Indonesian young people favor Chinese EVs for attractive price, design-Xinhua

China’s automotive company Chery’s electric vehicle model OMODA E5 is seen during the rolling off ceremony in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia, Dec. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

“I only consider Chinese cars because they come with affordable prices but have good quality,” said 29-year-old Stefano Adrianus.

by Nurul Fitri Ramadhani

JAKARTA, May 28 (Xinhua) — Adinda Ratna Riana, 32, is very excited because this year she will soon have her very first electric car, with the Chinese-made four-seater Wuling Cloud EV being her choice.

She hopes to enhance her efficiency by switching to an electric vehicle and bidding farewell to her fuel-powered car, which she found “wasteful of petrol.” What made her choose a Chinese EV was its attractive price and design.

“Chinese EVs are very cute in terms of designs and colors. The Cloud EV that I will buy is relatively small, which is suitable for a married person with no kids like me. Even if I have a kid later, the car will still suit us,” said the woman who owns a clothing business in Tangerang, Banten province.

“Also, I think Chinese EVs offer competitive prices that the middle class can afford,” she told Xinhua on Saturday.

People visit Periklindo Electric Vehicle Show at JIExpo in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

Similar to Riana, 29-year-old Stefano Adrianus has just bought his first EV, the Chinese Wuling Air EV, in April. He said he did not consider any non-Chinese electric cars because other brands were unreasonably pricey.

“I only consider Chinese cars because they come with affordable prices but have good quality,” Adrianus said.

He said that his Wuling Air EV was suitable for daily mobility because of its compact dimensions, practicality, efficiency, ease of use, and advanced features. “Not to mention that it has a unique, futuristic design. Other EVs offer luxurious designs, but who needs the luxury we cannot afford?” Adrianus told Xinhua.

The surge in electric car adoption in Indonesia has captivated numerous individuals in this Southeast Asian nation. Over recent years, EVs have proliferated on the streets, facilitating everyday transportation needs. Chinese EV brands, in particular, have become increasingly popular among urbanites, especially the younger generation.

Visitors view an electric vehicle of MG during the Periklindo Electric Vehicle Show (PEVS) 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

According to the Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries (GAIKINDO), the demand for new electric cars in Indonesia continues to increase following the presence of many new electric car models at affordable prices.

For instance, the 2024 Periklindo Electric Vehicle Show (PEVS) from April 30 to May 5 in Jakarta recorded transaction values of more than 400 billion rupiahs (24.9 million U.S. dollars).

GAIKINDO’s data has shown that in April, electric cars from Chinese manufacturers topped wholesales, with Cloud EV becoming the best-selling model, followed by Omoda E5 and Binguo EV. Throughout the month, as many as 597 units of Cloud EV cars were distributed.

Cloud EV and Binguo EV are manufactured by China-based Wuling Motor, with prices ranging from 350 million to 400 million rupiahs (21,785 to 24,897 dollars) per unit, while the Omoda E5 is produced by Chery, another leading Chinese automaker.

In the first quarter of this year, Wuling’s Air EV became the most popular choice for young buyers. With an estimated price of 200 million rupiahs (12,448 dollars), the series contributed around 64 percent of electric vehicle sales in Indonesia, exceeding 5,000 units.

Wuling Motors Public Relations Manager Brian Gomgom said that Wuling focused on producing EVs that could win the hearts of Indonesian young generations. “It can be seen from our compact designs that provide comfort in mobility while protecting the environment,” he said.

This photo taken on Feb. 5, 2024 shows a Chery OMODA E5 at the launching ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

Among the newest Chinese EV brands coming to Indonesia is NETA, with its specific series NETA V-II. The series costs an affordable 299 million rupiahs (18,698 dollars).

“Competition among electric cars in Indonesia will be tighter because consumers will have more choices of models and prices,” GAIKINDO chairman Jongkie Sugiarto said.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said recently that the government wanted to make Indonesia an EV production base for the Southeast Asia region. He invited EV producers to invest in the country known for its rich reserves of nickel ore, the main component for making steel and EV batteries.

“We encourage electric car manufacturers to immediately deepen the structures and make Indonesia a production base for ASEAN, in addition to encouraging the domestic market to continue to grow,” Hartarto said.■