Ridwan Kamil Hopes Automotive Manufacturers Produce Electric Buses

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil gave a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the first Hyundai battery system factory in Indonesia in Cikarang, Bekasi (ANTARA/Fathur Rochman)

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil hopes that the automotive manufacturer, Hyundai, will produce electric buses in order to accelerate the shift of fossil combustion vehicles to electric vehicles in Indonesia.

"I advise Hyundai to also produce electric buses, because as Governor I need not only private electric cars but also electric public transportation," said Ridwan during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hyundai battery system factory in Cikarang, West Java, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 31.

Kang Emil hopes that in the next two to three years, the South Korean automotive giant can present electric buses in Indonesia.

Later, he said, the electric bus will be used as public transportation in the West Java region to replace the conventional combustion machines currently operating.

"I hope maybe in two to three years, after IONIQ 5, you can produce a big bus so I can buy it and make a policy in 27 cities to replace fossil fuel buses to electric buses," he said.

The presence of electric buses will also support the government's program to encourage the electric vehicle ecosystem in the country.

Ridwan Kamil also appreciated the construction of Hyundai's first battery system factory located in Cikarang, West Java.

Kang Emil said that with the construction of the battery facility, the price of Hyundai electric vehicles in Indonesia will be more competitive because the batteries used have been produced locally.

"On behalf of the West Java Provincial government, I am happy, support, and pray for this pride. Hopefully it will become a historic event of a low carbonous future, one of which is an environmentally friendly future starting from today's events," he said.

Hyundai Energy Indonesia (HEI), a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group officially started the construction of the first Hyundai battery system factory in Indonesia located in Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java.

Built as a result of the collaboration between Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia and Hyundai Mobis, this facility will support Indonesia to become an electric vehicle hub in Southeast Asia.

The plant was built with an investment of 60 million US dollars (around Rp900 billion) and will start mass production in the first half of 2024.