In Jakarta, Indonesia, local resident Rudy skillfully climbed into his Wuling Bingo electric vehicle, ready for work. "This is my second electric car," Rudy said with a smile as he adjusted the rearview mirror. "When I chose the car, the most important thing I considered was value for money. After comparing several brands, I found Chinese electric cars to be superior in terms of performance and range. They also have reliable after-sales service and easy repairs."

As the road became increasingly crowded, the Bingo's compact size allowed it to maneuver nimbly through traffic. Rudy pointed to the range displayed on the central control screen. "A full charge gives me about 400 kilometers, which is more than enough for commuting in the city. I commute over 70 kilometers to and from get off work every day, and with my business trips, I cover about 2,000 kilometers a month."

He recalled his previous gasoline-powered car. "My monthly fuel bill was three to four million rupiah (US$1 is approximately 16,385 rupiah). Now with an electric car, my monthly electricity bill is only a few hundred thousand rupiah, about one-tenth of what it used to be. That's a significant saving." He recently sold his old gasoline-powered car and is considering buying another Chinese-branded electric car. "I'm recommending it to my friends; it's truly practical and cost-effective."

Currently, electric vehicles from Chinese brands such as Wuling, Chery, and BYD continue to sell well in the Indonesian market. With their affordable prices, superior performance, and stylish designs, Chinese electric vehicles are gaining popularity among local consumers. According to the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association, pure electric vehicle sales in Indonesia reached 35,749 units in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 267%, with Chinese brands accounting for over 90% of the total. The association's statistics also show that BYD will sell 15,000 electric vehicles in Indonesia in 2024, ranking first in the market. According to the Indonesian Business Times, BYD's growth momentum remains strong in 2025, with sales exceeding 8,000 vehicles in the first quarter.

More Chinese new energy vehicle brands are entering the Indonesian market. On May 16, Geely Auto successfully completed trial production of its first pure electric SUV at its Purwakarta plant in Indonesia. Mass production is expected to begin in the third quarter of this year, with an annual production capacity of 20,000 units. The plant is a key manufacturing hub for Geely in Southeast Asia, serving not only the domestic Indonesian market but also the entire ASEAN region. Yadea is also rapidly expanding into Indonesia, planning to build an electric motorcycle superfactory with an annual production capacity of 3 million units. Full production is expected to begin in 2026 to meet demand in Indonesia and surrounding markets. BYD plans to complete an electric vehicle factory in West Java with an annual production capacity of 150,000 units by the end of 2025. The company currently has 50 dealerships in 27 cities in Indonesia.

Several Chinese companies are actively supporting the development of Indonesia's electric vehicle industry chain. In June, a battery and energy storage equipment project in Indonesia, in which CATL participated, officially launched. This project covers the entire supply chain, from laterite nickel ore development and smelting to battery materials, manufacturing, and recycling. In July, Chery and the Bekasi Vocational and Productivity Training Center in Indonesia jointly established a talent training base to help cultivate local electric vehicle technical expertise. Zhongwei New Materials Co., Ltd. also plans to invest approximately US$10 billion in Indonesia to build an integrated battery precursor base, a project that has been designated a national strategic project.

Indonesian Minister of Investment and Downstream Industrialization, Rosan Perkasa Ruslani, stated that cooperation between Indonesia and China on new energy vehicles will help increase the added value of related industries in Indonesia and accelerate the green transition.