PT Blue Bird Tbk plans to procure the majority of its future electric vehicle (EV) fleet from China’s BYD, the world’s second-largest manufacturer of EVs, after US-based Tesla. This decision was made after Blue Bird conducted negotiations with BYD and Tesla.
Indonesia’s largest taxi operator said it would turn to BYD for 80 percent of its EV fleet while reviewing its Tesla orders, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday (31/5).
According to the GizmoChina report, Blue Bird intends to place an order for 500 EVs this year, whose E6 and T3 models are considered well-suited for the Indonesian market.
“If the price is too high, it would be unreasonable for us to then pass it on to customers, so we need to consider this,” Blue Bird president director Sigit Djokosoetono told Bloomberg.
“We use a lot of imported BYD models as the price is supportive for us to operate in Indonesia,” he added.
Blue Bird chooses BYD for impressive track record
Blue Bird was highly impressed by BYD’s remarkable track record in the EV market, along with their unwavering dedication to quality and safety, GizmoChina reported.The renowned long range and cost-effectiveness of BYD EVs were pivotal considerations for Blue Bird.
This decision has the potential to expedite the widespread adoption of EV s not only in Indonesia but also in other emerging markets.
According to Inside EVs, BYD set a record in 2022 with a global sales total of over 1.85 million units, more than triple the approximately 593,000 units sold in 2021.
Rising interest: global EV manufacturers eye Indonesia
The government has positioned Indonesia as an attractive investment hub for major EV manufacturers such as BYD and Tesla. Both companies expressed their interest in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, which holds a significant position as one of the top producers of nickel, a crucial material for manufacturing EV batteries.
In March, the government announced that other EV manufacturers from Europe and Japan have also shown interest in establishing a presence in Indonesia.
PT VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas, an Indonesian subsidiary of the local conglomerate Bakrie and Brothers, which has previously imported electric buses from BYD for TransJakarta, recently expressed its eagerness to collaborate with BYD on the domestic assembly of EVs.
Furthermore, the government, led by the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister has been engaging in discussions with BYD regarding a potential investment in Indonesia. It is hoped that these talks may provide insights into the final decision of BYD on the country.
In an effort to promote EV adoption, the government has also unveiled a range of EV incentives, aiming to accelerate the country’s transition towards EVs.
