Category: News

Latest news on electric vehicles in Indonesia.

  • GAC opens Aion i60 pre-bookings in Indonesia, price guided at Rp500m-plus

    GAC opens Aion i60 pre-bookings in Indonesia, price guided at Rp500m-plus

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

    GAC Indonesia has unveiled the Aion i60 electric SUV in Jakarta and opened pre-bookings, putting a guide price of “Rp500 million-something” on the car while holding back the official figure until Gaikindo Auto Week (GAW) later this month. The model is the battery-electric crossover that GAC hinted at in October without naming it, when it promised a car that had never been shown in Indonesia.

    The launch took place on Saturday, 7 November, according to Kompas.com and OtoDream.

    First right-hand-drive i60

    Indonesia gets the i60 in right-hand-drive form, and GAC is presenting that as a first. The two outlets frame it slightly differently: Kompas.com describes the launch as the model’s Southeast Asian debut in right-hand-drive configuration, while OtoDream quotes GAC Indonesia chief executive Andry Ciu going further.

    “The Aion i60 launched in Indonesia is the first right-hand-drive [version] outside China.” – Andry Ciu, CEO, GAC Indonesia, to OtoDream (translated from Indonesian)

    GAC markets the car as an “All-Rounder Vehicle”, a family crossover that borrows from SUV, MPV and saloon packaging. Masato Katsumata, chief technology officer of GAC International, told reporters the company was aiming for a quality standard that combined comfort, safety and reliability, and described Indonesia as a strategic market.

    Size, range and equipment

    According to Kompas.com, the i60 measures 4,685 mm long, 1,854 mm wide and 1,660 mm tall, on a 2,775 mm wheelbase. GAC claims an effective cabin length of more than three metres, with 1,037 mm of second-row legroom and 1,020 mm of headroom.

    OtoDream reports the following headline claims for the Indonesian car:

    • Range of up to 602 km on a single charge (the test standard was not stated)
    • DC fast charging from 30% to 70% in about 15 minutes
    • A 60-litre front boot (“frunk”)
    • A 15.6-inch, 2.5K-resolution infotainment screen and a “nap mode” for resting in the car
    • Level 2 driver assistance with 15 functions, including adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist and lane keeping assist

    Neither outlet gave the battery capacity or motor output for Indonesian-market cars. As we noted in October, the Chinese-market i60 is sold with 56.68 kWh and 77.65 kWh packs and quoted on China’s CLTC cycle, which tends to produce higher range figures than the WLTP standard used in Europe. Buyers should treat the 602 km claim as a best-case number until GAC publishes full specifications.

    Pre-booking terms and deliveries

    Pre-bookings run from 7 to 19 November 2026 through GAC Indonesia’s dealer network, with a booking fee of Rp99,000. GAC says customers who book in that window are eligible for unspecified “free upgrade” offers, and deliveries are targeted to start in December 2026. The official price is due at GAW 2026, which OtoDream says runs from 20 to 29 November.

    Neither report said whether the i60 will be imported or assembled locally. That matters: from 2027 the government wants electric cars to reach 60% local content with locally built battery packs to keep their tax advantages, and locally assembled rivals are already lining up, such as the XPeng G9L due on 11 November.

    What it means for buyers

    At around Rp500 million, the i60 would sit in the middle of the Aion range in Indonesia; our Aion directory entry lists current models from about Rp345 million for the Aion UT to Rp755 million for the Hyptec HT. The Rp99,000 booking fee is a low-risk way to hold a place in the queue, but buyers should wait for the confirmed price, battery size and warranty terms at GAW before committing, and check how any free upgrades compare with show discounts other brands typically offer at the event. Our guide to EV taxes and incentives in 2026 explains how import status can affect the final on-the-road price.

    Sources: Kompas.com – GAC Resmi Luncurkan AION i60 di Indonesia, Harga Rp 500 Jutaan (7 Nov 2026); OtoDream – Indonesia Jadi Negara Pertama Peluncuran Aion i60 di Luar China (7 Nov 2026).

  • XPeng to launch locally assembled G9L electric SUV in Indonesia on 11 November

    XPeng to launch locally assembled G9L electric SUV in Indonesia on 11 November

    Top image: XPeng G9L. Photo: JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    XPeng Indonesia will launch the G9L, its new flagship electric SUV, in Jakarta on 11 November 2026, barely a month after the model’s global debut at the Paris Motor Show on 12 October. The Indonesian cars will be assembled locally, and the brand gave media, including Kompas.com, an early look ahead of the unveiling.

    Battery-only, all-wheel drive for Indonesia

    Globally the G9L is sold as both a battery EV and a range-extended EV (REEV), in which a petrol engine acts only as a generator for the battery. XPeng Indonesia will offer just one version: the battery-electric model with all-wheel drive. (Our guide to hybrids, PHEVs, REEVs and EVs explains the difference.)

    Despite the similar name, the G9L is not an SUV version of XPeng’s X9 people carrier. It is a large three-row SUV measuring 5,120 mm long, 1,999 mm wide and 1,782 mm tall, on a 3,100 mm wheelbase, with six seats arranged in pairs across all three rows.

    Key specifications

    • Motors: dual motors (160 kW front, 270 kW rear) for a combined 430 kW (585 PS) and 695 Nm
    • Performance: 0–100 km/h claimed in 4.45 seconds
    • Battery: 110 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) pack on an 800-volt architecture
    • Charging: 5C capable; XPeng’s European specification quotes up to 540 kW DC and about 11.7 minutes for 10–80%
    • Assembly: Handal Indonesia Motor (HIM), Purwakarta, West Java

    The rear-wheel-drive version sold in some markets, with a single 270 kW motor and 465 Nm, is not planned for Indonesia, according to Kompas.com’s specification report. Indonesian range figures, trim levels and the full equipment list had not been published at the preview, so the launch event should fill in those gaps.

