Tag: Periklindo

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
3 November 2026
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
1 November 2026
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.

30 October 2026
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)
29 October 2026
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.
27 October 2026
Periklindo pushes back on bigger EV incentives for nickel-battery cars

Top image: Photo: Yo-Co-Man, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (Periklindo) has asked the government to rethink a plan to give bigger purchase incentives to electric cars that use nickel-based batteries, arguing that cheaper chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) have caught up and that tying support to one material could make EVs less affordable.

The comments came at a Periklindo press conference in Jakarta on Friday, 23 October, Republika reported, as the government works to finalise its long-delayed incentive package for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). It follows the association’s call earlier in the week for incentives to be extended to electric buses and trucks.

What the government has proposed

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa set out the basic idea in May: value-added tax on electric cars would be partly or fully borne by the state (PPN DTP), at 100 per cent for cars with nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries and 40 per cent for cars with non-nickel batteries such as LFP, according to InvestorTrust and DDTCNews. The package was meant to start in mid-2026 but was postponed; in June, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the scheme was still being reviewed.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has defended the nickel tilt. In August he said LFP was not a government priority because Indonesia lacks its key raw materials, and argued that nickel batteries perform better on long journeys, Metro TV reported. Antara said on 23 October that a larger incentive for nickel-based EVs, aimed at using domestic minerals and building the national battery industry, remains one of the options under consideration.

Periklindo’s objections

Periklindo chairman Moeldoko said Indonesia’s large nickel reserves should not dictate which battery technology carmakers use.

“Does the material have to be nickel? In my view it cannot be forced like that.” – Moeldoko, quoted by Antara and Republika (translated from Indonesian)

The association’s deputy chairman for development and research, Prabowo Kartoleksono, said LFP batteries now offer energy density comparable to NMC at a price about 30 per cent lower, Antara reported. He warned that reserving the larger incentive for nickel batteries could limit manufacturers’ freedom to pick the technology that suits the market, which matters most for price-sensitive products such as electric motorbikes.

He also pointed to a link with local-content rules: according to Otodream and Antara, he said that earning TKDN (local content) credit currently requires using nickel batteries, which he described as very expensive. That ties the debate to the ministry’s plan for a 60 per cent local-content requirement from 2027 and its view that local batteries could lift imported EVs’ local content.

Prabowo Kartoleksono did see a nickel opportunity elsewhere. He said solid-state batteries can use nickel, and suggested Indonesia should consider entering that technology while it is still new. He also mentioned sodium-ion batteries as another alternative under development.

Uncertainty is the bigger worry

Beyond the nickel question, Periklindo asked for incentive policy that is clear, consistent and transparent. Republika reported the association’s concern that repeated delays encourage buyers to hold off while they wait for announcements, which makes production planning harder. The separate electric-motorbike subsidy is also still being finalised, after earlier plans pointed to a start no earlier than September 2026.

What it means for buyers

No final scheme has been published, so current prices still reflect the existing tax rules set out in our 2026 EV tax guide. If the 100/40 split proposed in May is adopted, the battery chemistry of a car would affect how much VAT relief it gets, so buyers comparing models should check whether a car uses an NMC or LFP pack. Anyone planning to buy soon faces the same dilemma Periklindo describes: waiting could bring a bigger discount, but there is still no confirmed date or final design.

Sources: Antara (Indonesian), 23 Oct 2026; Republika (Indonesian), 24 Oct 2026; Otodream (Indonesian), 25 Oct 2026; DDTCNews (Indonesian), 23 Jun 2026; InvestorTrust (Indonesian), 2 Jun 2026; Metro TV (Indonesian), 4 Aug 2026.

26 October 2026
Periklindo urges EV incentives for buses and trucks as hybrid debate grows

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

The Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (Periklindo) has asked the government to extend electric-vehicle incentives beyond passenger cars to commercial vehicles such as buses and logistics trucks, adding a new voice to a policy debate that has so far centred on private cars and, this week, hybrids.

Periklindo chairman Moeldoko made the case at a press conference in Jakarta on 22 October to promote the PEVS 2026 electric vehicle show, which runs from 29 October to 1 November at JIExpo Kemayoran. According to VIVA, he said the association has written to the government asking for commercial vehicles to be included in EV incentive policy.

Why commercial vehicles?

