The Ministry Of Industry Regarding The Development Of BYD Factory In Indonesia: They Have Purchased Land

Acting (Plt) Director General of Metal, Machinery, Trasnportation and Electronics Tool (ILMATE) Putu Juli Ardika. (Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - The automotive giant from China, BYD, has completed the construction of its factory in Thailand. This also marks a milestone in its expansion into foreign markets.

Quoting from the CNevpost page, Thursday, July 4, BYD officially entered the Thai market in 2022 and now has a 41 percent market share for environmentally friendly vehicles in the country.

"Since January 2023, BYD has been at the top of the list as Thailand's best-selling new energy vehicle (NEV) for 18 consecutive months and has a high level of recognition in the country," said BYD Chief Executive Wang Chuanfu.

This factory has an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles and is the first overseas passenger car factory fully owned by BYD. Three models will be produced at this plant, namely Dolphin and Seal all-electric and Atto 3, which was also launched in Indonesia at the beginning of last year.

In addition to producing pure electric cars, BYD Thailand also plans to produce Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), including the Sea Lion model, known as the Song Plus DM-i in China.

So, when is the construction of the BYD factory in Indonesia?

Responding to this, the Government through the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) said that BYD had stated its commitment to building factories in the country.

"If he (BYD) has actually committed in Indonesia (building a factory), has bought land for the industry and he has also guaranteed to bring his car to Indonesia. That's what he (Minister) of BKPM said, we have implemented it," said Acting (Plt) Director General of Metal, Machine Industry, Trasnportation and Electronics Equipment (ILMATE) Putu Juli Ardika when met after a media discussion on Solutions to Overcome Car Market Stagnacy at the Ministry of Industry office, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 10.

Putu also ensured that BYD would soon produce its car in the country. "Regardless production in Indonesia, don't worry. We're a little late," he said.

According to him, the Ministry of Industry is currently harmonizing regulations that are more pro-business than Thailand. Thus, automotive development in Indonesia is more attractive

"Moreover, later we will harmonize and make our rules more pro-business than Thailand. We believe that Indonesia will become the basis for automotive development," he said.

Even so, Putu still could not provide further information on when BYD would lay its first stone or groundbreaking for its first factory in the country.

"We'll see the progress later," he added.