    XPeng says the G9L was designed to meet the requirements of four crash-test bodies – Euro NCAP, ANCAP, C-NCAP and China’s CIASI – and went through 192 crash tests covering more than 110 assessment items. Development testing over three years covered 26 countries and regions and more than 6.74 million km. These are manufacturer claims rather than published independent crash-test results, so buyers should treat them as such until ratings appear.

    What it means for buyers

    Pricing will only be revealed at the launch, so it is too early to say where the G9L sits against rivals such as BYD’s Danza range. Local assembly could help XPeng’s pricing and its standing under the government’s tightening local-content rules, but XPeng has not said what TKDN rating the car achieves.

    The headline charging time also needs context: Kompas notes it depends on the charger’s output and the battery’s condition, so owners using lower-powered public chargers or home wallboxes should expect much longer sessions. Our EV running-costs guide covers charging options. XPeng’s Indonesian line-up is listed in the EV directory, and we will update this story with prices after the launch.

    Sources: Kompas.com – XPeng G9L Meluncur di Indonesia 11 November 2026 (5 Nov 2026); Kompas.com – Spesifikasi XPeng G9L yang Mau Meluncur di Indonesia (6 Nov 2026)

  • Wuling puts five EVs at 60% local content as INDEF warns of box-ticking

    Wuling puts five EVs at 60% local content as INDEF warns of box-ticking

    Top image: Wuling BinguoEV in Bandung. Photo: Mocarey15, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Wuling Motors says five of its Indonesian-built electric cars now meet a 60% local content (TKDN) rating, putting the brand ahead of the government’s plan to make 60% the bar for EV incentives from 2027. The announcement came in the same week that economists at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) questioned whether the higher threshold will build a real supplier industry or simply become a paperwork exercise.

    Which Wuling models qualify

    According to Kompas.com, the five models are the New BinguoEV hatchback, the larger New Cloud EV, the Darion EV MPV, the Eksion EV SUV and the compact Aira ev city car. Wuling said the rating had risen from 40% to 60%, largely because it now assembles battery packs in Indonesia, sourcing pack packaging, battery housings and wiring harnesses locally.

    The cars are built at Wuling’s plant in Cikarang, West Java, which handles body welding, painting, final assembly and quality checks. Local suppliers named by the company include PT Asahimas Flat Glass, tyre maker PT Gajah Tunggal and PT GS Battery. Vice President Arif Pramadana said the milestone would push Wuling to keep developing local production, including battery pack assembly.

    Wuling joins a growing list of brands positioning for the new rule. Hyundai said this week that its Indonesian-built Neira seven-seater will clear 60%, while BYD has said its Subang-built cars already exceed 40% and target 60% for 2027.

    INDEF: percentages are not enough

    INDEF economist M Rizal Taufikurahman argued in a statement reported by Bisnis.com that the success of the policy should not be judged by the local-content percentage alone, but by whether it delivers domestic value added, technology transfer and stronger component suppliers.

    “If the increase relies on assembly and bodywork while strategic components remain imported, industrial deepening will be limited,” Rizal said (translated from Indonesian).

    He also warned that raising TKDN without demand certainty and ready suppliers could push up production costs and slow EV adoption, and that without strict oversight the rule risks becoming administrative compliance with limited industrial benefit. Local suppliers, he said, need financing for machinery, certification and quality support.

    The legacy of the import window

    Rizal’s wider point is about timing. Under the 2024–2025 incentive scheme, fully imported (CBU) EVs paid 0% import duty instead of the normal 50%, and 0% luxury sales tax (PPnBM) instead of 15%. In return, brands had to build the same number of cars locally, backed by bank guarantees, with that production due in 2026–2027 – the same period in which the 60% threshold arrives. The CBU window closed on 31 December 2025, but imported stock and the market share it built are still in play, so local producers face a stiffer climb.

    The market itself is growing fast. Citing Gaikindo figures, INDEF noted battery EV wholesales reached 117,218 units in January–September 2026, about 17.26% of all car sales and already above the 103,931 sold in the whole of 2025 (see our January–September sales report). INDEF also flagged commercial vehicles: Indonesia imported 15,070 complete trucks from China in 2025, worth US$688.6 million, many with bodywork already fitted, leaving little work for local coachbuilders.

    What it means for buyers

    For now, little changes at the showroom. The 60% rule is due from 2027 (see our explainer on the new battery-pack requirement), and models that already meet it, such as the five Wuling EVs, look best placed to keep any VAT relief once it applies. Buyers considering a model that is still imported or below the threshold may want to ask dealers how the brand plans to qualify, as that could affect future pricing. Wuling’s full line-up is in our EV directory.

    Sources: Kompas.com – Lima Mobil Listrik Wuling Sudah Kantongi TKDN 60 Persen (4 Nov 2026); Bisnis.com – INDEF Soroti Konsistensi Kebijakan Impor dan TKDN Kendaraan Listrik (6 Nov 2026)

  • Hyundai says Indonesian-built Neira seven-seat EV will clear 60% TKDN

    Hyundai says Indonesian-built Neira seven-seat EV will clear 60% TKDN

    Top image: a Hyundai Ioniq 5 on display at GIIAS in Surabaya. Photo: Alex Neman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Hyundai Motors Indonesia (HMID) says its forthcoming Neira, a three-row, seven-seat electric SUV that will be built at its Cikarang plant, will comfortably exceed the 60% local-content (TKDN) threshold that battery EVs must meet from 2027. The company gave the assurance at a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday (5 November), ahead of the car’s public introduction at Gaikindo’s Jakarta auto show later this month.

