Tag: EV sales

  • 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.

  • Moeldoko: EVs could lose Jakarta odd-even exemption at 30% of fleet

    Moeldoko: EVs could lose Jakarta odd-even exemption at 30% of fleet

    Top image: Photo: Firzafp, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Battery electric cars may not keep their exemption from Jakarta’s odd-even (ganjil genap) traffic rule forever, according to Moeldoko, chairman of the Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (Periklindo). But he suggests the perk, and government purchase incentives, should stay in place until EVs make up roughly 30% of the vehicle population, a level Indonesia is still a long way from.

    The comments, reported by Bisnis.com on Monday 26 October, add an industry view to a debate that has been building for a fortnight. Jakarta’s transport agency is reviewing the odd-even scheme, and Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji has proposed extending the exemption to hybrids and range-extender EVs.

    A 30% threshold

    Moeldoko told Bisnis he had discussed the rule with Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung, and that it is a matter for regional governments to weigh. His position is that the exemption can reasonably go once EVs are common on the roads, but not yet.

    “If the electric vehicle population reaches around 30%, the odd-even exemption may need to be revoked.” (translated from Indonesian)

    Because the EV population is still relatively small, he argued, the current policy can be kept for now. He applied the same logic to incentives: in his view, government support is still needed to drive adoption until EVs reach about 30%, after which the market should be stable enough to stand on its own.

    He also played down the risk that losing the exemption would kill demand. Lower running costs, he said, remain a strong draw for buyers while non-subsidised petrol prices stay high.

    Where EV adoption stands

    Bisnis cited Gaikindo wholesale data showing 117,218 battery electric vehicles shipped to dealers in January–September 2026, up 112.25% from 55,225 a year earlier. That was 17.26% of the 679,020 cars wholesaled nationally over the nine months. The figures match those we reported in our look at EV sales to September.

    It is worth stressing that the 17% figure is a share of new car sales. Moeldoko’s 30% refers to the vehicle population, meaning cars already on the road. Bisnis did not give a current figure for that, but because Indonesia’s fleet is dominated by petrol and diesel cars bought over many years, the EV share of the total stock is far below the share of new sales (our observation). On that measure, the 30% mark looks some years away.

    Part of a wider Periklindo push

    The remarks fit a pattern for the association in recent days. Periklindo has called for incentives for electric buses and trucks, and has questioned plans to favour nickel-battery cars in a new incentive package. The association is also co-organising the PEVS 2026 show, which opens at JIExpo Kemayoran on 29 October.

    What it means for buyers

    • No change yet: battery electric cars in Jakarta are still exempt from the odd-even rule. Nothing has been decided, and the provincial review is ongoing.
    • Don’t count on the perk forever: both the industry body and the city now openly discuss an end point. If the exemption is a main reason to buy, factor in that it may not last the life of the car.
    • Running costs remain the core case: as Moeldoko notes, the fuel savings do not depend on traffic rules. Our EV running-costs guide sets out the numbers.

    Update, 28 October 2026: Industry minister Muhammad Sarmuji says the government will hear Periklindo’s full case before deciding on the exemption. Read the follow-up.

    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: Bisnis.com – Moeldoko Bicara Sinyal Mobil Listrik Tak Lagi Bebas Ganjil Genap (26 Oct 2026); Gaikindo wholesale data as reported by Bisnis.com.

  • Hybrid, PHEV, REEV or full EV: which suits drivers in Indonesia?

    Hybrid, PHEV, REEV or full EV: which suits drivers in Indonesia?

    Top image: Photo: M Raisfath, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The BYD M6 DM-i, Indonesia’s best-selling plug-in hybrid so far in 2026, at GIIAS in Bandung.

    Walk into an Indonesian showroom in late 2026 and the word “electrified” can mean four quite different cars. Some never plug in, some plug in but still burn petrol most days, one type uses its engine only as a generator, and some have no engine at all. The government is now debating whether the three petrol-assisted types should get some of the perks that so far go only to full battery EVs. This guide explains how each works, how they are treated today and which suits which kind of driver.

    The four types in plain terms

    Hybrid (HEV)

    A conventional hybrid pairs a petrol engine with an electric motor and a small battery that is charged by the engine and by braking. You fill it with petrol and never plug it in. The electric side mainly helps at low speeds and in stop-start traffic, which is where it saves the most fuel.

    Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)

    A PHEV has a much larger battery that you charge from the mains, so it can cover shorter trips on electricity alone before the engine takes over. Chinese brands often market these under their own names, such as BYD’s DM-i, Chery’s CSH or Jaecoo’s SHS. The fuel savings depend almost entirely on how often you charge it: an uncharged PHEV is simply a heavy hybrid.

    Range-extended EV (REEV, sometimes EREV)

    A REEV is driven only by its electric motor. It carries a battery that is large by plug-in standards and a petrol engine whose job is to generate electricity when the battery runs low, not to turn the wheels. KatadataOTO describes the driving experience as much closer to a pure EV than a PHEV. Changan’s Deepal S05 REEV, launched this year as the first REEV on sale in Indonesia, lists a pure electric mode, a range-extending mode in which the engine-driven generator tops up the battery, regenerative braking and a “camping mode” that runs the generator while the car is parked.

    Battery electric vehicle (BEV)

    A BEV has no engine and runs entirely on its battery, charged at home or at public SPKLU stations. It has the lowest running costs and the fewest moving parts, but it depends on you having somewhere reliable to charge. Our charging guide covers the options.

    What Indonesians are actually buying

    Gaikindo’s wholesale figures (factory-to-dealer shipments) for January to September 2026 show the battery EV has overtaken the hybrid:

    • Battery EVs: 117,218 units, or 17.26% of a total market of 679,020, according to detikOto. Kompas gives a rounded figure of about 117,800 (17.3%); the small gap appears to come from different data cuts.
    • Hybrids: 65,968 units, or 9.72% of the market (detikOto). Hybrids led electrified sales from 2021 to 2024 before BEVs surged in 2025 and 2026.
    • Plug-in hybrids: 10,264 units, up 209.5% on the same period of 2025, led by the BYD M6 with 5,121 and the Chery Tiggo 8 CSH with 2,066 (CNN Indonesia). We covered the PHEV surge here.
    • REEVs: still a niche. CNN Indonesia’s PHEV table counts 29 Deepal S05 REEVs over the nine months.

    Our own calculation from these figures: battery EVs, hybrids and plug-ins together made up about 28.5% of all vehicles wholesaled in the first nine months.

    How the rules treat each type today

    Luxury tax. Under the luxury-tax regulation PP 74/2021, battery EVs are taxed on a 0% base, while plug-in hybrids and full hybrids pay luxury tax on a reduced share of their price, with the size of the reduction tied to fuel economy and emissions, as Gaikindo summarised when the rule was issued. The wider 2026 picture, including the end of the VAT discount and changes to regional vehicle tax, is in our EV tax and incentives guide.

    Odd-even and other perks. In Jakarta, battery EVs are exempt from the odd-even number-plate restriction; hybrids, PHEVs and REEVs are not. The city is reviewing that rule, and some brands have warned against removing the EV exemption.

    What may change. On 21 October Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji told Gaikindo that he wants non-fiscal incentives for hybrids, PHEVs and REEVs, including odd-even exemption and dedicated parking, and that tax relief is also being studied, though not necessarily at BEV levels (Koran Jakarta; our report is here). Nothing has been issued yet.

    “The plug-in hybrid and REEV incentives will be formulated.” — Industry Minister Muhammad Sarmuji, to detikOto (translated from Indonesian)

    Which one suits you?

    • Choose a battery EV if you can charge at home or at work, most of your driving is in and around one city, and you want the lowest running costs and, in Jakarta, freedom from odd-even. Our running-cost comparison sets out what charging costs against petrol.
    • Consider a REEV if you want to drive on electricity day to day but regularly travel where chargers are thin, such as long inter-city trips. Changan’s marketing head Ridjal Mulyadi told KatadataOTO that drivers covering about 170 km a day or less would run mainly on the battery. The choice is small: the S05 is priced in the Rp 500 million range.
    • Consider a PHEV only if you will plug it in most days. It suits households that can charge but want a petrol fallback for family trips.
    • Choose a hybrid if you cannot charge at all, for example in a flat or boarding house with no parking socket. You will still save fuel in traffic, with no change to how you refuel.

