JAKARTA - PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara's plan to hold 105,000 pickup trucks for the operations of the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative (KDKMP) from India has attracted public attention.
For information, Agrinas Pangan has signed a contract to purchase 105,000 pickup trucks from two Indian automotive manufacturers, namely Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors, on December 23, 2025.
The President Director of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota, emphasized that the import decision was not based on specific directions or interests, because the step was purely taken based on considerations of supply availability and more competitive pricing factors.
He explained that before deciding to import, his party had negotiated with a number of domestic manufacturers.
However, the limitations of national production capacity to meet the demand in large quantities and a relatively short time are the main obstacles.
"There are no special instructions, but from the results of negotiations, friends' inability to supply Agrinas has forced us to import," he said in a press conference, Tuesday, February 24.
Joao stated that if there are local manufacturers who are able to provide pickup trucks in bulk according to the deadline set, Agrinas will certainly prioritize domestic purchases.
In terms of regulation, he ensured that the import step had gone through the review of applicable rules, and no provisions were violated because the import of this type of vehicle was allowed without requiring additional special regulations.
"We have ensured that to import cars there is no need for special rules, so I think that if it is in accordance with the rules, there is nothing we have violated because it is allowed," he said.
Regarding the issue of partisanship, Joao also highlighted the condition of the national automotive industry and said that 4x4-specification vehicles in general have not been fully produced in Indonesia, because many units are still imported from Thailand with a long distribution chain, which has an impact on higher prices.
In addition, he questioned the role of the technical ministry in encouraging the localization of vehicle engine production in the country.
According to him, the policy taken by Agrinas can be seen as a breakthrough, even though it has the potential to disrupt the interests of old industry players.
"Why has there been no bias from the Ministry of Industry in particular, why has there been no bias in sending machinery to Indonesia and produced in Indonesia, so I think this is a breakthrough that may make many people finally feel that their cake is disturbed so they are disturbed by the imports we do," he said.
Furthermore, Joao emphasized that this initiative aims to provide a rational choice for the community and ultimately, the market will determine which product is the most appropriate in terms of quality and value of benefits compared to the costs incurred.
"Later, the people will choose which product is the best product, which is the most rational for them to use with the money value they will spend, this is an initiative because they see the inability of production rather than all producers," he concluded.
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