BYD Explains Why EV Adoption in Regions Remains Slow

KatadataOTO – The use of electric vehicles or EVs (Electric Vehicles) is still dominant in major cities. One of the advantages offered is that electric cars are exempt from the odd-even traffic rule.

Therefore, electric car users can still drive in the city center without having to pay attention to the odd-even schedule. 

Meanwhile, in several regions in Indonesia, there are still some obstacles that are said to hinder the adoption of electric cars.

“The regional market is still slow. It's not in the realm of infrastructure, but more about EV awareness,” said Luther T. Panjaitan, Head of Public and Government Relations at PT BYD Motor Indonesia in Jakarta some time ago.

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BYD previously launched a pure electric 7-seater MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) to reach more consumers. Considering that MPVs are quite popular, including in the regions.

Its price is the cheapest compared to other BYD lines, in the range of Rp 300 million to Rp 400 million.

However, according to him, there are still many regional consumers who are not yet educated or familiar with the advantages of using electric cars.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta and various other major cities, Luther revealed that electric cars are actually seen as a mobility solution.

On the other hand, the number of official dealers is also a concern for consumers before buying a particular vehicle.

“At BYD, there are quite significant requirements for the network, especially (in terms of) location and size,” said Luther.

Therefore, dealer development is carried out by considering the location first, with many of them focusing on major cities. As of June 2025, BYD claims to have around 60 dealers throughout Indonesia.

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Luther emphasized that outlets in the regions generally still record lower sales compared to branches in major cities.

“But it's okay, we continue to promote. We take it as an initial step to introduce electric cars,” he said. 

Speaking of the dealer network, Luther explained that BYD has a target of establishing a total of 80 outlets by the end of 2025. Next year, it is hoped to reach 100 dealers in various regions of the country.