Car Imports in Indonesia Rise Throughout 2024, Exports Decline

KatadataOTO – Indonesia has been receiving many new automotive brands lately. This is worth noting because some are still selling vehicles as complete imports, also known as CBU (Completely Built Up).

It should be noted that the government has implemented an incentive program that can be utilized by importers of electric cars, but with a commitment to local production by 2026.

As a result, in 2024, the number of completely built-up car imports in Indonesia reached 97,010 units, an 8.3 percent increase from the 2023 figure of 88,915 units.

The overall production volume also decreased, with the 2024 figure at 1,196,464 units, whereas throughout 2023 it reached 1,395,717 units. The decrease was 14.2 percent.

Photo : KatadataOTO

Gaikindo (The Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries) highlights that the four-wheeled vehicle production capacity in Indonesia is actually 2.2 million per year.

“Our exports have been increasing. But in 2023 it was 505 thousand, and it dropped in 2024 to around 472 thousand. We hope that in difficult conditions, it can still be maintained at 400 thousand units,” said Kukuh Kumara, General Secretary of Gaikindo, during a Consumer Protection Working Committee Meeting with Commission VI of the DPR, quoted on Friday (11/07).

Wholesales, Production, Imports, and Exports of Cars in Indonesia 2023-2024

2023

• Wholesales: 1,005,802 units
• Production: 1,395,717 units
• CBU Exports: 505,135 units
• CBU Imports: 88,915 units

2024

• Wholesales: 865,723 units
• Production: 1,196,464 units
• CBU Exports: 472,194 units
• CBU Imports: 97,010 units

Looking back, 2013 was the first year Indonesia successfully reached the 1 million wholesales milestone. At that time, imports stood at 153,920 units.

The figure gradually decreased to the 70 thousand range, eventually hitting a low of 35,169 units in 2020. However, after that, CBU car imports in Indonesia have continued to rise from 2021 to 2024.

Photo : KatadataOTO

Sequentially, the figures were 47,716 units, 83,298 units, 88,915 units, and nearly reached 100,000 units again in 2024 with 97,010 units.

In 2024, the Chinese company BYD entered Indonesia and utilized the import incentive program while waiting for their factory in Subang to be completed in 2026.

Its sales reached thousands of units despite just debuting in the country, with all models still being fully imported at competitive prices thanks to subsidies.