Gaikindo Boss Reveals Factors that Boost Car Sales in February 2026

Chairman of the Indonesian Motor Vehicle Industry Association (Gaikindo) Putu Juli Ardika. (Photo: Ministry of Industry)

JAKARTA - National car sales have shown an increase in recent months, including last month which experienced an increase of around 20 percent.

The increase was driven by various factors ranging from incentive programs to automotive manufacturers' marketing strategies.

Chairman of the Indonesian Motor Vehicle Industry Association (Gaikindo) Putu Juli Ardika explained that previously many parties predicted that vehicle sales would weaken.

But in reality, demand has actually increased.

The reason for the increase is because the automotive industry is actively holding various vehicle exhibitions that provide opportunities for the public to try out various latest car models.

"Indeed, previously many were pessimistic that vehicle sales would only be around 780,000 units. But we have held many exhibitions and education, so that people can try the vehicles directly," said Putu when met at the Ministry of Industry's office, Jakarta, quoted Friday, March 13.

Apart from promotion through exhibitions, government stimulus is still in effect, helping to maintain public buying interest.

The incentive program provides additional encouragement for consumers who want to buy a new vehicle.

"Government incentive stimulus is still valid until the end of the year, so it is used by vehicle consumers and producers," he said.

Not only that, automotive manufacturers also provide various discounts and attractive purchase programs to increase sales.

This strategy is usually carried out towards the end of the year to boost vehicle sales.

"Vehicle manufacturers also provide discounts and various purchase incentives because at that time it was near the end of the year," said Putu.

The increase in car sales is also influenced by the increasingly better road infrastructure conditions in various regions. With toll roads becoming wider and more comfortable, people are increasingly interested in using private vehicles.

"The road conditions are now getting better, so many people want to try new cars, especially before going home," he said.

The tradition of homecoming every year is one of the factors that influence consumer decisions in buying a new car.

For some people, having a private vehicle provides more comfort when traveling home with family.

"Yes, one of the factors that support vehicle sales is the homecoming. People see that the roads are good, the journey is more comfortable, so some choose to buy a new car," he added.

Launching from Gaikindo data, Tuesday, March 10, retail sales in February 2026 reached 78,219 units. This figure increased by 16.7 percent compared to January 2026 which was at the level of 67,009 units.

The increase is a signal that demand for new vehicles is slowly moving again after weakening at the beginning of the year.

Not only at the retail level, the distribution of vehicles from the factory to dealers or wholesales also experienced growth.

Throughout February 2026, wholesales were recorded at 81,159 units, up 22.1 percent compared to January which reached 66,472 units.

Cumulatively, retail new car sales for the first two months of 2026 have reached 145,228 units.

With the trend starting to improve, this achievement is expected to still have the potential to increase in the coming months. Even so, the automotive industry is still faced with a number of challenges.