a growing network

    The V23 is a small, boxy SUV with retro off-road styling, aimed at buyers who want something more distinctive than the mainstream crossovers that dominate Indonesia’s EV market. It went on sale in Indonesia in February 2026 at the Indonesia International Motor Show, and is reported to be assembled locally in Bekasi, West Java.

    A thousand deliveries in roughly eight months is modest next to the market’s best-selling EVs, but it is a meaningful base for a new brand selling a single model. iCAR says it now has 16 service centres across Indonesia.

    Prices and specifications

    Published prices vary slightly by source. Car portal Oto.com lists three variants, on the road in Jakarta:

    • X RWD: Rp 389.9 million
    • Y RWD: Rp 439.9 million
    • Z iWD (dual motor): Rp 519.9 million

    iCAR’s official website currently shows the V23 from Rp 399.9 million and a Pro Plus Collector Series at Rp 789 million. Buyers should confirm the current price with a dealer, as several Chinese brands have raised EV prices this year.

    The official site lists a 59.93 kWh battery and a 100 kW (136 PS) motor for the rear-wheel-drive versions, with a claimed range of 360 to 401 km depending on the test cycle (NEDC or CLTC). Oto.com lists an 81 kWh battery and 208 hp for the top Z iWD.

    After-sales package

    Much of iCAR’s pitch is about ownership costs. According to detikOto, V23 buyers get:

    • free service labour for four years or 60,000 km;
    • a two-year pick-up and drop-off service membership;
    • three years of 24-hour roadside assistance;
    • an eight-year or 160,000 km battery warranty, and a six-year or 160,000 km vehicle warranty.

    What it means for buyers

    The V23 sits in the crowded Rp 390–520 million bracket, where it competes with more conventional electric SUVs. Its appeal is mainly its looks and the long warranty and service package. Before buying, check that one of the 16 service centres is within easy reach, since a young brand’s network is still thin outside the big cities, and compare the cost against the wider EV market. You can find iCAR and its sister brands Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo in our EV directory.

    Sources: detikOto; iCAR Indonesia; Oto.com; Wikipedia

  • Revised traffic law to classify vehicles by power source and cover self-driving

    Revised traffic law to classify vehicles by power source and cover self-driving

    Top image: Photo: Andylala Waluyo (VOA), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Electric vehicles and self-driving technology are set to get an explicit place in Indonesian road law for the first time. At a working meeting with the House of Representatives’ Commission V on 30 September, Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said the government accepts lawmakers’ proposals to classify motor vehicles by their power source and to cover autonomous driving systems in a revised version of Law No. 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transport (UU LLAJ), CNBC Indonesia and detikOto reported.

    The current law dates from 2009, before battery-electric cars and motorbikes were on sale in meaningful numbers in Indonesia. Since then, EV rules have mostly been set through presidential and ministerial regulations rather than primary legislation.

    What the draft would change for EVs

    According to detikOto, the proposals sit in Chapter VII of the bill, which deals with vehicle types. The revision would set out:

    • Vehicle categories by use: private vehicles, public transport and shared or ride-hailing services, each with its own requirements.
    • Classification by power source: vehicles grouped by fuel or energy type, which brings battery-electric vehicles into the law’s own definitions.
    • Autonomous technology: rules for steering systems with partial or full automated control.

    Autonomous vehicles will not become a separate vehicle category. Instead, detikOto reported, self-driving is treated as a development of steering technology with automatic control systems. Kumparan added that the bill also anticipates electronic traffic enforcement.

    A much wider rewrite

    The EV provisions are one part of a broad overhaul. Viva reported that the government’s list of issues (DIM) proposes revising 89 articles, adding 56 new ones and deleting five. The headline changes concern ride-hailing (ojol) platforms, including tariffs and the obligations of app companies, and tougher criminal penalties for over-dimension, overloaded (ODOL) trucks that would extend liability from drivers to vehicle owners, companies and cargo owners.

    The minister wants the work done quickly. “Our hope is this can be completed in 2026, so it can be implemented in 2027,” he said, as quoted by Viva (translated from Indonesian). CNBC Indonesia noted that the bill is on the 2026 priority legislation list (Prolegnas). No detailed EV wording has been published yet, and the bill still has to pass through committee deliberations before a plenary vote.