    Battery plant underpins the TKDN claim

    HMID chief operating officer Fransiscus Soerjopranoto credited Hyundai’s existing battery manufacturing facility in Karawang, West Java, and final assembly at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (HMMI) plant in Cikarang for the local-content level, according to Antara. Battery packs from Karawang would also be assembled into the car in Cikarang, he said.

    “Neira’s TKDN is definitely above 60 per cent, because the battery plant itself is already in Karawang, so it’s just a matter of utilising it.”
    — Fransiscus Soerjopranoto, HMID, to Antara (translated from Indonesian)

    The timing matters. As we reported this week, the government is tightening the rules so that battery EVs need 60% local content, including locally built battery packs, from 2027. Antara notes that the roadmap in Presidential Regulation No. 79 of 2023 sets 60% for 2027–2029, rising to 80% from 2030. Brands that rely on imported packs or imported cars will need to localise further to keep qualifying for incentives, while manufacturers with local cell or pack production start with an advantage.

    Filling a half-empty factory

    In a separate Antara report, Fransiscus said the HMMI plant has an annual capacity of around 150,000 units but is currently running at about half of that. Hyundai hopes the Neira, together with the Kia Carens it also builds there, will push the factory towards full utilisation. Production will serve the domestic market first; exports are possible but are not the immediate priority, he said.

    What Hyundai has revealed so far

    The Neira, whose name refers to Banda Neira in Maluku, is aimed squarely at Indonesia’s appetite for seven-seaters. Kontan lists four selling points Hyundai highlighted:

    • 200 mm of ground clearance, which Hyundai says suits Indonesia’s uneven roads;
    • Bluelink connected-car technology linking the car to the driver’s smartphone;
    • Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, a feature Hyundai says scored well in its customer car-clinic research;
    • a roomy three-row cabin with easy access from the second row to the third.

    Hyundai has not yet published a price, battery size or range. Jawa Pos reports that HMID has not disclosed pricing and that pre-bookings will open during the show. Antara says full details of prices, variants and the ordering process will be announced there, and that several variants, from an entry trim to a top specification, are planned. Kontan reports the exhibition opens on 20 November and that visitors will be able to inspect the car at a dedicated “Neira Corner”. Antara refers to the show by its new name, Gaikindo Auto Week (GAW) 2026, formerly GJAW; Kontan still uses GJAW.

    The Neira joins a growing list of debuts planned for the event, alongside the GAC, LEPAS and BAW models we covered in October. Hyundai’s current electric range in Indonesia includes the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9, according to Jawa Pos; see our Hyundai directory entry for the wider line-up.

    What it means for buyers

    A locally built seven-seat EV from a mainstream brand would compete in one of the market’s most important segments, where families currently have relatively few electric options. Clearing the 60% TKDN bar should help keep the Neira eligible for whatever incentives apply from 2027, which in turn could make its pricing more competitive than imported rivals. Until Hyundai confirms the price, battery and range at the show, though, buyers should treat it as a model to watch rather than one to commit to; pre-booking terms are worth reading carefully before paying any deposit.

    Sources: Antara: Hyundai pastikan Neira penuhi TKDN di atas 60 persen untuk aturan 2027; Antara: Hyundai optimalkan utilisasi pabrik lewat produksi Neira dan Carens; Kontan: Hyundai siapkan mobil listrik 7 penumpang NEIRA, ini empat keunggulannya; Jawa Pos: Hyundai siapkan NEIRA, SUV listrik 7 penumpang, buka pre-booking di GAW 2026

  • Bahlil says nickel-to-cell battery chain is complete, eyes curbs on new smelters

    Bahlil says nickel-to-cell battery chain is complete, eyes curbs on new smelters

    Top image: NASA/JPL, NASA/METI/AIST/Japan Space Systems and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. NASA satellite view of nickel mining in Southeast Sulawesi.

    Indonesia now has a battery supply chain that runs all the way from nickel mines to finished battery cells, according to Bahlil Lahadalia, the coordinating minister for downstreaming and energy transition, who also serves as energy and mineral resources minister. In the same speech, however, he signalled that the government is reviewing whether new smelters making only semi-finished products should still be allowed, saying most of the industry is still stuck halfway up the value chain.

    Bahlil was speaking on Monday 2 November at the opening of the Minerba Convention and Exhibition (Minerba Convex) 2026 at JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta, the same event at which economic council official Septian Hario Seto laid out the 60% local-content target for EVs in 2027.

    “From mine to battery cell”

    According to Antara and JawaPos, Bahlil said Indonesia was one of the countries that had managed to build an integrated car-battery ecosystem stretching from mining to battery cells. He pointed to three battery facilities: a plant in the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in Central Halmahera, North Maluku; the Hyundai LG Indonesia (HLI) Green Power cell plant in Karawang, West Java, which has been operating since July 2024; and the joint venture between state miner Antam and China’s CATL, which he said President Prabowo Subianto would inaugurate in Karawang this month. IndoEVs reported last week that Prabowo is expected to open the CATL-IBC plant.

    Antara’s Indonesian service also quoted him as saying that the idea of an integrated battery ecosystem had been doubted when it was first presented in 2020, and that the United States now sources precursor and cathode material from Indonesia.

    Export figures: sources differ

    Bahlil used nickel exports to argue that halting raw ore exports had paid off, but the reports give different numbers. JawaPos, carrying Antara copy, says exports grew from US$3.3 billion in 2017 to US$40 billion in 2025, with US$25.96 billion recorded by the Directorate General of Minerals and Coal up to August 2026. Antara’s Indonesian report and Kumparan put the post-ban level at about US$34 billion, compared with US$3.3 billion in 2017–2019, without naming a year. The gap may reflect different years or definitions; the ministry has not clarified it.