    Things to check before you buy

    • Your charging access, whether a home connection upgrade from PLN or a reliable SPKLU near your route.
    • Battery warranty terms for BEVs, PHEVs and REEVs, including whether they transfer to a second owner.
    • Your region’s vehicle tax. Exemptions are now set by each province, so check with your local Samsat or Bapenda.
    • Policy timing. Past EV incentives have been tied to local-content thresholds, so if a hybrid or REEV scheme is announced, ask the dealer where the car is assembled.

    Bottom line: the more reliably you can plug in, the further along the scale towards a full EV it makes sense to go.

    Sources: detikOto, Oct 2026; CNN Indonesia, 19 Oct 2026; Kompas.com, 17 Oct 2026; KatadataOTO, 11 Jul 2026; Kompas.com (biz), 28 Apr 2026; Koran Jakarta, 21 Oct 2026; Gaikindo, PP 74/2021 summary.

  • EV sales pass 2025 total by September as Jaecoo J5 and BYD Atto 1 lead

    EV sales pass 2025 total by September as Jaecoo J5 and BYD Atto 1 lead

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

    Indonesia has already sold more battery-electric cars in the first nine months of 2026 than in the whole of 2025, and the race for the top spot is tightening. Gaikindo wholesale figures reported by Kontan on Monday show 117,218 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) shipped from factories to dealers between January and September, equal to about 17.3% of all new cars sold.

    That total is already above the 103,931 BEVs sold across all of 2025. Kontan describes the difference as growth of roughly 12.8%; note that this compares nine months of 2026 with twelve months of 2025, so the true year-on-year rate for the same period will be considerably higher.

    The ten best-selling electric cars, January–September 2026

    According to the Gaikindo data cited by Kontan, the top ten battery-electric models by wholesales were:

    • Jaecoo J5 EV: 26,635 units
    • BYD Atto 1: 24,749
    • Geely EX2: 11,659
    • BYD M6: 7,043
    • BYD Sealion 7: 4,266
    • Wuling Darion EV: 4,020
    • Denza D9: 3,009
    • MG S5 EV: 2,914
    • Geely EX5: 2,760
    • VinFast VF 3: 2,447

    The D9 appears under the Denza name in the data, but the brand now trades in Indonesia as Danza after a trademark dispute, as we reported earlier this month.

    A two-horse race at the top

    The Jaecoo J5 EV and BYD Atto 1 dominate the segment. On our own arithmetic, the two models together account for about 44% of all BEV wholesales so far this year, and the J5 EV alone for almost 23%. BYD’s three models in the top ten add up to 36,058 units, roughly 31% of the total.

    The gap between the two leaders is narrowing. Monthly figures published by detikOto show the Atto 1 was Indonesia’s best-selling car of any kind in September, with 4,840 units, ahead of every Toyota and Daihatsu model. The J5 EV was fifth overall with 3,276 units, and the Geely EX2 13th with 1,890. That left the Atto 1 about 1,900 units behind the J5 EV over nine months (our calculation), with a quarter still to run.

    Nine of the ten models come from Chinese brands; the VinFast VF 3, from Vietnam, is the exception. No Japanese, Korean or European model makes the list.

    How big was September?

    Gaikindo’s month-by-month BEV figure for September was not included in the reports we reviewed. As a rough guide only: in our September sales report we noted that Stapo.id, citing Gaikindo, put January–August BEV wholesales at about 101,171 units. Subtracting that from the new nine-month total would imply around 16,000 BEVs in September, slightly below August’s 17,413. Because the two totals come from different outlets, treat that estimate with caution.

    September was a softer month for the market overall: total car wholesales fell 2.7% from August to 79,540 units, according to detikOto.

    A growing fleet

    The sales surge is feeding a fast-growing fleet. Ministry of Industry data reported by Jawa Pos and featured again by Antara on Monday put the number of battery-electric vehicles on Indonesian roads at 541,678 by August 2026, up from 406,916 in 2025. Of these, 259,077 were cars and 280,136 motorbikes.

    What it means for buyers

    The two best-sellers sit at different price points. BYD’s Atto 1 starts at around Rp 199 million in Jakarta, while the Jaecoo J5 EV costs from about Rp 279.9 million after a second price rise in September. Both brands have been adjusting prices as currency and shipping costs bite (BYD also raised Seal and Sealion 7 prices in October), so buyers should confirm the current on-the-road price with a dealer before committing.

