Electric Vehicles Become a Solution for High Operational Costs of SMEs

KatadataOTO – It is undeniable that the operational costs that Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have to bear are not small. One of the contributing factors is the high cost of transportation.

Yet, this sector is the backbone in maintaining the resilience of the Indonesian economy. This is because nearly 97 percent of the national workforce is absorbed in this segment and it contributes more than 60 percent to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Therefore, high operational costs must be addressed in various ways. Including making electric vehicles a means of transportation for business owners.

“MSMEs have a strategic role in the national economy, but they require support from various sectors, including the automotive industry, to grow. Collaboration is needed to provide reliable, efficient, environmentally friendly, and affordable commercial vehicles for optimal results,” said Munawar Chalil, Chairman of the Indonesia Center for Mobility Studies (ICMS).

Photo : TrenOto

Electric vehicles have been known to offer significant savings in energy consumption, maintenance costs, and fiscal incentives such as tax exemptions or reductions. Thus, business operations can be more optimal.

The choices are now more diverse, which is expected to make it easier for people to choose according to their needs. One of them is the DFSK Gelora E, which was launched in Indonesia in 2021.

“We see the role of MSMEs as very strategic in keeping the wheels of the economy turning. Therefore, DFSK presents several commercial vehicle options that are not only efficient in operational costs but also in line with the vision of environmental sustainability,” said Cing Hok Rifin, Director of Sales at PT Sokonindo Automobile.

Although it is an electric vehicle, the car can still be modified according to customer needs. This was stated by Albertus Whitney from the Delima Mandiri Bodywork Company.

Photo : TrenOto

“We can build commercial vehicles according to the needs and capacity of each business owner.  There is always room for innovation to realize their needs,” said Whitney.

Through the synergy between automotive industry players and MSMEs, the transformation towards a green economy based on electrification is expected to push Indonesia towards a more robust and sustainable economic resilience.