    A rethink on smelters

    The more consequential part of the speech may be the warning about where processing has stalled. Bahlil said most downstream output was still at the intermediate stage, around 50–60% of the full value chain, and described the number of smelters as having “boomed”. Antara reported that the government is weighing whether smelters that produce only semi-finished goods should still be built, or should face further regulation.

    “What we need to push is the end product, so that semi-finished raw materials are not all exported abroad.” – Bahlil Lahadalia, quoted by Antara (translated from Indonesian)

    Tri Winarno, director general of minerals and coal, said the next phase should cover intermediate materials and components, including for the battery industry. Bahlil also stressed, as reported by Media Nikel Indonesia, that downstreaming must be “equitable”, with benefits reaching communities around mining areas, not only higher commodity value and state revenue.

    The review builds on the option of a moratorium on new semi-finished nickel smelters that Bahlil raised in October, and comes as some Chinese nickel producers weigh output cuts.

    What it means for buyers

    For drivers, a mine-to-cell chain matters mainly through local content rules. With the TKDN threshold for battery EVs set to rise to 60% next year, carmakers that can buy locally made cells, such as those from HLI or the CATL joint venture, should find it easier to qualify for incentives and keep prices competitive. Whether incentives should favour nickel-based cells over nickel-free LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries remains a point of debate. The environmental footprint of the nickel parks, many of which run on captive coal power, is another open question. Hyundai, whose cell plant Bahlil cited, is listed in our EV directory.

    Sources: Antara (English); Antara (Indonesian); Kumparan; JawaPos; Media Nikel Indonesia.

  • EVs must hit 60% local content with locally built battery packs from 2027

    EVs must hit 60% local content with locally built battery packs from 2027

    Top image: Photo: RasyaAbhirama13, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Electric cars sold in Indonesia will need at least 60% local content from next year, and their battery packs will have to be assembled in the country, according to Septian Hario Seto, executive secretary of the National Economic Council (DEN). Speaking at the Minerba Convention & Exhibition 2026 at JIExpo in Jakarta on Tuesday, Seto said the bar would rise again later in the decade to a level that forces carmakers to source battery cells locally, CNBC Indonesia reported.

    The comments are the clearest signal yet that the government intends to stick to the higher local-content threshold (TKDN) for battery electric vehicles in 2027, after weeks of debate over incentives, hybrids and nickel-based batteries.

    From 40% to 60%, then 80%

    Under the current rules, a battery EV needs at least 40% local content to qualify for Indonesia’s EV programme. Seto said that figure would step up to 60% next year, together with an obligation to turn imported or local cells into finished battery packs on Indonesian soil.

    He added that the requirement would reach 80% by 2029 – a date he gave with the caveat “if I’m not mistaken”. At that level, the battery cell itself must be produced domestically. “At 80%, the battery cells have to be made in Indonesia,” he said (translated from Indonesian).

    The timetable he described differs slightly from the one presented by the Ministry of Industry. In a September hearing with House Commission VII, cited in the same CNBC Indonesia report, Setia Diarta, director general of metal, machinery, transport equipment and electronics industries (ILMATE), set out a minimum of 40% until 2026, 60% for 2027–2029 and at least 80% from 2030. He said the industry would have to start making battery packs and modules locally so that finished batteries no longer need to be imported, and described the cell as the component that matters most for the TKDN score.

    Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji struck a confident note last week. Manufacturers that produce in Indonesia and use domestic components should be able to meet 60% by 2027, he said, according to Antara, adding that the government would push for technology transfer and monitor compliance.

    Why the government wants it

    Seto framed the TKDN path as a way to give investors predictable rules, arguing that Indonesia should avoid the kind of regulatory instability Thailand has experienced. He put national electric car sales last year at about 100,000 units, which he said places Indonesia among the world’s 20 largest EV markets.

    The battery requirement is also tied to Indonesia’s nickel strategy. Setia said downstream processing had already reached nickel sulphate and cobalt sulphate, and that the focus from 2026 to 2030 would shift to cathode and anode materials. Cell production capacity is starting to arrive: President Prabowo is due to open the CATL-IBC battery plant in Karawang, which would give carmakers a local source of cells.

    For brands already assembling locally, the step looks manageable. BYD has said its Subang-built cars already exceed 40% and that it is targeting 60% for 2027, while the ministry has suggested that even models that started life as imports could reach 60% with local batteries. The harder test will be the later move to locally made cells.

    Incentives still unresolved

    The local-content rules arrive while the industry is still waiting for clarity on incentives. Harry Yanto, vice president of operations at Kia Sales Indonesia, told reporters on 28 October that he expects the battery EV market to be flat in 2027 if no new support is introduced, CNN Indonesia reported. “Without attention from the government on this subsidy, prices will certainly be higher,” he said (translated from Indonesian). Kia is widening its line-up with hybrids and possibly plug-in hybrids in response.

    Several new incentive schemes have been discussed this year, including the proposal for bigger incentives for nickel-battery cars, but none had been implemented at the time of CNN Indonesia’s report.

    What it means for buyers

    • More locally assembled models: brands that want to stay in the EV programme will need local battery-pack lines, which favours makers with Indonesian plants such as BYD and Wuling.
    • Possible price pressure: localisation costs money up front, and with incentives still undecided, some brands warn prices could rise. Check our EV directory for current models and prices.
    • Longer term: local battery packs and, later, cells could make servicing and battery replacement easier to arrange in Indonesia.