    Why it matters

    Much of Indonesia’s EV policy so far has been about money, such as the tax incentives and the local-content (TKDN) rules. Day-to-day questions about how EVs are treated on the road and in transport services have been handled piecemeal. This year, for example, some owners have faced refusals on ferries while operators set their own charging and safety rules. Bringing power source into the main traffic law could give regulators a clearer base for EV-specific technical, safety and transport rules later on.

    The ride-hailing provisions also matter for electrification, because app-based fleets are among the fastest adopters of electric cars and motorbikes in Jakarta, including the VinFast-based Green SM services.

    What it means for buyers

    Nothing changes yet for people who own or are buying an electric car or motorbike. Registration, taxes and incentives stay under the existing rules until the revised law is passed and its implementing regulations are issued, which on the government’s timetable would be 2027 at the earliest. The practical details, such as how EVs will be defined, what technical requirements follow, and how driver-assistance features are treated, will depend on the final text and the regulations that come after it. We will report on them as they emerge.

    Sources: CNBC Indonesia; detikOto; Viva; Kumparan

  • PLN readies battery-swap stations for electric work vehicles in Bali

    PLN readies battery-swap stations for electric work vehicles in Bali

    Top image: Photo: Hendrojkson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    State electricity company PLN is preparing battery-swap infrastructure in Klungkung regency, Bali, for a pilot fleet of small electric work vehicles run with Korean partners, Antara reported. The trial is due to start this month with five vehicles and is aimed at helping Nusa Penida, the island off Bali’s south-east coast that belongs to Klungkung, become a “green island” by 2030.

    Who is involved

    The project was set up through a memorandum of understanding between PLN’s Bali distribution unit (PLN UID Bali), the Indonesian company PT INAKO Kreta Udhaya, the Korea Smart e-Mobility Association (KEMA) and the Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH), according to Antara. PLN’s role is to supply the grid connections and electricity for the swap stations.

    Antara named the Korean side’s representatives as Changhyun Jeong, director of KATECH’s Jeonnam division, and Jiyong Song, executive director of KEMA, with Suchang Oh representing PT INAKO. The partners describe the project as a trial of the vehicles in everyday working conditions in Klungkung before any wider rollout across Bali.

    • Stations: battery-swap points at five strategic locations in Klungkung.
    • Vehicles: three-wheeled electric vehicles for waste collection, refrigerated transport and cargo, plus small three- and four-wheeled agricultural vehicles.
    • Timeline: a pilot with five vehicles from October 2026, with plans to expand to more than 30 vehicles across Bali in 2027.

    “PLN UID Bali is fully committed to providing the best support, especially in terms of electricity needs.” – Ajrun Karim, general manager of PLN UID Bali, via Antara (translated from Indonesian)

    Klungkung Regent I Made Satria tied the trial to the regency’s plan for a greener Nusa Penida and to sustainable tourism, OtoDream reported. Cleaner local transport for rubbish collection, farming and goods delivery is presented as one part of that wider environmental push.

    Why swapping suits work vehicles

    Battery swapping has so far been used in Indonesia mostly for electric motorbikes, where riders exchange a flat pack for a charged one in a couple of minutes. The Klungkung pilot applies the same idea to light commercial vehicles. For waste vehicles and delivery tricycles that run all day, swapping avoids long charging stops, and a central station operator can manage battery health and charge during off-peak hours. The trade-off is that vehicles and packs must follow a common standard, which is one reason a small trial fleet makes sense before any scale-up. Our guide to charging an EV in Indonesia covers how swapping works for motorbikes today.

    What it means

    The trial is small, but it is an unusual attempt in Indonesia to use battery swapping for municipal and agricultural vehicles rather than private motorbikes. If it works on Nusa Penida, the model could appeal to other islands and tourist areas where regional governments run their own vehicle fleets. Private buyers will not see a direct effect yet; the more immediate signal is that PLN is willing to back swapping for commercial fleets as well as two-wheelers.

    Related: Bali’s EV fleet passes 17,700 as PLN opens charging to private investors.

    Sources: Antara (1 Oct 2026); OtoDream (4 Oct 2026).

  • West Sumatra EV charging use jumps 4.5-fold as PLN opens Padang hub

    West Sumatra EV charging use jumps 4.5-fold as PLN opens Padang hub

    Top image: Photo: Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Electric vehicle charging in West Sumatra is growing far faster than the province’s small EV fleet might suggest. Charging transactions at public stations in the province rose about 4.5 times in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, and the electricity delivered through them rose roughly 4.4 times, according to figures presented when state utility PLN opened its first “SPKLU Center” charging hub in Padang on 1 October, Suara.com reported.