    Strong volumes also matter after the sale: popular models tend to have better parts availability, more independent specialists and firmer resale values. With the government’s 60% local-content rule due from 2027, it is also worth asking dealers whether a model is assembled locally, since that affects which tax incentives apply. Our guide to EV taxes and incentives explains the current rules, and the IndoEVs EV directory lists every brand on sale.

    Sources: Kontan (Gaikindo data, 12 Oct 2026); detikOto; Jawa Pos; Antara.

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

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

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

    Indonesia’s new-car market cooled slightly in September after a record August, but the two Chinese brands that have led the shift to electric cars both kept their places among the ten best-selling makes. Data from the car manufacturers’ association Gaikindo, reported by CNN Indonesia and detikOto, show wholesales (factory to dealer) of 79,540 units, down 2.7% from August.

    The month-on-month dip follows an unusually strong August, which Bloomberg Technoz described as a record at 81,757 units. Compared with a year earlier the market is still growing quickly: September wholesales were 28.1% higher than the 62,090 units shipped in September 2025.

    The headline numbers

    • Wholesales, September: 79,540 units (down 2.7% month on month, up 28.1% year on year).
    • Retail sales, September: 81,243 units (dealer to customer), down 2.6% from August’s 83,421 and up 27.4% year on year.
    • January–September wholesales: 679,020 units, up 21% on the same period of 2025.
    • January–September retail: 676,223 units, up 15.4%.

    BYD third, Jaecoo eighth

    According to the brand ranking published by CNN Indonesia, BYD was the third-largest brand in September with 6,031 wholesale units, behind Toyota (21,877) and Daihatsu (11,558). On retail sales BYD did even better, with 7,421 units delivered to customers. By our calculation, that is around 1,390 more cars sold to buyers than were shipped to dealers, suggesting BYD’s network was drawing on existing stock during the month.

    Jaecoo, the Chery group brand whose J5 EV has become one of the market’s most popular electric cars, was eighth on both measures with 3,400 units. On our arithmetic, BYD took roughly 7.6% of September wholesales and Jaecoo about 4.3%.

    Over the first nine months, Bisnis.com puts BYD fifth overall with 43,727 wholesale units and a 6.4% share, behind Toyota, Daihatsu, Suzuki and Mitsubishi Motors. Jaecoo is eighth year to date with 27,234 units (4.0%).

    Electric-car figures still to come

    None of the reports we reviewed broke out battery-electric (BEV) sales for September, so the month’s EV total is not yet clear. For context, Stapo.id, citing Gaikindo, reported 17,413 BEVs in August and about 101,171 in the first eight months of the year. Update (12 October): Gaikindo data for January–September now show 117,218 battery-electric cars sold, already more than in all of 2025. See the top ten EV models so far this year.

    Price changes may also shape the final quarter. BYD raised prices on the Seal and Sealion 7 from October, and Jaecoo lifted the J5 EV Premium’s price in September, citing currency pressures.

    Can the industry hit its target?

    Gaikindo’s full-year target is 850,000 units. As detikOto notes, reaching it would require about 171,000 more wholesales between October and December, or roughly 57,000 a month. That is well below the monthly run rate of around 80,000 seen in August and September, so the target looks within reach unless demand falls sharply.

    What it means for buyers

    A busy market generally means less room to haggle, and with recent EV price rises from BYD and Jaecoo, buyers considering an electric car may find year-end discounts thinner than in previous years. It is worth comparing current list prices in our Indonesia EV directory and checking which models still qualify for tax incentives. Motorbike buyers can read our report on September motorbike sales and the delayed e-motorbike incentive.

    Sources: CNN Indonesia (sales totals); CNN Indonesia (top 10 brands); detikOto; Bisnis.com; Bloomberg Technoz; Stapo.id. Data: Gaikindo.

