Chinese cars in Indonesia: which brands sell there and since when
Facts checked
Indonesia was the first South-East Asian country where a Chinese carmaker built at scale. SAIC-GM-Wuling established PT SGMW Motor Indonesia in 2017 and started mass production at Cikarang in West Java on 11 July 2017, with a 60-hectare supplier park and planned capacity of 120,000 vehicles a year. Chery followed with local assembly, and Neta, GAC Aion, Xpeng and Zeekr have all entered since.
The policy lever is an import incentive that trades duty relief for a factory commitment. Ministry of Investment Regulation No. 6 of 2023, amended by No. 1 of 2024, set a zero import duty on built-up and knocked-down battery-electric vehicles for companies that committed to local manufacturing, with a local content threshold of 20 to 40 per cent. Applicants had to file by 1 March 2025 and to commit to commercial production by 1 January 2026 and to building electric vehicles by 31 December 2027. The scheme was set to expire at the end of 2025, and in September 2025 the Ministry of Industry said no decision had been taken on renewing it.
The scheme worked in the sense that it pulled in volume. In 2025 wholesale car sales fell to 803,687 units from 865,723 in 2024, but BYD rose 202.7 per cent to 46,711 units and a 5.8 per cent share, sixth overall and the largest electric-vehicle brand in the country. Chery was ninth at 19,391 units, up 111 per cent, just ahead of Wuling at 18,605, down 15.1 per cent. Chinese brands took about 10 per cent of the market, against 3.83 per cent a year earlier. BYD inaugurated its own plant at Cipeundeuy in Subang Regency, West Java, on 3 September 2026, a reported Rp16 trillion investment on a 126-hectare site with capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year.
At a glance
| Country code | ID |
|---|---|
| Region | Asia-Pacific |
| Market status | Open |
| Brands recorded | 10 |
| Chinese-owned plants | 2 |
| Models on this site | 33 |
Brands sold in Indonesia
| Brand | Status | Since | Route to market | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 五菱Wuling | Sold | 2017 | Local assembly | PT SGMW Motor Indonesia began mass production at Cikarang on 11 July 2017. 18,605 wholesale sales in 2025, down 15.1 per cent. |
| 比亚迪BYD | Sold | January 2024 | The company itself | BYD announced its Indonesian entry in January 2024 and reached 46,711 wholesale sales in 2025, up 202.7 per cent, sixth among all brands. Entry month to be re-checked against a primary source. |
| 腾势Denza | Sold | 2025 | The company itself | BYD's Denza brand appeared in Indonesia's monthly retail top ten during 2025. |
| 奇瑞Chery | Sold | 2022 | Local assembly | 19,391 wholesale sales in 2025, up 111 per cent, ninth among all brands. Entry year to be re-checked against a primary source. |
| 哪吒Neta | Sold | 2023 | Local assembly | Hozon's Neta brand entered Indonesia and assembles locally through a contract assembler. Entry year to be re-checked. |
| 埃安Aion | Sold | 2024 | An independent importer | GAC Aion entered Indonesia through a local distributor. Entry year to be re-checked. |
| 小鹏Xpeng | Sold | 2024 | An independent importer | Xpeng entered Indonesia and pursued local assembly to qualify for the import incentive. Entry year to be re-checked. |
| 极氪Zeekr | Sold | 2024 | An independent importer | Zeekr entered Indonesia with the X and 009. Entry year to be re-checked. |
| 名爵MG | Sold | 2020 | The company itself | SAIC sells MG in Indonesia. Entry year to be re-checked against a primary source. |
| 长城GWM | Sold | not published | An independent importer | Sold in Indonesia in small volumes; entry date not established here. |
The rules
Stated from the document that issued them, with the date each was read. Nothing here is an interpretation.