    The opening follows a similar hub launched in Palembang, South Sumatra, last month, which we covered in South Sumatra’s EV fleet more than doubles as PLN opens Palembang charging hub. Together they show PLN pushing high-power charging beyond Java as owners start to drive further afield.

    What opened in Padang

    The SPKLU Center sits at PLN’s regional office for Central Sumatra in Padang and was inaugurated by West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi Ansharullah, alongside Andriah Feby Misna, a director at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry’s electricity directorate, and PLN distribution director Arsyadany Ghana Akmalaputri, Padangkita reported.

    • Five ultra-fast chargers rated at 120 kW each, for a combined 600 kW.
    • According to Suara.com, a typical charge from 20% to 80% takes around 30 to 45 minutes.
    • The province now has 102 public charging stations (SPKLU). Padangkita puts PLN’s share at 90; Suara.com gives 93.

    Twelve more stations planned

    Suara.com reported that 12 new SPKLU locations with a total of 17 charging units are planned across West Sumatra this year, in Padang, Bukittinggi, Payakumbuh and Solok. That would extend fast charging beyond the provincial capital to three of the province’s other main towns.

    Padangkita reported that more than 580 electric vehicles were registered in the province as of August 2026, which officials said works out at roughly one public charging station for every six EVs, well ahead of the 1:17 ratio used as a benchmark. (By our own calculation, 580 vehicles across 102 stations is about 5.7 EVs per station.) Nationally, PLN said it runs more than 3,200 SPKLU handling around 700,000 transactions a month.

    “Switching to electricity is our strategy to achieve Net Zero Emission by 2060, not just in transportation but also households.” – Andriah Feby Misna, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, via Padangkita (translated from Indonesian)

    Governor Mahyeldi linked the hub to West Sumatra’s ambition to become a “Green Province” and said government vehicles will move to electric models. PLN also offered a two-week 50% discount on new connections and power upgrades to coincide with the launch, according to Padangkita.

    What it means for buyers

    For EV owners in West Sumatra, the practical change is a reliable, high-power option in the provincial capital and, if the 12-site plan is delivered, fast charging in Bukittinggi, Payakumbuh and Solok too. The low ratio of cars to chargers means queues should be rare for now, but coverage outside the main towns is still thin, so longer trips across Sumatra still need planning. Our guide to charging an EV in Indonesia explains public SPKLU charging, home charging and battery swapping.

    Sources: Suara.com (5 Oct 2026); Padangkita (Oct 2026).

  • New industry minister inherits stalled e-motorbike incentive as sales sink

    New industry minister inherits stalled e-motorbike incentive as sales sink

    Top image: Muhammad Sarmuji. Photo: KPU (General Election Commission), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Indonesia has a new Industry Minister, and one of the first files on his desk is an electric motorbike incentive that has been close to ready for months. Muhammad Sarmuji, until now secretary-general of the Golkar party, was sworn in by President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace on 1 October, replacing Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Antara reported. It was Prabowo’s seventh cabinet reshuffle since he took office in October 2024.

    The change comes at an awkward moment for the EV industry. As we reported on 27 September, Agus had said the Industry Ministry’s technical work on the e-motorbike purchase incentive was finished and that the decision rested with the Ministry of Finance. A week later, the money has still not been released.

    A promise of continuity

    At his handover ceremony in Jakarta on 2 October, Sarmuji signalled that he would build on his predecessor’s programmes rather than tear them up.

    “We must carry forward what has been achieved and further strengthen the foundations that have been laid.” – Muhammad Sarmuji, Industry Minister, quoted by Antara

    He did not mention electric vehicles in those remarks. But the ministry he now runs sets the local-content (TKDN) thresholds that decide which EVs qualify for tax breaks, and it designed the motorbike incentive. Kumparan listed sustaining EV incentives, strengthening local component supply chains, emission standards and reviving weak car and motorbike demand among his immediate challenges. A member of the House commission that oversees industry, Gandung Pardiman, told Republika the new minister should look beyond finished vehicles and also strengthen the component industry, echoing complaints from parts makers last month.

