The honeymoon period for electric vehicles (EVs) in Indonesia seems to be over, as evidenced by a significant drop in sales and increasing consumer concerns. One major issue impacting interest in EVs is reports of batteries catching fire unexpectedly, which has heightened public apprehension about this technology.
Despite this, Tenggono Chuandra Phoa, Secretary General of the Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (Periklindo), remains optimistic about the future of electric vehicles in Indonesia. According to Tenggono, while sales have decreased, the long-term growth trend remains positive.
“Yes, there has been a decline, but if we look at last year’s growth rate, electric vehicle sales increased significantly. Consumer enthusiasm for EVs is very high,” Tenggono explained in Jakarta on Wednesday (September 4, 2024).
He also pointed out that although electric vehicles have only been entering the Indonesian market for about two years, sales have been quite encouraging with many new brands attracting consumer interest.
“The presence of Periklindo and the exhibitions we have organized demonstrate the industry’s readiness. Major brands like VinFast and BYD have started entering the Indonesian market,” Tenggono added.
According to Tenggono, while the population of electric vehicles in Indonesia is still relatively small, this situation is expected to change with the introduction of new models and brands that have yet to fully launch their products in the market. “We need stronger industry support and local production to boost the number of electric vehicles in Indonesia,” he said.
With these developments, Tenggono believes that the coming year will be better for the electric vehicle industry in Indonesia, provided that the existing challenges are effectively addressed.