| Rule | What it says | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero import duty on battery-electric vehicles in exchange for local production | Ministry of Investment Regulation No. 6 of 2023, amended by No. 1 of 2024, applied a zero import duty rate to completely built-up and completely knocked-down battery-electric vehicles with a local content value of 20 to 40 per cent. Companies had to apply through the OSS system by 1 March 2025 and to submit a commitment letter undertaking to be ready for commercial production by 1 January 2026 and to build electric vehicles no later than 31 December 2027. | Rajah & Tann Asia | |
| Incentive scheme scheduled to expire | The import incentive scheme was set to expire at the end of 2025. In September 2025 the Ministry of Industry said no inter-agency discussions had taken place about whether the incentives would continue. | Kompas | |
| Luxury goods sales tax treatment favours battery-electric vehicles | Battery-electric vehicles are taxed far more lightly than combustion and hybrid vehicles under Indonesia's luxury goods sales tax, which has been a major factor in the growth of Chinese electric-vehicle sales. The precise rates and the implementing regulation were not confirmed in the sources used here. | Jakarta Globe |
Chinese-owned plants in Indonesia
| Owner | Location | Since | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAIC-GM-Wuling | Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, West Java | 11 July 2017 | PT SGMW Motor Indonesia; mass production began 11 July 2017, with a 60-hectare supplier park and planned annual capacity of 120,000 vehicles. The plant uses General Motors' Global Manufacturing System. |
| BYD | Cipeundeuy, Subang Regency, West Java | 3 September 2026 | Inaugurated 3 September 2026 on a 126-hectare site; reported investment of about Rp16 trillion and annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles, with stamping, welding, painting and final assembly. Reported employment of 5,000, targeted to reach 20,000 at full capacity. |
Models recorded in Indonesia
| Model | Body | Status | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aion Aion UT | Hatchback | Sold | 320 km CLTC |
| Aion Aion V | SUV | Sold | 520 km CLTC |
| Aion Aion Y Plus | SUV | Sold | 430 km CLTC |
| Chery Tiggo 4 | SUV | Sold | not published |
| Chery Tiggo 7 | SUV | Sold | 93 km NEDC |
| Chery Tiggo 8 | SUV | Sold | 95 km NEDC |
| Chery Tiggo 9 | SUV | Sold | 90 km NEDC |
| Deepal Deepal S05 | SUV | Sold | 520 km CLTC |
| Deepal Deepal S07 | SUV | Sold | 550 km CLTC |
| Haval H6 | SUV | Sold | 106 km (manufacturer figure, cycle not stated) |
| Haval Jolion | SUV | Sold | not published |
| Hyptec Hyptec HT | SUV | Sold | 550 km CLTC |
| Jaecoo Jaecoo 5 | SUV | Sold | 399 km WLTP |
| Jaecoo Jaecoo 7 | SUV | Sold | 90 km WLTP |
| Jaecoo Jaecoo 8 | SUV | Sold | 134 km WLTP |
| Jetour Jetour T2 | SUV | Sold | 100 km (manufacturer figure, cycle not stated) |
| Maxus Maxus Mifa 9 | MPV | Sold | 540 km NEDC |
| MG MG4 | Hatchback | Sold | 437 km CLTC |
| MG MG5 | Saloon | Sold | 320 km WLTP |
| MG MG HS | SUV | Sold | 135 km NEDC |
| MG MG S5 EV | SUV | Sold | 450 km WLTP |
| MG MG ZS | Crossover | Sold | 263 km WLTP |
| Neta Neta Aya | SUV | Sold | 401 km CLTC |
| Neta Neta X | SUV | Sold | 401 km CLTC |
| Omoda Omoda 5 | SUV | Sold | 430 km WLTP |
| Ora Ora 03 | Hatchback | Sold | 400 km NEDC |
| Tank Tank 300 | SUV | Sold | 115 km NEDC |
| Tank Tank 500 | SUV | Sold | not published |
| Wuling Wuling Air ev | Hatchback | Sold | not published |
| Wuling Wuling Bingo | Hatchback | Sold | 203 km CLTC |
| Wuling Wuling Hongguang Mini EV | Hatchback | Sold | 120 km NEDC |
| Xpeng G6 | SUV | Sold | 625 km CLTC |
| Xpeng X9 | MPV | Sold | 702 km CLTC |
Best sellers
| Model | Brand | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYD (all models) | BYD | 2025 | 46,711 wholesale units, up 202.7 per cent; a 5.8 per cent share and sixth place overall, the largest electric-vehicle brand in Indonesia. |
| Chery (all models) | Chery | 2025 | 19,391 wholesale units, up 111.0 per cent; a 2.4 per cent share and ninth place overall. |
| Wuling (all models) | Wuling | 2025 | 18,605 wholesale units, down 15.1 per cent; a 2.3 per cent share. |
Chinese cars in Indonesia: questions people ask
- Which Chinese carmakers build cars in Indonesia?