    Incentive still waiting for a Finance Ministry rule

    The incentive itself has shrunk while it waited. The original plan was Rp5 million per motorbike; the figure now under discussion is Rp3 million, with a proposed budget of Rp3 trillion covering up to one million locally made units, according to detikFinance.

    Industry Ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief told OtoDream on 3 October that the scheme was still waiting for a Finance Minister regulation (PMK), and that the Finance Ministry would set the amount based on the state’s fiscal capacity. The ministry is not announcing details until the rule is signed, he said, to avoid raising false expectations.

    On 4 October, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the incentive would still take effect this year, telling detikOto that the matter sat with the Industry and Finance ministries and that his office would monitor it. He added that this year’s budget allocation (DIPA) is held by the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, a further sign of how many hands the scheme passes through. He gave no start date.

    Dealers say the market is frozen

    Moeldoko, chairman of the electric vehicle industry association Periklindo, said the repeated delays were hurting sellers because buyers keep postponing purchases until they know whether a discount is coming.

    “All our dealers and manufacturers are stuck now.” – Moeldoko, Periklindo, to detikOto (translated from Indonesian)

    The sales figures support him. According to detikFinance, electric motorcycle sales from January to August 2026 totalled about 18,900 units, compared with around 77,000 for the whole of 2024 and roughly 70,000 in 2025. By our own calculation, that is an average of about 2,400 a month this year against about 5,800 a month last year. Budi Setiyadi, chair of the electric motorcycle association Aismoli, described the fall as very steep and said many people were waiting to see when the subsidy would arrive. We first reported on the slump in September.

    What it means for buyers

    • No incentive is available today. Until a Finance Ministry regulation is published, dealers cannot apply a government discount, whatever the headlines say.
    • Rp3 million, not Rp5 million, is the likely figure if the scheme goes ahead, and it is expected to cover locally produced models only.
    • Waiting has a cost too. With less than three months of 2026 left and no start date, buyers who need a bike now may find that dealer promotions are worth as much as the uncertain subsidy. Our electric motorbike buyer’s guide and 2026 EV tax and incentive guide explain current prices and rules, and our EV directory lists the brands on sale.

    Whether Sarmuji can push the regulation through faster than his predecessor will be the first test of his promise of continuity. IndoEVs will report when the rule is signed.

    Update, 9 October 2026: Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto has since said the incentive will take effect this year. See Motorbike sales jump 15% in September as e-motorbikes wait on incentive.

    Sources: Antara (1 Oct); Antara (2 Oct); Kumparan; Republika; OtoDream; detikOto; detikFinance

  • Ministry floats dedicated EV ships as ferry operators set charging rules

    Ministry floats dedicated EV ships as ferry operators set charging rules

    Top image: Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has opened the door to ships built or set aside specifically for carrying electric vehicles, a week after the EV industry complained that owners and manufacturers were being turned away from ferries. At the same time, the national ferry operators’ association has spelled out the conditions its members now apply when an EV rolls up to the ramp.

    The comments were made on Friday 2 October at a press workshop in Bandung, West Java, and reported by CNBC Indonesia and CNN Indonesia. They follow the dispute we covered last week, when EV owners reported ferry refusals and the ministry restated its battery safety rules.

    Ministry: EVs are allowed, and dedicated ships may follow

    Lollan Andi Sutomo Panjaitan, acting director general of sea transportation at Kemenhub, repeated that electric vehicles may travel by sea as long as the safety conditions are met. On board, he said, they will be placed in designated areas that are watched more closely than the rest of the vehicle deck.

    Looking further ahead, he floated the idea of separate tonnage for EVs. “Ideally, in time there could also be dedicated ships specifically for electric cars,” he said, according to CNBC Indonesia (translated from Indonesian). No timetable, budget or operator was attached to the idea, so for now it is an option rather than a plan.

    What ferry operators now ask of EV owners

    Khoiri Soetomo, chairman of Gapasdap, the association of river, lake and ferry operators, set out the procedures its members are using, as reported by both outlets:

    • Arrive early. EV drivers are asked to check in ahead of other traffic so the crew can choose where to park the vehicle.
    • Ventilated placement. EVs go in areas with good air circulation and blowers, where they can be monitored during the crossing.
    • Do not board fully charged. Soetomo said batteries should not be at 100%.
    • A last-resort fire plan. Vehicles are positioned so that, if a battery fire cannot be brought under control, the car can be pushed into the sea.