    Official regulations setting out the 2027 threshold, including the exact start date and transition rules, had not been published at the time of writing.

    Update (5 November 2026): Hyundai says its Indonesian-built Neira seven-seater will clear the new threshold. Read our follow-up.

    Update (6 November 2026): Wuling now says five of its Indonesian-built EVs hold a 60% rating, while economists at INDEF warn the rule must build real suppliers rather than paperwork. Read the follow-up.

    Sources: CNBC Indonesia (3 Nov 2026); Antara News (29 Oct 2026); CNN Indonesia (30 Oct 2026)

  • PEVS 2026 closes with 35,257 visitors as activists grade carmakers

    PEVS 2026 closes with 35,257 visitors as activists grade carmakers

    Top image: Polytron G3+ electric SUV. Photo: Turbo Time 6, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    The Periklindo Electric Vehicle Show (PEVS) 2026 closed at JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta on Sunday 1 November, with organisers reporting 35,257 visitors over four days. The figure was counted at 15:00 WIB, three hours before the doors shut, so the final tally may be slightly higher, Antara and Jawa Pos reported.

    The closing day also brought a reminder that the electric transition has critics as well as customers: a civil-society coalition used the show to hand carmakers a symbolic “report card” on their supply chains.

    Visitors, exhibitors and deals

    According to Antara, 45 exhibitors took part, spanning car and motorbike brands and the wider supply industry. Names on the floor included BYD, Chery, Hyundai, MG, VinFast, Wuling, Alva, Polytron, Selis and United E-Motor, while Transjakarta, MRT Jakarta and LRT Jakarta also had stands. Visitors could test-drive cars and test-ride motorbikes inside the venue, and cashback of up to Rp200 million was offered on purchases of two- and four-wheel EVs. (We covered the opening-day market data in PEVS 2026 opens as battery EVs reach 16.88% of the car market, and the motorbike price cuts in our report on Honda, Polytron and United discounts.)

    Periklindo chairman Moeldoko said the attendance showed a positive public response to EVs, praising visitors’ “enthusiasm that did not fade from the first day to the closing” (translated from Indonesian), as quoted by Jawa Pos. Rumpoko Hadi, director of co-organiser Dyandra Promosindo, said the numbers reflected growing interest in electric vehicles.

    Neither organiser published a transaction total at the close. Back in May, Moeldoko told Antara the show was targeting Rp500 billion in sales; the same report said the previous edition attracted more than 40,000 visitors. On those figures, this year’s provisional attendance is roughly 12% lower (our calculation), although the comparison is not like-for-like because the 2026 count stopped before closing time.

    Activists’ “report card” for carmakers

    On the final day, the Just EV coalition, which includes the groups Satya Bumi, CERAH and Enter Nusantara, unfurled a banner at the show reading “Automaker Accountability Report Card”, Suara.com reported. Citing analysis by the international campaign Lead the Charge, the coalition said 18 major carmakers each scored below 50% on supply-chain environmental impact, support for climate policy, and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and workers. Suara did not list the brands or their individual scores. Lead the Charge’s 2026 leaderboard, published in March, put even its top-ranked company, Tesla, just under 50% overall, Ford Authority noted.

    The coalition’s concerns centre on battery minerals. It linked nickel and cobalt mining to pollution and land conflicts in West Papua, North Maluku, Central Sulawesi and North Kalimantan, and pointed to the heavy reliance of nickel processing on coal-fired power, an issue we examined in our report on captive coal at nickel parks. It also argued that hybrids, which still burn fuel, keep adding to transport emissions.

    “The transition we want is not merely a change of technology.” Tamimah Ashilah, Satya Bumi (translated from Indonesian), via Suara.com

    Agung Budiono, executive director of CERAH, said EV makers should set standards for raw materials produced without fossil energy, while Enter Nusantara coordinator Reka Maharwati said the report card voiced young people’s concerns about green claims in the energy transition.

    What it means for buyers

    • Show discounts may linger: dealers often extend exhibition offers for a short time after a show ends. If you missed PEVS, ask whether the show price or cashback is still available before paying list price.
    • Battery chemistry and sourcing are becoming a talking point: as policy debates over nickel versus LFP batteries continue, expect more questions about where battery materials come from. Buyers who care can ask brands for their supply-chain or sustainability disclosures.
    • Compare brands in one place: many PEVS exhibitors, including Polytron, are listed in our EV directory for Indonesia.

    Sources: Antara (2 Nov 2026); Jawa Pos; Antara (22 May 2026); Suara.com; Ford Authority

  • PEVS 2026: Honda, Polytron and United cut electric motorbike prices

    PEVS 2026: Honda, Polytron and United cut electric motorbike prices

    Top image: Photo: Chanokchon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (Honda CUV e:, pictured at a show in Thailand)

    Electric motorbike shoppers at the Periklindo Electric Vehicle Show (PEVS) 2026 in Jakarta are being offered some of the deepest price cuts seen on Indonesia’s two-wheeler market this year. Honda’s CUV e: scooter and United’s TX1800 are both being quoted at close to half their normal price, while Polytron, Alva and Indomobil eMotor are also running show-only discounts. The exhibition, which opened on Thursday 29 October at JIExpo Kemayoran, closes on Sunday 1 November.

    Honda: CUV e: from about Rp 29 million

    According to kumparanOTO, sales staff from Wahana Honda, the Jakarta dealer for Astra Honda Motor, said the cheapest version of the Honda CUV e: works out at around Rp 29 million once all show offers are combined, down from a normal Rp 54.5 million. The top CUV e: RoadSync Duo, which is sold with two Honda Power Pack e: batteries and a charging point, was quoted at about Rp 34 million instead of Rp 59.6 million. The smaller ICON e: was cut from about Rp 28 million to roughly Rp 23 million on the road in Jakarta. Kumparan did not say whether the CUV e: figures were on-the-road prices.