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

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

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

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

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

    The wider market

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

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

    Electric motorbikes: still a sliver of the market

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

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

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

    Incentive “this year”, says Airlangga

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

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

    What it means for buyers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    A niche model with a growing network

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

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

    Prices and specifications

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

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

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

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

    After-sales package

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

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

    What it means for buyers

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

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

  • Plug-in hybrid sales pass 2025 total as BYD leans on Atto 1 and M6 DM

    Plug-in hybrid sales pass 2025 total as BYD leans on Atto 1 and M6 DM

    Top image: Photo: M Raisfath, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Sales of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars in Indonesia have already overtaken last year’s full-year total, and BYD is using two models to try to lead both the battery-electric and plug-in segments. The new figures, published this week, add detail to the record August for electric car sales that we reported earlier this month.

    Plug-in hybrids take off

    According to Gaikindo figures cited by Bisnis.com, PHEV wholesales (shipments from factories to dealers) reached 8,981 units between January and August 2026. The whole of 2025 produced 5,270 units. By our calculation, that means the eight-month total is already about 70% higher than last year’s full-year figure.

    BYD credits much of that growth to the M6 DM, a plug-in hybrid version of its seven-seat M6 MPV that went on sale in May. The company says cumulative M6 DM sales passed 4,400 units between May and August. It also claims the M6 DM took 47% of the plug-in market in the first half and was the best-selling model in its segment for three months running. These are the company’s own figures and have not been independently broken down by Gaikindo.

    Atto 1 tops August, but Jaecoo J5 leads the year

    In the battery-electric (BEV) segment, the BYD Atto 1 recorded 5,560 wholesales in August. That was up 31% on July and, according to BYD, made it the best-selling car of any kind in Indonesia that month. Luther Panjaitan, BYD Motor Indonesia’s head of public and government relations, called the result “a proud moment” (translated from Indonesian).

    Over the full January–August period, however, the Atto 1 is still second. Gaikindo data compiled by Bisnis.com puts the Jaecoo J5 in first place with 23,359 BEV wholesales, ahead of the Atto 1 on 19,909 and the Geely EX2 on 9,769. The rest of the top five are the BYD M6 (6,694) and the BYD Sealion 7 (4,251).

    How big is BYD’s share?

    BYD says it shipped 37,696 vehicles to dealers in Indonesia by the end of August and puts its market share at around 37%. Its statement credits both the Atto 1 and the plug-in M6 DM, so the figure appears to cover more than pure-electric cars. An analysis from Maybank Investment Bank, reported by TNGlobal, gives a lower figure. It puts BYD’s share of year-to-date BEV sales at 32.7%, followed by Jaecoo at 23% and Geely at 12%. The two numbers are measured on different bases, so they should not be compared directly.

    Maybank estimates that electrified vehicles made up 28% of all car sales in the first eight months. That breaks down as 18% battery-electric, 9% hybrid and 2% plug-in hybrid. Wholesales across the whole market reached 599,500 units, up 20% year on year.

    There is also a small difference in the baseline figures. Bisnis puts January–August 2025 BEV wholesales at 51,191 units, which gives growth of 97.6% this year to 101,171. The tally we used in August gave a slightly lower 2025 figure and growth of 99.4%. Either way, the market has roughly doubled.

    Built in Subang

    BYD says the Atto 1, M6 EV and M6 DM are now all produced at its factory in Subang, West Java. Building the cars locally helps BYD meet Indonesia’s local-content (TKDN) requirements for electric vehicles.

    What it means for buyers

    • More plug-in choice: a PHEV makes sense for drivers who regularly travel outside the areas covered by public chargers. The M6 DM’s success is likely to bring more plug-in models from Chinese brands.
    • Strong competition at the budget end: the three best-selling BEVs, the Jaecoo J5, BYD Atto 1 and Geely EX2, are all compact models. That competition tends to show up as dealer discounts. Check our buying guide and the BYD and Jaecoo directory entries before you buy.
    • Wholesales are not retail sales: these figures count cars shipped to dealers, not cars registered by buyers. Monthly rankings can change as dealers build or run down stock.

    Related: what a plug-in hybrid is, and how it compares with hybrids, REEVs and full EVs, in our electrified-car explainer.