    CNBC Indonesia also reported that Gapasdap and the state classification society, Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (BKI), are drawing up certification standards for vessels that carry EVs, reflecting the fact that lithium-ion battery fires behave differently from petrol fires and need different equipment.

    Which battery limit applies?

    There is a gap between the operators’ wording and the ministry’s written rule. The governing document is still Kemenhub circular SE-DJPL 12 of 2024, issued on 4 April 2024, which CNN Indonesia said covers hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery EVs and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. In September, CNBC Indonesia reported that the ministry’s guidance caps the charge at 50% and requires EVs to be parked on an open deck. “Not 100%”, as quoted from Gapasdap this week, is a looser description. Until the two are aligned, owners are safest working to the stricter 50% figure.

    Why the industry pushed

    The issue was escalated by Moeldoko, chairman of the EV industry association Periklindo, who told parliament’s Commission VII on 21 September that refusals were holding back distribution of electric motorbikes, cars and trucks between islands, CNBC Indonesia reported. Large brands such as BYD can operate their own car carriers, he noted, but smaller assemblers and dealers depend on scheduled ferries and cargo services. Separate EV vessels would ease that bottleneck, but would also add a new layer of cost and scheduling that the sector has not yet had to price in.

    What it means for buyers

    If you plan to take an electric car or motorbike between Java, Sumatra, Bali or other islands, expect extra checks rather than a ban. Charge to no more than 50% before you leave, allow time to arrive early, and be ready to be directed to an open or specially ventilated part of the deck. Plan a charging stop near the arrival port: our guide to SPKLU and home charging explains how to find one. Buyers outside Java may also see longer delivery times from smaller brands while shipping arrangements settle down, so check with the dealer before paying a deposit. You can compare which brands sell in Indonesia in our EV directory.

    Related: Revised traffic law to classify vehicles by power source and cover self-driving

    Sources: CNBC Indonesia, 2 Oct 2026; CNN Indonesia, 3 Oct 2026; CNBC Indonesia, 11 Sept 2026; CNBC Indonesia, 21 Sept 2026.

  • BYD renames Denza premium brand Danza in Indonesia after trademark loss

    BYD renames Denza premium brand Danza in Indonesia after trademark loss

    Top image: Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    BYD’s premium brand will no longer be sold as Denza in Indonesia. PT BYD Motor Indonesia has confirmed that the label now goes by Danza in the local market. The change follows a trademark dispute that BYD lost in the Indonesian courts.

    Signs of the switch appeared on 1 October, when the brand’s Indonesian social media accounts changed from “Denza Indonesia” to “Danza Indonesia”, CNN Indonesia reported. A day later, BYD confirmed the change on the record.

    “Denza has officially changed its name to Danza as its brand identity in Indonesia.”
    — Luther Panjaitan, Head of PR & Government, PT BYD Motor Indonesia, speaking to CNN Indonesia (translated from Indonesian)

    Panjaitan described the move as part of the company’s long-term commitment to premium mobility in Indonesia. BYD did not say directly that the rebrand was caused by the legal case, detikOto noted.

    How BYD lost the Denza name

    Reports from detikOto and CNN Indonesia set out the following timeline:

    • 3 July 2023: A local company, PT Worcas Nusantara Abadi, registered “Denza” with Indonesia’s intellectual property office under class 12, which covers vehicles. CNN Indonesia says this protection runs until 2033.
    • 8 August 2024: BYD filed its own application for the Denza mark, after the local registration.
    • January 2025: BYD launched the Denza D9 electric MPV in Indonesia.
    • 28 April 2025: The Central Jakarta Commercial Court rejected all of BYD’s claims. It applied Indonesia’s first-to-file principle and found that Denza was not yet established enough in Indonesia to count as a well-known mark.
    • Cassation: The Supreme Court rejected BYD’s appeal in decision No. 1338 K/Pdt.Sus-HKI/2025. According to detikOto, the court found that ownership of the Denza mark had by then passed to another company, PT Raden Reza Adi.
    • 11 August 2025: BYD applied to register “Danza” in the same vehicle class.

    The case shows how much risk trademark squatting creates under a first-to-file system. Brands that apply for local trademarks only shortly before launch are the most exposed.

