January 20, 2026 | 10:52 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bambang Susantono, Chairperson of the Advisory Board for the Transportation Strategic Initiative (INSTRAN), recommended that the Indonesian government provide incentives for electric vehicles (EVs), or electric public transportation vehicles. He believes such funding will boost the number of mass transit trips, especially in cities where private vehicles are prevalent.
"EV incentives must be provided for public transportation because they are its backbone," Bambang said when met at the Skyline Building in Jakarta on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Currently, PT Transportasi Jakarta (Transjakarta) has adapted electric vehicles for its operations. It operates 470 buses across various Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and non-BRT service corridors.
According to Bambang, incentives for electric vehicles, especially for public transportation, are more important than for private vehicles in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Indonesia is also targeting zero emissions by 2060 as a commitment to the international community.
On the other hand, the automotive industry is also targeting an annual increase in vehicle sales. However, debate remains regarding the use of electric vehicles, from their energy use to their sustainability. "I think we have to be fair in seeing this through," said Bambang.
Previously, the government had provided Rp7 trillion in automotive incentives over the past two years, including for electric vehicles. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that brands such as Build Your Dreams (BYD) and VinFast had also invested by establishing factories in Indonesia.
The incentives will not be provided in 2026 because they are to fund the national car project. "So, going forward, we will push for a national car," Airlangga said on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
President Prabowo Subianto, in a closed meeting with several ministers at his residence in Hambalang, Bogor Regency, on January 11, 2026, requested that the automotive and electronics sectors be strengthened through investment in semiconductor technology development. The goal is to build an industry in Indonesia that will benefit the automotive, digital, and electronics industries.
Read: Why the Government Halted Electric Vehicle Incentives
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