- SAIC-GM-Wuling has built vehicles at Cikarang in West Java since July 2017, and BYD inaugurated a plant at Subang, also in West Java, on 3 September 2026. Chery, Neta and others assemble through local partners.
- Why did Chinese brands grow so fast in Indonesia?
- Indonesia offered a zero import duty on battery-electric vehicles to companies that committed to building them locally, under Ministry of Investment Regulation No. 6 of 2023, and taxes battery-electric vehicles far more lightly than combustion cars.
- How well do Chinese brands sell in Indonesia?
- In 2025 BYD was sixth overall with 46,711 wholesale units and a 5.8 per cent share, Chery ninth with 19,391 and Wuling close behind with 18,605. Chinese brands together held about 10 per cent of the market, up from 3.83 per cent a year earlier.
- Is the Indonesian electric-vehicle import incentive still available?
- The scheme under Regulation No. 6 of 2023 was set to expire at the end of 2025, and applications closed on 1 March 2025. As of September 2025 the government had not said whether it would be extended.
What changed
The only dated surface on this page. It records status changes, not news.
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BYD inaugurated its Subang plant in West Java.
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Full-year 2025 figures published: BYD sixth overall on 46,711 units, Chery ninth on 19,391, Wuling on 18,605, in a market down to 803,687 wholesale units.
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The Ministry of Industry said no decision had been taken on extending the import incentives beyond the end of 2025.
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Applications for the battery-electric import incentive closed.
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Ministry of Investment Regulation No. 6 of 2023 set a zero import duty on battery-electric vehicles for companies committing to local production.
-
SAIC-GM-Wuling began mass production at Cikarang, West Java.
Related
Sources for Indonesia
- Gaikindo (Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries), BYD, Chery, Wuling, Denza securing places in top 10 retail car sales in Indonesia, April 2025. Read .
- Jakarta Globe, BYD surges to 6th in Indonesia's auto market with EV-only lineup. Read . Full-year 2025 brand volumes and shares.
- Asia News Network, Indonesia car sales slide 7.2% in 2025 as weak demand persists. Read . 2025 wholesale total of 803,687 units against 865,723 in 2024.
- Rajah & Tann Asia, Clearer rules and updates on tariffs for EV and IT imports in Indonesia. Read . Ministry of Investment Regulation No. 6/2023 as amended by No. 1/2024: zero duty, local content 20-40 per cent, application deadline 1 March 2025, production commitments.
- SSEK Law Firm, Indonesia legal update: incentives for four-wheeled battery electric vehicles. Read .
- Tempo, BYD opens Rp16 trillion EV factory in West Java's Subang. Read . Inauguration on 3 September 2026; the page could not be fetched directly and was read through its indexed text.
- Wuling Motors Indonesia (PT SGMW Motor Indonesia), Wuling Motors Indonesia company profile. Read . Plant established July 2017; mass production from 11 July 2017; planned capacity 120,000 units a year.
- Kompas, Indonesia to end EV import incentives, eyes billions in tax gains. Read .