    Same cars, new badge

    According to Oto.com, the line-up moves across to the Danza name. It includes the D9 MPV, which has been the brand’s main model in Indonesia, along with the B5, N9 and Z9 GT. Dealers now trade under names such as Danza Harmoni and Danza Arista. BYD says its service standards will stay the same under the new identity.

    detikOto also compared official vehicle tax valuations (NJKB) under the 2026 regulation. These values are used to calculate annual vehicle tax. Entries registered as Danza carry lower values than earlier Denza entries. In one example, an AWD variant is listed at Rp 585 million as Danza, against Rp 931 million as Denza. detikOto did not explain the difference. It is not clear whether it comes from the name change alone or from different variant specifications, so buyers should check the valuation for their exact model.

    What it means for buyers

    • Existing owners: According to BYD and dealer reports, warranty cover, servicing and the dealer network carry on as before. Only the name on the badge and the paperwork changes. Owners should keep their purchase documents in case dealer or registration records need to be reconciled.
    • New buyers: Look for “Danza” in price lists, dealer listings and registration documents. If an official dealer quotes for a “Denza” model, it should be the same car under the old name.
    • Running costs: If the lower NJKB values apply to the model you choose, the annual vehicle tax could be lower. Under current rules, most battery-electric cars are taxed lightly anyway. Our guide to EV taxes and incentives in 2026 explains how this works.

    The rebrand comes as BYD expands in Indonesia. Its Subang factory is ramping up, and stricter local-content rules from 2027 are on the way. Our directory has entries for BYD and Danza (formerly Denza).

    Update, 15 October 2026: Danza has since launched the New D9 and Z9 GT in Indonesia with BYD flash charging. Read our launch report.

    Sources: CNN Indonesia (1 Oct); CNN Indonesia (2 Oct); detikOto; detikOto; detikOto; Oto.com

  • EV taxes and incentives in Indonesia in 2026: what buyers now pay

    EV taxes and incentives in Indonesia in 2026: what buyers now pay

    Top image: Photo: Ilham jayakesuma, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    For most of 2024 and 2025, buying an electric car in Indonesia came with a stack of tax breaks: duty-free imports for brands that promised to build locally, a government-paid slice of VAT, and zero regional vehicle tax. In 2026 that stack has been largely dismantled, a replacement has been promised repeatedly but not yet delivered, and the rules now differ depending on where the car is made and where you live. This guide sets out what has changed, what still applies and what is still pending, based on reporting up to the end of September 2026.

    What ended on 31 December 2025

    The CBU import scheme

    Since 2024, brands that committed to building EVs in Indonesia could import fully built (CBU) electric cars without import duty or luxury tax (PPnBM). CNN Indonesia reported that this cut import duty from 50% to 0% and PPnBM from 15% to 0%, and that the scheme, under Industry Ministry Regulation 6/2023, was not extended beyond 2025.

    The catch for manufacturers is that the bill is not over. According to Kumparan, companies that used the scheme must build as many cars locally as they imported, by the end of 2027, backed by bank guarantees. Kumparan listed nine brands moving from imports to local production (Geely, BYD, VinFast, GWM, AION, Volkswagen, Xpeng, Citroën and Maxus), alongside six already assembling locally (Hyundai, Wuling, Chery, Polytron, Neta and MG). Brands that stayed out, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, now face import duty of up to 50%, 12% VAT and 15% luxury tax on imported EVs, the outlet reported.

    The 10% VAT discount

    The other big break was PPN DTP, a portion of VAT paid by the government. Under Finance Ministry Regulation (PMK) 12/2025, the state covered 10 percentage points of VAT on four-wheeled battery EVs with at least 40% local content, from 4 February to 31 December 2025, Tempo reported. The same rule gave hybrids a 3% luxury-tax discount. CNN Indonesia confirmed in January that no new rule had been issued to carry the VAT break into 2026.

    The replacement incentive: promised, redesigned, delayed

    A new incentive has been under discussion all year, and its shape has changed several times:

    • May: Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the government would cover between 40% and 100% of VAT on electric cars depending on battery type, plus a Rp5 million subsidy per electric motorbike, for 100,000 of each, starting in June, Antara reported.
    • Late May: Purbaya postponed the scheme by a month because the calculations were not finished, CNBC Indonesia reported.
    • June: Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto confirmed a further delay. DDTC News reported the proposal as 100% VAT cover for cars with nickel-based (NMC) batteries and 40% for those using alternatives such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP).
    • August: At GIIAS, Purbaya said President Prabowo Subianto would announce the incentives within weeks, with the quota raised to 500,000 cars and 500,000 motorbikes, CNN Indonesia reported.
    • September: The motorbike element had been reshaped into Rp3 million per locally made e-motorbike, with a Rp3 trillion budget and a target of up to one million units, detikOto reported. On 24 September, ministers said they were still waiting for the Finance Ministry regulation, according to Telset.

