Towards the end of the year, BYD Motor Indonesia officials diligently visited various media in Indonesia. This activity turned out to be a warm-up for BYD to stimulate the Indonesian automotive market next year.
Yes, the map of the national automotive market in the year of the wooden dragon will indeed be even more exciting. Chinese-flagged cars are starting to arrive in Indonesia.
After Great Wall Motor (GWM), now the largest electrified car manufacturer in the world, BYD has also come to Indonesia. Interestingly, the strategy implemented by BYD is actually very different from other Chinese manufacturers that have already arrived.
BYD is actually playing it safe to enter the Indonesian market. They don’t immediately build factories like Wuling and don’t directly sell cars like NETA, DFSK, GWM, and others.
Instead, they want to show off their technology to the Indonesian people.
“For the products we will carry, we have a fairly wide range, starting from Seagull to Yangwang U8 for the premium segment. “For Indonesia, the most important thing is to show BYD technology first,” said President Director of PT BYD Motor Indonesia Eagle Zhao.
Showing off technology is indeed a very crucial thing for BYD. The reason is that BYD is known not only as an automotive manufacturer. They are also a technology company that should not be taken lightly.
The majority of BYD’s business lines are in the field of providing electronic devices. Meanwhile, the automotive business is run by BYD AUTO. So far BYD AUTO is a car manufacturer that has independent battery production facilities, and is the second largest.
“Indeed, we are the largest automotive company for NEV (New Energy Vehicle) vehicles, and the second company for battery companies. “So it is important for us to introduce our technology first, then we can adjust which products are suitable for Indonesian consumers,” said Zhou Eagle.
In fact, BYD has been present in Indonesia in the last few years, starting its business in public transportation. Electric buses made by BYD are part of the TransJakarta fleet which have been running since 2018.
“Indeed, BYD always starts with public transportation. “Even now, we are still conducting studies to look at the market,” said Eagle Zhao.
However, Zhou did not want to reveal what products BYD would bring to offer Indonesian consumers. He emphasized that he would first see what kind of market developed in the country after introducing the technology.
Globally, BYD has many electric and hybrid car models, such as Atto 3, Dolphin, Seagull, Seal, Tang, Song, and even electric buses.
Eagle Zhao further said that the electrification trend cannot be rejected by a country. The reason is, the whole world has started to issue regulations that force every manufacturer to make electrified cars.
“Like what happened 16 years ago, where people were not as familiar with cellphones as they are now. In terms of capacity, screen and size. “Now people are more likely to use smartphones,” said Eagle Zhao.
He revealed that many smartphone developments in the past were questionable and had high prices. According to him, this will also happen to the trend of electric vehicles, which over time will experience a decline in prices.
“Because now cellphones are not just a communication tool but a lifestyle. Likewise with EVs, we also think the same thing will happen. “People will change their habits,” he said.
Eagle Zhao said that electric car users in the world continue to increase, which indicates that the era of electrification has begun. This is also believed to happen in Indonesia, which is also supported by the government.
“Several countries in Europe, such as Norway, Germany, have reached 80 percent (electric vehicle use). Even the US, Brazil and Mexico are experiencing the same thing. “In Southeast Asia, China and even Australia, there has also been a significant increase in (electric vehicles),” he said.
