BAIC (Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation) has yet to catch up with other Chinese car brands like Wuling, BYD, and Chery in the Indonesian market, despite being one of China’s top five automakers.
Sales data from the first quarter of 2025 shows BYD leading with 5,718 units sold, followed by Wuling with 4,795 units, and Chery with 4,399 units. In contrast, BAIC’s sales lag far behind.
According to Dhani Yahya, CEO of BAIC Indonesia, the brand’s sluggish performance is mainly due to the limited availability of right-hand drive models. “Globally, BAIC still focuses on producing left-hand drive vehicles. That leaves us in Indonesia with just two models to work with—the BK490 and the X55,” Dhani explained.
However, Dhani emphasized that BAIC’s global headquarters is now committed to supporting the Indonesian market. “We’ve secured a commitment from the head office. They’ve agreed to start supplying more right-hand drive models,” he added.
One of the upcoming models is the BAIC BJ30, an eco-friendly hybrid SUV. The vehicle measures 4,730 mm in length, 1,910 mm in width, and 1,790 mm in height. Its bold, boxy grille reflects BAIC’s distinctive design language.
“We’ll be showcasing two BJ30 variants at the upcoming GIIAS—one 4×2 and one 4×4. Both will be launched shortly after,” said Dhani.
In addition, BAIC is preparing for local assembly of the BJ40 model under a Completely Knock Down (CKD) scheme in partnership with PT Handal Indonesia Motor (HIM) in Purwakarta.
“The CKD process has reached station 12. We’ve even flown in engineers from China to support the manufacturing process in Purwakarta. If all goes well, we’re aiming to launch the BJ40 by the end of this month,” Dhani concluded.