    Otodream, which listed the official promotions at the show, put Honda’s discounts at Rp 25 million on the CUV e: and Rp 4.9 million on the ICON e:. It added that credit buyers can have three instalments taken off a 35-instalment plan.

    United and Polytron

    United E-Motor is offering the TX1800 for Rp 18.1 million on the road in Jakarta, down from Rp 34.9 million, kumparan reported. That is a saving of Rp 16.8 million, or roughly 48% (our calculation).

    Polytron is selling its Fox 350 in two ways. With a battery-rental scheme, the price falls from Rp 22.5 million to Rp 17 million (on the road in Greater Jakarta). Bought outright with the battery, it drops from Rp 34.5 million to Rp 29 million. Both cuts work out at Rp 5.5 million (our calculation). Otodream, however, described Polytron’s offer as a direct subsidy of up to Rp 6 million on the Fox electric range. The gap may reflect different variants or extra stand offers, so buyers should confirm the final figure before paying. Kumparan did not report the monthly battery-rental fee.

    Alva and Indomobil eMotor

    Otodream reported that Alva is offering discounts of up to Rp 6 million on its electric motorbikes during the show. Indomobil eMotor has up to Rp 2.5 million off selected models, subject to its terms and conditions, Medcom reported. It is showing six bikes: the QT, QT Pro, Adora, Sprinto, Tyranno and Tyranno X. Visitors can test-ride them at the stand.

    “We want people to get to know electric motorbikes not only through specification information.”

    — Pius Wirawan, CEO of PT Indomobil Emotor Internasional, to Medcom (translated from Indonesian)

    Organiser cashback and who is there

    On top of the brand deals, organiser Dyandra Promosindo is running a spin-the-wheel cashback game worth up to Rp 2.5 million per win. Its total pool is up to Rp 200 million across car and motorbike purchases made at the show. According to Liputan6, the two-wheeler exhibitors are Alva, Astra Honda Motor, Indomobil E-Motor, Polytron, Selis, United and VinFast. Entry is free with online registration. The show is open from 10:00 to 19:00 WIB on Saturday and from 10:00 to 18:00 WIB on Sunday.

    What it means for buyers

    • The deadline is Sunday. All the offers reported here are tied to purchases made at PEVS, which ends on 1 November.
    • Check what the “normal” price means. Show discounts are measured against list prices quoted by sales staff. Dealer prices outside the show can already be lower. Our directory entry for United, for example, lists October promotional prices well below Rp 34.9 million for some models. Ask for a written, on-the-road quote for your region.
    • Battery rental versus ownership. Polytron’s rental scheme lowers the upfront cost but adds a recurring fee. Compare the total over the years you expect to keep the bike.
    • Ask about batteries and service. Check the battery warranty, where swaps or charging are available near you, and how close the nearest service point is. Our running-costs guide explains how charging costs compare with petrol.

    For context on demand, see our report on September motorbike sales and the e-motorbike incentive, and on the Pertamina, PLN and Len charging deal for the national Molinas e-motorbike programme.

    Follow-up: PEVS 2026 closed on 1 November with 35,257 visitors; read our wrap-up, including the Just EV coalition’s report card for carmakers.

    Sources: kumparanOTO; Otodream; Medcom.id; Liputan6

  • Pertamina, PLN and Len team up on charging for Molinas e-motorbikes

    Pertamina, PLN and Len team up on charging for Molinas e-motorbikes

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

    Three state-owned companies have agreed to work together on the charging and battery-swapping network that Indonesia’s national electric motorcycle programme, Molinas, will need if it is to reach riders beyond the big cities. Fuel retailer Pertamina Patra Niaga, state electricity company PLN and defence and technology firm Len Industri signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Jakarta on Tuesday 27 October, with senior figures from the sovereign wealth fund Danantara attending, according to Antara and Liputan6. The agreement was made public on Friday 30 October.

    Fuel stations as the backbone

    Pertamina Patra Niaga’s part of the deal is the retail end. The company plans to fit charging and battery-swap facilities into its network of SPBU fuel stations and other strategic retail sites, building on its existing “Green Energy Station” concept.

    Both reports give the same figures for what is already in place:

    • 837 SPBU fuel stations have been developed into Green Energy Stations;
    • 112 EV charging units are installed at SPBU sites;
    • 122 battery-swapping units are installed at SPBU sites.

    Neither report sets out a target number of new charging or swap points, a timetable, an investment figure or a detailed split of responsibilities between PLN and Len Industri. As an MoU, the agreement is a framework for cooperation rather than a binding roll-out plan.

    Eko Ricky, retail marketing director at Pertamina Patra Niaga, framed the deal as being about more than the motorbikes themselves. “We aim to ensure the transition to electric vehicles goes beyond merely providing the vehicles themselves,” he said, as quoted by Antara. He added that the goal was an energy ecosystem that is reliable and accessible across Indonesia’s regions.

    Where Molinas stands

    President Prabowo Subianto launched Molinas in August as a push to build a domestic electric two-wheeler industry, covering components, assembly, batteries and after-sales service, and to put Indonesia’s nickel resources to use. Antara links the new MoU to Indonesia’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner and to the government’s aim of cutting emissions from transport.

    The deal is a follow-up to that launch rather than a change to the bikes on offer: neither source gives new details on Molinas models, prices or sales dates.

