Category: News

Latest news on electric vehicles in Indonesia.

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
7 October 2026
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).
6 October 2026
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).
6 October 2026
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
5 October 2026
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.
4 October 2026
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
3 October 2026
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.
1 October 2026
Jaecoo raises J5 EV Premium price again, citing currency and shipping costs
Top image: Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Indonesia’s best-selling electric car has become a little more expensive again. Jaecoo has lifted the price of the top J5 EV Premium to Rp 324.9 million on the road in Jakarta, while the entry-level Standard stays at Rp 279.9 million. The company says currency movements, shipping and production costs are behind the change.

The adjustment was reported by kumparanOTO on 23 September, and followed up by Kompas and detikOto, which noted that no version of the J5 is now sold below Rp 250 million.

A step-by-step climb from the launch price

The J5 EV made its name with aggressive launch pricing of Rp 249.9 million for the Standard and Rp 299.9 million for the Premium. Since then the price has moved up in stages:
- April 2026: the Standard rose to Rp 279.9 million and the Premium to Rp 309.9 million, according to Moladin.
- Before this month’s change: kumparanOTO says the range last stood at Rp 279.9 million to Rp 319.9 million.
- Now: Rp 279.9 million (Standard) and Rp 324.9 million (Premium).
Headlines differ depending on the starting point. Kompas and detikOto compare today’s prices with the launch prices, giving increases of Rp 30 million for the Standard and Rp 25 million for the Premium. Compared with the previous list price, the latest move affects only the Premium and amounts to Rp 5 million. By our own calculation, the Standard is now 12% above its launch price and the Premium about 8% higher, and the gap between the two versions has widened to Rp 45 million.

The hardware has not changed. According to detikOto, the J5 EV still uses a 60.9 kWh battery with a claimed 461 km range on the NEDC cycle, a 155 kW motor and fast charging of up to 130 kW.

Why Jaecoo says prices went up

Jim Ma, business unit director at Jaecoo Indonesia, told Kompas that exchange rates, shipping costs and production costs had all fed into the decision. He said the company had options to keep prices flat but chose not to cut corners to do so:

“We will not sacrifice quality just to hold prices down.” – Jim Ma, Jaecoo Indonesia, to Kompas (translated from Indonesian)

He also told kumparanOTO that after-sales service and the customer experience would stay the same despite the higher price.

Demand is holding up so far

The price rise comes while the J5 EV is still selling strongly. kumparanOTO’s figures show monthly wholesales of between 1,942 units in January and 3,214 units in August 2026, averaging roughly 3,000 a month. The J5 was the best-selling battery electric vehicle in Indonesia over January to August, as we reported in our August sales round-up.

Jaecoo told kumparanOTO that buyers in Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) should wait no more than a month for delivery.

What it means for buyers
- The Standard is unchanged, for now. If you only need the base version, the price is the same as it has been since April. The Premium now costs Rp 45 million more.
- Prices are OTR Jakarta. On-the-road prices in other provinces can differ because of regional taxes, so check with your local dealer.
- Compare before you commit. At Rp 279.9 million to Rp 324.9 million, the J5 now sits in a busy mid-range bracket. Our electric car buying guide sets out the main rivals and their prices.
- Ask about dealer offers. A higher list price does not rule out discounts or financing deals, which vary by dealer and month.
Related on IndoEVs: Jaecoo in our EV directory; EV sales pass 2025 total by September as Jaecoo J5 and BYD Atto 1 lead; BYD raises Seal and Sealion 7 prices by up to Rp 250 million.

Sources: kumparanOTO – Harga Jaecoo J5 Naik Lagi, Inden Paling Lama Satu Bulan (23 Sept 2026); Kompas – Harga Jaecoo J5 EV Naik, Ini Dalih Jaecoo Indonesia (25 Sept 2026); detikOto – Harga Jaecoo J5 Naik, Tak Ada Lagi yang di Bawah Rp 250 Juta (28 Sept 2026); Moladin – Update Penyesuaian Jaecoo J5 EV April 2026.
30 September 2026
Parts makers say EV local-content rules leave little room for suppliers
Top image: Photo: Andra Febrian, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Indonesia’s rule that locally built electric cars must reach 40% local content (TKDN) this year is doing less for domestic parts makers than the headline figure suggests, according to the country’s automotive component industry association.

Rachmat Basuki, secretary general of GIAMM (Gabungan Industri Alat Mobil dan Motor), told CNBC Indonesia on Monday 28 September that only a narrow range of EV parts is currently sourced from Indonesian suppliers. He listed tyres, wheel rims, safety glass, wiring harnesses and some interior parts as the main examples.