    We have not found any report that the car VAT incentive has been put into force. Until a regulation is published, buyers should treat dealer talk of a coming “government discount” as unconfirmed. Our latest report on the e-motorbike subsidy has the most recent position on the two-wheeler scheme.

    “Yes, it’s delayed again, while we examine it first.” — Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, to DDTC News, June 2026 (translated from Indonesian)

    Regional vehicle tax: no longer automatically zero

    Annual vehicle tax (PKB) and the transfer fee paid on a new registration (BBNKB) are regional taxes. EVs used to be exempt nationwide. Home Affairs Ministry Regulation 11/2026, effective from April, ended the automatic exemption and handed the decision to regional governments, which may grant a full exemption or a reduction, Antara and Liputan6 reported.

    “It still really needs incentives. But of course, we have to consider our fiscal situation.” — Deputy Industry Minister Faisol Riza, to Antara

    In practice, many EV owners are still paying nothing. Jakarta, the largest EV market, has kept PKB and BBNKB at zero and still exempts battery EVs from the odd-even traffic restriction, FIN reported in May. A Home Affairs circular dated 22 April (No. 900.1.13.1/3764/SJ) is cited as the basis; local reports differ on whether it simply permits governors to keep the exemption or instructs them to. Either way, the position can vary by province, so check with your local Samsat office or the provincial revenue agency (Bapenda) before you buy.

    Local content (TKDN): the rule behind every incentive

    Almost every EV incentive in Indonesia is tied to local content, known as TKDN. Battery-electric cars need 40% local content through 2026, rising to 60% from 2027 and 80% from 2030, as the Industry Ministry restated this week. Parts makers have warned that the 2027 step will be hard to meet without local battery cells, as we reported in our GIAMM story. If a future VAT incentive also depends on battery chemistry, as proposed, the price gap between models could widen depending on where and how they are built.

    Where the market stands

    The loss of incentives has not stopped growth. Electric cars reached 101,171 sales in January–August 2026, or 16.88% of the 599,491-unit market, Suara reported. The electric motorbike market has been weaker, which manufacturers partly blame on buyers waiting for the subsidy. See our report on the e-motorcycle sales slump.

    What it means for buyers

    • Locally assembled EVs are now the value end of the market. With the CBU scheme gone, brands that build locally have the clearest tax advantage. Brands still importing have to absorb the duty or pass it on in their prices.
    • Do not count on a VAT discount yet. If one arrives, it may favour cars with nickel-based batteries over LFP models. Ask the dealer whether a price-protection or refund clause applies if an incentive is introduced shortly after you buy.
    • Check your province. Whether you pay PKB and BBNKB now depends on where the car is registered. Jakarta remains at zero, but other regions can set their own rates.
    • Motorbike buyers have the most to gain from waiting. A Rp3 million subsidy is a large share of the price of an entry-level e-scooter, but there is still no firm start date.

    For models and current prices, see our electric car buying guide, our electric motorbike buyer’s guide and the IndoEVs directory of brands on sale in Indonesia. We will update this guide when the new incentive regulations are published.

    Related: EV running costs in Indonesia: home charging, SPKLU, tax and petrol compared

    Latest: the planned VAT relief may favour nickel-battery cars over LFP models, a split the industry body Periklindo is challenging. Read: Periklindo pushes back on bigger EV incentives for nickel-battery cars.

    Sources: CNN Indonesia (6 Jan 2026); Kumparan; Tempo (19 Feb 2025); Antara (7 May 2026); CNBC Indonesia (26 May 2026); DDTC News (23 Jun 2026); CNN Indonesia (4 Aug 2026); detikOto (1 Sep 2026); Telset (24 Sep 2026); Antara (22 Apr 2026); Liputan6; FIN (5 May 2026); Suara (1 Oct 2026).

