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View all search resultsMoU signed for national car but questions remain on ‘ambitious’ project
Indonesia’s bid to mass-produce cars of a homegrown brand in 2027 is “highly ambitious”, experts say, noting that an electric vehicle model would require sustained fiscal outlays and far stronger technical competencies than the country currently possesses.
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President Prabowo Subianto greets and inspects troops from his presidential vehicle on Oct. 5, 2025, ahead of a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Indonesian Military at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta. (Courtesy of/BPMI Setpres)
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ndonesia’s bid to mass-produce cars of a homegrown brand in 2027 is “highly ambitious”, experts say, noting that an electric vehicle (EV) model would require sustained fiscal outlays and far stronger technical competencies than the country currently possesses.
State-owned defense manufacturer PT Pindad, tasked with developing the project, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas) on Thursday to establish an industry ecosystem, conduct joint research and build human-resource capabilities.
National Development Minister Rachmat Pambudy said in a statement that, strengths and weaknesses aside, the country “has now taken the leap” to developing a national car prototype, a project that Pindad would carry forward.
Read also: Indonesia to build ‘national car’ within three years: Prabowo
President Prabowo Subianto had tasked Pindad with manufacturing the so-called “national car” in a bid to accelerate domestic industrial capabilities and curb foreign dependence.
Over the past year, Prabowo has been using Pindad’s Maung MV3 “Garuda”, a civilian version of its light tactical military vehicle that has since been developed into several variants.
The company in June launched an electric version, the “Pandu EV”, which uses a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery.
