Gaikindo Stresses the Importance of Maintaining ICE Vehicle Growth in the EV Era

KatadataOTO – Policies supporting the adoption of electric vehicles in the United States have been canceled by President Donald Trump. The decision was made to support the automotive industry as a whole, as well as energy production and exploration.

The cancellation of the EV (Electric Vehicle) mandate is said to have an impact on Indonesia. It also serves as a reference for the government in promoting the adoption of electric vehicles.

Seeing a developed country like the US review its EV mandate, Gaikindo (Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries) believes that the growth of gasoline-powered cars needs to be maintained. 

“We must protect ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) cars. Because based on the available data, even America has revoked (the policy on electric cars), so we must be careful and not rush,” said Kukuh Kumara, General Secretary of Gaikindo in Jakarta recently.

Photo : KatadataOTO

According to him, many preparations are currently needed to maximize the adoption of electric vehicles in the country. For example, charging infrastructure needs to be evenly distributed in various regions and in large numbers, not limited to major cities.

Furthermore, Gaikindo believes that some people are still hesitant because they assume the resale value of electric cars will drop significantly compared to conventional cars.

Many adjustments still need to be made to maximize the implementation of electric vehicles. The strategy will also be different from other countries.

“We are different from America, Europe, China, and Thailand when it comes to the EV issue. Thailand, for instance, is one continent, one landmass, while we are thousands of islands,” said Kukuh.