Meeting Mazda And Fuso In Japan, Minister Of Industry Agus Discusses Commitment To Accelerating Electric Vehicles

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) asked for support for the acceleration of the electric vehicle (EV) program in its meeting with two Japanese automotive companies, namely Mazda Motor Corporation and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation.

The meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, June 5, during a series of trips from the Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita to Sakura Country, on June 5-7, 2023.

"In the two meetings, we discussed the amplification of broader cooperation in the automotive sector. Together with Mazda, we discussed the company's investment commitment which is planned to start in 2024," said Minister of Industry Agus in a written statement received by VOI, Tuesday, June 6.

Agus said that his party appreciated Mazda's investment plan in Indonesia as well as wanted to ensure Mazda's production plan in Indonesia, and encouraged Mazda to make Indonesia a production base in the ASEAN and Australian regions.

Mazda has a high market share in Australia. In 2022, Mazda's sales in Australia were 95,718 units, the second highest after Toyota.

Mazda products received in Australia, namely CX-5 (27,062 units), BT-50 (12,937 units), and Mazda CX-3 (11,907 units) which were mostly imported from Thailand.

The Minister of Industry also encouraged Mazda to participate in the Electric Vehicle (EV) acceleration program in Indonesia.

"We hope that Mazda can consider the Mazda MX-30 (EV) product as one of the lines-ups produced in Indonesia," he said.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, it was discussed regarding the electrification of vehicles produced by principal automotive specialists in these commercial vehicles.

Minister of Industry Agus also expressed his appreciation for Fuso's electrification plan in Indonesia.

Fuso has started conducting Proof of Concept (PoC) in Indonesia with the aim of introducing an eCanter to Indonesia in the future.

"We support Fuso's efforts to introduce commercial vehicles with electrification technology in Indonesia," he said.

At the meeting, the Ministry of Industry also continued to strive to encourage Fuso to increase the use of domestic components in its assembly, add to the product lines and types of vehicles produced in Indonesia, and explore export markets, especially to ASEAN and Australian countries. Moreover, Australia currently does not have the automotive industry.

Fuso sales in Australia in 2021 reached 4,196 units (1,452 units of medium duty and 2,744 units of light duty), and in 2022 4,219 units (1,318 units of medium duty and 2,901 units of light duty were imported from Japan.

According to him, the commercial vehicle market in ASEAN and Australia is very large. "In 2022, sales of these types of vehicles in ASEAN will reach 1,212,885 units and 303,741 units in Australia," he explained.

Agus added that the Indonesian government continues to encourage the commitment of automotive industry players from Japan to increase the content of local products, both in the form of spare parts and components in the manufacturing process.

"That way, the automotive industry can get incentives that will support its business activities in Indonesia," he concluded.