GWM Reveals A Number Of Challenges For Electric Vehicle Production In Indonesia

GWM Ora 03 or Good Cat. (Doc. Great Wall Motor)

JAKARTA - The Great Wall Motor (GWM) has officially explored its legs in the Indonesian automotive industry by selling two models, namely the Haval H6 HEV and Tank 500. Both are hybrid vehicles introduced previously at the 2023 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS).

Not only that, this manufacturer from China will also sell Jolion HEV as the first local production vehicle in Indonesia made by the Wanaherang factory, Bogor owned by Inchcape.

Different from other Chinese automotive industry players in Indonesia, GWM chose the approach to localize hybrid vehicles first compared to Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). However, the manufacturer has its own reasons.

General Manager of GWM Indonesia Constantinus Herlijoso, said that GWM has chosen Haval Jolion HEV as the first local assembled vehicle through various considerations, not the BEV from the Ora 03 model which was also introduced previously.

"Indeed, this BEV has become a boom in Indonesia because of the regulations and incentives implemented, but we have a lot of considerations to think about before deciding which models are produced locally," Herlijoso told the media in Sudirman, Jakarta, Thursday, July 11.

He also mentioned that there are several conditions that must be met to assemble the BEV locally, but his party has not been able to fulfill it so that they have not yet met with an agreement with various parties involved.

"But technically, there are things to consider and some of the conditions that are read, at first glance can be met but it's not that easy," added the man who is familiarly called Joso.

Joso also explained that another factor that his party has not decided to assemble the BEV locally is related to battery supply. Compared to China, which exceeds supply, Indonesia itself only has one EV battery cell factory, which belongs to PT Hyundai LG Industry (HLI) Green Power in Karawang, West Java.

Second, supply from the battery itself. We know that the batteries for EVs are over-supply in China and in Indonesia alone only one has been inaugurated, "added Herlijoso.

However, GWM will try to improve on this because each EV has different battery specifications from other brand cars.

"However, we are finalizing their commitment to supply because each EV has different specifications," concluded Joso.