    Sources: Bisnis.com (23 Sept 2026); Bisnis.com (13 Sept 2026); TNGlobal, Maybank Investment Bank analysis

  • Indonesia’s EV sales hit record in August as 2025 total nearly matched

    Indonesia’s EV sales hit record in August as 2025 total nearly matched

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

    Indonesia’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) market posted its strongest month on record in August 2026, and the eight-month total has already come within touching distance of everything sold in the whole of 2025. Wholesale figures from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), reported by several Indonesian outlets this month, show demand for fully electric cars continuing to climb even as the wider car market grows at a more modest pace.

    A record month

    According to a tally of Gaikindo data compiled by KilasJatim, BEV wholesales (factory-to-dealer shipments) reached 17,413 units in August, up 24.6% on July’s 13,972 units and the highest monthly figure yet recorded. That took the January–August total to 101,171 units, almost double (up 99.4%) the 50,749 units shipped in the same period of 2025. The full-year 2025 total was 103,931 units, meaning the market needed only around 2,760 more units to overtake it with four months of the year still to run.

    The overall market was also firm. iNews reported that total car wholesales reached 81,756 units in August, the best month of the year so far, bringing the year-to-date figure to 599,491 units. By IndoEVs’ calculation, fully electric cars therefore accounted for just over a fifth of all wholesales in August.

    Chinese brands fill the top ten

    The BYD Atto 1 was the standout model. Gaikindo’s own monthly bestseller report placed the compact hatchback second among all cars sold in Indonesia in August, with about 5,560 units, behind only the Daihatsu Gran Max and ahead of long-established favourites such as the Toyota Innova and Avanza. The Jaecoo J5 also made the overall top six with 3,214 units.

    VIVA published the August BEV top ten, every one of which came from a Chinese brand:

    • BYD Atto 1 – 5,560 units
    • Jaecoo J5 – 3,214
    • Geely EX2 – 1,595
    • Wuling Air EV – 754
    • BYD M6 – 679
    • AION V – 563
    • iCAR V23 – 500
    • Geely EX5 – 487
    • Wuling Darion EV – 443
    • MG S5 EV – 428

    An analysis by Maybank Investment Bank, reported by TNGlobal, put BYD’s share of the BEV segment at 32.7% over the first eight months, followed by Jaecoo at 23% and Geely at 12%. Maybank estimated that electrified vehicles of all types (battery electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid) made up 28% of car sales over the period, with BEVs alone at 18%.

    Why buyers are switching

    Gaikindo attributes the surge mainly to product and price. Speaking to JawaPos, Jongkie Sugiarto, Gaikindo’s deputy chair for market development, said the jump reflected the arrival of well-designed BEVs at affordable prices. JawaPos also pointed to higher oil prices driven by geopolitical tensions, the growth of local assembly by global manufacturers, and a wave of new models unveiled at the GIIAS motor show in July.

    Mr Sugiarto was nonetheless cautious about how quickly electric cars would displace petrol models:

    “Replacing ICE, perhaps not yet, but their market share will keep rising. BEVs will keep growing.” – Jongkie Sugiarto, Gaikindo, to JawaPos (translated from Indonesian)

    What it means for buyers

    For Indonesian car shoppers, the numbers point to a market that is maturing quickly. A broader range of affordable models means more choice below the price points that once defined the segment, and strong volumes should help dealers and service networks expand beyond the big cities. Buyers should, however, keep an eye on how prices and incentives evolve now that the tax breaks for fully imported BEVs have ended and manufacturers are shifting to local production. Checking a model’s local-content status and the availability of after-sales support in their area remains sensible before signing.

    With the 2025 total all but matched by the end of August, 2026 is on track to be a new annual record for electric car sales in Indonesia. IndoEVs will report September’s figures when Gaikindo releases them.

    Follow-up: for brand-by-brand rankings and the rise of plug-in hybrids, see Plug-in hybrid sales pass 2025 total as BYD leans on Atto 1 and M6 DM.

    Sources: JawaPos – Mobil Listrik Makin Laris, Gaikindo Ungkap Harga Terjangkau jadi Kunci; VIVA – 10 Mobil Listrik Terlaris Agustus 2026; Gaikindo – Mobil Terlaris Agustus 2026; KilasJatim – Penjualan Mobil Listrik Indonesia Tembus 101 Ribu Unit; iNews – Penjualan Mobil Indonesia Tembus 599 Ribu Unit hingga Agustus 2026; TNGlobal – Maybank sees EV adoption continues to accelerate in Indonesia