Moeldoko argued that commercial vehicles use a lot of fuel and emit a lot of CO2, and that Indonesia’s logistics costs are relatively high, so electrifying fleets could cut both emissions and operating costs for businesses that depend on distribution. Bus operators in particular face rising running costs as fuel prices climb, Investortrust reported, while JPNN said he also named logistics trucks as a target.

“So far only passenger vehicles have been considered; all incentives have focused on passenger cars.” – Moeldoko, as quoted by Investortrust (translated from Indonesian)

On the form of support, VIVA reported that Moeldoko suggested commercial vehicles could get the same kind of tax relief as passenger EVs, referring to a reduction from a 10 per cent rate, alongside non-fiscal perks in selected regions such as tourist areas. He gave no cost estimate, and the government has not announced any commercial EV incentive. Moeldoko also said that, in his view, EVs will need incentives until adoption reaches roughly 30 per cent; that is not an official target.

A crowded incentive debate

The call came a day after Industry Minister M. Sarmuji said he would ask the Finance Minister to consider incentives for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and range-extended EVs (REEVs), possibly including exemption from Jakarta’s odd-even traffic rule, as we reported earlier. CNBC Indonesia reported that Sarmuji hopes the incentives can take effect this year, or early next year if not.

Unlike economists at INDEF, who argued that incentives should stay focused on battery EVs, Moeldoko did not oppose the hybrid plan. CNBC Indonesia quoted him as saying hybrids still help cut fuel consumption and CO2, and that fiscal and non-fiscal incentives are a concrete way to speed up the take-up of cleaner vehicles.

The wider passenger-car package is still unclear. Bisnis.com reported on 23 October that, as of mid-October, the government had not officially announced the scheme or timetable for incentives covering 500,000 electric cars and 500,000 electric motorbikes that Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa had mentioned earlier. Separately, the local-content (TKDN) threshold linked to EV incentives is due to rise from 40 per cent to 60 per cent in 2027.

What it means for buyers

For private buyers, Periklindo’s push for commercial vehicles changes nothing immediately. The bigger question for anyone shopping for an EV now is whether the passenger-car incentives and the 2027 local-content rules will change which models qualify, and at what price. Bisnis.com’s own illustration shows the stakes: on a car priced at Rp 300 million before tax, 12 per cent VAT comes to Rp 36 million, so the size of any VAT relief makes a material difference. Until the rules are published, buyers should check whether a quoted price assumes an incentive that has not yet been confirmed. Our guide to EV taxes and incentives in 2026 explains the current position.

Fleet operators, from bus companies to delivery and ride-hailing firms, have more reason to watch closely. If commercial EVs gain tax relief, the economics of electric buses and vans, such as the locally assembled DFSK Gelora E, would improve, but there is no timetable yet. Expect the subject to come up again at PEVS next week, where VIVA lists exhibitors including BAIC, BYD, Chery, DFSK, MAB, MG, Polytron and Wuling.

Follow-up: Periklindo has also asked the government to rethink bigger incentives for nickel-battery EVs. Read: Periklindo pushes back on bigger EV incentives for nickel-battery cars.

Sources: VIVA; Investortrust; JPNN; CNBC Indonesia; Bisnis.com.

24 October 2026
PEVS 2026 EV show opens 29 October at JIExpo, targeting Rp500bn in deals
Top image: Photo: Sulthan Naufal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Pictured: the Seres E1 on display at IIMS 2025 in Indonesia.

Update, 30 October 2026: PEVS 2026 has now opened. Read our report on the opening, including new industry ministry figures on battery EVs’ market share and the full exhibitor list: PEVS 2026 opens as battery EVs reach 16.88% of Indonesia’s car market.

Indonesia’s dedicated electric-vehicle show, the Periklindo Electric Vehicle Show (PEVS) 2026, opens at JIExpo Kemayoran in Central Jakarta on 29 October and runs until 1 November. Organisers are hoping it will generate Rp500 billion in transactions over its four days.

Key details
- Dates: Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.
- Venue: JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, halls B3–C3, according to Medcom.
- Entry: free for the public, with online registration required (Medcom; Antara).
- Organisers: the Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (Periklindo) with event company Dyandra Promosindo (MarkLines; Medcom).
- Theme: “The Future of A Clean and Efficient Mobility”.
What is on show

According to Medcom, the show will cover battery-electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, range-extended and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. PEVS 2026 project manager Rudi MF said the programme will also go beyond road vehicles, with battery-powered transport for water, air and rail, alongside wider use of solar panels.