    What it means for buyers

    For riders, the practical question with any electric motorbike in Indonesia is less the purchase price than where to recharge or swap a battery away from home. Putting charging and swap points at Pertamina fuel stations, which are already found along main roads across the archipelago, would address that directly, but on the figures reported so far the network is still small: 122 swap units across SPBU sites is modest set against a country of Indonesia’s size.

    Two things are worth watching before buying with this network in mind. The first is whether Molinas bikes will use swappable batteries that fit the stations Pertamina already operates, which neither report says. The second is how quickly the 837 Green Energy Stations gain charging or swap equipment, since the reported numbers show that most do not yet have it. Until those details emerge, home charging remains the main option for most e-motorbike owners. Our electric motorbike buyer’s guide explains the trade-offs between plug-in and battery-swap models, and our EV directory lists the motorbike brands and charging companies active in Indonesia.

    Sources: Antara News – Three state firms align to drive Indonesia’s e-motorcycle program; Liputan6 – Pertamina Patra Niaga, PLN dan Len siapkan infrastruktur charging dan swapping motor listrik (Indonesian).

  • PEVS 2026 opens as battery EVs reach 16.88% of Indonesia’s car market

    PEVS 2026 opens as battery EVs reach 16.88% of Indonesia’s car market

    Top image: Photo: Irvan Cahyo N, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    The fifth Periklindo Electric Vehicle Show (PEVS) opened at JIExpo Kemayoran in Central Jakarta on Thursday 29 October, and the government used the occasion to put a number on how quickly electric cars are moving into the mainstream. According to industry ministry data presented at the opening, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 16.88% of Indonesia’s four-wheeler market by August 2026, up from about 0.99% in 2022, Liputan6 reported.

    The show, which we previewed last week, runs until Sunday 1 November.

    From under 1% to almost one in six

    The figures were set out in a speech on behalf of the Minister of Industry, read by Setia Diarta, the ministry’s Director General of Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment and Electronics Industries (ILMATE). The speech said the increase showed growing public acceptance of electric vehicles, but added that market growth needs to be matched by more domestic production capacity.

    The ministry also put Indonesia’s total electric vehicle population at 541,000 units as of August 2026, a figure that covers two-, three- and four-wheelers as well as commercial and special-purpose vehicles. CNN Indonesia, citing the same national industry data, gave earlier totals of 243,000 units in 2024 and 406,000 in 2025. By our calculation, that means roughly 135,000 electric vehicles were added in the first eight months of 2026, against about 163,000 in the whole of 2025.

    Reports of the opening framed the share figures slightly differently. CNN Indonesia described BEVs as about 16% and hybrids (HEVs) as about 9%, citing data to April 2026, while Liputan6 reported the 16.88% figure as BEVs’ share of the four-wheeler market as of August. Neither outlet published the full underlying dataset, so the numbers are best read as an indication of direction rather than a precise like-for-like comparison.

    Local content rules restated

    The ministry also restated its local-content (TKDN) path for battery electric vehicles under Presidential Regulation 55/2019 (as amended by Regulation 79/2023) and industry ministry rules: a minimum of 40% until the end of 2026, rising to 60% for 2027–2029 and 80% from 2030. Batteries and battery management systems were singled out as priorities for local production. We have covered how carmakers are preparing for the step up, including BYD’s plans for its Subang plant and the role of locally made batteries.

    Who is exhibiting

    Organisers Dyandra Promosindo and Periklindo list nine car brands — BAIC, BYD, Chery, Danza, DFSK, MAB, MG, Polytron and Wuling — and six electric motorbike brands: Alva, AHM (Astra Honda Motor), Indomobil E-Motor, Polytron, Selis and United, according to Medcom. There are also air-mobility exhibitors showing cargo drones and eVTOL aircraft, and electric boat makers.

    Periklindo chairman Moeldoko, who formally opened the show, repeated his argument that EVs can cut household running costs and the fuel-subsidy bill. Bappenas head Rachmat Pambudy also attended. Speaking to KatadataOTO, Moeldoko said:

    “We (Indonesia) must not just be spectators; we must be a main player in responding to EV developments in Indonesia.” (translated from Indonesian)

    Moeldoko’s recent comments about eventually ending EVs’ exemption from Jakarta’s odd-even rule are covered in our earlier report.

    What it means for buyers

    For anyone shopping for an EV, the show is mainly a chance to compare models side by side and try them: organisers are running indoor test drives and test rides, and say buyers who order a car or motorbike at the show can claim cashback worth up to Rp200 million, depending on the brand and model. Entry is free, according to KatadataOTO. Opening hours are 10:00–19:00 WIB on 30 and 31 October and 10:00–18:00 WIB on 1 November.

    Moeldoko again cited running costs of around Rp800,000 a month for an EV against Rp6–8 million for a petrol car. That is his illustration rather than a measured average, and real savings depend on mileage and how you charge — our guide to EV running costs in Indonesia breaks down the numbers.

    Update: for the electric motorbike deals on offer at the show, see PEVS 2026: Honda, Polytron and United cut electric motorbike prices.

    Follow-up: PEVS 2026 closed on 1 November with 35,257 visitors; read our wrap-up, including the Just EV coalition’s report card for carmakers.

    Sources: Liputan6; CNN Indonesia; Medcom.id; KatadataOTO.

  • Omoda O4 EV set for Indonesian production from November

    Omoda O4 EV set for Indonesian production from November

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

    Omoda Jaecoo plans to start building the Omoda O4 electric car in Indonesia in November 2026, with official prices to be revealed when production begins, according to reports by detikOto and Deliknews.

    Shawn Xu, President Director of Omoda Jaecoo International, told Indonesian journalists at the company’s OJ Building in Wuhu, China, that the O4 would move onto an Indonesian production line in around two months, and that the official launch, including pricing, would take place at the same time.