How the 40% is reached

The explanation lies in how the TKDN score for electric cars is weighted. As Rachmat described it to CNBC Indonesia, the calculation gives:
- 30% for carrying out vehicle assembly in Indonesia;
- 40% for localising the battery, down to cell level;
- 10% for localising other main or supporting components.
That means a manufacturer that assembles its cars locally already has three-quarters of the 2026 target in hand. In Rachmat’s words, the remaining gap is closed by localising a handful of components, “although not yet on a large scale” (translated from Indonesian).

For component makers, the practical effect is that a carmaker can clear the current bar without buying much from them. Rachmat said suppliers want a bigger role and noted that the government has twice organised business-matching sessions between parts makers and EV producers, on top of the contacts carmakers make on their own.

The bar rises from 2027

The pressure on the supply chain is set to grow. The Industry Ministry’s local-content path for EVs rises from 40% in 2026 to 60% for 2027–2029 and 80% from 2030, Antara reported earlier this month. Under the weighting described by GIAMM, those higher thresholds are hard to meet through assembly alone; they point towards local battery cells and a far deeper parts base. (This is our reading of the figures, not a statement by GIAMM.)

The government is also looking at tying future incentives more directly to local content. Speaking at the opening of BYD’s Subang plant on 3 September, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said his ministry had been asked to study incentive schemes linked to TKDN and would work with the Finance Ministry on the design, according to Antara. He said the higher a product’s TKDN score, the more attention it should get from government. Antara reported on 26 September that this work on TKDN-based EV incentives is continuing.

We covered the BYD factory opening and its local-content plans at the time, and the parallel debate on the motorbike side, where ALVA told lawmakers local suppliers are the bottleneck as TKDN requirements climb.

Why batteries matter most

With battery localisation carrying the single largest weight in the formula, cell production is the lever that will decide whether carmakers can hit 60% and later 80%. That links the car market directly to Indonesia’s nickel and battery investment push, including the CATL–IBC plant in Karawang. Our guide to Indonesia’s EV and battery industry explains how those pieces fit together.

What it means for buyers

The 40% rule for 2026 is already in place, so nothing changes at the showroom as a result of these comments. The bigger question is 2027. If incentives are rewritten to reward higher TKDN scores, brands that have invested in local cells and parts could gain a price advantage, while those relying mainly on local assembly may have to absorb costs or raise prices. Buyers comparing models over the next year may find it worth asking dealers whether a car is locally assembled and what its TKDN rating is. Our electric car buying guide covers the current line-up and prices.

Update, 30 September: The Ministry of Industry has confirmed that the requirement will rise to 60% local content from 2027 and 80% from 2030. Read our follow-up.

Sources: CNBC Indonesia, 28 Sep 2026; Antara, 3 Sep 2026; Antara, 26 Sep 2026
29 September 2026
South Sumatra’s EV fleet more than doubles as PLN opens Palembang charging hub
Top image: Ampera Bridge, Palembang. Photo: Yogwi21, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The number of electric cars in South Sumatra has more than doubled in seven months, according to state utility PLN, which on Friday 25 September opened the province’s first “SPKLU Center” – a cluster of public fast chargers – in the provincial capital, Palembang.

Figures from PLN’s regional distribution unit for South Sumatra, Jambi and Bengkulu (UID S2JB), reported by Antara, put the number of electric cars in the province at 2,047 in July 2026, up from 849 in December 2025.

What has opened in Palembang

The new hub is at PLN’s Rivai customer service office on Jalan Demang Lebar Daun. It adds four new charging units with a combined eight CCS2 connectors rated at 120 kW, alongside two units already on site rated at 120 kW and 180 kW, Listrik Indonesia reported. South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru inaugurated the site.

Across its three-province service area, PLN UID S2JB says it now runs 87 charging units at 69 public charging station (SPKLU) locations, one mobile charging unit and 40 charging points for electric motorbikes at 40 locations. Antara presents the 87-unit figure as a regional total without spelling out whether it covers South Sumatra alone; Listrik Indonesia attributes it to the whole South Sumatra–Jambi–Bengkulu service area.

Charging demand is rising faster than the fleet

Usage of PLN’s chargers in the area has grown even more quickly than car ownership. Charging sessions rose from 1,958 in 2024 to 11,726 in 2025, and had reached 28,176 in 2026 by the end of August. Energy delivered climbed from 44,917 kWh in 2024 to 309,243 kWh in 2025, and to 762,975 kWh by August this year, according to Antara and Listrik Indonesia.

