JAKARTA: (Bernama) Indonesia on Thursday (Aug 13) launched its Molinas national electric motorcycle initiative to hasten uptake of electric vehicles and reduce dependence on imported energy.
President Prabowo Subianto said greater use of electric motorcycles, cars, buses, tractors, and other electric-powered equipment would bolster the country’s energy security and allow better utilisation of its abundant natural resources.
"We need to avoid depending on energy from outside our country. We are too big to depend on external sources,” he said at the launch of the locally produced Molinas and its supporting ecosystem at PT Ilectra Motor Group’s (ALVA) production facility in Bekasi, West Java.
Prabowo called Molinas an important milestone driven by the private sector, in particular Indika Group, which he said had taken the risk of venturing into electric motorcycle production and had so far produced 20,000 units.
He said a major electric vehicle complex is also currently being built in the Subang area of West Java as part of Indonesia’s electric car ecosystem, with large-scale production targeted by 2028 at the latest.
To encourage greater use of electric motorcycles, Prabowo said the government would explore lowering financing rates, eliminating down payments, and introducing a trade-in scheme for existing petrol-powered motorcycles.
Prabowo said Indonesia spends between US$28 billion and US$30 billion annually on fuel, and is seeking to reduce its reliance on imported energy through measures such as biodiesel and electrification.
The government plans to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar power within four years, including a target of 30 GW this year, while moving away from diesel-fired power generation.
On a related matter, Danantara Indonesia chief executive officer Rosan Roeslani said Molinas aims to build a self-reliant and competitive domestic electric motorcycle industry by leveraging Indonesia’s nickel resources and developing downstream production of battery cells and packs.
He said Indonesia has about 140 million motorcycles, with annual sales of six million to seven million units. Electric motorcycle sales currently stand at only 60,000 to 70,000 units, suggesting significant growth potential in a market he estimated could be worth up to US$170 billion. - Bernama