    “At that same time, we will officially launch it [including the price].” – Shawn Xu, President Director, Omoda Jaecoo International, quoted by Deliknews (translated from Indonesian)

    Neither report named the plant that will build the car. The O4 was first shown to the Indonesian public in July 2026, and the brand has been taking reservations with a Rp 5 million booking fee since the GIIAS 2026 show, Deliknews reported.

    Claimed specifications

    • Battery: 65.05 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP)
    • Range: up to 553 km on the NEDC test cycle (a photo caption on detikOto gives 533 km, but the article text and Deliknews both state 553 km)
    • Charging: DC fast charging at up to 119 kW, with 20–80% in about 22 minutes
    • Performance: 160 kW and 275 Nm; 0–100 km/h in a claimed 7.1 seconds
    • Cabin tech: a voice-controlled “Super AI Cockpit” that the company says runs on a large language model with ten AI agents

    The styling follows the brand’s “Cyber Mecha” design language, with what Omoda calls “Cyber Lightning” headlamps.

    Where it fits

    The O4 would join a growing Chery-group electric line-up in Indonesia. Sister brand Jaecoo’s J5 EV, listed at Rp 279.9 million to Rp 324.9 million OTR Jakarta in September (see our Jaecoo directory entry), has been among the country’s best-selling EVs this year, as our January–September sales round-up shows. Omoda’s existing electric model in Indonesia is the E5 (Omoda in our EV directory).

    What it means for buyers

    • No price yet. Anyone paying the Rp 5 million booking fee is committing before the price is known, so check the refund terms with the dealer.
    • Local production matters. Indonesia’s EV tax incentives are linked to local-content (TKDN) requirements, so locally built models are generally better placed to qualify – see our EV tax incentives guide. The launch price will show how much of that advantage reaches buyers.
    • Treat the range claim with care. NEDC figures tend to be optimistic, so real-world range is likely to be lower than 553 km.

    Sources: detikOto – Omoda O4 Diproduksi di Indonesia November 2026, Bakal Dijual Harga Berapa? (24 Oct 2026); Deliknews – Omoda O4 Mulai Diproduksi November 2026, Harga Resminya Segera Terungkap (24 Oct 2026)

  • Sarmuji to hear Periklindo out on ending EVs’ Jakarta odd-even exemption

    Sarmuji to hear Periklindo out on ending EVs’ Jakarta odd-even exemption

    Top image: Photo: RasyaAbhirama13, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Indonesia’s Minister of Industry, Muhammad Sarmuji, says the government will not take a position on scrapping electric vehicles’ exemption from Jakarta’s odd-even traffic rule until it has heard the full case from the industry association that floated the idea.

    Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Industry in Jakarta on Wednesday 28 October, Sarmuji said the Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (Periklindo) would soon meet the ministry to explain its reasoning, CNBC Indonesia and Suara.com reported.

    “Periklindo will hold an audience with us. We will listen more fully to what its aspirations are.” – Muhammad Sarmuji, Minister of Industry, quoted by Suara.com (translated from Indonesian)

    What Periklindo proposed

    The idea came from Periklindo chairman Moeldoko, who suggested that the odd-even exemption for EVs could be reconsidered once electric vehicles make up roughly 30% of the vehicle population. As we reported on 27 October, he framed it as a future step rather than an immediate change. According to Suara.com, Moeldoko said he had discussed the idea with Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung, and argued that the perk is still needed for now because EV numbers remain low.

    “Right now the population is still small, so let [sales] stay buoyant first.” – Moeldoko, Periklindo chairman, quoted by Suara.com (translated from Indonesian)

    A non-fiscal incentive with real weight

    Jakarta’s odd-even scheme limits access to a set of major roads on alternating dates, depending on whether a car’s number plate ends in an odd or even digit. Battery electric vehicles are currently exempt, making it one of the most visible everyday advantages of owning an EV in the capital.

    Sarmuji said the government would weigh the gains and losses before deciding whether to keep or drop this non-fiscal incentive, acknowledging that removing it would directly affect EV sales in Jakarta, Suara.com reported. CNBC Indonesia noted that no decision or timeline has been set. Jakarta’s provincial administration is also looking at the rules separately – see our earlier report on the odd-even review and industry warnings over the EV exemption.

    Hybrids back in the frame

    In the same remarks, Sarmuji repeated his view that plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and range-extended EVs (REEVs) could merit incentives, arguing that their fuel savings could help reduce the state’s fuel-subsidy bill and improve air quality. He did not say what form or size any such incentive might take, according to CNBC Indonesia.

    The minister first pushed the idea earlier this month, as covered in our report on hybrid and REEV incentives. On 27 October he also urged Toyota to step up battery-electric production and exports (read more).

    What it means for buyers

    • Nothing changes yet. Battery EVs remain exempt from Jakarta’s odd-even rule, and no decision or timetable has been announced.
    • The proposed trigger is a long way off. Periklindo’s suggested threshold is an EV share of around 30%, and Moeldoko himself argues the perk should stay for now.
    • Watch the hybrid debate. If PHEVs and REEVs gain incentives, the gap between them and pure EVs could narrow. Our guide to hybrids, PHEVs, REEVs and EVs explains the differences.

    Explainer: how the rule works, which roads and vehicles it covers and what the review could mean for buyers, in our guide to Jakarta’s odd-even rule and EVs.

    Sources: CNBC Indonesia – Respons Menperin Soal Usul Mobil Listrik Tak Perlu Lagi Insentif Gage (28 Oct 2026); Suara.com – Insentif Bebas Ganjil Genap untuk Mobil Listrik Mau Dicabut? Ini Kata Menperin (28 Oct 2026)