  • Ministry reaffirms 60% EV local-content rule from 2027 as EV share hits 16%

    Ministry reaffirms 60% EV local-content rule from 2027 as EV share hits 16%

    Top image: Photo: Andra Febrian, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry has restated that locally built battery-electric vehicles will need to reach 60% local content (TKDN) from 2027, rising to 80% from 2030. Officials also said electric cars now make up 16% of the domestic market, and that EVs could overtake combustion-engine vehicles within the decade.

    The comments came at a forum on Wednesday 30 September titled “Powering Indonesia Future: Green Cars, Blue Skies”, CNN Indonesia reported. They come two days after the parts makers’ association GIAMM warned that the current rules leave little room for local suppliers.

    The timetable

    Patia J. Monangdo, head of the ministry’s working team for battery-based electric vehicles, set out the staged requirements. According to CNN Indonesia, the minimum local-content levels for electric cars are:

    • 2019–2021: 35%
    • 2022–2026: 40%
    • 2027–2029: 60%
    • 2030 onwards: 80%

    Similar stages apply to electric two- and three-wheelers, the report said.

    “The roadmap for 2026 is currently 40 per cent; from 2027 to 2029 it will be 60 per cent.” – Patia J. Monangdo, Ministry of Industry, to CNN Indonesia (translated from Indonesian)

    None of this is a new rule. The 60% level was first due in 2024 under Presidential Regulation 55/2019. It was pushed back to 2027 by Presidential Regulation 79/2023, signed in December 2023. That revision also exempted vehicles converted to electric power by certified workshops. It also said that companies which imported cars under the incentive scheme must build locally to the TKDN schedule, or repay an amount equivalent to the incentives they received.

    What the forum did show is that the government is not planning another delay. With 2027 only three months away, car makers have little time left to close the gap. According to CNN Indonesia, the average TKDN score for EVs in Indonesia is currently 45–47%. The highest is 80%, and more than 100 EV products have been certified. In July, Patia told Viva that one model had already reached 80%.

    EV share climbs to 16%

    Patia also gave new figures on how fast the market is growing. He said electric vehicles’ share of sales had been only around 2–3% previously, reached about 12% in 2025 and stands at 16% so far this year, Portal Media and CNN Indonesia reported. The reports did not say whether the figure covers only battery-electric cars or also includes hybrids. It is also not clear which sales measure it is based on, so it may not match Gaikindo’s monthly data exactly.

    He said Indonesia can produce almost 1.5 million motor vehicles a year. He also argued that the country’s nickel reserves should bring investment across the whole battery chain, from nickel processing and cathode and anode production to cell making and recycling. We cover this in our guide to Indonesia’s battery industry. The ministry says it will help component makers with certification, technical training and competency standards so that they can join EV supply chains.

    Overtaking petrol cars “by 2029–2031”

    Deputy Industry Minister Faisol Riza went further. CNN Indonesia reported that under the ministry’s fast-growth scenario, EVs could outnumber combustion-engine (ICE) vehicles in 2029–2031. Under a moderate scenario, battery-electric vehicles would overtake ICE in 2032–2034. He said the projection does not yet take hybrids and plug-in hybrids into account. The report’s headline refers to the vehicle “population”, but it does not explain whether the ministry means annual sales or the total number of vehicles on the road. The difference is large. With EVs at 16% of sales today, it would take much longer for them to outnumber ICE vehicles on the road than for them to outsell them.

    What it means for buyers

    • Local content is the price lever to watch. Indonesia’s EV incentives have been tied to TKDN thresholds, and the e-motorbike subsidy now under discussion also requires at least 40% local content, OtoDream reports. If car makers cannot reach 60% by 2027, and incentives stay linked to the minimum level, prices of some models could come under pressure unless makers use more local parts or change their line-ups.
    • Imported models are most exposed. Brands that entered with imported (CBU) cars under the incentive scheme have committed to local production. Buyers of those models may see changes in which variants are offered and how much they cost as local assembly begins.
    • Nickel-based batteries could become more common. The ministry’s focus on nickel suggests the government wants more nickel-based batteries in future locally built EVs.

    For current prices and models, see our electric car buying guide and the IndoEVs directory.

    Update, 13 October 2026: the ministry now says brands without an Indonesian assembly plant could still reach 60% by using locally made batteries. Read our follow-up.

    Sources: CNN Indonesia – TKDN rules; CNN Indonesia – TKDN roadmap; CNN Indonesia – 16% market share; CNN Indonesia – EV vs ICE projection; Portal Media; Viva (July 2026); OtoDream – e-motorbike incentive.