The programme is split into business-to-business, business-to-consumer and business-to-government strands, covering industry deals, hands-on experiences and education for the public, and links with investors and government, Antara reported. The sources we reviewed did not publish a full exhibitor list; last year’s show attracted 143 exhibitors and more than 40,000 visitors.

Rp500 billion target

Periklindo chairman Moeldoko set the Rp500 billion transaction target when the show was announced in May, presenting EVs as a response to geopolitical pressure on oil prices. “Our choice is to stand still or create a breakthrough,” he said (translated from Indonesian, via Antara).

The market backdrop has improved since then. EV sales in the first nine months of 2026 have already passed the full-year 2025 total, as we reported in our January–September sales round-up.

Conference the day before

Periklindo is also holding its third Periklindo Electric Vehicle Conference (PEVC) on 28 October at the Mövenpick Hotel Jakarta, after two editions in Bali, detikOto reported. Four plenary sessions are planned: Indonesia’s 2027 economic and geopolitical outlook, next-generation EVs and autonomous driving, electric commercial fleets for logistics, and electrification of urban delivery, maritime and industrial uses.

What it means for buyers

Motor shows are often where brands announce launch prices and offer show-only packages, so PEVS may be a useful place to compare cars and electric motorbikes side by side, especially as the 60% local-content rule for 2027 starts to shape which models keep their tax incentives. As always, check what is included in any deal (home charger, battery warranty, free servicing) and whether prices are on-the-road for your city. The show also falls shortly before November’s Gaikindo auto week, where several new EVs are due to debut, so buyers who are not in a hurry may want to see both. Our EV directory lists the car and motorbike brands currently on sale in Indonesia.

Sources: Antara (22 May 2026); Medcom (21 May 2026); detikOto (5 Aug 2026); MarkLines (28 May 2026).
21 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
EV owners face ferry refusals as Indonesia restates battery safety rules
Top image: Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Update, 4 October 2026: Kemenhub has since floated the idea of dedicated ships for EVs, and ferry operators have set out their boarding conditions. Read our follow-up.

Electric vehicles are not banned from Indonesia’s ferries, but a growing number of owners and manufacturers are finding them turned away at the ramp. This week the dispute reached the national stage, with the EV industry complaining about refusals, ferry operators defending their caution and the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) restating the safety rules that already allow EVs on board.

Industry complains of refusals

The issue was pushed into the spotlight by Moeldoko, chairman of the EV industry association Periklindo, who said industry players had been rejected by ship operators when trying to move electric motorbikes, trucks and passenger cars by sea, OtoDream reported. He called for standard safety procedures, pointing out that lithium-ion battery fires cannot be tackled with conventional firefighting methods. The report noted that large makers such as BYD can use their own car-carrier ships, while smaller brands depend on scheduled ferries and cargo services.

What the ministry says

Kemenhub’s position is that there is no prohibition. Samsuddin, the ministry’s director of shipping and maritime affairs, acknowledged that some operators were still reluctant to carry EVs, but said this was because certain safety conditions were not being met, according to OtoDream. The rules sit in circular SE-DJPL 12/2024, issued on 4 April 2024, which the ministry has now reissued to clear up misunderstandings between operators and passengers.

Under the circular, as summarised in that report:
- the battery should be charged to no more than 50%;
- EVs should be parked on an open deck, not on enclosed lower car decks;
- the ship needs open space to deal with an emergency; and
- operators must carry fire-fighting equipment suited to EV battery fires.
Operators: safety first, and deck space costs money

Ferry operators’ association GAPASDAP says it wants to carry EVs but will not compromise on safety. Its chairman, Khoiri Soetomo, cited the risk of thermal runaway, in which a battery overheats, resists extinguishing and can reignite, and said many ro-ro ferries lack fire blankets, trained crews and suitable space in their closed car decks, detikJatim reported. GAPASDAP wants Kemenhub and the classification society BKI to set technical standards for where EVs go on board, early-detection procedures, battery manifests and a clear split of responsibility between carmakers, ports and shipping firms.

On the busy Ketapang–Gilimanuk crossing between Java and Bali, state ferry company ASDP said it cannot refuse EVs without a legal basis. “We follow the policy from the centre,” said Media Syahrianto Heriawan, general manager of ASDP’s Ketapang branch (translated from Indonesian), in a separate detikJatim report. That report described the conditions as a 30–50% battery charge and parking on an open weather deck or a well-ventilated area near the ramp doors, covering battery-electric cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles. It also cited a second circular, SE-DRJD 7/2024. The ministry’s own summary gives only a 50% ceiling, so drivers should check the exact requirement with their operator.

