Indonesia: Utilizing Nickel to Build EV Supply Chain

Wuling and Hyundai launch EVs; CATL, LG Energy Solution to produce batteries

2023/01/27

Summary
Electrification policy: Production to reach 1 million BEVs in Indonesia by 2035
Battery manufacturers and Indonesian state firms collaborate to produce EV batteries
Increasing number of EV charging stations to 30,000 by 2030
Hyundai Motor starts operations at new plant; Toyota, Mitsubishi and Daihatsu investing in EV production
Market trends: Sales volume for Jan.-Nov. 2022 grew 19% due to luxury sales tax breaks and new model launches
Export trends: Jan.-Nov. 2022 exports increase 59% for CBU vehicles and 5% for CKD units
Domestic market: MPV and SUV sales increase significantly for Jan.-Nov. 2022 period
Production Forecast by LMC Automotive: Indonesian production expected to be 1.49 million units in 2026

Summary

The Indonesian government has identified the environment as a priority in its national development plan and is working to the country, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. As a part of the plan, the government has been promoting the electrification of automobiles. According to the production goals for electrified vehicles announced in July 2021, a million units of battery electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to be manufactured in 2035. While sales of EVs totaled only 685 units in 2021, around 8,000 EVs were sold from January to November of 2022, including the Wuling Air EV and Hyundai Ioniq 5 launched earlier in the year. The Indonesian government plans to provide subsidies to customers who purchase electrified vehicles to promote the spread of EVs.

In addition to a manufacturing hub of electrified vehicles, Indonesia is also aiming to become a production hub for EV batteries by using its abundant nickel ore natural resources. State-owned enterprises as well as domestic and overseas battery companies are cooperating to build a supply chain for EVs and automotive batteries including the mining and refining of nickel ore, producing precursors and cathode materials, and recyclin.

The Indonesian government is also focusing on building the charging infrastructure to popularize the use of EVs. The government plans to have 31,859 EV charging stations and 67,000 battery swapping stations for electric motorcycles by 2030. As of the end of 2021, the number of both types of charging facilities totaled around only 500, but the government aims to increase the number to over 4,000 by 2025.

Regarding activities related to vehicle production in Indonesia, Hyundai Motorstarted operations at its new plant with an annual production capacity of 250,000 units in March 2022. Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Daihatsu are planning to make investments in the country for the production of electrified vehicles. Chery Automobile is planning to build EV and battery production facilities.

As for the new model launches in 2022, Toyota introduced the bZ4X, its first mass production EV, while Wuling launched the Air EV, a low-priced compact EV. Among MPVs which are popular in Indonesia, Toyota’s new Voxy and Kijang Innova Zenix, Suzuki’s new Ertiga Hybrid, Hyundai Motor’s Stargazer, and Kia’s new Carens were introduced to the market.