TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Indonesian government plans to steer the domestic motorcycle industry toward electrification by prioritizing electric motorcycles for the local market, while directing the production of gasoline-powered motorcycles toward exports.
Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said on Thursday that the government is preparing new regulations to accelerate electric vehicle adoption, particularly for motorcycles.
“The government is drafting regulations that will require electric motorcycle manufacturers already operating in Indonesia to prepare sufficient production capacity, because we want all motorcycles sold in the domestic market from our factories to be electric,” Agus said in Jakarta on Thursday.
He said the policy would not halt the production of conventional fuel-powered motorcycles. Instead, those vehicles would be channeled to export markets, particularly in nontraditional destinations.
“Conventional motorcycles can continue to be produced, but we will direct them toward exports to other countries, especially markets in Africa, the Middle East, and South America,” he said.
Agus said the policy is intended not only to preserve the industry’s continuity, but also to push manufacturers to adapt to technological change as Indonesia moves toward vehicle electrification.
“There is no need to stop producing conventional motorcycles because those can still be exported. But manufacturers must start building capacity to produce electric motorcycles,” he said.
He added that the government is currently drafting a roadmap under which all motorcycles used by consumers in Indonesia would eventually be electric.
“We are preparing a roadmap so that all motorcycles circulating in Indonesia and used by consumers will ultimately be electric. China has succeeded. Motorcycles there are already predominantly electric,” he said.
Agus also said President Prabowo Subianto has made it clear that vehicles in the future should be electric, as reducing dependence on fossil fuels becomes increasingly urgent.
“It is becoming increasingly clear how important this is for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. There is really no other option. We have to convert to electricity,” he said.
On incentives for electric motorcycles, Agus said his ministry has been in discussions with the Finance Ministry, although the amount of support is still under deliberation.
“It is still being discussed,” he said.
Read: Prabowo Targets Mass Production of Electric Sedans by 2028
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