The harbour authority for Tanjung Wangi, headed by Capt. Purgana, flagged a practical snag: reserving open-deck space for EVs that may or may not turn up leaves lanes empty, which costs operators revenue.

What it means for buyers

For anyone planning to drive an EV between islands, such as Java to Bali, Sumatra or Lombok, the rules make the trip possible but not guaranteed. Our reading of the reports suggests sensible steps: check with the operator before travelling, arrive with the battery at or below half charge (which may mean planning a charging stop after the crossing, see our charging guide), and expect to be directed to the open deck or asked to wait for a ship that has space. Plug-in hybrid and hybrid owners should note that the rules reportedly cover them too.

The bigger question is for the industry. If smaller brands struggle to ship vehicles and parts off Java, buyers in other regions could see slower deliveries and thinner after-sales support. A clearer national standard, as both Periklindo and GAPASDAP are requesting, would help. Browse which brands sell where in our EV directory.

Sources: OtoDream: Moeldoko on ferry refusals (23 Sep 2026); detikJatim: GAPASDAP explanation (24 Sep 2026); OtoDream: Kemenhub responds (25 Sep 2026); detikJatim: ASDP and KSOP Banyuwangi (25 Sep 2026)
26 September 2026
E-motorcycle sales slump as Rp 3m purchase incentive stays in limbo

Top image: Photo: オーバードライブ83, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Update (27 September 2026): The Industry Ministry says its technical rules are now ready and the decision rests with new Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara. Read the latest.

Sales of electric motorcycles in Indonesia have fallen sharply this year as buyers hold off while waiting for a promised government purchase incentive, industry groups have warned. The government says the scheme is still due to launch in 2026, but it continues to await the regulations needed to put it into effect.

Sales down sharply

According to the Indonesian Electric Motorcycle Industry Association (Aismoli), cited by The Jakarta Post, e-motorcycle sales dropped to only 18,900 units between January and August 2026, compared with 70,000 units for the whole of last year. Industry players told the paper that consumers were postponing purchases until the discount is available, leaving dealers with stagnant sales and, in some cases, facing the prospect of closure.

Moeldoko, chairman of the Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (Periklindo) and a former presidential chief of staff, urged the government to act:

“Why is this going back and forth, with us still waiting for when it will actually be implemented?” – Moeldoko, Periklindo, to The Jakarta Post

What is on the table

The planned scheme would give buyers a Rp 3 million discount on each locally made electric motorcycle, funded from a total budget of Rp 3 trillion. It replaces an earlier Rp 5 million-per-unit proposal, Antara reported. Accounts of the scheme’s scale differ: The Jakarta Post described it as covering up to 100,000 units, while Antara said the Rp 3 trillion budget was intended to support purchases of as many as one million domestically produced e-motorcycles, even though national production capacity is expected to reach only about 100,000 units by the end of 2026.

Expectations had been raised in August, when The Jakarta Post reported, under the headline that the subsidy would return in September, that then Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa expected the scheme to restart that month. That month has now almost passed without the programme starting.

Government: decided, but paperwork pending

Deputy Industry Minister Faisol Riza told Antara on 24 September that the government had already decided on the incentive and remained committed to implementing it this year. He said the remaining question was how quickly it could be realised, and indicated that officials were waiting for the new deputy finance minister to take up the post.

Implementation depends on a Finance Ministry Regulation (PMK), and Antara reported that the programme may also require a Presidential Regulation to give it a firm legal basis. Only once those rules are issued can the technical guidelines, lists of eligible models and dealer procedures be finalised.

What it means for buyers

For anyone considering an electric scooter or motorcycle, the delay creates a clear dilemma. Waiting could save Rp 3 million on an eligible model, which is a significant share of the price of many entry-level e-scooters. But there is no confirmed start date, and the incentive is expected to apply only to locally made models that meet local-content (TKDN) requirements, so not every bike on sale will qualify. Buyers should check with dealers whether a model is expected to be eligible and whether any dealer promotions already offset the potential discount. Those who need a bike now may find that existing manufacturer offers make waiting less worthwhile.

IndoEVs will report on the regulation and the list of eligible models once they are published.

Sources: The Jakarta Post – EV two-wheeler sales slump as incentive hangs in limbo, industry warns; Antara – RI govt still targets electric motorcycle incentive this year; The Jakarta Post – EV motorcycle subsidy to return in September: Purbaya

24 September 2026