JAKARTA – The Indonesian government is exploring the potential to develop a national electric vehicle (EV) to compete with other automotive producers.

Currently, the national automotive industry produces only the Maung vehicle, which runs on traditional fuel.

Rosan Roeslani, Minister of Investment and Industrial Downstreaming/Head of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), stated that the government aims to accelerate the development of the national automotive industry. "Positioning Indonesia as a key player in the national supply chain," he said after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace on Thursday (6/2).

Roeslani added that the development of the electric vehicle industry should not rely solely on foreign investment. “We already have Maung, and there may be further developments. We will discuss and work on it more thoroughly,” he remarked.

According to Roeslani, Indonesia has significant potential for developing a national electric vehicle, given its abundant nickel resources.

“We have the potential in nickel, batteries are already available, and battery recycling is in place. But we still don't have the electric vehicle yet. Meanwhile, we are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, and President Prabowo even hopes to accelerate this timeline,” Roeslani explained. (LK/KR/ZH)