If the 2026 figures cover this year only, as Listrik Indonesia’s report indicates, eight months of 2026 have already produced roughly 2.4 times as many charging sessions and about 2.5 times as much energy as the whole of 2025 (IndoEVs’ own calculation from the reported figures).

Diksi Erfani Umar, general manager of PLN UID S2JB, framed the new centre as a response to that demand:

“The growth of electric vehicles must be matched by the readiness of its infrastructure.” – Diksi Erfani Umar, PLN UID S2JB, via Listrik Indonesia (translated from Indonesian)

Governor wants a charger in every district

Governor Deru used the opening to set a much wider goal: at least one charging point in each of South Sumatra’s 241 kecamatan (sub-districts), prioritising those with heavy vehicle traffic, Beritalima reported. No deadline was given. He said PLN is open to working with third parties to host chargers at government and private sites.

“My hope is that this infrastructure doesn’t stop at the big cities, but reaches into the sub-districts.” – Herman Deru, Governor of South Sumatra, via Beritalima (translated from Indonesian)

Antara also reported the governor pointing to provincial support for EV owners through vehicle-tax relief, though the report did not give details of the scheme.

Part of a national pattern

South Sumatra’s numbers are small next to Greater Jakarta, but they mirror what is happening nationally: EV sales hit a record in August (see our report on Gaikindo’s August figures), and PLN’s charging network has been recording sharp growth in energy use (see PLN’s first-half SPKLU figures). A dedicated fast-charging hub in a regional capital is a sign the network is starting to follow demand beyond Java.

What it means for buyers
- In Palembang: a site with several fast chargers lowers the risk of arriving to find the only charger occupied or out of order.
- Charging speed depends on the car: a 120 kW or 180 kW charger only delivers that power if the car can accept it. Some models, particularly smaller city cars, accept much lower DC charging rates, so check your car’s maximum before planning a trip around a charging stop.
- Outside the capital: the one-charger-per-district target has no timetable, so buyers in smaller towns should still plan around home charging for now. Our guide to charging an EV in Indonesia explains SPKLU, home charging and battery swapping, and the PLN SPKLU entry in our EV directory lists the network’s details.
Related: PLN has since opened a similar SPKLU Center in Padang. Read West Sumatra EV charging use jumps 4.5-fold as PLN opens Padang hub.

Sources: Antara – PLN sebut penggunaan mobil listrik di Sumsel tumbuh dua kali lipat (26 Sept 2026); Listrik Indonesia – Mobil listrik di Sumsel tembus 2.047 unit, PLN buka SPKLU Center; Beritalima – Gubernur Sumsel resmikan SPKLU Center PLN di Palembang (25 Sept 2026)
28 September 2026
Green SM launches VinFast electric motorbike taxis in Jakarta
Top image: Photo: Newone, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Green SM, the Vietnamese all-electric ride-hailing company, has added two wheels to its Indonesian business. Its Green SM Bike service, which uses VinFast electric scooters, began operating in Jakarta on 16 September, according to Antara.

The launch means Green SM now runs electric cars and motorbikes in the capital, only days after it introduced its six-seat Green Limo taxi service. Antara reported that Indonesia is the company’s first market outside Vietnam for its electric motorbike service.

Where it runs and on what

At launch, the service covers selected parts of South, West and Central Jakarta, with expansion to other Indonesian cities not ruled out, Jawa Pos reported. The fleet is made up of two VinFast scooter models, the Evo and the Feliz II, both aimed at everyday urban riding.

Green SM is also building charging and battery-swap facilities to keep the fleet moving, according to Jawa Pos. Details of how many bikes are on the road at launch were not given in the reports we reviewed.

Rent-to-own deals for drivers

Rather than asking riders to bring their own motorbike, Green SM is offering its partner drivers VinFast scooters on rental terms:
- Rent-to-own: from Rp 39,000 a day, with the scooter becoming the driver’s after two years.
- Fixed-term rental: contracts of three, six or twelve months, with a Rp 150,000 deposit.
By our own rough calculation, paying Rp 39,000 every day for two years would add up to about Rp 28.5 million. The actual total will depend on the contract terms, which may not require payment every calendar day.

Antara reported that drivers who meet the programme’s requirements could earn up to Rp 160,000 a day during an initial two-month period, plus performance bonuses. Applicants must be aged between 21 and 54.5, hold a SIM C motorcycle licence, and provide an ID card, family card, police clearance certificate and a compatible smartphone. No registration fee is charged, but a deposit is due when the vehicle is handed over.

