JAKARTA: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) underscored that electric vehicles are the future of Indonesia's automotive industry, as the country has supplies of raw materials for production, reported ANTARA news agency.
The president made the statement after opening and monitoring the 2024 Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) automotive exhibition held at the Jakarta International Expo, Jakarta, on Thursday.
"I think the future of Indonesia's automotive (industry) is in electric cars because we have the raw materials, such as nickel and others," he remarked.
At the exhibition, Jokowi visited the booth of national and international automotive companies, one of which is VinFast, a Vietnam-based automotive company.
He also entered the driver's cabin of one of the VinFast products, VF 5, and tried the steering wheel.
Earlier, the president and his entourage visited a VinFast car assembly factory on Saturday (January 13) in Hai Phong, Vietnam. He noted that VinFast is interested in investing in Indonesia.
When asked about his interest in a certain automotive product in the exhibition, Jokowi did not specifically mention the type.
"I already have many cars at the palace," he remarked.
Jokowi stated that so far, there is no plan from the government to increase the incentives for electric vehicles, as the policy was issued on April 3, 2024.
Nevertheless, the government is committed to encouraging a reduction in value-added tax (VAT) for electric vehicle products, he added.
The president said the aim is to carry out the production of all electric vehicle products in Indonesia.
"I think it will boost sales, and later, will boost the production of electric vehicle factories in Indonesia. That is the direction, and later, we will be able to compete with other countries," he remarked. –BERNAMA-ANTARA