Why it matters

Motorbike taxis (ojek) are one of the most intensive uses of two-wheelers in Indonesian cities, so electrifying them could cut fuel costs and tailpipe emissions faster than private sales alone. Green SM’s model, where the platform supplies the vehicle, also sidesteps the upfront price that has held back many private buyers, especially while the government’s e-motorbike purchase incentive remains on hold.

The company is entering a market dominated by established ride-hailing platforms, and its success will depend on keeping bikes charged and available across a busy city.

What it means for riders and buyers
- Passengers in the covered parts of Jakarta now have another electric option for short trips.
- Would-be ojek drivers should compare the total cost of the rent-to-own deal with buying a scooter outright, and check battery charging or swapping arrangements before signing.
- Private buyers can find VinFast and other brands in the IndoEVs EV directory and our electric motorbike buyer’s guide.
Sources: Antara (19 Sept 2026); Jawa Pos (22 Sept 2026).
27 September 2026
E-motorbike subsidy rules are ready, minister says, but Finance must sign off
Top image: Photo: Daddynnoob, CC0 (public domain dedication), via Wikimedia Commons

Indonesia’s long-promised purchase incentive for electric motorcycles is ready to go as far as the Ministry of Industry is concerned, according to Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. The final call, he says, now belongs to the Ministry of Finance, which changed hands earlier this month.

The update is the latest turn in a saga we covered on 24 September, when industry groups warned that e-motorcycle sales had slumped as buyers waited for the discount to appear.

“The technical side is ready”

Speaking at the Fairmont hotel in Jakarta, Agus said his ministry had done its part, CNN Indonesia reported on 25 September:

“We, the technical ministry, are ready. If the Finance Minister decides to grant the incentive…” – Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Industry Minister, to CNN Indonesia (translated from Indonesian)

He made a similar point earlier in the week, telling reporters that the technical guidelines (petunjuk teknis) had been prepared, IDN Times reported on 23 September. What is still missing is a Finance Minister regulation (PMK) to give the scheme its legal footing, Medcom.id noted, adding that Deputy Industry Minister Faisol Riza had described that regulation as almost finished.

A new minister in charge

The person who publicly promised the subsidy is no longer in the job. President Prabowo Subianto replaced Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa with Suahasil Nazara on 14 September, according to Medcom.id, which listed the e-motorbike incentive among the unfinished business Purbaya left behind. Purbaya had said the subsidy should already have been running in September.

The scheme on the table is unchanged: a Rp 3 million discount per domestically produced electric motorcycle, from a total budget of Rp 3 trillion aimed at up to one million units. That is well below earlier plans of Rp 5 million per unit, and less than half the Rp 7 million incentive offered in 2023, IDN Times pointed out.

Sales still under pressure

The uncertainty continues to weigh on the market. Budi Setiyadi, chairman of the electric motorcycle industry association Aismoli, told CNN Indonesia that sales reached only about 18,900 units in January–August 2026, compared with roughly 77,000 in 2024 and 70,000 in 2025.

Even if the scheme starts soon, it is unlikely to use its full budget this year. CNN Indonesia reported that realistic take-up in 2026 is around 100,000 units, limited by domestic production capacity. By our own calculation, 100,000 units at Rp 3 million each would draw about Rp 300 billion, or roughly a tenth of the Rp 3 trillion allocation.

Some analysts also question whether the amount is enough. Deon Arinaldo, a director at the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), warned that “incentives that are too small risk not being enough to close the price gap” with petrol motorbikes (translated from Indonesian), IDN Times reported.

What it means for buyers
- No start date yet. Until the Finance Ministry issues its regulation, there is no official discount at dealers, whatever sales staff may suggest.
- Only local models qualify. The scheme targets domestically produced e-motorbikes, so check that a model meets the local-content rules before counting on the discount. Our report on Alva and rising TKDN requirements explains why this matters.
- Weigh waiting against dealer offers. With sales weak, some brands are already discounting. Rp 3 million is a useful saving on a budget scooter, but a current dealer promotion may be worth as much.
For model and price comparisons, see our electric motorbike buyer’s guide and the motorbike brands in the IndoEVs EV directory, such as Volta and Alva.

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

Update, 5 October 2026: Agus Gumiwang has since been replaced as Industry Minister by Muhammad Sarmuji, and the incentive is still waiting for a Finance Ministry regulation. Read our follow-up.

Sources: CNN Indonesia (25 Sept 2026); IDN Times (23 Sept 2026); Medcom.id (14 Sept 2026).
27 September 2026